Discretion advised

WASHINGTON -- Discretionary spending, the part of the federal budget that is not on autopilot and is subject to annual appropriations, generally constitutes less than 40 percent of federal spending. Take out defense spending and that share drops to well under 20 percent. So if your goal is to slash government spending and your approach is to go after discretionary spending without touching the military, it will require punishing, drastic cuts to make any ...

Going green

Camden Urban Forester Liz Gilland (far left) applies water as a work crew prepares to lower the first of eight oak trees Monday into the interior of the city's new Town Green. Three more oaks were planted that morning; four more were expected to be planted today. Another 12 trees of various types will be planted in outlying areas of the green, expected to be completed by March 24.

Sallie Louvina Wright Martin

Mrs. Sallie Louvina Wright Martin, 92, of 5763 Lucknow Road, Bethune, SC, passed on Monday, January 24, 2011.

KH leadership team restructured, expanded

At Monday's meeting of the KershawHealth of Board Trustees, members and hospital administrators said good-bye and expressed thanks to Don Trippell. Trippell served as KershawHealth's vice president and chief financial officer for approximately one year. He is returning to his former position as chief financial officer for Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital in Elkin, N.C.

Taylor Reedy Jr.

Taylor Reedy Jr., 52, of Lugoff, died Monday, January 24, 2011. He was born in Savannah, Ga., on February 16, 1958 to the late Taylor Reedy, Sr. and Carrie (Singleton) Reedy.

Rec Notes - Jan. 23, 2011

Baseball, softball registration starts Feb. 1

Pets of the Week - Jan. 28, 2011

Among the animals available for adoption at the Walter M. Crowe Animal Shelter are a 3-month-old male hound mix puppy and a 1-year-old male orange tabby cat. The adoption donation includes spaying or neutering. The shelter, located at the south end of Fair Street and managed by the Kershaw County Humane Society, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ...

Local students named to PC Dean's List

The following area students were named to the Dean's List at Presbyterian College for maintaining at least a 3.5 grade point average for the fall 2010 semester:

Obama bounces back

At this midpoint of his first term, it is too early to say what President Barack Obama's legacy will be. We don't even know whether he will get a second term. But we're beginning to see more clearly the outlines of what that legacy might be: In a contentious age of left-versus-right, he's a center-left pragmatist -- and he's beginning to make it pay off.

William Miles

William Preston Miles, of Elgin, passed away on Tuesday, January 25, 2011. He was born in Blaney, SC on June 8, 1938. William was the son of the late Walter L. Miles and Lillie E. Owens Miles.

Ducks Unlimited banquet set for Feb. 26

The Wateree Chapter Ducks Unlimited Sportsman's Banquet will be held on Saturday, Feb. 26 at the Health Resource Center on Battleship Road.

Happy 50th anniversary

Pat and Jack Deal are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married on January 28, 1961 in Camden at historic Bethesda Presbyterian Church.

Demons take control of Region 4-4A wrestling race

Trailing visiting Irmo by 11 points with five matches left to go in a key Region 4-4A wrestling match last Thursday night, Lugoff-Elgin rattled off 34 unanswered points to come away with a 40-27 win.

Initial private applicator training scheduled

Training for a private applicator license in order to purchase, use or supervise the use of any agricultural pesticide labeled "for restricted use only" will be held Monday in Bishopville.

Do you think the state should ban alcoholic energy drinks?

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.