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Next year may go down as the year of the steroid user for Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Three players whose careers were given a proverbial black eye for using performance-enhancing drugs will be on 2013’s ballot. » Read More

WASHINGTON -- Can civility be saved? » Read More

Just recently, I was talking with a group of local citizens when someone mentioned the new street lights. In the past three years, the City of Camden has received and utilized grants in excess of $3 million for several improvements. A combination of grant funds and some tax dollars has been spent to move many electrical lines underground: » Read More

A community member asked me recently why I place so much emphasis on the budget. The exact words were, “I think that’s all you ever talk about.” I guess I have to plead guilty to keeping the budget as a front burner issue. When I think about the discussions I have about our schools with parents, staff, students and community members, most of these discussions revolve around smaller class sizes, additional academic and extracurricular ... » Read More

Is America in decline? No way, says President Obama, proudly speaking of our standing overseas. But some grim new reports on our educational gaps remind us that decline is like charity -- it begins at home. » Read More

If plans proceed as anticipated, it won’t be long before the former Camden Middle School at the corner of Broad and Lauren streets is torn down. That will be a positive step for everyone and will, we hope, be the final step in a saga that has dragged on for a long time, through nobody’s fault. The Kershaw County School District had previously agreed on two separate occasions to sell the decrepit building, which ... » Read More

• Kudos to Camden native Ford Graham, who’s been chosen to lead the S.C. Department of Commerce’s European office. In that role, Graham will head the state’s international industrial recruitment efforts in Europe. He’s been involved with business development in the state for several years and has a solid track record, and we look forward to following his successes on the continent. » Read More

A bill has been introduced in the S.C. House of Representatives that would, in effect, give police agencies in the state the right to withhold all incident reports, a move that would strike a serious blow to the public’s right to know via the state’s Freedom of Information Act. The legislation, known as H. 4740, was introduced by Rep. Chris Murphy of Summerville and co-sponsors include such powerful lawmakers as Rep. Bobby Harrell, the ... » Read More

I am writing this letter as a concerned resident, taxpayer and homeowner of the City of Camden. This letter in no way reflects the interests of any group(s), and is purely informational. » Read More

I recently watched the YouTube video rant by a member of Elgin Town Council and a friend of his who criticized Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews and his department for “doing their job.” To compare modern law enforcement to Nazis during World War II is an affront to the men and women who put their lives on the line for Kershaw County citizens. » Read More

Regarding the story on John Rainey, I found it interesting from all of his time in government he has only found one person he has deemed corrupt enough to investigate on his own (our current governor). He states that it is "his civic duty to call out people who I don't believe represent South Carolina in a manner in which we want to be known and remembered." » Read More

I would like to thank Mr. Floyd Hinson for his well-written article “Citizens paying for services they don’t receive” published in the Chronicle-Independent Jan. 20. He is “right on” about our sewer tax and other taxes/fees such as the special purpose tax. People need to know just what these taxes/fees or whatever you call them are. For those of us who really do care, we need to attend the county council meetings ... » Read More

With regard to Gov. Nikki Haley’s proposed legislation to stop frivolous lawsuits, I would like to tell you my story. After years of trying to get my neighbor to stop using my property for the storage of his junk car business, I finally put up a fence. Prior to my doing so, I hired a surveyor to locate the property line. My neighbor disputed the property line as surveyed and has filed ... » Read More

Photo cutline -- DEA Agent James McGivney presented awards in Columbia Friday to Kershaw County law enforcement personnel who were involved in several successful drug busts. Receiving awards were Bethune Police Chief Richard De Vors, Cpt. Jack Cobb of the Camden Police Department and Tom Leach with the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Seated is Officer Selina Hansen of the Camden Police Department. » Read More