RUTH JENSEN | The Greenwood Commonwealth

Natalie and Troy Doyle, left, assist Julia and Wayne Banks of Carrollton in finding just the right tree at the E.L.K. Christmas Tree Farm in Carroll County. The Bankses have been coming to the E.L.K. Farm for 25 years.

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Christmas tree farm about families, tradition
By RUTH JENSEN - For the Commonwealth

Mon,12/15/14-1:00PM , 185 Reads
CARROLLTON — Troy Doyle and his wife, Natalie, who have managed the E.L.K. Christmas Tree Farm since 2006, say it’s fun to see families pick out a tree together.
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First Presbyterian Church will present the 34th Singing Christmas Tree at 7 p.m. Monday. Through the years, performers have endured everything from rain and mosquitoes to sleet and freezing temperatures.

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Joyful noise
By RUTH JENSEN - For the Commonwealth

Sun,12/07/14-7:00AM , 179 Reads
The singers in Monday night’s 34th Singing Christmas Tree hope many people come to listen, but director Randy Clark says it would still be fun for the participants if they didn’t.

“We hope people will come. That’s why we do it,” he said. “But it’s something we enjoy.”
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Carroll sheriff: Department needs renovation
By RUTH JENSEN - For the Commonwealth

Tue,11/25/14-1:00PM , 180 Reads
CARROLLTON — Carroll Sheriff Jerry Carver told the Board of Supervisors on Monday that his department’s headquarters needs renovation.

“We have been in need of repairs at our office for several years,” Carver said. “We need cracks filled, painting, the floor and ceiling need repair. It is in mighty bad shape.”
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George Hays of Carrollton started playing the dulcimer 12 years ago. He now belongs to a dulcimer club that plays for churches and senior groups. They have a regular gig playing at Golden Age Nursing Home on the third Thursday of each month.

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A life of tuning and tunes
By RUTH JENSEN - For the Commonwealth

Mon,11/24/14-1:00PM , 201 Reads
CARROLLTON — George Hays doesn’t play the Steinway grand piano or the Yamaha upright, but without his fine tuning, they wouldn’t sound nearly as good.

As his second career, Hays has done at least 15,000 tunings since he learned the skill from a correspondence course 42 years ago.
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