White Mills community news

White Mills

Terri Spencer, 862-4606

The Christmas rush is upon us. I stopped at the fabric store the other night and as the clerk was measuring the material I needed, several of us began to commiserate about how many things we had to make and how little time remained. In this time of rampant commercialism, it did my heart good to know the homemade gifts still were alive and well. I love to make gifts for others and I love to receive gifts others have made. No matter what kind of gift I am making, I spend a lot of time thinking about the person the gift is for and thinking about how much I care about them. I like to think the same is true for those who make gifts for me. I realize not everyone is crafty and cannot make their gifts, but for those of you who can, give a little piece of yourself with a gift you make for someone else. It is a gift that will be treasured forever.

ANNIVERSARIES. Happy anniversary to Chris and Jessica Hay as they celebrate their first wedding anniversary Dec. 2. Even though I have been married for 35 years, I still remember the first year. It is a time of so many changes and so many ups and downs, but it is a year you never will forget. I wish you at least another 50 years together to go with this one.

BIRTHDAYS. Happy birthday to Cameron Bow and Michael Elmore, both on Dec. 2; and to Gene Oldham on Dec. 8. Enjoy your day.

CHURCH NEWS. The annual White Mills Christmas Cantata is at 6:30 p.m. tonight at White Mills Baptist Church, featuring singers from White Mills Baptist Church, White Mills Christian Church and St. Ignatius Catholic Church. It is titled “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and is a collection of songs and a drama that goes along with them. It promises to be a wonderful evening to celebrate the Lord’s birth. There will be refreshments served afterwards in the fellowship hall. Please come and join us. Let’s fill up the church and support those who have worked so hard on this program. There is no charge for anything. Come and celebrate Christmas with all of the White Mills community.

COMMUNITY NEWS. If you were not at White Mills last Sunday night, you missed a great time. The evening began with the Christmas parade, led by the Central Hardin ROTC Color Guard. There were fire trucks from Glendale and White Mills, tractors, four-wheelers, floats and even lawn mowers. The Cecilian Bank had its armored car there, all decorated and playing music. The Christian church had its children dressed up as Christmas presents and the Baptist church had a nativity scene on their float. Cole Miller and his family had a float that depicted a soldier kneeling in front of a manger. It was a very moving scene. White Mills Boy Scout Troop 244 marched as well. I believe this was one of our best ever Christmas parades ever. Thanks so much to everyone who participated. We all moved inside to eat great chili and bean soup with sandwiches and desserts, all provided by White Mills Christian Church. Donations were accepted and all money raised was given to the Lakewood Resource Center. Following the meal, the youth and children from White Mills Christian Church presented a live nativity scene. They did a really wonderful job. Brother Tim Dennis then led us in prayer and we counted down to the lighting of the White Mills Bridge. This year was especially memorable, since the bridge was closed last year at this time. It has reopened and the White Mills Fire Department did a great job of hanging the lights on the bridge. All of this is sponsored by the White Mills Civic League. Santa paid a visit as well and cookies and drinks were served after the lighting of the bridge. Thank you so much to everyone who worked on this year’s events. It was a huge success.

BAZAAR. Glendale Christmas in the Country Christmas Bazaar is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 8 at Glendale Fire Department and is sponsored by Glendale Fire Department. Booth spaces are available for $15. Contact Glendale Fire Department for reservations. For information, call Heather French, 369-2019.

BENEFIT. A benefit to help pay funeral expenses for Norma June Nugent Taylor is from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7  in the Lakewood Elementary School cafeteria behind West Hardin Middle School. It will feature food, an auction and Gospel singing. For information, call Rhonda McGrew, 862-5564, Sue Nugent, 369-9516, Betty Daugherty, 862-3314, or Brenda Bradley, 862-9392. If you are unable to attend but would like to donate, contributions may be sent to: Magnolia Bank 651 W. Dixie Ave. Elizabethtown, KY 42701 in care of Billy Nugent in Memory of Norma June Taylor or to Manakee Funeral Home 2098 Leitchfield Rd Elizabethtown KY 42701 in care of Billy Nugent in Memory of Norma June Taylor.

PERSON OF INTEREST. This week, I would like to introduce you to not just one person, but two. They are my in-laws, Tommy and Nora Belle Spencer. They are both lifelong residents of the White Mills-Eastview area. They have been married for 56 years and have four children, Kenny Spencer of White Mills, Ronnie Spencer and Sheri Peters of Stephensburg and Eddie Spencer of Bowling Green. They have three grandchildren, Nicki, Ryan and Joshua. Tommy’s parents were Clifton and Addie Frances Spencer of White Mills and Nora Belle’s were George and Charlotte Spencer of Eastview. Nora Belle’s parents owned a store at Four Corners for many years. That is where she learned to run a store and still be able to take care of her family. Tommy worked for a tire company for a while and then went to work for Butternut Bread. He worked on the delivery truck for many years, even after they opened the store in Stephensburg. They bought the original store from Jim Terry in 1977, named it Spencer’s Valu-Mart and then later bought the bigger building next door. They owned the store for almost 35 years and most of us who live in this area have been there many times. They ran the store in the old fashioned way of allowing people to buy on credit and pay when their checks came in. They kept a deli and at lunch time, the sandwiches were made to order as quickly as possible. All of their children worked at the store, including me, at some time. Their daughter, Sheri, worked there the most. She worked there as a teenager until the store closed at the end of March this year. One of the things Tommy is most known for is the fireworks in Stephensburg the first Saturday night in July. People come from all over to see the fireworks and listen to the live bands and just have a good time every year. Tommy used funds he raised selling chances at the store for many different items to pay for the fireworks. Now that the store is closed, he hopes to keep the fireworks going with the help of the Stephensburg fire department. Nora Belle is well known in the area as well for her ability to sew almost anything and for all of the wonderful cakes she baked. I remember my wedding cake. It was five tiers and four foot tall. Tommy and Nora Belle have helped many people throughout the years by delivering groceries, donating items when needed, even helping the neighbors to write their checks and pay their bills. They are retired now. Nora Belle is enjoying being able to spend more time at home and has been doing a lot of cleaning and sorting. Tommy still goes up to the store building and hangs out with some of the men there. They love going to the boat in Louisville to do a little gambling. They always have been there when their children have needed them and tried to help others as much as they can. Thank you both for all you have done for this area. I am proud to call you my in-laws and to be a part of this family. You are much loved.

SUBMIT YOUR NEWS. If you have anything that you would like to have me put in the column, please contact me at 862-4604 or joshuak218@windstream.net. May God bless you all this week.