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

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:#1C4C7D; ...

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."

A Massachusetts schoolmaster in Camden in 1793

This columnist recently acquired a letter from Elijah Dix Green (1769-95) in Camden dated March 28, 1793, to his brother, Dr. John Green of Worcester, Massachusetts. The letter contains much new information previously unavailable to local historians or others. For that reason, excerpts from it are carried below.

Seeing the changes at the KCSO

Whether you voted for him or not, you can't deny that Jim Matthews, his command staff, investigators and deputies have hit the ground running during his first month in office.

'Tiger Mom' offers clues to race gaps

Amy Chua's not so tough. The Yale law professor's new memoir, "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," has touched a raw national nerve with its descriptions of her tough "Chinese way" of parenting, a way that shows all of the warmth and charm of a Marine Corps drill instructor.

The benchmark of '64

The two ladies were dressed in a manner which would allow them to attend either a football game or a funeral.

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.