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Our View

  • Proposal a win-win situation for county

    Local governments are considering an option to contract with Tax Management Associates to recoup tax dollars owed by residents who are improperly claiming tax credits and exemptions on property taxes.
    The city of Lancaster, town of Kershaw and Lancaster County Council recently heard a presentation about the program.
    Tax Management Associates conducts tax audits to catch residents improperly paying 4 percent taxes on homes listed as a primary residence; residents improperly claiming a homestead exemption; and businesses not paying their taxes properly.

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  • Don't forget about the residents of Edenmoor

    The troubled Edenmoor development in Indian Land has been in the news regularly for the last few months. 

    Many of the stories have been long and complicated because the issues surrounding the stalled development are complex, involving the county’s Forfeited Land Commission, developers, financiers, tax and bond sales and pending contracts. And much of what has taken place has been behind closed doors, making it even more difficult to make sense of what’s going on.

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  • Cauthen served his community

    Dennis Cauthen was trying to help fellow firefighter Randy White find the right word. White was describing how it felt for the Elgin Volunteer Fire Department to be one of several fire departments trying to save the blazing historic Lancaster County Courthouse that early Aug. 4 morning in 2008.
    “Honored,” said Cauthen, fire chief. “We’re honored to have helped the city (of Lancaster) and other departments save the courthouse.”

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  • Everyone responsible for success of schools

    The last couple of weeks have been really busy for teachers, students and their families. Some families have been scrambling to get in those last few days of vacation fun before the school bells ring Monday morning.
    Many students and their parents took advantage of the recent sales-tax-free weekend to buy school supplies and clothes.
    For several weeks now, teachers have been preparing their classrooms for the return of students Monday.

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  • Faris left her mark on Indian Land High

    The start of the 2011-12 school term will feature David Shamble in the principal’s office at Indian Land High School. Shamble, a former assistant principal since 2007, is replacing Kathy Faris.

    Faris, the IL principal for the last five years, resigned her post in mid-July, about a month before the start of the upcoming school term.

    Shamble, who considers Faris his mentor,  will no doubt continue many of the initiatives she started. But he will also have his own  agenda for the Class AA high school.

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  • Scammers are getting much, much more clever

    You have to give it to scam artists – some are getting pretty creative. And dire economic times are breeding  ingenuity among some of the best.
    In the past six months, The Lancaster News has published several articles about various scams in Lancaster County.
    In February, reporter Reece Murphy shared the plight of a woman who was summoned to Springs Memorial Hospital in the wee hours of the morning. The caller, who identified himself as a highway patrolman, said she had a family member at the hospital and to get there fast.

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  • Our View: Don’t play shell game with taxes

    Tax hikes and fee increases have been in the news a lot lately, as they always are this time of year. All across the county, residents are learning they will have to pay more in taxes and fees in the upcoming year.
    Lancaster County School District recently approved a 5-mill tax increase, which will cost the average Lancaster County homeowner about $20 more this year.
    The town of Kershaw’s budget includes a 1.2-mill tax hike, which will cost its homeowners $4.80 more in yearly taxes on a $100,000 home. It also increased its water and sewer bill by $7.

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  • Make a big difference by helping with HOPE

    HOPE needs help. Helping Other People Effectively (HOPE) of Lancaster aids the community through its roster of caring volunteers.
    HOPE in Lancaster Inc. is a faith-based, nonprofit organization that provides short-term emergency assistance to those in crisis.
    HOPE has a crisis of its own. During the summer months, volunteer help tends to drop a bit with helpers taking vacation.
    At the same time, those in need, no matter the situation, need assistance.
    The clients can’t wait as their plight never takes time off.

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  • Youth Serve needs our help with its program

    Donna Hartley was pleasantly surprised when she opened the door to her office Monday morning. Hartley, executive director of Kershaw Area Resource Exchange (KARE), said there were three checks targeted for Youth Serve.
    Youth Serve is a program that recruits teenagers to help repair area homes for the needy and elderly, who are unable to do the repairs themselves.
    Youth Serve is a part of KARE, which provides an array of services to people in the southern portion of Lancaster County.

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  • Dr. Adams dedicated to helping other folks

    Lancaster County lost a true humanitarian with the recent death of Dr. Ira Adams.
    Ironically, Dr. Adams died earlier this month at his Meeting Street office, where he toiled tirelessly to help his patients have a better quality of life.
    Adams enjoyed his work and had a passion for helping others, whether it was in his Lancaster office or in a foreign county.
    Adams often took his practice to countries such as Mexico and Guatemala, where it was common for him to work until his supplies were exhausted.

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