Palmetto Boys State applications accepted

The Leroy Belk American Legion Post 17 is seeking applications for Palmetto Boys State, to be held June 12-18 at Anderson University. Applicants should be motivated students interested in learning about citizenship and government, rising seniors of good character and in the top 25 percent of their class.

This week in Kershaw County sports

Monday: North Central at Lugoff-Elgin (TEN – 4 p.m.); South Pointe at Camden Military Academy (TEN – 4 p.m.); Lugoff-Elgin at Ridge View (G – 4 p.m.); Lower Richland at Camden Military Academy (BB – 5 p.m.); Covenant Christian at Camden Military Academy (BSOC – 6:15 p.m.); Lugoff-Elgin at Blythewood (BB – 6:30 p.m.); Lugoff-Elgin at Blythewood (SB – 7 p.m.); North Central in Region 3-A Golf Tournament at Chester (TBA)

Elks to present scholarship awards

Applications will be accepted through April 30 for the Camden-Lugoff Elks Lodge No. 2603 annual Mary Ellen Ahner Scholarship. Any Kershaw County High School senior planning to pursue a career in education is eligible to apply.

How we still fight the Civil War

Fort Sumter surrendered to the rebels again last week with what one observer called "measured enthusiasm," compared to the Civil War centennial celebration 50 years earlier. For that, South Carolina, a grateful war-weary nation thanks you.

Charleston Horticulture Society visits Camden for garden tour

Hats off to Camden Garden Club member Barbara Beard. She has, over the last couple of years, put together a fabulous tour of gardens. These gardens though, are not just in Camden. She has coordinated with other garden clubs from around the state and they alternate where the tours will be.

J. Hoke Murphree and FFA influences

With the creation of five new rural high schools in Kershaw County in 1923 came new learning experiences for these new high school students. Antioch, Blaney, Charlotte Thompson, Midway, and Mt. Pisgah not only offered the basic courses of English, Math, Science and Social Studies but soon offered such vocational subjects as Agriculture and Home Economics.

Robert Ariail -- April 25, 2011

Noted and passed -- April 25, 2011

• Southwest Airlines has been flying out of Greenville-Spartanburg and Charleston airports for several weeks now, with good apparent results. Travelers are booking trips for the unique airline's lower fares and lack of add-on fees. It's too bad that Columbia's airport can't attract a quality nationwide low-cost carrier, for as airline prices continue to soar, Kershaw County travelers will be joining others across the country in seeking the lowest fares.

Green-minded

Broad Street two-lane plan needs additional review

I have just returned from the downtown post office. I spent all of three minutes going from the Tickle Hill and Black River roads intersection to Fair Street downtown. The next 15 minutes were spent from Rutledge Street to the post office parking lot. This was at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. The point of this letter is not to complain about the time spent, but if I were a downtown merchant as I was until 2008, I would never want Broad Street changed to a two-lane street. The backed-up traffic will be horrible, and unless you meet ...

Bulldog netters wrap up region crown

In most matches, it is the top of the order for the Camden tennis team which wraps up their respective matches and is left to cheer on their teammates.

Kirkland tapped for Phi Kappa Phi

Matthew Tyler Kirkland, of Lugoff, was recently initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at Francis Marion University, where he is studying computer science.

McLester scholarship deadline May 5

Applications will be accepted through May 5 for the 2011 Thomas E. McLester Scholarship Award, given by Camden First United Methodist Church.

Community Medical Clinic hosts annual horse ride fundraiser

The second annual horse ride to benefit the Community Medical Clinic of Kershaw County will be held on Saturday, May 7 (rain date, Sunday, May 8). The ride is sponsored by Horsepower of the Midlands (a counseling center for people that offers both traditional and equine assisted counseling).

Pets of the week -- April 22, 2011

Among the animals available for adoption at the Walter M. Crowe Animal Shelter are a 10-week-old springer spaniel mix puppy and an 8-week-old domestic medium-haired kitten. 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 ...

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.