School board to discuss ATEC, budget

The Kershaw County Board of School Trustees may take action on ATEC recommendations during its meeting Tuesday. Also during the meeting, Kershaw County School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Morgan and Chief Financial Officer Donnie Wilson will present the school district's preliminary 2011-12 budget.

New KCSD mentoring program uses cell phone technology

It's 2:30 p.m. on a Thursday. Do you know where your high school student is?

Writing award winners named

Jackson School fifth-grader LaBria Wilson and North Central Middle School eighth-grader Rachel Robinson have been named the Kershaw County School District winners in the 2011 State Superintendent's Writing Awards Program.

Sharing a story

Faith Amick's fifth-grade class at Midway Elementary School finished their study of folktales and fairytales by sharing stories with children from the kindergarten classes. The fifth-graders each prepared a favorite story to read aloud at a special storytime in the school media center that delighted the kindergarteners. Here, Donovan Holloman is enthralled by Paul Zelinsky's version of "Rumpelstiltskin" as read by Ashley Sims.

A chapter in history

Wateree Elementary School's fifth-graders reenacted scenes from the book "Ruby Bridges" as part of their Black History Month celebration. Students/"federal marshals" Seth Branham, Bridges Young, William Christianson and Zac Branham offer police protection to Ruby, portrayed by Tayjah Steele, as she enters the all-white school for the very first time.

Miss Lindsay, Mr. Finley plan summer wedding

Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Crosland (Jay) Lindsay, Jr. of Columbia are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Mary Catherine, to Mr. Jason Nicholas Finley, both from Mount Pleasant. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thurman Langston (Lanny) Finley, III of Camden.

Local churches repair 15 homes

The Weatherization and Repair Ministry (WARM) completed it's latest project on Dec. 30-31. The 140 volunteers worked together to repair 15 homes in Kershaw County. WARM is supported by local churches including Camden First UMC, Emmanuel UMC, Gordon Street Church of God, Lyttleton Street UMC, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, River Church, Salem UMC, Spring Hill UMC, St. John UMC, St. Matthew Baptist, St. Matthew UMC, St. Paul UMC, Union Baptist Church and Unity UMC. If ...

Curtis Leon Drakeford

Curtis Leon Drakeford, 66, of 2002 DeKalb School Road in Camden, died Friday, March 25, 2011. Friends may visit at 1945 DeKalb School Road in Camden.

Margaret M. Duvall

Graveside memorial services to celebrate the life of Margaret M. Duvall, 87,of Melbourne, Fla., will be held Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 11:00 AM in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Rev. Ron Taylor will officiate. Memorials may be in Mrs. Duvall's memory to the Alzheimer's Disease & Related Disorders Association-Mid State-SC, 3223 Sunset Blvd., Suite 100, West Columbia, SC 29169.

Robert Ariail -- March 28, 2011

Noted and passed -- March 28, 2011

• If ever a college coach deserved firing, it was Bruce Pearl, the Tennessee basketball head man who lied to NCAA investigators about recruiting violations he'd committed, and then committed additional illegal acts after denying he had done anything wrong in the first place. Pearl was a flamboyant coach who took the Volunteers to basketball heights they'd seldom attained, but his cheating was too flagrant to ignore.

Absence of funeral escort complicates stressful time

I attended a funeral this week and after the coffin was closed for the last time and the family was preparing to enter, the funeral director had to announce to those in attendance to be careful to obey all traffic laws because there would be no police escort as there had been in the past.

RFL fundraiser Saturday

Camden Mayor Jeffrey Graham, City Manager Kevin Bronson, City Economic Development Director Wade Luther and Sheriff Jim Matthews have all agreed to be "celebrity" dunking booth "victims" for the second annual City Slickers Car Show & Fund Raiser for Relay for Life Saturday.

School menus -- March 28-April 1, 2011

The following are menus for Kershaw County schools for the week of March 28-April 1:

Boykin Spring Fling to be May 1

The Boykin Spring Fling Untimed Trail Ride will return May 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Red Bank Farm in the Boykin community.

Olympic gymnast Luikin to make personal appearance

All Around Olympic Champion Nastia Luikin will be appearing at Wateree Gymnastics Center of Camden SC's Fit n' Fun Gymnastics Clinic and fund raising dinner on June 24. Competitive gymnasts of all levels are invited to attend the clinic, and the fund raiser dinner, which begins at 5:30 p.m., is open to the public. The fund raiser dinner with Nastia Luikin is being held to help raise funds for gymnastics scholarships for needy children ...

Camden doctor sheds light on stuttering

The handsome young contestant strides onto the "American Idol" stage. The music swells, and Lazaro Arbos sings -- fluently, confidently. Thunderous applause and cheers follow. Then a judge on the popular TV show asks him a question. Lazaro opens his mouth emitting halting, repetitive sounds at first. In a few seconds, the spoken words come, but it's a struggle.

LeGrand Institute practices fire safety

Students at the LeGrand Institute of Cosmetology in Camden received a lesson on fire safety at a recent event at the campus. Assistant Fire Chief Eddie Gardner came out to the school and taught students how to use a fire extinguisher. Firefighters also started a fire and each student who wanted to participate got the opportunity to put the fire out as a way of practicing what they had learned. "It was a fun, ...

Local author publishes book about student success in the classroom

Books on Broad will host Jayne Bowers as she discusses and signs Eve's Sisters and Crossing the Bridge: Succeeding in a Community College and Beyond on Thursday, May 2, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Books on Broad is located at 944 Broad St. in Camden. The event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and autographing.

Bobby Wilson, Sr.

A graveside service for Bobby Gene Wilson, Sr., of Elgin, SC will be held on Friday, May 17, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Harmony Baptist Church, Elgin. Pastor Dan Griffin will officiate. Visitation will follow in the church Fellowship Hall. Memorials may be made in Bobby's memory to VFW Post 11079, 2464 Bowen St., Elgin, SC 29045.

Ruby Murphy

Funeral Service for Ruby Murphy, 50, of 501 King Street in Camden will be held Monday, May 20, 2013, 3 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church (Black River Road) in Camden with burial in the Cedars cemetery. She died Tuesday, May 14. Collins Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Deacon Marion Jenkins

Vera K. Cockrell

Elks Lodge recognizes 2013 Oustanding Young Students

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks designated the first week in May as Youth Week to honor America's Junior Citizens for their accomplishments.

Fredericksburg Township explored

Our grand city of Camden is a beautifully preserved town laid out in an 18th century plan devised by Joseph Kershaw. We are proud of our historic homes and buildings, carefully placed public parks, wide streets, and beautiful trees. So it is easy to forget that this was not the original plan for the "town" that was to develop in this area of South Carolina. The original plan was a part of the "Township ...

The Lugoff-Elgin “Blue Monster”

Former CHS standout to speak at Bulldog banquet

Crystal Johnson, a 2003 graduate of Camden High, who was a volleyball and basketball standout for the Lady Bulldogs during her high school career, will be the guest speaker at the Camden High School Athletic Banquet to be held on Tuesday, May 21, in the school gymnasium.

What was the IRS thinking?

Well, this is a fine mess.

Hayes Creek Skateboarding Competition

There will be a skateboarding competition Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in the Hayes Creek Subdivision in Elgin. The event is sponsored by Salty's Board Shop in Columbia. The proceeds from the competition will go towards purchasing skateboarding gear for the park in an effort to keep kids off of drugs and keep them off of the streets.

Dog’s human mom experiences drama at local dog park

Dear Annie: I have an 8-month-old puppy, and I take her to a local dog park so she can run off leash and play with the other dogs, which she loves. In the three months I have been taking her, "Phoebe" has never been attacked or fought with another dog. That was until last night, when Phoebe approached another dog that was on a leash and that dog attacked her.