Columns

In two recent mass shootings, last November at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, and last week at Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., we have seen a total of 43 people killed and another 34 wounded.
The slaughter of these innocents is inexcusable.
In the Texas case, the perpetrator committed suicide after having been shot and then pursued by a nearby resident. In the Florida case, the perpetrator was captured shortly after the attack, and will be processed through the criminal justice system.

Fifty years ago today, Rep. Rankin Fite, speaker of the Alabama House, placed the first 911 call from the Haleyville City Hall.
From that small beginning, 911 technology has continually evolved, becoming an essential part of public safety across America. Each advancement has improved our nation’s ability to get faster, more reliable information to first responders so they can do their job of saving lives and property.

Another overdose, again? This seems to be the question you hear over and over lately.
In all my almost 40 years, I have never recalled seeing or hearing of this many people dying from an apparent overdose within a year or so in our area alone. The ages seem to range from the teens to the 50s for the most part.
It’s no longer that someone died from a gang-related shooting, but from this. I work at The Lancaster News and in my position I deal with obituaries and have to enter these people’s names into our computer system.

In order to establish an area for incorporation, S.C. law states that there must be a density of 300 people per square mile before incorporation can even be proposed.
When you have subdivisions such as Sun City, Walnut Creek and Treetops, you can expand the area you are trying to incorporate much farther south because of the density in those neighborhoods.