Weekly Awards Presentation

S.C. Press Association
WEEKLY AWARDS
PRESENTATION

MONTGOMERY FOI AWARD
All Weekly Division

The Middle Tyger Times
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2010 T H E Fifty Cents

MIDDLE TYGER TIMES
Vol. 14 No. 25 Serving the communities of Duncan, Lyman, Wellford, Moore, Reidville and Startex www.hometown-news.com2

Holly Springs Fire Commission Holds Illegal FOI law
Secret Meeting to Remove Popular Chief spells out
Community
rules for
“Any action
in uproar public
over actions from that
BY JAY KING
meeting
meetings
HOMETOWN NEWS BY JAY KING
HOMETOWN NEWS
The Holly Springs
Fire and Rescue
is illegal Last week’s called
meeting of the Holly
Commission conducted
an illegal secret meeting and can be Springs Fire and Rescue
Commission has high-
last Wednesday evening
lighted how the state’s
at which a vote was
taken to fire Chief Lee
challenged Freedom of Information
law dictates how public
Jeffcoat. bodies are supposed to
Hometown News
received a tip about
successfully.” conduct meetings.
The act, Title 30 of
the meeting and sent the S.C. Code of Laws,
this reporter to attend. — Bill Rogers, SC Press specifically requires in
This reporter was PHOTOS BY JAY KING Association Executive Section 30-4-80(a) all
subsequently excluded Director public bodies to give
from the meeting after FLEEING THE SCENE WEDNESDAY written public notice
attempting to advise Holly Springs Fire and Rescue Commissioners flee what has been called an illegal meeting of their regular meet-
commission members last Wednesday night after voting behind closed doors to terminate Chief Lee Jeffcoat. The ings at the beginning
about the requirements move has since reverberated throughout the community and created a wave of outrage of each calendar year to
for open meetings under among area residents. include the dates, times
the state’s Freedom of
Information Act. SEE STATE FOI LAW I 2A
The commission,
comprised of chairman
Ryan Phillips, vice-
chairman Roscoe Kyle
and members Kelly
Wellford
Council
Waters, Clarence Gibbs
and Hugh Jackson, met
behind closed doors
for about 45 minutes
starting at 7 p.m.
during which a vote was
taken 4-1 to terminate
Approves
Jeffcoat.
Most
department’s
of the
32
$2.3 million
budget
volunteers were present
by the end of the
meeting and tried to
question commissioners
BY JAY KING
about their decision, HOMETOWN NEWS
but the commissioners
left without addressing The Wellford City
those questions.
Phillips returned
FACING YOUR PEERS FRIDAY Council gave final
Facing a hostile crowd at Friday night’s community meeting, state Sen. Lee Bright (standing at right foreground) faced a approval to a $2.3 mil-
about two hours later series of questions and barbs deriding his role in the appointment of the four commissioners who’ve been accused of hav- lion budget for the 2010
ing a personal vendetta against Chief Lee Jeffcoat. The senator said he would look into the matter of Wednesday’s illegal - 2011 fiscal year at a
SEE ILLEGAL MEETING I PAGE 4A meeting and would be present at the commission’s next scheduled meeting July 6. called meeting Monday
night.

BEST NEWSPAPER PUBLICATION
Associate/Individual Division

Third Place:

The Independent Voice of the People’s
Republic of Blythewood
Barbara Ball


Second Place:

University of South Carolina
Creative Services
Staff


First Place:

S.C. United Methodist Advocate

BEST MAGAZINE OR
SPECIAL PUBLICATION

Third Place:

S.C. Lawyers Weekly

BEST MAGAZINE OR
SPECIAL PUBLICATION

Second Place:

Creative Services

BEST MAGAZINE OR
SPECIAL PUBLICATION

First Place:

S.C. Farm Bureau

BEST PUBLISHED FEATURE STORY

Third Place:

Murrells Inlet Messenger
Tim Callahan

“Michael Brown: My son Chandler”


Second Place:

Tim Callahan

“Courageous student overcomes adversity”


First Place:

Tim Callahan

“Autism speaks to Georgetown, Horry counties”

BEST PUBLISHED NEWS STORY

Third Place:

S.C. United Methodist Advocate
Jessica Connor

“Campus funds frozen”


Second Place:

S.C. Policy Council
Rick Brundrett, Eric Ward
and Kevin Dietrich

“Boeing: The story behind the story”
from The Nerve


First Place:

S.C. Policy Council
Rick Brundrett, Eric Ward and
Chip Oglesby

“The high cost of S.C. lawmakers”
from The Nerve

BEST EDITORIAL/OP ED

Third Place:

The Catholic Miscellany
Alison Griswald

“We all still need our mothers”


Second Place:

S.C. Lawyers Weekly
Paul Tharp

“You can take a break”


First Place:

Tim Callahan

“Younger brother’s death”

BEST PUBLISHED PHOTO

Third Place:

Keith Jacobs

“Deacon Johnson”


Second Place:

University of South
Carolina Creative Services
Michael Brown

“Pregnancy”


First Place:

Keith Jacobs

“Boy Scouts”

BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN

Third Place:

S.C. Lawyers Weekly
Mike Zellmer

“No camera, no DUI”

BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN

Second Place:

S.C. Chamber of Commerce
Bobby Baker

“Purple Statehouse template”

BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN

First Place:

S.C. Lawyers Weekly
Jim Sleeper

“Paralegal personality”

BEST EVENT MARKETING

Third Place:

Creative Services

“Parents Weekend”


Second Place:

S.C. Lawyers Weekly

“Leadership in Law”


First Place:

Creative Services

“May Carolina”

BEST PR CAMPAIGN

First Place:

S.C. Farm Bureau

“AG-tivity”

BEST WEBSITE

Third Place:

Ask & Receive, Inc.

for sharingluxury.com

BEST WEBSITE

Second Place:

S.C. Policy Council

for thenerve.org

BEST WEBSITE

First Place:

Creative Services

for the President’s page at sc.edu

BEST ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER/
PUBLICATION

Third Place:

Ask & Receive, Inc.

“Golden Career Strategies”

PUBLICATION

Second Place:

Ask & Receive, Inc.

“HR News You Can Use”

PUBLICATION

First Place:

S.C. Chamber of Commerce

“Competitiveness Update”

SPORTS SERIES OF ARTICLES
Open Division

Second Place:

The Berkeley Independent
Dan Brown

“Games we used to play”

ONLINE COLUMN WRITING
Open Division

Second Place:

Free Times
Dan Cook

CARTOON
Open Division

Second Place:

News-Chronicle
Mike Beckom

MIXED MEDIA ILLUSTRATION
Open Division
columbia’s free weekly

First Place:

SHOWDOWN at
free-times.com March 17-23, 2010

Free Times
Joey Ayers 701 WhaleY
THE DEFINITIVE MAYORAL DEBATE
p. 16

GROUPS WRANGLE OUTLAWS HAUL OFF LOOT, EDWIN MCCAIN:
OVER CITY ELECTION GET LASSOED PARTY ANIMAL
NEWS 7 CRIME BLOTTER 51 MUSIC 43

SINGLE ONLINE PHOTO
Open Division

Third Place:
The Journal
Scene
Paul Zoeller

Victor “Goat”
Lafayette

NEWS SPECIAL EDITION OR SECTION
All Weekly Division

Third Place:

The Clinton Chronicle
Staff

All Weekly Division

Second Place:

The Clinton Chronicle
Staff

All Weekly Division

First Place:

The Lancaster News
Staff

SPORTS SPECIAL EDITION OR SECTION
All Weekly Division

Third Place:

News and Press
Staff

All Weekly Division

Second Place:

Lexington County
Chronicle &
The Dispatch News
Travis Boland

All Weekly Division

First Place:

The Greer
Citizen
Staff
Byrne
s
High
Rebels

The G
re
Augus er Citizen
After a thorou
ALL
gh investigat
t 18, 2
FOOTB
need further ion
review. Agent , it was decided that these
throughout the s will be sen
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this agency tha s to gather further eviden
ﬁndings in Co t we can presen ce. It
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START
lumbia, South t our comple
December 3, Carolina on te
2010. the weekend
,
of

F RIDAY 20
GUST
Joel R. FitzPat
AU
rick
Director
The Greer Cit
izen Division
of Foo tball Affairs

CRITICAL WRITING
All Weekly Division
HOMETOWN NEWS PAGE LABEL WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2010

Neil Young’s Spartanburg Masterpiece
get “Heart of Gold” and

Third Place:
CONCERT REVIEW AND PHOTO
BY WILLIAM BUCHHEIT “Old Man” back-to-back
by request?
In its 59 years, the Of course, Neil
Spartanburg Memorial Young has never been
Auditorium has hosted conventional, and his
hundreds of concerts by RATING: 9 OUT OF 10 longtime fans have
some truly legendary accepted that he’s
names. But it is hard not going to do too
beautifully.
to imagine any of them many things by the
Young lightened the
rivaling the masterpiece book. Nonetheless, the
mood a little with the
that Neil Young turned in performance proved he
folky classic “Tell Me
Sunday night. Blending can still play guitar like
Why,” and capped off a
new songs with classics, a virtuoso, sing like a
stellar opening trilogy
acoustic guitar with tortured angel and write
with his 1970 ballad
electric and piano with songs that can pierce
“Helpless,” That song,
organ, Young captivated straight to the soul.
one of the most beautiful
the capacity crowd with At 64, he still has that
he’s written in his long
a beautiful, intense mystique of being one of
career, brought some
performance. the deepest thinkers and

The Woodruff News
older members of the
Quite frankly, the most underappreciated
audience to tears.
first song, an acoustic artists in rock history.
From there, the segway
rendition of the iconic Those fortunate enough
into the newer tunes was
“My My, Hey Hey,” to witness the spectacle
relatively seamless, with
was one of the best I’ve of his “Twisted Road”
the environmentally
ever experienced in- tour Sunday night left
charged “Peaceful
person. The audience the auditorium in a
Valley” and the political Horse ballads, “Down By setlist to make the to enhance the show’s
erupted when the blur of delight and
stunner “Love and War” the River,” “Cinnamon evening extra special surreal tone. Light and
Canadian legend picked

William Buchheit
both demonstrating disbelief. Indeed, Neil
the opening rift on his Girl” and “Cortez the for the Spartanburg sound faded in and out
the singer’s still-potent Young really had come to
acoustic Martin, and the Killer.” Though he was audience. This kind and together, making many
songwriting chops. The Spartanburg and rocked
applause continued as the only one on stage, his unexpected gesture sent of the night’s moments
night’s most lacerating it in his trademark way,
his voice sprang, clear instinctual mastery of a new charge of electricity feel almost like scenes in
six minutes was a new “Like A Hurricane.”
and true, through the the electric Gibson and through the crowd, who a play.
song called “Hitchhiker,” its effects pedal made jolted from their seats The elements of the
speakers.
“It’s better to burn
which Young sang it sound like a whirling and sang each word with show I didn’t like were Setlist:
through gritted teeth, chorus of guitars their idol. When the 64- relatively few. Coupling 1. HEY HEY MY MY (INTO THE BLACK)
out than to fade away,
ripping distorted power up there. And, while year-old “godfather of the weakest new songs, 2. TELL ME WHY
he sang, the very line
chords off “Old Black,” “River” was predictably grunge” took his final “Sign of Love” and “Leia” 3. HELPLESS
with which Kurt Cobain 4. YOU NEVER CALL
his trademark electric stellar, it was the bow near 11:00, people between the classics
ended his suicide note 5. PEACEFUL VALLEY
Gibson. That tune, which stripped-down “Cortez” were parading the star “Ohio” and “After the
some 16 years ago. 6. LOVE AND WAR
has yet to be recorded that best embodied with shouts of, “Thank Gold Rush,” seemed an
The solemnity of the 7. DOWN BY THE RIVER
inside a studio, was so the singer’s vintage You,” and “We love you, unwise move to me, as
opener was hammered 8. HITCHHIKER
intense that it made the themes of beauty, death, Neil.” did playing “Gold Rush”
home by Young’s 9. OHIO
next, “Ohio,” seem almost history and mysticism. While Young’s on an organ instead of a 10. SIGN OF LOVE
harmonica solo, which
mechanical. Detailing Sunday night, at least, performance was an piano. Though he sang it 11. LEIA
careened through the
a drifter’s view of late the 1975 gem finally absolute knockout, you well, that bizarre choice 12. AFTER THE GOLDRUSH
theatre like a crying
20th Century America, got the presentation have to hand it to the robbed the 1970 song 13. I BELIEVE IN YOU
banshee. By the time
“Hitchhiker” may be the and appreciation it has Spartanburg Auditorium of some of its beauty 14. RUMBLIN’
the ring of the last chord
artist’s best single work deserved. staff for their superb and grandeur. Lastly, 15. CORTEZ THE KILLER
evaporated, people 16. CINNAMON GIRL
since 1989’s “Rockin’ In The biggest treat of production. The sound The decision to finish
in the crowd were
the Free World,” and will the night came during levels were superb and the night with a brand Encore
looking at each other
likely be a concert staple the encore, when Young every song was crystal new, never before heard 17. HEART OF GOLD
in astonishment. It 18. OLD MAN
for the remainder of his played “Heart of Gold” clear. At the same song was also suspect.
seemed impossible that 19. WALK WITH ME
career. and “Old Man” by time, the sparse, rustic After all, how can “Walk
the haggard 64-year-
Young stayed electric request, diverting from stage design and red- With Me” not seem
old could still sing so
for the anthemic Crazy what has been a rigid tinted lighting worked anticlimactic after you

CRITICAL WRITING
All Weekly Division

Second Place:
1950’s musical throwback hits the Village Playhouse
BY CHRIS MCCANDLISH ers to the Village Playhouse,
NEWS@MOULTRIENEWS.COM Caroline Boegel and Amber
Mann, along with Lara All-
The Village Playhouse’s red, Jenna Brinson, and
new play about coming of age College of Charleston senior
in the late 1950’s, “The Mar- Alex Hennessey as the Music
velous Wonderettes,” should Director, Mr. Lee.
sound a nostalgic note with All of these actresses can
its audience members, many sing well, but the play only al-

Moultrie of whom came of age in the
late 1950’s.
But that’s not to say that
the show is for old people, by
any means.
Anyone who has enjoyed
such classic American films
lows them each a song or two
to really show their talents.
Ms. Allred has some of the
most soulful numbers; Ms.
Miller doesn’t show her pipes
until the second act, and Ms.
Boegel sings like a chipmunk

News
as “Stand By Me,” “Ameri- the entire play until one num-
can Graffiti,” or even “Dirty ber near the end.
Dancing” will be entertained, Though a much lighter
and at times delighted, by and much less brilliant work
this quirky musical tribute than the Playhouse’s previ-
to what could be called the ous production, “August:
golden age of the American Osage County,” “The Mar-
prom, when girls wore cot- velous Wonderettes” shows

Chris ton-candy colored dresses
and smacked bubblegum
and boys could get kicked out
of school for smoking.
Those distinctive dynam-
ics of mid-century American
youth are used to clever effect
again that Mount Pleasant
has a real town theater in
the Village Playhouse, one
capable of making musicals
and melodramas equally en-
tertaining affairs.
“The Marvelous Wonder-

McCandlish
in “The Marvelous Wonder- ettes” will have its final two
ettes,” which weaves classic shows this weekend, Oct. 15
tunes like “Mr. Sandman,” and 16, at 8 p.m. at the Vil-
“Lollipop,” and “With This lage Playhouse, 730 Cole-
Ring” into a cute and amus- man Blvd. (located in the
ing plot. Or vice versa—a few PHOTO PROVIDED Brookgreen Towncenter).
songs into the show, it be- “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” a musical comedy set in a 1950’s high school gym at prom, will have its final Tickets are $30 for adults,
comes obvious that this is a two shows this weekend, Oct. 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. in the Village Playhouse. The play received the 2007 Los $27 for seniors, and $25 for
script written to squeeze in Angeles Ovation Award for Best Musical and was also nominated for the 2009 Drama League Award for students, with discounts
every golden oldie number it Distinguished Production of a Musical. Writer and creator Roger Bean also received a Los Angeles Ovation available for youth and chil-
can hold. Award nomination for Best Director of a Musical. dren.
The Wonderettes are four Tickets can be purchased
girls who have been asked at Betty Jean spend the rest of Secret Love); and Missy The Wonderettes reunite out overdoing it. 24 hours at www.villageplay-
the last minute to perform the play singing about their doesn’t know how to know if to perform for their class, They retain distinctive per- house.com and by phone at
at their high school prom high school problems: all of her crush, the Music Director and all of the girls are now sonalities, but they are not 843 856-1579.
after the scheduled group, them want to find a dreamy Mr. Lee, loves her (It’s In His women--older, tougher, and the same people they were 10
the Crabcake Crooners, was guy to sweep them off their Kiss, Teacher’s Pet). a little angrier. years before, and the change (Chris McCandlish can be
banned because one of its feet (Dream Lover); Cindy The play has two acts, and The Village Playhouse cast feels real and developed, not reached at news@moultri-
members was caught smok- Lou is threatening to steal the second act is set a decade does a great job of showing affected. enews.com. To see more sto-
ing in the boys’ bathroom. away Betty Jean’s guy with later at the girls’ 10-year high the changes that time has “The Marvelous Wonder- ries and photos, visit www.
Cindy Lou, Missy, Suzy and her sly charm (Lucky Lips, school reunion. wrought in the women, with- ettes” features two newcom- moultrienews.com)

CRITICAL WRITING
All Weekly Division
Quashie Offers Witty But
Unﬂinching Racial Commentary
First Place: A review of Colin Quashie: Subjective Perceptions, on view at
Benedict College’s Ponder Gallery through Dec. 10.

Free Times
Mary Bentz
Gilkerson

Quashie lives in Charleston but is hardly
a typical “Charleston artist.” The artist was

C
olin Quashie’s work is some of the born in London in 1963 and raised in the
most socially and politically engaged West Indies. His family immigrated to the
in the state, if not the region. The United States when he was 6, and he grew
artist’s unflinching examination of the up in Florida. After attending college for a
lingering influence of racism in contempo- short time, he joined the Navy working on
rary American culture is witty and ironic, submarines He began actively pursuing his

HEALTH REPORTING
All Weekly Division

Third Place:

The Lancaster News
Gregory Summers

HEALTH REPORTING
All Weekly Division

Second Place:

Lake Wylie Pilot
John Marks

HEALTH REPORTING
All Weekly Division

First Place:

Myrtle Beach Herald
Amanda Kelley

EDUCATION REPORTING
All Weekly Division

Third Place:

Free Times
Ron Aiken

EDUCATION REPORTING
All Weekly Division

Second Place:

The News & Reporter
Travis Jenkins

EDUCATION REPORTING
All Weekly Division

First Place:

The Cherokee Chronicle
Tommy Martin

SPORTS BEAT REPORTING
All Weekly Division

Third Place:

Myrtle Beach Herald
Amanda Kelley

All Weekly Division

Second Place:

The Journal Scene
Roger Lee

All Weekly Division

First Place:

The News & Reporter
Travis Jenkins

FEATURE HEADLINE WRITING
All Weekly Division

Third Place:

The News & Reporter
Travis Jenkins

‘Shotgun’ start for Edwards
Chester PD Back in Black
From ‘Big D’ to ‘Block C’

All Weekly Division

Second Place: Keeping it real
Myrtle Beach
Herald IN THIS ISSUE…

Charles D.
Perry
Crack up on aisle 5
Myrtle Beach guys turn wacky Walmart patrons into profitable website

MAKING THE CUT
Conway welcomes area’s first barber college

All Weekly Division
WORDS,
WORTH
First Place: SHARING
Novel is chosen for South
Carolina First Novel Award

Greenville Journal BY CINDY LANDRUM | STAFF

AS A KID, Matt Matthews always wanted
to write the great American novel.

Melissa Blanton “I had all these romantic ideas of a writer’s
life,” said Matthews, a Greer resident who
is pastor of St. Giles Presbyterian Church.
And over the years, he discovered those
ideas were as much fiction as the novel he
was writing.

(Broom) Sticks W hen Beau Welling saw curling for the
time, he thought it was one of the
ridiculous sports he had ever seen.
Welling, a 39-year-old Greenville residen

and stones
watching the 1988 Winter Olympics as a
ager when curling, a demonstration sport in
gary, came on the television.
As he watched women sweeping the ice
tiny brooms at a frantic pace in front of
Greenville resident earns spot on granite rock aimed at a giant bull’s eye do
strip of ice, Welling wondered why curling
board of U.S. Curling Association, at the Olympics at all.
“It was crazy. I questioned whether it was
in Vancouver for Olympics a sport at all,” said Welling, a self-described s
fanatic who found it odd there could be a
in the Olympics he had never heard of befo
Staff Writer Imagine Welling’s surprise that 22 years
he would be on the board of the United S
Curling Association and a member of the

GOOBERS.
Olympic delegation at this year’s Gam
Vancouver.
“It’s a bizarre story,” said Welling, a golf c
designer who is working with Tiger Wood
The Cliffs of High Carolina.
After Welling’s initial encounter with the s
he didn’t think much about it until 2002 wh
But you can call them peanuts. They eat them saw it again on television during the Salt
boiled in the South. And most folks will tell City Olympics.
“Inexplicably, I was drawn to the s
you, don’t knock them until you try them. page 8 said Welling of the game invented in Sco
and popularized in Canada. “I was al

SPORTS HEADLINE WRITING
All Weekly Division

Third Place: QB or not QB ...
Wolves play quarterback shuffle in 2010

The Berkeley
Independent Road Work Stags survive
Camden, face
Frank Johnson Midland Valley
BY DAN BROWN
The Independent

This one was close.
Tevin Bradshaw scored two
late touchdowns to erase a 28-
21 deficit and give the

Stags enjoy
Berkeley Stags a hard fought
36-28 win over the Camden
Bulldogs in Class AAA play-
off action Friday night in
Camden.

Knight out
With the win the Stags (8-3)
travel to Graniteville to take
on Midland Valley (7-4) on
Friday.
The Mustangs advanced to

with 64-53 win the second round with a 21-0
shutout win over St. James in
the first round. Given their
third seed placement in the
playoff brackets, the Stags
will be on the road for the
duration of the playoffs.
“From here on out it’s cham-
pionship football,” said Stags

Can cops cap crooks’

All Weekly Division

Second Place:
Lexington County
Chronicle &
The Dispatch News
Travis Boland

Dutch Fork nabs ‘proven winner’ from Charlotte

WHAT’S INSIDE…

All Weekly Division
Golson digs Heels
WHAT’S INSIDE…

First Place:
Myrtle Beach
Herald WHAT’S INSIDE…
AMANDA KELLEY | THE HERALD

Charles D. Perry
Myrtle Beach junior Everett Golson announced Friday that he will accept a football scholarship from UNC.

MB star to play football for North Carolina

Campbell’s mm mm gold
Seahawk swimmer captures first state titles in school history

COOL RUNNING
Despite official cancellation, hundreds still race MB Marathon

PHOTO PAGE DESIGN
All Weekly Division
Thursday
January 14, 2010 COASTAL OBSERVER Pawleys Island,
South Carolina

Third Place:

Coastal Observer Photos by Tanya Ackerman/Coastal Observer

Brookgreen Gardens food and beverage manager Linda Beck hosted the Mad Hatters Tea Party in full costume. More photos at coastalobserver.com.

Brookgreen
Gardens

Christine Sokoloski
opened its Hol-
liday Cottage
You bet they’re MAD, but for a luncheon
and tea party
on Saturday.

it’s only HATTERS at this Guests were
encouraged
to wear their
favorite “mad

TEA PARTY
hat” for the
occassion. The
cottage is host-
ing tea parties
every Saturday
in January.

Lorraine Carr enjoys some orange tea. Taking the theme to heart, Ann Bray wore a hat made out of tea bags.

Karen Collins listens to a conversation. Scones were served with lemon curd or butter. Carlisle Nostrame tips her “mad hat.”

PHOTO PAGE DESIGN
All Weekly Division

Second Place:

Fort
Jackson
Leader
Susanne
Kappler

PHOTO PAGE DESIGN
All Weekly Division
August 3, 2010 • THE LINK • Page 1B

First Place:

The Link
Ashley Hatcher Photos by Wylie Bell/Special to The Link

WYLIE BELL The drivers do get points for The two boys have learned “We work on them every on the class they enter, with Even the spectators can join
Special to The Link distance before a backhoe the ins and outs of mud rac- day,” Holt said. “You just cash prizes awarded to the in the fun and slosh around in
pulls them out of the mud and ing from their uncle, Johnny hope nothing breaks.” driver with the winning time. the mud. The track holds a
Floor it, and hope for the the muck, but the goal is to Holt, who says he has “mud Fast Trax runs three classes According to Steen, the foot race through the bog for
best. This is the advice you’ll make it all the way through in in his blood.” Holt has been of trucks based on tire size: record time to beat through kids and adults.
the fastest amount of time. mud bog racing off and on for 36-inch and under, 37-inch the bog at Fast Trax is 5.022 Payton Hurst of Chester-
get from drivers at Fast Trax
Round two was a different the last five years, but he’s and over and an open class. seconds. field is a four-time winner
Mud Bog in Wallace on how story, and 16-year-old Camden been messing around with big “In the open class, you can Roger Kirby has won three through the bog, and even a
to make it through the 200-feet Ertle of Sanford, N.C., plowed trucks and racing ever since enter whatever you can afford times this year and won nine watermelon couldn’t slow his
long pit of good old South his way through the bog in his he was his nephews’ age. to build and to race,” Jason times last year. His strategy is “nitrous barefeet” down on
Carolina red clay mud. monster truck called French One of the keys to racing – Steen said. picking the right rut and hold- July 24’s race day. Just before
Drivers come from all over Fry. and winning – is to keep the Steen started operating the ing it wide open. the kids were unleashed in
to see how fast their mud “You need a lot of power truck running, Holt said. races in Wallace about two “After that first rut is made,
the mud with promises to
trucks can get through the bog, and a lot of wheel speed. Keep When you’re up to your years ago. The track offers the track starts getting faster
which was particularly thick their parents to “wash ’em
the tires spinning, and keep wheel wells in mud, main- bog racing and flat track rac- and faster,” Kirby said.
and deep on Saturday, July 24. ’em grabbing. Find a bottom, taining the trucks is a daily ing for trucks and four-wheel- By the end of the night, down real good afterward,”
In the first round of racing, and you’ll come out,” Ertle chore. After each truck comes ers. Races are held from enough mud has been slung they were each handed a
tires were spinning, and en- said. out of the bog, they are hosed March through October on out of the bog for the four small watermelon to carry
gines were whining, but driv- Ertle was one of the win- down at a water station, mak- the second and fourth Satur- wheelers to plow through it. through the bog. Payton took
ers only went so far before the ners on July 24, as was his ing sure all the mud and the day of the month. As most of the drivers said, home the $10 top prize, but
3-feet-deep mud took hold and 15-year-old cousin, Jason sand gets rinsed off the un- Entry fees for drivers range mud bogging is more about each kid who braved the bog
stopped them in their tracks. “Porkchop” Ertle. dercarriage. from $10 to $20, depending getting dirty than getting rich. got a dollar.

PICTORIAL
All Weekly Division

Third Place:
The Journal Scene
Stefan Rogenmoser

“Fog Walk”

PICTORIAL
All Weekly Division

Second Place:

The Citizen News
Mike Rosier

“Pond draped
in Winter”

PICTORIAL
All Weekly Division
First Place:

Coastal
Observer
Tanya
Ackerman

“Pawleys
Creek”

HUMOROUS PHOTO
All Weekly Division

Third Place:

Moultrie News

Helen R.
Hammond

“Mojo”

HUMOROUS PHOTO
All Weekly Division

Second Place:
Lexington County
Chronicle &
The Dispatch News

Mark Bellune

“Lexington Oktoberfest Parade”

HUMOROUS PHOTO
All Weekly Division
First Place:

Coastal
Observer

Tanya
Ackerman

“Winnie the
Pooh”

HARRIS AWARD FOR
EDITORIAL WRITING
All Weekly Division In our view

District 56’s
botched call
Third Place: What a difference a few months can make. For that mat-
In our ter, what a difference one after can make.the Clinton and a
view
4-3 school board vote
vote
leading
Six months
High
School football team to a state championship last fall, and
Administration job come July 1. 2009 AAA Coach of the
head coach Andy B. Young, the
Year, is out of a
Awkward timing, to say the least, but, considering the
consideration some saw it coming.
weeks that the board dragged its feet and delayed rehiring
Young, honestly,
Spring has finally sprung. Birds are singing. Pollen is heard that funding for education is at a 15-year
We’ve all accumulating.
And local elected officials are wrestling with budgets for theall heard that budget cuts in public schools
nadir. We’ve next fiscal
year.
For most if not all of our government entities, 2010 severe and likely would result in cuts of teaching
would be will be especially

In our view positions. Now that the state has put an end to the Teacher
challenging. Our struggling economy isn’t likely to put dump truck loads
of extra cash on the table – nor are weand to see spending sprees on
likely Employee Retirement Incentive (TERI) program,

Laurens County
new hires, new programs, and capital projects. Sure, there might be a new throughout the state have used its
many school districts
this or a necessary that to be considered – but this won’t be the year for
expiration as the principle method of cutting jobs. Since
asking taxpayers to reach deep into their pockets.

The alcohol puzzle Still, we have one particular expenseretired teachers whose TERI plans have expired are now

ing a city administrator.
for one group of local leaders to
consider. We request that Laurens Cityconsidered at-will hir-
Council weigh the merits of yearly employees, we’ve witnessed sev-

Politically, city council members may safely disregard such a request. that they would not invite any of the
eral districts announce
Laurens City Council has a decision to make regarding post-these lean fiscalretired understand howback for another year in order to cut their
We fully acknowledge times and teachers easy it

Advertiser midnight alcohol sales inside city limits Mondays say, "Sorry, no money." We’re also strongly aware of the polit-
would be to through

But, perhaps, city
salaries.
ical undercurrents of mistrust for government officials who often work at
a displeasure of the taxpaying electorate.Unfortunately, that approach can paint those same dis-
Fridays – enforce state law as it exists or fashionthe new ordinance
enacting greater restrictions. Either way, the current policy of we might this time lettricts into politics and make of a corner. What happens, for exam-
merit outweigh something
law enforcement restricting sales after midnight each day of on fact-finding, knowledgeable study, and the truth.
a decision based the ple, if one of those retirees is a football coach in a football
week should end until the rule of law in this matter is re-estab- all the answers ourselves – butjust willing
lished.
Admittedly, we don’t have town that dowe are celebrated a state championship? Well,
to search for them. We hope Laurens City Council will the same this
year. where the TERI plan was “win-win” for both district and

Staff
Chief Robin Morse cites a 1984 ordinance giving hisdo have in hand, at this point, however, is an opinion whichthe decision Laurens County School
What we depart- retired employee, –
ment authority to stop alcohol sales at midnight on weekdays. Butcouncil – may have merit enough to begin a con- Trustees made Monday was “lose-
for what it’s worth to District 56’s Board of
when local property owners addressed city council and read from It is our opinion, after months of observing
versation at the very least.
lose.” Coach Young loses a job he held with distinction for
a copy of the same ordinance, specifically “Sec. 6-4. Sundaythe city might benefit from a full-time profession-
council in action, that
al whose restrictionbe to help officials make informed decisions and Clinton High just lost the man who
sales,” it appeared quite clear to us that the midnight job it would nearly 20 years — and
lead city operations on a day-to-day basis.
Carolina members’ own mouthsdelivered a storied the
applies to Sunday only, in accordance with South From councillaw. we have heard concerns over
program’s latest trophy.
last this apparent Frankly, we’re as stunned as interim superintendent Dr.
That’s why we’re a little puzzled not only that few months alone of possible hasty decision-making and miscom-
misinterpretation of state law has occurred but also why with the public regarding David O’Shields, who rightly recommended that the dis-
munication the city issues that could have been dis-
felt it necessary for the city attorney to issue cussed publicly instead of in executive session. Obviously, having a full-
a ruling. Unless
there is another ordinance regarding alcohol salescity administrator might not have prevented those issues. On the
time out there –
other hand, they also might have done just that. An administrator might
which would be an entirely new problem for thehave earlier caught the $70,000 in estimated losses from the continuation
city to address –
then it’s simple; city police should cease their policy of shutting commercial dumpster service, and could have
all these years of the
down alcohol sales after midnight unless it’s early Sunday the wise decision to end the service.
already made morn-
ing. Police don’t make the rules, in other words. Theyare constantly amazed at how much time and effort our elected
We enforce the
ones lawmakers create. We don’t need a city attorney’shave dedicated to serving our community. But how much time
officials ruling on
can the realisticall gi e to a m lti million dollar enterprise that is not
that – it’s the foundational separation between the courts and the
police.
Obviously, this situation is, potentially, both embarrassing and
litigious. Property owners who legally sell alcohol might have
cause for action if they have been subjected to a restriction that
wasn’t legal, especially if not enforced equally.
Law enforcement officials point to lower incident rates because
of their tighter restrictions as proof that their interpretation of the
ordinance should prevail. But city leaders must understand that

HARRIS AWARD FOR
EDITORIAL WRITING
All Weekly Division F R O M T H E E D I TO R I A L D E S K

Please, help us
AS GIMMICKS GO, the latest from our lieutenant governor is
transparently frivolous: the likelihood of the states calling a constitutional
F R O M T H E E D I TO R I A L D E S K health care reform is slim to nil.
convention to stop
The closest the nation has ever crept to such an event came in 1983, when
the 32nd state – two short of the two-thirds needed – applied to Congress for a

Second Place: convention to propose a balanced-budget amendment. The momentum waned
over Pandora’s Box concerns: no one was certain the agenda could be limited to
a single subject.
Even in the face of unpopular reform, the idea of giving modern-day
revisionists a free run at the U.S. Constitution is as disquieting now as it
was then. Which reveals the crusade Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer announced on

Greenville Deal is done, but Bourey can News for the ploy it is: to the to snipe at gubernatorial opponent
The key to Greenville City Manager
Fox still contribute a chance city's success
Henry McMaster for joining 16 other state attorneys general in a federal
lawsuit challenging the new health care law. to accept the
That council still voted
Jim Bourey’s litany of successes – andIt is primary season, after resignation is evidence that interesting
at
F R O M T H E E Dbottom,R I Athe D E S K now wants city manager’s his managerialquest raises an
I TO why L City Council
historical point: onlyfor all
all. But Bauer’s
Bourey, one federal constitutional convention has occurred
strengths,

Good work, City
him gone – can be summed up in a since our nation’s founding. But the states, individually, have held more
quote has taken too many risks with the

Journal he gave The Journal last week:

IN A DIPLOMATIC MOVEare to take aOF THE UN, you city of
you WORTHY risk, the less the get
than 600.
“I’m not reckless, but I think the more
cautious you are and the less willing
relationship that matters most.
If there was He failed to heed council’s growing
ever a state overdue a constitutional convention, it is South
Carolina. Seven have been held to date: inmost crucial
complaints about the one, 1776, 1790, 1861,1865, 1868, and
requirement when Gov. “Pitchfork” Ben Tillman and his fellow
of any elected official: to be
Greenville has managed to remove one of the biggest obstacles toinfamously, in 1895, about the critical issues
most
accomplished.” fully informed
municipal growth in SouthThis was the balance Bourey managed to ahead. Yet on a series of pivotal issues and over the other
conventioneers enshrined the Legislature as ruling authority
Carolina: the eternal turf war with single
purpose districts. two branches. They intended to dilute the impact of what historians called
strike for most of his six years at the helm decisions, council members say Boureyelected
Two weeks ago, city officials forged a partnership with the Wade Hampton fear of the day: that a black maninaccurate or governor.
of city government, and the payoff for
the obsessive
failed them with incomplete,
might be
Fire and Sewer District that Mayor Knox White rightfully calls “theTheir solution: strip the information –butthe pointmeager powers,
Greenville has been huge. most poorly timed governor of all to the most
important intergovernmental agreementa regular player on national fragment executive authority among dozens of independent agencies and
The city is the city has ever reached.” the majority finally lost confidence in the
Here it is: retroactive to Jan. 1, 2009,the most recent, the constitutional offices,relationship. subject to legislative veto.
Top Ten lists; Wade Hampton will provide working
and make it all

Susan Clary “Top Ten Great (Main) Streets in
steadfast foe of annexation into a friend. national finalists out
named one of six
by
USC history professor Walter Edgar once told The State newspaper he
fire protection to any properties within the district’s boundaries that
American Planning Association’s 2009
believes
America.” Last month, Fall’s Park was this
Specific complaints focused on Bourey’s
choose to become part of the city of Greenville. The result: Wade “most of the ills of 20th century South Carolina were set in place
perceived failure to keep the council
Hampton’s tax base is protected and Greenville has transformed a constitution.” about a potential 2009 budget
informed
deficit, problems with city efforts to
A simple realization made this possible, for the said: the former foes bury power lines, and the collapse of
of 88 contenders White Urban Land

Simmons were after two different things.
Institute’s Urban Open Space Award. In the city’s plan to buy and renovate the
Greenville’s primary goal is to grow its population, and accordingly, old Hitachi building into an operations
November, Greenville made Forbes.com’s
its economic development potential, White told Journal writer Cindy
Landrum. As for the fire district, tax base was paramount, said fire
chief Randy Edwards.
Every city annexation chipped away at Wade Hampton’s tax revenue
stream, jeopardizing its ability to provide services to the properties
that were left. So the district fought every annexation request, no
matter how logical in the sense of what annexation is truly about.
Cities exist because people living in close proximity need urban
services above and beyond those typically required by people who

HARRIS AWARD FOR
EDITORIAL WRITING
All Weekly Division
From the Editor
Race,
First Place: The Final Frontier
The Herald-Independent As has been noted previously here in this space, it
is no great secret that there still exists in this mod-
ern age a certain amount of racism. It is like a great

From the Editor
James Denton
stain that, for whatever reason, human beings sim-
ply cannot wash completely out.
The era of institutionalized racism is, thankfully,

The Hatchet
in our collective rearview mirror. Today, we all eat at
the same lunch counter, drink from the same water
fountain and go to the same schools. Yet, here in

and The Scalpel
Fairfield County, we are beginning to hear some fa-
miliar rhetoric. Chants and slogans and catch
phrases – and yes, even the “R” word itself; all of

It is no great secret that many municipalities, or 40 years ago.
which might have had a place 30

From The Editor like
Now, however, such a tone only serves to cloud
many of their taxpayers, are facing tighter and
the issue.
tighter budgets these days and thus are facing some
Last week, when a group of citizens and commu-

No Big Deal?
tough andnity leaders marched on the Fairfield County
serious choices.
The town of Ridgewayto express their opposition to the Cole-
Courthouse is no different.
But the man-Brown educationotherwise intended message,
very suggestion by an bills, the well-
meaning, whatever it may have been, that the
fiscally responsible councilman, was drowned out by
cries of racism and such distasteful phrases as
town could trim its budget significantly through the
elimination of its policePolitics.” And these weren’t shouts from
“Plantation
department seems so dras-
It may, on the surface, appear petty to the assembly. These were the words delivered down
tic as to border on the edge of irresponsibility.
squabble over a mere $1,275 spent on outside There isfrom the podium.councilman in ques-
no doubt that the
tion has his eye on the bottom line, understands
catering for the School District. After all, it is a
business and is making an honest effort to avoid
h i lf f i B h

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