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McBride, who has been elected the county’s clerk of court, notified election officials this week that she wants to avoid a special election to fill her school board seat.

So her “irrevocable letter of resignation,” effective Nov. 4, allows her successor to be chosen during the general election, election director Mike Cinnamon said.

McBride’s successor will serve the remainder of her two-year term.

“This action will prevent Richland County from the $100,000 expense of a special election to fill my seat on the board,” reads McBride’s letter, addressed to board chairwoman Wendy Brawley.

Kendra Patricia Samuel, 21, is in custody at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

Samuel is a roommate of the infant’s mother and was watching the child while his mother stepped out of the home, said Brick Lewis, Columbia Police spokesman.

The baby’s mother called 911 on July 31, after returning home and finding the child unresponsive and not breathing, Lewis.

He was taken by ambulance to Palmetto Health Richland, where he was pronounced dead, Lewis said.

Mark Randolph Browning, 38, was sentenced to 30 years on two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Patricia Jo Schober 45, was sentenced to 15 years for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and for aiding and abetting in the use of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking, said U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins.

On Nov. 19, 2006, Richland County Cpl. Larry Payne and State Constable Mark Gill were riding four-wheelers near Blythewood, when they came upon Browning and Schober’s outdoor meth lab, Wilkins said.

The officers identified themselves as law enforcement and arrested them. Gill left Payne with Browning and Schober to get better reception on his cell phone to call for backup.

After Gill left, Browning attempted to ignite the lab.

Some in the Midlands will be curious about more than the shiny new venues or the story lines. They see the Games as a chance to improve understanding of China, and, perhaps, warm relations that are often chilled by cultural and political differences.

“This is a very meaningful, historic event,” said Lea Walker, a China native who runs the U.S. Chinese Culture Center in Columbia, which sends Americans to China to teach English. “China has thrown the door wide open and is trying to catch up with the rest of the world. This event is a window.”

Rich Harrill, director of USC’s International Tourism Research Institute, is convinced Americans will like what they see through that window.

USC has a burgeoning relationship with China highlighted by student exchanges and research ties.

If the Hip-hop&B singers had taken off their sunglasses, they would have seen that ladies made up most of the crowd of a few hundred. And if they had stepped to the front of the stage, like Young Steff and Ray Lavender, they would have felt the hands clutching their white T-shirts.

The performers were at the State Museum on Thursday morning as part of “The Russ Parr Morning Show.” Parr’s nationally syndicated program is broadcast 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays on The Beat 100.1.

This is how summertime block parties should be done: in the morning.

Thrifty sets were performed by sweet-talking singers including Slim from 112 and Sean Garrett. Maino, a Brooklyn rapper with a song people like to sing — “Hi Hater” — was the only MC on the bill.

“There’s a will, but no way,” Councilman Mike Montgomery said after plans to schedule a Thursday-night meeting fell apart.

Montgomery and Councilwoman Kit Smith were among a six-member majority trying to reverse the council’s “no” vote on a Nov. 4 referendum.

Some of their colleagues were furious after receiving an e-mail Thursday morning revealing a quiet effort to call the council together while members are on their traditional August break.

Chairman Joe McEachern characterized it as “slimy.”

Local officials agree the spill is a setback for making the river a centerpiece of efforts to attract recreation and redevelop along its banks.

“Perception is going to be worse than reality,” said Scott Powers, executive director of the Columbia Regional Sports Council. “I don’t think it’s a black eye, but it may be something I’m going to have to deal with.”

His agency seeks to attract athletic events that bring tourists to the Midlands, such as the Junior Wildwater World Championships that attracted Olympics caliber canoe and kayak racers last year.

Other local officials are concerned the spill smudged the allure of the river and riverfront parks and say further steps are necessary to protect the river’s quality.

And as a partnership of area service agencies looks to address those needs, they’re looking to the community to help them set priorities.

Residents of Richland and Lexington counties are being invited to take part in the survey, “Facing Facts,” in the next few weeks. The responses will help target funding for United Way assisted programs in coming years.

“Any community looking to promote positive change must first acknowledge the issues it faces,” said Mac Bennett, president and CEO of United Way of the Midlands, one of the five partner agencies involved in the effort.

The survey aims to gauge, among other things, the difficulty or ease area residents experience in meeting their financial responsibilities related to housing, food, utility, transportation and other basic needs.

Kendra P. Samuel, 21, was charged Wednesday with homicide by child abuse, accused of shaking a 2½-month-old boy, Columbia police Capt. Thomas Dodson said.

Samuel is at Richland County jail and is cooperating with investigators, Dodson said. She faces at least 20 years in prison if convicted.

The boy, Aidan R. Harling, died of shaken baby syndrome, the first such case the Richland County coroner’s office has dealt with this year, Coroner Gary Watts said.

Aidan was pronounced dead at 11:38 p.m. July 31 at Palmetto Health Richland, where he had been taken by ambulance from an apartment building on Slighs Avenue.

The Hyatt Park/Keenan Terrace and College Place Community areas will benefit from phase one this weekend. A second phase will include the Bellmont area, though that date has not been determined.

“North Columbia is a huge area. In order to do a thorough job, we’ll do it in phases,” said Leshia Utsey, spokeswoman for the city.

Officials expect at least 125 volunteers to participate. The Columbia Fire Department will provide lunch at 1 p.m. for the volunteers at Hyatt Park on Jackson Avenue.

“It’s time for our communities to take a stand on the unnecessary waste that is cluttering our neighborhoods,” Mayor Bob Coble said.

The report released Wednesday calls for the state to produce more energy with nuclear and alternative sources and find ways to save energy through conservation.

But state Rep. Ben Hagood of Mount Pleasant said Thursday that Gov. Mark Sanford’s Climate, Energy and Commerce Advisory Committee never seriously considered mandates on industry or consumers to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Voluntary reductions driven by the marketplace and existing regulations have “much more practical results than ... pulling a number out and saying ‘thou shalt,’” said Hagood, the committee’s chairman.

The committee included lawmakers and representatives from businesses, utilities and environmental groups.

Police warned jumpy residents in this city of 8,300 people to be on the lookout for a dangerous suspect who might be someone they know.

Nobody was injured in either fire, the latest of which started shortly after 4 a.m. in the prosecutor’s office in a one-story brick building that houses several other law offices in Lancaster’s small downtown, authorities said.

Police Capt. Harlean Howard said witnesses to the fires have been interviewed, but she urged more to come forward. She also said experience shows the suspect will likely follow the investigation closely in media reports and in conversations.

“Until he is apprehended, he continues to pose a threat, not only to other potential buildings and property, but also to the property and safety of friends and family members, as well,” Howards said. “The reason for this is that under the right set of circumstances, it is possible he could strike out, unpredictably, against someone he knows.”

Wildeman was the first person to spot two bottle-nosed dolphins stranded in a Harbor Island inlet Wednesday morning.

The dolphins — a full-grown female and her yearling — had entered the inlet at high tide and became trapped when the tide went back out. Wednesday’s low tide was at about 7:15 a.m.

“At first, I just saw the big one, because the baby was hidden behind the mommy,” said Wildeman, who lives in Spartanburg and was visiting a friend on Harbor Island.

Wildeman found the dolphins at about 8 a.m. while she was walking on the beach. Within minutes a group of more than a dozen Harbor Island residents and visitors walked out into the pluff mud and started covering the dolphins with damp blankets and pouring water on them. They also dug a trench around the dolphins to collect pooling water.

From new schools with special design features to old schools with upgrades, school construction continues, even in a tough economic time.

And, in three districts — Lexington 1, Richland 2 and Lexington-Richland 5 — voters will be asked to approve bond proposals on the November ballot to fund future construction.

Here is a look at what’s been going on in local districts:

Kershaw County: The district is working on the first phase of a facilities upgrade. Work on several of those projects is expected to be completed this year, including Lugoff-Elgin and Camden highs, Lugoff-Elgin Middle and Blaney Elementary.

Romell and Methodist Park roads: A man called police at 5 a.m. Wednesday and said he had been carjacked, kidnapped, beaten and robbed. The 26-year-old man told deputies three men approached him while he was in a car on Duke Street. One pulled a gun and forced him into the back seat, he said. They drove him to a residence, where he said all three men began to slap, punch and hit him. The men got his wallet and took $500 out of it, he said. While they weren’t watching, the man said, he was able to escape and go to a friend’s house to call police. He took the officers back to the place he said he had been held. His car was still in the front yard, but the men were gone.

RICHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF

Brentwood Drive, 1000 block: Police were called to a neighborhood at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday after residents discovered a sign using racial slurs had been painted on a drainage pipe. The sign used a slur and had a circle painted over the word with a line through it. Authorities said removing the sign would be difficult because of its location.

Windsor Shores Drive, 1000 block: A woman was arrested at 9 a.m. Wednesday after her landlord called police about bogus rent payments. The landlord told deputies the 37-year-old woman had used one fraudulent check and two credit card payments that didn’t go through to pay her rent. The landlord said he thought the woman used stolen credit cards and checks, as they were all in different names.

• Eleven Chinese companies have invested $280 million in South Carolina. They employ 1,429 people. The largest employer — Techtronic Industries North America — has 690 workers at facilities in Anderson, Liberty and Pickens.

• Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi traveled to South Carolina in 2006 to visit Haier, a refrigerator manufacturer in Camden. Her visit coincided with an announcement of the first phase of a $100 million, 1,000-job expansion. Today, the company employs 225. Haier Group, a Beijing 2008 sponsor, was the first Chinese company to establish a manufacturing plant in the United States.

• South Carolina’s exports to China topped $623 million in 2007, making it the state’s fifth largest export market.

• The S.C. Department of Commerce opened an office in Shanghai in 2005. And Commerce organizes trade missions to China, with the next group heading over Sept. 4-13. Representatives from five companies will have appointments in Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Others on the trip will be county economic development directors, board members from the State Ports Authority and two college professors.

No one has been charged in the death of Dennis Compton, who was killed early Wednesday as he responded to a burglar alarm at an empty house.

A man considered a person of interest in the shooting was taken into custody in neighboring Dorchester County, Sheriff Ray Nash told news outlets. But Nash did not identify the man or say whether he faces charges.

Two other people have been brought in for questioning, Colleton County Sheriff George Malone told The (Charleston) Post and Courier.

Eckstrom says data he reviewed Thursday shows state income tax refunds in July increasing by about $27 million from year-ago levels.

Eckstrom expects the state's financial leaders next Tuesday will set aside a state reserve account to head off future shortfalls.

McBride, who has been elected the county’s clerk of court, notified election officials this week that she wants to avoid a special election to fill her school board seat.

Her letter of resignation, effective Nov. 4, allows her successor to be chosen during the general election, election director Mike Cinnamon said.

McBride’s successor will serve the remainder of her two-year term. The filing period will last until noon Sept. 2 at the Richland County Elections Office, 2020 Hampton St.

Town Councilman Todd Shevchik dropped out of the nonpartisan race Thursday. “I can accomplish more as a sitting councilman than a weak mayor,” he said.

Voters in the town of 16,000 will choose Nov. 4 between incumbent Randy Halfacre and former Councilwoman Constance Flemming.

After hearing about the ruling Thursday, Willis told the (Florence) Morning News, “It’s over.”

Willis lost by one vote in the June 10 primary to attorney Stephen Wukela. A recount found the same total, and the Democratic Party denied Willis’ appeal.

Willis argued several people who lived in the city weren’t allowed to vote, while some voters outside city limits did get to cast ballots.

Contributing: Staff writers Tim Flach, John O’Connor and Dawn Hinshaw; The Associated Press

During the most recent session, the House held a recorded vote on 8 percent of bills that passed the body, while the Senate held recorded votes on just 1 percent of approved bills.

Recorded votes, the report said, are crucial to holding public officials accountable.

The report did not analyze the number of roll-call votes during amendments to bills. In many cases, a debate over an amendment can take hours, and approving or rejecting an amendment is the equivalent of a yes or no vote on the bill.

Mark Browning, 38, was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday, while Patricia Schober, 45, was ordered to spend 15 years behind bars, federal prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say Browning shot sheriff’s Cpl. Larry Payne in the chest when Payne discovered the lab. The officer survived.

Other details on the Web at www.lex2.k12.sc.us

Building Up

Brookland-Cayce High: Renovations and additions include a new media center, new cafeteria, new fine arts wings and classroom renovations. Construction is on-going through the 2008-09 school year.

Airport High: Projects completed for the 2008-09 school year include a new cafeteria, new media center and classroom renovations.

Mrs. Hair died Thursday, August 7, 2008. Born in Aiken County, she was a daughter of the late Ernest and Mae Spradley Hallman. She was a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, WELCA, and was a member of the VIP of the church, and retired from Aiken County Schools.

Surviving are her husband, H. Rene Hair; daughters, Susan (Bill) Watkins of Batesburg and Lynn (Chuck) Gunter of Leesville, 5 grandchildren.

Online register at Barr-Price.com

(803)532-4411

Born in Orangeburg County, he was a son of the late Edward T. Morgan Sr. and Elsie Maroney Morgan. He attended Clemson University, and retired in 1996 as an electrical designer for Westvaco and was a member of Springfield First Baptist Church.

Survivors include a sister, Jane Rowell of Denmark; a brother and sister-in-law, Edward T. (Hazel) Morgan Jr. of Hanahan; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Visit our on-line registry at www.folkfuneralhome.com.

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

Mrs. Cleveland died Wednesday, August 6, 2008. Born in Roanoke, Va., she was the daughter of the late Charles Emmett Williams and Katie Florence Downey Williams. She was employed with Girl Scouts of South Carolina, Mountains to Midlands.

Mrs. Cleveland loved her family, especially her grandsons, Parker and Peyton Dean and was awaiting the arrival of a granddaughter. Also surviving are her husband, Mike Cleveland; daughters and sons-in-law, Christy and Wes Dean of Greenville and Kelly and Clark Rogers of Chapin; brothers and sister-in-law, Richard and Brenda Williams of Rocky Mount, Va., and Robert Paxton of Roanoke, Va.; and brother-in-law, Randy Cleveland and his wife, Dianna, of Roanoke.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210.

The family extends appreciation to the ICU staff and doctors at Lexington Medical Center for the special care provided to Elizabeth.

Mr. Baker, husband of Sarah Elizabeth Warren Baker, died Wednesday, August 6, 2008. Born in Duck River, Hickman County, Tenn., near the Old Natchez Trace, he was a son of the late Thomas James Baker, Jr. and Amelia Anderson Baker. He received a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Indiana Institute of Technology. Athletic accomplishments included the college basketball team. As a veteran of WW II, he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve on the first USS Ranger Aircraft Carrier. Mr. Baker retired, after 42 years of service, as Engineer/Design Supervisor, at E.I. DuPont DeNemours, Inc. He was a member of South Carolina Society of Engineers and South Carolina Professional Engineers. As an avid golfer, he was also a long-time member of the Camden Country Club. He was active in the American Legion Post 17 and a life member of Kershaw County Lodge #29AFM. He was a member of Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church, where he was a former member of the Board of Stewards and a former Sunday School Teacher. Mr. Baker served two terms on the building committee at Lyttleton UMC and was a District Boy Scout Leader.

Surviving are his wife; daughter, Cassandra Elizabeth Baker McLeod of Dewees Island, S.C.; stepgranddaughters; stepgrandsons; and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son-in-law, John Guyton McLeod, Jr.

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

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

Mr. Tisdale was born November 6, 1940, in Williamsburg County, a son of the late Hugh Dave and Vernell Morris Tisdale. Mr. Tisdale was a graduate of Greeleyville High School and was a former Department of Natural Resources Officer and a retired automobile mechanic. He was a member of Greeleyville Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his sister, Lois T. McCutchen.

Surviving are his wife, Manda Alsbrooks Tisdale of Greeleyville; sons, Mackey H. Tisdale, James D. Tisdale and Patrick C. Tisdale, all of Greeleyville; a stepson, Herman J. Price of Mitchell, South Dakota; a sister, Juanita Stoll of Newberry and 6 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 4 p.m. Sunday in the Williamsburg Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Kingstree Memorial Gardens. The family will greet friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Southern Care Hospice, 217 Dozier Blvd., Florence, SC 29501.

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

Ray was born July 5, 1972, in Columbia, SC, the son of the late Raymond S. Ham and Joyce Johnson Ham. He attended Myrtle Beach High School and was a graduate of North American Institute of Aviation. He had been employed as a commercial pilot for many years before his recent illness. Ray enjoyed many outdoor sports.

Surviving in addition to his mother are his wife, Dianne Larouch Ham, a daughter, Natalie Grace Ham, a sister, Tracy Ham Wright and her husband Junius P. Wright, III, maternal grandmother, Jewel B. Johnson, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by an older sister, Celeste Ham Faircloth.

Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Downtown Chapel.

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

Survivors include her son: Michael A. Causey, and wife, Stella of Columbia, SC; her brother: Jack Gilmore of Loris, SC; her three sisters: Bonnie Cartrette of Loris, SC, Kaye Nealey of Loris, SC, and Reba McCants of Georgetown, SC; her grandchild: Curtis Wayne Stokes and his wife, Candice, and one great-grandchild: Damien Lee Stokes. Mrs. Causey was predeceased by her parents, her husband, John Perry Causey, her daughter, Sherry Lynn Causey Stokes, and her sister, Myrtle Sessions.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 9, 2008, at Lawndale Baptist Church with burial following in Holly Hill Cemetery. Reverend Chris Hardee will officiate services. Visitation will be held Friday, August 8, 2008, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Hardwick Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Lawndale Baptist Church, 4717 Hwy. 66, Loris, SC 29569. Please sign Betty’s online guest book at hardwickfh.com or contact Hardwick Funeral Home for further information: 843-756-7001.

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

Mr. Small died Monday, August 4, 2008. Born in New Bern, NC, he was the son of the late Chester and Sara Ann Jones Small. He was a member of Greater St. Luke Baptist Church and was a retired bus driver from SCE&G.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Johnson Small; a daughter, Sylvia Solomon; stepchildren, Wandean Jacobs, Sharron Walters, Sidney, Mary, Latisha and Lyndsey Johnson and Patricia Zimmerman; grandchildren; great-grands; and stepgrandchildren.

www.palmermemorialchapel.com

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

A graveside service will be conducted Friday, August 8, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. in the Thompson Cemetery near Reevesville with the Rev. W. Holland and nephew, James Dukes, officiating.

Survived by one daughter, Patricia T. Hughes of Reevesville, one sister, Ennis Matthews of Bowman, three granddaughters, Paula Walters, Patra Breland and Bobbie Lou Dukes, all of Reevesville, five great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to The Thompson Cemetery Fund, c/o Gayle Gaskins, 4483 Cattle Creek Road, Branchville, SC 29432. Online condolences may be sent to www.ottfh.com.

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

Mrs. Durden was a native of Oriental, NC, and the daughter of the late Samuel and Hattie Dowty Silverthorn. She was a former clerk at the Savannah River Site and a member of Mt. Arnon Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 10, 2008, at Mt. Arnon Baptist Church with the Reverend Mike Catoe officiating. Interment will follow in Swallow Savannah Cemetery.

Survivors include one daughter, Linda D. Dykes of Allendale; two grandchildren, Kathy W. Lane and her husband William of North Augusta and Wayne Woods and his wife Bridget of Allendale; four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Swallow Savannah Cemetery, P.O. Box 306, Allendale, SC 29810.

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

Dorothy grew up in Cooleemee, NC, and attended Davie County Schools. She later traveled and lived around the world with her husband Billy during his career in the U.S. Navy. After retiring and living a number of years in Columbia, SC, she moved to Newport News. She was a dedicated employee at Kmart in Columbia, SC, for many years. When she retired and moved to Newport News she was employed at Food Lion, Inc.

Survivors include her mother, Dora “Dolly” Alexander; two sisters, Betty Ewart and Jean Cumbie, all of Newport News; three children, Rebecca Dale Gullett (W.O. Clarke, Jr.) of Waverly, Kenny Reavis and Dawn Reavis of Pelion, SC; eight grandchildren, Dorian Lockner (Paul), Gayle Eaker (Justin Mason), Alexander Gullett, Gordon Gullett (Michelle), Rachel Reavis (Pat Gardner), Justin Reavis, Haleigh Reavis and Tim Wrenn; six great-grandchildren, Nicole Baker, Ryan Lockner, Trevor Duffy, Alyssa and Olivia Gullett and Jackson Gardner; two nieces, Lisa Cumbie and Barbara Cumbie (daughter, Katie) of Newport News. Left behind are many other family and friends whom she held close to her heart and loved.

A funeral service will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, August 8, 2008, at W.J. Smith and Son Funeral Home with Rev. Frank Earwood of Faith Baptist Church and Rev. Rusty Beck of Parkview Baptist Church officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.

The family would like to thank everyone that helped manage her care, who kept her and the family in prayer during her illness, the doctors and nurses who had unfailing hope and for the loving support of Heartland Hospice.

Services will be held Saturday, August 9, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Matthews Baptist #2 Church with burial in the church cemetery.

Mr. Morgan was born in Fairfield Cty. to the late John D. and Florence Trapp Morgan. He was married to Carrie Stone Morgan.

Survivors are his spouse; sons, Wendell, John M. Morgan and Reginald M. Nicols; daughters, Florine Smith and Lorine Watkins; brothers, Robert Lee, Otis and Larry Morgan; sisters, Virginia Marion and Elizabeth Willingham.

Visitation will be Friday, August 8, 2008, from 12-8 p.m. at Russell-McCutchen Funeral Home, Winnsboro.

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

Born in Fairfield County, Mr. Lawrence “Pete” Jackson died August 5, 2008. Surviving: wife, Vernice D. Jackson; daughter, Gail Edrington; sons, Lawrence and Charlie Jackson; brothers, Frank and Joseph Jackson; other relatives and friends.

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

Born in Newfane, NY, he was the son of the late Brayton and Grace Dutcher Capen. Mr. Capen served his country in the Unites States Army Air Corps., 13th Paratrooper Division, during World War II. Whitey then went to work for the U.S. Postal Service, starting on the mail train and then becoming a rural route carrier for the old route 5 in Darlington. He was a past member of the Golden Kiwanis and the American Legion, he also attended Darlington Presbyterian Church.

Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth “Lib” Sansbury Capen, a daughter, Margaret Capen of Greenville, NC, and a son, Michael “Mike” Capen of Las Vegas, NV.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 Friday night at Belk Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Darlington Presbyterian Church, 311 Pearl St., Darlington, SC 29532, or The Lord Cares, The Lord Cares Ministry, Post Office Box 1457, Darlington, SC 29540, or the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 4108, Florence, SC 29502-4108.

Mr. Robinson passed away Tuesday. He was born November 29, 1919, in Soddy-Daisy, TN, to Mary Judith and Umlin Robinson. Mr. Robinson retired from Dodge Truck in Warren, MI, in 1973.

Surviving are his loving wife, Lorine; one daughter, Gloria (James) Beaty; one sister-in-law, Edna Robinson; and a host of nieces, nephews, spiritual brothers and sisters. Mr. Robinson was predeceased by his parents, 10 siblings and a daughter, Sharon Robinson.

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

«Obituary posted: August 8, 2008»

The Community Foundation has for years made significant contributions to improving homelessness in the Midlands. We partnered with many organizations in creating the Blueprint on Homelessness, and in the last two years alone, our foundation awarded nearly $300,000 to organizations such as the Cooperative Ministry, Hannah House, The Salvation Army, St. Lawrence Place, Trinity Housing Corporation and the Women’s Shelter. Our board of trustees understands that until our community properly addresses the homeless issue, the Midlands cannot move forward and prosper.

The Community Foundation believes the transition center offers the best approach to breaking the cycle of homelessness. This new comprehensive plan of action has all the right components: broad community support, communication among providers and a cohesive plan that encompasses all facets of need for the homeless.

The center will help reduce the consumption — and, therefore, the cost to taxpayers — of acute care services by people who are homeless, including jails, inpatient hospital visits and emergency room care. This reduction will allow law enforcement, emergency rooms and mental health facilities to focus on more critical needs.

Jump-started by a $5 million challenge grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Midlands Housing Alliance must raise an additional $5 million by Nov. 15. That means time is of the essence. The Community Foundation has challenged our foundation donors to match our $500,000 pledge.

I just heard that the more churches in a city, the more crime there is. Then I thought, let’s get rid of the churches, and what a great town we will have.

The churches/crime statement illustrates the fact that statistics can be presented in such a way so as to prove or disprove just about any point. In this example, one very important factor was left out: population. The cities with the most churches have the most population and therefore have the most crime.

How about this one: I own an ice cream store and run a special promotion in August, and for the next six months my sales decrease. Can I assume my promotion was ineffective? Or, just maybe, people buy less ice cream in the fall and winter than the summer.

This is the way the “Putting All Students First” group presents school enrollment figures. Does anybody really think that the Irmo/Chapin area population is decreasing?

Be afraid, be very afraid.

No disrespect to Ford, or to its very hip-looking new Fiesta, but American car manufacturers have never accomplished small things in a big way.

From the exploding Pinto to the unsafe-at-any-speed Corvair, domestic compacts and subcompacts have a spotty track record.

For a sampling of opinion, one could go to the Edmonds.com automotive research Web site, which called the Ford Pinto and the Chevrolet Vega “among the worst heaps of quick-rusting, self-immolating parts ever sold as ‘cars’ in the United States.”

As the president of S.C. operations, Richard Sturm will be in charge of opening a statewide headquarters in Columbia, said Ameris Banking Group President John Hipp. A USC graduate, Sturm has worked at Ameris Bank since 2006 and he previously was the regional executive for the bank’s offices west of I-95.

“Richard is a rising star in the South Carolina banking circles, and he has distinguished himself as one of the best business development officers that I have seen in my career,” Hipp said.

Ameris Bank is based in Moultrie, Ga., and has operations in Georgia, Alabama, northern Florida and South Carolina. The bank moved into the S.C. market in 2006 with plans to build a billion-dollar bank by 2011.

Hipp also announced two other promotions in South Carolina:

Columbia’s slowdown in growth was greater than the national average for all metro areas.

Columbia’s total personal income — which includes salaries, interest, dividends and proceeds from rent — rose 5.9 percent in 2007 versus 7.1 percent in 2006.

Meanwhile, personal income growth in the Upstate — Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson — and Charleston accelerated in 2007 versus the year before.

The Midlands’ slip could hurt the region in small ways, said Britt Beemer, chairman of America’s Research Group, a Charleston-based marketing firm. He said most retail stores considering locating in the area would look at other factors first, such as population base and how many similar stores are already here.

The attention to natural gas cars is partly, but not exclusively, because of the efforts of T. Boone Pickens, the billionaire Texas oilman and onetime corporate raider. “You have only one fuel that will reduce the oil imports, and you have it in abundance,” Pickens said in a recent interview aboard his Gulfstream jet.

At 80, Pickens is committing $58 million to a marketing campaign that he hopes will force the presidential candidates into a discussion of his ideas.

Fearing that reliance on foreign oil poses national security and economic risks, Pickens argues that natural gas produced in North America is a “patriotic” fuel that should be used for trucks and automobiles.

Perhaps not coincidentally, Pickens’ plan aligns with his own business interests. He is the founder and chairman of an energy-focused investment fund, BP Capital, as well as the majority shareholder in Clean Energy Fuels, a company that supplies fuel for natural gas vehicles.