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

Opinion

  • Smith one constant in state titles

    John Smith never sets his sights on winning region titles or state championships. Rather, he simply aims for his team to get better. Somehow, though, his Great Falls Red Devils continue to win plenty of both.
    On March 3, Great Falls defeated Johnsonville for the Class A state title. Smith won another state title that he didn’t plan for or expect, even though he returned five of his top seven players from last year’s state title team, including the Class A Player of the Year.

  • Donations continues Kersey’s legacy

    Mike  Kersey is gone, but certainly not forgotten.
    The emotional wrestling coach and elementary school physical education teacher had that type of impact on students, no matter their age.
    He knew how to motivate the heavyweight wrestler to reach his potential on the mat, and at the same time had the knack for making exercise fun for the most reluctant elementary school student.
    Kersey, who died last fall, was that type person. Across the county and state, in wrestling circles, Kersey is regarded as an icon.

  • We want better access not worse

    A pair of bills being debated in the S.C. House illustrate the ongoing tension between those who would open government up for all to see and those who seek to close its doors to pesky outsiders.
    The first would outrageously clamp the door firmly shut on a wide swath of law enforcement records. The second would helpfully ease the path for citizens who seek to learn more about their government.

  • 2012 chamber awards reflect county’...

    We are Lancaster! pride was prevalent at the annual Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce’s recent annual meeting.
    The evening was a festive occasion, with the highlight, a source of pride in our community, the annual awards.
    A host of honorees reflect the “we care” attitude in Lancaster County.
    The Chamber’s coveted Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Tommy Cauthen, of Cauthen Motors.
    Cauthen is a fixture at community events often working behind the scenes, but his tireless effort is to make the event a success.

  • Lancaster blessed to have Plyler as...

    With the recent passing of longtime Lancaster County public servant Fred Plyler, former Lancaster County school superintendent John Wall said he lost a “good friend.”
    The same could be said of Lancaster County, which was a better place because Plyler did plenty of good work here.
    He set a high standard as a magistrate, county road commissioner, an original Lancaster County Council member, a former president and board member of the Lancaster County Farm Bureau and a founding member of the Buford Volunteer Fire Department.

  • Recreation soccer teams do repeat...

    The 2011 South Carolina Athletic Programs state soccer tournament at Sumter’s Patriot Park presented quite a challenge for two Lancaster County Recreation Commission youth soccer teams earlier this month.
    The Lancaster County 10-under all-stars and the 12-under all-stars ventured to Sumter to defend their state titles.
    The teams were each coming off successful Central District title defenses in defeating Fort Mill to earn a repeat trip to the elite state field.
    What the Lancaster County teams accomplished was downright impressive.

  • There’s never a shortage of...

    Even at the age of 92, the homeowner was aware the men on the other side of her front door were would-be scammers. When they asked her to walk outside and help them hold a tape measure, she refused, then closed and locked the door.
    Minutes later they gained access to her house by breaking in through her back door. She pressed her life alert button and told the men help was on the way. They left before the deputies arrived at her house.

  • Bruins have right to kick up their...

    The Lancaster High School Bruins’ soccer teams are getting it done – on the field and in the classroom.
    Recent news about the LHS teams’ (girls and boys) academic success bears out the claim.
    The Lady Bruins posted an overall 4.3 GPA (grade-point average) for the 2010-11 school term, while the LHS boys finished with an overall 3.4 GPA.
    Obviously, the Bruins’ soccer squads are using their noggins for more than headers.
    The success of the teams has been duly noted.

  • Fletcher’s dedication garners third...

    The Lancaster County foster care unit has quite a tradition going. For the third consecutive year an employee of the county foster care unit has taken the state’s top honor as Caseworker of the Year.
    The latest honoree is Chaundra Fletcher, who was honored at the Independent Living Conference by the S.C. DSS and the University of South Carolina.
    A year ago, Kenya Papillion received the honor, while Tracy Rabon won the award in 2009.
    Fletcher, who has a caseload of 19 children, is regarded as an exceptional worker.

  • Wall-to-wall football is on...

    If you’re a high school football fanatic, then make plans to be at Andrew Jackson High School’s Volunteer Stadium tonight.
    The annual Founders Federal Kickoff Classic, a prep football jamboree, will feature wall-to-wall football.
    The scrimmage is the only time during the high school season that a fan can see all four county football teams in action at one site.
    That’s special, but only a part of the gridiron play.

  • Chandler turned life challenge to...

    Life is about choices. We don’t choose nor can control what happens to us. We can choose how we respond.
    Many people face serious challenges – challenges that run the gamut – from personal, to financial, to medical. Response to these challenges determines how we handle the situations.
    For some, the challenges are too overwhelming.
    Yet some turn the challenges into opportunities. Judy Chandler was one of those people.

  • Brown is deserving of honor

    One of Lancaster County’s finest is now one of the state’s best.
    Lt. Eric Brown of the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department was recently honored as the Deputy of the Year by the Sheriff’s Association.
    Earlier this year, Brown, 33, was nominated during a management staff meeting at the office.

  • Recycling is a real no-brainer

    The city of Lancaster plans to roll out (literally) its voluntary recycling program in September.
    While the city is starting off slow with its program, it is to be commended for initiating the effort to recycle plastic, bottles and jugs, metal and aluminum cans, as well as magazines and certain other papers.
    Marty Cauthen, the city’s solid waste director, said several residents had requested the city introduce a recycling program. After discussion and planning, officials devised a system that is not too costly to the city and residents.

  • Help needy students get school...

    It’s hard to believe that school is starting in just a few days. It seems like it was just yesterday that students and teachers were wrapping up the school year and looking forward to summer break. 

    Now teachers and other school personnel are busy preparing classrooms, unpacking books and planning study lessons.

    And many students and their parents are busy preparing for the new year by buying clothes and school supplies.

    But many families struggle getting back-to-school wardrobes and school supplies.

  •
    Tax-free what?

    By now you’ve no doubt heard of South Carolina’s annual back-to-school tradition called the Sales Tax Holiday.

    Now in its 12th year, the first weekend in August event has become the time for savings-conscientious parents to stock up on all their children’s back-to-school needs from crayons to corsets.

    Locally, the sales and use tax holiday means a savings of 8 cents per dollar ... Wait a minute. Corsets? 

    Yes, corsets. You didn’t read that wrong. 

  • Big Thursday a big boost for...

    It doesn’t take a great deal of thinking to see these are not the best of times in Lancaster.
    Recently a longtime bypass restaurant closed its doors. Gas prices have soared since last year.
    As they say, we have to take the good with the bad. There has been some recent good that impacts our future.
    Big Thursday of Lancaster Inc., recently presented checks of $16,000 each to the University of South Carolina at Lancaster and Clemson University. The money is used for scholarships to deserving Lancaster County youth, who attend these schools.

  • Dangerous dog law needs to be more...

    After several recent dog-bite incidents, we’re glad to see that Lancaster County’s dangerous dog ordinance is back on County Council’s agenda.
    Three years ago, the county passed a dangerous dog ordinance. Lancaster County Animal Control Director Joel Hinson said, for the most part, a dog must first bite a person or other animal before it’s deemed dangerous.

  • Family Promise making a difference

    Family Promise has had a drastic impact on Lancaster County. For nearly two years now, Lancaster area churches have reached out to homeless families in an effort to give them a lift.
    Family Promise is a pioneering nonprofit organization dedicated to helping America’s low-income families secure lasting independence. Some 161 affiliates and 130,000 volunteers spanning 41 states provide annual assistance to more than 45,000 citizens.
    In 1988, the program went national and moved into communities across the nation, including Lancaster.

  • Overcash dedicated to county...

    Retiring Lancaster County Parks and Recreation Commission director Frank Overcash, in assessing his work over 28 years, was expectedly modest about the job he’s done.
    “All I did was keep something running,” Overcash said.
    He did keep it running, but in the right direction.
    There has been a lot of progress at the recreation commission during Overcash’s 28 years of service, including the last five as director.

  • All-star soccer season one to...

    The Lancaster County Parks and Recreation Commission youth soccer program has made a name for itself in all-star postseason play.
    The LCPRC all-stars teams’ recent stellar effort in state tournament play did nothing to tarnish that shining image.
    The county stars fielded teams in three age groups – 10 under, 12-under and 15-under.
    Two of those three teams brought home state crowns after competing in the elite field at the Manchester Meadows Complex in Rock Hill.

Copyright © 2013

The Lancaster News is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Lancaster County and Lancaster, South Carolina, and the surrounding area..