Briefly
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on February 22, 2005 2:04 PM
Black troops honored
An organization that honors black soldiers who fought in the Civil War will meet in Kinston on March 4-6 for a symposium.
The U.S. Colored Troops Institute will meet at the Hampton Inn. The event will feature experts on the Civil War, including Frank Smith, president of the African-American Civil War Memorial; Stanton Biddle, the president of the institute; storyteller David Sankofa Anderson and members of the 54th Massachuesetts Re-enactors, which portrays the regiment featured in the movie "Glory."
Descendants of soldiers who served in the unit are also expected to attend. The weekend's events will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m. at the Cultural Heritage Museum at 242 S. Queen Street and end on Sunday when a wreath will be laid at the Wyse Fork battlefield site in eastern Lenoir County.
More information about the symposium and the institute can be obtained by calling 252-522-4660 or by visiting www.culturalheritagemuseum.org.
State of the Child
The fourth annual State of the Child Conference will be held March 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mount Olive College.
The conference is aimed at child-serving professionals and volunteers, but others are welcome. The cost is $20 and includes participant materials and a buffet lunch.
The conference will be broken into two sections. The first offers five workshops and participants may choose three. They will cover gang awareness, impact of poverty, what's new on the streets/drugs and vice, substance abuse and the family and the impact of deployment of families.
The second will be a full-day workshop on asset building. Participants will complete a curriculum designed by the state about being an asset builder.
The conference is sponsored by Mount Olive College, Coca-Cola, Eastpointe Mental Health Center, Guardian Ad Litem, Family Court, Communities in Schools, YMCA and Wayne, Lenoir and Greene County Cooperative Extension.
To register, call the Greene County Cooperative Extension office at 252-747-5831.
Gifted students program
Wayne County public schools will hold its annual Academically/Intellectually Gifted Program Expo on Thursday, March 3, at the school administrative offices on Royall Avenue. The Expo, held from 5 to 7 p.m., will showcase the talents of identified academically/ intellectually gifted students.
The projects will illustrate a variety of advanced learning options and higher-order thinking skills used by the students.
Wayne County has 1,078 students in grades 4 through 12 that are identified as academically/intellectually gifted.
"This is an event that we look forward to each year," said Pat Warren, coordinator of the AIG program. "It underscores the hard work teachers and staff do each day to challenge our brightest students to excel."
Bridge replacement
An informational workshop on the proposed replacement of a bridge over Caraway Creek on Pecan Road in southern Wayne County will be held at Southern Wayne High School on Monday from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Representatives from the state Department of Transportation will be available to answer questions and accept written comments on the proposed project.
More information may be obtained by calling Karen Taylor at 919-733-7844, ext. 223 or by emailing kbtaylor@dot.state.nc.us