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The public only now is discovering what was wrapped in that big bow — 4,630 coastal acres with moss-draped live oaks, sunflower-filled farm fields, an expansive lake, the ruins of an 1800s plantation house and slave quarters, a couple of exquisite, intact 1840s outbuildings and two miles of beach.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources opened Botany Bay Plantation to the public July 1, more than 31 years after it was given to the state.

The long delay hearkens to the original gift from a wealthy Birmingham, Ala., philanthropist who wanted to protect a place rich in wildlife and history. But he also wanted to ensure that if he died before his wife, she could continue living at a place she loved as much as he did.

When John E. Meyer died Jan. 1, 1977, at age 58, his will bequeathed Botany Bay to the state as a wildlife preserve. Meyer built his fortune in the hotel industry, and his real estate holdings included not only Botany Bay, in Charleston County, but also White Hall Plantation near Green Pond, in Colleton County, and an 800-acre farm in Connecticut.

College of Charleston students spend more time in the downtown historic district than studying history in a classroom.

Furman would be any parent’s dream. Students go to church, visit the library or attend Rotary meetings.

Wofford is tops for all things Greek.

And USC? Well, it doesn’t have anything remarkable enough — good or bad — to earn a top 20 ranking.

Columbia officials are working to impose tougher restrictions on where payday lenders can locate, a move designed to keep new businesses from clustering in poor communities.

A majority of City Council members say they support a proposed ordinance that would prohibit future payday lenders from opening within a half-mile of existing businesses. They say the industry’s tendency to congregate in poor areas of the city encourages a cycle of debt that many people can’t escape.

“When they are grouped together, they keep creating a cycle ... (and) nobody gets out of that cycle,” said City Councilman Daniel Rickenmann, who owns Mo Mo’s Bistro and a few Ben and Jerry’s stores. “I personally have bailed a few (of my) employees out from that situation.”

Payday lending businesses have come under scrutiny nationwide in the past few years and have been banned in some states, including North Carolina and Georgia. Critics contend the lenders prey on people who are financially vulnerable.

About 5,700 of them were in Chapin and Little Mountain, SCE&G spokesman Robert Yanity said.

In some areas, there were 60-mph winds, the National Weather Service said.

A tree reportedly fell on a house on East Main Street and Taylor Drive in Lexington, National Weather Service spokesman Dave Schuetrum said. In Chapin and Prosperity, radar showed that about 1.75 inches of rain fell in about an hour, beginning about 9 p.m., he said.

Earlier in the night, three-quarter-inch hail reportedly fell for about five minutes in Hartsville in the Pee Dee area.

Shaffer, though, figured it would be a while before she’d have to honor the promise. That’s because a suitable animal might cost $1,000 to $3,000.

But on Saturday, Kayla’s dream came true much sooner than her mother thought. The $25 Kayla earned watching her 5-year-old brother was used to adopt a horse that once roamed the Colorado range.

“I couldn’t go back on my word,” said Shaffer, of Irmo, as Kayla watched the horse milling about a pen at the South Congaree Arena.

The horse was offered for adoption through the National Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program run by the Bureau of Land Management. It’s part of an effort to control the wild herds that roam public rangelands in 10 western states.

Dentsville resident Delbert Baltus had retired, but he did not want to stop working.

Baltus, 70, is one of a handful of state workers who learned last week they would be laid off from the S.C. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs on Sept. 1.

As more state budget cuts loom and the economy teeters on the edge of recession, Baltus said he and nine other workers — all participants in the Teacher and Employee Retention Program — were told their jobs had been cut. Baltus had worked for the state agency in maintenance for 28½ years.

Though the state expects more budget cuts this year, no other agencies said last week that they have plans to lay off employees.

A bed tax — also called an accommodations tax — is a local fee paid by hotel guests that is used to fund tourism-related activities. It is collected at both the local and state levels. Local bed taxes vary, but generally are about 1 percent to 3 percent.

The first of the lawsuits was filed by Los Angeles in 2004. There are now about 50 pending throughout the country.

Counties and municipalities allege that online discount booking companies — Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz and Priceline — are not turning over a portion of the taxes on the rooms they book, said Charleston lawyer Ronnie Bonds.

Bonds said local governments could be missing out on up to 10 percent of the bed taxes.

The boy, who was not injured, was turned over to his mother’s custody, Columbia police spokesman Brick Lewissaid. Thirty-three year-old Gregory J. Lewis is charged with unlawful neglect of a child.

Someone in the store’s parking lot saw a child in the car and notified security, who called Columbia police, police said.

• Saluda River still not safe enough to enter

While the Saluda River water quality has improved, state health officials on Saturday continued to warn people to stay out of the river.

The Dr. Alfred N. and Lynn Manos Page Prize for Sustainability Issues in Business Curricula will “encourage and support efforts to introduce or substantially upgrade environmental sustainability courses and/or associated coursework into the curriculum of business schools, both nationally and internationally,” said Hildy Teegen, dean of the Moore School.

Two Page Prizes will be awarded each year, starting this fall. One will honor the best submission from faculty in the United States; the second will go to the best submission from a faculty member at an overseas institution.

The initial prizes will be $1,000 each. USC faculty are ineligible. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31, with winners announced on or before Dec. 31.

• Clemson professor to head research society

Gurley, an American water spaniel; Dutches, a golden retriever; and Boomer, a German shepherd, joined Tuomey recently as part of the new pet therapy program.

The dogs visit long-term patients at the hospital, but Tuomey spokeswoman Judy Ferrell said the hospital workers look forward to visits from the dogs, too.

“The staff loves this as much as the patients do,” Ferrell said.

The dogs recently were brought up to the Acute Rehabilitation Unit, and the hospital staff gathered in the hallway to greet the canine trio before the dogs went to the patients’ rooms.

Last year, she entered basic training at Columbia’s Fort Jackson, full of hopes for a career in computers and high-tech air defense. Then she found a small lump in her breast during her third week of basic training.

A diagnosis of Stage II breast cancer meant a bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy and what could be years of follow-up medication. But it didn’t mean an immediate discharge.

Marendo is now assigned to Fort Jackson’s “Wounded Warrior Transition Unit,” one of 35 outfits for injured soldiers recuperating from combat, training injuries or any illness that keeps them from serving in their normal units.

“Just because I have this illness doesn’t mean in any way, shape or form that life stops along the way,” Marendo said recently as she sat in a military hospital, her weekly dose of medication flowing into a stent in her chest. “I had fun in basic.”

The Buzz is asking what is in South Carolina’s water this week, and we’re not referring to its now-declared-pristine beaches.

According to The Hill newspaper, South Carolina’s congressional offices are full of attractive people. In fact, three of the top 10 on their “50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill” list had an S.C. connection.

But The Buzz has to question the priorities of U.S. Rep. Gresham “(Love Potion) No. 9” Barrett. In interviews talking about the honor, Barrett admitted he spends money on his shoes and enjoys “a pretty tie.”

But his press secretary, Brecke Latham — No. 2 on the list — had to borrow the black dress and heels that she wore in the photo shoot.

“The past few years of inaction and missed opportunities has shown us that if we truly want those high-paying jobs created, we must not only provide the means but also the execution.”

— House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, last week unveiling a new plan to create and attract high-tech jobs to South Carolina. Harrell and other Republican legislative leaders were critical of Gov. Mark Sanford’s record in creating jobs

CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Today. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., will appear on Fox News Channel between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to discuss foreign policy and the presidential election. Graham is one of Republican presidential nominee-to-be John McCain’s most visible surrogates. Graham will square off with former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, a surrogate for Democratic presidential nominee-to-be Barack Obama.

DENMARK — Cleveland Sellers’ pride in Voorhees College is evident.

He is eager to show it off, eager for others to see what he sees in its open campus and historic buildings.

It’s like the pride a 17-year-old has in his first car. It might have a few dents, but, with a few tweaks and a good driver, it could be a showstopper.

Sellers is Voorhees’ new driver. His first day on the job was June 16, and his first order of business is to pound out the dents and get the college pointed in the right direction again.

What he did next kept 2-year-old Byron Murray from becoming a tragic newspaper headline.

On July 17, Strang, an Iraq war veteran, used CPR training he learned in the Army to resuscitate his friend’s son, who climbed into a pool behind his house in rural Aiken County. Byron’s father wasn’t home at the time, but he admits that even if he had been there, he couldn’t have done what Strang did.

This shows why all parents and caregivers should learn CPR, said Dianne Lariscy, director of health and safety services for Red Cross of Augusta, Ga. “It’s absolutely vital,” she said. “We don’t often have time to wait for an ambulance to get there.”

That afternoon, Strang was working in New Holland, where he has been helping his friend Chad Barker take apart an old mobile home on his family’s property that was being salvaged for scrap. Barker, a single father, was at work, and his son Byron and three older children played in the yard. A babysitter and Byron’s grandmother were inside.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 05, 2008 in St. Anthony Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Florence National Cemetery, directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home.

Katie was born in Columbia, SC. and moved into the loving foster home of Greg and Monika Dove, where she lived until the age of 2 ½, when she was adopted by her loving parents, Michael and Michele Krize. She attended Southside Middle School, where she was a member of the Blue Notes. She loved music, shoes, purses, reading, the color blue and pets.

She was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Katie was a warrior princess, for more than half her life she battled neuroblastoma. She always had a smile that could light up a room and that now lights up heaven.

He was born in Florence, SC, a son of the late Boyd O. and Edna James Hatchell. He was a member of the Florence Baptist Temple, where he served as an usher, was a member of the Frank Garris Sunday School Class, served in the Bus Ministry for years and was very supportive of his church and of the sporting events of the Christian Eagles. He raced cars during the sixties and the seventies from which he retired and then returned to racing again in the eighties. After achieving many victories, he was given the name “Dusty Hero.” In 1989, he won the Winston Racing Series Eastern Seaboard Regional Championship, which placed him second in the nation. He never met a stranger and everyone that knew him loved him. He loved his grandchildren, loved to take them to the park to feed the ducks and the fish. He formed the Quack Quack Club with his grandchildren of which he served as Master Quacker. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force having served during the Vietnam Era. He retired in 2003 after 40 years with Sexton Dental Clinic.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by a sister, Virginia Spann.

Surviving are his loving wife of more than 31 years, Lois Grove Bellamy Hatchell of the home; children, Donna Moore of Lynchburg, VA, Amanda (Steve) Deaver of Florence and Cynthia (Steven) Kyle of Pooler, GA; brothers, Boyd Hatchell, Jr and Ronny Hatchell, both of Florence; sisters, June Anderson of Charleston, SC, Anne Edmonds of Florence and Lynda (Archie) Carter of Augusta, GA; grandchildren, Rev. Johnnie Moore, Jr. of Lynchburg, VA, Julie Moore of Lynchburg, VA, Chris Deaver, Seth Deaver and Sara Deaver, all of Florence, Delaney Kyle and Emma Kyle, both of Pooler, GA; great-grandchild, Morgan Deaver of Florence; aunt, Geraldine Bauer of Florence and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins. He dearly loved and was proud of his family.

Memorials may be made to the Frank Monroe Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 12809, Florence, SC 29504 or to a charity of one’s choice.

«Obituary posted: August 3, 2008»

Dr. Colby was a partner in the Upper Savannah Radiological Association, PA, and was a licensed private pilot and instructor.

Surviving are his wife, Maureen Hoare Colby of the home; his mother, Virginia Fisk Colby of Greenwood; daughters, Christina Elizabeth Colby and Sarah Whitney Colby, both of the home; brother, Anthony Colby of Piseco, NY and half-brother, Mason Colby of Cleveland, OH.

Memorial services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be immediately following the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX, 75231, or to the charity of one’s choice.

Surviving: are her daughters, Patricia Mazyck, Shenell Douglas, Inetha Washington; sons, Herbert L. Clark, Jr. and Willie James Clark, (18) grandchildren, (27) great-grandchildren and (11) great-great-grandchildren; other loving relatives and friends.

«Obituary posted: August 3, 2008»

Mr. Casella died Monday, July 28, 2008. Born in Hoboken N.J., he was a son of the late Michael and Victoria Casella. Mr. Casella was a veteran of WW II and the Korean Conflict, reaching the rank of Sergeant Major. He was a Master Paratrooper with the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles”. He received the National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, a good conduct medal and meritorious service medal. After retirement from the Army, he worked at the University of South Carolina in the Art Department for ten years.

Surviving are his wife, Christa of Columbia; son, Michael Casella of St. Petersburg, Fla.; daughter, Vicki Casella and her husband Tom of Bradenton, Fla.; grandson, Wil Cockfeld and his wife April of Bradenton, Fla.; sister, Dolly Decker; lifetime friends, the Vidrine family; and nieces and nephews.

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

«Obituary posted: August 3, 2008»

Kelby was born September 13, 1994, in Orangeburg, SC. He attended the Barnwell Public School Special Education Class. He was a loving son, brother, and grandson and will be missed by all of his family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, August 4, 2008, at Trinity Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held from 6-8 Sunday evening at Mole Funeral Home.

Survivors include his parents of Barnwell; a sister, Karissa Stone of Barnwell, SC; paternal grandparents, Nancy Holder, Billy and Barbara Stone of Sanford, NC; maternal grandparents, Marvin and Kay Stanley of Barnwell, SC. He was predeceased by His maternal grandmother, Marilyn Bowers.

«Obituary posted: August 3, 2008»

«Obituary posted: August 3, 2008»

She was born in Newberry, SC, and was a daughter of the late Mattie Pearl Bouknight Wheeler.

Mrs. Mills had retired from Clinton Mills, Lydia Plant.

She is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Arthur Alewine and Pamela Meeks Alewine of Clinton and Alvin Wayne Alewine and Brenda Wallenzine Johnson Alewine of Cayce; four grandchildren, Danny Bruce Alewine, Hope Alewine Knight, Lisa Johnson Davis and Ashley Victoria Alewine; and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, August 5, at 11:00 a.m. at the Gray Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the Pinelawn Memory Gardens.

She was born January 24, 1927, in Florence County, a daughter of the late John Tillman Floyd and the late Orie McKenzie Floyd. Mrs. Wall was a retired laboratory technician with the Medical Building in Georgetown. She was a member of Sandy Bay Pentecostal Holiness Church and a former member of Screven Baptist Church where she was a former adult Sunday School teacher and former member of the Deborah Sunday School Class. She enjoyed gardening as her hobby. Surviving are two sons, G. Allen Wall, Jr. and his wife Renee of Kingstree, Timothy Alex Wall and his wife Mary of Georgetown; one daughter Ann Lee and her husband Benjamin R. Lee of Lexington; one sister, Peggy F. Walker of Kingstree; six grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Graham Funeral Home in Georgetown. Memorials may be made to Screven Baptist Church, P.O. 2776, Georgetown, SC 29442 or Sandy Bay Pentecostal Holiness Church, Delos Road, Kingstree, SC 29556 or Tidelands Community Hospice, 2591 N. Fraser Street, Georgetown, SC 29440.

Sign a guest book and send private condolences to www.grahamfuneralhome.org.

«Obituary posted: August 3, 2008»

He was born in Yates Center, Kansas to the late Louis A Guenther and Edna Summers Guenther. He was a member of Highland Pentecostal Holiness Church. He was a member of Whitman D.A.V Chapter, V.F.W Post 6740 and Leesville-Batesburg American Legion. He retired from the Marine Corps after 27 years of service.

Surviving are his wife, Gladys Dickert Guenther of Batesburg; son, Charles L. Guenther of Lexington; daughters and sons-in-law, Faye and George Tubbs of Virigina, daughter, Charlene Price of Florida, stepdaughter, Vickie Lynn Woods of Lexington; 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Louise Brockett Guenther; sister, Shirley Smith; stepson, Larry Brickhouse.

Family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, August 3, at Milton Shealy Funeral Home, other times at his home, 228 Martha Street, Batesburg. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Highland Pentecostal Holiness Church, 309 Youman Street, Batesburg-Leesville. Milton Shealy Funeral Home is assisting family with arrangements.

«Obituary posted: August 3, 2008»

Mrs. Campbell, wife of Herbert Allison Campbell, died Friday, August 1, 2008. Born in Orange County, Florida, she was the daughter of Ruth Jennings Shumate and the late Thomas H. Shumate, Jr. She was a graduate of Camden High School and the Orangeburg Regional Hospital School of X-Ray Technology. She had retired from the Kershaw County Medical Center after 44 years of service, serving as the Director of Radiology.

Surviving in addition to her husband and her mother of Camden are two daughters, Kellie C. Bates (Tim) of Sammamish, WA, and Aimee C. Culler (David) of Mooresville, NC; six grandchildren, Haley, Kelsey and Campbell Bates and Coley, Walker and Stoney Culler; brother, Thomas H. Shumate, III of Camden; sisters, Nancy Willson of Dataw Island and Renee Colvin of Camden. She was predeceased by her beloved mother-in-law, Virginia Rhoad Campbell.

Please sign the on-line register book at www.kornegayfuneral.com

Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel, is in charge.

Mr. Ham passed away Saturday, August 2, 2008. Born in Lamar, SC, March 31, 1934, he was the son of the late Leon and Beulah Jordan Ham. A resident of the Columbia area since 1960, Mr. Ham operated his own trucking business for many years.

Mr. Ham is survived by his loving wife of fifty-five years, Emmie Amerson Ham; daughters, Bobbie Ham Storey and husband Rick of Blythewood, Sylvia Ham Osborne and husband Henry of Columbia, and Kathy Ham Killian and husband Keith of Blythewood; grandchildren, Hank Osborne, Jason Osborne, Kristi Newton, Katie Harwood and Lauren Killian; great-grandchildren, Jayna and Tynajah; and his sisters, Dorothy Veasey of Aiken and Mary Goodson of Atlanta. He was predeceased by his parents and his brothers, James L. Ham and Henry L. Ham.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Winyah Hospice for the care they provided to Mr. Ham. Memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at www.jdrf.org or (800) 533-2873.

Greenlawn Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Ham family with funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.mem.com.

«Obituary posted: August 3, 2008»

Surviving are his parents, Thomas and Julie Kowick and his sister, Maggie, as well as grandparents, James Wm. and Margery Romer and Stella J. Kowick. He was predeceased by his grandfather, Benedict L. Kowick.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the TAK Foundation, tkowick@aol.com, which will help pediatric oncology patients in their efforts to manage difficult family issues during treatment. Non-profit status is pending.

There will be a celebration of Alex’s life at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, Sunday, August 3, 2008 at 2:30 p.m., followed by services at 3:45 p.m.

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

Mrs. Atkinson died Thursday July 31, 2008. She was the wife of the late Fred Rowell Atkinson. Born in Comfort, Texas and raised in Iowa City, Iowa, she was the daughter of the late Florence Fieseler Scannell and Paul Andrew Scannell. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Iowa, where she received BA and MA degrees with honors in English and where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa honorary scholastic society and Pi Lambda Theta honorary education sorority. She taught high school English in Iowa and in Minnesota from 1937-1944. During World War II, she worked as a clerk typist for AAFTAC in Orlando, Florida. Later she worked for Webster Publishing Company in St. Louis, Missouri as Director of Information. She was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church since 1953, where she was a member of the United Methodist Women, the Joy Sunday School Class, and Junnie Murray and Lina Ott Circles. She was a graduate of Bible Study Fellowship. She was involved in volunteer work including: Each-One-Teach-One, Meals on Wheels, and reading for the blind. Mrs. Atkinson was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, and a faithful friend.

Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Paul F. and Millie Coleman Atkinson of Marietta, Ga., and Joel S. and Renee Collins Atkinson of Columbia; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa Beth Atkinson and David George Smith of Franklin, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Laura Atkinson of Nashville, Tenn., Elizabeth Atkinson, of Marietta, Ga., and Brian and Mark Atkinson, both of Columbia; a brother, Dr. Dale P. Scannell of Philadelphia, Pa.; and sisters-in-law, Annie Laurie Atkinson, Marilyn Scannell, Ann Huxol, and Jo Scannell. A brother, Dr. Donald F. Scannell, predeceased her.

The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community and Tri-County Hospice.

Memorials may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, 4600 Daniel Drive, Columbia, S.C. 29206 or to a charity of one’s choice.

Born in Niles, Mich., he was the son of the late Earl F. and Allene Dick Wright. He was a graduate of Akron University, the Medical College of South Carolina and trained in orthopedics at Stanford University.

He was commissioned in the Air Force in 1941 and had a long and illustrious career, retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1972. He was a Chief Flight Surgeon and helped develop the SR71 program. Among his awards were the Legion of Merit, with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal, with Oak Leaf Cluster.

He was a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, the Eastern Orthopedic Association, the Southern Orthopedic Association and the S.C. Orthopedic Association.

Dr. Wright was an active member of Bethel United Methodist Church, where he enjoyed singing in the choir.

Born in Sumter, she was a daughter of the late John Wesley Windham and the late Elizabeth Ridgell Windham. Mrs. Jackson was a member of Pinewood Baptist Church, where she was active as a Sunday School Teacher and WMU Worker. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star #188 of Sumter and had retired from Harvin Gin Co.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by four sisters, Eunice Davis, Judy Johnson, Alice Johnson and Mary V. Windham; three brothers, Henry Windham, John Windham and Malcolm Windham; and a foster son, William “Bill” Turner.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Sim Smith and the Rev. Bennie Barwick officiating. Burial will be in the Sumter Cemetery.

She was born July 29, 1919, in Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania, to Charles Lincoln and Frances Brosh Paul. Rhea attended Central Penn Business School in Harrisburg. She was a secretary at the Old State Highway Department. In 1940 Rhea married Robert Hyson Reese, eldest son of H.B. Reese, who became chairman of the board of the H.B. Reese Candy Company. Rhea was an avid gardener, cook, loved playing the piano and organ and was the ultimate hostess. Rhea spent most of her adult life volunteering and active in community organizations and projects including the Harrisburg Hospital Auxiliary, Harrisburg Civic Club, Lebanon Valley College Garden Club in Harrisburg, Hershey UCC Church of the Redeemer Church, Harrisburg YMCA, Roberta Disbrow Lloyd Sunshine Society, United Fund, Dauphin County Cancer Society, Girl Scouts, Harrisburg Art Association, Hershey Symphony, Salvation Army, Harrisburg Osteopathic Hospital, DAR, Central PA, MS Society and the Red Cross.

Survivors include her sister, Mildred Goyne Fillak of Hendersonville, North Carolina; 2 daughters, Nancy (Jim) Hart of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and Martha (Kelly) Bryan of Stone Mountain, Georgia; 5 grandchildren, Robert Reese Bryan, Elizabeth Marie Bryan, Claire Hyson Hart, Joseph Paul Bryan and Meredith Grace Hart; favorite nieces, Judy Oneacre of Henderonville, NC, and Carole Rhodes of Mechanicsburg, PA. She was predeceased by her husband of 39 years, Robert H. Reese, second husband, William Madden and sisters, Eleanor Paul Garman and Ruth Paul.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. The family asks in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to your local Salvation Army.

«Obituary posted: August 3, 2008»

Mrs. King went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, July 30, 2008. Born in Columbia she was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Arthur Mae Spann King. Sandra was employed with Anchor Continental.

She is lovingly survived by her loving children, Sherl Jones, Sutorey King and Kozie King; her beloved brother, Kenneth (Sandra) King; 6 loving grandchildren; and other loving relatives and friends.

«Obituary posted: August 3, 2008»

That idea was summed up perfectly in a delightful article in The Post and Courier: “Ease off those guys, legislatin’ is hard.” The article, recounting the ridiculous activities that consume our lawmakers’ thoughts and time, was inspired by last month’s meeting of the House education funding study committee, which, like practically every meeting there has ever been of a legislative panel looking into broad tax or spending reform, featured much speechifying and no hope of any sort of agreement on anything.

Yet despite the sarcastic intent of the article, despite the understandable frustration of voters, the fact is that legislatin’ is hard, particularly when it involves something as important and complicated as changing the maze of formulas that determine where the state’s $3.5 billion in public school funding goes.

The problem isn’t coming up with a plan. It’s coming up with a plan that can pass.

Give me all the relevant information, and I could come up with a better way to distribute school funds. I might find the decisions painful — you have to either raise taxes or make huge cuts in other parts of government or reduce the funding to better-off school districts, in order to get adequate funding to the poor districts full of hard-to-educate poor kids — but I could do it.

Barnwell County Councilman R. Keith Sloan’s July 28 column, “Barnwell takes risk, deserves reward for facility,” is misleading and fraught with inaccuracies.

I served on Gov. Jim Hodges’ Nuclear Waste Task Force, which was created by executive order in 1999. We agreed on — and the Barnwell community was well aware of — the decisions that led to the passage of the Atlantic Compact, which legally restricts usage of the nuclear waste facility to South Carolina, New Jersey and Connecticut. The effect such action would have on the local economy was taken into consideration; the Barnwell community received generous allocations over several years to enable it to prepare for the long-term stability of that area.

One has to wonder if the policy decisions that allowed South Carolina to be the pay toilet of the nation to begin with didn’t have more of a detrimental effect. How many businesses have found South Carolina unattractive because of the waste facility? How many tourists have vacationed elsewhere because of the Palmetto State’s notoriety as the nation’s waste dump? While there is no way to quantify these questions, I will do my best to ensure that this type of situation never occurs again in our state.

As for Ann Timberlake, I have yet to meet a more dedicated conservationist. South Carolinians are fortunate to have someone of her environmental integrity working for a cleaner place to live, work and rear our children. And to set the record straight, Ms. Timberlake does not live in Lexington County. She and her family are long-time Richland County residents.

1. BUNDLE UP

If you’re dealing with separate companies — and separate bills — for your cable TV, phone and Internet service, think about bundling up. Many companies, like SureWest and Comcast, offer reduced rates if you purchase all three services at one time.

There’s even a Web site, www.bundlemyservices.com, that offers tips and comparisons for more than 20 companies nationwide.

You can call your local phone or cable TV provider and ask about lowering your rates by combining services. Take advantage of special deals and limited-time deals.

There is one thing that it is not:

As easy as it looks.

A carpool isn’t just four co-workers in the same car. It’s individuals with entrenched morning and evening routines suddenly at the mercy of a group. Idiosyncratic personalities crammed into a confined space for long stretches. Forced interaction during times when people are often at their least sociable (first thing in the morning) and most stressed (immediately after work).

Skyrocketing gas prices have pushed the potential benefits ahead of the drawbacks for many drivers. But communal commuting requires attention to detail and respect for carpool etiquette:

Don’t turn on the A/C.

If you can get away with not using the A/C this summer, you will keep your electricity costs way down. There are other good alternatives: Close the shades or use an awning to keep the direct sun out.

If you must use an air conditioner, choose one room for it.

Make sure to size the air conditioner properly by knowing your room dimensions. Rather than cooling your entire house, it will cool the room you spend the most time in or the one that gets the hottest.

The product, launched in January, is sold for up to $25 a 750-milliliter bottle at high-end hotels, including the Tides Hotel and Turberry Isles in Miami and Bal Harbour Towers in Bal Harbour, Fla.

Spokeswoman Kelley Blevins said the New York-based company is benefiting from an upward trend in the upscale market.

“We are finding that not only are luxury consumers demanding exquisite packaging and superior quality of the product itself, they also are increasingly intent on acquiring the most helpful ingredients possible for achieving good health,” Blevins said.

Even as most American consumers tell pollsters that they are cutting their spending because of high gasoline prices, the London-based Datamonitor research firm estimates that the global luxury market will jump 71 percent to hit $450 billion by 2012.

Automotive Lease Guide Inc., which provides residual value forecasts, attributed the reversal to soaring gas prices and a weak economy that have steered consumers away from gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks and toward more fuel efficient cars.

“If you look at it from a dollar-and-cents perspective, it’s just going to be really expensive to drive a car that’s not fuel efficient and that is going to affect the values of those cars,” said John Blair, ALG’s chief executive.

Residual value forecasts for compact cars with high fuel efficiency, including hybrids, rose an average of 5 percentage points, while the outlook for full-size pickups and full-size and midsize SUVs fell an average of 8 points, ALG said.

The company expects the Fit to retain an average of 56 percent of its manufacturer’s suggested retail price after three years, up 10 percentage points from 2007. The Aveo’s expected value jumped 9.3 percentage points to 42.8 percent.

It isn’t hard to see why. The 401(k) debit card lets you borrow from retirement savings and pay yourself back with interest over time, much as you would with a typical 401(k) loan. Only the card makes it much easier to crack your retirement nest egg; all you do is shop, swipe and sign.

To the advisers, brokers and financial institutions pushing workers to save more for their futures and consider the 401(k) sacred, this debit card isn’t just objectionable, it is blasphemous.

Even official watchdogs are on alert. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority issued a stern warning about 401(k) debit cards, calling them “a tempting convenience that can have significant repercussions” on your retirement security.

The rub is that employees evidently like the ability to borrow; studies show it actually makes them more likely to contribute to a retirement plan. Most 401(k) participants have access to loans and about 20 percent have gone through hoops and hassles to get one.

The first option is to continue your previous employer’s insurance through COBRA. While this maintains your coverage, it’s expensive, as you now must pay the full premium and employers usually tack on an extra 2 percent to cover administrative fees.

Instead of this option, explore an individual policy with the same insurer or another provider that includes your doctors in its network. If you are healthy, you also could lower the benefits provided to get a lower rate. For example, if you’ve only been going to the doctor for routine visits or emergencies, you might opt for a higher deductible.

Just don’t wait too long to get new insurance, as pre-existing medical conditions may not be covered if you have been without insurance for more than two months.

Another option is to use a Health Savings Account. These let you make tax-deductible contributions to a savings account in which withdrawals are tax-free if used to pay medical costs. Any other withdrawal purpose is subject to a 10 percent penalty. The balance when you turn 65 can be withdrawn for any reason without tax penalties. You must pair the HSA with a high-deductible medical policy and not be eligible for coverage from your or your spouse’s employer.

Be smart about buying food: According to the Department of Agriculture, the average family of four can cut down its grocery bill by $190 a month by shifting to a lower-cost mix of foods. That’s a lot of money to save just by changing food-buying habits. You can adjust your habits by planning menus around sales on fresh poultry, fish, meat, dairy, and produce, and by making use of leftovers. Avoid costly prepared foods. And start shopping in lower-cost stores.

— Consumer Reports via MarketWatch

1. Don’t apply for a new credit during the process or make any big purchases.

2. Do stay current on existing accounts.

3. Don’t pay off collections during the process. ‘The immediate effect will be to lower your credit scores,” Law says. “If you have items that you want to pay, pay them at closing.”

4. Don’t close credit cards or max out existing ones. Don’t consolidate debt. “Don’t raise red flags with the underwriter. No changing names or addresses. These things can all wait until after the loan has closed.”

Check online first

You can compare prices to make sure you’re getting a good deal before you buy. There are numerous online shopping “bot” sites that gather information from a variety of retailers. Popular “bot” sites to check include MySimon.com, NextTag.com, and BizRate.com. You can also search the Web for coupons and coupon codes.

Seek frequent-shopper discounts

If you shop regularly at a store, find out whether they offer discounts or some perks to customers who use the store’s credit card. If so, it could be worth your while to use their card. Some retailers let their customers sign up to receive special offers by e-mail. Look into this option, as well.

But there, in the final paragraph of an online story about the call girl involved in the Eliot Spitzer scandal, Yahoo's automated system was inviting readers to browse through photos of underage girls.

Yahoo Shortcuts, which more frequently offers to help readers search for news and Web sites on topics like "California" or "President Bush," had in this case highlighted the words "underage girls." Readers who passed their mouse over the phrase in The Associated Press story were shown a pop-up window filled with images from Flickr, Yahoo's photo-sharing Web site.

Some of the pictures showed nothing untoward, while several captions claimed that attached photos showed underage drinking. Clicking on the pop-up window yielded more-disturbing results: hundreds of images, including some of a girl or woman in pigtails, knee socks and lingerie. One photo showed a faceless female body, naked.

The misstep, which happened in early July, was noted on a technology blog. Editors at the AP contacted Yahoo Inc., where a spokeswoman said the company quickly removed the link. Several of the more provocative photos were apparently taken off of Flickr.

Hynix lost 707.81 billion won ($697.11 million) in the three months ending June 30, the company said in a regulatory filing. Hynix posted net profit of 213.5 billion won a year earlier.

It was the third straight loss for the Icheon, South Korea-based company. Sales during the second quarter declined 5 percent to 1.85 trillion won ($1.82 billion) from the year before.

O.C. Kwon, a Hynix senior vice president, told analysts on a conference call the company had a non-operating expense of about 360 billion won ($356 million) during the quarter related to the closure of its U.S. chip plant.

Hynix announced last week that it would shutter its facility in Eugene, Ore., amid migration to more advanced technology and industry price declines. It is considering selling the facility's equipment, building and land.

The unexpected profit was the result of a sales increase across all units from the first quarter, helped by cost cuts. The company has laid off more than 10,000 workers since last year.

The Schaumburg, Ill.-based company earned $4 million, less than 1 cent per share, in the three months ended June 30. That includes accounting charges of 2 cents per share.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had been expecting a loss of 3 cents per share.

In the same quarter a year ago, Motorola lost $28 million, or 2 cents per share.