Opinion

Seems County Council’s 2008 agenda includes a brand spanking new courthouse. I read there is some talk about having a vote on the issue. But we all know when the powers that be get a burr under their saddles it’s the tax-paying riders who will have to hang onto the saddle horn. So, it’s pretty much a foregone fact that a new courthouse is on the way and the old Mills designed building will become a possible museum containing some rusty textile equipment to celebrate our heritage, no doubt.

Apparently, it is the feeling of a minority of people in the Indian Land community that it is perfectly appropriate to issue a threat of a $4-5 million dollar lawsuit, which if carried through, would have a significant impact on every property taxpayer in Lancaster County.

However, it is not appropriate for any potentially impacted taxpayer to question the poor choices of those persons making that threat.

A permit was issued several years ago for a concrete plant in the Indian Land community. There were residential units in the area at the time.

Early Christmas morning, Lancaster lost a good citizen, Rita Johnson. To her family and friends, Rita was special. Rita was a successful business woman, a devoted mother and wife, a civic leader, a wonderful friend. Rita held many offices in St. Luke United Methodist Church.

It was an early Christmas present. The Greater New Hope Christian Association soup kitchen.

It was rainy, dull day when it officially opened on Dec. 15. But the dreary day did little to dampen the spirits of the soup kitchen’s champions – those who had the vision and those who helped make it become a reality.

I knocked on the window rather loudly in an effort to arouse a small dog laying motionless in my back yard. His head didn’t rise when I knocked louder which led me to believe there was something wrong. I slipped on my shoes and went outside to take a closer look.

The notification came in a simple press release: The Heath Springs Seniors Center was closing. Seniors using the Heath Springs facility could continue to get the same services at the Kershaw Satellite Senior Center just five miles away.

We knew what the reaction would be.

“It upset us really bad (the decision to pull services),” said Heath Springs senior Dessie Reeves. “We’re a close-knit bunch here.”

That is quite true.

After reading Karen Paulson’s letter to the paper about how my letter to the paper was not necessary, I was a little bit confused.

I was under the impression that the opinion section of the newspaper was exactly the place to air my opinion.

I am thankful to live in a country where I have the freedom to express my thoughts and a forum in which to do so.

And, as a matter of fact, someone from both the tax assessor’s office and the Department of Motor Vehicles contacted my husband and me.

Editor’s note: Sen. Greg Gregory, R-16, writes a newsletter to capture the happenings in the General Assembly. Following is a synopsis of the bills:

Money matters

It has been said that the art of taxation is to pluck the most feathers from the goose without it noticing. In South Carolina, legislators have taken this approach by swapping taxes that are hated (property taxes) for ones that are perceived as more pain-free (sales taxes and fees). There has been much change in the last two years, so here is a thumbnail sketch of the current status.