RUTHIE ROBISON | The Greenwood Commonwealth

Author Role

Managing Editor

Chip Gray stands next his manger scene displayed at his home in North Carrollton. Every year, the 17-year-old decorates his yard for Christmas.

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Christmas tradition
By RUTHIE ROBISON - Lifestyles Editor
Sun,12/24/17-7:02AM , 160 Reads
NORTH CARROLLTON — Chip Gray gets into the Christmas spirit about a month before Thanksgiving.

That’s when the 17-year-old begins thinking about how he will design the Christmas decorations in his yard.

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Mary Laine Dyksterhouse’s new fictional work, “The Magic Mystery,” tells the story of two orphans who go on an adventure.

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8-year-old author excited to combine magic, mystery in book
By RUTHIE ROBISON - Lifestyles Editor
Wed,12/20/17-4:48PM , 202 Reads
Mary Laine Dyksterhouse’s two favorite book genres are magic and mystery.

So when writing her first work of fiction, the 8-year-old was inspired to combine the two.

“The Magic Mystery” is a 20-page, eight-chapter book featuring an imaginative adventure story about two homeless children living in an Ohio orphanage.
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Greenwood native Wanda Young just completed her 37th year working at Mississippi Valley State University, where she teaches mass communications courses and is the coordinator for public broadcasting.

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PR specialist has spent 37 years at Valley
By RUTHIE ROBISON - Lifestyles Editor
Mon,12/18/17-1:00PM , 216 Reads
Being in the public relations field for almost four decades, Wanda Young has seen a lot of changes.
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The Rev. Dr. Calvin Collins will celebrate his 30-year anniversary of being pastor of New Zion Missionary Baptist Church today.

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Called to serve
By RUTHIE ROBISON - Lifestyles Editor
Sun,12/10/17-7:00AM , 415 Reads
The Rev. Dr. Calvin Collins says he has felt the need to serve as long as he can remember.

“I want to make a difference for the Kingdom of God,” he said. “What drives me now is a desire to do more. To use the words of the prophet Amos, to not be ‘at ease in Zion.’ I pray that I never get at ease in Zion.”
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