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Deputy Dennis Quinn was fired from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department today as a result of the charges, the department said.

A statement from the department said deputies responded to a hit and run call around the 7000 block of Two Notch Road.

When deputies located the suspect vehicle and discovered it was being driven by an off-duty officer, they called the South Carolina Highway Patrol to take charge of the incident and make the arrest, the department said.

Quinn also has been charged with open container of beer or wine, failure to maintain proof of insurance and leaving the scene of an accident.

After work, about 6 p.m., she found herself back again — gazing over the undisturbed surface of Lake Katharine with a glass of white wine.

“It’s cooler down there by the water,” she said, gesturing to a simple wood dock with matching Adirondack chairs perched at one end, “so sometimes we sit down there.”

Lake Katharine is the largest and deepest in a chain of lakes extending from Columbia through Forest Acres to Arcadia Lakes.

To most in the Midlands, “the lake” means Lake Murray. But the people who live on Lake Katharine say they have all the benefits of lake living — close to downtown.

He fits right in at Gilbert — a town of 500 people to the left of nowhere deep in Lexington County — and its hallowed peach festival.

“They started with nothing. They used to gather at the gym and eat a few peaches,” he said of the festival that this year attracted tens of thousands. “That’s American.”

America was lined up Friday along Peach Festival Road, mostly in folding chairs in the backs of pickup trucks with American flags painted on its toenails.

Jason Corder sat in one of those trucks — a rusted green 1971 Ford Explorer Custom. It wasn’t a hand-me-down. He bought it a few years back for $600.

In a span of three years, the 48-year-old said he lost his job as a Florida chef, was served divorce papers by his wife and had trouble making rent. He started roving the country looking for work.

“I could do anything,” he said. “But I just couldn’t get a break.”

Then — one day — there they were.

The rugs came in reds, browns and blacks; leather and fur; narrow and wide. They were hanging in the most obvious places — on the sides of roads.

In a week's time, thieves have made off with thousands of dollars worth of aluminum soccer goals and park benches, which were probably sold for scrap, officials say.

The goals, 40 of them worth over $130,000 total, were taken from a storage yard behind the Bluffton Recreation Center at night on June 26, according to a Beaufort County sheriff's report.

“We had (the goals) in a fenced-in enclosure with barbed wire that's locked,” said county Public Works director Eddie Bellamy. “A year ago a whole bunch of folks would have said that's a waste of money putting a fence around a bunch of aluminum pipes.”

The following weekend thieves dismantled and took the foot rests, handrails and seats from bleachers at a St. Helena Island baseball field, an estimated $13,000 loss.

And Sen. Lindsey Graham seems to be McCain’s one-man Kitchen Cabinet.

Graham’s visibility as the Arizona senator’s closest political confidant has risen in recent weeks as the two men crisscross the country and travel abroad on McCain’s presidential quest.

“There’s nobody I trust more than Lindsey Graham,” McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, said by phone Thursday from Mexico City. “I’m honored to have him travel with me and give me the counsel I need.”

McCain, 71, praised Graham’s “excellent political instincts” and credited the Seneca Republican with helping him win South Carolina’s Jan. 19 presidential primary, a crucial victory that made McCain the GOP frontrunner.

In his latest book, “Marry a Pregnant Virgin: Unusual Bible Stories for New and Curious Christians” (Augsburg Press, 2008), he returns to that theme of unlocking the mysteries of Scripture for a culture that is increasingly biblically illiterate. If readers do a theological double take, all the better.

“Jesus tells these masterful stories and they kind of detonate in our minds years down the road,” said Honeycutt, pastor of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in downtown Columbia.

Honeycutt isn’t above employing the occasional elliptical run around a treasured Bible story, requiring parishioners and readers of his books to follow their own circuitous “to be continued” path to theological awakening.

It used to unnerve him when he delivered a sermon and parishioners exiting the church at the conclusion of the service would focus on a totally unexpected theme of the Scripture he employed. But not anymore.

That’s a surprising result, given the state’s record-high gas prices, rising food costs, depressed real estate values and shaky job market. Lottery officials had fretted about whether the games would make their goal.

When the lottery closes its books on the year later this month, Ernie Passailaigue, executive director of the South Carolina Education Lottery, said he expects more than $266 million in lottery profits to be transferred to the education account, on preliminary gross sales figures of $992 million.

That will exceed the state’s $252.4 million goal for the year by about $14 million.

Lottery officials announced this week that South Carolina crossed the $2 billion mark in contributions to education funding, highlighting how integral lottery proceeds have become in financing college scholarships.

The “Alive at 25” program, endorsed by the National Safety Council, is offered at 16 high schools across the state, including several in four Lexington County school systems.

Since January there have been more than 3,300 participants — nearly eclipsing last year’s total.

Sgt. Devon Hughes, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department leader who is working as the traffic coordinator for the S.C. chapter of the National Safety Council, said she’s seen a difference already.

“They’re given this missile to drive, and they’re not given that many tools, and this is another (tool) to make them better drivers.”

ST. DAVID’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH: “Power Lab,” 9 a.m.-noon July 14-18, 605 Polo Road. Age 3 through fifth grade. (803) 736-0866; www.stdavidscolumbia.org

ST. STEPHEN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH: “Beach Party, Surfin’ through the Scriptures,” 6-8 p.m. July 20-24, 119 N. Church St., Lexington. Dinner at 5:15 p.m. (803) 359-6562

ST. TIMOTHY’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH: “Rainforest Adventure,” 6-8:30 p.m. July 20-24, 900 Calhoun St. All ages through sixth grade. (803) 765-1519

INTERNATIONAL PRAISE CHURCH OF GOD: “Gilligan’s Island,” 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 5071 Percival Road, Elgin. (803) 788-1942

Hot Spot assistant manager Bill Carson told The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg that a “big, old goof-up” led to huge lines at the station Thursday before someone discovered the problem.

Carson says a clerk was supposed to enter $4.039 for premium gas, but left off the nine, meaning the pump started selling fuel for 40.3 cents.

Word spread quickly and lines formed at the station. Police even had to direct traffic until the mistake could be fixed.

That changed this week, though, when he learned how to replant an oyster reef through the South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement program.

The 17-year-old student of the Beaufort Marine Institute, a nonprofit residential facility that serves as an alternative to prison for juveniles, participated in the state program with seven of his peers and some volunteers from Bluffton and Sun City Hilton Head.

“This is my first time (replanting),” he said. “Normally, I just eat them, that’s all.”

The project run by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources strives to add about 80 feet of oyster reef a year to a state-maintained site near the H.E. Trask Sr. boat landing in Bluffton.

The story “Filyaw’s Letters” also featured the legal battle surrounding letters Filyaw sent to WLTX. “Filyaw’s Letters” was chosen from an initial pool of 3,459 submissions.

The Radio-Television News Directors Association has presented the Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in electronic journalism since 1971.

Randy Adkins Jr., 46, and Kimberly McCullough, 44, were last seen June 28 near Pine Island. Their empty boat was found in working order with fuel and life jackets.

Department of Natural Resources spokesman Lt. Robert McCullough said search teams held out hope for more clues until the sun set Friday.

Rescue teams had hoped the additional boaters on and around Lake Murray would provide extra eyes in the search for the couple.

McCullough said the search would continue throughout the weekend.

Obama’s campaign says the Illinois senator will visit a middle school to discuss his plans to help families who have been hurt by the economic slowdown.

The campaign says the trip is part of a weeklong effort by Obama to campaign in states President Bush won in 2000 and 2004. Other stops include Georgia, Virginia and Ohio.

Bush won 56 percent of the vote in North Carolina in both 2000 and 2004.

Contributing: Staff Writers Adam Beam, Bertram Rantin and The Associated Press

Hedrick checked his watch. It was 1:30 a.m., about the time Taliban fighters usually launched attacks.

The date was more remarkable.

It was July 4, 2007.

Today, Hedrick and more than 1,000 fellow S.C. National Guard soldiers are back home from Afghanistan. They won’t have to worry about taking cover from rocket attacks.

Their main concern was not losing everything they owned, but stability and routine for their autistic son, Hunter, who was 10 at the time.

After a tumultuous two years, the McDaniels are moving into a new home this week.

The house was built in the same spot as their old Woodcreek Farms home. They used the same architectural plans — but adjusted some design elements to accommodate Hunter.

Builders moved the stove from an island to a far wall so he can’t reach across a hot burner as easily. His work room is larger, for therapy sessions, which run 12 hours a day during the summer.

No one was injured in the afternoon incident that took place in Lexington County.

James Vincent Sorci, 38, is in the Lexington County jail awaiting a bail hearing. He is charged with burglary in both Richland County and Cayce, said Lt. Chris Cowan, the Richland sheriff’s department spokesman.

The State Law Enforcement Division has charged Sorci with two counts of assault and battery with intent to kill and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

The incident began when Richland Sheriff’s investigators Dowl Thompson and Sgt. David McRoberts got a tip that a burglary/robbery suspect was in a Toyota Tundra on Sherwood Drive.

Police charged Denise Ann Deese with two counts of transferring beer to a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to Rock Hill Police Department reports.

Deese’s charges stem from an incident that happened June 28. Around 1 p.m., a 15-year-old girl picked up her 16-year-old male friend before picking up Deese from her home, a report says. The teens gave Deese money, police say, and she bought beer and gave it to them.

The three went back to Deese’s apartment and drank alcohol at the pool, police say. After some time, the intoxicated minors left the pool to bring some friends back to the pool party.

Deese allowed the teens to leave in an intoxicated state, police say, and the 15-year-old female, who was driving, ran out of gas and struck a road sign, police claim.

The memorial sits in the yard of the abandoned mobile home where Dymia Janae Woody was found raped and slain on Tuesday.

“When all this is over, I can’t stay there. I’ll have to find somewhere else to move,” Woody said Thursday.

Police say a 14-year-old boy who was a close friend of the family is responsible. The boy told a Greenville television station before his arrest that he was the “safety guy” in the neighborhood.

“I walk all the kids home, and it’s not an unusual thing. I just do it because I have a little brother and sisters, and I would want somebody to do that for me,” the boy told WHNS-TV.

David L. Parks Jr., of Murrells Inlet, said in an e-mail: “I will be contacting Kershaw County today to withdraw my application for the position of County Administrator. I have after much consideration and prayer decided not to relocate.”

Efforts on Thursday to reach Parks were unsuccessful.

Parks was convicted of embezzlement, a felony, in South Carolina in 1999 and was sentenced to two years in prison and eight months of probation, according to a criminal background check provided by the State Law Enforcement Division.

The circumstances of that conviction were not immediately clear Thursday.

Mrs. Carpenter, born July 29, 1909, in Johnson City, Tenn., went to be with her Lord Wednesday, July 2, 2008. She was a daughter of Congressman Sam R. Sells of Tennessee and Frances Rice Hayward, who preceded her in death. She married Dr. J. Walter Carpenter, Jr. of Uniontown, Penn., in 1935. From this marriage they had four children, J. Walter Carpenter, III of Houston, Texas, Frances Welch of Little Mountain, Lucy Butler of Chapin and Charlotte Evans of Chapin. She was preceded in death by her husband; brother, Sam H. Sells of Johnson City, Tenn.; sister, Charlotte Coe of Alexandria, Va.; and brother, Rev. Frank Sells of Columbia.

Mrs. Carpenter is survived by her four children, thirteen grandchildren, and twenty-two great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Carpenter attended Columbia Bible College, now Columbia International University, but left shortly before graduation to care for her mother who was very ill at the time. After marriage and raising four children, she went back to school to obtain her degree from the University of Maryland. She taught in the Maryland district schools, grades 1 - 12, until her husband took a position at the newly formed Baptist College of Charleston. This time she taught Bible in the high schools there. She did this without pay, choosing to return the money to the college for the advancement of Christian work.

Mrs. Carpenter accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age and began teaching Sunday School at the age of 16 and continued teaching well into her 90’s. Known affectionately to her grandchildren as Memaw, and as Miss Lucy to others, she was a joy to all who knew and loved her. She loved to rise early in the morning for her quiet time with the Lord and Bible study before her family awoke.

Mrs. Pregnall died in Columbia Thursday, July 3, 2008. Born in Charleston, Mrs. Pregnall was the wife of the late Alexander Howard Pregnall Jr. and a daughter of the late Gordon Fuller and Carrie Leonora Jones Moorer. She was a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church and taught children’s Sunday School for many years. She was a graduate of Memminger Normal School for girls in Charleston, and had done undergraduate study at USC in Columbia.

Her early interests in beautification and historic preservation led to active participation on city and county boards including YWCA, Carolina Carillon and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Festival Parade. She had a wide range of other interests including landscape and still life painting, the Symphony League of Columbia, and watching football games.

A life member of Columbia Green, Mrs Pregnall also held garden club offices on local, council, and state levels. She was a member of Y’Hona Garden Club, and a life member of the South Carolina and the National Garden Clubs and a life member and past President (1992-1994) of the Garden Club Council of Greater Columbia. She was a Master flower show judge and past President of the nationally accredited Judges Club of SC and member of the American Guild of Flower Arrangers.

Mrs. Pregnall was a member of many historical societies including The SC Historical Society, DAR, Colonial Dames, 17th Century, (President 1994-1996), Daughters of the American Colonists (past President 1997-2000), United Daughters of the Confederacy, Dames of the Court of Honor (past President, SC Division), U.S. Daughters of the War of 1812, Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars, Huguenot Society of S.C. (life member), National Society of Magna Charta Dames and Barons, including Plantagenet Society, (past President, SC Chapter), The Colonial Society (Americans of Royal Descent) USC Caroliniana Society, SC Archives and History, Orangeburg German-Swiss Genealogy Society, and the Colonial Order of the Crown (life member).

Mrs. Bonnette was born in Saluda February 19, 1919. She was the daughter of Andrew Sampson “Ab” and Nannie Clara Palmer Rowe. She graduated from Newberry High School and the School of Nursing at Tri County Hospital (The Regional Medical Center).

Mrs. Bonnette was a member of the National League of Nurses and The State Nurses Association. She served in World War II as 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. She is also a member of Pine Hill United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. She is registered in the National Nurses Memorial in Washington, D.C., which honors all women who have served the U.S. military. She retired in 1984 from Orangeburg Regional Medical Center as Associate Director of Nursing Service. She was the widow of Cecil H. Bonnette and was predeceased by a daughter, Carol Sue Edwards, and a granddaughter, Priss Wooten Fox.

Survivors include 3 daughters: Mrs. Charles H. (Cecile) Hutchins, Gastonia, N.C., Mrs. Sam (Beth) Wooten, Lowrys, S.C., and Mrs. Noel (Vicki) Burke, Neeses, S.C.; 1 sister: Gloria Dempsey, Columbia, S.C.; 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Pine Hill United Methodist Church. At other times, friends may call at the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Noel Burke, 2224 Slab Landing Road, Pine Hill Community.

Mr. Youngblood died Wednesday, July 2, 2008. Born in Salley August 28, 1921, he was a son of the late Samuel L. Youngblood, Sr. and Mattie Goss Youngblood. He grew up in the Salley-Wagener area and moved to Columbia in 1940 to join the U.S. Army. Assigned to the Headquarters Divison of the 99th Field Pack Artillery at Ft. Jackson, he was almost immediately sent overseas. He had distinguished service in both the Pacific and European Theaters during World War II. He was shipped to the South Pacific to work with the Seabees constructing fuel depots on Bora Bora at the beginning of the U.S. involvement in the War. Following two and a half years seeing action in the Solomon Islands and at Guadalcanal, he was sent to Normandy, barely twelve days after the D-Day Invasion. He was sent to Belgium for the Battle of the Bulge. Honorably discharged in 1945, he was the recipient of numerous medals including the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Bronze Star.

Mr. Youngblood returned to service during the Korean conflict, serving in the South Carolina Air National Guard, 1948-1952. Following military service, he worked as a civilian mechanic at Ft. Jackson and several other businesses before joining Goodyear Tire and Rubber. He retired in 1986 as service manager after a twenty-three year career.

Mr. Youngblood was a past Commander and Life Member of VFW Post 641 and a member of the American Legion Post 6. He was also a 33rd Degree Mason and member of Pacific Lodge 325 and the Jamil Shrine Temple and member of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection and Men’s Council. He particularly enjoyed fishing.

Surviving are his wife of sixty-one years, Vivian T. Youngblood; sons, Loy L. and Jerry L. Youngblood, daughter-in-law, Alice Brooks Youngblood and granddaughter, Laura, all of Columbia; grandson, Ryan of Defiance, Ohio; brothers, John Melvin Youngblood of Couchton and Clarence “Buck” Bell of North Augusta; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and friends.

Mrs. Godshall was born in Union, SC, January 3, 1918, a daughter of the late John E. Mack, Sr. and Mae Jarrett Mack. She attended Robinson’s Business School in Spartanburg and was employed with Arthur State Bank for 30 years as head bookkeeper. Mrs. Godshall was a member of First Baptist Church, Union, where she was a member of the Bethany Sunday School Class and the Pearl Johnson Circle of WMU. She was also a member of the Virginia Heath Bible Study Class which meets at Grace United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Godshall was married to her late husband, Ernest F. Godshall, Sr., for 49 years. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family being predeceased by five brothers: John E. Mack, Sr., Gastonia, NC, Thomas E. Mack, Union, Jarrett D. Mack, Spartanburg, Bryan M. Mack, Union, Raymond E. Mack, Gastonia, NC, and one sister: Miriam M. Clark, Charlotte, NC.

Surviving are a son: Ernest F. “Ernie” Godshall, Jr. and wife Clara of Charleston; a daughter: Frances “Fran” Godshall Kerhulas and husband Sam of Union; two grandchildren: John P. Godshall and wife Monica, and Leslie H. Godshall, all of Charlotte, NC; two great-grandchildren: Mattie and Garrett Godshall.

Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, July 6, 2008, at the First Baptist Church of Union conducted by Rev. Robert Emory. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

She was born in Montrose, Georgia, a daughter of the late Rozier Benjamin Simmons and Quella Rebecca Pierce Simmons.

Mrs. Speake was a graduate of Georgia State College in Milledgeville, GA, and taught in the public school system for many years. She was a member of Broad St. United Methodist Church in Clinton, SC, and served her church in many capacities through the years. She was also a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Surviving her are one son, Gilbert Blakely and wife Mary of Cape Canaveral, FL; two daughters, Sarah Blakely Skenes and husband Ronnie of Greensboro, NC, and Louise Speake Wood and husband Jim of Clemson, SC; and one sister, Mary Helen Adams of Macon, GA. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Ronald Skenes, Blake Skenes, Debra Skenes Montle, Allison Blakely Kurpius, Susan Blakely, Ben Blakely, John Wood, and Rebecca Wood Phillips, and twelve great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Speake was preceded in death by two husbands, Mr. Gilbert Bennett Blakely Sr., and Mr. James Boyd Speake, as well as two brothers, James Simmons and William L. Simmons, and two sisters, Lois Simmons and Christine Simmons Peterson.

Mr. Jeffers graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Furman University in 1931. During World War II, he served in the Navy as an attache to the ambassador of Uruguay. After the war, he returned to Florence, building a house and farm in Back Swamp, where he lived for the rest of his life. He was a faithful member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, where he had many friends. Mr. Jeffers was a rich source of knowledge about local history and genealogy, and he enjoyed sharing his records.

Funeral arrangements are by Belk Funeral Home of Darlington. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 7, 2008, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Florence. Burial will be private. Memorial donations may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 252 S. Dargan Street, Florence, SC 29506; and to McLeod Hospice House, Post Office Box 100551, Florence, SC, 29501, (www.mcleodfoundation.org).

Sign the guestbook online at www.belkfuneralhome.com.

«Obituary posted: July 5, 2008»

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 6, 2008, at Grace Baptist Church. Officiating will be Rev. Clayton Shumpert and Rev. Bill Egerdahl. Interment will follow in Southland Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Saturday, July 5, 2008, at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington. Pallbearers will be her nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Caldwell, Bob Shewell, Eddie and Karen Dorr and members of The Senior Saints Sunday School Class from Grace Baptist Church.

Surviving are her sons, Rev. Robert Rish and wife Vivian of Gaston, Glenn Barry Rish and wife Judy of Gaston, Roger “Gene” Rish and wife Kathy of Leesville; daughters, Pamela Rish Davis and husband Darell of West Columbia, Susan Rish Bailey and husband Perry of Lexington; twelve grandchildren, Kimberly Sessoms (Jamie), Scott Davis, Jennifer Davis, Tony Rish (Cindy), Melany Rish, Deanna Rish, B.J. Rish, Emily Bailey, Erin Dinger (Mike), Jim Davis, Doug Leonard, Randy Leonard (Melanie); ten great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and sister, Marie Knoche and husband Jim of Pelion. Mrs. Rish also leaves behind countless nieces and nephews, all much loved, with three special nieces, Terry O’Neal, Von Dean Parker and Teresa Goodwin. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Ervin R. Rish, brothers, Lester Ferrell, R.V. “Bud” Ferrell and sisters, Jessie Ferrell and Lucile “Snook” Oxner.

Mrs. Rish will be remembered for her love of cooking, gardening, her church, her gracious generous heart and her constant love and devotion for her family and her countless friends. The family would like to express their gratitude for the compassion and care of all the staff at Agape.

In honor of mother’s love for children, memorials may be made to Christian Children’s Fund, 2821 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, VA 23294 or Grace Baptist Church, c/o Mission Fund, 416 Denham Avenue, West Columbia, SC 29169.

Mrs. Wiggins, wife of the late Archie Franklin Wiggins, died Thursday, July 3, 2008. Born in Jenkinjones, W.V., she was a daughter of the late Isaac Dexter and Maggie McCroskey Jennings. She was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Monroe, N.C.

Surviving are her daughters, Reda (Pete) Rietveld of Elgin and Vicky Kletter of Orlando, Fla; sons, Richard Steen and Jeffrey Steen, both of Monroe, N.C.; stepchildren, Cathy (Ray) Lowrey of Jacksonville, Fla., Robert (Susie) Wiggins of Stallings, N.C., and Shirley Wiggins of DeForest, Wis.; sisters, Phyllis Jones, Ella Sheets and Minnie Hunley; brothers, Clayton Jennings and Lenny Jennings; 13 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by daughter, Patricia Henslee; and son, Raymond Steen.

Sign the online register at www.powersfuneralhome.net.

«Obituary posted: July 5, 2008»

He was born October 6, 1947, in Marion County, the son of the late Ashley Clinton Jones and the late Elizabeth Turbeville Jones. Ashley was a retired electrician and a member of Center United Methodist Church.

Surviving Ashley in addition to his wife are: 2 daughters, Kara Jones Alford and her husband Kenneth of Mullins and Heather Jones Hufford and her husband Chris of Mullins; and 7 grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, July 6 in Center United Methodist Church Cemetery with the Rev. William Heustess officiating. The services will be directed by Cox-Collins Funeral Home.

Visitation will be held Saturday evening from 6 til 8 at Cox-Collins Funeral Home.

Mrs. Blakely was born in Kingstree, a daughter of Charles Tucker and Rose Berman Tucker. She attended Winthrop College and was a graduate of the University of South Carolina. Mrs. Blakely was a homemaker and for over 50 years she worked alongside her family in their department store, C. Tuckers, in Kingstree. She was a former member of Kingstree Pilot Club and Temple Beth Or. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Rose Tucker, and 2 sisters, Jene T. Rosen and Bernice T. Cole.

Survivors: husband, Thomas A. Blakely, Jr. “Tommy” of Litchfield Beach; two daughters, Myra Blakely of Alexandria, VA, and Charles Ann B. Graham (George) of Georgetown; one son, Thomas A. Blakely, III of Litchfield Beach; grandson, George Lee Graham, II and a granddaughter, Blakely Elizabeth Graham, both of Georgetown; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 6, 2008, at the graveside in Williamsburg Cemetery. The family has asked that memorials be made to Tidelands Community Hospice, 2591 N. Fraser Street, Georgetown, SC 29440. Williamsburg Funeral Home of Kingstree is assisting the Blakely Family.

«Obituary posted: July 5, 2008»

«Obituary posted: July 5, 2008»

She was born in the Colston Community of Bamberg County to Elgin W. and Eleanor Goodwin McMillan.

Mrs. Smoak retired from Irmo School District 5 where she worked with special needs children on Campus I. She dearly loved her students and her students loved her. She was a long-time member of St. Andrews Baptist Church where, before her illness, she was actively involved in The Mary Martha Sunday School class and Saints Alive. She was also a charter member of the Tanglefoots Square Dance Club where she squared up with her husband and friends for many years.

Her passion in life was her family. She was always the first to help family and friends in need. She will be dearly missed by many.

She leaves behind her devoted husband, David H. Smoak; her daughters and sons-in-law, Marybeth and Bill Crews of Houston, Texas and Tina and Tom Clark of Columbia; her son, Michael Smoak and his wife Tammy of Irmo. She is also survived by her sisters, Shirley Kirkland of Colston and Imogene Priester of North Charleston. She was the beloved grandmother of Dana and Jamie Crews of Houston, Texas and Austin and Kara Smoak of Irmo. She is predeceased by her brothers, E.W. McMillan of Colston, Ellis McMillan from North Charleston, Cecil McMillan and Jimmy McMillan, both from Bamberg. She also leaves behind brothers and sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and Esther Schmale, her friend and caregiver of the last two years.

She was a member of North Trenholm Baptist Church and the former TEL Sunday School class, where she had served as assistant teacher. She also taught at Lyman First Baptist Church when she and her husband lived in Lyman, South Carolina.

She was active all her life, attending her flowers, making lace, crocheting, knitting and tatting. Her hands were always busy. After the death of her beloved Otis, she discovered a desire for painting. Her artwork graces the walls of the homes of her family and friends.

Mary also wrote several books. “Precious Treasures” was inspired by her Sunday School class, who requested that she write down her lessons. It was a joy to her to take everyday happenings and sight-seeing experiences and bring out spiritual thoughts. “God’s Little Graces” is a compilation of Scriptures, short stories and poems which she used throughout her years of teaching. The book “Precious Memories of Home Life” dealt with family heritage.

Mary was a hospice volunteer until she was 96 years old, not retiring until her beloved patient of two years passed away.

She was born in Laurens County and was a daughter of the late Coker J. and Sudie Blackwell. Mrs. White was the owner and operator of Jinny’s Beauty Nook in Clinton before her retirement. She was a member of Lucas Avenue Baptist Church in Laurens.

Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Harriet and Lamar McCarrell of Greenville; and a granddaughter and her husband, Susan and David Lyon of Columbia, SC.

Mrs. White was predeceased by her husband, Clinton E. White and two sisters, Willie Kellett and Nellie McClendon.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, July 5th at 2:00 p.m. in Rosemont Cemetery in Clinton.

www.washingtonsfuneralhome.com

«Obituary posted: July 4, 2008»

He was the author of several books, in addition to having held such positions as a director of Advertising for Sheraton Hotels, and later, Avis Rent-A-Car. His poetry was published in The Saturday Review of Literature, Poetry Magazine, and the regional Evening Reader (Clinton, SC).

Simons was the son of the Rev. W.J. Roof of West Columbia, and Eliza Buist Clute Roof of Mount Pleasant, SC. He was born in Lincolnton, NC, July 18th, 1920. He grew up in Charleston and Rock Hill and graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1942. He served as commanding officer of the USS YMS-98, a 136-foot long minesweeper, in the South Pacific in WW II.

Simons was married to Marcia Moore of Concord, MA, and later to Nancy Bath of Shrewsbury, MA. He lived in Massachusetts most of his life, but returned to South Carolina to live in West Columbia from 1989 to 2000. He leaves a daughter, Louisa Roof of Harvard, MA, a son, Christopher Roof of Nashua, NH, a son, Jonathan Roof of Tucson, AZ, and a granddaughter, Leela Roof of California.

«Obituary posted: July 4, 2008»

Born in Rochester, NY, December 20, 1924, to Elizabeth and Joseph Eisele, he grew up in Minneola, Long Island, where he lived for 19 years. He joined the Navy after high school and served in the Philippines in WWII. Upon his discharge, he enrolled in Lehigh University and received a B.S. degree in industrial engineering. He began his career with U.S. Rubber Co., where he worked for 2 years. He moved to Virginia to work for Dan River Mills, and to his good fortune met his wife, Barbara. They married in 1953 and shortly thereafter moved to New Jersey. He joined the Celanese Corp., Plastics Division, where he worked until 1966. By then he and Barbara had 4 children and moved to Columbia, SC. He was the VP of Sales and Marketing for Southern Plastics for 5 years. As a man with an entrepreneurial spirit, he started Pyroform Plastics, Inc., his own business focused in specialty-molded plastics. He grew the business for 15 years until he decided to retire to “see the world.” In addition to traveling many countries and continents, Scotty and Barbara trekked across the United States from South Carolina to Alaska, the Midwest, the Great Lakes, the Northeast, and California and visited 35 National Parks in their RV. In 1996 they moved to Sun City Hilton Head to enjoy their retirement and active lifestyle. He was an avid golfer, hunter and fisherman and spent many days and nights in the woods or on the water with his sons and grandsons. He was the VP of the Boat and RV Club and, with his good friend Ralph Lund, established the RV Park for Sun City residents, which bears their names “ScottLund Yard.” Scotty battled Parkinson’s disease for 13 years with the same vigor he lived his life. He was a member of the Physically Challenged Adult Water Walking Group, which he attributed to his continued mobility. He competed in the Sun City Challenge in water walking. The strength of his spirit, courage, determination and sense of humor was a motivation to so many.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Barbara, his four children Victoria E. Premo, William W. Eisele, Cynthia E. Meyerhoff and James S. Eisele, along with 7 grandchildren, Megan Haase, Christopher Berry, Hunter Eisele, Whitnie Eisele, Christian Zerry, James Eisele and Kaitlin Eisele.

A memorial service celebrating Scotty’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 5th at Lowcountry Presbyterian Church, Bluffton, SC. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Attn: Tribute Gifts, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780 or a gift to your favorite charity.

Sauls Funeral Home of Bluffton, SC. is assisting the family with their arrangements. (www.saulsfh.com)

«Obituary posted: July 4, 2008»

«Obituary posted: July 4, 2008»

The amount of linear shoreline people would have to own to obtain a dock permit would double, from 100 to 200 feet, and property owners who receive a new permit would have to deed over to SCE&G any land within 75 feet of the shoreline. Not only does this deed away the homeowner’s own property, he loses most anything built or planned in what used to be part of his homesite.

Numerous properties are taking on even more restrictions by being downgraded from “future development” (which has allowed homeowners to buy extra property to make additions to their houses, build a pool, etc.) to “forestry management” or the even-more-restricted “natural area.” SCE&G has told us it does not plan to contact property owners directly affected by the proposal. By calling SCE&G, you should be able to find out if fringeland adjacent to your home is on the list to be reclassified.

Green space, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities are an important component of Lake Murray. However, it is important to balance environmental interests with interests of current property owners.

Currently, a vast, geographically diverse amount of protected forestry, parks, green space and recreation lands is available to the public in 62 islands, 13 parks and a 348-acre state park. In addition, there are proposals for nine more parks, an 88-acre Bundrick Island Park and a massive 648-acre Rocky Creek State Park.

On this July 4, I would encourage everyone to take time to reflect on the history of our great nation. Freedom is not free, and many have made the ultimate sacrifice for the preservation of freedom. Let us not forget all those who have valiantly and honorably served our country, and those who are serving today throughout the world to preserve freedom and are in harm’s way.

In the November general election, we will have the opportunity to cast our ballot for the preservation of freedom. For our country to succeed, we must have good leadership, and putting the words CEO, congressman, senator, president, etc., before a name does not make you a leader.

Leadership is about your character, integrity and passion for the betterment of yourself and others. It’s about what you can do.

Being a great speaker does not make one a great leader. Leadership is formed away from the limelight but becomes visible to all through reputation. This reputation is rarely touted by the leader but often touted by those who have been affected by that person’s leadership.

The latest snapshot of business conditions, released by the Labor Department on Thursday, showed continued caution on the part of employers chafing under high energy prices and are uncertain about how long the economy will be stuck in a sluggish mode, reflecting fallout from housing, credit and financial troubles.

Heavy job losses in construction, manufacturing and financial services, along with cutbacks in retailing, eclipsed job gains in education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and government.

The report, however weak, was largely on target with economists’ forecasts. They had been expecting employers to reduce payrolls by about 60,000 in June and for the unemployment rate to slip a notch to 5.4 percent.

The national jobless rate spiked to 5.5 percent in May. That marked the biggest over-the-month increase in two decades and left the rate at its highest since October 2004.

Well today, I have a little development news of my own. I have accepted a buyout offer, and this is my last column as a retail reporter for The State.

Some of my favorite columns were about local entrepreneurs — such as Mae Buzhardt of Mae’s in Lexington, Harold and Gloria Rittenberg of Moe Levy’s in Columbia and Hopkin’s barbecue sauce maker James “Gene” Sumter.

I love getting scoops on redevelopment plans at Dutch Square Center and new tenants Steve & Barry’s and Burlington Coat Factory arrivals at Columbia Place mall.

In the coming months, be sure to keep the business staff abreast of any new stores, especially my replacement Neil White. (Reach Neil at (803) 771-8643 or nwhite@thestate.com.)

The national NAACP filed a class action lawsuit a year ago against 17 of the nation’s largest lenders alleging African-Americans were given higher mortgage interest rates than others despite having similar credit records, income and other qualifications.

Following are three questions with Dwight James, executive director of the S.C. NAACP, and James Fleshman, Midlands Director for the S.C. Mortgage Brokers Association.

DWIGHT JAMES

Why did you decide to join the National Day of Action?

Americans hitting the road for the July Fourth holiday were confronted with an unwelcome record of their own: The average retail price for regular gasoline jumped to within two-tenths of a penny of $4.10 a gallon, according to AAA, the Oil Prices Information Service and Wright Express.

Light, sweet crude for August delivery rose $1.72 to close at $145.29 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier in the session, it rose as high as $145.85 a barrel.

Oil prices settled at $143.57 Wednesday, up $2.60 above the previous high. They continued climbing overnight, propelled by a report of lower crude stockpiles in the United States, lingering concerns about conflict with Iran and comments by Saudi Arabia’s oil minister suggesting his country would not boost production.

Prices backed off, however, after the European Central Bank did not signal more rate increases. That decision, which followed a widely expected quarter-point rate hike meant to stem inflation in the 15-nation euro zone, led the dollar higher against the euro.

The Dow Jones industrial average showed a sizable advance, while the broader indexes ended mixed. The stock market closed early ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

The Institute for Supply Management said its index of service sector activity fell to 48.2 from 51.7 in May. That news touched off more misgivings about the well-being of the economy.

The look at the service sector follows a largely as-expected report from the Labor Department, which said the nation’s unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 percent last month. The government also reported that 62,000 jobs were lost in June, but that number was close to economists’ forecasts.

The jobs report appeared to assuage some worries that the snapshot of the labor market would be more grim. Employment numbers are critical because consumers who are out of work or are nervous about losing their job are likely to cut their spending. They’ve already become cautious because of higher food and energy prices.

“As long as you see work going on — and the construction, and increasing your size — you know your business is doing well,” said Russell, who started working for the bourbon maker in 1954.

Distillers are expanding their bourbon production and storage and dispatching sales teams around the world, bullish for a traditionally Southern beverage gaining popularity worldwide. Surging exports, the weak U.S. dollar and rising popularity among younger Americans are driving the boom.

“It’s an exciting time to be in the bourbon business,” said Max L. Shapira, president of Heaven Hill Distilleries, a family-owned liquor company based in Bardstown. “Most of the time that I’ve been in the business — up until about the last 10 years — everybody was trying to consign the bourbon category to that great liquor store in the sky.”

Heaven Hill recently spent nearly $4 million boosting capacity 50 percent at its distillery in Louisville, where it makes Evan Williams and Elijah Craig bourbons.

The defense contractor said on Wednesday that employees will receive formal layoff notices next week.

Officials at the Maryland company say they expect the workload to pick back up after military aircraft return from overseas deployment later this year.

Lockheed Martin currently employs nearly 900 workers at the 161-acre site in Greenville County, and has contracts with another 55 employees.

Last month, the company said 100 employees at its Mauldin facility would transfer to Pennsylvania by year’s end.