Happy in the Palmetto State

Those of us who are lucky enough to live in South Carolina are accustomed to reading all those quality-of-life surveys that usually place us among the dregs of society.

KCSO: It's time for traffic enforcement

Did you know that last year Kershaw County received a grant and we didn't even ask for it? You might think that was pretty neat until you found out why we received this grant. We were given this grant because Kershaw County has the third highest DUI accident rate per capita of any county in South Carolina.

Watching Egypt through a lens darkly

NEW YORK -- The turmoil in Egypt has been a lesson in the fragility of a right we so often take for granted: To speak.

Minimal me

Minimalism is an essential ingredient in my life. Whether it's because I'm somewhat forced to live within my modest means, or because I can gleefully live my life without much excess, I can't say for certain, but I tend to think even if I was rich in the monetary sense, I'd still focus on the little things in my life that make me smile, laugh, or cry. (Why would I want to cry? ...

Gov. Laser Beam

WASHINGTON -- Jerry Brown for president? Maybe not, but it's striking how much more responsible and specific the California governor was in his State of the State address Monday than President Obama was in his State of the Union speech the week before. The man once known as Governor Moonbeam sounded more like Governor Laser Beam when it came to addressing the state's fiscal crisis. Obama waited until minute 35 to ...

Privileged to cover federal civil rights trial

Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, 2:49 p.m. -- It has been my privilege during most of the last week to report on the trial of former KCSO Sgt. Oddie Tribble Jr. on a charge that he denied a Camden man's civil rights by beating him 27 times with an asp baton.

Reagan and Obama, differently similar

President Ronald Reagan didn't care much about his legacy, he used to joke, since he wouldn't be around to read it. If he were, he'd have lot to read -- and chuckle about.

Enemy mine

I hope this never happens to you. There's this old, rickety, wooden-planked swing bridge, see, and it's going across a huge flooded river -- I see it at the bottom of this steep, endless hill. Looks like two or three big alligators on the right and a barge full of laughing clowns right behind them. I see it coming up at me now -- I'm racing toward it at break neck speed, ...

Honoring our friend, the soldier

My husband and I, along with several Camden friends, recently attempted to throw a send-off party for another close friend also from Camden. In fact, we are all the best of friends, embracing spouse and children as well. As we discussed our options, I was compelled to do a little research as to the appropriate manner in which to carry out such a task; the arduous charge of how to recognize a friend leaving ...

Many stories still to be told

Feb. 1 marked the start of Black History Month in the United States. And with book reports and projects on the horizon, I'm guessing that hundreds of the county's students are racing to the public library to snatch up books on Rosa Parks, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson. But what about the rest of us? Black History Month is a time to celebrate African American culture, and ...

Memory can turn history into myths

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Everybody's got a forum

In an age of instant communication, the Internet has made everyone a critic. Or a reporter. Or a blogger. Or a self-proclaimed expert on practically anything.

That 'exceptional' thing

NEW YORK -- He didn't say it. That word: "exceptional." Barack Obama described an exceptional nation in his State of the Union address, but he studiously avoided using the word conservatives long to hear.

Magazines and the 'power of print'

Anyone who knows me knows I have a mild addiction to Gentleman's Quarterly, more commonly known as GQ.

Still not making the grade

"I've seen the people at 4 o'clock in the morning, waiting, hoping that they would win a seat for their child in a better school. This is not fair. Parents deserve more choices."

Not such strange bedfellows

WASHINGTON -- Breaking news: Conservative organizations suddenly have found common cause with one of their favorite objects of contempt -- the benighted Mainstream Media.

Seniors reflect

I meet with a lot of groups and committees over the course of the year, and I think it's important for me to do so. One of my favorite groups is Student Cabinet, which is comprised of student government leaders from each of our high schools. We meet four times a year over lunch. What I love and value about students is that they don't hesitate to tell you what's ...

A matter of conscience:

In 1929, my family moved from Chesterfield County to a farm adjoining the farm of Donald Holland's parents in the Cassatt community. I was a year old at the time but before many years passed, Donald and I established a friendship lasting until Donald's passing in 2003.

When DOJ targets press, we all lose

To say I was stunned was putting it mildly. I was shocked to learn about the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) decision to seize phone records belonging to the Associated Press (AP). The C-I does not belong to the AP; I have never written for the service. That doesn't negate my outrage at DOJ's actions.

Fredericksburg Township explored

Our grand city of Camden is a beautifully preserved town laid out in an 18th century plan devised by Joseph Kershaw. We are proud of our historic homes and buildings, carefully placed public parks, wide streets, and beautiful trees. So it is easy to forget that this was not the original plan for the "town" that was to develop in this area of South Carolina. The original plan was a part of the "Township ...

What was the IRS thinking?

Well, this is a fine mess.

Are we willing to pay for increased public safety?

Kershaw County public safety is at a crossroads. The sheriff's office is greatly understaffed and deputies are compensated for their mandatory overtime work by an antiquated and grossly unfair payment system. The solicitor's office is working with half the staff it needs to properly prosecute the cases it receives every month and the jail is barely able to keep sufficient staff to meet state standards. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: ...

Benghazi redacted

Gatsby? What Gatsby?