Two little red balls

My mother certainly was horrified that I seemed to enjoy learning, often telling me, "Boys do not like smart girls." Her idea of a good life for me was to find some man to take care of me, know all home skills such as cooking, sewing, etc., and fill the house with children. Today, because of her, I know those skills and enjoy them. I did however, only have one ...

Droning on about feelings

WASHINGTON -- First they came for the drones.

A fond farewell

One of my first tastes of a slice of life in Camden came nearly two years ago after cruising down the Wateree River with a couple of pirates.

Cupcakes

Being reared by a mother who was a wonderful cook, I rarely had the chance to do so, Mother's idea being for me to watch her do it. As most teenagers, I had little time for this inactive pursuit. Finally, Mother allowed me the honor of preparing a cake with her being the watcher. Since the cake to be baked was a pound cake, I thought this was a one-step ...

Time for a RINO Rebellion?

WASHINGTON -- RINO-hunting, the long popular political sport that morphed in 2008 into a sort of hysteria-driven obsession, lately has become a suicide mission.

It’s Citizens United all over again

Last July, I wrote about how disheartened I was that the Supreme Court of the United States refused, on a 5-4 partisan vote, to reconsider one of its worst decisions ever: Citizens United. The original 2010 ruling opened the door for "super" political action committees (Super PACs) to accept unlimited contributions and, in at least some cases, without full disclosure on where that money's coming from.

A Civil War history lesson

On the slope of Malvern Hill is where John Young saved Henry Truesdale's life. Jim Sheorn and W.S. Kirby were on each side of Young.

Being a preacher isn't easy

Many years ago, when I was a fresh-faced, full-of-spit-and-vinegar young reporter, I wrote a story indicating that a local church had hired a new minister.

Boys in the back of the class

Every year, millions of well-intentioned American kids show up at kindergarten or first grade woefully unprepared to learn. Some can't even tell you their own complete name, let alone spell any of it.

Tree Pruning 101 -- Part 2

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for Tree Care Operations for Pruning states "The purpose of utility pruning is to prevent the loss of service, comply with mandated clearance laws, prevent damage to equipment, avoid access impairment and uphold the intended usage of the utility space." When I worked for the S.C. Forestry Commission, I quoted this statement many times at community forums in places such as Elloree, ...

Bowling for sanity

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- When President Obama said in his State of the Union address that "This time is different," referring to his push for tighter gun-control laws, he wasn't just whistling Dixie.

Newcomers have most to prove at Daytona

Although Danica Patrick's pole position will give her the brightest spotlight at next week's Daytona 500, other up-and-coming drivers will have the most to prove as the green flag drops on NASCAR's season.

The changing face of adult education

One of my favorite events each year is the Adult Education graduation ceremony. It's a particularly special occasion for me because it celebrates the accomplishments of people for whom school didn't work out the first time. The genius of American education is that there is always another chance, another opportunity to take care of unfinished business. As we know, the same can't be said in most countries in the world. ...

The feminist mystique at 50

WASHINGTON -- Now is the time for all good women to pay homage to Betty Friedan, who 50 years ago wrote the game-changing manifesto "The Feminine Mystique."

Grammys reflect mixed bag of music

I did not watch the Grammy Awards this year. Such affairs have lost their shine for me as I've matured and, especially when it comes to pop music, this former radio announcer quickly realizes he's lost touch with today's modern sounds.

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?