Woman Guilty of Selling Fake Coupons

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that Janice Marie Carlisle, 47, of Tega Cay, pled guilty on February 25, 2009, in federal court in Columbia to wire fraud by defrauding Outback Steakhouse by having fake coupons printed and then advertising and selling the fake Outback coupons. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. of Columbia will sentence Carlisle at a later date.

Carlisle admitted that in June 2005 she negotiated the printing of unauthorized Outback Steakhouse coupons with a printing company in North Carolina. Later in July 2005 Carlisle placed an order for 2,000 Outback Steakhouse coupons, which Outback Steakhouse confirmed were fake and not authorized by the company.

Carlisle faces a maximum possible penalty of twenty years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by agents of the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Hunter Young of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.

Koponen and Aaltonen Named All-Conference

Courtesy of Conference Carolinas Office
2/27/2009

High Point, NC- Conference Carolinas announced the All-Conference Teams, Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Freshmen of the Year award winners in conjunction with the Conference Carolinas Basketball Tournament Championships that will begin this weekend. Head Coaches from conference member institutions nominate and then vote on the award winners who represent the best of the best for the conference.

Women's All-Conference 1st-Team
Esty Flores, Barton
Tomeka Prichard, Mount Olive
Audrey Timmerman, Erskine
Jasmine Whitby, Mount Olive
Marissa Hudley, Queens

Women's All-Conference 2nd-Team
Keana Boyd, Anderson
Henna Koponen, Coker
Shayla Jackson, Belmont Abbey
Sara Fleming, Barton
Porsha Morgan, Erskine

Women's All-Conference Honorable Mention
Alexa Neal, Anderson
Blanca Gonzalez, Limestone
Cortney Naquin, Belmont Abbey
Lotta Aaltonen, Coker
Devona Knight, Pfeiffer

Freshman of the Year Porsha Morgan, Erskine

Player of the Year Esty Flores, Barton

Coach of the Year Jessica Ridgell, Erskine

Poston and Ambler Named All-Conference

Courtesy of Conference Carolinas Office
2/27/2009

High Point, NC- Conference Carolinas announced the All-Conference Teams, Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Freshmen of the Year award winners in conjunction with the Conference Carolinas Basketball Tournament Championships that will begin this weekend. Head Coaches from conference member institutions nominate and then vote on the award winners who represent the best of the best for the conference.

Men's All-Conference 1st-Team
Kendrick Easley, Mount Olive
L.J. Dunn, Barton
Richard Barbee, Belmont Abbey
Brandon Young, Anderson
Brandon Wright, Erskine

Men's All-Conference 2nd-Team
Chris Woods, Pfeiffer
Aaron Suggs, Barton
Robert McGriff, Pfeiffer
Josh Poston, Coker
Chad Patus, Belmont Abbey

Men's All-Conference Honorable Mention
Mason Ambler, Coker
Mike Holloman, Mount Olive
Craig Hayes, Mount Olive
Justin Melton, Mount Olive
Jonathan Jackson, Belmont Abbey

Freshman of the Year: Daniel Bailey, Queens

Player of the Year: Kendrick Easley, Mount Olive

Coach of the Year: Joey Higginbotham

DeMint’s rhetoric ignores reality

Op-ed by Carol Fowler

As record numbers of South Carolinians struggle to find jobs and keep their homes, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint denigrates the efforts of our government to get our economy moving again, and tries to claim freedom as a value unique to right-wing Republicans.

DeMint was one of the opening speakers Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the American Conservative Union. DeMint, the only U.S. senator to score perfectly on its right-wing agenda, told his listeners to choose their next leader on adherence to their principles.

Let’s start by putting our situation in perspective. We had a budget surplus in 2000 when Republicans took the White House. They set off on a series of misadventures – a war in Iraq, tax cuts for the wealthy and further erosion of regulation. And so it was that last year we watched the economy crash into a ditch.

Voters elected Democrats to get the car back on the road. DeMint and his ilk want to stand on the curb and shout directions to those of us willing to get down in the mud and push.

We will get the economy back on the road, and Democrats believe the market will propel it down the highway. But we will also expect drivers to obey speed limits, and that police will be on the road to protect the law-abiding drivers from the reckless ones. It’s called regulation.

In Friday’s speech, DeMint demonized President Obama “as the world’s best salesman for socialism,” and called for an “enraged” citizenry to take to the streets to stop a “slide into socialism.”
“I am convinced neither the Congress nor the president will preserve freedom,” DeMint said. “Folks, we’re not letting freedom work, but we’re blaming freedom,” he said. “The government is not the answer to our problems. The government is the problem.”

In this, DeMint sounds more like a 19th century anarchist than a supporter of our system of representative democracy. Our freedom is one we choose through elected representatives, a freedom we maintain through law. We the people are we the government.

Outside of the realm of citizens are other powerful forces: other nations and corporations with no national loyalty.

The far right often overlooks how many of our government institutions are designed to protect and foster business. What condition of “freedom” would we have if companies could not enforce contracts by recourse to civil courts, protect their innovations through patents, or raise capital because there was no outside agency such as the Securities and Exchange Commission to verify companies were fully disclosing their financial conditions? Freedom to prosper depends on a structure of justice not just for corporations, but for individuals.

Freedom is something Democrats cherish, too. In 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt outlined four of them: freedom of speech and expression; freedom of every person to worship God in his own way; freedom from want and freedom from fear.

Roosevelt was demonized in his own time by those on the right, and in his Four Freedoms speech he offered some advice on dealing with obstructionists.

“We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American eagle in order to feather their own nests,” Roosevelt said. “The best way of dealing with the few slackers or trouble-makers in our midst is, first, to shame them by patriotic example, and if that fails, to use the sovereignty of government to save government.”

With regard to Sen. DeMint, voters will have that chance in November 2010. Let freedom ring.

Rural Communities Suffer Most Under House Budget Proposal

In a surprising move the South Carolina House Ways and Means Committee decided that the best method for emerging from an economic recession is to raise property taxes, force layoffs, and reduce services necessary for everyday taxpayers and economic development. This crisis will occur if the House chooses to continue down the path set when Ways and Means balanced the state budget by slashing the Local Government Fund. Perhaps not so surprisingly, the House Leadership has decided that rural communities should once again pay the largest price for the state’s continued budgetary mismanagement.

The Local Government Fund is best looked at as the first property tax relief granted to the taxpayers of South Carolina. If funded according to the statutory formula, local governments are sent 4.5% of the last fiscal year’s State General Fund. This provides all counties with a predictable flow of income other than property taxes. Next year, for instance, we know the Local Government Fund will diminish because of the reduction in this year’s General Fund.

This money does not come to counties for nothing. Counties are statutorily required to comply with numerous mandates on behalf of state government. Some of these mandates include the housing of the judicial system, paying for magistrates, and providing office space and supplies for state agencies located in the county. All of these are state functions (indeed the authority over all rests in Columbia) but are funded by county tax dollars.

Clearly, the greatest suffering as a result of the ongoing recession is in rural communities. Many counties are experiencing double digit unemployment, companies laying off employees, and diminishing tax bases. Three years ago, the General Assembly sentenced the rural citizens of this state to second class citizenry as a result of imposing a millage cap caste system. The millage cap states that local governments may not increase the millage more than the consumer price index plus population growth in the county. In communities with lower population, this means that citizens will never enjoy the services available in more rapidly growing communities, even if they are willing to pay for it. With the proposed local government fund cut, the House leadership decided that turning their backs on the rural taxpayers of this state is not enough. They feel that our citizens do not deserve basic services, such as law enforcement, EMS services, and infrastructure maintenance. They want your property tax dollars to increase and go toward funding state functions while cutting those services that local taxpayers want and deserve.

Reeling from the millage cap and the recession Abbeville County, for instance, eliminated an ambulance station and turned it into a “quick response vehicle” station. This means that a truck with equipment and drugs is dispatched and works to stabilize the patient until a transporting ambulance can arrive on the scene. Abbeville has also instituted a one week unpaid furlough, cut four positions from the payroll, and reduced three other positions from full to part-time. The proposed action of the Ways and Means committee means another $660,000 cut from their budget, a cut that will put taxpayer lives at risk.

My constituents in Saluda County will lose $485,110 as a result of this cut. This is the equivalent of 9.88 mils. The millage limitation this year for Saluda County will likely be 3.9, which means, assuming county council raises taxes to the maximum extent allowed, we could make up $191,427. The remaining $293,683 will need to be stricken from an already lean budget utilizing either a reduction in force, furloughs, elimination of services or a combination of all three.

The result of cutting the Local Government Fund is apparent. Local governments are limited by a millage cap created in 2006 when the General Assembly, awash in cash, implemented a sales tax for school property tax replacement. At the same time they decided to emasculate local government fiscal authority by limiting millage increases to CPI plus population growth. Clearly, as a result of this measure, all local governments will be forced to increase millage to the maximum allowed under the limiting statute. In wealthy, populous communities, perhaps like those in the House leadership, taxpayers will see the taxes on the homes and cars skyrocket with some service loss. However in rural communities, already battered as a result of the General Assembly’s millage cap, this action will result in higher taxes, the slashing of local services, and most likely layoffs and furloughs in rural local governments. It is my hope House members who represent constituencies like mine will not once again succumb to the House leadership, but instead will save our taxpayers from the ruthless pillaging these actions represent.

By T. Hardee Horne, Chairman of Saluda County Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Association of Counties

Fowler: Republican’s Voter ID Bill Unnecessary

Carol Fowler, chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, issued the following statement Friday in response to the S.C. House’s passage on Thursday of a bill that would require voters to present government-issued photo IDs in order to vote.

“Once again, South Carolina’s Republican House members have chosen to solve a problem that doesn’t exist instead of doing the important work they were sent to do. Rather than find ways to solve this state’s economic difficulties, they spent their time this week looking for ways to keep folks from voting.

“They were unable to produce any examples of people impersonating voters, but they have passed an expensive requirement that everyone produce a government- issued photo ID at the polls. There has been no case of voter fraud that would have been prevented by this law, but Republican House members spent hours on it anyway.

“Republican House Speaker Bobby Harrell knows the math and is familiar with the odds of voter suppression. He knows that a high percentage of the elderly voters who lack driver’s licenses vote Democratic. For every needless obstacle his party erects, eligible voters will be turned away from exercising their most fundamental right as citizens.

“South Carolina Democrats will continue to fight this issue in the S.C. Senate and wherever else our voices can be heard.”

Five teachers named state finalists for 2008 Presidential Math and

Five South Carolina school teachers have been named state finalists to be considered for the prestigious 2008 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

The annual award is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th grade math or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Enacted by Congress in 1983, the program is administered by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The state finalists for science teaching are:

• Alyssa Mann, a third grade teacher at Diamond Hill Elementary in Abbeville County;
• Mary Meggett, a fifth grade teacher at Stiles Point Elementary, Charleston County; and
• Mirandi Squires, a third grade teacher at Johnsonville Elementary, Florence District Five.
  

The state finalists for mathematics teaching are:

• Christi Fricks, a sixth grade teacher at Lakeside Middle School, Anderson District Five; and
• Miriam Hunt, a teacher in grades 3-5 at Orchard Park Elementary in York District Four.

Each year, a national panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians and educators recommends up to 108 teachers to receive Presidential Awards – one math teacher and one science teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, US territories and schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Agency. Those selected for the honor receive a $10,000 award, a Presidential citation and a trip to Washington, DC for a series of recognition events, information exchange programs and an awards ceremony.

The program’s goal is to expand and exemplify the definition of excellent science and mathematics teaching. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspirations to their communities and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education. Grade levels are recognized by the program in alternating years. The 2008 awards are for teachers working in grades K-6, while teachers in grades 7-12 are eligible for awards in 2009.

ALLENDALE UTILITY WORKER IMPRISONED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT

U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Edna Capers Johnson Williams, age 58, of Allendale, S.C., was sentenced in federal court for embezzling approximately $180,000 from the Town of Allendale Waterworks and Sewer System, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 658. U.S. District Judge Margaret B. Seymour sentenced Williams to one year in prison, to be followed by supervised release for three years. Williams will also be required to pay restitution in the amount of $179,528.75.

Williams pled guilty to charges between July 2002 and May 2005, she stole money from the Allendale public utility, where she worked as a supervisor, and then manipulated the records of the utility to conceal the theft. The theft was discovered when a coworker noticed what appeared to be an error in the daily tally sheet of financial transactions for the utility. When the coworker investigated, she found that Williams had changed entries relating to commercial account payments. Law enforcement was then called, and a full investigation revealed that over at least a three year period, Williams had stolen the money by receiving payments in full, then recording a lesser amount received, and pocketing the difference. By making these changes, Williams caused the daily records to balance even though she had stolen significant sums of money.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the S.C. Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean A. Eichelberger of the Columbia office handled the case.

RedWolves Notebook

The RedWolves announce the signing of a pair of Tennessee Volunteers to the 2009 roster. Stephen McCray a Jr. 6'3" 230lb 1B/RHP and Will Locante a Fr. 6ft 175lb LHP will be in Florence this summer.

Sponsorship opportunities for the 2009 season are still available. The RedWolves entertained over 35,000 fans during their 2008 season. The RedWolves make a great avenue to promote your business to people in the Pee Dee area. Contact the RedWolves office at 629-0700 for more information.

Cracker Barrel to Offer Exclusive Dolly Parton CD

She’s an international star, a prolific songwriter, and a beloved philanthropist, but Dolly Parton is also just an old-fashioned Tennessee girl, and that’s why Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® is pleased and proud to be the exclusive source of a new Collectors’ Edition of Dolly’s latest CD, Backwoods Barbie. The album will feature three new tracks that have never been heard before and are available only on this disc, and the CD will also feature brand new photos and artwork. This Collectors’ Edition goes on sale exclusively at all Cracker Barrel locations on March 23.

The three new songs on this disc, “Rose of My Heart,” “Hallelujah Holiday,” and “Berry Pie” were selected by Dolly herself from her extensive catalog. “I wanted the songs I chose specifically for this release to reflect how I feel about Cracker Barrel and all the good things you can find there,” said Dolly. “I think it’s important for there to be an authentic connection to the heritage that Cracker Barrel and I share.”

The Collectors’ Edition of Backwoods Barbie is the latest project in an impressive collection of exclusive music available only at Cracker Barrel. It follows a number of exclusive releases in 2008 - November’s release of Bill Gaither’s Homecoming Hymns, the August release of Kenny Rogers: 50 Years, the July release of Ricky Skaggs’ The High Notes and the April release of Aaron Tippin’s He Believed. Over the last few years, Cracker Barrel has released exclusive CDs featuring Alison Krauss & Union Station, Josh Turner, Amy Grant, Sara Evans, and Charlie Daniels.

Cobras Set for Conference Tourney Action

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
2/27/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - It's that time of year again, March Madness, and this year the Coker College Cobras are poised to make a run in the Conference Carolinas Basketball Tournament. Both Cobra teams will do something that has not happened in a very long time at Coker, they will host playoff games, with the first round of play starting this weekend.

The Coker men will be first to play as the 6th seed in the tournament, Coker will host the 11th seed Lees-McRae on Saturday, Feb. 28, in the Timberlake-Lawton Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m. Then on Sunday, March 1, the Lady Cobras will take to the floor, as the 8th seed they will host the 9th seed Pfeiffer Falcons at 7:00 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live, visit www.conferencecarolinas.tv to purchase the live video feed.

The Cobra men had success against the Lees-McRae Bobcats this season, winning both meetings; including a thrilling 80-72 overtime win at home back on January 24. On the women's side, the Lady Cobras split their season series with the Lady Falcons, defeating them at home 82-77 on January 10, while falling in overtime 95-88 on February 14.

The Cobra men are led by senior Josh Poston (Myrtle Beach, SC) and his team leading 16.6 points per game, along with junior Mason Ambler's (Atlanta, GA) 14.2 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game.

Leading the Lady Cobras is the junior Finish connection of Henna Koponen (Vantaa, Finland) and Lotta Aaltonen (Rauma, Finland). Koponen has scored 1105 career points as a Cobra, while averaging 18.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, with Aaltonen averaging 14.5 points per game.

Eating Healthy on a Budget

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
Does feeding your family a healthy diet have to break the bank? Not if you know how to do it. Start by adding up the cost of all the food that your family eats away from home each week. Include lunches in the cafeteria, coffee breaks, sodas, vending machine purchases and meals eaten in your car or a restaurant. Then think about how much money you could save by eating more meals at home, carrying snacks with you, brown-bagging lunches and changing favorite recipes. Here are a few tips:

Avoid buying liquid candy like soda, lemonade, sweet tea, sweetened juice, energy drinks and fancy vitamin drinks. These options are not as healthy as a glass of water and a piece of fruit. In addition, the cost really adds up. Just two sodas or juice boxes every day can have a monthly cost anywhere from $15 if brought at the grocery store to as much as $120 if bought at restaurants and convenience stores. Avoid bottled water, too. It is very expensive since it is mostly just tap water. Save money by buying a water bottle for each person in the family-then fill it with your own water, keep it cold and ready to go.

Do not buy boxed cold breakfast cereal. Boxed cereals usually cost between $3 and $4 per box, and contain mostly refined grains mixed with sugar. And - have you noticed recently that you are getting less cereal for the same cost? Instead, buy other breakfast foods like 100% whole-wheat bread or English muffins for toasting, plain oatmeal, plain grits or big bags of store-brand whole grain cereals like O's or bran flakes. Add your own raisins or chopped nuts.

Go out to eat less often. Eating at home just one more time per week can often save $100 or more a month. Fixing food at home can be cheaper and quick, and allows you to make things that your family likes. Foods like grilled-cheese sandwiches, whole grain pancakes or scrambled eggs can be on the table fast, and are healthier than most fast-food meals that are typically high in calories, salt, fat and sugar. One way to avoid eating out: carry snacks like raisins, cereal Os or apples in the car to keep appetites under control until you get home.

Pack lunches for school and work. Fill lunch boxes in the morning quickly and easily with already prepared food. Sandwiches can be made for the whole week, and then frozen in small plastic bags. Oatmeal cookies, banana bread or muffins can be baked in large quantity and frozen in individual portions. A big bag of carrots, peeled and sliced to create a 2-3 day supply, can be ready to pop into a plastic container with a little ranch dressing for dipping. By adding a piece of fresh fruit or frozen fruit in a small plastic container, you can create a lunch that is fast, cheap and healthier.

Buy fewer single serving pre-packed foods. Avoid things like 100-calorie bags of cookies, granola bars, "fruit" chews, crackers, pudding, yogurt tubes, cheese, canned fruits, gelatin cups, applesauce, pre-boxed lunches and juice boxes. You pay a premium for someone else to stick these products in a bag or container for you. Invest in inexpensive, reusable, lidded containers and pack your own. Chances are that what you pack will be healthier, too.

Look for fresh fruits and vegetables on sale. Stores often have specials on produce that is in peak production. That means the fruit or vegetable is "in-season" and will be extra fresh and flavorful-as well as less expensive. When farmer's markets open in your area, you can get fruits and vegetables right out of the garden at even lower prices. Or, you can even plant your own tomatoes or cucumbers.

Watch for canned, dried and frozen fruits to go on sale and stock up. They keep for months and help you get a simple meal on the table fast. Be sure to stock up on basics like pasta sauces and frozen vegetables during sales when you can.

Consider making your own food. Muffins, cookies, instant oatmeal, granola bars, rolls, pizza dough, pudding, and salad dressings can be quick to make. The ingredients in these foods cost very little- and when you make them yourself, they can be much healthier. Be sure to use at least half whole-wheat flour, and add extra powdered milk, chopped nuts, dried fruit, and healthy fat (like olive or canola oil) to make them even healthier.

Eat less meat. Some old-fashioned basic meals like meat loaf, stew, soups, chili beans, pasta casseroles, or spaghetti use less meat because they contain other healthy ingredients. Grandma or older friends can be great resources for these old-fashioned "stretch the dollar" recipes. Update these old favorites to meet current nutrition standards by cutting the meat in half, and adding healthy extras to the recipe like vegetables (frozen peas, grated carrots and corn are kid favorites), beans, brown rice or whole grain pasta.

Have beans as your main course at least once a week. Kids and adults do not need meat every day. Beans are cheap and super healthy. Canned beans are great, but get rid of extra sodium by rinsing them with running water. Dry beans are even cheaper; just remember to soak them for a few hours before cooking. Quick bean meals include red beans and rice, black-eyed peas on rice, bean soup and baked beans.

Avoid foods with health claims on the label. These foods usually offer fewer benefits than cheaper brands. You can get much more nutrition from eating a great variety of less expensive foods. Remember that the word "organic" on the label does not mean "healthy," and many packaged organic foods contain unhealthy amounts of fat and sugar. Non-organic foods still contain most of the vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein found in organic choices. If you want to limit your family's exposure to pesticides and herbicides, one low-cost strategy is to scrub your conventionally grown fruits and vegetables very well with water.

Eating at home is not just great for the pocketbook and health-it is wonderful for children. Learning kitchen survival skills will help kids to grow up knowing how to care for themselves and enjoy healthier foods. Many children like to help the kitchen, and have fun doing tasks like setting the table or chopping vegetables for a salad. Cooking at home can be combined with the best idea ever for getting the whole family to eat more vegetables: serve some raw veggies for munching while the family cooks and talks together in the kitchen.

-EllieTaylor, RN, MS; South Carolina co-author of Feeding the Kids: The Flexible, No-Battle, Healthy Eating System for the Whole Family (2007) and Feeding the Kids Workshops: Raising Happy, Healthy Eaters (2009)

Obama’s Speech Highlights How Libraries Serve Everyday Americans and Students

The American Library Association (ALA) and the South Carolina Library Association (SCLA) lauds President Barack Obama for noting how libraries assist Americans during the president’s recent address to Congress.

The president shared a story about Ty’Sheoma Bethea, a young student from Dillon, South Carolina, who went to her local public library to write a letter to Congress to tell them how students today are committed to their education and determined to change the world.

“This anecdote not only shows how engaged the young people in our country are, but it also sheds light on how important the library is to these students,” ALA President Jim Rettig said. Yolanda McCormick, director of the Dillon County Library System, said, “I’m excited that she mentioned the library. We’re a poor county and everyone comes here to the library when they need to use a computer and the Internet. It makes me happy that we have these kinds of services available to the public. I’m glad we were here when she needed us!”

According to Jim Rettig, “The public library is the only source of no-fee access to the Internet for 73 percent of communities and a place where individuals like Ty’Sheoma can access computers and technology as well as benefit from the trusted guidance of a librarian. I thank President Obama for sharing Ty’Sheoma’s inspiring story. I hope it encourages our nation’s governors to use stimulus money wisely to ensure that every community has a local library – a library open ample hours with a librarian to help every child like Ty’Sheoma who needs a place to study or aspire. Our libraries are important not only to our youth, but also to adults; libraries are helping to rebuild the economy through assistance with online job searching and resume development, education on personal finances, and other services that respond to today’s pressing needs.”

SCLA president Libby Young said that she was elated that President Obama highlighted libraries in his address. “It’s important that the general public understand what kinds of resources are available at their local libraries. The fact that Ty’Sheoma was able to use her local library speaks a lot to what wonderful resources are available even in an underfunded county such as Dillon."

Comprehensive Tax Reform Passes Senate

Since the legislative session began back in January, I talked with many of you who thought it was time to take a serious look at the state's tax system. I have been working on a bill that would review the entire tax code of South Carolina to make recommendations to overhaul the system, in order to bring about strong economic growth. And after much debate, the Tax Realignment Commission (TRAC) plan passed the Senate earlier this afternoon.

During these very tough economic times, problems continue to rock the nation. South Carolina continues to be hit especially hard as we now have the third highest unemployment rate in the nation at 9.5 percent. Many are blaming South Carolina's antiquated and piecemealed tax structure as the primary cause of our state's woes. Called "loophole-riddled" and a "special-interest driven tax system" by The State newspaper, the tax code is an obstruction to economic growth in South Carolina.

The plan, which I introduced in the Senate, is modeled after the federal BRACC program. In an attempt to overhaul the tax code while removing the political pressures from the process, an independent commission of financial and economic experts will be created to assess the effectiveness of the current tax system structure and to provide recommendations for changes to the General Assembly. This plan will alleviate the concerns of politics dictating tax policy.

I am very pleased with the passage of the TRAC legislation today by the Senate. I thank the members of the Senate for a healthy debate and for passage of the bill. I believe that the creation of this commission is the best way for South Carolina to re-vamp our outdated tax laws. We must take a serious look at how our tax code works and this commission will be the most effective way for us to do that, as we seek to achieve fairness, equity and efficiency in our tax code.

Once again, if I can ever be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.


Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman
South Carolina Senator
District 31, Florence and Darlington Counties

SC Dems Oppose Photo ID Bill

S.C. House Republicans took a step backward with today’s passage of a bill which requires citizens to present a state-issued photo ID before they can vote, said Carol Fowler, chair of the S.C. Democratic Party.

The bill would primarily affect those who don’t have a driver’s license because they’re too poor to own a car or too old to drive one. House Republicans provided no reason to justify the measure, and no means to pay for it. The bill now moves to the S.C. Senate.

“South Carolinians stood for hours in lines last fall to exercise their right to vote. Now State House Republicans who so often decry needless government bureaucracy are creating yet another waiting line for voters and another expense for taxpayers,” Fowler said.

“Republicans saw the massive turnout at the polls last November, and they’re running scared,” Fowler said. “This is their attempt to impose a new burden on voters, draining citizens’ time and running up the costs of elections.”

“Democrats will continue to fight this injustice in the Senate,” she said. “We will push for a sensible plan that drops the House’s new bureaucratic hurdle to voting, and will allow citizens to vote early – without excuse. Our goal is to make voting easier and less costly both for citizens and taxpayers.”

Around the country, Republicans have been introducing photo ID bills, which they justify by raising the specter of voter fraud. Yet, in S.C. House hearings on the bill, election officials and even Republican supporters of the bill said they were not aware of any instances of the kind of voter fraud that the photo ID restriction would supposedly prevent.

Photo identification requirements have become the most common way to suppress votes based on “imprecise and inflated claims of ‘voter fraud,’” according to a 2007 report by the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law. “Such photo ID laws are effective only in preventing individuals from impersonating other voters at the polls — an occurrence more rare than getting struck by lightning,” the study says.

McCain to fundraise for key 2008 supporter

By Reid Wilson
Posted: 02/26/09 04:59 PM [ET]

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is hitting the fundraising circuit to return the favor to a local Republican who proved a key supporter in the 2008 primaries.

McCain and many of his top advisers will throw a fundraising reception on behalf of Henry McMaster, the South Carolina attorney general who backed McCain during his run for president in 2008.The event's host committee includes McCain loyalists like one-time senior advisors Charlie Black, former campaign manager Rick Davis and former Republican National Committee deputy chairman Frank Donatelli. McCain will make an appearance, a spokeswoman confirmed.

McMaster was one of the few politicians who supported McCain in the Palmetto State last year. The attorney general was along for the ride when McCain edged out ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to win the primary.

McMaster was the state party chairman in 2000 and did not endorse a candidate for president amidst that year's brutal primary battle that caused a years-long rift between President Bush, who won, and McCain, who placed second.

"Sen. McCain supports Attorney General McMaster. He was a huge supporter in South Carolina," said McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan.

McMaster is exploring a run for governor as Gov. Mark Sanford (R) is term-limited in 2010. He may have to face Rep. Gresham Barrett and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer in the GOP primary, though none of the three have made their bids official.

McMaster sent the invitation out on stationary that features the South Carolina seal, a common practice, according to Palmetto political watchers, though one that raises eyebrows nonetheless. The South Carolina Ethics Commission told The Hill there is nothing untoward about using the state seal.

House Passes Voter ID Bill

Today, the South Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill that will help prevent fraud and secure our state’s election process by incorporating the use of picture identification in voting. Modeled after a Voter ID bill passed by the Indiana Legislature, this bill (H. 3418) is a key element of the SC Secure Election Act, a major agenda item for the House Republican Caucus.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, lead sponsor of the legislation, said, “The Heart of democracy is the right to vote. If we do not protect that voting right from fraud and abuse, we are not protecting the ideals of democracy.”

Other states have also instituted Voter ID provisions. In Indiana, the requirement to show a picture ID when voting was challenged and the case went all the way to our nation’s highest court. Last year, the United States Supreme Court ruled that Indiana’s law was Constitutional and did not place an undue burden on the voter.

“To say that requiring a picture ID to vote creates an undue burden is absurd,” said Speaker Harrell. “A picture ID is required to do just about anything in our society, except to vote.”

Getting serious about governmental transparency

By Lt. Governor André Bauer

In the face of continuing news reports of lost, found, and stolen state funds, I am unveiling the Lieutenant Governor’s Office transparency initiative that can be quickly adopted at little cost by all state agencies, giving taxpayers an unprecedented view of state finances.

As a true conservative I believe that the people, the voters, the taxpayers, my constituents, have an absolute right to know how state government is handling their finances.

Therefore I am as shocked as any other taxpayer to hear about $5 million being stolen from Department of Social Services, one $7,000 check after another for more than five years.

I am as frustrated as any other elected official to hear that while we grapple with cuts to hospice programs for seniors and autism services for children, hundreds of millions of dollars are hidden from public view in reserve accounts by the Department of Health and Human Services.

I am as baffled as any business person that $250,000 for a veterans program can be ‘lost’ in the Governor’s Office, only to be quickly ‘found’ when a legislator calls for an audit.

Therefore I am completely delighted to implement a solution that lets anyone go to the internet and view what is tantamount to the monthly bank statement for every state agency.

This builds on the commendable efforts of Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom to provide taxpayers what are essentially the cancelled checks of South Carolina state government.

But, we can -- and we must -- do much more.

I applaud him for embracing my initiative by going the further step, which places on the internet a current report used by all state agencies and issued by his office – and is the equivalent of a monthly bank statement. It shows not only the checks written, but the balances.

My staff and Comptroller General Eckstrom’s staff are working together to make this process more user friendly. The beginning point is for state agencies to turn these monthly reports into pdf files that can be placed on the internet with little cost. Our objective ultimately is to adapt technology so that these reports become data bases that can be researched by taxpayers.

In the meantime, today I am sending every agency head in South Carolina my personal request that they take the identical steps we have taken in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

Let’s restore taxpayer confidence in our stewardship of their money. Let’s get serious about transparency. The people who pay the bills – the hard-working taxpayers of South Carolina – deserve no less.

Coker Baseball Against Erskine Rescheduled

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
2/27/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - The Coker College Baseball games against Erskine College scheduled for Friday, February 27, at 1:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 28, at noon, have been postponed due to inclement weather. Two of the scheduled three games have been rescheduled and will be played on Monday, March 2, starting at 12:30 p.m.

The Cobras and the Fleet will play a double-header featuring two seven inning games. Fans can follow all the action with live stats by following this link: Erskine Baseball Live Stats.

Please check www.cokercobras.com for all the latest news, scores and highlights from your favorite Coker Athletics teams.

Koponen Leads Lady Cobras to Victory Over Erskine

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
2/26/2009

Due West, S.C. - Coker's Henna Koponen continued her dominate play dropping a double-double against Erskine College on Thursday night, scoring 32 points and pulling down 12 rebounds, while leading the Lady Cobras to a 84-78 victory.

The win places Coker squarely in eighth place in the Conference Carolinas standings with a record of 11-16 overall, and 10-12 in the conference, securing their 8th seed in the conference tournament.

Joining Koponen in double figure scoring was Jasmine Alston (Sumter, SC) with a career high 14 points and six rebounds, while Jessica Hayes (Beaufort, SC) and Megan Thomas (Cresskill, NJ) each had 10 points and five rebounds.

Coker will now prepare to host their first playoff game in recent years, as the 8th seed Lady Cobras will host 9th seed Pfeiffer in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament on Sunday, March 1. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Leadership Lessons from the New First Lady

Since Jan. 20, President Barack Obama has been hard at work doing his part to help the nation get back on its feet. And while the Presidency likely means a dream come true and a lot of hard work for him, for his family it means he’s off the campaign trail (at least for a while!) and back at the dinner table. That’s right. The Obamas have a family life, too! And while you may not be discussing national security and the Secret Service as you pass the mashed potatoes each night, you are still facing many of the same challenges as the other head of the first family, our nation’s new first lady and mom-in-chief, Michelle Obama.

“Michelle Obama is the epitome of today’s professional woman,” says Jamie Woolf, author of Mom-in-Chief: How Wisdom from the Workplace Can Save Your Family from Chaos (Jossey-Bass/A Wiley Imprint, February 2009, ISBN: 978-0-4703813-1-1, $22.95). “As a high-powered lawyer and executive administrator, she has never wavered in her commitment to her family. Just like other moms across the country, she has always worked hard at home to ensure that her daughters’ upbringing never suffers despite having two parents with high-powered careers.”

Here are five lessons in leadership that mothers from all walks of life can learn from the nation’s new mom-in-chief:

Being good at your job can make you a better parent. At the end of a long workday, most of us are eager to leave our professional lives at the office. However, says Woolf, the most effective parents are the ones who don’t. In her career in law and public service, Obama has no doubt perfected many of the same skills she’ll use in her role as mom-in-chief, including conflict resolution, communication, multi-tasking, time management, crisis management, and team building.

Motherhood IS a leadership job. By calling herself “mom-in-chief,” Obama sends a strong message that being a mom means being a leader, an attribute that mothers often overlook in their parenting roles. By celebrating her position rather than apologizing for it, she connects the notion of leadership beyond the walls of corporate suites and presidential mansions to the homes of average parents.

Focus on the big picture. Admittedly, this advice can seem vague and perhaps a little overwhelming. We all know how easy it can be to get caught up in the relentless day-to-day scurry of soccer practice, doctor appointments, and packing lunches and forget about the more meaningful goals that we have set for ourselves as parents. Obama is surely no exception to the motherhood mayhem. With two young children and a puppy to corral, and state dinners and sleepovers to host, the first lady will face relentless demands on her time and patience. The trick for her, and for all of us, says Woolf, is making a point to stop and refocus throughout the day so we don’t lose sight of what’s important.

It’s okay to delegate. Obama has at times been the major breadwinner in her family—she was vice-president of community affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center before she took a leave to join her husband on the campaign trail—and she knows intimately the juggling act working mothers perform every day. No wonder she plans to use her platform as first lady to advocate for policies such as family leave, childcare access, and better healthcare—the issues that allow women to better balance work and family life. In the meantime, however, we need to call on our own support systems…the other people who live under our roof.

Taking care of you should be a priority, not a luxury. With bills to be paid, dinner to be cooked, and homework to be done, it’s hard to imagine finding another second in the day to get things done—let alone to do something like (gasp!) take a bubble bath. With our endlessly competing priorities, taking care of ourselves is often the first thing to go in our lives as parents. Many mothers say making time for exercise, let alone a manicure, feels indulgent. Obama has made it clear that being an effective mom-in-chief means finding the time to rejuvenate. And when we respect ourselves, we model an important lesson for our children. “Hey, we’re the only ones who can take care of ourselves,” she told Ebony magazine, “and it makes us better lawyers, better mothers.”

About the Author: Jamie Woolf is a regular contributor to Working Mother magazine and founder of The Parent Leader and Pinehurst Consulting, an organization development consulting firm. In her book, Mom-in-Chief: How Wisdom from the Workplace Can Save Your Family from Chaos, Woolf addresses real-life quandaries and covers everything that career-oriented women need to know to unleash their parenting potential and navigate challenges with skill and grace.

Five Ways to Take Off Pounds Now

Whether Americans know it or not, they need to go on a NicoDerm® diet. America is in the midst of an overweight and obesity epidemic, with fully two-thirds of adults considered “fat.” The government sends Americans the message that we must cut out all the foods we love from our diets immediately or suffer severe, life-threatening consequences.

Here are five simple ways consumers can successfully lower their daily calorie intake without disruption to their taste buds or lifestyles:

• Be a Small Fry. Combo meals are a convenient way to order your fast food meal, and they offer a great value for your dollar. But they also encourage you to take on a lot more calories than you think. Just trading up to the large fries and sugared drinks can add 430 calories, more calories than a Quarter Pounder®! So enjoy your combo meal, just stick with the small sides.

• Think Junior. There has been a proliferation of overstuffed sandwiches and burgers to the point that those sizes are now considered the norm. Burgers such as the Baconator®, the Triple Whopper with Cheese® and the Monster Thickburger® bring in half or more of our daily caloric requirements before we even get to the fries and drinks. Here’s a solution. Order the “junior” sizes of these same sandwiches. They’re plenty large but significantly lower in calories and fat. Next time get the ¼ Pound Little Thickburger – an 800 calorie savings from its big brother.

• Don’t Supersize it, “Zero-size it.” Supersizing beverages has provided restaurants and their customers a classic win-win: the consumer gets a great value at a great price, while the restaurant makes a tidy profit the bigger the size. The hidden cost, of course, is the calories. Two large cups of soft drinks or sweetened drinks can run over 600 calories. Not the bargain consumers thought they were getting. Next time, take advantage of the large size value by “Zero-sizing” your order. Buy a Coca-Cola Zero or Diet Pepsi instead.

• Choose 100-calorie Packs for Snacks. Studies have shown that those who eat only out of these portion controlled packages take in 120 less calories a day compared to those who eat directly out of the larger bags and boxes. And you still get to enjoy a tasty snack with little or no sacrifice.

• Know your lattes. We all like our lattes and a basic tall (12 oz) latte runs a modest 150 calories. Not a problem until we drift over to the blended coffees and teas with added whipped cream in the venti size (24 oz). These can run upwards of 600 calories a cup! Very enjoyable and filling, but roughly 1/3 of your daily calories in just one drink. Better to add a flavor shot to your latte – they’re only 20 calories - and you help out Starbuck’s profits at the same time.

All these approaches follow one simple rule: eat what you enjoy, just don’t eat too much of it. These steps are easy to follow and don’t require any radical changes that usually result in failure. The goal is to naturally wean ourselves off overstuffed portion sizes during our regular routines. You’ll find that you’ll be happier sticking with this game plan rather than sacrificing too much of what you enjoy. Once you’ve mastered this, then we can talk Brussels sprouts.

Hank Cardello is CEO of 27ºNorth and author of “Stuffed: An Insider’s Look at Who’s (Really) Making America Fat.” He serves as Chairman for the annual Global Obesity Business Forum sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Hartsville Council Retreat

Hartsville City Council will hold a Retreat on Friday, Feb. 27, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Coach TB Thomas Sports Center, located at Byerly Park, 700 Russell Road, Hartsville.

Atlanta Man Convicted of Supplying Spartanburg Drug Dealers

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that Latrone Antonio Hicks, age 37, of Atlanta, was convicted in federal court in Spartanburg of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. United States District Judge Henry Floyd presided over the trial and will sentence Hicks at a later date.

Evidence presented at trial established that Hicks paid couriers to deliver cocaine from Atlanta to drug dealers in Spartanburg, where the drugs were distributed either as powder cocaine or crack cocaine. Hicks was proven to be the major supplier to an upstate distribution network that consisted of approximately 50 individuals, led by Michael Jacobs of Spartanburg. The jury found that Hicks was responsible for supplying 72 kilograms of cocaine and 36 kilograms of crack cocaine to Jacobs and his associates. Other members of the conspiracy, including Jacobs, have previously been prosecuted.

Mr. Wilkins stated the maximum penalty Hicks can receive is a fine of $4,000,000 and imprisonment for life.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Spartanburg Department of Public Safety, and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Regan A. Pendleton and William Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.

Expanded Tax Break Available for 2009 First-Time Homebuyers

The Internal Revenue Service announced that taxpayers who qualify for the first-time homebuyer credit and purchase a home this year before Dec. 1 have a special option available for claiming the tax credit either on their 2008 tax returns due April 15 or on their 2009 tax returns next year.

Qualifying taxpayers who buy a home this year before Dec. 1 can get up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married filing separately.

“For first-time homebuyers this year, this special feature can put money in their pockets right now rather than waiting another year to claim the tax credit," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “This important change gives qualifying homebuyers cash they do not have to pay back.”

The IRS has posted a revised version of Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit, on IRS.gov. The revised form incorporates provisions from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The instructions to the revised Form 5405 provide additional information on who can and cannot claim the credit, income limitations and repayment of the credit.

This year, qualifying taxpayers who buy a home before Dec. 1, 2009, can claim the credit on either their 2008 or 2009 tax returns. They do not have to repay the credit, provided the home remains their main home for 36 months after the purchase date. They can claim 10 percent of the purchase price up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately.

The amount of the credit begins to phase out for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is more than $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers.

For purposes of the credit, you are considered to be a first-time homebuyer if you, and your spouse if you are married, did not own any other main home during the three-year period ending on the date of purchase.

The IRS also alerted taxpayers that the new law does not affect people who purchased a home after April 8, 2008, and on or before Dec. 31, 2008. For these taxpayers who are claiming the credit on their 2008 tax returns, the maximum credit remains 10 percent of the purchase price, up to $7,500, or $3,750 for married individuals filing separately. In addition, the credit for these 2008 purchases must be repaid in 15 equal installments over 15 years, beginning with the 2010 tax year.

#7 Patriots’ streak snapped at 15, AASU wins 92-91 in OT

FLORENCE, SC – Junior guard Lauren Hall scored a pair of key layups in the final minute of overtime and senior forward Lacey Willis scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead Armstrong Atlantic State University to a 92-91 upset of seventh-ranked Francis Marion University, Wednesday evening (Feb. 25) in Peach Belt Conference women’s basketball action.

The loss spoiled Senior Night for Francis Marion (24-2, 17-2) and snapped the Patriots’ 15-game winning streak – fourth longest in team history. The defeat was also the first home loss for FMU, the second year in a row the Patriots have gone unbeaten at home only to lose in their finale.

The Patriots clinched their second straight PBC regular-season title last Saturday, but are attempting to stay No. 1 in the Southeast Region poll. Second-place Lenoir-Rhyne College also lost on Wednesday. Francis Marion will end its regular season on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Morrow, Ga., against the Peach Belt’s second-place squad Clayton State University.

The Patriots will be the number one seed in next week’s PBC Tournament (March 4-8) in Aiken.

Sophomore Shannon Singleton-Bates led FMU with 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Junior Shana Franks added 16 points, while senior Creshenda Singletary scored 14 points and freshman 6-0 center Dominique Powell chipped in a career-high equaling 14 points and grabbed six rebounds.

Willis was saddled with foul trouble much of the game and scored only three points in the first half. In fact, seventeen of her points came in the final five minutes of regulation and the overtime period. Junior guard Dartayvia Thomas added 17 points and 11 rebounds for AASU (16-10, 11-8). Four other Lady Pirates scored in double figures.

Francis Marion took an early 15-6 lead only to have AASU rally to tie the count at 20-20. The Patriots led 40-34 at halftime.

A three-point play by AASU reserve forward Lindsey Hill gave the Lady Pirates a 49-46 advantage with 14:22 left in the contest. FMU quickly erased that deficit with a 21-5 run that gave the Patriots a 67-54 lead with 4:59 left. Willis then scored 12 of her squad’s final 20 points in regulation to rally the Lady Pirates. She accounted for six of an 8-0 AASU spurt that immediately cut the margin to 67-62.

A layup by Powell gave Francis Marion 72-68 lead with 48 seconds remaining. AASU guard Portia Jones hit a three-pointer to cut the margin to 72-71. After FMU point guard Kevina Ransom made two free throws with 23 ticks left, Ashley Duhart banked in a game-tying three-pointer from the top-of-the-key with nine seconds on the clock. Ransom then raced up the floor, but her layup rolled off the rim as the horn sounded.

In the extra period, AASU hit 6-of-8 shots, while Francis Marion managed only 6-of-13. FMU never led in overtime, but a layup by Powell tied the game at 86-86 with just under a minute remaining. Hall then scored her two layups amid traffic in the lane to up the AASU lead to 90-86 with: 20 on the clock. Five seconds later, Singleton-Bates cut the margin to 90-88 with a fast-break lay-in. AASU senior guard Lindsey Holmes then clinched the upset with two free throws with nine seconds remaining, before FMU’s Eboni Fields scored on a three-pointer at the final horn.

Francis Marion did force 29 AASU turnovers, but the Patriots were outrebounded 54-40 and managed to hit only 12-of-19 free throws, while the Lady Pirates were 23-of-34 at the stripe.

By Michael G. Hawkins

Pirates sail by Patriots in overtime 77-66

FLORENCE, SC – Junior Dwight Tolbert scored on a jumper in the lane with five seconds left to force overtime and Armstrong Atlantic State University outscored Francis Marion University 16-5 in the extra session to claim a 77-66 Peach Belt Conference victory, Wednesday night (Feb. 25) in men’s basketball action.

With the Senior Night loss, Francis Marion drops to 16-10 overall and 9-10 in the PBC, while AASU improves to 21-5 and 14-5.

Playing his final home contest, FMU senior forward Kevin Clark posted his eighth double-double of the year with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocked shots. Senior guard Houston Power came off the Patriot bench to add a season-high 16 points, while senior point guard Crayton Jones tallied six points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.

Tolbert led the Pirates with 24 points, including a 5-of-7 night from beyond the three-point arc, while T.T. Hall added 14 points, and Brian Moultrie 12 points and seven rebounds.

AASU shot 27 of 31 at the foul line, including 11-of-12 in the extra period.

A 15-foot jumper by Power had given Francis Marion a 60-59 advantage with 27 seconds left in regulation. On the ensuing possession, Hall turned the ball over on a palming violation. Power was then fouled but made only one of two shots to put FMU up 61-59 with 12 ticks left. Following an AASU timeout, Tolbert took the in-bounds pass and drove into the lane where he drained a 10-foot shot. Jones then raced the ball up the floor, but his floater at the final horn was no good.

In the overtime, AASU scored the first five points, all from the free throw line, and never trailed.

Francis Marion held AASU to 1-of-10 shooting from the floor to open the game as the Patriots took a 14-3 lead, with Clark scoring FMU’s first dozen points. The lead was 11 points at 19-8 before AASU used a 13-2 run to knot the score at 21-21. A jumper by Hall just before the halftime buzzer gave the Pirates a 25-23 lead at intermission.

Francis Marion would retake the lead in the second half and led by as many as eight points at 43-35 after a Sam Smith basket with 9:38 remaining. A layup by Clark gave Francis Marion a 53-47 margin with 3:51 left, but AASU scored the next seven points to go up 54-53 following a three-pointer by Hall. The score was later tied at 56, 57, and 58 before the final minute.

FMU held AASU to 35 percent shooting, but the Pirates held a 19-6 edge in second-chance points.

Francis Marion will close out its regular season on Saturday at Clayton State University in a 4 p.m. match-up.

By Michael G. Hawkins

CCobras Pick-up Non-Conference Win Over Newberry, 6-3

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
2/25/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Coker threw nine pitchers to hold Newberry to just three runs on nine hits in the Cobras 6-3 win over Newberry in a non-conference baseball match-up on Wednesday afternoon.

The win improves the Cobras to 9-8 overall, 5-2 on their home field, while Newberry falls to 8-6 on the year.

Michael Rogers (Florence, SC) (2-0) was the starting pitcher for Coker, going just one inning, allowing only one hit with a strikeout, while picking up the win. Newberry's Chauncey Mattei (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits with four strikeouts in three innings on the mound.

Leading the Coker offense were Kevin Schlange (Carson City, NV), Trey Lynch (Florence, SC), Brinley Griffin (Port St. John, FL), Karl Ankersen (Mt. Pleasant, SC) and Kyle Walker (Centralia, IL). Schlange had a pair of hits, along with a pair of RBIs and a run scored, while Lynch and Griffin each had two hits, including a double with an RBI and Ankersen was 3-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored, with Walker picking up two hits and scoring a run.

For Newberry at the plate, Michael Morin had a two run double, while John Kirkland and Thomas Berryhill each had two hits, with Berryhill scoring a run.

The Cobras return to the diamond on Friday, as they travel to Due West, S.C. for a Conference Carolina's game against Erskine, while Newberry will host Bloomsburg College in a non-conference game on Saturday.

Rex says that transparency, accountability should accompany federal stimulus dollars

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex said today that billions of federal stimulus dollars aimed at helping hard-hit public school systems should be wisely used and painstakingly tracked.

Rex and 40 of the nation’s state education chiefs met at the White House today with Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to discuss the school-related components of the federal stimulus package. Recently approved by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will invest more than $130 billion in the nation’s public education system. About $600 million is headed for South Carolina schools, with additional dollars available through grant applications.

“These new resources represent a profound investment in our kids and in our future, and they come at a critical time for public schools that have been battered by budget cuts,” Rex said. “We owe it to every parent and every taxpayer to be perfectly clear about how these dollars
are spent.”

Secretary Duncan told the state education chiefs that he expects to begin announcements next week concerning when and how the new federal funds will be made available. He pledged that his agency would "turn on a dime" to make the best use of data and input from the states.

Like Rex, Duncan emphasized the need for transparency and called for detailed descriptions on how the education stimulus funds are used, quarterly reports on the use of those funds and estimates on the numbers of jobs created and retained.

"We have to be accountable for every penny we spend,” Duncan said.

Rex met last week with South Carolina Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom to ask how the state’s public schools could be proactive in showing parents and taxpayers how federal stimulus dollars are being used. The two agreed to work collaboratively in the weeks ahead. Rex said he also would contact Gov. Mark Sanford to discuss strategies for using the money.

“South Carolina taxpayers are making this investment in public education,” Rex said, “and we need to show them how their dollars are being used - and why they are being used. We should be able to defend every expenditure to parents, teachers, citizens and business leaders.”

House Democrats Oppose Raising Taxes on Local Government

COLUMBIA – House Democrats joined with the South Carolina Association of Counties on Wednesday to oppose the crippling 42% budget cut to local governments proposed and passed by Republicans in the Ways & Means committee last week. These measures would essentially force local and county governments to either cut basic services for their communities who are already dealing with the massive drawbacks in last year’s budget, or raise taxes.

“This proposal is unacceptable and fiscally irresponsible”, said Rep. Cathy Harvin (D-Clarendon). “We cannot expect local governments to fix the problems that were created right here in Columbia”. Harvin added, “House Democrats will not vote for this budget if these cuts do not disappear.

The proposed cuts force local governments to carry the financial burden of the budget crisis without giving them an alternative solution to create revenue. With Act 388 prohibiting local governments from raising property taxes, the only remaining options lie in the dramatic downscaling of basic services, pay cuts, and layoffs.

Several Democratic members of the House and Senate voiced their opposition to the massive cuts at the press conference, stating that the drastic impact it would have on employees, county officials, and basic services were too catastrophic to ignore.

“We will not stand idly by while the Republicans attempt to bamboozle and hoodwink county and local governments”, said Rep. Wendell Gilliard, a former City Councilman in Charleston. “I’ve seen it done before, and I will not let it happen again."

FLORENCE FELON FACES FEDERAL CHARGES

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins announced today that a Federal Grand Jury charged Shawn Altego Cato, age 25, of Florence, in a four-count indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on October 22, 2008, and committing the following federal charges on December 11, 2008: felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.

The maximum penalty Cato could receive is life imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Florence Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rose Mary Parham of the Florence Office, as a part of Project Cease Fire, an initiative of the United States Attorneys Office targeting gun crimes.

LONGS MAN CHARGED IN FEDERAL COURT FOR FIREARM

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins announced today that Lashon Alvin Ladson, age 23, of Longs, South Carolina, was charged in a one-count indictment with felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on May 3, 2008. The charge arises from a traffic stop in Horry County last May, during which deputies allegedly recovered a stolen gun.

The maximum penalty the defendant could receive is life imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Horry County Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rose Mary Parham of the Florence Office, as a part of Project Cease Fire, an initiative of the United States Attorneys Office targeting gun crimes.

Hartsville Tax Preparer Indicted

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Jacqueline E. Gibson, age 46, of Hartsville, was charged with mail fraud. Federal agents allege that Gibson, owner of Jackie Tax Service in Hartsville, had her clients' tax refund checks mailed to her rather than her clients, and that she kept the refunds for herself.

The maximum penalty Gibson could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment of 20 years.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the OIG Tax Administration and the United States Postal 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.

Timmonsville Man Charged with Stealing Federal Benefits

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Arthur Rhett Garner, III, age 62, of Timmonsville, was charged in a three-count Indictment with theft of more than $360,000.00 of government funds, and filing false statements to obtain federal employee’s compensation, violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 641 and 1920.

Authorities allege that after Garner claimed to be injured on the job as a postal worker in 1998, he regularly filed for federal compensation, falsely stating that he had no other income.

The maximum penalty Garner could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment of up to 10 years.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal 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.

Hartsville Post Office Employee Indicted for Theft

U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Diane T. Williams, age 38, of Lamar, was indicted for theft by a postal employee. Federal officials allege that Williams stole postal funds while working at the Hartsville Post Office from June 2007 to June 2008.

The maximum penalty Williams could receive is a fine of $250,000 and imprisonment for 10 years.

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

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

PEE DEE RESIDENTS INDICTED FOR COUNTERFEITING

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Phillip Lee Laney, age 27, of Mt. Croghan, South Carolina, David Lee Williams, age 35, of Hartsville, South Carolina, Shane Lee Kearns, age 33, of Jefferson, South Carolina, and Lance Larenta Outen, age 19, of Hartsville, South Carolina, were charged in a three-count Indictment with the manufacture, distribution, and possession of counterfeit money, violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 471, 472, and 473.

The maximum penalty each defendant could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment of 20 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.

BENNETTSVILLE MAN FACES FEDERAL GUN CHARGES

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins announced today that a Federal Grand Jury returned an Indictment against Brian Sentell Brand, age 29, of Bennettsville, South Carolina, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The allegation stems from Brand’s armed stand-off with police last December on Lawson Street in Bennettsville, during which an individual was shot.

The maximum penalty Brand could receive is life imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Bennettsville Police Department, Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office, Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Rose Mary Parham of the Florence Office is prosecuting the case as a part of Project Cease Fire, an initiative of the United States Attorneys Office targeting gun crimes.

History of Modern SC Maps State's Changing Cultural and Political Landscape

Two-time South Carolina Journalist of Year Jack Bass and his fellow award-winning historian W. Scott Poole have authored a new concise history of South Carolina with a strong emphasis on the social, economic and political transformations from the late twentieth century to the present day. The Palmetto State: The Making of Modern South Carolina (hardcover, $24.95) will be published on March 12 and will be available through local booksellers and directly from the publisher, the University of South Carolina Press (800-768-2500).

The Palmetto State chronicles the legacies of luminary figures like Strom Thurmond, Ernest F. Hollings, James F. Byrnes, Robert McNair, Matthew J. Perry Jr., I. DeQuincey Newman, Harvey Gantt, Modjeska Monieth Simkins and others in a briskly paced narrative as Bass and Poole survey the roots of the defining moments of recent decades. The impact of two world wars, the Great Depression, the civil rights era and other major historical moments are all deftly explored. Throughout the volume, the authors discuss how tensions of race, religion and economics are always central to any major shift in our history.

An insightful reminder of our complex recent past and an inviting perspective on the promising moment in history on which we are now poised, The Palmetto State is a welcome addition to any South Carolina bookshelf and makes for ideal reading for newcomers and natives eager to learn more about their home and its heritage.

Spratt Reaction to President Obama’s Speech

House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-SC) issued the following statement on President Obama’s speech.

“The Bush Administration passed on to President Obama an economy in crisis and a budget in deficit – deep deficit, $1.4 trillion this year alone. Tonight’s speech shows that President Obama is not flinching or stalling; he’s taking the challenge head-on.

“The President recognized that the economy’s recovery is our most compelling problem, and I agree with him. He restated his commitment to putting the economy on its feet and the budget on a path toward balance. Yesterday’s fiscal summit at the White House set the stage for tonight’s address, when the President stated his determination to cut the deficit by half by 2013. This will not be easy, because balancing the budget when the economy is in recession is all but impossible, and what we do to make the economy better often makes the deficit worse, at least in the short-run.

“We cannot turn this battleship around overnight. But this speech signals the President’s intention to come out fighting. He intends to fire up the economy, bring down the deficit, and still do energy, education, and health care. He has lots of political capital, and is investing it in a big, bold venture, and betting that the Congress and the country will follow.

“If the reaction on the House floor is any measure, Congress is responding. Republicans stood and applauded almost as often as Democrats. That’s a sure sign of a great speech.”

Pro-Life Bills Pass SC House

The South Carolina House of Representatives gave second reading yesterday to not one, but two strong pro-life bills.

The legislation changing the reflection period before an abortion from the current one hour to the national standard 24 hours passed by a vote of 83-28. That after a full afternoon of debate and a series of failed amendments.

Then, the House immediately took up the Born Alive Infant Protection Act and passed it 105-5. The BIAPA requires medical assistance for a child born as the result of a botched abortion. The federal version of the legislation passed several years ago after nurses reported newborns being allowed to die after surviving attempted abortions.

USCA captures Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate golf title, FMU places 3rd

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC – USC Aiken, the top-ranked team in NCAA Division II, fired a final-round 306 team score to complete a wire-to-wire win at the fourth-annual Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate Men’s Golf Tournament, held on Hilton Head Island, S.C. USCA’s Roberto Diaz fired a 2-under-par 70, Tuesday’s low round of the day, to capture medalist honors with a 54-hole tally of 214.

USCA finished with a team score of 897, eight strokes ahead of the University of Richmond (905). The Spiders, along with Presbyterian College, carded the low team score of Tuesday at 301 to jump ahead of host Francis Marion University. FMU fired a 314 score on Tuesday and fell back to third place with a 54-hole total of 907. USC Upstate (912) finished fourth, while Presbyterian was fifth at 919.

USCA won the inaugural event in 2006, while defending tournament champion Elon University placed eighth in this year’s event.

The 16-team tournament was played on the par 72, 6,828-yard Wexford Plantation course.

Diaz entered the final round tied with teammate J.P. Solis at the top of the individual standings, but ended the day four strokes ahead of USC Upstate’s Josh Gallman (71-76-71=218). Rounding out the top five finishers were Michael Shrader of Richmond (73-76-71=220), Solis (69-75-77=221), and Robert Lindstrom of Richmond (73-74-75=222).

Junior Christopher Couch led the Francis Marion golfers as he carded a final-round 79 to place eighth at 226. FMU seniors Keith Crowley (final round 75) and Ronan O’Connor (78) tied for 10th place at 228, while senior Andrew Pitcher (82) tied for 14th position at 229 and senior Peter McGibney (85) tied for 33rd place at 234.

FMU junior Matt Jackson competed as an individual and shot a 76 on Tuesday to finish tied for 16th at 230.

Only eight sub-par rounds were recorded during the 54 holes by the 81 golfers.

Francis Marion will compete in the Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate Tournament, March 9-10, in Aiken, S.C.


Final results

Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate (Men’s Golf) Tournament
Dates: Feb. 23-24, 2009
Round: 3 FINAL RESULTS Par-Yardage: 72-6828
COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM GOLFSTAT.COM
COPYRIGHT ©, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, GOLFSTAT Bloomington, IL
Fin. School Scores
1 South Carolina-Aiken 292 299 306 897 +33
2 Richmond, Univ. of 299 305 301 905 +41
3 Francis Marion U. 300 293 314 907 +43
4 USC Upstate 306 302 304 912 +48
5 Presbyterian College 316 302 301 919 +55
6 Wofford College 306 312 310 928 +64
7 Cleveland State U. 308 313 308 929 +65
8 Elon University 305 311 318 934 +70
9 Davidson College 322 310 304 936 +72
10 Ohio University 310 311 318 939 +75
11 George Mason Univ. 320 312 319 951 +87
12 Marshall University 332 307 318 957 +93
13 St. Joseph's Univer. 332 331 309 972 +108
14 Bowling Green State 327 316 330 973 +109
15 George Washington 317 322 335 974 +110
16 Rhode Island, U. of 324 332 327 983 +119

Fin. Name (School) Scores
1 Roberto Diaz (USCA) 70 74 70 214 -2
2 Josh Gallman (USC Upstate) 71 76 71 218 +2
3 Michael Shrader (Richmond) 73 76 71 220 +4
4 J.P. Solis (USCA) 69 75 77 221 +5
5 Robert Lindstrom (Richmond) 73 74 75 222 +6
6 Michael Saari (Davidson) 75 76 73 224 +8
7 Garrett Medeiros (Wofford) 74 77 74 225 +9
8 Christopher Couch (Fr. Marion) 72 75 79 226 +10
9 Patrick Elber (Cleve. St.) 74 77 76 227 +11
10 Thomas Todd (PC) 80 73 75 228 +12
Keith Crowley (Fr. Marion) 78 75 75 228 +12
Kevin Grady (USCA) 76 72 80 228 +12
Ronan O'Connor (Fr. Marion) 78 72 78 228 +12

By Michael G. Hawkins

Following Recent $122 Million Cut in State Support of Local Government, SCAC to Hold Press Conference

The President of the South Carolina Association of Counties (SCAC), joined by county officials from across the state, will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25, outside the Governor’s Office on the first floor of the State House.

The House Ways and Means Committee recently voted to cut $122 million (42 percent) from the Local Government Fund (LGF), and county officials will explain how this action will adversely affect their counties and all other South Carolina counties.

The LGF, also known as Aid to Subdivisions, is used by county governments to fund basic services at the local level. Such a Draconian cut in the Local Government Fund will have a direct negative impact on the provision of local services and property taxes.

The SCAC, chartered on June 22, 1967, is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization whose membership includes all 46 counties in South Carolina. Governed by a 29-member board of directors selected each year by county officials at the association’s annual conference, the SCAC is the only state organization representing county governments in the state.

Coker Golf Finishes Fifth at Priate Invitational

Courtesy of Chad Jackson, AASU SID
2/24/2009

SAVANNAH, Ga. - For the first time in the eight-year history of the AASU/Southbridge Pirate Invitational, two teams share the title as No. 8-ranked Lander made up 10 strokes on the final day to catch No. 24 Valdosta State, both teams finishing with an 895 score to capture the title.

A playoff was not competed between the two teams due to darkness. Play began on Tuesday an hour late because of a frost delay.

The Bearcats shot a final-round 298 on Tuesday, while Valdosta State carded a 308, both teams finishing the 54-hole tournament with 31-over-par 895 totals. Host Armstrong Atlantic State nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback themselves as the Pirates played their final hole of the tournament five-under-par, with seniors Justin Smith and Chris Wolfe carding eagles on the Par 5 18th hole to cap off a 298 round - leaving AASU one stroke shy of the co-champions with a 32-over-par 896 total.

Newberry shot a 901 on Tuesday to finish fourth with a 901 total, while the day's best round went to Coker, who fired a 297 to finish tied for fifth at 903 with Georgia College & State (302). Mount Olive shot 303 on Tuesday and finished seventh with a 916 total, followed by PBC schools UNC Pembroke (304) with a 919 total and Georgia Southwestern (322) with a 938 total.

Limestone finished 10th after a 310 on Tuesday with a 940 total. Queens (322) and Savannah State (308) tied for 11th with 962 totals to round out the team scoring.

The individual title had no such drama as All-American Brent Witcher of Valdosta State saved his best for last, scorching a tournament-best 68 on the final day to win going away. Witcher finished the tournament with a nine-under-par 207 total, seven strokes ahead of his closest competitor, Daniel Stanley of Newberry. Stanley carded a 70 on Tuesday to finish with a two-under-par 214 total. Wolfe's eagle on hole No. 18 gave him an even-par 72 and kept him tied for third individually with an even-par 216 total, with GCSU's Niclas Johansson, who shot a third-round 74. UNC Pembroke's Jordan Walor rounded out the individual top five, coming in with a two-over-par 218 total after a 71 on Tuesday.

Sophomore Parker Gordon shot a 78 on Tuesday and finished tied for 11th with a nine-over-par 225 total for the host Pirates, his best finish as a collegian for AASU. Freshman Matthew Motes shot a 74 and finished tied for 15th with a 227 total, while Smith's eagle on 18 gave him a final-round 74 and tied him for 22nd with a 231 total. Jon Wingate rounded out the Pirates' scoring after a final-round 78, finishing 31st with a 233 total.

Cobra Seniors Lead Them to Dominating Win

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
2/24/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Senior Cobras, Josh Poston, Stevie Evans, Lukas Varga and Blake Terrell, played their final regular season game of their careers in Timberlake-Lawton Gymnasium on Thursday night, and with their leadership they went out with a big bang. The Cobras dominated the Trojans of Anderson University in a 21 point victory, 81-60.

Poston (Myrtle Beach, SC) had a game high 29 points, including going 12-for-16 from the field and 5-for-9 from beyond the arc, while Evans (Columbia, SC) had nine points, Varga (Pawley's Island, SC) had seven points and Terrell (Marietta, GA) had three points for Coker.

Coker improves 14-12 overall, and 10-9 in the conference, while Anderson falls to 13-13 overall and 11-7 in the conference.

Also scoring in double figures for Coker was Mason Ambler (Atlanta, GA) with 10 points and nine rebounds.

For Anderson, Stephen Cobb had 11 points and six rebounds, while Brandon Young and Kevis Cornwell each had 10 points.

Coker and Anderson return to action on Thursday, before they both prepare for the Conference Carolinas tournament starting on Saturday. Coker and Anderson will either be the 5th or 6th seed based on their final games, with Coker traveling to Erskine and Anderson hosting Pfeiffer.

Lady Cobras Fall to Anderson, 72-60

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
2/24/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - In their final regular season home game of the 2008 season, the Coker Lady Cobras basketball team took a hard loss to the Anderson University Trojans, 72-60. The loss drops the 10-16 overall, and 9-12 in the conference, leaving the Lady Cobras in 8th place in the Conference Carolinas standings, while Anderson improves to 13-12 overall, and 13-7 in the conference, moving them into 5th place in the conference.

The major difference in the game came in field goal percentage, as Coker shot just 30.3 percent, while Anderson shot 56 percent, while Anderson had 21 points from beyond the arc, compared to Coker's nine points.

Alexa Neal had a game high 30 points and 11 rebounds for the games only double-double, while Kirsten Peterson had 10 points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots for Anderson.

Coker was led by Henna Koponen (Vantaa, Finland) with 20 points and nine rebounds, while senior Jessica Hayes (Beafort, SC) had nine points and six rebounds in her Senior Night game. Freshman Skip Gibson (Bennettsville, SC) had a career high 10 points and seven rebounds.

Coker and Anderson both return to the floor on Thursday, for their final games of the regular season as Coker travels to Erskine and Anderson hosts Pfeiffer. As it stands now, Coker will take the 8th seed in the conference tournament and host the 9th seed, while Anderson will be the fourth or fifth seed based on their finish Thursday.

Young FMU infielder gains PBC weekly softball honor

FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University second baseman Ashley Jaramillo (HAR-a-mee-low) has been selected as the Peach Belt Conference women’s softball “Freshman of the Week,” for the week of Feb. 16-22.

Jaramillo, a native of Canyon Country, Calif., batted .545 (6-for-11 in 4 games) with three runs scored, a double, a home run, and five runs batted in. She compiled a .909 slugging percentage and a .615 on-base percentage, while committing no errors in eight fielding chances.

She helped the fifth-ranked Patriots win three of four games and improve to 12-1 on the season.

For the year, Jaramillo has hit safely in 10 of the 13 contests and is second on the Patriot squad with a .444 average. She leads the team with six doubles, three home runs, and 16 RBIs. She is third in the Peach Belt in hitting and leads the conference in slugging percentage (.861) and RBIs, while ranking second in on-base percentage (.500).

It is the second week in a row that a Francis Marion freshman has won the PBC weekly award as right-handed pitcher Lauren Bubeck was honored last week.

Jaramillo is a product of Golden Valley High School, where she earned second-team All-League recognition as a senior. She also played club softball with the Valley Breeze.
Francis Marion returns to action on Wednesday with a PBC doubleheader at Augusta State University.

By Michael G. Hawkins

SIMPSONVILLE WOMAN GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT OF $235K PHANTOM BALANCE FRAUD

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that on February 24, 2009, Stephanie L. Meyer, age 38, of Simpsonville, South Carolina, pled guilty to defrauding two investment houses of approximately $305,000. The plea of guilty was accepted by District Court Judge G. Ross Anderson, Jr., who will sentence Meyer after the preparation of a presentence report. Meyer faces a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of the two counts to which she pled guilty.

In February 2008, Meyer opened accounts at four brokerage firms including the ultimate victims, The Vanguard Group and Ameriprise Financial. Meyer then deposited worthless checks into the accounts, which resulted in fictitious or “phantom” balances. Meyer then withdrew $175,000.00 from the credited Vanguard account and $130,000 from the Ameriprise account before the fraud was detected.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of Greenville.

FMU Women ranked 7th; Hoop teams host Senior Night

FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University women’s basketball team moved up four spots to seventh in this week’s USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25. Both FMU basketball teams will celebrate Senior Night when play host to Armstrong Atlantic State University for a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader on Wednesday (Feb. 25).

The women’s game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men’s game 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. Both games will be broadcast live on Time Warner Cable’s channel 11 in the Florence area.

The Francis Marion women (24-1, 17-1) have won their last 15 games, fifth-longest streak in team history, and on Saturday clinched the PBC regular season championship – their second in a row and third in team history. FMU will be attempting to complete its fifth-ever perfect home season on Wednesday as the Patriots are 14-0 in the Smith University Center.

The No. 7 ranking is the highest for the program since the Patriots were ranked seventh in the 1999-2000 pre-season poll. Francis Marion even received a first-place vote (one of 28) this week.

Francis Marion defeated AASU 75-61 three weeks ago in Savannah, and leads the all-time series 17-14. AASU (15-10, 10-8) is currently sixth in the conference standings.

Prior to the game, Francis Marion will recognize its six seniors: guards Shaquana Morgan (96 games, 222 pts, 161 rebs, 116 asts, 77 stls), Jennifer Dyer (116 games, 1104 pts, 423 rebs, 262 asts, 284 stls), Kevina Ransom (55 games, 540 pts, 175 rebs, 298 asts, 257 stls), and Evelyn Ruff (44 games, 100 pts, 32 rebs, 22 asts, 20 stls) and forwards Creshenda Singletary (85 games, 970 pts, 410 rebs, 87 asts, 34 blks, 97 stls) and Katherine Kiefer (84 games, 440 pts, 194 rebs, 72 asts, 59 stls). Singletary and Kiefer are four-year letterwinners, while the other four players transferred to FMU prior to the 2007-08 season.

The FMU men (16-9, 9-9), coming off an upset of 25th-ranked GCSU on Saturday, will be looking to sweep the season series from AASU (20-5, 13-5). Earlier this month, the Patriot men beat a then 12th-ranked Pirates squad 74-69 in Savannah. FMU is currently fifth in the PBC standings, while AASU is tied for third.

AASU leads the all-time series 20-14.

The FMU men’s team will honor five seniors prior to the final home contest: guards Crayton Jones (53 games, 276 pts, 207 rebs, 179 asts, 84 stls) and Houston Power (68 games, 516 pts, 166 rebs, 152 asts, 58 stls); center Stanley Jones (91 games, 570 pts, 335 rebs, 56 asts, 48 blks, 32 stls); and forwards Sam Smith (52 games, 525 pts, 219 rebs, 42 asts, 25 stls) and Kevin Clark (102 games, 570 pts, 379 rebs, 119 asts, 69 blks, 48 stls).

FMU will close out its regular season on Saturday afternoon at Clayton State University, before heading to the Peach Belt Tournament next week in Aiken.

By Michael G. Hawkins

Worl Blog 3: Namibia

Namibia was absolutely incredible. Definitely my favorite country so far.

So, the first day we got here and they had Namibian school children come on the boat to sing and dance for us. Then we had a diplomatic briefing from the US Ambassador to Namibia and from the Chief Security Officer of Namibia.

Then we got of the boat and immediately got into a taxi (we were traveling in a group of 7: Me, Henry, Kyle and his girlfriend from Hawaii named Amelia, and then two of Amelia's friends Kristen and Kelly... Kelly has cousins in Pawleys Island and lives there every summer.. I remember her from summer in like 10th grade, as well as another guy.

Anyway so the seven of us got in a taxi and went to Swakopmund (our ship was docked in Walvis Bay, but that is a really industrial area, and Swakopmund, about 30 miles north, is the place to go). We had a beach house rented, which was only $190 bucks a night, and really nice, only a block from the beach, and so we checked in and got our stuff dropped off, and went to walk around the town.

The entire country of Namibia is the size of Texas and Oklahoma combined, but has fewer people than in Houston alone, so it is VERY sparsely populated. Swakopmund is about the size of Pawley Island, and has the same small beach town feel. It is very westernized because it used to be a German colony. So we walked around the town and did a little shopping at a market, I bought some sweet salad tossing forks that are wooden and have elephants carved in the handles, and then we walked along the beach to this cool restaurant on stilts on the ocean and had lunch there.

Namibia is known for its oysters, so we had some of those at lunch, they were really good but kind of small. Then we went to the beach for a little bit. After that we went back to our beach house and got ready for dinner. We went out to eat at this oceanfront restaurant called Lighthouse, which was really good, and the sunset over the water was absolutely stunning (I took exactly fifty pictures of it).

The next morning, we got picked up at about 9:30 am to go SANDBOARDING on the dunes!

A little bit about the geography of Namibia: Basically, you have the ocean, and then a road that goes between the ocean and these HUGE SAND DUNES - overall, the sand dune area is about a mile wide. After the sand dunes, there is about thirty or so miles of flat, dry, sandy desert. Then, almost out of nowhere, the landscape drops down into an area knows as the Moon Landscape. It used to be an underwater ocean, but not it looks like the surface of the moon, and then there are bigger mountains off in the distance…but we didn‘t see anything past the big dunes until the second day.

So we went sandboarding on the dunes, it was fun but very hot trekking up the dunes carrying a snowboard. Well worth it though. It was only 35 USD and included lunch, drinks, and all equipment.

Henry and I had to leave early because we were signed up for a Semester at Sea trip that night and had to be back at the boat at 1:30 to leave for that. So one of the sand boarding instructors drove us to our beach house from sandboarding and dropped us off. On the way, he drove us through a township, which is basically a community for the poorer people of Africa, and showed us around.

The driver was really cool and loved Henry's shoes (they were the Reef flip flops with the bottle opener underneath), so Henry traded them to the guy for two sandboarding t-shirts.

Then we got back to the boat and left for our "Camping and Stargazing"trip. It was awesome, and nothing like I expected.

We got into some 4-wheel drive Landcruisers and left for what was about an hours drive to our campsite. Until this trip, I assumed that the sand dunes when on forever, and that that is what the desert of Namibia looked like. Wrong.

So we drove past the dunes into the flat dry desert area and then down into the dried up bottom of the ocean area that looked like the moon. It was incredible looking; I can’t wait to get my pictures online so everyone can look. Our campsite was in a valley between two huge cliffs - they had tents set up and everything for us, as well as a local band.

O yea, another cool fact, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt adopted one of their kids from Swakopmund, Namibia. The band that we had was the same one that played for the adoption ceremony.

Anyway, we had about 5 hours to hike around before dinner. Everything was really dry and there was hardly any vegetation or animals. It was amazing because most of the landscape hadn’t changed in thousands of years, and is completely untouched by humans. We saw a few desert lizards and the “Dew beetles” (these beetles are about the size of a quarter and burrow their heads under the sand and put their butts in the air in order to catch the dew in the air. Then it trickles down their body into their mouth. I got so pictures of this.).

During dinner, the Namibian band played, and it rained for about 5 minutes. ALL OF THE NAMIBIAN LOCALS WENT CRAZY. The average rainfall per year in Namibia is only 11-13 MILLILITERS!

After that, around 10pm, we walked into this big open valley where an astronomer showed us all sorts of constellations and told us some other cool stuff about the night sky. This was awesome! After that, I went to bed. It was really hot and sort of hard to sleep.

The next morning, we woke up and had breakfast and hiked around a little bit more. There was an ancient riverbed that was completely dry the day before, and we could see a little bit of water start trickling in. About twenty minutes later, the ancient riverbed was about two feet deep and about ten feet wide, full of rushing water. The locals said that this hadn’t happened in over 20 years, and we ecstatic. Then we got picked up in the 4X4 vehicles and headed back to Walvis Bay.

When we got back, it was around noon, and we had six hours until we had to be back on the boat. Henry and I got back into a taxi and headed to Swakopmund again, where we walked around and did a little shopping. Then we went ATV-ING through the dunes on a guided tour for about an hour. It was really fun, but I almost fell down the side of a dune along with my extremely heavy 4-wheeler because I didn’t go fast enough up it. We got some t-shirts and well as some cool pictures and a video that I took from my old, small digital camera. Then we headed back to Walvis Bay and got on the ship. That was the end of my Namibian adventure. I definitely want to come back here in the very near future, it was absolutely amazing.

There are a lot of interesting politics going on right now because 7 uranium mines have been discovered in the moon-valley regions of Namibia - making the country the world’s leader in uranium supply. NOT GOOD for Namibia because MNCs will take this land over and the money will not go to Namibia at all. (Another fact - Namibia has the world’s largest economic disparity between the wealthy and the poor).

By Elizabeth Elliott