Running from life

Brenda Heist wanted to run away from life. Naturally, she went to Key West, Fla.

Yes on Plan B, but with parents

The decision to sell the Plan B morning after pills without a prescription has caused a debate among women's rights advocates, government officials and religious groups. Personally, I believe that there should be contraceptive options like Plan B on the market and that they should be available to anyone girl who can reproduce. However, I do not believe that making more contraceptives available is the solution we've been waiting for as the ...

Of God and evolution

Color me dense, but I don't quite understand why everyone involved with science is having a hissy fit over the theory of intelligent design.

Getting it wrong on Plan B

WASHINGTON -- As a mom, I can't help but cringe.

Friends are the family you get to choose

Last week, two poignant events occurred in my life. The first was that I celebrated turning another year older, the second being the death of one of my very best friends' mother after a brutal battle with cancer. During the course of the week, I experienced a variety of conflicting emotions from utter heartbreak of losing someone close to me and also "celebration" that I was able to turn ...

Still moving foward

The present concern of the city council, working with the Camden Business Alliance led by Jonathan Bazinet and Patricia Richardson, remains our downtown. Without question, the Lowes/Walmart/Kmart shopping district on the west side of town will continue to thrive, as it should, but for most people driving into Camden off I-20, downtown Broad Street sets the tone of who we are and makes a statement about our community identity.

Prude or prudent?

WASHINGTON -- They lost me at the word "women."

Public records are public everywhere

I should really add the following to the headline of today's column: "...or at least they should be."

Corner of Broad and York

Introduction Dr. William Blanding, one of several Blanding family members to come to Camden from Massachusetts, arrived on the scene in 1806. His dental surgeon relative, Dr. Shubel Blanding, arrived in town by 1820 and will be discussed later in this column. William's brother, Abram, preceding him in Camden in 1797, read law under Judge Joseph Brevard, and in the 1820s-30s, maintained a satellite law office in Camden. Abram's ...

Monitoring ‘Generation M2’

"You've got mail!" Ah, the words so many of us associate with our first email accounts, our AOL email accounts. Hearing that proverbial voice almost produced an air of excitement in an otherwise monotonous day behind our desks, a welcomed distraction in the daily grind. Of course, a great deal has changed since the late '90s. My son was quick to tell me recently our AOL account was a dinosaur and we should really ...

Show some appreciation everyday

As the Chronicle-Independent's education reporter, April usually brings lots of "graduations" and ceremonies celebrating students' achievements from throughout their high school career. Last year, I determined, and confirmed this year, that if I ever have a child I will be one of those moms who cries at all of my kids events.

Tucker for President -- of Clemson

Clemson University is looking for a new president, and I'm interested in the job.

Give ‘bomb control’ a chance

He thought his wife was in love with another man, police say, so James L. McFillin of Baltimore decided to blow the other man up.

Sexuality in athletics

Earlier this week, NBA player Jason Collins came out to the public as being gay. His announcement made headlines on just about every news website and blog that I scanned over and, of course, Facebook and Twitter were taken over with personal opinions regarding the subject. I support Collins and commend him on his bravery for deciding to "come out of the closet" and to be honest with the ...

The Bush I knew

WASHINGTON -- In a reprieve from the horror of the most recent terrorist attack, the nation's attentions turned to the man who declared the war on terrorism, George W. Bush.

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?

Another view of Plan B

In "Getting it wrong about Plan B," Ruth Marcus ends her column by stating that the debate over the proposed Plan B policy "isn't about the government coming between parents and children or society condoning teen sex. It's about preventing teen pregnancy."

Are you (fill in the blank) enough?

WASHINGTON -- Enough with this "enough" business.

Reflecting on 100 years of success

KershawHealth recently completed a week of celebration commemorating the opening of the Camden Hospital in 1913 and a century of outstanding care. One of the things that struck me during those activities was the incredible amount of community support the hospital has always enjoyed, and the amazing things that strategic thinking and teamwork can accomplish.

What Sanford win says about S.C.

Somehow, the man who walked the Appalachian Trail all the way to Argentina to see his mistress got elected to Congress last Tuesday in a voting outcome that almost defies belief.