50th anniversary — Bennie Lee and Joyce Ann White Melton Sr. of Hubert, N.C., were surprised with a sit down barbeque dinner on Saturday, March 7, by their children and grandchildren in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary. There were 75 family and friends in attendance. The couple will also celebrate their anniversary with a trip to New Orleans in April. They were married March 7, 1959, in Logan, by the Rev. John R. Brown. They have two children, Bennie Lee Melton Jr. of Jacksonville, N.C., and Candi Melton Meadows of Hubert. They also have five grandchildren. Mr. Melton retired with more than 35 years from civil service at MCAS Cherry Point, N.C. Mrs. Melton worked as a teacher's assistant.

Three years old — Sierra Cheyene Rose Price celebrated her third birthday on Friday, March 20. She was born at CAMC's Women and Children's Hospital in Charleston. Sierra is the daughter of Misty Lee Rose Miller and Danny Price of Holden Road. She is the granddaughter of BarBara Rose Miller of Holden Road, the late Ancil Lee Miller, Ronnie Church of Holden Road, Joann Price, the late Robert Gary Price, and Rip Conley of Rock House of Mud Fork. Her maternal great-grandparents were the late Robert Earl and Odas Tomblin Rose. Sierra has one older brother, Robert LeEarl Price of Holden Road, who is 11-years-old.

Three years old — Shooter Ballinger celebrated his third birthday on January 11, 2008, with a Thomas and Friends party attended by family and friends. He is the son of Brian and Bobbi Ballinger and the grandson of Bonnie Akers, all of Lake.

Princess Paetyn celebrates birthday — On Saturday, February 28, 2009, over 60 family and friends gathered at the Word of Life Church gymnasium in Logan for the royal celebration honoring princess Paetyn Isabella Butcher's first birthday. Paetyn was honored with a huge Princess First Birthday party with a royal cake adorned with a large monogram "P" covered with Swarovski crystals and a tiara to match atop one of the three cakes made especially for her by her Mamaw Mearlyn. Paetyn was born February 29, 2008, at 7:52 p.m. She weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Paetyn was born at Logan Regional Medical Center with Dr. Pimpa as the attending physician. She was the only baby born on this leap day in Logan County and the first leap day baby born in the new Women's Center at Logan Regional Medical Center. Paetyn's proud parents are Mike and Angie Butcher of Verdunville. Her maternal grandparents are Rev. Glenn and Mearlyn Tomblin of Verdunville. She is the maternal niece of Scott and Sheranda Tomblin, also of Verdunville. Her paternal grandparents are Michael Butcher of Chapmanville and the late Sharon Butcher. She is the paternal niece of Keith and Nicole Adkins of Verdunville. Paetyn has two very special cousins that she loves more than anything, Ashton Adkins of Oceana and Adriana Tomblin of Verdunville. Paetyn attends Word of Life Church with her parents where she loves to play with all of her friends in the nursery every service.