Feature photo: The dog days of December

Protected Red-tailed Hawks rescued in Camden

Morris Pest Control tech Tony Cooper had just finished up a job for a customer when he saw a car on the side of McRae Road as he headed back into Camden.

2012: the year in review - Part II

The middle of third of 2012 almost seems like a lifetime ago, now. A lot happened during the months of May, June, July and August, including possibly the year's top story: the case of a missing Columbia teenage girl resulting in the arrest of an Elgin man.

Protect your grandchildren from accidental medication overdoses

Grandparents know children are curious and do everything possible to keep them safe as they explore. Grandparents love when their grandchildren come to visit, but they do not always remember to take extra precautions to put their medicines and vitamins up and away and out of sight before their grandkids arrive. In fact, in a recent survey from the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, nearly one out of every four grandparents said ...

Rec Notes -- Dec. 28, 2012

Cheernastics Does your child want to learn how to become a cheerleader? Or does your child want to improve on their cheerleading and tumbling skills? If so, you won't want to miss out on registering for the new Cheernastics class! In our Cheernastics class, starting January 9, 2013, girls ages five and up will learn tumbling, stunts, jumps, motions, and more! No experience is necessary, and students will be divided by level during class ...

A Government Center Christmas

Silent Night

2012: the year in review - Part I

The new year is almost upon us, which makes it time once again for the Chronicle-Independent to look back at the year that is almost done. Some of the biggest stories of 2012 continued from 2011; others will continue into 2013. Perhaps the biggest news? The fact that all of us are here to read this year-end review as an ancient Mayan prophecy the world would end Friday was proven false.

Real Estate Transactions -- Dec. 26, 2012

Real estate transactions The following real estate transfers were recently recorded in the Kershaw County Assessor's office: Transfers are listed in the following manner: seller, buyer, price paid or terms of transaction, number of acres or a lot(s), number of buildings and District. Entries are made based on the ...

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa, My name is Eden Mock. I am 8 years old. I go to Midway Elementary School. I am in the 3 grade. What I want for Christmas is a Easy Bake Oven, a DS game Phineas and Ferb, Justin Bieber book, pants, shirts, shoes. Have a good Christmas. Eden Mock, 8 <p class="MsoNormal" align="left" style="text-align: ...

Rec Notes -- Dec. 21, 2012

Zumba Come try Zumba for free. For anyone who hates to exercise, Zumba will feel more like a Salsa party than a workout. Zumba is not difficult and anyone can, and should, experience it. It's a Latin-inspired cardio dance fitness class that incorporates many different dance styles and international music rhythms to provide one amazing high calorie burn workout. No dance skills are required to participate in the class. Our classes are created to apply ...

Local dancers to perform at Outback Bowl

Last summer, 13 dancers from Palmetto Dance Center in Elgin were selected to be a part of the half-time show for the 2013 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla. Little did they know they would be performing in front of a home crowd of Gamecock fans! The dancers were the only ones selected from South Carolina to perform and will be joining 300 other dancers from across the U.S. to perform both in the ...

KCRD Christmas card contest winners

Winners of the Kershaw County Recreation Department's Annual Christmas Card contest were awarded their cash prizes by the First Palmetto Savings Bank. Contest winners in the kindergarten category are Sara Hogue of Wateree Elementary (1st place), Noah Brown of Wateree Elementary (2nd place) and Mary Elizabeth Norwood of Baron DeKalb Elementary (3rd place). Contest winners in the 1st Grade category are Ava Strange of Wateree Elementary (1st place), Peightyn Mills of Wateree Elementary (2nd place) ...

Wreath-makers continue family tradition

This time of year, you'll find beautifully-crafted Christmas wreaths on display at the corner of Laurens and Lyttleton streets.

Feature photo: Kershaw County Christmas Parade

Prescribed burns beneficial but increasingly challenging

The use of prescribed fire as a land management tool has deep and ancient roots in South Carolina's heritage. However, conducting prescribed burns is becoming increasingly challenging due to a variety of factors, according to a state wildlife biologist and forester.