‘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.

Camden’s new recycling program rolls along

Blue is the new green -- at least when it comes to recycling in Camden. In early October, some residents' old green bins were replaced with blue rolling bins as part of a pilot program offered by the city of Camden.

Sports complex referendum to be acknowledged

In what will be among Jeffrey Graham and Pat Partin's final actions as, respectively, Camden's mayor and a city councilman, Camden City Council will consider a resolution to declare and acknowledge the results of a referendum held during the Nov. 6 general election on the construction of a proposed sports complex. By a 7 percent margin, city voters said "no" to continuing ...

A ‘chili’ day

The second annual Chili Cook-off on Nov. 3 benefited the United Way of Kershaw County. The Amateur first place winner of the Chili Cook-off was Team Deloach (Joe Deloach Jr.), second place was Upchurch and Jowers and third place was Old Armory Steak House. In the Professional category, first place went to the Camden Shrine Club (Jamil Bums, Curtis Corbett), second place went to the Camden Shrine club (Terry McCoy), and third place went to ...

C-I profile: Camden’s new mayor

The nation's capital is the place those with political aspirations usually aim for as an ultimate goal. There's a reason the classic James Stewart movie is called "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." But what if you were born in Washington, D.C., and your main aspiration was to see your plays produced on stage?

Camden begins looking for Bronson’s replacement

Camden City Council gave its approval -- along with that of incoming Mayor-elect Tony Scully and Councilwoman-elect Laurie Parks -- for city staff to begin the search to replace City Manager Kevin Bronson. Bronson recently announced he will resign from the city effective Jan. 3 in order to take a management position with the city of Rock Hill government.

Cushman pleads guilty to contempt of court

Suspended Camden City Attorney Charles Cushman pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon to contempt of court by an attorney and paid a $130 fine. In exchange for the plea, the 5th Circuit Solicitor's Office dismissed misconduct in office charges against Cushman connected to allegations that he dismissed Camden Municipal Court charges against certain defendants in exchange for "donations" to the Camden City Drug Fund. Thursday's ...

More Welsh Street annexations on tap

Three more Welsh Street property owners are asking to come into the city of Camden, some of the last in the Sunnyhill subdivision to request annexation. Camden City Council will consider three separate ordinances accepting the properties into the city at Tuesday's 6:30 p.m. meeting.

Live Civil War-era cannonball removed from Archives

Authorities evacuated the Camden Archives and Museum for several hours Friday after staff discovered what is believed to have been a live Civil War-era cannonball in its collection. The shell was eventually removed and destroyed.

Swoosh!

Htax hearing focuses on lack of ‘tourism’ in documents

"Tourism," "tourism-related," "tourists." Those three words dominated a court hearing held Thursday morning on the city's use of hospitality tax funds to build a proposed sports complex. The hearing -- non-jury trial before Circuit Court Judge Alison Renee Lee at the Richland County Courthouse in Columbia -- took place as a result of a lawsuit filed by Camden resident Herbert Farber and ...

City seeks AG's opinion on C-I FOIA

The city of Camden continues to work on a full response to the Chronicle-Independent's September S.C. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for documents and other materials in connection with charges of misconduct in office filed against suspended City Attorney Charles Cushman.

Jungle Safari delights some, rankles others

The appearance Wednesday of a small traveling zoo in Camden provided some residents the chance to see, close up, certain animals they might only ever encounter on television or the Internet. Other residents, however, expressed dismay that such an exhibit was allowed to come to Camden much less exist at all.

Smith named State Transport Police 2012 Employee of the Year

The South Carolina State Transport Police (STP) held a ceremony on Friday, May 3 to recognize its top employees for 2012. LaShaune Smith, resident of Camden, was named State Transport Police 2012 Employee of the Year. Ms. Smith has been with STP for nine years. She serves as the CMV Statistician and Administrative Assistant to Captain J.D. Price.

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 ...