On Wednesday February 9, the Caswell County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at a residence located in the Leasburg Township.
The following items were confiscated; 22.9 lbs of Marijuana, 24 grams of suspected Fentanyl, 513 grams of white Powder, 40 Vape cartridges, 383 units of “Dabs” (Butane Hash Oil).
In addition, a total of (9) firearms were seized: (3) rifles and (6) handguns. Two of the handguns are classified as “ghost guns.”
One individual was arrested and more arrests are will be forthcoming. This is an active investigation.
By Rachel D. Walker
Caswell Messenger News Correspondent
The Ruritan National Club is the largest community service organization in the U.S. and is commonly found in rural areas of the East Coast and Midwest. The organization is driven by the purpose of creating a better understanding among people, and through volunteer community service and better the quality of life within those communities. The club is designed to serve community people meeting community needs by founding the principles of fellowship, goodwill, and service. The Ruritan club is open to any and all members ranging from high school students to senior members of the community. There is also a chance for tweens and teens to join the RuriTEEN chapter affiliated with the Central Caswell Ruritan Club. Each chapter strives to survey the needs of the community to tailor volunteer efforts to meet the unique challenges of the area.
Caswell County is fortunate enough to have four active Ruritan Clubs located in Central Caswell (Yanceyville/ Blanch), Cherry Grove, Semora, and Southern Caswell (Anderson/ Bynes). All four clubs in Caswell County are actively seeking new members. “As the Zone Governor of the Caswell County Ruritan Clubs, I am urgently asking people of all ages to consider getting involved in the organization. We are open to regular memberships or associates, including businesses,” says Andy Turner.
The clubs congregate once a month to discuss and carry out projects in the community. Currently, the Central Caswell Chapter is most in need of volunteers.
Some of the projects taken on by every Ruritan Club chapter include
1. Volunteering for the sick, elderly, or in-need members of the community.
2. Hosting blood drives
3. Donating and providing medical equipment
4. Providing transportation to and from medical appointments.
5. Fueling anti-litter campaigns and roadside cleanups.
6. Partnering with local Boy Scouts of America troops, 4-H Clubs, and FFA.
7. Sponsoring and awarding partial college scholarships for local graduating high schoolers.
Bartlett-Yancey High School is Partnering with the Ruritan Club's Central Caswell Chapter to offer volunteer and service opportunities for college applicants beginning in January 2024. Announcements will be made pertaining to specific volunteer opportunities in the new year. When students register for membership with the Central Caswell Chapter, they will be issued volunteer credits to boost college applications. For more information on how you can get involved through the high school, please contact Kim Dail at Kim.Dail@caswell.k12.nc.us.
If you, a student, or a business are interested in joining the Ruritan Club, please do not hesitate to reach out to Brenda Crews at (336) 503-2813. For more information on all chapters in Caswell, please contact Andy Turner, Zone Governor, by phone at, (336) 514 5134 or by email at Umpandy@yahoo.com.
Upcoming events and meetings will be held beginning January 2024. There is also a National Ruritan Convention hosted in Winston-Salem on January 11th, 2024. For more information on national events and meetings please visit the Ruritan Website at WWW.Ruritan.org.
By Rachel D. Walker
Caswell Messenger News Correspondent
Yanceyville local Harold Williamson continues to hold the record for most innings pitched in a baseball game for the NCHSAA, totaling 19 consecutive innings. The record-shattering pitch took place 53 years ago at Bartlett Yancey Senior High School’s home field against Graham High School.
Williamson was born and raised in Yanceyville, working on his family’s tobacco and dairy farm. As far as training went, he says he stayed in shape maintaining the farm by doing things like hauling hay and milking cattle. Williamson joined the Bartlett Yancey’s varsity team in 1969, his junior year, following in his brothers’ footsteps, “My older brother was someone I looked up to as far as great baseball players go, I saw how much he enjoyed it and how great he was, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do too. Darrell went on to be drafted to play professional ball after his senior year.”
Photo by Rachel D. Walker
(Left) Harold Williamson takes a playful swing at readers.
Williamson recounts the events that took place in that memorable game, “It was Graham High School’s prom night, believe it or not, and all the opposing teams’ dates were lining the fence wearing their prom dresses.”
As the women waited for their men to finish the game so they could change out of their cleats and into their dancing shoes, Williamson was busy throwing pitch after pitch unknowingly making history. Graham High School ended up winning that night beating Bartlett Yancey 6-5. The opposing team may have won, but Williamson would soon learn of his ultimate victory just weeks later.
Williamson recalls the fearless leadership of Lindsey Page throughout his baseball career. Coach Page is notorious in Yanceyville for his dedication and his contributions to Bartlett Yancey’s athletics. Williamson still can feel the somber energy from the team’s defeat that night, “We are on our way home, and we are all exhausted, and Coach Page gets on the bus and starts in about I could sue my teammates for nonsupport, only emphasizing how dedicated I was to finishing out the game.”
He went into the 19th inning with as much energy and grit as the first, “I’m country strong,” he says, “I could handle 19 innings, I would have pitched until they made me quit.”
Harold Williamson continues to hold the record for most innings pitched in a baseball for the NCHSAA since that fateful Friday night in 1970. The rules of the game have since changed, “Now you’ll only see a high school baseball game go to ten innings.”
You can still see his plaque hanging in Bartlett Yancey’s trophy case today.
Nowadays, you can find him dedicated to cultivating a community of sports enthusiasts at the Caswell County Parks and Recreation Department in Yanceyville. He plays a key role in encouraging the young people of Yanceyville to get involved in organized sports and to know what it means to be a part of a team.
A Winter Holiday Social will be held in Milton on Saturday, December 9 in Milton. All events are free of charge and open to the public.
* 10:30 AM | Line up for the Christmas Parade starting on Bridge Street
* 11 AM | Christmas Parade including Santa and Mrs. Claus!
* 3 PM | Wine & Cheese Tasting with at the Milton 66
* 4 PM | Wine Glass Painting Class at the Milton 66
* 5 PM | Christmas caroling begins at the Milton 66
* 5:30 PM | Carolers walk singing to the Town Christmas Tree
* Dusk | Christmas Tree lighting
THROUGHOUT THE DAY, ENJOY:
* Food specials at Milltown Eatery
* Food specials at Aunt Millie’s
* Hot chocolate at Samantha’s Grill
* Mulled wine at the Milton 66
* Ornament making at Milton Art Gallery
Join your friends and neighbors as we kick off Christmas in Caswell with our annual themed parade and Maker’s Market. This year, the parade will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 2nd and will be Gingerbread themed.
It will take its usual route from Bartlett Yancey High School, down Main Street, and end at the Food Lion parking lot. All are welcome! We would love to have you if you are a performing froup, walking, riding horses, in a float, or in your car!
To sign up to participate in the parade or for more information, please visit caswellchamber.org/chamber-events or call 336-694-6106.
The parade will be immediately followed by the Maker’s Market. Be sure to come out and see what your friends and neighbors across the community have been working on. This is a wonderful opportunity to support our local crafters, makers, and vendors while checking some things off your Christmas gift list!
The vendors will be ready for you to shop as soon as the parade finishes going through the square. To participate in the Maker’s Market, please reach out to Caswell Arts at caswellarts.org or 336-694-4474.
The Market will also have food trucks and live music from The Shag Doctorz. Be sure to bring a lawn chair if you’d like to sit and listen to them perform; they’ll be live on the Pavillion stage from 4-6 p.m.
Finish off the night of fun with the annual tree lighting at 6 p.m. Every year, the community gathers around the large tree set in the lawn next to the Richmond-Miles History Museum and watches it come to life with the light of the holiday season.
Before you leave, be sure to explore the many opportunities and activities of the night; including a photo with Santa, delicious food and drinks, and a large assortment of gifts and crafts! We can’t wait to see you all there!
Christmas in Historic Milton 2023 will feature “The Icons of Caswell and Danville” showings at the Thomas Day/Union Tavern Musuem in Milton on Saturday, December 2, 2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.
Caswell Icons:
Thomas Day, Henrietta Jeffries, Maud Gatewood, N. L. Dillard, and Neal Watlington.
Danville Icons:
Camilla Williams and Sherman Saunders.
Thomas Day/Union Tavern Museum is located at 148 Broad Street, Milton.
Come and learn the legacy that these icons created. The Thomas Day Christmas Tree lighting will be held at 5 p.m.
Free and open to the public.