Bethune residents upset at lack of police protection

Thursday evening's Bethune Town Council meeting became a platform for concerned citizens to express their discontent with the council's decision to dissolve the Bethune Police Department (BPD).

First reading of county budget Tuesday

Tuesday's Kershaw County Council meeting will include first reading of the county's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30, 2014.

Transforming Antioch

In 1995, Antioch Elementary School (AES) closed its doors for the last time. The school, constructed in 1956, later became the home of Kershaw County Head Start. Johnny Outlaw, a former AES student, took what was once a dilapidated building with a missing roof due to a storm and victim to numerous accounts of vandalism and transformed it into a community center hosting a café, auditorium and space for a sheltered flea ...

Lake Wateree residents deal with flooding

Several Lake Wateree residents reported that their docks were underwater or inaccessible due to high lake levels Thursday. Duke Energy, which operates dams along the Catawba River basin, of which Lake Wateree is a part, alerted residents earlier this week to prepare for the rising water. It said significant rainfall had led the company to open spillways and floodgates along the chain so that water could flow at a ...

Grace Church’s Memorial Garden receives Margot Rochester Landscape Award

A rainy day did not deter the Camden Parks and Trees Commission from awarding Grace Episcopal Church the fifth annual Margot Rochester Landscape Award Friday in honor of its memorial garden. The rain only moved the celebration -- both of the garden and of the award itself -- indoors into Grace's Richardson Hall.

Friends are the family you get to choose

Last week, two poignant events occurred in my life. The first was that I celebrated turning another year older, the second being the death of one of my very best friends' mother after a brutal battle with cancer. During the course of the week, I experienced a variety of conflicting emotions from utter heartbreak of losing someone close to me and also "celebration" that I was able to turn ...

Kershaw County joins broadband expansion effort

Community leaders from Kershaw County gathered April 30 with Connect South Carolina at the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce to discuss a broadband expansion effort. The program is designed with goals to bridge the technology gap, boost the economy and also prepare the ground for innovations.

Davis receives DAR Good Citizen Award

Since moving to Camden with her husband, Mike, in 1986, Sarah Davis has been an active member in not only the local but also the statewide historical preservation community. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) rewarded her efforts April 11, presenting her with its Good Citizen Award for her "excellence in community service."

Sexuality in athletics

Earlier this week, NBA player Jason Collins came out to the public as being gay. His announcement made headlines on just about every news website and blog that I scanned over and, of course, Facebook and Twitter were taken over with personal opinions regarding the subject. I support Collins and commend him on his bravery for deciding to "come out of the closet" and to be honest with the ...

County treasurer recovering from burns

Kershaw County Treasurer Steve Vincent is at home recovering from burns he received April 19, according to County Administrator Vic Carpenter.

Eat Smart, Move More reveals pathways plan

The results of an eight-month-long planning process will be unveiled at a public meeting May 9 on a new pathways plan for the county. Eat Smart, Move More Kershaw County (ESMMKC) commissioned the Kershaw County Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Plan as a way to encourage healthy living. "Promoting ways for the community to get outdoors and exercise by providing safe, friendly and scenic ...

KCC determines KH trustee application timetable

Kershaw County Council determined Tuesday how it will go about filling three slots on the KershawHealth Board of Trustees this fall. Board Chairman Scott Ziemke and trustees George Corbin and Don Witham are rotating off the board Sept. 30 after six years of service each.

Issues with airplanes

This weekend, I will be traveling via airplane for the first time alone. Needless to say, I'm pretty nervous about the whole ordeal. For starters, I'm terrified of heights. I'm talking, if I see a photo of someone skydiving or one of those "cool" pictures in National Geographic where a person is scaling a cliff, my heart rate automatically speeds up and I feel nauseous, bordering on a panic ...

County Council to hear public presentation from CMP

Tuesday's Kershaw County Council meeting will include a public presentation from Carolina Motorsports Park's (CMP) Brian Smith. CMP also gave a presentation at a recent Camden City Council meeting.

Local governments hit by lower state funding

During a recent Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce legislative forum, the topic of local funding was brought before the panel, which included State Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden.

Celebrating National Nursing Home Week

By FRASER SPEAKS

Invista Camden helps out SC jobs

According to a study completed in 2012 by Harrah Analytics, INVISTA's Camden site supports more than 3,000 jobs and more than $145 million in compensation and benefits. The independent economic research firm found each INVISTA job generated, on average, about six other jobs in the state. Nationally, INVISTA's nearly 4,500 full and part-time employees in the United States indirectly resulted in an estimated 22,000 additional jobs and more than $1.3 billion in compensation and ...

LFD gives KCC good news

Lugoff Fire Department (LFD) Chief Dennis Ray had some good news for Kershaw County Council Tuesday: there would be no tax increase of the Lugoff Fire District. Ray said that after completing its Fiscal Year 2014 budget, a tax increase was not necessary.

From lost in the Bahamas to blue ribbon winner: meet Barney

By FRASER SPEAKS

Gatsby? What Gatsby?