.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Columns

  • Column: The qualities we need most in next school superintendent

    The Lancaster County school board recently announced its three finalists for the position of superintendent.
    In the 19 years that I have been back home, I have been observant, passionate and sometimes critical of our current superintendent and members of our school board. I have been an active servant, willing not only to voice my concerns but to participate in the process of educational change.

    Click here to read more...
  • Column: Mullikin gets backing of top Mulvaney aide

    I am endorsing Tom Mullikin to replace U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney in South Carolina’s 5th District. My reasoning is simple: Tom is the best man for the job.
    That said, this is not an endorsement I take lightly, nor did I decide to lend my support without great reflection and consideration. Fact is, I have other friends in the district who are also campaigning for Mick’s former House seat.

    Click here to read more...
  • Column: Republicans obstructed Obama? In many cases, they enabled him

    In his March 20 response to my earlier article, Michael Jedson contends that the Republicans said “no to anything/everything Obama tried to get through Congress.”
    What about the $800 billion stimulus approved in 2009 that disappeared into big bank bailouts and crony projects like Solyndra without creating many shovel-ready jobs or green-energy programs?
    What about Obama’s two Supreme Court appointments, which many Republicans supported? One of them boasted of having a Hispanic and feminist agenda in her mind, which should have disqualified her.

    Click here to read more...
  • Column: These S.C. ethics bodies just aren’t working — and we have proof

    Last week the S.C. House approved the first round of nominees for the state’s new Ethics Commission, and Sen. John Courson appeared before a judge to post bond dealing with criminal ethics-violation charges.
    These two events, which happened within hours of each other, are the perfect backdrop to show how South Carolina’s current ethics system has failed us and how the law that will take effect this month will likely suffer the same fate.

    Click here to read more...
  • House update: Bills on HOAs, school funding move forward

    As we get closer to the end of the legislative session, I am glad to report that legislation affecting House District 45 has begun to move through the General Assembly. I wanted to give you an update on these three issues: homeowners association reform,  public education funding and school choice.

    HOA reform

    Click here to read more...
  • Column: We won’t defeat terrorists under normal rules of war

    As Westerners, most of us will probably never understand the mentality of terrorists. Nor will we accept their actions. The perversion of a religion seems to be the root cause of so many of these acts around the world.
    Charismatic speakers reach out and touch the lost people of a society. These sad individuals are so desperate for something to give meaning to their lives that they are willing to sacrifice those same lives for the “greater glory,” as espoused by these evil leaders.

    Click here to read more...
  • Column: Glimpsing the radical future of fast food

    Last week, I saw the future of flipping hamburgers – and most every other type of fast food. It was at a restaurant called Eatsa at 1626 K Street in Washington, D.C.
    It was both fascinating and at the same time frightening – for a whole lot of reasons but especially for fast-food workers in South Carolina, and everywhere else for that matter.

    Click here to read more...
  • Column: Read the sign – it’s Indian Land

    “Come on, what’s with these people? It’s lemonade. Read the sign. Read it – lemonade.”
    I’m not Ice T, but I feel like him, every time I get a phone call, read the wrong address or hear someone claiming to live or that their business is located in Fort Mill, when locals know the truth.
    It’s Indian Land! Come on, read the sign. Read it – Indian Land.

    Click here to read more...
  • Column: Alarming hike in fire fatalities this year in S.C.

    Tragically, in the first three months of this year, South Carolina has lost 40 citizens to fire-related incidents. This nearly doubles the five-year average of 22 fire fatalities during the same three-month period.
    As the newly appointed state fire marshal, my first priority is identifying the contributing factors leading to these deaths and utilizing the resources of South Carolina to keep this number from continuing to rise. We cannot bring back the lives lost, but through state, local, private, and public partnerships we can do a lot to prevent future loss.

    Click here to read more...
  • Column: Wealthier, more connected counties get big road projects

    Billions of dollars flow through South Carolina every year – to contractors and others – for roads and other infrastructure projects.
    The money comes from three pots, essentially: funds sent from the General Assembly through the state Department of Transportation; federal dollars channeled through SCDOT; and money, usually borrowed, spent by the state Transportation Infrastructure Bank, or STIB.

    Click here to read more...