Pastor Drew Martin began his ministry at Pond Branch United Methodist Church this month. Martin is a former associate pastor of Mount Horeb UMC. Prior to his pastorate there he served at Lebanon UMC, and First UMC in Clover. He is a graduate of Duke University, and Asbury Theological Seminary.

Pond Branch will have its annual Back-to-School Bash August 4, 10 a.m. until noon. The church will give out free book bags with supplies, clothes and food in them. The church also will have breakfast for participants. Pond Branch invites the community to its Vacation Bible School August 6-10. The theme is VBS Babylon and a light meal will be served at 5:30 p.m.

First Baptist Church is planning for its annual Teachers Luncheon on Friday before school starts August 21. It is collecting: pencils, markers, notebook paper, glue sticks, Sharpies, post-it-notes, tape, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes and Kleenex tissues. If you can donate such items, call the church at 892-3699.

Congratulations to Brie Williams, the new assistant principal at Gilbert High School.

Gilbert Rocks! One of the designed, painted rocks someone hid in the Gilbert Community Park has found its way to East-port, Maine. That is just awesome and now this little rock will be hidden again, to be found by someone who will pass it on. Some of the other rocks that were hidden long ago have been found again at the Gilbert Depot and are in the process of being placed elsewhere again. So many people have enjoyed designing and hiding the rocks in the Gilbert community.

Gilbert Pack 60

Scouts will soon begin selling tickets to its annual barbecue fund-raiser in September. The event will be at the Scout Hut in Gilbert. Tickets are $10 each. The Scouts are raising money for their trip to the USS Yorktown in Charleston.

Last week we did not have the names of the ladies who were the runner-ups in the Gilbert Peach Queen pageant. Here are the names: 4th Runner-up Caroline Elizabeth Brown, daughter of Thomas and Julie Brown of Lexington; 3rd Runner-up Presley Reagan Harbert daughter of Bill and Johnna Harbert of Lexington; 2nd Runner-up Chelby Lynn Drafts, daughter of Jeromy and Brittney Drafts of Batesburg-Leesville; and 1st Runner-up and Photogenic winner, Madison Emily Barrett, daughter of Lee and Christine Barrett of Lexington.

Birthday wishes this week go to Shellie Cockcroft, Charlene Dunbar, Brenda Miller, Mark Miller, Kerry Allen, Anna Forrest, Jackson Forrest, Delaney Ricard, Ashlynn Miller, Sherri Lindler, Maddie Derrenbacher, Katelyn Barefoot, Eric Dunbar, Blair Wooten, Ross Heath, Eva Kaigler, Stephen Snyder, Taylor Smith, Greg Davis, Deanne Ricard, Aeris Judice, Trent Blackwell, Jody Harmon, Julianne Rogers, Allison Barry, Michaela Dunbar, Doc Cooper, Candace Paxton, and Duane Fink.