Photo courtesy of Foster Park Elementary School NCIS agent returns to his old school On May 21, 2012, Foster Park Elementary School student, Kinsley Gault, found out that dreams really do come true. Kinsley is a fifth grade student that wrote an essay about her desire to become a Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Special Agent (SA) when she grows up. The essay really impressed her teacher, Ellen Morris. Mrs. Morris contacted her colleague Mrs. Ollie Vaughan, whose son, David Vaughan, is a Special Agent (SA) for NCIS in Jacksonville, FL and let her read the essay. Mrs. Vaughan, computer lab teacher at Foster Park, was also impressed by the essay and particularly touched because her son is a former Foster Park Eagle who sat in the very same classrooms as the students sit today. Mrs. Vaughan contacted her son, Special Agent Vaughan, because she felt that Kinsley deserved recognition for her essay. Mrs. Vaughan and SA Vaughan arranged for Kinsley to be acknowledged during the morning announcements on May 21, 2012. During the morning announcements Kinsley was called to the library and pleasantly surprised when she saw SA David Vaughan, who acknowledged her for her outstanding work. SA Vaughan presented Kinsley with two Junior NCIS T-shirts, an NCIS lapel pin, an NCIS hat, and an NCIS challenge coin. Since Kinsley’s essay was about her desire work for NCIS, SA Vaughan visited various classrooms in the school discussing how to become an NCIS Special Agent, and answered many students’ questions. SA Vaughan works out of the Jacksonville, Florida Field Office and is assigned to NCIS’s Special Operations Squad. He is a Union, SC native and he attended Foster Park Elementary School, Sims Junior High, and graduated from Union High School in 1997. After graduation, he received his Bachelor’s of Arts in Criminal Justice and is currently working on his Master of Science in Criminal Justice. SA Vaughan has worked for NCIS for the past three years and has over nine years of law enforcement experience. SA Vaughan previously worked as an Organized Crime Detective, extensively working undercover, and was a SWAT Team member for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office in Clay County, Florida. SA Vaughan had a tremendous time visiting the school reminiscing over the time he spent as a student there. For further information on NCIS and details on how to become a Special Agent with NCIS, please visit their website at www.ncis.navy.mil

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TODAY

“A UNION HERITAGE; THREE GENERATIONS OF UNION ARTISTS” reception will be held at the Union County Arts Council on Main Street in Union from 6-8 p.m. Wine and light refreshments will be served. Call 864-429-2817 for more information.

JUNE 16

SIMS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1968 is sponsoring a sightseeing trip to Charleston, departing from the old Wal-Mart parking lot. For information call Betsy at 864-674-6799.

MUSGROVE MILL will cater to kids 5-15, 9 am-noon. Activities include cornhusk doll making, guided hikes and survival skill training. Small fee required. For more information, contact Musgrove Mill State Historic Site at (864) 938-0100, e-mail mgmillsp@scprt.com or go to www.SouthCarolinaParks.com.

JUNE 18

MASTER GARDENERS will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Clemson Extension Building. This will not be a covered dish dinner.

“JAM WITH SUPPER” will be held at Union County Arts Council on Main Street in Union from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Any type of music and all musicians welcome. Call 864-429-2817 for more information.

MARTHA CHAPTER #79 will meet at the Union Masonic Temple at 7:30 p.m.

JUNE 19

THE UNION COUNTY CARNEGIE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES will meet at 5 p.m. at the Union County Schools Annex building.

JUNE 21

THE GOOD NEIGHBORS GARDEN CLUB will meet at Andy’s at 2 p.m.

JEWELRY WORKSHOP WITH ANGIE CRAFT will be held at the Union County Arts Council on Main Street from 6-8 p.m. Learn to make jewelry from gourds. Call 864-429-2817 for more information.

JUNE 22

UNION HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1992 will host their 20th reunion June 22-24. Final registration deadline will be May 26 at Quality Inn, Duncan Bypass. You must register and pay in full to attend the reunion.

JUNE 24

SIMS HIGH CLASS OF 1966 committee members will have a meeting at Foster Park at 7 p.m. in Shelter #4 to finalize plans for the class reunion. Business of importance. Contact Charles G. Gist.

JUNE 25

SUMMER DRAMA CAMP will be held at Union County High School for ages 6-12, June 25-29, 9 a.m.-noon with instructor Ralph Lawson. Register and pay fees at Union County Arts Council, Main Street. Proceeds benefit UCHS drama department. For information call 429-2817 or 427-1709.

JULY 5

“JAM WITH LUNCH” will be held at the Union County Arts Council on Main Street in Union from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Any type of music and all musicians welcome. Call 864-429-2817 for more information.

JULY 16

“JAM WITH SUPPER” will be held at the Union County Arts Council on Main Street in Union from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Any type of music and all musicians welcome. Call 864-429-2817 for more information.

JULY 23

A YOUTH SUMMER ART CAMP will be held at the Union County Arts Council on Main Street in Union. It will run daily through July 27 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The camp will be led by Angie Craft and will introduce the campers to the art of gourding (making objects of art from the common gourd). Don’t miss this unique art camp. Registrations are being taken at this time Call 864-429-2817 for more information.

ONGOING

A VETERANS ADVOCATE is in Union every third Friday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the One Stop, 440 Duncan Hwy., to discuss eligibility for health care, pension, disability and more.

THE NEW EMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH has opened a free clothes closet in the back of the Municipal Building in Jonesville. Hours of operation will be Tuesday and Friday 9:30 a.m.-noon.

SIMS HIGH CLASS OF 1965 is planning a reunion Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1. For information contact Queen Henderson, 4427-6219; Fannie Means, 674-5805 or Ben Johnson, 426-1399. The class is trying to locate Shirley Dawkins, formerly of Carlisle and John D. Whitmire, formerly of Union. If you have information, please call Queen Henderson.

UNION COUNTY ACTION NETWORK ORGANIZATION (WATCHDOG GROUP) meets weekly on Tuesday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at 103 Main St., Union. The public is invited.