New school trustees ready to go to work

Two of three new Kershaw County school board trustees are looking forward to their first meeting on Jan. 8 and already have some priorities in mind. Life-long Kershaw County resident Louis Clyburn says he has always had a passion for the community and is thankful for the public and the local media's support throughout his campaign. Clyburn is a former DuPont employee who will take Seat No. 5, ...

Camden grad student earns fuel cell grant

A former Camden High School (CHS) student is celebrating $25,000 in funding through the Fuel Cell Collaborative, a partnership between the University of South Carolina (USC) and the city of Columbia.

Dentists to provide free dental screenings for students

Kershaw County dentists will continue their long-standing relationship with Kershaw County School District (KCSD) by providing dental screenings for elementary school students in K5 to-fifth-grade beginning in January.

Are gender-neutral toys the right fit?

A 13-year-old girl from New Jersey has campaigned to get the makers of Easy-Bake Oven to put gender-neutral colored ovens on the market.

ATEC students paint Phantom Fighter

Level one Auto Collision students at the Applied Technology Education Campus (ATEC) repainted a portion of an F-4C Phantom Fighter at the Camden airport this month.

Crime Report - Dec. 19, 2012

The Kershaw County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) is looking for a suspect after he assaulted and robbed a man in Kershaw County.

CPD officers at CES after Conn. shooting

Several Camden Police Department (CPD) officers appeared at Camden Elementary School (CES) Friday following news out of Newtown, Conn., of what is being considered the second-worst school-related shooting in American history.

School board says ‘good-bye’ to longest serving trustees

Two of Kershaw County's school board trustees said good-bye last week after 27 years of combined service on the board.

Trappist beer a rare commodity

Westvleteren 12 is a highly sought after beer made by Belgian monks at the Abbey of St. Sixtus of Wesvletern, Flanders, Belgium.

KCSD receives unqualified audit report

The Kershaw County School District (KCSD) received an unqualified audit report for the 2013 fiscal year from Larry Montague of the accounting firm of Burkett, Burkett and Burkett during the Kershaw County Board of School Trustees' meeting Monday. Montague said the firm found the KCSD's financial documents "correct and appropriate" for the fiscal year, which ended back on June 30. An unqualified opinion is ...

Crime Report - Dec. 12, 2012

A string of vehicle break-ins Friday and Saturday have left many Camden residents without Christmas gifts, personal documents and GPS units.

Remembering Michael

Michael Joseph Smith was more than a young adult killed in a "gang-related" shooting five years ago on Dec. 7, 2007. He was a son and a brother. As the Chronicle-Independent concluded its three-part series "Michael's Legacy, 2007-2012" Friday, Michael's mother, Jody Hancock, said she wanted to make sure those impacted by Michael's death and the community's response to it didn't forget Michael himself. The ...

Michael’s legacy: a commitment to change

I've heard that one of the hardest things to do in life is to bury your own child. I can't imagine, but don't think I'm too far off in thinking that it would be especially hard when a young son or daughter has lost their life to other young sons and daughters.

Grant programs working, but will they last?

Michael Joseph Smith died exactly five years ago tonight, Dec. 7, 2007, in a gang-related shooting at the McDonald's near the U.S. 521/I-20 interchange. His death spurred a conversation about how Kershaw County would handle gang-affiliation and prevention. Since his death, many Kershaw County entities have come together to apply for and implement Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS), a five year, $6 million federally funded program. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: ...

Arrests sent message as teen’s death inspired community

Kershaw County Sheriff's Office Lt. Danny Templar said the night of Dec. 7, 2007, was "a jagged pill of reality." Michael Smith, 17, had been fatally wounded by a gunshot at the McDonald's/TigerShop near U.S. 521/I-20.

Third suspect arrested in March hit and run case

The S.C. Highway Patrol (SCHP) arrested a third suspect in an Elgin hit-and-run case from earlier this year.

Crime Report - May 22, 2013

The Kershaw County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) charged two men and a woman, all of Camden, with drug possession after placing their home under surveillance for several months.

S.C. Secretary of State visits North Central Middle

S.C. Secretary of State Mark Hammond gave North Central Middle School (NCMS) students an overview of his position within the state of South Carolina.

CMA graduate continues family legacy with graduation

Second arrest in fatal accident

A second arrest was made in the case of a fatal hit-and-run in Elgin on March 1. 26-year-old Jesus Corona Cabal, of Columbia, was charged with accessory after the fact for helping the driver involved in the hit and run "destroy" the 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse that hit and killed Derk Lawrence Maricle of Lugoff, S.C. Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Brent Kelly said.

Nuclear plant equipment reroutes traffic on Camden’s Broad street

A 605,000 pound piece of equipment traveling to V.C. Summer Nuclear plant in Fairfield County made an appearance in Camden on Wednesday.