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She, along with jump rope team Double Dutch Forces led by coach Joy Holman, are competing in the 2008 USA National Jump Rope Tournament in Orlando, Fla. The team, which is based in Columbia, left Thursday. The competition starts today and runs through Sunday.

Doolittle has participated in competitions like this before. Just minutes before the team departed Thursday, Doolittle said in a phone interview that her body knows what to do from years and years of practice. It is just a matter of getting her mind in sync.

"I know we're going to do good," she said. "You've just got to put your mind to it." Doolittle said she has been jumping rope since kindergarten. Now, she is a rising high school senior.

Holman, who is also from Wagener, bides her time between coaching the team and working as the physical education teacher at Busbee Elementary School. She said she had to be talked into coaching the team but has never regretted it.

Sheldon Oakman is one of seven co-defendants charged with the Christmas Eve 2007 murder and kidnapping.

In a hearing Thursday, the public defender representing Oakman said his client had been in jail since his Jan. 24 arrest and does not have a bond set. The trial is slated to begin in September. If it does not go ahead, Judge Jack Early said he would set a bond at that time.

Leaphart was last seen alive on Dec. 24, 2007, when he left his family's Lexington County home, according to police.

Investigators think Leaphart was kidnapped that afternoon and taken to a home in Saluda County where he made two phone calls to relatives before 6 p.m. In both calls, police say, Leaphart told his 61-year-old aunt he would be killed unless she paid the demanded ransom money. The first call was asking for $5,000, the second for $2,500.

Tippy Marie Retana, 37, of 3545 Lynchburg Highway was found guilty of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime during a three-day jury trial that ended Thursday, Simon said.

Circuit Court Judge John Milling, who presided over the case, sentenced Retana to five years in prison for the latter charge, Simon said.

The terms will run consecutively, Simon said.

Deputies never recovered the weapon used in the fatal shooting. but ballistic evdence showed a .22-caliber pistol was used to shoot 30-year-old Kenneth Wilson.

While the echoing bang of his body making contact with the plastic sounds painful as he begins to shoot down the slide, one element keeps a smile on his face.

Water.

Specifically, water on a hot summer day.

It’s easy to have fun at Fort Jackson’s 5-year-old Palmettto Falls water park, but it’s no small task to keep the water flowing through it safe and clean for any variety of sliding, cannonballing and floating.

As workers prepare to accept bedroom suites, dining room tables and other household items today at the warehouse on Beltline Boulevard, it’s with hopes of helping 25 local families begin new lives.

The effort has been launched to help furnish transitional residences for families facing homelessness. It’s one of the first in several “Days of Action” planned by the United Way of the Midlands to get more people involved in volunteer work.

The United Way long has sponsored individual “Days of Caring” within the community. But the newer and slightly modified approach places greater emphasis on year-round volunteer work rather than isolated days of service. Officials also hope to make a stronger distinction between serving and financial giving, while acknowledging the importance of each.

“It’s a recognition that people’s work is just as important as people’s pocketbooks,” said Eric Roberts, the United Way’s volunteer center manager.

The man was shot after deputies say he pulled a long-barreled handgun from a green bag when they told him to “drop to the ground,” about 100 yards south of the bank on South Lake Drive, just off Two Notch Road, sheriff’s spokesman Maj. Larry Shea said.

He was taken by ambulance to Palmetto Health Richland in critical condition, said Brian Hood, director of Lexington County EMS. The man underwent surgery Friday night.

Deputies have been unable to identify the man. Shea said he did not know how many times he was shot or where he was hit — only that it wasn’t in the head.

No charges have been filed. Investigators were at the hospital late Friday night and had not yet interviewed the man, Shea said.

They range from the 1907 photograph and marriage certificate of Miriam Ogg & William Gaston Trevathan through the 20th century and into the 21st century and the Jan. 5 wedding this year of Grace Lowell and Dore Montes.

The photographs are a testament to love, to family and to the enduring power of this church at 1830 Main St., with its lovely dark interior and ornate woodwork.

“Everybody loves a wedding,” said Bill Adams, who heads the church’s archives committee.

He was pleasantly surprised at the response when he posted a notice in the church’s bulletin and monthly newsletter seeking photographs of people who had wed at the church.

The $10 million in awards leaves about $8 million remaining in the grants fund.

Locally, the money went to a water filter project in Batesburg-Leesville and new sidewalks and trees in Lexington, and to purchase “inflatables” for South Congaree events.

In total, the committee awarded 214 grants.

Sanford has criticized the program as a waste of taxpayer money. He said the program has no criteria for awarding grants and little oversight to make sure the money is properly spent.

“There’s a lot of tension that’s built up and it’s still there,” Clyburn said Friday. “But I think it’s waning.”

Clyburn made headlines around the nation after telling former President Bill Clinton to “chill out” after the former president compared Obama’s run to that of Rev. Jesse Jackson symbolic candidacy in 1988.

Friday, Clyburn would not comment on whether President Clinton should remain in the background or embark on a more prominent role leading up to November.

“When (Democrats) come out of that convention, we’ll be on the same page,” he said.

Want to find The Township auditorium and catch a show?

Better not follow the city of Columbia’s new road signs, or you’ll end up near the Congaree River instead.

The city’s $255,000 Wayfinder Sign Program — aimed at directing visitors to attractions around town while also consolidating existing markers — has run into a small snag.

Two new signs on Bull Street between Taylor and Hampton streets have arrows that send drivers away from the locations they’re promoting.

Sheldon Jerod Gilmore, 21, is charged with assault and battery with intent to kill, police spokesman Brick Lewis said. The victim is in critical condition at Palmetto Health Richland.

Two men got into an argument at a Laurel Street apartment about 2:30 a.m., Lewis said. One man showed what appeared to be a handgun and a fight ensued. The other man pulled out a handgun, shot the other in the face twice and stole the victim’s gun.

The advisory State Health Planning Committee on Friday narrowly turned away the hospital’s bid to change the way state regulators measure the existing hospital capacity to treat open-heart surgery patients within a geographic area.

Two hospitals in the Midlands, Providence Hospital and Palmetto Health, are certified to perform open-heart surgeries.

For six years, Lexington Medical Center has been building its case before the committee that a third hospital performing open-heart surgeries is needed in the Midlands.

But the number of surgeries in the Midlands dropped between 2005 and 2006, according to Les Shelton, senior DHEC planner, and statistics are still being compiled for 2007.

For longtime homeowners who live around the Richland 1 school, the good news is only one oak tree had to be removed. And it was diseased, according to Richard Ferguson, a state Department of Transportation engineer technician.

Ferguson stood beneath one of the remaining old-growth oaks on the Dreher side of Adger on Friday and surveyed the job ahead.

“I never want to take down a tree like that,” Ferguson said. “I love trees.”

“I don’t want one piece of bark knocked off any of these” remaining trees, he said with a twinkle in his eye.

Isle of Palms Fire Chief Ann Graham says the man was swimming near the beach Thursday morning when a roughly 5-foot-long shark nipped his hand.

The man declined an ambulance, but went to a hospital in a personal vehicle.

The waters off Isle of Palms were closed last August after a man and a 9-year-old boy reported shark bites within hours of each other.

Contributing: Staff writers Clif LeBlanc and Ishmael Tate; The Associated Press

The 600-member church has a contract on 41 acres on Longtown Road, where the congregation hopes to expand its facilities to include a larger sanctuary, a fitness center, day care and sports fields, said the Rev. Brian Thomas, the church’s senior pastor.

“We own just under seven acres (on Forest Drive) and we know that we can’t do everything that God wants us to do on seven acres,” Thomas said.

The congregation will change its name to NorthStar Christian Center, taking its cue from Philippians 2:15: “God’s children without any faults among a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.”

Although it remains an independent Baptist congregation, Forest Church is distinctive for drawing from many ethnic groups. Thomas said about 15 different cultures are represented in the church.

Sylvan Street, 100 block: Police were called to a residence Thursday after a man reported that someone had stolen money and jewelry from his house. The man said a $500 gold nugget bracelet was missing from a jewelry box in his bedroom. The box also contained other jewelry of “tremendous value,” but only the bracelet was missing. The man’s wife discovered that $3,200 stored in a hallway closet was gone, and $50 in change had disappeared from a dresser drawer. The victim said he had not noticed any signs of forced entry.

RICHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF

Langford Road, 400 block: Officers were called to the home of a man Thursday after he reported two golf carts and a shed he owned had been vandalized. One of the carts had a broken windshield and a window was busted out of the shed. The victim told officers he noticed the carts’ batteries had been failing this week, even though he charged them regularly. He set up a video camera outside the shed because he thought something odd was going on. When he watched the video, he saw a man and a woman get into the carts, drive off and return them later. Damage to the carts and the shed was estimated at $580.

Broad River Road, 3000 block: Police were called to a bar Wednesday after someone reported a man there had a gun. The responding officers entered the bar and approached the suspect. When the suspect noticed the officers walking toward him, he turned away from them and reached for something in the waistband of his pants. The officer closest to the suspect, fearing the man was grabbing a gun, immediately grabbed the man and took him to the ground. The suspect was handcuffed, but no gun was found. But on the floor where the man was standing was a plastic bag that contained three smaller bags with powdered cocaine in them. The suspect was arrested and charged with drug possession.

James Lamar Trapp, 19, and Terrence Tidwell, 16, are wanted in connection with the June 20 robbery.

Anyone with information should call (888) CRIME-SC or the Columbia Police Department at (803) 545-3500.

Warrants charge Jonathan Kiriakis Washington, 21, of Cayce, with kidnapping, robbery, robbery while armed with a deadly weapon and first-degree burglary, Police Chief Dennis Tyndall said.

Four or five men broke into the apartment around 1 a.m. June 11. Residents and guests were forced to the floor and robbed of various electronic items and cash.

An older model car, possibly an Oldsmobile, with a heavy exhaust system was seen leaving the apartment complex after the incident and may be related, Tyndall said.

Jentry David McCombs, 27, is charged with assault and battery with intent to kill and first-degree burglary, police spokesman Brick Lewis said.

Someone entered a home at Madera Drive and began fighting with a man living there, Lewis said. The man shot the resident once in the head. The victim is in stable condition at Palmetto Health Richland.

McCombs was arrested a short time later in the 1700 block of Craven Street.

David Bryan Poplin, 21, of Columbia, is charged with committing a lewd act on a child under 16, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said.

Chapin police told the sheriff’s department that Poplin had kissed and fondled a 13-year-old girl by grabbing her buttocks in an incident in Richland County.

The maps designate flood zones that would ban construction in most of the 3,100-acre project, formerly known as Green Diamond.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency instructed the city to approve the flood zones or risk losing eligibility for flood insurance.

The Palmetto Hero Program was part of the Education Department's efforts to attract and keep high-quality teachers. Schools Superintendent Jim Rex says buying a first home is particularly hard for teachers with low salaries.

Teachers who were first-time home buyers qualified for an interest rate of 5.875 percent and down payment assistance up to $7,000. The average loan was around $117,000.

The program was a collaboration of the state Education and Housing Authority departments. The agencies obligated $20 million in loans in what they hope is the first of many phases.

The Index Journal of Greenwood reported Thursday the suits were filed on behalf of a former cheerleader and a former football player. The students were not named.

The suits accuse the school district and board of negligence in the hiring, supervision and retention of Moore, as well as other mismanagement.

School Superintendent Fay Sprouse would not talk about the lawsuits and attorney Duke Highfield says he's preparing a response.

Moore was arrested in January 2007 and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing alcohol to minors. Authorities say she provided cigarettes and alcohol to two then-16-year-old cheerleaders and put them in an inappropriate situation.

Chase was born April 8, 1963, in Columbia, SC. He had lived in Atlanta for many years, where he worked as an accountant and computer specialist.

Surviving are his parents, William S. “Bill” Brissey and Grace McConnell Brissey; sister and brother-in-law, Lisa B. Baughman and Wes Baughman; sister, Sherry B. Partain; niece, Michelle; nephews, Cody and Andrew.

A memorial service was held in Atlanta, GA Thursday, June 26. Friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life for Chase at the home of his parents, 1406 Hunters Trail, Anderson, Sunday, June 29, 2008, from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the American Heart Association, Upstate Chapter, 3535 Pelham Road, Suite 101, Greenville, SC 29615.

Alan is survived by his father and mother, Lloyd and Molly Williams of Lexington, SC, his son, Alex Williams of Seattle, WA, his brother, Steven Williams of Pisgah Forest, NC, three grandchildren, as well as his aunt and uncle, Bill and Ellen Green of Pelion, SC.

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

He leadeth me beside still waters.

Mr. Bloodworth was born February 12, 1937, in Atlanta, GA, to the late John B. and Mildred Stallings Bloodworth. He passed away Thursday, June 26, 2008.

Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Geraldine Stevens Bloodworth; daughters, Debbie Adams (Tony) of Lexington, SC, Donna Cook (Greg) of Greensboro, NC and Cheryl Baker (David) of Summerfield, NC; son, Donald (Donnie) Bloodworth (Adele) of Stoneville, NC; brother, Grover Edward Bloodworth of Atlanta, GA, 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.com

«Obituary posted: June 28, 2008»

«Obituary posted: June 28, 2008»

Surviving are her brothers, Donald, Danny, Stanley, Heyward and Lucuis Williams.

www.leevy.com

«Obituary posted: June 28, 2008»

«Obituary posted: June 28, 2008»

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, June 29, 2008, at Northside Baptist Church with Rev. Matthew Lawson and Rev. Jim Parnell officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Thompson Funeral Home, Inc. of Orangeburg is in charge.

Survivors: a daughter, Mrs. A.C. (Carol) Bair of Orangeburg; three grandchildren, Mrs. Jerry (Renee’) Mullis of Cameron, Rev. Matthew (Laura) Lawson of Woodstock, Ga., and Mrs. Tripp (Brittany) Garrick of Orangeburg; three great-grandchildren, Joshua Mullis of Cameron, Sydney Garrick and Mallory Garrick, both of Orangeburg; daughter-in-law, Mrs. Dianne C. Lawson of Orangeburg; two sisters, Mrs. Duman (Wauleska) Taylor of Swansea, and Mrs. Zona Gail Winburn of Columbia; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the residence of Carol and A.C. Bair, 2844 Hillcrest Avenue and Thompson Funeral Home, Inc. in Orangeburg. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m. Saturday, June 28, 2008, at Thompson Funeral Home, Inc. in Orangeburg.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Palmetto Chapter, P.O. Box 7044, Columbia, SC 29202-7044.

Ms. Ashley was a longtime breast cancer survivor; she was very dedicated to increasing cancer awareness, communicating with and being a strong source of support for other cancer survivors, and learning how to downright beat the disease. She did all three. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations may be made in her name to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (http://nationalbreastcancer.org/).

Keeping with her wishes, no services are planned. Those who knew her celebrated her life -- in life. Every day was a celebration, and it remains -- or should remain so -- for the living. Ms. Ashley was wise enough to know that we should do just that; we should celebrate our life and those people in our lives, for we are not promised either.

Ms. Ashley is survived by sisters: Ednah Rosalie Kicklighter and “Bunnie” Bishop; nephewz, Edward Victor “Bud” Ashley and “Chuck” Monts; children: Catherine Hartley and partner Crystal, Melissa Durr and husband Ruple, and John E. Fish; grandchildren: Summer Durr, Austin Ingle and Hunter Hartley; and granddog, “Heidi,” who -- as both Edwina and her son would attest -- is also a member of her family. She was preceded in death by her mother, Katye L. Ashley; father, Edward G. Ashley; and her sister, Doris Catherine “Kitty” Ashley.

Although Ms. Ashley will be missed in death, her life was a striking example of what it means to really live. For that, we should indeed celebrate.

«Obituary posted: June 28, 2008»

Mr. Harshman was born in Middletown, Ohio, January 30, 1950, to the late Charles and Fannie Potts Harshman. He retired as a U.S. Navy Seal after 30 years of service and was a veteran of the Vietnam War.

He served as a sergeant with the Newberry County Sheriff’s Department and was the recipient of the 2007 Corrections Officer of the Year for Newberry County.

Mr. Harshman is survived by his wife, Lynn Yarbrough of Newberry; his children, Casey and Michelle Harshman, Jason Harshman, Jeremy Harshman, and Lisa and Ron Poe, all of Ohio, Erica Mihalik, Joseph Mihalik and Jody Yarbrough, all of Newberry, and Amanda Yarbrough of Greensboro, N.C.; mother-in-law, Margaret Roton Bowers of Newberry; former in-laws, Tommy and Susan Langford of Newberry; and 8 grandchildren. He was predeceased by a twin brother.

Funeral services with military honors will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Sunday in the Whitaker Funeral Home Chapel.

Surviving are her husband, David Taylor; son, Antonio Taylor; daughter, Carla Taylor; sisters, Connie Geter, Nancy Reed, and Cornelia Palmer; brothers, Arthur Evans and Cleveland Evans.

www.leevy.com

«Obituary posted: June 28, 2008»

Mr. Beasley passed away Thursday, June 26, 2008. Born in Columbia, he was the son of Charles Ray Beasley, Sr., and Elizabeth Hodge Beasley. He was a lifetime area resident and an employee of Trane Commercial and Residential Air Conditioners.

Surviving, in addition to his parents, Charles “Chuck” Beasley, Sr., and Elizabeth “Jackie” Beasley of St. Matthews, are his wife, Kathryn Beasley of St. Matthews; sister and brother-in-law, Debra and Brian Gallup and his niece, Raegan Gallup all of Lexington.

www.thompsonsfuneral.com

«Obituary posted: June 28, 2008»

James M. Colangelo passed away peacefully Sunday, June 22, 2008, in Lexington Medical Center with his family at his side. Born in Mansfield, Ohio, he was a son of Nicholas and Margaret Colangelo. Mr. Colangelo graduated from St. Peter’s Catholic High School. He had a successful career at MetLife and retired after over 30 years of service. Jim was a member of Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Ann, with whom he recently celebrated 44 years of marriage. Other survivors include daughter, Nicole Colangelo; son, Patrick Colangelo; his parents; sisters, Barbara Villella and Susan Colangelo; brother, Fred Colangelo; and nieces and nephews.

Please sign the online guest book at www.dunbarfunerals.com.

«Obituary posted: June 28, 2008»

Mrs. Taylor, widow of Doc Julius Taylor, died Friday, June 27, 2008. She was the daughter of the late Jack and Annie Mae Anderson Roberts. She was a member of Beaverdam Baptist Church.

Surviving are her children, Rendall I. Taylor (Sara) of Cassatt, Olin Gene Taylor of Cassatt, Sylvia T. McCaskill (Dennis) of Warrenville, SC, Rhonda “Susie” Dease (Bill) of Cassatt; 8 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Betty R. Vinson of Rembert; numerous nieces and nephews; and her dog, Charlie, who had been her faithful companion for many years.

She was predeceased by a niece, Sharon Duckett.

Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel, is in charge.

Mrs. Mitton, born in Glenburn, IL, May 27, 1925, passed away Thursday, June 26, 2008. She was a daughter of the late Len and Lea VanAllen Neff. Mrs. Mitton worked with the Council on Aging and the Lexington County Meals on Wheels. She was a member of Friendship Baptist Church. Mrs. Mitton was married to Orval G. Mitton February 14, 1947, in Muncie, IL.

Mrs. Mitton is survived by her 5 children, Bud Mitton (Liz) of Crawfordsville, IN, Sam Mitton (Patty) of Kingman, IN, Becki Stewart (Jim) of Columbia, SC, Mary Mitton of Columbia, SC, and John Mitton of Lexington, SC; sister, Dorothy Rusk (Bill) of Newport, IN; sister-in-law, Helen Neff of Birmingham, AL; sister-in-law, Carol Neff of Oakwood, IL; 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Orval G. Mitton.

www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.com

«Obituary posted: June 28, 2008»

Mrs. Emanuel, widow of Terrell Wilson Emanuel, Sr., died Friday, June 27, 2008. Born in Marlboro County, SC, she was a daughter of the late Benjamin Fay Mills, Sr., and Clara Newcoumb Mills. She was a member of Sunset Blvd. Baptist Church and had retired from the United State Department of Agriculture.

Surviving are her daughters and son-in-law, Marion Louise Epps and Sandra and George R. Wooley of West Columbia; sons and daughters-in-law, Terrell W. Jr. and Frances Emanuel of St. Matthews and J. Wayne and June Emanuel of Lexington; ten grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; also a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mrs. Emanuel was preceded in death by sisters, Christine Emanuel and Mary Elizabeth Vickers and brothers, B.F. Mills and Billy Carlisle.

www.thompsonsfuneral.com

«Obituary posted: June 28, 2008»

Born in Holly Hill, SC, she was the daughter of the late L.B. and Emma Kate Parker Crumpton.

Mrs. Wiles was a graduate of Lander College. She was a member of Ebenzer United Methodist Church and a former member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, Orangeburg.

Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Meredyth and David Partridge of Richmond, VA, Jongy and David B. Ward of Greenville; three grandchildren, Gregg Barrie, Brannon Ward and Parker Barrie; four great-grandchildren; and two nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother and sister-in-law, Charles H. and Grace Crumpton.

Memorials may be made to Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 174 Ebenezer Road, Greer, SC 29651.

He had retired as the owner of Ward’s Bait Bucket in Blythewood, SC, and from the U.S. Postal Service. He attended Florida State University and the University of Kentucky. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, and the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He was a Mason for 43 years and a member of Lucknow Lodge #212 when he passed away. He was a member of Antioch Baptist Church where he served as deacon and adult Sunday School teacher for many years.

Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Millie Maples Ward; sons, William B. Ward of Cassatt, SC, Curtis L. Ward of Elgin, SC; daughters, Betty Jean (John) Hagood of Blythewood, SC, and Curtys E. (Danny) Quesinberry of Columbia, SC; grandchildren, John Franklin and Allen Hagood of Blythewood, SC, Tom Hagood of Elizabeth Town, NC, Elizabeth W. Hoffman of Hanover, PA, William R. Ward, UMSC of Jacksonville, NC, Danielle Q. Yarborough, Marshall Quesinberry of Columbia, SC, Brandon and Ben Ward of Hollywood, SC; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Wylene Stansel of Vero Beach, FL. and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, June 29, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at Antioch Baptist Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Rev. Von Cockrell and Rev. Glis Cribb will officiate. Family will receive friends Saturday, June 28, 2008, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that memorials be made to Antioch Baptist Church Youth Fund, 1875 Antioch Road, Camden, SC 29020 or Hospice Care of Tri-County, 2209 West DeKalb St., Camden, SC 29020.

Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel, is in charge.

Funeral service will be 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 29, 2008, in Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Orangeburg with Pastor Bobby Williams officiating. The burial will be private. Thompson Funeral Home, Inc. in Orangeburg is in charge.

Pallbearers will be Earl H. Rhea, III, Raymond J. Riles, Jr., Raymond J. Riles, Sr., Craig Black, T.J. Jeffcoat and Jim Caulk.

Mr. Black was born July 27, 1947, in Charleston, a son of the late Clarence Black and the late Ollie Mae Johnson Black. He was the owner of Black’s Jewelry.

Survivors: two brothers, Ernest E. Black of Goose Creek and Wayne C. Black of the Phillipines; one sister, Linda B. Brownlee of Wadmalaw Island, SC; friend and companion, Emily Black of Orangeburg, and close friend and caregiver, Holly Caulk of Tampa, FL; a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews; godchild, R.J. Riles of Walterboro.

Mrs. Shealy, widow of Onnie “Dick” Shealy, passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2008. Born in Lexington County, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Edgar Starnes and Arrie Caughman Starnes. Mrs. Shealy had been an area resident since 1937. Formerly of Aiken County, she was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, the Adult I Sunday School Class and the Emmanuel Welca. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Lexington Chapter #176. Mrs. Shealy retired from Monroe Calculator.

Surviving are her children, Onnie L. “Bud” Shealy (Jeanie) of West Columbia, Wayne Shealy (Olivia) of Lexington, Lyndell Shealy (Wanda) of Gilbert, Carolyn Brown (Gene) of West Columbia; nine grandchildren, Anne Tidwell (Charlie), Carrie Ross (Travis), Dawn Day, Gena Brown, all of Lexington, Amy Latham (Marc) of Greenwood, Susan Sheldon (Tim) of West Columbia, Debra Daughtery (Trey) of Beaufort, Rhett Shealy of Charlotte; eleven great-grandchildren, Kevin, Mackenzie and Ryan Latham, Shawn Day, Marie Tidwell, Caleb and Adam Sheldon, Reagan, J.D. and Kelsey Ross, and Hayes Daughtery. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Dixie Shealy.

The family wishes to express their many thanks to her wonderful caregivers, Gladys Bowles, Katie Brown and Becky Shumpert and the support provided by Tri-County Hospice.

www.thompsonsfuneral.com

Winter and spring rains are great for filling lake reservoirs and giving corn and tobacco crops a good start, but the fields need June rains to really prosper. Instead, even irrigated crops have pooped out in the withering — and dry — heat the past three weeks.

Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers noticed the sad sights as he drove around the state this week.

“The corn crop looks like a completely different year in only a week,” Weathers said. “You’re seeing a good year deteriorate right in front of you eyes.”

Weathers said in Greenville on Tuesday that peach farmers are making only 50 percent to 60 percent of their normal crop. But he says strawberries did well.

Parish, 50, was sentenced Thursday to 24 years in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution to the 487 people who lost money in his scheme.

Parish was taken into custody for his own protection Thursday afternoon, according to a report in the Charleston Regional Business Journal.

“I’m not concerned about him hurting anyone,” said U.S. District Judge David Norton, who was quoted in the Charleston paper. “I’m not really concerned about him fleeing. I’m worried about him hurting himself. It’s no longer theoretical; it’s a reality.”

Parish had scheduled media interviews for Friday afternoon to tell his side of the story. However, his representatives canceled the appointments, saying he had been taken in shortly after his sentencing.

Kennedy Kohn, who has been managing editor for five years, described her job as the highlight of her journalism career. She will stay in Columbia and pursue new opportunities.

“I’m really going to miss it,” said Kennedy Kohn, 42. “I look forward to continuing to live in Columbia and reading the paper every single day.”

Spear, 65, started at The State in 1964. He has covered everything from a fox hunt in Orangeburg to Hank Aaron’s 715th home run that passed Babe Ruth’s record. He also will continue living in Columbia.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to cover everything from the World Series to the Super Bowl to the Kentucky Derby,” Spear said. “I always liked sports, and I wasn’t good enough to play them beyond high school.”

“I expect to probably be dead in 10 years because my father, grandfather and great-grandfather all died of heart disease in their 50s,” the 50-year-old economist said.

Parish was interviewed Wednesday, a day before he was sentenced for swindling hundreds of investors out of millions of dollars. He pleaded guilty last year to two counts of fraud and one count of lying to investigators.

Parish, who was hospitalized twice last week for heart problems, suffers from diabetes, obesity and coronary artery disease.

At the sentencing, the defense presented evidence that, based on his medical history, life insurance companies rate Parish’s life expectancy at between 57 and 66 years.

And that extra expense will cause more travelers to stay near home for the weekend.

For the first time this decade, the number of people nationwide traveling over the July Fourth holiday is expected to drop from last year, AAA said.

The same is expected in the Carolinas when regional forecasts are released next week. Travel also was down on Memorial Day weekend as the gas-price spike took hold.

The Southeast accounts for the nation’s greatest number of July Fourth holiday car travelers.

Gates, who is stepping back to focus on his philanthropy, sat with CEO Ballmer in a Microsoft conference room and meandered through moments in Microsoft's history. They stopped to get in a few good digs at IBM Corp., whose first personal computers were loaded with Microsoft's DOS operating system before IBM adopted its own operating software and their relations strained.

"They went off with OS 2, we were left with good old Windows, and sure enough the David versus Goliath story came out with the right ending," said Gates, eliciting laughter from the crowd of 830 Microsoft employees.

Gates, who founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, admitted that Microsoft has faltered along the way, and certainly isn't perfect today.

"When we miss a big change, when we don't get great people on it, that is the most dangerous thing for us," Gates said. "It has happened many times. It's OK, but the less the better."

Shares of the Stockholm-based company tumbled nearly 10 percent to 60 kronor ($10.02).

Ericsson cited "moderating demand" for mid-to-high end mobile phones, as well as delays in the quarter in the shipping of new products.

The company said it would break even before taxes.

It was Sony Ericsson's second profit warning this year. In March it warned of similar problems, which led the company reporting a 48-percent drop in first-quarter net profits.