Noted and passed

• We're glad to see that the U.S. Marine Corps has lifted its ban on bracelets which honor U.S. troops killed in combat. Top officials announced last week that Marines in uniform are now authorized to wear killed-in-action bracelets recognizing friends who have died in combat or from battlefield wounds. The change was made after an uproar from Marines when top officers recently began enforcing a ban on the bracelets. Marine brass widely decided the former rule was an outdated one and changed it.

Robert Ariail -- Oct. 24, 2011

'Friend of Extension'

S.C. Rep. Laurie Slade Funderburk (left) was recently recognized as the 2011 "Friend of Extension" at the state Clemson Extension Epsilon Sigma Phi annual meeting. Deon S. Legette (right), regional lead Extension agent, presented the award to Funderburk, who received the honor as a result of her support of agriculture and family life in her district and throughout the state. She was instrumental in starting the Kershaw County Farmers Market and has been a strong supporter of the Kershaw County Forest Landowners Association and Farm/City activities. Funderburk has also been a strong supporter of 4-H and other Clemson ...

Halloween

Get your Halloween thrills and chills at the SAFE Scream on the Green, to be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Camden's Town Green.

Robert Ariail -- Oct. 21, 2011

Grand National steeplechase attracts field of 14 jumpers

A jam-packed field of 14 horses from American steeplechasing's championship division will line up for Saturday's $250,000 Grand National (Gr. 1), the featured race of the 91st annual Far Hills Races.

Lady Knights breeze past MHS

North Central assured itself of a spot in Thursday's Region 3-A volleyball championship match as the Lady Knights trampled McBee in three games in the final regulary scheduled match of the season.

Welcome home

Pets of the week -- Oct. 21, 2011

Among the animals available for adoption at the Walter M. Crowe Animal Shelter are George, a 3-year-old neutered Beagle, and Pepsi, a female calico 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. Saturday. The shelter is closed Sunday and Monday. For information on the shelter or to check for a missing pet, call 425-6016 or e-mail wcas@camden.net. The shelter's ...

Rec notes -- Oct. 21, 2011

Fun and fitness is what the Mini-Olympics of Kershaw County will focus on Oct. 22 at the Larry Doby Complex off Old River Road in Camden.

School menus -- Oct. 21, 2011

The following are menus for Kershaw County schools for the week of Oct. 24-28:

Photo giant near sad collapse

When musical great Paul Simon wrote the hit song "Kodachrome" in 1973, nobody could have foreseen that 38 years later, the photographic giant Eastman Kodak would be on the verge of bankruptcy.

Outreach Bicycles aims to provide 100 children with wheels this holiday season

It's the time of year when Outreach Bicycles for Needy Children continues to advance the cause of donating bicycles to a needy child. This year, Alesha Hudson's (right) goal is to donate 100 bicycles. She did not reach her goal last year of 100, but was able to collect a total of 85 bikes and see 85 smiling faces.

Love exceeds all

"I said to my soul be still and wait without hope; for hope would be hope for the wrong thing.''-T.S Eliot.

Five generations together

On Aug. 2, Jillian Leigh Odom and Charles "Charlie" Allen Furniss announced the birth of a baby boy, Mason Allen Furniss. Mason then became the fifth living generation in the family. Great-great-grandmother Sara Douglas Morris, great-grandmother Alice Morris Furness, grandfather Charlie "Allen" Furniss, father Charles "Charlie" Allen Furniss, and son Mason Allen Furniss are featured in the photo.

Medical marijuana

Both Democrats and Republicans in South Carolina will have advisory questions on their June primary ballots -- votes that will not be binding but are intended simply to provide some feeling for what Palmetto State residents are thinking about particular issues. As you would guess, such questions often revolve around issues particularly important to one party or another, and they're sometimes done to help provide leverage for the parties to push certain projects.

American Legion accepting Palmetto Boys State applications

James Leroy Belk American Legion Post No. 17 is seeking applications for Palmetto Boys State to be held June 8-14 at Anderson University. Applicants should be motivated students interested in learning about citzenship and government, rising seniors of good character and in the top 25 percent of their class. Applications are available from guidance counselors at high schools or may be obtained from Richard Lackey at 432-9527. Above, Palmetto Boys State chairman Lackey dines and chats with Girls State delegate Margeaux Laschanzky and Boys State delegate Riley Kohn when the two youths visited Post 17 to share their experiences from ...

Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Hopkins celebrate 50th anniversary

Alvin and Joanne Hopkins recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. The couple was married on March 21, 1964, at the home of the Rev. Joe Hood. They have two children, Wesley (BK) Hopkins and Lynn (Jackie) Hopkins; two grandchildren, William Hopkins and Justin Hopkins, two step-grandchildren, Lauren Langford and Josh Napper; and one step-greatgrandchild, Vance Langford.

David Lawerence Kelly Jr

A Funeral Mass for David Lawerence Kelly Jr., 43, will be celebrated on Monday at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Camden, S.C. The Rev. Father Paul Brenninkmeijer will officiate. Final Commendation and Farewell Prayers will be in Quaker Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Walter M. Crowe Animal Shelter, 460 Fair Street, Camden, SC 29020.

Demons give Cavaliers the boot

Now this is how you end a drought.

Demons netters rip RNE twice

With their head coach missing the match due to a knee injury, the Lugoff-Elgin tennis team tried to help in Edward Rickwood's recovery by dousing visiting Richland Northeast, 7-0, in a Region 4-4A match played on Tuesday.

Sandy Heyward Boykin, Sr.

A celebration of life service for Sandy Heyward Boykin, Sr., 55, will be held Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at Powers funeral home. The Rev. Reece Byrd and the Rev. Ann Byrd will officiate.

Gators take a bite out of Dogs

First-year schools and their athletic teams are not supposed to be this good.

Lady Demons sweep RNE

Lugoff-Elgin tuned up for its Thursday night battle with conference-leading Blythewood by handing visiting Richland Northeast a pair of losses in a Tuesday night Region 4-4A doubleheader.

Thanks from Historic Camden

The governing board of Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site would like to express its sincerest appreciation to Mayor Tony Scully and the members of Camden City Council for approving recommended changes to a much needed sewer project that crosses portions of our historic site. City Manager Mel Pearson, Public Works Director Tom Couch and Deputy Director Sam Davis are to be commended for working tirelessly with numerous individuals to find a solution to installing the sewer lines in a timely manner while protecting parts of the archaeologically rare and nationally significant colonial site of early Camden.

Gullible and guilty

Those of us who jump for joy when we hear that Governor Haley is deeply concerned about education and is planning to dedicate $160 million in new spending for education might consider, as we bow heads in hope and tenuous gratitude, that such concern on her part is coming awfully late but just in time for her possible re-election. Better late than never? Perhaps! But better earlier, for sure. The S.C. education budget has been reduced for the last three years by more than the proposed budget raises -- $110 million in her first year and $140 million stimulus money ...

Ariail for April 11, 2014

Southern charm

WASHINGTON -- After writing close to 3,000 columns, I've learned that people sometimes read what they're looking for, often as a result of a headline, rather than what I wrote.

Among the state's elite

Elliott feature speaker at KC Gamecock Club celebration

The Kershaw County Gamecock Club will hold its annual "Great to be a Gamecock Gathering" on Tuesday, April 29 at the Old South Restaurant in Camden at 6:30 p.m.