NEWSOMS—The Newsoms Ruritan Club during its June meeting recognized Mary Winningham as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year at Meherrin Elementary School.

Winningham is a reading specialist. She was introduced by Meherrin Principal Syretha Wright.

Vice president Damian Dwyer presided. He welcomed 14 members and five guests.

The Rev. Kenneth Williams led the group in singing “America” and gave the invocation.

The meal was provided by Ben “Treetop” Bryant and John “Mo” Skeeters.

Secretary Betty “Boop” Darden called the roll and read the June minutes. John “Not So Nashville” Carter handed out the treasurer’s report.

The Independence Day celebration will be Monday, July 4, at the Ruritan Building.

Line-up for the parade begins at 4 p.m. The parade will begin at 4:30 from the Newsoms Baptist Church parking lot and travel through Newsoms to the BB&T bank and back.

Food will be provided a 5:30 p.m. Games will be played on the ball field followed by the Old Timer’s softball game. Shiloh Band will entertain.

Carter asked for help at 2 p.m. at the Ruritan Building.

The club discussed attending a Tide’s baseball game in August.

Bruce “Slim” Trew and Darden will feed the group during its July meetinig; Bob Rudzik, Gwen Albers and Rhonda Vick will serve the meal in August.

Flags of the cemetery numbered 110 this year. They will remain at the cemetery until after July 4. Those placing flags were Joe Everett, Steve Tucker, Trew, David “Boo-Boo” Pope, Skeeters and Wayne Vick.

Randolph Cook reported the Virginia Pork Festival in Emporia was a success this year. Thanks to the 16 participants who handed out 4,000 pork chops grilled over 300 pounds of charcoal in the extremely hot weather.

Darden reported that Bingo participants were low last month.

Dwyer and Skeeters will honor the high school scholarship winner in July.

Skeeters announced that Founder’s Day was on May 21 in Holland.

Members were asked to find new members for the club. Timmy Vick has expressed an interest in joining.

A thank-you note was read by Darden from Hilda O’Berry. Also Top Hedgepeth sent a donation to the Newsoms Athletic Association for an outstanding ball field and softball and baseball games this year.

Sharon Spivey expressed a thank-you for the flowers around the flagpole at the ball field.

The meeting closed by repeating the “Pledge of Allegiance.”