Sex, drugs and then...

WASHINGTON -- Sometimes fiction can't improve on life.

Take time for others

What kind of memories are you leaving behind? Have you ever thought about that?

Listen, city leaders, to your citizens

I don't use Facebook, I probably wouldn't use a YMCA in Camden, and I may be speaking for a small segment of our city and county. But many of us agree that timing is everything on big financial decisions in a community with the economic recession that we have here in Camden and Kershaw County, our state and our nation.

National Park designations

We at Let Freedom Ring believe in peace through strength. In this same belief we want to honor those soldiers who fought at the Battle of Camden. Those soldiers who fought at this battle believed that the peace they so desperately wanted could only come through strength and standing up to the British army stationed here at Camden. Even though the Americans lost this battle, it went a long way in winning the war and giving the Americans the peace they wanted.

Michelle Bachmann

Up until recently, someone who mentioned the words "woman" and "presidential candidate" in the same breath probably would have been met with the response, "Sarah Palin." But now, with Palin's star fading -- at least politically -- and with nobody having stepped forward to commandeer the frontrunner's role in the Republican field, Minnesota Congressman Michelle Bachmann is assuming a front-and-center position as a viable candidate to take the GOP nomination. Whether her early poll results will result in another shooting-star phenomenon is yet to be told, but Bachmann is proving herself a more adept campaigner than Palin was.

Polk only councilman to 'truly represent' citizens

I am somewhat puzzled over Martin Cahn's newspaper's accounting of city council meetings. I am particularly confused by the detailing of Mr. Polk's emotions and body language during the meetings. Are all eyes, including the reporter's, on Mr. Polk, because he is the only one who is responding to the outrage? The recent attempt to abolish the commissions is quite revealing. Mr. Partin questioned Mr.Polk's concerns and accused him of advocating larger government. In my view, Mr. Polk was defending a democratic government! Not to allow the people on these commissions the right to ...

INVISTA Camden celebrates technical lab expansion

INVISTA celebrated the completion of its technical lab expansion in Lugoff after six months of successful operation. The company invested more than $5 million in research and development at the site, a nylon fiber manufacturing facility.

Chain-letter e-mails don’t keep friendships alive

Dear Annie: I am constantly getting chain-letter e-mails from a friend I met in a class years ago. The e-mails usually contain vague threats about how something bad will happen to me if I don't forward the letter to five friends, or how good luck will follow if I do. The last straw was when she sent me one that said, "Forward this, and something good will happen. If you are not a believer in God, delete."

Nelson earns degree from Louisburg

A local student graduated in May from Louisburg College in Louisburg, N.C.

Scrapbook for July 6, 2011

Independence Day (July 4th) is a great holiday! We don't give gifts. And most people don't send "Happy Fourth of July" cards. Families have traditions how to celebrate. For me, it's parades, fireworks and food! Most of the foods we think of for this holiday are quite simple. Hot dogs, hamburgers and barbecue are at the top of my list. It's a case of "put it on the grill and sit in the shade." (One may guess that this is my day out of the kitchen.)

Elgin churches participate in housing blitz

One Elgin home received a makeover from Blaney Baptist youth and adults during the Elgin Construction Blitz last week.

Demonstrative takes Entenmann Stakes

Jacqueline Ohrstrom's Demonstrative, jumping well under Robbie Walsh, took command after the final fence on Belmont Park's turf course and drew away to a seven-length victory in Sunday's $50,000 William Entenmann Novice Stakes.

Patsy Dixon

Ms. Patsy Dixon, 51, of 2446 B Watson Street, Elgin, SC, passed on Friday, July 1, 2011.

Joyce Gipson Gambrell

A memorial service celebrating the life of Joyce Gipson Gambrell, 72, of Lugoff, will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, July 9, 2011 at Lugoff Church of God. Reverend Tim Shirley will officiate.

Carol A. Naso

Funeral Mass for Carol Anne Peter Naso, 71, Elgin, will be celebrated Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Columbia. Final Commendation and Farewell Prayers will be in Greenhaven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Monday from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home, Lugoff. Flowers will be accepted or Memorials may be made to The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037.

An Awesome ending for Pearl and Norris

Gil Johnston's Awesome Pearl, overlooked at 35-to-1 in the betting, surged through Saratoga Race Course's stretch and won a down-to-the-wire battle with Kingdom in last Thursday's $75,000 Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes.

Miss Kaleigh Ward to marry Mr. Grant Cox in September

Mr. and Mrs. William O. Ward, Jr. of Camden announce the engagement of their daughter, Miss Kaleigh Ward of Camden, SC to Mr. Grant Cox of Irmo, SC. Miss Ward is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. William O. Ward, Sr. of Camden, SC and the late Mr. and Mrs. Victor Rabon of Lugoff, SC. Miss Ward earned her Bachelor of Arts at Furman University and is the Area Director at N2 Publishing in Memphis, TN.

The legend of Lloyd Seay

Their histories, accurate and complete, are lost to time and buried with them and those who knew them. I wish I knew more for their stories would read like a page-turning novel.

CCTC students in fabricated crime scene for final exam

Central Carolina Technical College's CRJ 202 Criminalistics (Forensics) course is taking their final exam Tuesday July 29 at 5:30 p.m. on location at a fabricated crime scene. NCIS agent Tony Horton is the instructor. He has partnered with the Sumter Sheriff's Department and set up an area in the back of Patriot Park off of Hwy. 441 in Sumter for this exam to take place. It will be in a wooded area where students will actually use what they have learned in the classroom to process a crime scene.

Ariail for July 28, 2014

Tourney action continues in Sumter

The South Carolina Senior State American Legion Tournament continues today through Wednesday at Riley Park in Sumter.

Noted and passed - July 28, 2014

• Friday's report that Amtrak is going to spend the next several months refurbishing Camden's passenger rail station off West DeKalb Street is welcome news. Built in 1937, it has shown its age for decades and never more so than now with holes in the platform's canopy, rotting timbers and other problems that make it a less than desirable place to stop. Amtrak says their No. 1 priority is making the facility Americans with Disabilities Act compliant -- and that's a very good thing -- from the parking lot to the station and onto the platform and train. But ...

Feature Photo: 'The Three Mayors'

‘What is that?’

In the quest to answer the many questions I receive about trees, see below for part three in the continuing series.

Amtrak to renovate Camden train station, grounds

After decades of requests from residents and years of negotiation with city officials, Amtrak is announcing that it will renovate its station in Camden and the surrounding property. Work will begin Aug. 4, and -- according JarVor Williams, an Amtrak construction engineer overseeing the project -- make the facility compliant with the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Patricia Gail Alger-Benson

A memorial service celebrating the life of Patricia Gail Alger-Benson, 68, of Lugoff, SC will be held on Saturday July 26, 2014 at 2:00 PM. at Blaney Baptist Church. Rev. Philip Blankenship will officiate. The family will receive friends on Friday, July25, from 6:00-7:30 PM at Kornegay Funeral Home Lugoff-Elgin Chapel. Memorials may be made in her memory to Blaney Baptist Church, 1400 Blaney Road, Elgin, SC 29045.

Sammie F. Thomas Jr.

Funeral services for Sammie F. Thomas Jr. will be held on Saturday July 26, 2014 at 2 p.m. in the Divine Mortuary Chapel, 5620 Hillandale Dr. Lithonia, Georgia 30058.

Betty Jo Crump Mays, R.N.

Funeral services for Betty Jo Crump Mays, R.N., 76, will be held Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at New Life Christian Outreach, Lugoff, with burial to follow in Scotch Cemetery, Bethune. The Rev. Richard Cameron will officiate. The family will receive friends Friday, July 25, 2014, from 6-8 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home.

Hospital Auxiliary of KershawHealth Golf Tournament

The Hospital Auxiliary of KershawHealth's twenty fifth annual golf tournament will be held on Thursday, September 4, 2014 at the Camden Country Club.

Ariail for July 25, 2014