Today's News

Chris Sardelli, our newest reporter, said he was surprised at how quickly the donations poured into the revived Christmas Basket Fund.

We weren’t. We told him that Lancaster folks have a way of rallying to help others. The Christmas Basket Fund is just one example. Actually, there wasn’t going to be a fund this year.

The fund, which started 49 years ago, collects money and provides food vouchers or gift cards for families in need.

Any enduring and distinguished record of patient success stories does not just happen. Strong leadership and a professional staff who are properly organized, trained and equipped to execute their assigned responsibilities forge it.

Effective Dec. 15, every EMT, intermediate EMT and paramedic certifying or recertifying in South Carolina will have a national background check performed prior to receiving their certification.

The public puts great trust in EMS personnel and we see them at a vulnerable time. We do our best to make sure that we have personnel with good character responding to calls. This should go a long way toward reassuring the public that all EMS personnel in the state have a clean record.

It is understandable that there is much skepticism concerning President-elect Barack Obama from the 48 percent of the electorate that did not vote for him. As a conservative, I think many of his campaign positions on social and economic issues to be nothing more than repackaged socialism.

For decades the advocation of these same positions by less-skilled politicians has failed to gain traction. President-elect Obama, however, is a superbly skilled politician operating in uncertain times.