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“My daddy always told me ... activity breeds activity,” said Jimmy Rogers, one of the developers of the high-rise condominium complex across Bluff Road from the Gamecocks stadium. “That’s what we were trying to do and give somebody a great deal, too.”

Ten condos sold for between 36 percent and 58 percent off of the original asking prices, selling for an average of $238,750. The average asking price for the 10 condominiums that sold was $478,918. Developers also sold more than 30 tailgating spaces at deep discounts.

Developers could have sold up to 36 condos Saturday. But they cut off the sale after unloading the 10 they had pledged to sell regardless of bid prices.

An auction a year ago at the other high-rise development near the stadium led to the sale of 19 condos at 25 percent to 55 percent discounts. Developers at that auction sold 14 more than the absolute minimum of five.

In February, he predicted parishioner and friend Gariane Phillips Gunter of Batesburg-Leesville would become Mrs. South Carolina.

And she did.

Next, he said she would be crowned Mrs. USA.

And Thursday night, during the 2008 Mrs. USA pageant in Las Vegas, she indeed won the title.

Supporters say it would be payback for the $10 million Lexington County is chipping in so far for a convention center and USC’s arena in downtown Columbia, both built in the past six years.

“It is time for Richland County and the city to step up to the plate and support this project,” said Lexington County Councilman Johnny Jeffcoat of Irmo.

But the idea is getting a mixed reception among officials east of the Congaree River.

Some are willing to pitch in if the help wanted isn’t onerous.

Today’s young drivers are struggling just to keep the gas gauge from registering empty.

Just ask 19-year-old Alex Keck. He rides on fumes these days as he tries to budget for college, a new car to replace the one he just wrecked and tanks of gas that cost nearly $4 a gallon.

“I’m working my butt off every day, and I still have to struggle to pay for gas,” said Keck, who graduated last year from Richland Northeast High and attends Midlands Tech.

He and sister Amber, 22, carpool to their summer jobs as lifeguards at Rockbridge Club. Sometimes, they pick up another lifeguard, Molly Starin, on the way.

Kurstin Lewis was airlifted to Palmetto Health Richland, where she died of extensive head injuries, said Lexington County Coroner Harry O. Harman.

About 6:10 p.m., Lewis was traveling north on Fish Hatchery Road in a 2002 Kia sedan and was trying to cross S.C. 6 at a stop sign, said Lance Cpl. Josef Robinson.

Lewis failed to yield the right of way, he said, and pulled into the path of oncoming pickup truck traveling west on S.C. 6. The truck, driven by Bobby Goodwin, 37, struck Lewis’ car on the right side. The impact forced both vehicles off the right side of the road, where Goodwin’s truck overturned.

Goodwin, who was not wearing a seat belt, and two passengers suffered minor injuries and were taken to Lexington Medical Center, Robinson said.

As a result, the state agency no longer can depend on its traditional funding source — the gas tax — to pave and maintain roads, according to its chief.

Buck Limehouse, secretary of transportation, said the state must look elsewhere for money — tolls, privatization or the state’s general fund — if his agency is going to maintain its current level of spending.

The state collects 16.8 cents for every gallon of gas sold.

However, in the fiscal year that ended June 30, gas tax collections increased less than 1 percent — just 0.14 percent — over the previous year, according to the Transportation Department. Typically, gas tax collections increase between 3 percent and 5 percent a year, or about $14 million to $23 million.

The grocery and credit union are the finishing touch to a long effort toward revitalizing the community, said Columbia City Councilman E.W. Cromartie.

Three public housing projects are within walking distance of the new shopping center, and it is close to Benedict College and Allen University.

“It serves the needs of the community,” Cromartie said. “A lot of people in the area do not have transportation. We’re providing a nice place to shop.”

The 20,000-square-foot Columbia Food Fresh Market will be a full-service grocery, selling everything from fresh meat and produce to the usual non-perishable fare. And it will have a deli. The store is scheduled to open on Harden Street in September, said Gilbert Walker, executive director of the Columbia Housing Authority.

Julie Hershey, Gov. Mark Sanford’s latest appointee to the state’s public education watchdog group, says she’s been unfairly criticized for an anti-public school proclamation that she does not remember signing.

The president of the Alliance for the Separation of School and State said Hershey signed his group’s proclamation — favoring the privatization of public education — at a 1999 Greenville event.

“There is virtually no possibility that she did not sign it, but there is every possibility that she would forget,” said alliance president Alan Schaeffer, adding others also have said they don’t remember signing the proclamation.

The California-based alliance is dedicated to privatizing all education. It wants to dismantle public schools in favor of private ones and home schooling.

They also make decisions that affect more than 100,000 people —most of them children.

And 26 of them are up for election this fall.

Filing opens Friday for seats on the seven school boards in Richland and Lexington counties.

Though history shows residents pay relatively little attention to these races, this could be a critical year for them to tune in.

For years, the small University District pantry has offered help to the working poor and single parents in this neighborhood of campus rentals. Now rising food prices are bringing another group: struggling college students.

“Right now, with things the way they are, a lot of students just can’t afford to eat,” Terry Capleton said.

While a student at Columbia’s Benedict College, Capleton started a Facebook group called “I Ain’t Afraid to be on Food Stamps.”

Some students seeking help with groceries are working their way through college with grants, loans and part-time jobs. Others are just reluctant to ask parents for more money.

Companies that list businessman Howard Rich as an officer or share the same New York City address contributed to 34 races here, tallying 15 wins in last month’s primaries.

Among the politicians ousted with the help of the cash was the chairman of the S.C. House education committee, an eight-term incumbent Republican who opposed using tax credits to defray private school tuition.

Rich’s donations bring accolades from school choice supporters, including Republican Gov. Mark Sanford.

“I view guys like him as patriots. He’s a guy that passionately believes that choice in education is better education,” said Sanford, who received $21,000 in donations from Rich and his relatives in 2002 and 2006, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics.

The two have gone head-to-head in recent media reports with Noble predicting Obama will win the Palmetto State and Dawson forecasting U.S. Sen. John McCain will take the state.

To keep the fun going, Noble is proposing a friendly wager. The loser would buy a dinner for the winner “of the finest South Carolina barbecue, with all the trimmings, at any restaurant of the winner’s choice in the state — except Maurice’s.”

No word yet on whether Dawson will accept the barbecue challenge.

GOP BLOG HIJINKS: OSAMA AND OBAMA

Seats: 1,200, making it the third-largest arts facility in the Midlands behind Columbia’s Township Auditorium at 3,200 seats and USC’s Koger Center for the Performing Arts at 2,256 seats.

Arts groups say that size would fill a void between smaller sites and larger ones. The Township and Koger are in Columbia, home to 125,000 people. Lexington is home to 16,000, according to the latest census estimates. But it is the hub of central Lexington County, with a population of 100,000.

Size: 76,000 square feet

Cost: $32 million to build. Operation would cost $1.6 million yearly, requiring a $500,000 annual subsidy.

Rodney J. Muller, 42, of Irmo posted $25,000 bond. He is charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct, authorities said..

A woman told police Muller assaulted her Thursday when she went to his home to pick up her children. Muller’s wife runs a day care at their Chadford Road home.

However, hunger is a full-blown crisis in South Carolina, said Marsha Thompson, director of communications at Harvest Hope Food Bank, which serves 21 S.C. counties.

Requests for food at the agency the year are up 40 percent over 2007. Some of those requesting food this year are people who have donated food to the agency in the past, Thompson noted. “It's sad,” she said.

— Roddie Burris

Work started on a barricade of cables across the river that South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. says is a new safeguard for Lake Murray’s two dams and a pair of adjoining power plants 500 yards upstream.

The barrier will be finished by Sunday, officials at the Midlands-based utility said.

It expands significantly the dams’ security zone downstream, a step SCE&G says is necessary to increase protection against river-borne attacks.

“Making our facilities safe and secure is paramount,” SCE&G security director Ronnie Goebel said.

After Monday’s powerful thunderstorms clogged storm drains with grass clippings and other debris from people’s yards, city officials are considering requiring everyone to bag their yard trash instead of piling it on the street for pickup.

Many cities, like Atlanta and Charlotte, already require this. But for years, Columbia residents have been allowed to put their lawn trash on the curb to be scooped up by the city’s shovel trucks.

The city spends $206,000 each year removing yard debris from clogged storm drains.

Two of the city’s $250,000 vacuum trucks work full time sucking debris out of the drains.

Rodney J. Muller, 42, of Irmo, turned himself in around 3 p.m. and was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct, Sheriff Leon Lott said. He was taken to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

At a hearing Friday night, Judge Phil Newsom set a cash or surety bond of $25,000, which means Muller can post 10 percent of that and be released.

Muller would not give a statement and is not cooperating with investigators, Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Myers said.

Third-degree criminal sexual conduct is the charge when a person “uses force or coercion to accomplish the sexual battery in the absence of aggravating circumstances,” such as a threat of violence, according to state law. It is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

It will be home to an artist-in-residency program — a first in the state — as well as apartments, shops, offices and a gallery.

The building’s rebirth is the latest coup in the resurgence of the village, which has seen its Olympia and Granby mills renovated into loft-style apartments and a boomlet in new construction.

But renovation of the 35,000-square-foot structure has been a serious labor of love.

“We blew by our budget like a Porsche past a mile marker,” developer Richard Burts says with a wry laugh as he sits on a folding chair in one of the cavernous rooms. “And we’re six months behind schedule. I guess I shouldn’t say that. But we are.”

Michael J. Nettles, 20, was arrested Tuesday, and Kevin R. Cole, 16, was arrested Thursday. Both are charged with robbing two West Columbia convenience stores, West Columbia police Maj. Jackie Brothers said.

Nettles also is charged with robbing a Cayce convenience store, Cayce police Lt. Jeffrey Simmons said.

Investigators believe a total of seven robberies — four in West Columbia and three in Cayce — might be related.

The men are accused of entering Li’l Cricket on Meeting Street in West Columbia on July 12, wearing large multicolor wigs and blue bandannas over their faces. Police say they pointed a gun at a cashier and others and demanded money.

RICHLAND 1

Students: 23,209

Employees: 4,200

Schools: 28 elementary, nine middle, seven high schools

Nader, who has appeared on at least one state’s presidential ballot four times since 1992, has petitioned to appear on South Carolina’s ballot in November.

Nader appeared in Columbia on Friday, promising he would campaign in all 50 states.

Nader’s campaign is focusing on three issues in particular: granting all U.S. citizens health-care through Medicare; requiring employers to pay a “living wage” of at least $10 an hour; and setting a six-month deadline to withdraw from Iraq.

“They represent a minority viewpoint,” Nader said of the positions of Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama on those issues. “We represent a majority of the American people.”

Born in Columbia, SC, April 14, 2008, Jack passed away Thursday, July 24, 2008. He was the son of Jason Russell and Rachael Oswald Miles of Lexington.

Jack is survived by his parents; maternal grandparents, Robert W. “Bob” Oswald (Sallie) of Lexington; aunt and uncle, Stephanie and Wesley Davis of Lexington and uncle, Raymond Miles of Lexington.

www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.com

«Obituary posted: July 27, 2008»

Born July 11, 1939, in Garfield, NJ, Mr. Malmendier was a son of the late Hubert Malmendier, Sr. and Mary Fetcho Malmendier. Albert was employed as a butcher at Shop Rite Grocery Store. He was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Harley Davidson Group Thunder Tower, Ocean County H.O.G., and United Food and Commercial Worker’s Union #464A.

Survivors include wife, Kathleen; daughters, Julie (Matt) Leroy of Vermont, Catherine (Tom) Hinz, Suzanne (Pete) Clarke, Jacquie (Daniel) Moran, Vicki (Marcel) Michot all of New Jersey; stepson Matthew Woodruff of Ohio; stepdaughter Nancy Woodruff (Jim Rigas) and stepson Joseph Woodruff, both of Michigan; brother, Hubert Malmendier, Jr and wife, Dolores of NJ; sister-in-law Joann (Pat) Quinlan-Ryan of Missouri; 15 grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Malmendier was predeceased by daughter Sharyn Tighe; stepson, Jim Woodruff and brother, Ronnie Malmendier.

You will be sorely missed my darling husband, forever and a day.

Funeral services will be held 4:00 p.m. Monday at Cooper Funeral Home in Dillon with burial in Bethesda Southern Methodist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be 7-9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Born in Cumberland County, NC, October 27, 1961, she was the daughter of Joseph L. Brown and Earline Byrd Brown. She was a welder with Amec-KamTech, and was a member of Bethesda Southern Methodist Church.

Survivors include her parents, Joseph and Earline Brown of Elgin; sons, Curtis D. Padgett II and Ryan M. Padgett of Elgin; sisters, Deborah Byrd and Melissa Flowers of Elgin; brothers, Joseph L. Brown of Elgin and Donald A. Brown of Bishopville; fiance', Ricky M. Brown of Elgin; grandsons, Chandler and Aiden Padgett; special nieces, Madison, Bryanna, and Haileigh; special great-nephew, Hunter Parks.

«Obituary posted: July 27, 2008»

Kurstin Lewis passed away Friday, July 25, 2008. Born in Lexington, she was the daughter of Rachel Lewis Bryan. She was a lifelong area resident and a member of Crossroads World Outreach Center. She was a wonderful daughter, loving and caring sister. Kurstin loved to sing and sang in Serenada at Pelion High School.

Surviving in addition to her mother, Rachel Lewis Bryan of Leesville; grandmothers, Susan Lewis of Gaston and Brenda Cocklin of Leesville; sisters, Amy and Savannah Bryan both of Leesville; brother, Nathaniel Bryan of Leesville; aunt, Shauna Staley and her husband, Bruce of Lexington; cousins, Joshua, Kiesha, Shanieka, Bruce Jr. and Keshaun Staley.

www.thompsonsfuneral.com

«Obituary posted: July 27, 2008»

«Obituary posted: July 27, 2008»

Surviving are his wife, Isabell B. Robinson; sons, Charles Jr., Herbert, Phillip, Kenneth, Ronald and Donald Robinson; daughter, Delores Robinson; twenty (20) grandchildren; and other loving relatives and friends.

«Obituary posted: July 27, 2008»

«Obituary posted: July 27, 2008»

Born March 29, 1921, in Donalds, she was a daughter of the late H. Charles and Annie Belle Reynolds Williamson. She was a graduate of Donalds High School and a 1941 graduate of Winthrop College. Formerly a Home Demonstration Agent in Orangeburg and Edgefield counties, she retired in 1980 after a career of teaching at Dixie High School and Donalds Elementary School . Following her retirement she taught for the Lexington School District #1.

She was a member of Lexington Baptist Church and the Senior Adult Choir as well as the Senior Adult Sunday School Class of the church.

Surviving are a son, Fred James Gassaway and his wife, Betty S. Gassaway of Lexington ; a daughter, Lana Gassaway Pearson and her husband, Lawrence F. Pearson, III of Longs, SC; two brothers, Milton Earle Williamson of Donalds and Charles Albert Williamson of Oregon; one grandson, Regan F. Gassaway; and two granddaughters, Heather Swingle and Lauren Pearson.

Funeral services will be conducted at 4:00 p.m. Monday at the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood with Rev. Stuart A. Thompson and Rev. Thornton Leutzinger officiating. Burial will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park .

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, July 28, at the Chapel of Cox-Collins Funeral Home, with Rev. Roger Ard officiating. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, directed by Cox-Collins Funeral Home.

Robby was born September 29, 1962, in Charleston, a son of Aundra Fowler Coleman and the late Bobby Earl Fowler. He was a truck driver and had served in the S.C. National Guard.

Surviving Robby are: his mother, Aundra Fowler Coleman and her husband Cecil of Mullins; a son, Robert Benjamin Fowler and his wife Karol of Nichols; a daughter, Carla Fowler Todd and her husband Dudley of Conway; 3 grandchildren, Harely Fowler, Victoria Fowler and Ethan Fowler; a brother Terry Gene Fowler and his wife Timmie Ann of Bonneau; 2 nieces, Taylor Ann Fowler and Shelby Louise Fowler, and a special friend Patricia Daniels.

Visitation will be held Sunday evening from 7 - 9 at Cox Collins Funeral Home.

«Obituary posted: July 27, 2008»

Betsy was born April 16, 1981, in Weymouth, MA, and died Friday, July 25, 2008, in Columbia, SC. She was a daughter of James W. Thomson of Barrington, RI and Marilyn B. Thomson of Corvallis, MT. Betsy was the fiancee of Willie Giles Huggins, III, of Irmo, SC; beloved sister of Mary Vermillion of Hamilton, MT, and Steven Thomson of Guatemala; granddaughter of Claire P. Boyd of Westport Point, MA, and aunt of Selway, Meakin and Kadic Vermillion and Timothy Thomson.

Betsy was a 2000 graduate of Barrington High School and a 2005 graduate of Winthrop University. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and a Special Olympics State Games Coach. Betsy was an Exceptional Children’s teacher at Nation Ford High School in Fort Hill, SC, and previously had taught with the Metro School in Charlotte, NC. She was an avid supporter of children with special needs and she loved the outdoors. Betsy was “Aunt B” to her nieces and nephews and had a gift for making friends. She was very open and caring with all who knew her. She leaves a tremendous void in the lives of her friends and family.

www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.com

«Obituary posted: July 27, 2008»

Frances was reared in Graham, NC, and was the daughter of the late Tom and Geneva Boswell.

She was a graduate of Piedmont Bible College, Tennessee Temple University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with earned degrees in Christian Education.

She was actively engaged in church, social, and civic affairs and was Past President of the Rotary Book Club. She was a specialist in Christian Elementary Education and serviced many churches, conferences, seminars and other specialized events.

Mrs. Snipes was most active in Christian Ministry alongside her husband, Reverend Roger Snipes, Pastor of the Sand Hill Heights Baptist Church. She served faithfully, lovingly, loyally and admirably.

She was born July 14, 1953, in Mullins, a daughter of Vera Larrimore Hooks and the late J.D. Collins. Judy had worked with Supreme Lighting Company and had worked as manager of North Mullins Grocery. She was of the Baptist faith.

Surviving Judy in addition to her husband of the home are her mother, Vera Larrimore Hooks of Mullins; her stepfather, Wayne Hooks of Marion; two sons, Rev. David Harrelson and his wife Cindy of Elkin, N.C., and Bo Harrelson of Mullins; four grandsons, Jordan Harrelson, Joshua Harrelson, Jacob Harrelson and Brett Harrelson; a sister, Toni Richardson and her husband David of Marion; a half brother, James Collins of Hope Mills, N.C.; two nephews, Jeffrey Richardson and Walker Richardson; her mother-in-law, Betty Causey of Loris; and a brother-in-law, Michael Causey of Green Sea.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at the Chapel of Cox-Collins Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Monday evening from 6 until 8 at Cox-Collins Funeral Home.

Mr. Dotson was educated in the public schools of Richland County and graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1975. After graduating from high school he became an electrician with GrayBar Electrical Company. He was a certified truck driver and became an Owner/Operator with the Original Blue Ribbon Cab Company.

Surviving are his loving, devoted wife and business partner, Mrs. Barbara Perry Dotson; his children, Terrance Beaty, Eunice Dotson (Mike) Allen, Sarah Dotson and Johnny Dotson Jr., all of Columbia, South Carolina; five grandchildren, Sharah Dotson, Darrein White, Jalen Allen, Jaden Allen, and Elijah Curry; his father, Johnny Samuel, Sr.; his mother, Ms. Carrie Dotson Quattlebaum; his sisters, Sharon D. Quattlebaum, Juliet Quattlebaum, Regina (James) Hingleton, Teresa Harris, Loretta Taylor, Betty (Bruce) Wise, Robin (Frank) Miller, Cheryl Favor, Stacy Roberts, Kim Chapman; brothers, Gary Quattlebaum, Jr., Gary Jones, Robert Quattlebaum, Ronald Quattlebaum, Randy (Nadia) Quattlebaum, Michael (Stacey) Quattlebaum, Ricky (Sherrie) Quattlebaum, Alfred Tillman, Russell (Sandra) Samuel, Anthony Samuel, and Angelo Samuel; five brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, Cynthia (Anthony) Dickerson and Ms. Eddie Peeler; nieces; nephews; cousins other loving relatives and friends

«Obituary posted: July 27, 2008»

«Obituary posted: July 27, 2008»

Jenny Derrick, loving wife of Carroll Derrick, passed away Friday, July 25, 2008. Born in Lexington County, she was the daughter of the late Harley Eugene Kyzer and Emma Lavina Boone Kyzer. She had been a lifetime area resident and a member of Faith Baptist Church. She was active in the women’s and children’s ministry and on the Fellowship Committee at Faith Baptist. She loved cooking and enjoyed sharing it with her family, church family, and friends.

Surviving in addition to her husband of 45 years, Carroll Derrick of Gaston; daughter and son-in-law, Wendy and Clay Poole of Swansea; son and daughter-in-law, Eddie and Wanda Derrick Sr. of Gaston; grandchildren, Brandon and Kaci Poole, Jennifer and JR Derrick; sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Billy Corley of Swansea; brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Lulua Kyzer of Gaston.

The family wishes to thank the staff and Dr. Tripp Jones of South Carolina Oncology Association and the ICU Lexington Critical Care Unit for all their love and support these past weeks.

www.thompsonsfuneral.com

Mrs. Toler was a registered nurse and served in hospitals in Atlanta, GA, Memphis TN, Sumter and Camden, SC. She later joined the medical department of DuPont in Camden. After retirement in 1985, she moved to Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center in Laurens and was a member of First Baptist Church.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 28, 2008, in Aimwell Cemetery in Ridgeway, SC, conducted by Rev. David Shirkey. The family will greet friends graveside after the service. Memorials may be made to Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center, 1 Martha Franks Drive, Laurens, SC 29360; First Baptist Church, 300 W. Main Street, Laurens, SC 29360; or Lutheran Hospice, 218-A Trade Street, Greer, SC 29651.

Pope Funeral Home of Winnsboro is serving the Toler family.

«Obituary posted: July 27, 2008»

Mr. Goodwin passed away at home Friday, July 25, 2008. His family would like to extend a special thank you to everyone at Palmetto Health Hospice, especially Sue and Pam. They also thank Dr. Leland McElveen and the staff of the South Carolina Oncology Center.

Survivors include his wife, Judith Goodwin; sons, Richard Pinckney (Francisco Diaz), Christopher Bruce, Jeffrey Dean (Michele) and Todd Anthony; daughter, Kara Ann (Donny) Alkire; brothers, Gilbert Goodwin of Columbia and Harvey Goodwin; sisters, Catherine Evans of Elizabeth City, NC, and Louise Taylor of Winter Haven, FL. Mr. Goodwin was predeceased by his brothers, Charles and Smokey Goodwin of Columbia.

www.ShivesFuneralHome.com

(803) 754-6290

«Obituary posted: July 27, 2008»

«Obituary posted: July 27, 2008»

Wednesday morning, I needed a way to get from home — out west of West Columbia — to work, if for no other reason than I needed the paycheck to pay for getting my truck fixed.

Fortunately, my eldest daughter was staying at our house with her children — her husband is remodeling their home — and she works downtown. So she drove me way south of downtown to my office, before turning around and going back to her office.

(My wife couldn’t take me because she had my daughter’s six-month-old twins, and her car isn’t set up to accommodate the Apollo-capsule-type arrangements that they call baby carseats these days.)

From that point, I was stuck. I knew I was going to have to stay late at the office that night — later than anyone in my department — because I was going to be off Friday and needed to get at least a week’s worth of work done in the four days available. Besides, no one in my department lives anywhere near me. In fact, I started writing this column on Wednesday to get ahead, and as I typed this sentence at 5:23 p.m., I had no idea how I’d get home.

South Carolina lost an outstanding public servant and jurist with the untimely passing on July 13 of Judge James Johnson of Clinton.

In recent years, I appeared before him frequently in his capacity both as a Circuit Court judge and as a sitting justice of the S.C. Supreme Court. His even-keeled fairness, demeanor, integrity, courtesy, thoroughness, scholarship and promptness were models for any judge.

We are fortunate in South Carolina that men and women with these qualities offer themselves as candidates for election to our state’s judiciary.

As I travel around the country and meet with lawyers from other states, my belief is re-affirmed that our judicial selection process, despite any flaws, is among the best in the nation.

Ignore what you have seen in the automotive mags. Photographs don’t do BMW’s new X6 any justice.

The first time I saw a photo of it, my initial reaction was, “This isn’t a crossover, it’s a sedan.”

The chopped rear roofline didn’t resemble a traditional SUV and the elongated look initially reminded me of a bulbous Nissan Maxima with impossibly large wheels. Get up close with the X6 and it’s a different story. Beefy 20-inch rims shod in wide, low-profile tires radiate a tall, jacked-up confidence.

Driving the X6 reveals its multiple personalities.

Shoppers have saved an average of $2.8 million in state sales tax each year since the three-day event started in 2000. The high mark of $3.6 million came in the event’s inaugural year.

The ninth-annual tax-free weekend begins at midnight Friday and concludes at midnight on Aug. 3.

“It’s going to be interesting with the price of gas and the state of the economy to see how much will be saved this year.,” said Adrienne Fairwell, a spokeswoman for the revenue department. “I believe it’s going to be significant.”

Ron Letts, store director at Circuit City in Northeast Richland, is expecting a big weekend, especially on computers.

The hourly federal minimum wage rose from $5.85 to $6.55 last week, but few workers will see the extra 70 cents an hour in their checks.

That’s because the proportion of hourly workers paid the federal minimum has fallen from 15.1 percent in 1981 to 2.3 percent in 2007, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

State minimum wages have largely outpaced the federal minimum, which was flat for almost a decade, starting in 1997. When state wages are different from the federal level, the higher wage prevails.

The states’ minimums range from California’s $8 an hour to Florida’s $6.79, just above the new federal rate.

And in a controversial twist, some academic departments are sharing in the profits from these texts.

The University of Alabama, for instance, requires freshman composition students at its main campus to buy a $59.35 writing textbook titled “A Writer’s Reference,” by Diana Hacker.

The spiral-bound book is nearly identical to the same “A Writer’s Reference” that goes for $30 in the used-book market and costs about $54 new.

The only difference in the Alabama version: a 32-page section describing the school’s writing program — which is available for free on the university’s Web site. This version also has the University of Alabama’s name printed across the top of the front cover, and a notice on the back that reads: “This book may not be bought or sold used.”

Consider these tips to teach yourself how to invest in stocks:

Read a book

There are hundreds of investing books out there. The challenge is to find one that is worth your time and money. One such book is “The Intelligent Investor” by Ben Graham, the founder of modern security analysis and, incidentally, famed investor Warren Buffett’s former teacher. First published in 1949, the book is widely regarded as a primer on value investing, an investment philosophy based on buying stocks for their value and not necessarily for their growth prospects.

Pick a few companies

Don’t talk about it

It’s best not to let your boss know if you’re looking for a job somewhere else. If you’re planning on moving to another company, don’t advertise to people in the office the fact that you’re searching. If your company learns that it needs to replace you, it’s possible that it could find your replacement before you’re ready to go. Or if your boss thinks that you’re being disloyal, your life could get much harder your last few months on the job.

Don’t search at work

Working on your resume or applying to online ads while on company time could not only get you in trouble with your current employer, it also doesn’t send a good message to future employers. If they see that you have been e-mailing them during the business day, they might not want to hire you. A lot of your search can be done at night and on weekends.