Park To Be Dedicated On Saturday

By Betsy Finklea
Preparations are underway for the dedication at the Calhoun Street Park in Newtown on Saturday.
The park will be officially dedicated on Saturday, and the new name will be unveiled.
This past Saturday, several men volunteered their time to construct a new sign for the park. Men volunteering their time were Dillon County Councilman Randy Goings, Christopher G. Baker, Marvin Goings, Joseph Charles, Cliff Goings, Kelvin Drake, and Thomas E. Manning.
A special ceremony will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the park. The program will be as follows:
Master of Service-Tonny McNeil
National Anthem-April Rivers
Prayer-Pastor Rodney McCorkle
Mayor of Dillon-Todd Davis
Dillon County Council Chairman-Tracy F. “Buzzy” Finklea, Jr.
History-Bishop Michael Goings
Recognition of Dignitaries-Tonny McNeil
Dedication-Tracy F. “Buzzy” Finklea, Jr.
Special Thanks-Councilman Randy Goings
Cutting of the Ribbon
Dinner
In May of this year, the Dillon County Council agreed to purchase the property after efforts spearheaded by Councilman Randy Goings. The purchase price was $28,000.
The public is invited to attend this special dedication event this coming Saturday.

A History Of The Community
Recreational Organization
The Community Recreational Organization (aka:  the CRO) records indicate that it was organized in the late 1970s, around 1978.
Approximately 35 concerned citizens met at the business establishment of Macio Williamson. At the meeting, Macio Williamson was elected president.
The purpose of the organization was to help provide organized recreation for the youth in Dillon County.
Later the organization with the financial support and agreement with the City of Dillon sponsored five baseball teams which consisted of four little league teams and one that participated as an at-large team with other teams. With these teams in place and doing well, a girls softball team was added.
They began their baseball at J.V. Martin Jr. High School athletic field when it wasn’t in use and the Oakland Baseball field in Hamer. They wanted to have a home facility of their own.
Later negotiations began between the CRO and the City to secure property in the Newtown area adjacent to the hoe of Dolphus and Ruby Carter. The property was rented to the CRO through the City of Dillon. The City of Dillon donated $500 per year to help sponsor the recreation program.
Under the presidency of Famon Whitfield, the City of Dillon increased their support to $750 in 1980.
The CRO has only four presidents. They were Macio Williamson, Lodie C. Smiling, Jason Gunter, and Famon Whitfield, Jr.
Listed below are the five teams formed along with their coaches:
NEWTOWN TROJANS—Macio Williamson, Douglas Pernell, John C. Williamson, Fitzgerald Lytch
NEWTOWN MUSIC—Lee Lee Cousar, Marshall Campbell
JACKSONVILLE STARS—Lodie C. Smiling, Andrew Graves, Dan McNeil
STEPHEN RAMS—Famon Whitfield, Jr., Linzy Boatwright, Benjamin McTeer, Clarence Thomas, Tyrone Thomas, Larry Durham
OAKLAND STARS—Milton Quick, Joe Brown
They also had games with the Little Rocks under the leadership of Maxie Rowell and his sons.
The umpires who called the games on the weekends were Buddy Baines, Willie Pernell, Johnny Hamer, and Gerald McQueen.
They can state many accolades of the success the program had upon the girls and boys in the community.
Some of them hold key positions in Dillon County, other states, and the military.
Douglas Pernell still carries the CRO’s name in the Dillon County Recreational Football League.

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