Dogs tied for third; L-E girls fall to Irmo

Two games. One crazy week.

This week in KC sports

Monday: Rock Hill at Lugoff-Elgin in third round of state class 4A wrestling championship (7 p.m.)

National study gives high score to KCSD

A national study measuring the productivity of every school district in the country has rated the Kershaw County School District as providing a "high return on its investment." It is the only school district in the Midlands and one of only 12 in the state to earn the report's highest marks.

Camden native honored with education award

Josh Austin was one of eight senior Presbyterian College education majors to receive the Recognition of Excellence on a recent national education licensure test. The honor recognizes students whose scores rank in the top 15 percent nationally of students who have ever taken the test.

Ananias Brevard

Mr. Ananias "Fat Man" Brevard, 29, of 2401 James Road, Jacksonville, Florida, died Tuesday. Friends may call at 582 Pipeline Road, Knights Hill Community, Camden. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced at a later date by Brown's Funeral Home, Camden, who is serving the Brevard family.

Rose Pearce

A memorial service for Rose Marie Saunders Pearce will be held on Monday, February 7th at 2:00 pm at Lexington United Methodist Church. The family received friends at Powers Funeral Home in Lugoff from 3-5 Sunday evening.

Gail Ruffing

Funeral service for Gail Louise Ruffing, 71, will be held Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. at Rowan Presbyterian Church. Rev. Phillip McCoy will officiate. The family will receive friends Monday 5-7 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home, Lugoff. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rowan Presbyterian Church, 818 Ridgeway Road, Lugoff, S.C. 29078.

Gov. Laser Beam

WASHINGTON -- Jerry Brown for president?

County receives $300,000 mentoring grant

Ask anyone who works with children what the greatest factor is for success in a young person's life, and you will hear the same answer over and over -- the presence and involvement of a caring adult.

Robert Ariail -- Feb. 7, 2011

Noted and passed

• We're glad to see that the Camden Police Department and Rep. Laurie Slade Funderburk are both taking part in trying to get alcohol energy drinks outlawed in South Carolina. The beverages, which come in large cans, have high alcohol content along with a significant amount of caffeine, which can be a deadly combination, especially for young drinkers who have had little experience with alcohol. The dangers of these drinks are widely known, and Funderburk is one of several legislators who introduced a bill in the General Assembly. It is now wending its way through the legislative process.

Firewise

Residents are proud of their Pine Creek neighborhood in Camden, which was recognized by Firewise Communities/USA, part of the National Firewise Communities program, for its fire hazard awareness. Pine Creek met several standards to receive the honor, including enlisting an urban interface specialist with the S.C. Forestry Commission to complete a community assessment; sponsoring a local Firewise Task Force Committee; and submitting an annual report to Firewise Communities that documents continuing compliance with the program. Pine Creek is just the ninth community in the state to be recognized. "It is not a quick or easy process," said Michael ...

Happy 100 birthday!

Mrs. Alada Carlos celebrated her 100th birthday Jan. 22. She sits (top photo) with her grandson Freddie Carlos, III and son Freddie Carlos, Jr. Above, Mrs. Carlos enjoys the company of Ida Christian, her cousin, and Bettye Davis, a friend. Ida and her husband John sponsored the special celebration at their home. Friends and family were invited to come celebrate the occasion with special cake, ice cream, punch and coffee. Born 1911, Mrs. Carlos said she knew she had seen a lot of birthdays but she didn't know she would see 100 and she is thankful to God for ...

Students with Camden ties receives scholarships

John David Black (left), a Richland Northeast School 11th-grader, is the second-place recipient of the 2011 Dream Keeper High School Scholarship. His brother, Richard Black, a Dent Middle School eighth-grader, is the middle school winner. Both boys are the grandchildren of the late David and Estelle Jones of Camden. The Dream Keeper Scholarship was founded by former City of Colombia Councilman E.W. Cromartie II. The award recognizes exemplary displays of committed service to the tenets of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The ideals of social responsibility, political empowerment, diversity, racial harmony, nonviolence, and unselfish service must be demonstrated voluntarily ...

Miss Hunter, Mr. Peavy engaged

Mr. and Mrs. David Hunter of Elgin announce the engagement of their daughter, Lindsay Rebecca Hunter of Elgin, to Ira Wade Peavy of Sumter. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Peavy of Sumter.

Ariail for March 3, 2014

Noted and passed - March 3, 2014

• It was good, if still mixed, news from KershawHealth a week ago that January's financials looked a bit better than they have recently. The healthcare organization still posted a loss for the month -- as it has every month for some time now -- but only of $84,000. Compare that to $902,000 in losses for October 2013 alone and that is very good news. KershawHealth has a long way to go to combat a projected $32 million in operational losses by Fiscal Year 2018, less than five years away. However, last week's meeting also revealed that the KershawHealth ...

Be a pig or be a possum

Mama had great stories. My favorite was the only one I asked often for her to repeat. It has become something of an anthem in my life.

Images from the Mud Puddle

Introduction

Reverend Joseph Drakeford, Jr.

Funeral service for Reverend Joseph Drakeford, Jr., 73, of 64 Payne Pond Road in Westville will be held Wednesday, March 5, 2014, 11:00 A.M. at St. Paul United Methodist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may visit at 750 Boyd Road in Camden. He died Friday, February 28, 2014. Collins Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Billy J. Ellis

Mr. Billy J. Ellis, 75, of 1320 Jones Road, Kershaw died Wednesday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced at a later date by Brown's Funeral Home, Camden, who is serving the Ellis Family.

Grace Eubanks Gainey

Funeral services for Grace Eubanks Gainey, 72, of Bethune will be held at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 4, 2014, in Timrod Baptist Church, Bethune. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The Revs. Jim Wallace and Jackie Knight will officiate.

Carolina Cup-date on ticket sales

Even though the Carolina Cup is more than a month away, reserved parking spaces are selling at a brisk pace.

Royals AAU teams list tryout dates

The Royals AAU youth basketball teams will host tryouts in both Camden and Bishopville for its boys and girls' teams.

Carolina Cup tickets now on sale

Invitations for the Carolina Cup steeplechase races were sent out to those on the organization's mailing list last Friday. And tickets and parking spaces for the event are now on sale.