Attention: DHS JROTC students contemplating SC colleges

Coastal to start ROTC program in Fall of 2008

Coastal Carolina University is starting an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program in the fall of 2008.

The series of courses will be taught by instructors provided by the Army ROTC and the South Carolina National Guard. The program will be initially affiliated with the University of South Carolina ROTC program.

The ROTC co-educational program is dedicated to developing college-educated men and women to serve in positions of leadership, responsibility and varied managerial positions both as officers in the U.S. Army and civilians in corporate America. Army ROTC requires from two to four years to complete, depending on student qualifications.

Twenty freshman students are being sought for the initial class.

Scholarships are awarded for two, three and four years to eligible students on a competitive basis. The scholarship amount is applied to the cost of tuition.

CCU Provost Robert Sheehan said Coastal will create a Department of Military Science that will be affiliated with the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation within Coastal’s Spadoni College of Education.

"This program will be especially suited to students in Junior ROTC programs in high schools," said Sheehan, adding that prior ROTC coursework is not required.

Courses within the program will concentrate on military science, leadership training and an introduction to the U.S. Army. Credits will count toward one of CCU's established degree programs, plus each graduate of the ROTC program will receive a commission as a second lieutenant in the Army.

For more information, call the Office of Admissions at 349-2026.

Bennettsville Counterfeiters Busted

Secretary of State and Bennettsville Police Seize Counterfeit Merchandise Valued at More Than $265,500
Three Bennettsville men charged and arrested

COLUMBIA -- The Secretary of State’s Office and the Bennettsville Police Department partnered to conduct a sting in Bennettsville on January 28, 2008, that resulted in the confiscation of $265,565 in counterfeit merchandise and other property. Henry Coachman of 206 Powers Street was charged with trafficking in counterfeit merchandise, as well as operating without a business license. Robert Sturdivant of 549 Aaron Temple Church Road was charged with the illegal sale of counterfeit merchandise; and Mark Washington of 1615 Mary Lee Street was charged with two counts of illegal distribution of recordings.



Coachman was using a 40-foot trailer in his yard as his storefront. Sturdivant also sold merchandise from Coachman’s yard and trailer. The counterfeit merchandise included handbags, clothing and shoes. The bogus goods featured the names and logos of trademarked companies such as Apple Bottoms, baby phat, BAPE, Chanel, Chloe, Coach, Coogi, Christian Dior, Dooney & Bourke, Ecko, Enyce, Evisu, Ed Hardy, Fendi, Guess, Gucci, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, LRG, Nike, North Face, Red Monkey, Rocawear, Timberland, and True Religion.



The 40-foot trailer, a white cargo van, and $785.00 in cash were also seized.

In a separate seizure, Mark Washington’s Urban Sensations store at 136 Cheraw Street, was closed when 538 CDs and 649 DVDs were confiscated. Movies as current as Juno and Atonement, nominated last week for the Academy Award for Best Picture, were some the movies from which customers could choose.

Detective Larry Bowman of the Bennettsville Police Department received tips regarding these operations. With the assistance of the Secretary of State’s Office, both locations were shut down, and all three men were arrested. Coachman could face five years in prison, a $25,000 fine, or both. Sturdivant may face one year of prison, a $1,000 fine, or both. Washington’s felony charge for having more than 65 DVDs may cost him five years in prison, a $250,00 fine, or both; the misdemeanor charge for possessing more than 100, but less than 1,000 CDs may cost him two years in prison, $250,000, or both. These charges are based upon legislation that was the result of the joint efforts of law enforcement and the Secretary of State’s Office. The counterfeit items will remain in storage while the Police Department awaits a court order to destroy them.

“The success of this operation is an excellent example of how well the community can assist law enforcement in solving crimes, and it is also an example of the great working relationship between the Secretary of State’s Office and the Bennettsville Police Department,” said Chief of Police Larry McNeil.
“Counterfeiting is illegal,” said Secretary of State Mark Hammond. “And, while consumers can readily find fakes, cheap prices and availability are poor excuses for supporting illegal activity.”

For more information regarding trademark violations or to register a mark, contact Secretary of State Mark Hammond’s office at (803) 734-2170.

Fender bender in the parking lot

We had a fender bender in our parking lot today. I saw the entire thing from my office window.

The first car was backing out of a parking space. The second car was exiting the lot.

The parking lot at the News and Press is designed with an entrance lane on the right and an exit lane on the left; the second car was exiting through the entrance. Lesson learned is that you should always look both ways--your mom was right--even if you don't expect anything to be coming at you from a particular direction. You never know.

No one was hurt, thank goodness.

Local business has changed hands

A few members of the staff just met the new owner of Community Check Advance. CCA shares our building on Main Street. Tom Laserre is from Garner, NC and he is a NASCAR fan, so he's invested in the right place. Welcome to Darlington, Tom!

The competition is heating up

Welcome to the new News and Press blog site. We encourage you to use this spot to discuss all things Darlington.

From our office on Main Street, we have been watching the construction of the new Hardees restaurant with great interest.

The current joke among the staff is that we should have set up a couple of those giant wooden thermometers, like the ones the United Way uses during their fundraising efforts, to show area citizens the progress of various building projects around town.

Hardees is springing up like a mushroom. We're betting it will be open for business before the Darlington Raceway paving project is completed.

Hardees construction update

The Hardees construction site at Broad and Main streets in Darlington at lunchtime