Retiring archives director to focus on personal projects

Howard Branham stood in front of an exhibit cabinet in the museum wing of the Camden Archives and Museum Friday morning as about 40 people stopped by to wish him well on his retirement. They included fellow members of city staff, members of the Friends of the Archives and Museum and members of the Camden Archives and Museum Commission.

Council focuses on audit, BAR proposal

Aside from moving forward with its search for a replacement for outgoing City Manager Kevin Bronson, Camden City Council focused on finances and whether or not to create a board of architectural review during its work session Dec. 11. The 2012 fiscal year ended nearly six months ago on June 30.

City holds corridor public meeting

The city of Camden held a public drop-in meeting for citizens input on proposed enhancements for key entryways. Areas that are being considered for improvements include entrances located on West DeKalb Street (U.S. 1) and the north and south ends of Broad Street U.S. 521. There are also plans to further develop the South Rutledge Street parking lot (behind Broad Street, south of Rutledge Street) and the Commerce Alley parking ...

Archives director retires; Richardson named successor

Howard Branham is retiring today as director of the Camden Archives and Museum. Branham began working at the archives in March 1998 and became its director in 2008 following the death of the previous director, Agnes Corbett.

Council tables procurement policy on 3-2 vote

Camden City Council voted Tuesday to table first reading of an ordinance that would reaffirm and amend a procurement policy written into the city's employee handbook. Tuesday night's vote is the latest chapter in a nearly two-year-old struggle over the policy.

Our place in history

Midlands residents watching Steven Spielberg's latest film, Lincoln, may not know that there is a Camden connection to the 16th President of the United States. The fact that his brother-in-law, Dr. George Rogers Clark Todd, is buried in Camden's Quaker Cemetery is likely nothing new to long-time residents, however. With the debut of Spielberg's movie, recollections of the past have reemerged, and Todd is part of that past. <p class="MsoNormal" ...

Heavy agendas to greet new council members

Newly elected Camden Mayor Tony Scully and Councilwoman Laurie Parks will be greeted at their first work session and regular meeting with thick agendas Tuesday. Council will not meet again until January.

Camden corridor/gateway meeting tonight

The city of Camden will hold a drop-in public meeting Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to seek public input regarding corridor and gateway improvements. The public meeting will be held at Camden High School's Media Center, 1022 Ehrenclou Drive. The meeting will provide opportunity for interested individuals and groups to actively participate in the planning and design process.

Camden Christmas tree Lighting

Candlelight Tour returns Dec. 8

Break out your mittens and winter jackets and experience the "the historic charm of South Carolina's oldest inland city" at the 36th annual Candlelight Tour of Homes on Dec. 8 from 3 to 8 p.m.

Emotions run high at last council meeting for Graham, Partin

Some drama, a "sermon" and a tearful good-bye highlighted Mayor Jeffrey Graham and Councilman Pat Partin's last Camden City Council meeting Tuesday night. Emotions ran high during both actual business and in the parting words Partin, leaving council after 12 years, and Graham, as outgoing mayor, spoke at meeting's end.

‘Ready to begin’

A new mayor a new councilwoman and a returning councilwoman took the oath of office Monday night at Camden City Hall, followed by refreshments in the adjoining bay of Camden Fire Station No. 1. A crowd of citizens, including many who had to stand against the side and back walls, witnessed the oaths.

Steeplechase Museum to expand

Before the doors to the National Steeplechase Museum (NSM) were officially opened on the night before the 1998 Colonial Cup, a call was sent out to anyone and all persons involved in the sport who would like to donate memorabilia to the still-unopened facility.

Drop-in for Rutledge Street parking project

The city of Camden will hold a drop-in public meeting Dec. 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. to seek public input regarding improvements to the South Rutledge Street Parking Lot. The public meeting will be held at Books on Broad, located at 944 Broad St., Camden. The meeting will provide opportunity for interested individuals and groups to actively participate in the planning and design process.

Camden’s tree lighting ceremony set for Friday

This past week, city of Camden utility crews have been busy placing holiday decorations throughout Camden in preparation for the holiday season.

Beard collection opens Thursday at Archives

Visitors won't be able to help but stop and stare at the giant rifle at the Camden Archives and Museum. At 6 feet long and 90 pounds heavy, the training rifle features an 8-inch bolt for .50 caliber armor piercing rounds. Fashioned at Pearl Harbor, the rifle's barrel is actually from the USS Arizona sunk during the Japanese attack of Dec. 7, 1941, that catapulted the United States into World War II.

Invista Camden helps out SC jobs

According to a study completed in 2012 by Harrah Analytics, INVISTA's Camden site supports more than 3,000 jobs and more than $145 million in compensation and benefits. The independent economic research firm found each INVISTA job generated, on average, about six other jobs in the state. Nationally, INVISTA's nearly 4,500 full and part-time employees in the United States indirectly resulted in an estimated 22,000 additional jobs and more than $1.3 billion in compensation and ...

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.

Olympic gymnast Luikin to make personal appearance

All Around Olympic Champion Nastia Luikin will be appearing at Wateree Gymnastics Center of Camden SC's Fit n' Fun Gymnastics Clinic and fund raising dinner on June 24. Competitive gymnasts of all levels are invited to attend the clinic, and the fund raiser dinner, which begins at 5:30 p.m., is open to the public. The fund raiser dinner with Nastia Luikin is being held to help raise funds for gymnastics scholarships for needy children ...

Tuesday Power outage in Camden result of fallen limb

A limb falling on a line on Lakeview Avenue caused a power outage Tuesday morning in a residential section of Camden.

Broad Street road diet will be done in stages

It might not happen until at least 2016, perhaps later, but if the city of Camden decides to move ahead with a proposed plan to put a section of Broad Street on a "road diet," it will happen in four stages and take 18 months to complete. That was the word from Ernie Boughman of URS, the city's engineering firm, to Camden City Council during a 4 p.m. work session Tuesday. Council also learned ...