Francis Marion opens 37th season at “The Cliff” on Sunday

FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University baseball team, ranked 33rd in the preseason Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA II Top 40 poll, will open its 2009 season on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 1) when the Patriots host 21st-ranked Valdosta State University for a doubleheader.
The twinbill will begin at 1 p.m. on Cormell Field. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students. The Patriots are 130-40-1 in their last 171 home games at “The Cliff.”
Ninth-year FMU head coach Art Inabinet welcomes back 15 lettermen, including four posi tion starters and three starting pitchers, from last year’s squad that finished 34-20. FMU tied for third during the 2008 Peach Belt Conference regular season, advanced to the PBC Tournament title game, and narrowly missed earning a bid to the NCAA II national tournament for the second year in a row.
Senior All-Region catcher Jared Barkdoll (.362, 7 HRs, 50 RBIs) leads the returning starters. First baseman Preston Shuey (.344, 7 HRs, 55 RBIs), last year’s PBC Freshman of the Year, also returns as does senior third baseman Keon Graves (.262, 8 HRs, 41 RBIs) and junior outfielder Trent Knight (.261, 17 RBIs).
Senior righty David Walters (9-4 record, 4.66 ERA), who was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 47th round of last year’s draft but chose to return to school, leads the returning starters on the mound.
Walters will start game one of Sunday’s doubleheader, and Inabinet has yet to name his game-two starter.
“We are excited to get the season underway,” Inabinet said. “The players have worked extremely hard. Defensively, this year’s infield is as good a group as I have had here at FMU. The catching position is as solid as it can be, and from a pitching standpoint, this is the best depth I’ve had with Patriot arms, especially in the bullpen. I also feel good about our hitting as we open the year.
“We have four quality starters in Walters, junior right-hander Erik Sommerville (6-3, 3.46 ERA), and junior southpaws Josh Edgin and Jeremiah Meiners.” Edgin is a transfer from Ohio State University, while Meiners came over from Coastal Carolina University. “Junior Barrett Kleinknecht (Florence-Darlington Tech) will start at shortstop and, along with junior Josh Biggers (Southern Union State Community College), will handle the load of short relief pitching. Newcomers Shane Gebhards (Jr., LHP), Drew Watcher (Fr., RHP), and Jared Hooks (Fr., RHP) will all pitch in long relief.”
Junior Colby Green, a transfer from Southern Union State Community College, will likely start at second base, while Graves and junior Taylor Norfleet (.272, 1 HR, 24 RBIs in 2007), who missed all of the 2008 season with an injury, will platoon at third base.
In the outfield, Inabinet will have junior Martin Gordon (Glendale Community College) or freshman Tyler Boyd (Lamar High School) in left and junior Alex Lee, a transfer from Clemson University, in center. The right field starting spot is a battle between Knight, junior Josh Smith (.338, 1 HR, 12 RBIs), junior transfer Matt O’Rourke (Spartanburg Methodist College), and redshirt freshman Austin Smetana (West Florence High School).
Junior Jacob Wallace, another SMC product, will spell Barkdoll behind the plate and the two will alternate in the designated hitter role.
The 51-game Patriot schedule includes 30 homes games and this year’s edition of the South Atlantic Challenge, to be held Feb. 6-8. The 2009 PBC Tournament is set for May 9-10 in Aiken, S.C.
FMU, which surpassed 900 wins last season, has won at least 34 games each of the past four campaigns. Inabinet has directed the Patriots to three NCAA Tournament appearances over the past six seasons.

Google recognizes South Carolina for 2008 marketing campaign in Chicago

Google Inc. awards South Carolina Tourism its first-ever Wisdom of the Crowd Award. In 2008, South Carolina launched a multi-faceted campaign that jolted wintery Chicago with a blast of warm air and southern sunshine. The S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism staged the “Time to Thaw” campaign during the snow-laden months of February and March 2008.

Google selected South Carolina’s “Time to Thaw” campaign from among three finalists (the others were the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau and the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Bureau) chosen out of more than 1,300 entries. The award was presented in New York City on January 26th during the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Adrian Awards Gala. The “Time to Thaw” campaign also won Gold and Silver Adrian Awards from HMSAI (www.HSMAI.org) for best practices in travel-related marketing and media.

Rob Torres, managing director of travel for Google, said the new Wisdom of the Crowd Award is intended to “recognize a powerful integrated marketing campaign that centers around one of Google's core philosophies: Focus on the user and everything else will follow.”

“Time to Thaw” was a $500,000 effort that centered on engaging, unexpected visuals that turned four of Chicago’s underground parking garages – along with buses and a trolley – into sun-splashed beaches, perfect green fairways and scenic destinations in South Carolina. That included large garage interior wall murals, elevator and stairwell conversions, trolley and bus wraps and on-board videos, and a 20-foot-long, custom-built sand sculpture. Other elements were a special Web site, a photo contest inviting people to shoot images of themselves onboard a windsurfer in the Grant Park North garage, converting a downtown trolley into a rolling “welcome center,” air time on more than 50 Chicago radio stations, and personal media outreach.

Torres said 73 percent of respondents marked the two top boxes for the South Carolina campaign in a question about whether the campaign was likely to “grab and hold their attention,” and 53 percent said they were "motivated to visit a Web site or call to learn more about the destination." “In fact, South Carolina’s ‘Time to Thaw’ campaign received the highest ratings by travelers across the board,” he said.

Google’s Senior Marketing Manager for Travel, Cindy Goodrich noted, “When we looked at how South Carolina's campaign resonated with over 1,000 travelers in our survey, we saw overwhelmingly positive results. From its ability to make people smile to its effectiveness in driving consumers to its website, the ‘Time to Thaw’ campaign truly stood out among the finalists as an integrated marketing effort that engaged the consumer and won over the hearts of its ‘crowd’.”

Chad Prosser, director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, said, “Our goal was to generate direct exposure in the Chicago market and increase online traffic from the region. We achieved that. Inquiries from the Chicago area increased by 51 percent and we have experienced an increase of more than 22 percent in overall traffic to our Web sites.

“This campaign was a fun and engaging way to introduce our product to hundreds of thousands of people a day by showing a little humor and demonstrating the opportunities that are available to visitors in our warm climate,” Prosser added.

The “Time to Thaw” campaign was created and executed by SCPRT in partnership with the state agency’s two ad agencies – Rawle Murdy Associates Inc. of Charleston and the bounce agency of Greenville – with technical help from Web specialist Aristotle Inc. of Little Rock, Ark.

HR INstitute Feb. 4-6

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce will host Module 1 of the Human Resources Institute's Certificate Series, February 4-6, at the Marriott Columbia. This exciting and comprehensive training activity is a chance to learn important HR functions, including the pre-employment process, handbooks, safety and health and more.

“Many employees are choosing to update their skills to grow professionally in the future. HR Institute is an excellent series for those citizens interested in human resources,” said Otis Rawl, president and chief executive officer of the South Carolina Chamber.

For more information, including pricing, visit the Chamber’s Web site at www.scchamber.net, or contact Alexa Stillwell at 800-799-4601.

Search Committee to Find New President & CEO for S.C. State Ports Authority

House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued the following statement about the search for a new President and CEO for the State Ports Authority:

“Last week Bill Stern was selected to serve as chair of a search committee to find a new president and CEO for the State Ports Authority. My confidence in Bill Stern was confirmed today when I saw the quality of the people he has named to serve on the search committee.

“He selected a group of top leaders in business, industry and government with impeccable credentials to serve, including two former Ambassadors, Bob Royall and David Wilkins, who is also a former Speaker of the House. The high caliber of the people serving on the search committee underscores the importance of the search.

“Our port system is a tremendously valuable resource for economic development. It is the heart beat of commerce in South Carolina and our state’s gateway to the global marketplace. That’s why finding the right person to lead the Ports Authority is so very important.

“Bill Stern is a great choice to chair the search effort. I am confident he and his committee will find the best qualified person in the nation to fill this important job.”

Patriot tennis teams open 2009 season

FLORENCE, SC – Both the nationally ranked Francis Marion University men’s and women’s tennis teams will open their 2009 seasons on Sunday (Feb. 1) at local-rival Coker College. Both matches will begin at 2 p.m. in Hartsville.

The FMU men are ranked fifth according to the fall ITA national poll, their highest ranking ever. The Patriots return six lettermen from last year’s 19-6 squad that advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Houston, Texas, and ended the season ranked seventh nationally. The 19 victories equaled the team’s single-season record.

Leading the returnees is sophomore Oshada Wijemanne, who is currently ranked seventh among NCAA Division II men’s singles players. He posted a 19-4 singles mark in 2008, mostly at the No. 2 position, and a 16-6 doubles mark at the No. 1 spot.

Other top returnees include sophomore Dilshod Sharifi (22-1 at #3 singles, 17-6 doubles), sophomore Karl Rogers (16-4 at #5 singles), and senior Dananjaya Mayadunne (18-6 at #2 doubles).

The women’s team is ranked eighth in the fall ITA national poll. The Patriot women return four players from last year’s program-best 23-3 squad that ended the year ranked fifth and also advanced to the Division II Elite Eight. FMU’s only three losses were to the national champion (twice) and to the national runner-up (once).

Juniors Tereza Sykorova (21-2 at No. 1 singles, 24-2 at No. 3 doubles) and Valeska Ibscher (16-4 at No. 5 singles, 22-4 at No. 2 doubles) head the returnees. Sykorova, an All-America in 2008, is currently ranked ninth nationally among Division II singles players. The newly formed doubles team of Sykorova and Ibscher is ranked eighth in the nation.

FMU head coach Garth Thomson is entering his 17th season as head coach of both the Patriot programs. He owns career coaching marks of 236-112 on the men’s record, with 12 trips to the NCAA Tournament, and 197-144 on the women’s side, with eight NCAA national tournament appearances.

The FMU men will play host to Pfeiffer University on Friday, Feb. 6, while the Patriots women will entertain Division I Presbyterian College on Friday, Feb. 13, at 2 p.m. for their home opener.

This Week's Healthy SC Challenge Tips

The Healthy SC Challenge is the Sanford family's effort to get all South Carolinians to do just a little more to live a healthier lifestyle. The tips are designed to encourage individuals and communities to live healthier lifestyles in three categories - nutrition, exercise and help to quit smoking.

Nutrition
So your New Year's resolution is to lose weight in 2009 and already you're faced with your first challenge: Super Bowl Sunday. The traditional fare of overstuffed heroes, chicken wings, chili, and of course, chips and dips, is enough to weaken the will of any new dieter. The secret to Super Bowl party success -- rather than excess -- lies in the players themselves. If you eat the way athletes do -- diets that balance foods low in fats, lean proteins and some carbohydrates -- you're more likely to make it through the party unscathed. It's pretty simple to accomplish. Here's how:

* Punt the sour cream-based dips. load up on the crudités and opt for a dipping blend of red kidney beans, chopped tomato, parsley, vinegar, chili powder and cumin. Make a fruit salsa, or, serve protein-rich hummus. Many store-bought varieties are available and flavored with garlic, red pepper, or scallions. Offer pita chips or baked potato chips instead of fried snacks.

* Lean on the hero. The Italian hero, loaded with fattening, processed meats and cheeses, has no place on this year's buffet table. Instead, order a deli platter filled with ham, turkey, roast beef, grilled chicken and low-fat cheeses. Pile on lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and roasted red peppers. Serve mustard and ketchup instead of mayonnaise. Wrap them up with low-calorie tortillas, or try whole wheat bread or whole wheat crackers.

* Pass the pizza. Say no to the saturated fat found on the neighborhood pizza supreme, and yes to your own version. Buy frozen pizza dough from the supermarket and top it with crushed fresh tomatoes, garlic and a sprinkle of low-fat cheeses. Then add a colorful array of fresh vegetables like peppers and onions, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and olives.

* Spike the shrimp. Sure you can do a traditional low-fat shrimp cocktail, but you could also kick it up a notch by boiling raw, unshelled shrimp in a can of cheap beer spiked with one tablespoon of pickling sauce. Chill and serve with salsa or cocktail sauce. Making your guests peel the shrimp slows down their food consumption.

* Sideline the brownies. Replace cakes with trays of fresh fruit, dates, figs and banana chips.

Football anyone? Nothing beats the benefits of exercise. Whether it's during the tailgating party or the halftime show, get your guests out of the house and into the spirit of the game by throwing a football around.
-www.dukehealth.org

Physical Activity
Team sports can boost kids' self-esteem, coordination, and general fitness, and help them learn how to work with other kids and adults. But some kids aren't natural athletes and they may tell you - directly or indirectly - that they just don't like sports. What then?

Even if the going's tough, work with your child to find something active that he or she likes. Try to remain open-minded. Maybe your child is interested in an activity that is not offered at school. If your daughter wants to try flag football or ice hockey, for example, help her find a local league or talk to school officials about starting up a new team.

You'll need to be patient if your child has difficulty choosing and sticking to an activity. It often takes several tries before kids find one that feels like the right fit. But when something clicks, you'll be glad you invested the time and effort. For your child, it's one big step toward developing active habits that can last a lifetime.
-www.kidshealth.org

Tobacco
Most of the really bad smoking-related diseases are diseases that people get when they get older. But here's what you don't hear so much about: smoking starts causing the health problems that can lead to those bad diseases almost as soon as someone takes that first puff from a cigarette! And that's not all. There are lots of other health problems that crop up right away too.

The damage to the heart and blood vessels caused by smoking can be found in teens who smoke, even though they don't have any symptoms right now. For example, the resting heart rate of teens who smoke is about two or three beats per minute faster than in teens who don't smoke. Doesn't sound like much, but this damage is the same damage that builds up over time and causes heart attacks and strokes.
-American Association for Respiratory Care

Three Pointers and Free Throws Lead Cobras to Double Overtime Win

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College

Hartsville, S.C. - With less than 10 seconds left in regulation, Vatrick Thompson drained a 3-pointer from the corner to send the Coker versus Queens game into overtime tied at 59. Then after a hard fought five minute overtime, Stevie Evans hit a fade away 3-pointer with just 1.2 seconds left to send the game into a second overtime tied at 74. And in the second and final overtime, another Thompson 3-pointer and six clutch free throws from Joselle Bracy gave the Cobras their second overtime victory in the last week, defeating the Royals of Queens, 90-84.

It was a back and forth battle from the start with 22 lead changes and 14 ties in 250 minutes of play, with each team holding slight advantages over the other. Queens (4-14, 3-9 Conf. Carolinas) out shot the Cobras from the floor, 42.6 percent from the floor compared to Coker's (9-9, 5-6 Conf. Carolinas) 36.3 percent. However, Coker held the advantage on 3-point points, 24 to 15 and free throw points, 24 to 21.

In a battle under the basket, Queens pulled down 49 rebounds, while Coker grabbed 48.

Thompson (Columbia, SC) tied for the game high, scoring 21 points with five rebounds; Mason Ambler (Atlanta, GA) registered one of two Coker double-doubles with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Bracy (Ruby, SC) had the second double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while going a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. Josh Poston (Myrtle Beach, SC), Michael Gore (Landis, NC) and Evans (Columbia, SC) each were in double figures, with Poston dropping in 17, Gore getting 10 and Evans picking up 13.

For the Royals, Patrick Fox had 21 points, including hitting four from beyond the arc, while Daniel Bailey had a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Reggie Hopkins had 14 points and was 6-for-6 from the line, and J.B. Baldwin had 12 points for the Royals.

Coker returns to action on Wednesday, February 4, at 7:30 p.m., while Queens will face Anderson at home with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

Royals Out Run Lady Cobras

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College

Hartsville, S.C. - The Lady Cobras took an early 12 point lead in the first half, but the Royals battled back to tie the game at 30 and they never looked back, as Queens took home the 78-63 win over Coker on Thursday night.

Queens (9-8, 8-4 Conf. Carolinas) simply out shot the Coker (5-12, 4-8 Conf. Carolinas), hitting 29 of 56 shots for 51.8 percent compared to the Lady Cobras 21 of 56 shots for 37.5 percent, while Coker held the advantage at the charity stripe 69 percent to 60 percent.

For Coker, Lotta Aaltonen (Rauma, Finland) was the leading scorer with 15 points off the bench, while Jessica Hayes (Beaufort, SC) and Henna Koponen (Vantaa, Finland) each had 11 points, with Hayes pulling down 8 rebounds and Koponen grabbing seven.

Queens was led by Erin Goldner's game high 17 points and five rebounds, with Hartsville native Shakaria Hamlin dropping 15 points in for the Royals and Marissa Hudley getting 16 points and nine rebounds.

Coker returns to action on Saturday, as they host Converse in a 2:00 p.m. tip-off, while Queens takes on Anderson at home also at 2:00 p.m.

House Introduces Spending Limit & Reserve Fund Bills

Raising reserve fund and limiting spending will stabilize future budgets

Today, the South Carolina House of Representatives introduced two major bills that will help stabilize future budgets and better insulate our state during times of recession. “Our current economic climate highlights the need for these measures. It’s the responsible thing to do,” said House Speaker Bobby Harrell.

Speaker Harrell continued, “The House has consistently pushed for more restraint when it comes to spending – passing spending limit bills 5 times in the past decade. Passing these two measures will eliminate the ‘peak & valley’ approach to spending that governments are prone to and will help secure future budgets during times of economic crisis.”

The Spending Limit Bill (H. 3397) will cap what legislators are allowed to spend in each year’s budget at a growth rate of population plus inflation. The Reserve Fund Bill (H. 3395 & H. 3396) will expand the state’s General Reserve Account from 3% of the total budget to 5% of our state’s total budget.

“The Office of State Budget reports that spending as grown 2.8% annually since Republicans have been writing the budget,” said House Ways & Means Chairman Dan Cooper. “While this growth is sustainable and below proposed growth rates, implementing a spending limit will make the year-to-year growth more consistent with our long-term growth. Holding the line on spending and expanding our reserves will loosen the stranglehold economic recessions have on our state’s budget.”

Both bills were referred to the House Ways & Means Committee.

CCU estimates economic impact of I-73 construction

Construction of the proposed Interstate 73 could have a $4.1 billion impact on the economy of eastern South Carolina, according to a study just released by the BB&T Center for Economic and Community Development at Coastal Carolina University.

The purpose of the report, according to author Don Schunk, research economist for the University’s BB&T Center, is to identify the immediate stimulative local effects of the construction of the proposed I-73, a major interstate project that will run from Michigan to Myrtle Beach.

“Interstate 73 in South Carolina has the potential to play a critical role in the economic development of the Myrtle Beach area, the Pee Dee region and the entire state,” said Schunk. The construction phase of the project will boost the economy across the four-county I-73 corridor (Dillon, Marion, Marlboro and Horry) by creating more than 7,700 jobs at a time of rapidly rising unemployment and job losses. The report also indicates some of the potential long-term benefits the new interstate will provide for the area’s economy.

Based on a five-year construction schedule, the study estimates that the direct cost to build South Carolina’s section of I-73 is $2.4 billion. The study also factors in the “ripple effects” that occur when the construction sector makes purchases from other local industries (indirect effects) and when construction workers make purchases at local businesses (induced effects). Based on this model, the study projects the following outcomes:

• 7,718 total jobs generated (a 4.6 percent increase in total regional employment)

• $818.9 million total impact on regional economic output as a result of construction activity

• $227.8 million in regional household income generated as a result of construction activity

• A potential drop in regional unemployment from 10.6 percent to 6.1 percent

Long-term benefits of the project include: lower business costs and greater productivity that will work to benefit existing businesses as well as attract new industry to the region; and reduced congestion, increased highway safety and shortened travel times that will help the Myrtle Beach area attract more visitors and reach further into currently untapped tourist origination markets.

Ultimately, I-73 will have the potential to transform the regional economy, according to the study. While the Myrtle Beach area can benefit from increased visitor spending and a more diverse economy, the rural areas along the I-73 route may see the greatest benefit by bringing jobs to these areas that have suffered years of manufacturing losses and have persistently high unemployment rates.

For more information contact Don Schunk, research economist for the University’s BB&T Center for Economic and Community Development, at 843-349-2485. The full study can be viewed at: http://www.coastal.edu/business/econcenter/I73_ConstructionImpacts.pdf.

FMU ranked 5th in pre-season softball poll

By Michael G. Hawkins

FLORENCE, SC - The Francis Marion University women's softball team is ranked fifth in the pre-season National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 poll, the same spot where the Patriots ended the 2008 season.

The No. 5 position is the highest ranking for the Patriot program since the school moved to NCAA affiliation in 1992.

In 2008, Francis Marion enjoyed its most successful season in 20 years posting a 39-16 record, the third-highest win total in team history. The Patriots earned their first-ever bid to the NCAA Division II national tournament, won the South Atlantic Regional, and advanced to the Division II national finals (Elite Eight) in Houston, Texas.

Francis Marion returns 14 letterwinners, in cluding six position starters, from last year’s squad. The Patriots open their season Feb. 7-8 at the early Bird Tournament in Aiken. FMU will face 12th-ranked Kutztown University (10 a.m.), Erskine College (2 p.m.), and Limestone College (4 p.m.) on the opening day.

Altogether, four squads that appear on FMU’s upcoming 2009 schedule are listed in the pre-season poll. Lock Haven University (49-8) tops the poll, while defending national champion Humboldt State University (57-18) is ranked second.

The Patriot program’s highest national ranking occurred in 1988 when Francis Marion was ranked No. 1 in the pre-season NAIA poll.


NFCA Division II 2009 Pre-Season Top 25 Poll

No Team RECORD PTS LAST
1 Lock Haven (6) 49-8 388 3
2 Humboldt State (10) 57-18 374 1
3 St. Edward's 53-17 358 4
4 Barry 44-8 333 7
5 Francis Marion 39-16 332 T5
6 Ferris State 35-18 331 T5
7 LIU-C.W. Post 48-16 278 8
8 Southeastern Oklahoma 53-12 275 T9
9 Winona State 38-15 254 15
10 Tampa 35-13 229 T12
11 North Georgia 38-15 228 T12
12 Kutztown 48-13 226 18
13 Lewis 38-18 177 RV
14 Cal State Stanislaus 31-23 164 RV
15 Bloomsburg 51-11 146 T9
16 St. Leo 37-15 123 19
17 Georgian Court 39-16 120 25
18 Colorado School of Mines 38-19 117 NR
19 Central Missouri 36-22 112 NR
20 Georgia College & State 40-14 88 NR
21 Angelo State 48-12 85 17
22 Alabama-Huntsville 52-9 74 24
23 Minnesota State Mankato 42-16 67 21
24 Caldwell College 35-22 66 16
25 Emporia State 48-17 62 2

Patriot Men rally for 68-62 win over Lander

By Michael G. Hawkins

FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University used a 19-3 run in the first half to overcome a slow start and went on to claim a 68-62 victory over long-time rival Lander University, Wednesday evening (Jan. 28) in Peach Belt Conference men’s basketball action.

Francis Marion (11-5, 4-5) snapped a three-game losing streak, while extending Lander’s (8-8, 4-6) skid to four contests. It was the 80th meeting between the two programs and FMU closed the series gap to 44-36.

Junior guard Anthony Wallen paced FMU with 14 points, while reserve guard Kendrick Robinson scored 11 points and reserve center David Turner added 10 points. Senior center Stanley Jones scored seven points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

Junior swingman Greg Smalls came off the Lander bench to score 13 points, while senior forward Houston Wright scored 12 for the Bearcats.

Lander hit on five of its first six shots and streaked to an early 19-7 lead. Francis Marion responded with its 19-3 spurt and took the lead, holding Lander to 4-of-22 shooting over the rest of the first half. A late three-pointer by Wallen helped FMU leave the floor at halftime with a 31-24 advantage.

The FMU lead would gradually grow to 14 on two occasions, including 50-36 at the midway point of the second stanza. Lander rallied to cut the deficit to 54-49 after two free throws by Ford Lawrence with 6:08 left.

Robinson then produced his own personal 5-0 run with a three-pointer and a fast-break layup to increase the Patriot margin to 59-49. Lander again rallied, cutting the lead to 63-59 on a layup by Smalls with 1:48 remaining. Crayton Jones and Wallen then drained four straight free throws to put FMU up by eight points (67-59) with 28 ticks left.

For the evening FMU hit on 10-of-22 three-point attempts, while holding Lander to 6-of-23 from long range. The Patriots also held their lead by draining 10-of-13 free throws over the final 17 minutes.

Francis Marion plays at North Georgia College & State University on Saturday at 4 p.m., while Lander is at Georgia Southwestern State University on the same day at the same time.

Singletary and Dyer drive #19 Patriots past Lander 100-79

By Michael G. Hawkins

FLORENCE, SC — Senior forward Creshenda Singletary scored a career-high 26 points and senior guard Jennifer Dyer reached two milestones with 17 points and 10 assists to lead 19th-ranked Francis Marion University to a 100-79 win over Lander University, Wednesday night (Jan. 28) in Peach Belt Conference women’s basketball action.

Francis Marion retains its 1.5 game lead in the PBC standings with an 8-1 mark and ups its overall record to 15-1. The Patriots also remain unbeaten in the Smith University Center this season at 10-0 as a crowd of 1,035 cheered them on.

Singletary came off the FMU bench and connected on 10-of-14 shots and 6-of-6 free throws, while also hauling down a team-high nine rebounds. Dyer surpassed 1,000 points for her career and now stands at 1,010, while handing out a career high in assists. She played two seasons at Rollins College before transferring to FMU.

Sophomore guard Robin Colbert and freshman center Dominique Powell each scored 13 points and junior guard Eboni Fields added 12. Colbert tallied seven assists and seven steals and Powell also picked off nine rebounds.

Freshman guard Ciara Lyons led Lander (10-7, 5-5) with 20 points, while sophomore forward TaSheba Butler added 17 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore center Shannon McKever recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out, and reserve guard Nardia Robbins chipped in 11 points and eight assists.

Dyer opened the contest with a three-pointer only three seconds in and the Patriots would never trail. A 19-4 run by FMU put the Patriots comfortably ahead 31-14 with 9:52 left before halftime. The margin would swell to 21 points (53-32) following a three-point play by Colbert. However Lander scored the final six points of the half to trim the margin to 53-38 at intermission.

The Bearcats continued that run by scoring the opening 14 points of the second half, cutting the FMU lead to 53-52 following a layup by McKever with 17:10 remaining. Francis Marion, the nation’s top scoring offense, finally broke its drought by scoring five straight points to lead 58-52.

A layup by Colbert with 13:35 left gave Francis Marion a 64-55 advantage, but Lander chipped away and trailed only 74-70 with 9:03 on the clock. The margin was cut to three at 80-77 after Lyons hit one of two free throws at the 4:18 mark. On the next possession, a layup by Powell ignited a game-closing 20-2 spurt by Francis Marion. The deciding run included eight points from Singletary.

FMU held a 62-32 margin in points-in-the-paint and led 17-8 in second-chance points thanks to a 54-42 rebounding advantage.

FMU plays at North Georgia College & State University on Saturday at 2 p.m., while Lander is at Georgia Southwestern State University also on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Peach Belt Conference, Penn Atlantic to Begin Free Internet Broadcasting

AUGUSTA, GA – The Peach Belt Conference and its internet broadcasting partner Penn Atlantic have announced that beginning with games played on Monday, Feb. 2., all PBC games will be available for free. Prior to this, games had been available on a pay-per-view basis but continued expansion at Penn Atlantic will allow all games to be viewed for free with revenues generated from advertising.

“This is a giant step forward for the Peach Belt Conference,” said Commissioner David Brunk from the league office in Augusta, Ga. “From the beginning of our affiliation with Penn Atlantic, the goal has been to bring free broadcasts to fans of the Peach Belt Conference.”

The Peach Belt Conference and Penn Atlantic began broadcasting games in November of 2007 with basketball games being available for $5.95 per broadcast. Over the past two seasons, over 300 games have been carried live over the internet, including basketball, baseball, volleyball, soccer and softball. 10 of the 11 PBC schools currently carry all of their home games over the Penn Atlantic network.

“We are very happy to be transitioning to a fully advertising-supported business model,” said Mary Pennington, CEO of Penn Atlantic. “This allows us to offer these games to PBC fans for free. The Peach Belt is our long-time partner and will be at the forefront of a number of enhancements we will be making in the coming months including a new video player and a new website that is more interactive and offers more real-time content to Peach Belt fans.”

Beginning with the basketball games of Feb. 2., all broadcasts will be free and carried through Penn Atlantic, which offers one of the highest bitrates over the internet which offers a near broadcast-quality signal.

“The product that Penn Atlantic produces is among the best available over the internet,” said Brunk. “And it will only get better with the new enhancements and technology that we will be bringing on-line in the coming months. Fans will be able to see their favorite PBC teams like never before, having free broadcasts is just the beginning.”

All games of the upcoming PBC Tournament in March from Aiken, S.C. will be free, as will every game of the PBC baseball tournament in May. Many PBC schools will also carry select baseball and softball games this spring. Fans can see the complete schedule of games at www.Peachbeltsports.tv

“The Peach Belt is one of our premier clients and are one of the first conferences whose broadcasts will become totally free,” said Pennington. “This is the first step of many and we look forward to many productive years of working with the Peach Belt and its wonderful fan base.”

By Michael G. Hawkins

Alien Charged with False Immigration Documents

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Sohail Feroz Ali Dossani, a/k/a Sohail Muhammad Jamal, age 28, of Florence, South Carolina, was charged in a federal Indictment with making a false statement in documents required by immigration law, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1546(a). Federal agents allege that Dossani provided different names on documents he filed with immigration authorities following his lawful entry into the country in 1998 with a Pakistan passport. Investigators later located two passports issued in different names, but both bearing Dossani’s picture.

The maximum penalty Dossani could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment for 10 years.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of the Florence office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Former Latta Mayor Charged with Defrauding SSA

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that former Latta Mayor Alan L. Berry, Age 57, and Harold J. Kornblut, age 56, both of Latta, South Carolina, were charged in a federal Indictment with theft of government funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

Federal agents allege that while Berry was collecting Social Security disability payments from 2004 to 2008, he was also receiving disqualifying salary income as the Mayor of Latta, and from his employment with co-defendant Kornblut at a tax service. Agents charge that Berry directed that his City and tax service paychecks be issued in his wife’s name, so that he could continue to collect disability. Kornblut is charged for his role in knowingly issuing the tax service checks to further the fraud.

The maximum penalty Berry and Kornblut could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment for 10 years.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Social Security Administration and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Loris Man Charged with Cashing Deceased Brother's Checks

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Robert Jackson Henderson, age 59, of Loris, South Carolina, was charged in a federal Indictment with theft of government funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

Henderson is charged with failing to notify the Social Security Administration when his brother died in 2006, and instead received and cashed approximately $12,600.00 in benefits checks that were mailed to his brother after his death.

The maximum penalty Henderson could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment for 10 years.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Social Security Administration and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Myrtle Beach Man Indicted for Check Kiting Fraud

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Scott William Halterman, age 47, of Myrtle Beach, was charged in a federal Indictment with bank fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344.

Halterman is accused of kiting checks between accounts he controlled at two area banks, creating a loss of nearly $200,000.00 before the banks recognized the fraud.

The maximum penalty Halterman could receive is a fine of $1,000,000.00 and imprisonment of 30 years.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the United States Secret Service and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

McClellanville Man Charged with VA Benefits Theft

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Michael D. Head, age 45, of McClellanville, South Carolina, was charged in a federal Indictment with theft of government funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

Federal authorities allege that after his father’s death in July 2003, Head failed to notify the Veterans Administration, and instead received and spent approximately $13,000.00 in VA benefits meant for his father.

The maximum penalty Head could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment for ten years.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Department of Veterans Affairs and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Coker Takes Men's Golf Top Spot in Preseason Poll

Courtesy of Conference Carolinas Office

Thomasville, NC> Coker College men's golf team has been honored by being selected the 2009 Conference Carolina's preseason coaches poll favorite. The Coker team will begin the 2009 spring season after the best fall season in school history. Coach Tommy Baker and the Cobras did not place below third in their four tournaments this fall, including winning the Coker Intercollegiate tournament and finishing second at the Kiawah Island Invitational, just six strokes behind No. 1 nationally ranked USC-Aiken.

Coker, currently ranked 17th in the nation by Golfstat, is led by junior Chris Marsh, a 2008 Second Team All-Conference selection, and two-time conference golfer of the month during the fall. Marsh posted a 70.12 stroke average for the fall in eight rounds of play, including setting the course record at Kiawah Island's Cougar Point with an eight under 64. Along with Marsh, junior Jimmy Gillam, sophomore John LaDow, and freshmen Diego Polo and Jared Crane will look to lead the Cobras to the conference title and back to the NCAA championship.

Barton College was picked second by the Conference Carolinas coaches. The Bulldogs return eight players from a team that was ranked No. 1 in the Atlantic Region in 2007-08, including four of their top five. In the fall, former 2007 Conference Champion and 2008 Conference Player of the Year Jonathan Burke and 2008 Regional Medalist and All-American Daniel Castleberry were joined in Barton's starting five by D-III All-American transfer Tom Muto and freshmen David Boyce and Dalton Rich in all four events. Barton set an all-time scoring record at 21-under (36 holes) in one fall event, thus expectations will be high this spring since 2007 Conference Freshman of the Year Stephen Harrison will be returning from ACL surgery.

"I believe this is the best team we have ever had," said 12th-year Barton head coach John Hackney, "but a lot of teams in our league can say the same. Our conference features some of the most talented teams in all of Division II golf this season, so the spring should be a real shootout. We can't wait to tee it up!"

Mount Olive College is ranked third in the pre season poll. Mount Olive is coming off its best fall season in history, which included two tournament championships, record tournament scores and the program's first-ever national ranking (No. 18). The Trojans captured first place in The Preview at Tillery, which featured nine Conference Carolinas schools. Mount Olive also shattered a school 36-hole record with a 21-under-par 555 in the Trojans' win at the Gardner's BBQ Dogfight, hosted by Barton College.

The Trojan's Scott Woodard, who missed 2007-08 with an injury, was ranked among the top 20 in the nation for low scoring average. Jonathan Greene took individual honors at The Preview at Tillery, while Woodard placed third.

Rounding out the golf preseason poll 4-11 was: Belmont Abbey, Queens, Anderson, St. Andrews, Pfeiffer Limestone, Erskine and Lees-McRae respectively.

Conference Carolinas Pre-Season Coaches' Poll
(First place votes in parentheses)
1. Coker College (6) 94
2. Barton College (3) 88
3. Mount Olive College (1) 76
4. Belmont Abbey College (1) 70
5. Queens University of Charlotte 63
6. Anderson University 57
7. St. Andrews Presbyterian College 44
8. Pfeiffer University 42
9. Limestone College 40
10. Erskine College 17
11. Lees-McRae College 14

Columbia Man Sentences to 151 Months for Gun Thefts, Drug Charge

COLUMBIA, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that JOSHUA JUSTON SEIBLES, age 24, of Columbia, was sentenced in federal court to 151 months imprisonment for stealing and possessing firearms, and to possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it. United States District Judge Margaret B. Seymour imposed the sentence, which will be followed by three years of supervised release.

In March of 2007, Columbia gun store Wateree Arms was burglarized and numerous firearms and boxes of ammunition were stolen. The investigation led authorities to Seibles’ residence, where they recovered many of the firearms and ammunition, and also located a stash of marijuana. Seibles admitted to breaking into Wateree Arms, stealing the firearms and ammunition, obliterating the serial numbers of many of them, and selling ten of the firearms on the streets. Seibles, who was on state probation at the time, is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition based upon prior state convictions for burglary and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

The investigation was handled by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the prosecution of the case.

Online Fan Vote to Decide Greatest Racing Moment in Lowe's Motor Speedway

CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 28, 2009) - As Lowe's Motor Speedway celebrates
50 years of racing, fans will determine the greatest racing moment in the
speedway's history by logging onto www.coke600.com to vote for their favorite Lowe's Motor Speedway memory.

The top moments in Lowe's Motor Speedway history have been narrowed
down to 32 and condensed into short video clips that fans can view prior to
making their choice. The online selection process pairs those memorable
video clips in a bracket-style voting system with new video matchups
revealed each week. The moment that receives the most votes in each bracket
pairing will advance to the next round until only the top vote-getter
remains.

The greatest racing moment in Lowe's Motor Speedway history as
selected by the fans will be announced during the week leading up to the
25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 16.

To view the greatest racing moments in Lowe's Motor Speedway history
and vote for their favorite, fans should visit www.coke600.com.

Tickets to the May 16 Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 on May
24 can be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling
1-800-455-FANS.

How to Stop Being Greedy

By Abbot Christopher Jamison

Here are three steps to restrain greed:

1. Recognise how it works for you
Greed is about the attraction of wealth and begins with apparently harmless thoughts: ”what I have at present is not good enough and needs replacing.” Sometimes this is, of course, true: if the bucket has a hole in it, you need a new bucket; if the dress is very old, get a new one. But, so often, that’s not the case; it’s just that we really fancy the latest iPod or the latest fashion. Fashion is the hardest one to call: we can condemn our children to misery if we make them wear old-fashioned clothes but we still need to prevent them growing up impulsively buying the hottest new thing. If children only deal with greed by getting what they want, then they grow up to be miserable adults because even when they’re wealthy, they’ll still want more. And notice that even our language links unhappiness and avarice: the word miser is the root of miserable. Each of us needs to recognise and contain our own greed if we are to live happy and fulfilled lives.

2. Tell yourself a better story
Greed is the product of our imagination, not of our bodies. The attraction of food and sex is different from the attraction of wealth: humans are hard wired to respond physically when food and sex are attractively presented, but the same is not true of money. Once life’s basic necessities have been met, the rest is determined by each person’s description of the good life, their personal story. We have to avoid the pitfalls of distorted descriptions of happiness that actually lead to frustration. We need to describe to ourselves a good life that is balanced, long-term and generous, the opposite of the consumer good life that is indulgent, short-term and self-centred.

3. Take stock of your life, literally
Once a year in Lent, English Benedictine monks have the custom of writing out ”a poverty bill.” They write down an inventory of everything they have for their personal use and hand it to the abbot. It’s a very revealing exercise and enables them to ask: do I need all this? An excellent rule of thumb is this: if you haven’t used an item in the last twelve months since the last poverty bill, then you probably don’t need it, so you can give it away. This is a wonderful way to heighten self-awareness about material possessions, is quite liberating, and you may be amazed to discover what you don’t need.

Security Freeze on Credit Available Free of Charge

The recently enacted Financial Identity Fraud and Identity Theft Protection Act (FIFITPA) enables South Carolina consumers to place a security freeze on their credit report free of charge.
Placing a freeze on your credit report prevents anyone from accessing it without your permission, reducing the risk of identity theft. Freezing your credit will not affect your credit score or rating and is completely free of charge.

Consumers considering freezing their credit report will still enjoy fast access to their report. You can temporarily “thaw” or permanently remove the freeze at any time, for any reason. Access to the report must be granted by the credit reporting agency within 15 minutes of your request.
To place a freeze on your credit report, you must contact each of the credit reporting agencies by either certified mail, telephone, or through their website. The credit reporting agency has up to 10 days to provide you with a PIN that will enable you to thaw or permanently lift the freeze as necessary.

Equifax
Phone: 1-800-685-1111
Mail: Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348
Website: www.freeze.equifax.com

Experian
Phone: 1-800-972-0322
Mail: P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
Website: www.experian.com/freeze

Transunion
Phone: 1-888-909-8872
Mail: P.O. Box 6790
Fullterton, CA 92834
Website: https://annualcreditreport.transunion.com/fa/securityFreeze/landing

For more information about FIFITPA or credit report freezes, contact the Public Information Division at 803.734.4190, toll free in SC at 1.800.922.1594, or online at www.scconsumer.gov.

Lane Speaks at North Carolina All-State Awards

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College

Hartsville, S.C. - Coker College Head Men's Soccer Coach, Robert Lane, was the key note speaker at the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association Men's All-State Awards Program on Sunday, January 25 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Coach Lane, a native of Wilson, N.C., was given the distinct honor of speaking to more than 120 of the best men's soccer players from around North Carolina. In addition to speaking to the crowd, Coach Lane presented the awards for Regional Coaches of the Year, State Coaches of the Year, All-State Teams, NSCAA All-South Region Players and Player of the Year.

"It was a great honor to be a part of this awards ceremony," said Lane. "I can remember being in the very same seats as these players when I was in high school, so it was very neat to be able to honor them now."

Lane is a 2000 graduate of Hunt High School, where he was a All-State selection in 1999, the 3A Big East Player of the Year in 1998, as well as being a member of the East/West All-Star Team in 2000. Robert also played his college soccer in North Carolina, playing three seasons at Barton College and a season at East Carolina University.

Saints Down Cobras 75-69

Courtesy of Leah Goode, Limestone SID

GAFFNEY, S.C.- Despite trailing by six points at halftime, the Limestone College men's basketball defeated Coker College 75-69 on Tuesday night at the Timken Center. Four of the Saints scored in double figures for the win.

Limestone's record improves to 5-12 overall and 4-7 in Conference Carolinas play, while the Cobras slip to 8-9 overall (4-6 league).

The Saints' Michael Barrett (Virginia Beach, Va.) scored a season-high 24 points. Anthony Middleton (Holly Hill, S.C.) scored 14 points and posted 5 boards, while Stewart Clark (Atlanta, Ga.) and Bobby Grier (Powder Springs, Ga.) scored 13 and 10 points, respectively. Clark led his team with four assists.

Coker's Mason Ambler (Atlanta, Ga.) just missed a double-double with 14 rebounds and 9 points. Josh Poston (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and Vatrick Thompson (West Columbia, S.C.) each scored 14 points, as Stevie Evans (West Columbia, S.C.) chipped in 13.

Even though Coker led for the entire first half, the Saints never let the visitors gain more than an eight point lead. The Cobras led 28-22 heading into the locker room at halftime. Limestone shot 32% from the field (8-25) as Coker was 12 for 28 (42.9%).

The second half saw seven lead changes and three ties. Limestone's offense made 14 of its 25 basket attempts for a field-goal percentage of 70.8%, while the Cobras only shot 43.3% (13-30). The Saints took the lead for good with 10:50 left to play, after two made free-throws by Barrett. The Saints outscored the Cobras 26-21 in the remaining time for the victory.

Limestone held the advantage in shooting percentage, going 51% from the field (25-49), while Coker was 25-58 for 43.1%. The Saints scored 21 points from the free-throw line compared to the visitors' 11 points. The Cobras held the edge in rebounding, 30-27. Each team scored 20 points off turnovers, as Limestone and Coker committed 17 and 20 turnovers, respectively.

Limestone hosts North Greenville University on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Timken Center. Coker hosts Queens on January 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Hartsville, S.C.

Limestone Holds off Coker

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College

Gaffney, S.C. - The Limestone Saints used a nine point first half lead to over take the Coker Lady Cobras, 83-74 in Conference Carolinas women's basketball on Tuesday night. Coker (5-11, 4-7 Conf. Carolinas) was able to tie Limestone (9-8, 7-5 Conf. Carolinas) in the second half, but the first half was just too much for the Lady Cobras to overcome.

Kiesha Beavers (Williamstown, NJ) was Coker's leading scorer with 27 points, five rebounds and four steals, while Henna Koponen (Vantaa, Finland) returned to the floor for the first time in two games, since dislocating her shoulder; she came off the bench and had 16 points against the Saints with five rebounds. Jessica Hayes (Beaufort, SC) had 14 points and five rebounds, while Lotta Aaltonen (Rauma, Finland) was a glass cleaner with 10 rebounds.

For the Saints, Whitney Todd registered a double-double, scoring 24 points with 10 rebounds, four assists and five steals, with Addie Graves dropping in 16 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Tierney Burdett was the third Limestone player in double figures with 12 points.

Coker will be on the floor once again on Thursday, as they host the Royals of Queens at 5:30 p.m.

S.C. Unemployment Rate is 9.5% in December

With momentum from ongoing layoffs and an expanding labor force, South Carolina’s unemployment rate continued to climb in December reaching 9.5%, the State Employment Security Commission reported today. This is more than a full percentage point above November’s rate of 8.4%, and the highest rate since January 1983. The state’s labor force grew nearly 14,300 in December to 2,184,613. The number of unemployed grew almost 25,600 to 207,171, the highest level on record. The national unemployment rate also rose sharply, climbing from 6.7% in November to 7.2% in December.

The number of jobs in the state plummeted 22,000 in December to 1,906,900. This is the largest December job loss on record. Leading the downturn was Professional and Business Services (-8,500), followed by Leisure and Hospitality (-6,300), Manufacturing (-2,100), and Construction (-1,400). Construction has posted losses for the last 14 consecutive months, while Manufacturing has posted nine consecutive months of job losses. The overall job count dropped to 54,100 below the previous year’s level.

Roosevelt T. Halley, Executive Director of the Commission, said “the unemployment and job count data for 2008 will be revised over the next month through the annual benchmarking process mandated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The updated data series will be released along with the January 2009 estimates.”

# 21 Darlington County December 2008 Rate = 11.7%, an increase of 1.5 percentage points.

FMU Women return to Top 25 poll; Patriots hosts long-time rival on the hardwood, Wednesday

By Michael G. Hawkin

FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University men’s and women’s basketball teams will play host to long-time rival Lander University for a key Peach Belt Conference doubleheader, Wednesday evening (Jan. 28) for the annual Sea of Red Night. All fans attending are asked to wear red in support of the Patriots.
The twinbill will tip-off with the women’s game at 5:30 p.m. in the Smith University Center, followed by the men’s contest at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students.
The women’s contest will be joined in progress at 7 p.m. on WWFN-FM 100.1 The Fan, and the men’s game will be aired in its entirety.
The Francis Marion women (14-1, 7-1) entered the USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25 poll this week at the No. 19 position. FMU was ranked for six weeks last season, after a seven-year drought, and reached as high as 18th in the national poll.
Currently, the Patriots are off to their fifth-best start in team history and own a 1.5 game lead in the PBC standings. The young Lander squad (10-6, 5-4), which includes no juniors or seniors, is tied for sixth place in the conference standings.
Francis Marion leads the all-time series 48-20, but Lander won two of three meetings in 2007-08 with each team winning on the other’s home court and Lander knocking the Patriots from the Peach Belt Tournament in Aiken.
Junior guard Shana Franks continues to lead the Patriots in scoring with a 16.3 points per game average. Senior guard Jennifer Dyer, averaging 10.7 ppg this season, is only seven points from reaching the 1,000-point mark for her career, which began at Rollins College in Florida.
FMU continues to lead the nation in scoring offense at 92.8 ppg, while Lander is 14th at 81.2 ppg.
The men’s game will be the 80th all-time meeting between the two programs. Lander leads the series 44-35, but the two schools have split the last 10 meetings. This season, Francis Marion (10-5, 3-5) is looking to stop a three-game slide, while Lander (8-7, 4-5) is one-half game ahead of the Patriots in the conference standings.
Senior forward Sam Smith paces three Patriots scoring in double figures with an 11.3 ppg average.

Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Coaches Vote Anderson University Preseason Favorite

Courtesy of Conference Carolinas Office

High Point, NC – The Anderson University men's tennis team has been voted the preseason top team in Conference Carolinas by league head coaches. Anderson also enters the spring ranked No. 15 in the ITA poll.

"This is a good indication for our team," said Anderson head coach Andre Ivarsson, who is in his first season at AU. "It shows how much respect we are getting, respect I believe is completely deserved. I believe we will be a very tough team to beat. There is a lot of talent on this squad, and I believe that we can beat a lot of good teams."

In the individual rankings, Philip Pakebusch, AU's No. 1 player and last year's ITA Rookie of the Year, is ranked No. 12. In the doubles rankings, Pakebusch and Renato Assuncao are ranked No. 6. Pakebusch and Assuncao reached the championship match of the ITA Mid-Atlantic Regional in October. In the regional rankings, Anderson is ranked No. 5, Pakebusch is No. 6 in singles, and Pakebusch and Assuncao are No. 2 in doubles.

The Limestone College men's tennis team was ranked second in the preseason poll. The Saints are coming off a very successful 2008 season, finishing 16-8 overall and were second in the final conference regular season standings with an 8-1 record. Following the fall 2008 season, the team was ranked No. 31 in the ITA's national rankings. The squad is also ranked No. 9 in the Southeast region

Limestone returns four starters from last season, including All-Conference honorees Phillippe Hogan and Thomas Ollivier. At the Conference Carolinas Individual Tournament in September Ollivier won the "A" singles flight and Hogan and Ollivier combined to win the "A" doubles flight. The Saints have also added two talented newcomers and will look to build on last year's accomplishments.

The Lees-McRae College men's tennis team was voted third in the preseason poll. The 39th ranked Bobcats have returned a solid core of players who finished last season with a 14-12 overall record and 6-3 conference record. Senior Aleksander Mojski, junior Shaun Sumner, and sophomore Nandor Solymosi hope to propel the Bobcats to the next level. These three returnees will lead a strong class of freshman who all have the capability to make an impact in the lineup at anytime during the season.

Head Coach Paul Goode has high expectations of this team in 2009 and expects great things from them this spring. "I am always trying to get the best out of each player I coach," Goode said. "I sincerely believe in this game, the best players the ones who are never satisfied with where they are."

Rounding out the men's tennis preseason poll 4-9 is: Mount Olive, Queens, Pfeiffer, Barton, Erskine and Coker respectively.
Conference Carolinas Pre-Season Coaches Poll (1st place votes in parenthesis)

1. Anderson University (6) 59
2. Limestone College (1) 57
3. Lees-McRae College (2) 54
4. Mount Olive College 41
5. Queens University of Charlotte 31
6. Pfeiffer University 28
7. Barton College 27
8. Erskine College 18
9. Coker College 9

Why E-File

Ovis Hill Farm Specials

Charlie Caldwell of Ovis Hill Farm (1501 Weaver St., Timmonsville) let us in on the following specials

BEEF WINTER SPECIAL For the remainder of January the price of hamburger, stew and roasts will be reduced by 10%! In addition, the price of a ½ or whole cow will be reduced from $3.25/LB to $3.00/LB carcass weight.

LAMB WINTER SPECIAL This week the price of all lamb cuts will be reduced by 10 percent.

If you can't stop by the farm but are in Florence, Charlie has partnered with Naturally Outdoors for a twice weekly farmers market at Naturally Outdoors, 2519 W. Palmetto St., from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Erskine Women's Tennis Team Stays Atop Preseason Poll

Courtesy of Conference Carolinas Office

High Point, NC> Erskine College has maintained the top spot in the preseason poll as voted on by league head coaches for the fourth consecutive season. The Fleet also earned their fourth consecutive preseason national ranking in the Division II ITA National Preseason Poll coming in at No. 28.

Erskine finished the 2008 campaign with a 20-4 record and finished the conference slate undefeated (10-0) for the fourth-straight season. Erskine has posted an overall conference record of 51-0 the past three seasons, and has won both the regular-season title and tournament championships in the 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 seasons.

Erskine returns a core of players including Kacie Knox, Britton Bignon, and Mary-Claire Rollins. These players will combine their efforts with four strong freshmen, Cera Falls, Nicole Miller, Tessa Rhealt, and Jordan Smith as the Fleet look to win their fifth straight conference championship.

The Limestone College places second in this year's preseason poll. TheLady Saints tennis team is eager to start the 2009 season after finishing second in the conference tournament and posting a 16-8 overall record (9-1 league) last season. The Lady Saints return four letter winners and two returning starters and All-Conference honorees Eve Aubry and Jen Snaider. The team also has six newcomers who will look to make an impact.

The Lady Saints had a strong 2008 fall season. The Lady Saints are currently ranked No. 9 in the Southeast Region.

Mount Olive places third in this year's preseason poll as voted on by league head coaches. Mount Olive returns four starters from last year's squad, including two-time All-Conference Carolinas selection Carol Aro and 2008 All-Conference player Sofia Medeiros. The Trojans finished fourth in last year's regular season standings with a 7-3 conference mark after winning four of their final five conference matches. A late-season injury hindered Mount Olive during the 2008 Conference Carolinas Tournament, but the Trojans are expected to be back at full strength for 2009.

Rounding out the Coaches Preseason Poll 4-10 are: Lees-McRae, Pfeiffer, Coker, Anderson, Queens, Barton and Converse respectively.

Conference Carolinas Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First place votes in parenthesis)
1. Erskine College (8) 80
2. Limestone College (2) 71
3. Mount Olive College 58
4. Lees-McRae College 52
5. Pfeiffer University 50
6. Coker College 37
7. Anderson University 36
8. Queens University of Charlotte 30
9. Barton College 25
10. Converse College 11

9th Annual SPC Cooperative Credit Union 5K Run/Walk Results

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College

Hartsville, S.C. - It may have been a rainy and cold January day, but that did not stop more than 120 runners and walkers from storming the Coker College campus for the 9th Annual SPC Cooperative Credit Union 5K Run/Walk on Jan. 24.

Winning the overall event this year was 42 year old John Charlton (Columbia, SC) with a time of 17:07, while course record holder, Mark Bedenbaugh (Columbia, SC) finished second with a time of 18:38 on the 3.1 mile course. Leading the women was Shannon Iriel (Columbia, SC) with a time of 21:41, with Usa McClamrock (Columbia, SC) was second with a time of 22:46.

Competing in this years' Cobra Club Challenge Cup were seven elementary schools: Thornwell, Carolina Elementary, Thomas Hart, North Hartsville, West Hartsville, Rosenwald, and St. John's. North Hartsville was the winning team retaining the Challenge Cup for another year.

Overall results for the race can be found here.

2009 5K Photo Gallery

Cartoon from Mike Beckhom

"I read with much dismay recently, an article about our own Gov. Sanford whacking MILLIONS out of the state budget.....mostly education funds. Seems odd to me that in a state where we are traditionally ranked in the last 2-3 out of 50 states for our education, we would cut funds for said education. I could pontificate for a while about our entire state suffering a slow death and becoming like the decaying 'mill towns' that dot the landscape......but I digress." - Mike Beckhom

Lakers sail past Patriots in second half for 63-53 win

By Michael G. Hawkins

FLORENCE, SC – After claiming a two-point halftime lead, the Francis Marion University offense sputtered in the second half allowing Clayton State University to rally for a 63-53 win, Saturday evening (Jan. 24) in Peach Belt Conference men’s basketball action.

Francis Marion (10-5, 3-5) drops its third straight contest and fifth in its last seven games.

Senior forward Sam Smith paced the Patriots with 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds, with 11 of his points coming in the second half when FMU managed only 28. Senior forward Kevin Clark added 12 points, 11 of which came in the opening stanza.

Junior guard Eric Wilson was the lone Laker (11-5, 4-5) to reach double figures with 12 points. Ten of his points, including an 8-of-10 showing at the foul line, came in the final six minutes.

Both teams managed four-point leads in the opening half. A three-pointer and a layup, both by Clark, on back-to-back FMU possessions helped the Patriots grab a 25-23 halftime advantage.

Clayton State outscored Francis Marion 14-6 to open the second half and took a 37-31 lead with 13 minutes remaining. A pair of charity tosses by Will Lewis gave the Lakers a 49-40 lead with five minutes left on the clock. Two layups by Smith a basket by Matt French drew FMU to within 49-46 with 3:31 remaining. However, Clayton State responded with a 10-0 run to lead 59-46 in the final minute.

Over the final 20 minutes, Francis Marion shot 39.4 percent, including 1-of-11 from three-point range and only 1-of-5 at the free throw line. FMU finished the game only 6-of-15 at the stripe, while Lakers sank 21 of 30 freebies.

Francis Marion will play host to long-time rival Lander University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Patriot Women turn over #24 Lakers for 89-80 win

By Michael G. Hawkins

FLORENCE, SC — Junior guard Shana Franks scored a game-high 23 points and the Francis Marion University defense forced 39 turnovers as the Patriots beat 24th-ranked Clayton State University 89-80, Saturday afternoon (Jan. 24) to retain sole possession of first place in the Peach Belt Conference women’s standings.

Francis Marion improves to 14-1 overall, the fifth-best start in team history, and now owns a 1.5 game lead in the PBC standings with a 7-1 mark.

Franks connected on 8-of-17 shots and hit four key free throws in the final 2:04 as FMU beat its second ranked opponent in two seasons. Senior Creshenda Singletary came off the Patriot bench to score 14 points, on 6-of-9 shooting, while sophomore Shannon Singleton-Bates also had 14 points. Senior point guard Kevina Ransom tallied 11 points, eight steals, and six assists, while disrupting the Lakers’ attack on the defensive end.

Senior guard Nikkisha Pritchett led Clayton State (12-4, 6-3) with 19 points and five assists, while both Dominique Jennings and Marie St. Fort each added 16 points.

FMU converted the 39 Laker miscues into 34 points, while also owning a 44-32 advantage in points-in-the-paint and a 25-15 lead in fast-break points.

Clayton State scored the game’s first seven points and led 14-6 after a Jene’e Jemison jump shot with 15:12 left before the half. FMU answered with an 8-2 spurt to trim the margin to 16-14. The Lakers would expand their lead to 22-17 before a 16-2 run gave the Patriots the lead for good at 33-24.

The FMU lead would swell to 43-32 before the Patriots left the floor at intermission with a 43-35 lead. Franks had 13 of her points in the opening 20 minutes. The Patriots also hit on 5-of-9 three-point attempts in the opening stanza, while Clayton State was 1-of-4 from long range.

Twice early in the second half, Clayton State drew to within three points, but an 8-0 run that included five points from Singletary pushed the Francis Marion lead to 62-49 with 10:35 remaining. A minute later, a layup by Franks off a feed from Ransom gave FMU a 15-point margin (66-51).

Clayton State gradually crept back into the game, and when St. Fort drained two free throws at the 2:19 mark, the Lakers trailed only 81-76. The four free throws by Franks over the next 43 seconds helped push the lead back to 85-78 with 1:36 left on the clock.

A Laker turnover led to a layup by freshman Dominique Powell that gave Francis Marion a commanding 87-78 lead entering the final minute.

Francis Marion ended the game with a 43.1 percent shooting mark, while the Lakers shot 45.9 percent. However, the Patriots made four more three-pointers than did Clayton State, while improving their record to 34-1 over the past nine seasons when scoring 85 points or more.

The win was also FMU head coach Heather Macy’s 75th victory in a career that is only four years and 105 games old.

FMU will play host to Lander University on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Lady Bobcats Fall to Lady Cobras, 83-69

Courtesy of Kevin Young, Lees-McRae SID

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Lees-McRae College Lady Bobcats (5-11, 3-8) lost their seventh straight game and their second consecutive game when leading at the half to the Coker College Lady Cobras (5-10, 4-6) 83-69 Saturday afternoon in a Conference Carolinas game, despite a career high 21 points for senior Cortney Furr.

Lees-McRae opened up a 9-4 lead with 17:10 to play when Ashley Holland hit the back hit of two free throws. During the run, Amber Coleman sparked the offense with five points.

Coker took at 14-12 lead a Jessica Hayes three with 12:21 to play, but on the next a Furr three retook the for Lees-McRae, 15-14.

Eight lead changes and five ties later, Furr knocked down another trey to give the Lady Bobcats a one point lead, 35-34, heading into the intermission.

Lees-McRae shot 35 percent from the floor and 42 percent from behind the arc, while Coker was 42 percent overall and 25 percent from three.

Coker opened the second half with a Hayes field goal to take a 36-35 lead, but on the next possession Jazzimine Tate answered for the Lady Bobcats on a put back to regain the lead.

On the very next trip down the court for the Lady Cobras a Hayes field goal gave the Cobras the lead for good with 19:24 on the clock.

Coker pushed the lead to ten, 62-52, three minutes later on an Alexis Blow field goal.

Jasmine Alston made two free throws to give the Lady Cobras a game high 14 points and the game its final score of 83-69.

In the second half, Lees-McRae was 33 percent from the field and 25 percent from three, while Coker heated up to 52 percent overall and 66 percent from three.

Coker took advantage of 23 Lees-McRae turnovers and scored 24 points, while Lees-McRae only scored 10 points off of 18 Coker turnovers.

30 of the Lady Bobcats 69 points came from behind the three-point line.

Furr's 21 points, five assists and three block shots led the Lady Bobcats. Coleman added 14 points, and Ashley Holland tallied a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Hayes led the Lady Cobras with 22 points and added seven rebounds. Lotta Aaltonen chipped in 21 points and 13 rebounds for a double double. Alston added 12 points for the Lady Cobras.

Lees-McRae will host the Queens University of Charlotte Monday, January 26th at 5 p.m.

Evans Leads Cobras to Overtime Victory

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College

Hartsville, SC - Senior guard Stevie Evans (Columbia, SC) took the Cobras on his shoulders, as they defeated the Lees-McRae Bobcats 80-72 in a thrilling overtime game at Timberlake-Lawton Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. Evans had a career high 26 points off the bench for the Coker (8-8, 4-5 Conf. Carolinas) including going 9-for-11 from the floor, 3-for-3 from the foul line, while dishing out two assists, one big one with just a minute left in regulation to JC Hafner (Jefferson, MD) for 3-points that put the Cobras within one point of the Bobcats (1-19, 1-9 Conf. Carolinas) 67-66. Evans then hit the game tying free throws with just 16 seconds, sending the game to overtime with the score tied at 68.

After a quick breather, the Cobras were fired up and ready to win scoring five quick points with the help of Mason Ambler (Atlanta, GA) allowing Coker to come out with the win.

Along with the player of the game Evans, Ambler dropped in 24 points with eight rebounds and three assists, while Josh Poston (Myrtle Beach, SC) had eight points and five rebounds.

The Bobcats were not without their fair share of highlight worthy players, as five players scored in double figures for Lees-McRae. Leading the charge was Sam Youse with 17 points, going 4-for-5 from beyond the arc with four rebounds, while Jesse Hoots had 11 points. Kyle Boardman, Stephen Haymer and Aaron Woodacre each had 10 points for the Bobcats.

Coker returns to the floor on Tuesday, as they travel to Limestone for a 7:30 p.m. game, while Lees-McRae will play at home on Monday against Queens at 7:30 p.m.

Coker Takes Top Spot in Coaches Softball Preseason Poll

Courtesy of Conference Carolinas Office

High Point, N.C. – Conference Carolinas head softball coaches voted Coker College as their preseason poll favorite for the 2009 season. The Coker College softball team won their second straight regular season Conference Carolinas Championship in 2008, going 17-1 in conference competition with a 35-12 overall record. Returning to lead the Lady Cobras in her senior season is 2008 Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, Shelly Catlett. Last season, Shelly posted a record of 27-7, with a 1.80 ERA in 233 innings of work. Catlett dominated hitters throughout the season, racking up 229 strikeouts, placing her at the top of the conference and the nation.

Also returning from last year's squad is First Team All-Conference designated player, Miranda Klees and 2008 Coker Freshman of the Year, Haleigh Rogers. Along with a cast of newcomers, Coker and 2008 Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year, David Hanna, will be on the hunt to make it three conference titles in a row, while also looking to return to the NCAA Regionals.

The Pfeiffer University softball team earned the number two spot in the Conference Carolinas preseason coaches' poll this year. The Falcons return eight letter winners, including six starters, from last season's Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship team. Highlighting the returnees are Martina Bullard an All-Region 2nd team outfielder, and shortstop Sarah Moore, a conference All-Tournament team member. Pfeiffer completed the 2008 season with a record of 30-23 overall, while going 12-8 in conference play.

Newcomers looking to make their mark with the Falcons this season are pitcher Christie Thomas, as well as third baseman Heather Nobles and second baseman Kylee Nichols. The Falcons added eight newcomers to the roster, consisting of three junior college transfers and five freshmen.

After winning a share of the regular season conference championship in 2007 and reaching the championship game of last year's Conference Carolinas Tournament, Mount Olive College hopes to continue its success in 2009. The Trojans have posted a school record 68 wins over the last two seasons.

Mount Olive returns Academic All-America second team and All-Region first team designated hitter/pitcher Jenny Jackson. The 2007 Conference Carolinas Player of the Year has been among the nation's hitting and pitching leaders during her first two years at Mount Olive.

Also returning are senior pitcher Anna Turvin and senior outfielder Kat Cahoon, both of whom earned All-Tournament honors at last year's conference tournament. The Trojans add three more pitchers and bring back all of their position players except catcher and second base

Rounding out the softball preseason poll 4-12 was: Erskine, Limestone, Anderson, Queens, Barton, St. Andrews, Belmont Abbey and Lees-McRae.

Conference Carolinas Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First place votes in parenthesis)

1. Coker College (5) 93

2. Pfeiffer University (3) 85

3. Mount Olive College (1) 79

4. Erskine College (2) 76

5. Limestone College 65

6. Anderson University 64

7. Queens University of Charlotte 36

8. Barton College 32

9. St. Andrews Presbyterian College 26

10. Belmont Abbey College 25

11. Lees-McRae College 24

PBC announces preseason All-Conference diamond teams

By Michael G. Hawkins

AUGUSTA, GA – The Peach Belt Conference has announced the 2009 preseason baseball and softball All-Conference teams from the league office in Augusta. Francis Marion University placed a pair of players on the baseball squad and three on the softball team.

Eleven players from the conference’s 10 teams were named to the baseball squad, while six schools were represented on the softball team with FMU having the most honorees. Francis Marion was one of three schools with multiple members on the baseball team.

FMU senior Jared Barkdoll was named as the PBC’s baseball catcher and sophomore Preston Shuey was selected as the first baseman. On the softball squad, FMU newcomer Tamela Bell was honored at first base, while senior Shannan Tyson was named at shortstop and junior Jessica Birchmeier was selected as one of three outfielders.

Barkdoll was named All-Conference, All-Region and received a Rawlings/ABCA Gold Glove in 2008 for his work behind the plate. He hit .362 with seven home runs and 50 RBIs, and was ranked fifth in the PBC in on-base percentage and scored 39 runs.

Shuey was named the 2008 PBC Freshman of the Year after hitting .344 with 55 RBIs and 36 runs scored in 52 games for the Patriots. Shuey had a .532 slugging percentage with seven home runs and 14 doubles and posted a .966 fielding percentage.

Bell, a senior, transferred from Columbus State University to FMU for her final year. In 2008, she hit .333 with seven doubles, one home run, and 18 RBIs. She scored 16 runs, and in the field made only two errors in 311 chances for a .994 fielding percentage.

Tyson was a 2008 All-Region and All-Conference pick after hitting .377 as the lead-off batter for the Patriots. She scored 38 runs, tied a school single-season record with 21 doubles, hit one home run and drove in 28 runs. She was also one of the 100 toughest to strike out in NCAA Division II.

Birchmeier, also an All-Conference and All-Region selection last year, batted .383 with 32 runs scored, 13 doubles, four home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .428 on-base percentage.

FMU opens its baseball season Feb. 1 at home against Valdosta State University, while the Patriot softball squad opens at the Early Bird Tournament in Aiken on Feb. 7-8.


2009 PBC Preseason All-Conference Baseball Team
First Base – Preston Shuey, Francis Marion
Second Base – Ken Raborn, USC Aiken
Third Base – Andre Airich, North Georgia
Shortstop – Chandler Snell, GCSU
Catcher – Jared Barkdoll, Francis Marion
Outfield – Craig Brisson, North Georgia
Outfield – Shannon Wilkerson, Augusta State
Outfield – Josh Wilson, Armstrong Atlantic State
Designated Hitter – Richard Pirkle, GCSU
Starting Pitcher – Danny Davidson, Columbus State
Relief Pitcher – Ryan Kirkman, UNC Pembroke

2009 PBC Preseason All-Conference Softball Team
First Base – Tamela Bell, Francis Marion
Second Base – Laura Voyles, North Georgia
Third Base – Jelena Shaw, UNC Pembroke
Shortstop – Shannan Tyson, Francis Marion
Catcher – Jessica Strickland, USC Aiken
Outfield – Sherquita Bostick, GCSU
Outfield – Jessica Birchmeier, Francis Marion
Outfield – Courtney McGuire, North Georgia
Pitcher – Mandy Chandler, GCSU
Pitcher – Martika Elmore, UNC Pembroke
Designated Player – Sam Floyd, Armstrong Atlantic State

This Week's Healthy SC Challenge Tips

The Healthy SC Challenge is the Sanford family's effort to get all South Carolinians to do just a little more to live a healthier lifestyle. The tips are designed to encourage individuals and communities to live healthier lifestyles in three categories - nutrition, exercise and help to quit smoking.


Nutrition
Almost every South Carolina town or community has an annual fair, festival or carnival. These events feature many high-calorie treats like funnel cakes, cotton candy, caramel apples and corn dogs. Since you do a lot of walking at these events, you may think you can burn off those extra food calories. You can, if you walk up to a mile and a half for a bag of cotton candy or three miles for a funnel cake!
Most of the foods we traditionally associate with fairs, festivals and carnivals are characterized by big portions with lots of sugar and fat calories. For many people, attending the event wouldn't be nearly as much fun without these tasty treats. You look forward to a corn dog or cotton candy, and some of these treats are once-a-year foods.

So, how much exercise does it take to walk off your favorite munchies? On average, you have to walk about one mile to burn 100 calories. To visualize how far that is, there are approximately 12 city blocks to the mile. Although calories in your favorite festival food can vary depending on portion size, recipe and more, you would have to take an 18-block walk to burn off the calories in a serving of cotton candy.
Here are the approximate distances you have to walk to burn off the calories from a few popular foods available at festivals, fairs and carnivals:
* Corn dog, large: 4.5 miles
* Fried candy bar on a stick: 4.5 miles
* Funnel cake, 6-inch diameter: 3 miles
* Soft pretzel: 3 miles
* Caramel apple: 3 miles
* Soft drink, 32 ounce: 2.5 miles
* Snow-cone: 2.5 miles
* Cotton candy: 1.5 miles

This does not mean that you need to load a picnic basket with carrot sticks and celery before heading to the fair. With a little planning, you can fit your favorite fair foods into your daily diet. Here's how:
* Quench your thirst with a small soft drink instead of the larger sizes. Better yet, buy or bring along bottled water. Save your calories for your favorite once-a-year food.
* Limit yourself to one treat. Make sure the rest of your choices are reasonable serving sizes of lower-sugar and lower-fat items.
* Check out all the food booths before making your selection. Imagine that you have a "calorie salary." Enjoy the foods you like the most for your "salary."
* Split foods among several people. For example, share a large funnel cake with friends. Everyone gets a taste, and no one gets overloaded.
* Allow enough time to sit down and eat, rather than grazing your way from one end of the fairgrounds to the other. It's hard to know how much you're eating when you're walking, talking and eating at the same time.

Dress in comfortable shoes so you're more likely to walk off some of those extra calories. Wear a pedometer and see how many steps you can take at the festival. One mile equals about 2,000 steps, or around one-third of the calories in a caramel apple. Finally, if you do indulge a little too much, remember to return to a more balanced way of eating the next day. A day or two of overeating won't affect your weight that much, but weeks of overeating will. Eating an extra 100 calories daily can result in a 10-pound weight gain in a year.
-Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center

Physical Activity
Here are important components for what make an ideal workout partner.
1) Sharing the Same Schedule: This is a big one. If someone has a different schedule, it's just going to be more hassle than it's worth. Picking someone you work with or someone who has the same hours at the office is always a good way to go. If you live in opposite directions, carpool from the office to the gym and you'll be helping the environment in the process! Or even better, walk to the gym with each other!
2) Sharing the Same Goals: This one isn't a necessity, but it does help. If one person is trying to lose weight and the other is trying to get super muscles, it might not be a great match. Plus, if your partner is lifting so heavy that you can't even handle the weight, it will pose a risk to both you and your partner.
3) Sharing the Same Dedication: You may not think that this is important, but if you partner up with someone who is wishy-washy about staying in shape, you may be hindering yourself and your gains. Think about it. If you get in the groove of only going to the gym when you're partner goes, you'll be dragging yourself down to their dedication, and that's no good! So pick someone that is motivated!
-www.gohealthygofit.com

Tobacco
You've tried the patch, gum, lozenges, inhaler, Zyban, etc., and that didn't work. What's left? No one substance or method is the magic bullet. You need to keep tinkering and trying. Meanwhile, people who manage to shift their addiction to nicotine replacements, like the patch, the gum, etc., have already taken a huge burden off their lungs, their heart, and their gastrointestinal system. And for some reason, it's easier to taper off the replacements than off of straight tobacco. Studies show that people who use these items triple their chances of finally quitting.
-www.dukehealth.org

Top 10 Most Unusual Dog Names

Most unusual
1. Rush Limbark
2. Sirius Lee Handsome
3. Rafikikadiki
4. Low Jack
5. Meatwad
6. Peanut Wigglebutt
7. Scuddles Unterfuss
8. Sophie Touch & Pee
9. Admiral Toot
10. Spatula

See the rest of the story here.
Have one of your own? Post it here in the comments.

Turf School takes to the road

Clemson University's Turfgrass Program will take its 2009 Turf School on the road in February, calling on three cities across the state.

The one-day course will visit Myrtle Beach on Feb. 16, Columbia on Feb. 17 and Greenville on Feb. 18. The cost is $50 per person, which includes lunch.

This year's class will focus on the technical challenges of maintaining high-quality turfgrass.

The program is conducted by Clemson scientists and is tailored for professionals who work in a variety of turfgrass environments, including sports fields, grounds, lawns and recreational parks management, or in sod production.

Pesticide Recertification Credits also will be awarded.

The class will show how to identify and manage water quality, insects, pathology, fertilization and weeds. Sessions throughout the day include the management of turfgrass insects, irrigation water quality and warm-season turfgrass fertilizers.

Clemson University's turfgrass program is dedicated to research and education that promotes environmentally friendly turfgrass management.

Through scientific trials, Clemson scientists are working to minimize economic and environmental costs of turfgrass management while meeting federal and state guidelines and regulations.
The 2009 Turf School locations are:

* Feb. 16: Horry-Georgetown Technical College, Myrtle Beach.
* Feb. 17: Clemson University Sandhill Research and Education Center, Columbia.
* Feb. 18: The University Center auditorium at McAlister Square, Greenville.

To view the full course agenda and for registration details, click here.