2025 S.C. Press Association Awards Presentation (Part B)

THIRD PLACE

Brian Garner

The News & Reporter

SECOND PLACE

Jonathan

Brothers give back to linemen after storm

Two brothers provided a lesson in compassion and respect in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Braylon Owens and Sha’Marion Brown are seventh graders at Macedonia Elementary/Middle School (MEMS) in Blackville. After Hurricane Helene knocked power out to thousands of homes in the area, the brothers decided to help the linemen working to restore power.

“We heard our parents talking of how people were being silly and cussing them (linemen) out. We knew they were working hard to get everyone’s power back up and wanted to give back,” said Braylon.

Knowing these hard-working linemen were spending days or even weeks away from their own families in order to help other families led the brothers to buy bottled water, fruit, crackers, and other snacks.

On Sept. 29, they found an Edisto Electric crew nearby and delivered the supplies as a thank you.

“The drinks and snacks were

Questions are circulating around the status of a local artist’s State Fair award after competition officials found

Reporter reporter@thepeoplesentinel.com

and will conduct a thorough investigation into events. Every person involved be charged to the full extent of law,” said Dr. Cave.

“This violence must stop it will not be tolerated on school grounds. We urge everyone come together in support peace and respect. We are better than this and must do better community,” she said. As a result of this incident, the school implemented a lockdown protocol throughout school week “as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety well-being of students and staff,” said Dr. Cave. In part of this lockdown prevent further conflict and ensure a structured environment, school has limited building access allowing use of only designated entrances and exits. There will be increased supervision in common areas,

Macedonia Elementary-Middle School Principal Chelsea Calhoun, Braylon, Sha'Marion, and assistant principal Dr. Tara Stroman. Braylon and Sha'Marion were presented a gift from an anonymous community member for their act of kindness where they gave snacks to linemen.

Jonathan Vickery Publisher jvickery@thepeoplesentinel.com

GHOST

STORY

FIRST PLACE

Katherine Hutchinson

The Manning Times

the Civil War from pneumonia in a prisoner’s camp. His wife didn’t survive the shock

means of transportation, the ghost would haunt Kelly. “If in his road cart, hoof and wheels kept time with his,” Holladay wrote. The haunt ing only got worse for Kelly. The ghost followed him to his home where it would dash ahead of him and stamped angrily upstairs. the family would hear the rattling of dry bones, then a hollow, bumping sound. “Oh, he’s dropped the skull again,”

John B. Kelly would say.

BY KATHERINE HUTCHINSON mtsceditor@gmail.com

Bobby had just turned 12, finally old enough for his parents to let him go trick or treating on his own this year. He was so excited about going around Manning and scoring loads of candy on Halloween night. He had no idea what was in store for him.

The school day felt like it lasted an eternity, but Bobby was finally free to bike home and change into his robot costume and grab his candy bucket.

“Remember, stay in our neighborhood. And be home by 8,” his mom reminded him.

“I sure will, Mom.”

“Score some good candy for me while you’re out there,” she joked, tousling his hair.

Bobby promised he would and set off on what would turn into a Halloween adventure he would never forget.

Bobby decided to ride his bike to make better time and get more candy. He stopped at every house that had the porch light on, said ‘trick or treat’, and watched with excitement as his candy bucket got more and more full. By the time he made it to the last house, it was filled to the brim with yummy chocolate bars, squiggly sour gummy worms, and even a couple homemade spooky cookies.

Anxious to return home and dig in, he hopped back on his bike and headed towards his house. “Maybe I can even make it home before it gets dark,” he said to himself.

“When he picks it up this time he’ll go.” Holladay said quiet would soon follow. Kelly would soon move away in search of a quieter existence and greener grass in Sanford, Florida. The ghost didn’t follow; instead, it focused on Kelly’s sister, Mary. She refused to leave her family home, and eventually made peace with the ghost. “Once the ghost lent Aunty a helping hand,”

As he approached a newspaper rack on the sidewalk, he was pedaling as fast as he could and thinking of only one thing: candy. He was so distracted, he almost didn’t see the small kitten that had wandered into the middle of the sidewalk, in front of the newspaper rack. Thankfully, he was able to come to a stop in time.

“Well, hey little guy,” Bobby said, dismounting his bike and picking up the little kitten.

Holladay wrote. “She’d gotten stuck with a tenacious bachelor, one Nash Bogle, from down on Santee, who

was pressing his suit in hopes of greasing his fingers.” “Just let him dilly-dally on this of in the tangled woods right over the road. “Wha—what’s that?” A spooked Bogle said. “Oh, it’s only the family ghost,” Mary replied. Mary never saw Bogle again. After two years served, John B. Kelly died in

He glanced around hopefully, and spotted a mama cat with a litter tucked into her side in a nearby bush. He walked over to them and gently sat the misplaced kitty

down close to its mom, and smiled when it hobbled over on clumsy legs and nestled in closely with its relieved-looking mama.

Good deed of the day complete, Bobby noticed that darkness had fallen while he was occupied, so he headed back to his bike. He had leaned it against the newspaper rack because his kickstand was broken. Except when he returned, his bike had toppled over.

“That’s weird,” he said, “I could have sworn I was careful with how propped it up.”

But he shrugged and bent to pick it up so he could hurry home in the now-dark. However, as he placed his hands on the handlebars to pick the bike up, the door to the nearby newspaper rack popped open and whacked him on the head.

said, ‘He had been born with caul and had, since earliest childhood, been accustomed to seeing and hearing things not stationed in this world,’”

Spiders to silverfish, rodents to roaches, wasps to bees, we offer fast and effective solutions for every pest problem.

Don’t let the critters trick you this Halloween

“OW!” He exclaimed, shocked and slightly embarrassed. After a pause and a glance at the offending newspaper rack, he hopped on his bike and took off once again. He dared one last look over his shoulder before the rack was out of sight because he wanted to make sure nobody had been around to see a newspaper rack beat him up. What he saw made his blood turn cold. The newspaper rack had turned to face him, and he could have sworn it was several dozen feet further down the road than it had been! Was it chasing him? Was he losing his mind?

Night of the living newspaper racks

and worried about what was behind him, his steering was all over the place. Bobby didn’t see the tree coming. He ran smack into it and toppled from his bike, the candy bucket in his bike basket flying into the air and spilling candy everywhere. While he was gathering himself, he heard a bonechilling noise. The noise of a metal newspaper rack scraping across pavement. It was chasing him just like the other one had, and gaining on him quickly. Before he knew it, it was only a couple of feet away.

Still shaken from the bike crash and shocked to his core, Bobby could think of nothing to do except press himself as close to the tree as he could get and await the inevitable.

The newspaper rack was tilting forward, as if it planned to crush him to death. He let out a scared whimper and squeezed his eyes shut, thinking about how he was going to die before he could even have a single piece of his Halloween candy.

Just as he thought it was all over, the porch light on the house to high right blinked on, and the newspaper rack went motionless and inanimate. The door slammed open. It was his neighbor, Mrs. Maynard. “What is going on out here?” she demanded, shocked by the odd scene that greeted her.

Bobby decided to ignore it and drive faster. He wasn’t too far from home now. If he could just make it there, he could go inside, get under his covers, and pretend none of it ever happened. But, as he turned onto his street, he saw a terrifying sight. He had forgotten there was a newspaper rack there too!

He chugged his legs as hard as he could in an effort to pass in front of the second newspaper rack as quickly as possible and without incident. No such luck. The newspaper rack’s door opened and it started hurling newspapers at him.

One hit him in the leg, and he was surprised at how badly it stung. “These newspaper racks have some serious throwing power,” he exclaimed aloud, continuing his ride home.

Holladay wrote. “His time for crossing Kelly branch was immaterial. He considered the antics of the ghost as just, ‘some of those things.’” The family eventually parted ways from the home, where two different generations noted the ghost’s existence. Eventually, the house was torn down, where a more modern structure was built. The ghost hasn’t been heard from since.

Another newspaper came hurling towards his head, but he sensed the air moving as it got close and he was able to duck and avoid it, but he was now so panicked

Happy ARENDO

Unsure how he could explain the situation, Bobby just laughed awkwardly and said, “Oh nothing, Mrs. Maynard. Just playing a Halloween trick.” He stood and got back on his bike that thankfully, was still in working order. He rode off and was in his own yard before Mrs. Maynard could even form a response.

After telling his mom he lost his candy in a bike crash but that he was okay, Bobby wanted to go straight to bed. But his dad called out “Hey, Bobby, I have some exciting news. I know you are trying to save up to buy a new bike, so I got you a small part time job.”

“Really? Where?”

“At The Manning Times. Delivering papers and refilling the newspaper racks!” Bobby just swallowed nervously and looked out the window. Three newspaper racks were on the sidewalk

Outside of features, it is rare that reporters get to explore the creative side of the newspaper. When given the opportunity to so, Katherine Hutchinson did. This is a delightful essay and the ending makes me wonder if there is a sequel waiting to be written?

SPOOKY STORY

FIRST PLACE

Larry Hilliard

The Gaffney Ledger

Nominations being accepted for Chamber’s awards banquet

The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nomi- nations for its annual awards banquet. Chamber members and Cherokee County residents are asked to submit nominations for the following: Duke Energy for Public Service is pre- sented to a business or an individual who participates in activities that set a standard and foster a culture for citizen- ship, service, and community respon- sibility. They should demonstrate a commitment to service and/or civic participation over a sustained period. In addition to this, the nomi- nees should demonstrate one or more of the follow- ing business values: inte- grity, inclusion,stewardship,initiative, team- work, and accountability. The Business of the Year Award is pre- sented to a business in good standing with the Chamber and has shown no- table entrepreneurial and business ac- complishments. The award honors a member business for outstanding con- tributions to the economic health and quality of life in Cherokee County. The Hall of Fame Award is awarded to an individual who has made a signifi- cant ongoing contribution to Cherokee County’s business landscape and the

general community at large for many years. The individual and/or their busi- ness are seen as longtime leaders and in- novators in their industry sector and have made a valuable contribution to the general community of Cherokee County. The nominees should demonstrate good character and are generally seen as a ‘pillar’ of the local business community. Any chamber member may nominate a business for recognition (including their own), and only chamber member businesses are eligible for recognition. In general, no- minees should be those whose business practices and professional conduct contribute to a sense of fel- lowship among all local businesses, and which helps to promote Cherokee County as a good place in which to do

Nominationsbusiness.should be made in the form of a letter of recommendation and sent via email to info@cherokee- chamber.org or by mailing to the Chamber at 225 South Limestone Street, Gaffney, SC 29340. Nominations are due by Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. The letter should state the reasons why the individ- ual or business is worthy of the honor. For more information, call (864) 489- 5721.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Washington plays Michigan in the College Football Playoff championship game on Monday, with the Huskies look- ing for their first national title since 1991 and the Wolverines going for their first since 1997.

Both teams are in their first CFP title game. It will be only the third time that a pair of 14-0 teams have met. The Huskies have won 21 straight games, including each of the last 10 by 10 points or less. The Wolverines lost in the CFP semi- finals the last two years and are the first Big Ten team since Ohio State in 2015 to reach the final.

Washington quarterback Michael

Wanting to see the match completed, wrestlers and spectators got the bright idea to turn on their cellphone lights to keep the final girls match going.

Gym goes dark during girls’ wrestling match

By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Sports Editor larry@gaffneyledger.com

Penix Jr. is the Heisman Trophy runner- up and the first player to throw for 4,500 yards in back-to-back seasons since Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes in 2015- 16. Michigan has the nation's top de- fense, allowing 250 yards and 10.2 points per game.

Here’s how to watch the game: The game is Monday with kickoff shortly after 7:30 p.m. Eastern. What channel is the game on? ESPN will broadcast the game. How to stream the game: Viewers whose services includes ESPN or ESPN+ can watch on the net- work’s streaming platforms.

The Gaffney High wrestling team was hoping to steal the spotlight in a highly- anticipated region matchup Thursday with perennial power Dorman. Until the lights — literally — went out.

The power outage, which left the en- tire Gaffney High School in complete darkness, happened around 7 p.m. dur- ing the final match between the girls’ wrestlingWantingteams. to see the match completed, wrestlers and spectators got the bright idea to turn on their cellphone lights to keep the final girls match going. With the power still out, officials then decided to cancel the boys’ match, leav- ing spectators to find their way out of the school through the still-dark gymna- sium and commons area.

Superintendent Dr. Dana Fall said the

Fast thinking by the spectators enabling them to see a match finished, was genius. The broader story underscores the need for more thorough inspections of primary systems like lighting.

Scoreless through the first three quarters, Lauren Mathis erupted for all 16 of her points, including five 3-pointers, in the fourth quarter, to lead the Lady Indians to a 57-53 win at Clover

district’s schools should be equipped with emergency flood lights as a backup system to ensure visibility during a power outage.

Apparently, the backup lighting sys- tem malfunctioned as well. Fall said the district would look into whether the emergency lights worked properly since it’s a safety issue. “We haven’t had a chance to do a deep dive into it yet,” Fall said Friday morn- ing, regarding the high school power outage. “I’m just thankful the power came back on in time for school.” Board of Public Works General Man- ager Donnie Hardin said the power out- age was limited to the high school and several businesses near the Nestle’s out- let on Hyatt Street. He said a not-so-wise owl tripped a breaker on a power line. Power was restored in about 30 minutes, Hardin said.

The Gaffney-Dorman boys’ wrestling match will be rescheduled — and this time, God willing, let there be light(s).

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Leigh Savage Greenville Journal

Mike McCombs The Island News

SHORT STORY

FIRST PLACE

Mike McCombs &

The Island News

Love the headline, this is the sort of short piece that keeps people reading the paper.

Delayna Earley

STORY

THIRD PLACE

Martha Rose Brown

The Times and Democrat

SECOND PLACE

Martha Rose Brown

The Times and Democrat

Just don’t expect Smart to come right out and say it. Deflecting several versions of the same question — essentially, what’s it going to be like to face an Alabama team that’s not coached by Saban? — Smart kept the focus squarely on the two powerhouse programs that will meet Saturday night on Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“No, I don’t expect it to be strange,” Smart said Monday. “That’s just the normal course of progression.”

Still, there’s no getting around the major issue hanging over a rivalry that largely has charted the course of the Southeastern Conference for nearly a decade.

Saban is not a part of it anymore — other than his duties as an analyst for ESPN’s “College GameDay,” which will be on hand in Tuscaloosa as the No. 2 Bulldogs (3-0, 1-0 SEC) face the No. 4 Crimson Tide (3-0, 0-0).

Smart was on Saban’s staff for more than a decade, soaking up every bit of wisdom he could glean from perhaps the greatest coach in college football history.

After the 2015 season, Smart departed Tuscaloosa to take over the good-butnot-quite-great program at his alma mater, quickly pushing the Bulldogs to that next level.

You know, the spot at the top of the conference held by Saban’s Crimson Tide. Georgia captured the SEC crown in Smart’s second season, only to be defeated in the national title game by Alabama in an overtime thriller.

Saban beat his former assistant three more times — twice with the league championship on the line, another time in a regular season — before Smart finally broke through with a 33-18 victory in the national championship game at the end of the 2021 season. That was the first of two straight national titles for Smart’s Bulldogs, moving them to the pinnacle of college football’s hierarchy, but it was Saban who delivered the final salvo to his former pupil.

After Georgia breezed

‘Working like crazy’

Triston Lewis scores 3 times in comeback

By ANDREW CHODES achodes@indexjournal.com

The Eagles are soaring, and look no further than star quarterback Triston Lewis for their early success.

Lewis powered Greenwood (3-1, 1-0 region) last week to a comeback victory over TL Hanna behind 292 total yards and three scores, earning recognition as the Wesley Commons Player of the Week for Week 3.

Week 3 Helmet Stickers

The Index-Journal awards Helmet Stickers for other outstanding performances across the Lakelands worthy of recognition. Below are a few more studentathletes who went above and beyond for their teams in Week 4:

n Jayden Foulks (Saluda): Two interceptions, one pick-6

n Brady Wilson (Greenwood Christian): 62 yards and three total touchdowns

n Chris Dean (Emerald): 77 rushing yards and a touchdown

“It’s a great feeling, but really more of a credit to my offensive line and wide receivers,” Lewis said. “If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be in this situation.”

Through four games, Lewis is up to 10 total touchdowns and more than 1,100 yards of offense. Greenwood’s defense has been the star of the show for most of the young season, but Friday’s region-opening victory showcased a new dynamic from the Eagles’ offense – a resilient factor which Lewis was

See CRAZY, page 3B

FIRST PLACE Cam Adams Index-Journal

See SMART, page 3B

To the (Lo)max

Abbeville’s Damarcus Leach rides horses to alleviate life’s pressures

By CAM ADAMS cadams@indexjournal.com

ABBEVILLE — There’s a lot of pressure on Damarcus Leach. He leads an Abbeville football team that’s almost expected to win a state championship this fall. He plays on both sides of the ball, too, commanding the offense at quarterback and managing the defense at safety.

Not to mention, Leach is a four-star prospect committed to South Carolina with several other Power Four offers. It takes a lot

to tune out that noise.

But Leach? He just hops on a horse.

“The horse probably helps me more than I help it. Keeps me stress free, just keeps my mind clear,” Leach said. “(The horse) doesn’t ever make me feel like I’m overworked or overstimulated.

“Whenever I do, I just go throw my boots on and go ride horses, and everything pretty much works itself out.”

Leach has been riding horses since his uncle, Dorian Bolden,

taught him when he was about 4 years old. Ever since, he’s just always loved it. Leach goes on trail rides with Bolden, and they often bring their horses to Christmas parades between the Carolinas and Georgia.

Sometimes, Leach just likes to ride around, have quality time with his horses and, occasionally, his teammates.

“It’s always fun,” Leach said. “You’ve always gotta keep up, check up on them, make sure

See HORSES, page 3B

CAM ADAMS INDEX-JOURNAL

Abbeville quarterback and safety Damarcus Leach rides his horse, Peaches.

Well written, well organized, great quotes from nephew and uncle. The sparse descriptions paint vivid word pictures – I can see this “boy and his horse” story. I can feel the stress rolling off Demarcus’ back. Nicely done.

congratulates the Index Journal “Player of the Week”

NICK SABAN

KALEN DEBOER

THIRD PLACE

John Boyette Aiken Standard

SECOND PLACE

Matthew Christian Aiken Standard

FIRST PLACE

Jason Lee

The Sun News

Hilarious and highly relatable, the piece perfectly captures the essence of Myrtle Beach. Bob Duato: enough said.

FIRST PLACE

Alan Hovorka

The Post and Courier

This story quickly summarizes a dramatic lawsuit in a short story. Not to mention the way the details are presented make it an interesting and entertaining read. The reporter showed how to masterfully get the best highlights of the situation without being wordy.

By Vic MacDonald

Losing Steam

By Vic MacDonald Editor

We tried to keep going, but on Saturday, we just ran out of steam.

“Steam” Stevens was remembered Saturday as a radio journalist, a friends to the underdog, one of those who held the flag in tribute to others, and all-around good guy.

South Carolina Patriot Guard Riders posted: Announcements Passing of Randy “Steam” Stevens (5/11/2024) It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the sudden passing of our former Vice President of Captains, Randy “Steam” Stevens. Randy was not only a dedicated member of our organization but also an inspirational leader whose guidance and passion were inStevens, 6

FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 2024

FIRST PLACE

Cissy Terlizzi The Twin-City News

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1925

VOL. 98, NO. 23 • ONE DOLLAR

Spradley, former Batesburg mayor, fire chief remembered

BY CISSY TERLIZZI

The Batesburg-Leesville community is bidding farewell to a man who distinguished himself as a model citizen in many capacities. Dr. Elza S. “Sandy” Spradley passed away at his home on Monday, May 27, at the age of 80. A lifelong resident of Batesburg, Spradley served as the last mayor of the town of Batesburg before being elected the first mayor of the town of Batesburg-Leesville following consolidation in 1992.

Prior to his terms as mayor, Spradley served the town in a variety of

Spradley

roles. In 1964 he joined the Batesburg Volunteer Fire Department and served in every office of the department, eventually becoming fire chief in 1976, a position he held for 17 years. He later earned the emergency medical technician and paramedic certifications, and was instrumental in the establishment of the local rescue squad and raising funds for

the town’s first ambulance. He also served as a member of the Batesburg Town Council and as water commissioner.

“My dad was a quiet leader,” said Spradley’s younger son Chip. “He didn’t say much but when he did it was important.”

As the first mayor of the consolidated town, Spradley navigated Batesburg-Leesville through the redistricting and the formation of a new town government.

Rita Crapps, who served on the

See SPRADLEY, Page 2

Submitted photo

Firefighters load the casket of Elza “Sandy” Spradley on BLFD Engine 262. Spradley served as fire chief of the Batesburg Volunteer Fire Department for 17 years.

Well written. Concise. Touching.

2nd try to fire town manager

THIRD PLACE

First day speed bumps

Vaughn. He is new to Lancaster, but has been an elementary school principal for the last five years in Union County. His energy and passion for the job was evident in how he interacted with the students at McDonald Green.

BUS ISSUES

also getting to know our new principal.”

While the car line at McDonald Green went

That new principal is Terry

Veterans react to controversy over Walz

BY ANDREW S. BROWN

ABROWN@THELANCASTERNEWS.COM

LANCASTER, S.C. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic Party’s nominee for vice president, has received push back over allegations of “stolen valor.”

Three Lancaster County veterans weighed in on the national controversy.

BY ROBERT HOWEY CORRESPONDENT

LANCASTER, S.C. — R&B and rock ‘n’ roll icon

Maurice Williams’ music took him across the globe and atop the hit charts, but he never forgot his hometown of Lancaster.

Williams, who died Aug. 6 at the age of 86, produced an extraordinary music career due to a simple trait.

“He was a nice guy,” said Earl Gainey, 86, friends with Williams since their childhood. “He had a good disposition, and we had a beautiful relationship.”

That special relationship included Gainey being an original member of Williams’ band, which in time

Diamond Debut

Doug Julin, retired command sergeant major of the Minnesota National Guard, oversaw Walz in the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery.

Julin told the Washington Post that Walz “let his troops down” and went around him to and retire prior to their deployment.

Julin says he and another commander received a NOS (notification of sourcing) in the fall 2004 to begin preparing the team to go to Iraq. Julin said by February 2005, the entire battalion was beginning to meet and get familiar with one another. The unit knew they were going to be deployed to Iraq. Walz was at the meeting and gave Julin a “warning order” that he had put a bid in

run for Congress, but was not yet

Town is 1 of 3 in S.C. to be selected

no cost to the town.

The Green Infrastructure Center and the S.C. Forestry Commission’s Urban and Community Forestry Program have joined forces to champion urban forestry initiatives across South Carolina through the new Trees4SC program.

The program is 100% grant funded, with no match required by the town. The funding is coming from the USDA Forest Service, courtesy of the Inflation Reduction Act, for tree care and planting in disadvantaged and underserved communities.

The Trees4SC program will equitably distribute access to trees and the many benefits they provide for clean water, reduced flooding, clean air, shade and beautification.

Three cities, including Kershaw, were selected to receive technical support to plan for and plant trees over the next two years, with a total of 12 cities assisted over the next four years. In 2024, Darlington and Lake City join Kershaw as the first communities to participate in the program.

Gus remembered for his helping hand, love for all

BY ROBERT HOWEY CORRESPONDENT

KERSHAW, S.C. — Alan

Sims, a longtime friend of Gus Deligiannidis and fellow restauranteur, said there’s an extraordinary irony that Deligiannidis died on Valentine’s Day.

“No matter when Gus died, I would be sad, because we all loved him, but it being Valentine’s Day was really special,” said Sims, who bought Gus’s House of Pizza from his old friend two years ago. “Gus

reached out to people with his heart and he put his heart and soul in his work.” Sims said the Deligiannidis family had a remarkable way to assess Gus’ passing with his wife of 50 years Effie at his side the morning of Valentine’s Day.

“They said Gus died in Effie’s arms,” Sims said. “Gus fell asleep in her arms and is

now with the saints. Effie was his No. 1 love.”

Sims, a lifetime friend of the Deligiannidis family, recalled he told Gus as mere 4-year-old that he was going to buy his restaurant one day.

“I said that often over the years, and finally a couple of years ago Gus took me seriously and he talked with his family because family was first with Gus, and they all agreed,” Sims said.

Sims, who left an education career as a teacher in the Andrew Jackson area two

years ago, learned a great deal from Gus before taking over with a big apron to fill at the South Hampton Street restaurant in Kershaw.

“He had high standards in the kitchen,” Sims said.

“One factor, among many, he stressed was that the meal he was cooking now was like he was cooking for his family. He stressed the meal, no matter who it was for, was going to be top notch.”

Sims noted Gus was a “hard worker.”

“Gus’ work was reflected

in his restaurants,” Sims said. “He had a thriving business. Gus knew what to expect from people and they knew what to expect from him.”

In addition to his Kershaw restaurant, Gus also owned Gus’s Family Pizza Restaurant in Lancaster on South Main Street.

In 2016, Deligiannidis received the Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year award. Presenter

Mac Banks

Andrew Jackson and Buford high schools kicked off their softball season this week in the Battle of the Border tournament at Buford. Buford High’s Caroline Plyler hits the ball during the Yellow Jackets’ game against Parkwood High on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

Buford’s Laney Allen throws a pitch during the Yellow Jackets’ softball game against Parkwood High on Tuesday. See tournament story on page A5.

Mac Banks

Gus Deligiannidis

OBITUARY DIVISIONS D & E COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Abbie Sossamon

The Gaffney Ledger

Here we go again.

Several months after the filing for Cherokee County Council and the state legislature for June’s primaries, filing has opened for political hopefuls interested in running for the Cherokee County School Board, Gaffney City Council and Blacksburg Town Council in August.

Filing officially opened Thursday in the Gaffney mayor race, Gaffney City Council, five Cherokee County School Board seats and two spots on Blacksburg Town Council.

In perhaps the most closely watched election, Gaffney

Sara Setzer poses with one of her artworks that was featured in a 2022 CAVA exhibit that highlighted her 55 years of artmaking.

only candidate to file as of Thursday afternoon.

The 2-week filing period ends at noon on Thursday, June 13.

None of the incumbent council members Harold Littlejohn (District 1), Missy Reid Norris (District 4) or District 6’s Kasey Carnley have officially announced their intention to run again. A 3-term councilman, Littlejohn, in particular, has been vague about his intentions. Candidates will pay a $200 filing fee to run for the Cherokee County School Board in August.

This year’s election involves five school board seats currently held by school trustee J.J. Sarratt (District 2),

Candidates must file at the Cherokee County Board of Voter Registration and Elections office in the county administration building on Railroad Avenue. Filing fees are paid by candidates at the time of filing to run for office. Candidates are required to file a Statement of Economic Interests and a Campaign Disclosure online with the State Ethics Commission at http://ethics.sc.gov.

The elections will be held Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Art — and cats — were her passion

By ABBIE SOSSAMON Ledger News Editor abbie@gaffneyledger.com

Quirky, outspoken, and passionate, Sara Dame Setzer was an artist, an advocate for cats and a doer.

Described by fellow artists as “the heart and soul of CAVA,” Setzer died Sunday morning surrounded by her cats and her art, just as she had wanted.

Setzer found herself in Gaffney in 1968 when she accepted a position at Limestone College as an art professor. She would continue to mold the minds of young artists at the school for 30 years and retired as Professor Emeritus of Art.

Shelba Cook, a former student turned friend of Setzer, recalled her as being “a dang good artist and a dang hard professor.”

“Sara never asked anyone to do something she hadn’t done twice herself,” Cook said. “I was an art education major and it was my education professor’s job to observe me in the class, but Sara would come and visit all her students, even though she wasn’t supposed to. She was very helpful to us, but she was also very, very strict.

“One day another student and I were in the ceramics lab when Sara came in and told us, ‘Well hmmm, you girls should be in the painting lab’,” Cook said in a perfect impression of Setzer’s unmistakable voice.

“We were working so hard to finish

up our projects and would work until dark when they would lock up the lab. In the morning we would hunt down whoever to open it back up.”

The student-teacher relationship turned into friendship when Cook became involved in the Cherokee Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA), an organization that Setzer was a founding member of. Describing Setzer as a worker, Cook noted how particular she was in how each piece of art was hung for the exhibits.

“She was so good at it, she would get her yardstick out and everything had to be precise in where it needed to be,” Cook said. “She would do an excellent job and have shows that were outstanding and outstandingly put together.”

CAVA President Noah Lindemann who knew Setzer for nearly 40 years also recalled her attention to detail when preparing for a new exhibit.

“Sara was a perfectionist, and every detail was well thought out,” he said. “Hanging a show was in and of itself a work of art, and sometimes a challenge to those who helped, but always remarkable.”

Setzer compiled more than 55 years of art making, half of which were created while at Limestone. In 2022, CAVA honored Setzer with a retrospective exhibit of her works.

Of the exhibit, Setzer said it was special and not something to take for

granted as many artists aren’t awarded such significance until after their death.

“It’s nice to have this one while I’m still here,” she said in a Ledger article.

Current Limestone art professor

Carolyn Ford noted Setzer’s death leaves a big hole in Cherokee County’s art community. Setzer was passionate in showcasing the cultural and historical aspects of the town and the artistic and creative people. Although the two never worked together at Limestone, Ford knew from former students the kind of professor Setzer was.

“She had rigor, she had discipline and her students respected her,” Ford noted. “At times they would fear her, but they respected her. If she threw out a compliment, you took it because she didn’t dole those out for just anything. I think that’s why so many of her students respected her because she had an eye. She didn’t want mediocre work, she wanted excellence.”

Setzer kept relationships with many former students and followed their work as artists. It wasn’t unusual for her to attend students’ art shows throughout the years or for them to stop by her house for tea. But her passion extended beyond canvases and paintbrushes. She had a big heart for the felines of Cherokee County and helped start TNR (trap, neuter, release) program l See PASSION, Page 2

Blacksburg developing plans for downtown upgrades

A sheer delight to read: I knew (and liked) Sara Dame Setzer two grafs in and was happy to see her life receiving great tribute. Covered the breadth and scope of her life in a sympathetic way that communicated tribute without being too saccharin.

By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

BY ALAYSHA MAPLE alaysha@theitem.com

“Our childhood, our whole

seemed to revolve

SEACO Music,”

Morisey, the

of

“happening

was very

to

Til

about

“The

for its humongous selection of hardto-find 45 [Rpm vinyl] albums. Many people would come in looking for Fender guitars, and think all the people coming in and out that were musicians really piqued his interest.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Brooks Wilkinson drums with a smile. He died in April at 66. Brooks Wilkinson and his wife, Shannan, perform on stage. He was owner and operator of SEACO Music and member of Prime Tyme band.

Affectionately describing him as a jokester and mischievous, Morisey also knew her brother possessed natural-born talent and could attract people wherever he went. The influence of local talent “formed who he was” and ignited his need to share his love for music the strength to thrive, according to Dave Auerbach. Auerbach, after settling in Sumter from California in 2005, came upon a job ad in The Sumter Item for a guitar teacher at SEACO Music. He recounted his first encounter with Wilkinson and the store as one of his “greatest memories.”

I’ll never forget this; he says, ‘No, have a sixth sense about musicians.’” For two years, Wilkinson allowed Auerbach to host guitar classes, rent free, inside the music store. He had faith in the musician’s skills, taking any opportunity possible to brag on Auerbach’s education from the Musicians Institute in California. The two became good friends as years went on, Auerbach playing alongside the Wilkinsons, hosting student showcases at Pizza Lane and leading drum and guitar lessons for budding musicians inside the music store.

Throughout this time, Brooks shared his time at SEACO with another space that encourages expression through music: church. First Church of God in Sumter, to be exact. Here, he helped establish the praise team and played drums “joyfully,” worshipping God from his drum riser for more than 21 years.

“I met him a little over 30 years ago when first decided I really wanted to pursue music seriously. I ended up in SEACO Music, and from day one, he was so supportive of local musicians. He always had an encouraging word,” said Kevin Jarvis, praise team director at First Church of God. Jarvis started out as a sound man at the church, before playing for the praise team to being its worship leader. He recalled Wilkinson always being “willing to play, willing to learn.”

“He just brought a joy and a

“I walked in, and I asked him, ‘I heard you’re looking for a guitar teacher?’ He told me, ‘We’ve had a few teachers, and they either didn’t seem to like it or it didn’t work out. I’ve been collecting a list of students that want to take lessons once we get a teacher.’ He hands me the list, and he’s like, ‘You want to go ahead and call these people?’” Auerbach recalled. “I asked, ‘Aren’t you going to want to hear me play?’

sense of humor to everything that kept everybody smiling. He just gave it his all. Whenever he played, you could tell he was giving 100%,” he shared.

“He was so selfless and giving of his time and talents any time it was needed.”

While God came first, music was a close second, except when it came to family. His love for God showed in the way he loved his family — his daughter, Leah, and son, Dakota, specifically — friends, church members and customers. He would have health struggles, leading him to temporarily step away from what he loved. He would come back full force after beating two kinds of cancers against all odds, living 13 years past the time doctors originally set for him. His faith was unbreakable, and anyone who was willing to lend an ear would know as he declared “his God could do the impossible.”

“He was an ambassador for God,” Morisey expressed. “He’s just one of those people that the world is a better place because of him.”

Shannan couldn’t agree more, as photos of her husband’s radiant smile rest on the walls of SEACO Music. His smile wasn’t a rare sight, his jokes weren’t a rare occurrence, and his uplifting drumming was a familiar sound to her and many others. Though all who love him dearly will miss him here on Earth, they find comfort in knowing he and his dear friend, the late Francis Hanna, are jamming up there with the greats. Wilkinson passed away on April 18. He was 66.

FIRST PLACE

Alaysha Maple

JUDITH K. ‘MISS JUDY’ LESSARD • 1941 - 2024

Remembering Judy Lessard

Family says matriarch’s life was filled with joy, generosity and the Golden Arches

BY ALAYSHA MAPLEalaysha@theitem.com

Mornings at the Broad Street McDon- ald’s will never be the same for some. In 2023, The Sumter Item wrote how community pillar Judith K. “Miss Judy” Lessard had surpassed 42 years of serv- ing a hot cup of coffee and a smile to match to just about every customer who passed through those Golden Arches. The morning coffee runs will look different now, as Judy retired to her heavenly home on June 24, 2024, at age 82. Born and raised on a farm in Nebras- ka, Lessard married her college sweet- heart, the late Henry Thomas Lessard, before traveling the world with him on his tours in the United States Air Force. Vietnam to double tours in England to Arizona led the family to settle down in

SEE MISS JUDY, PAGE A12

Children learn about tech, travel to sites across state during annual summer camp

Kidz Klub STREAM Camp participants learn how to record a the campers are offered educational activities and trips.

BY SARAH SONNTAG

sarah@theitem.com

Mt. Pisgah Church Pastor Dr. as, community leader White, director of for the city Lefford sha Billie-Geter of County Sheriff’s Department officer Jarquis Brown Police“WeDepartment. always try to ture program that we

PHOTO PROVIDED Judy Lessard and her daughter-in-law, Jamie, spend time at The Grove Assisted Living, where Judy volunteered for many years.

THIRD PLACE

The Island Packet

SECOND PLACE

Evan McKenna

Andrew Dys

The Herald

FIRST PLACE

Jason Lee

The Sun News

This was probably the most difficult category that I’ve ever had to judge, as I wish every entry could receive recognition. A lot of heartfelt, very well written submissions, but this one in particular just struck me as the perfect obit story in the way that it summed up an interesting, and clearly beloved, member of a local community.

DIVISION A

THIRD PLACE

Anna Sharpe

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE Staff

The Post and Courier

OBITUARY DIVISION A

FIRST PLACE

Megan Fernandes

The Post and Courier

This writer did an amazing job making an “ordinary” man extraordinary and impacting the community. The storytelling was fabulously done and free of errors.

COLUMN OR EDITORIAL WRITING

HONORABLE MENTION

Tom Poland

Troubadour Of The Night

Three a.m. I looked out my bedroom window to see eyes aglow with foxfire. I could not see its head its mouth, but from it came the sweetest, most melancholy song. Just like that I was so lonely I could cry.

A triplet of birdsong comes to me now. I love the bobwhite’s piercing whistle. And the mockingbird’s a virtuoso that pours its little heart into many a melody. Another bird though, one you never see to me is by far the supreme songbird. Being Southern, an Alabama boy, Hank knew the music, and living in the South as you do, you do too. The troubadour of the night the twilight soloist without question, is the whippoorwill.

Birders know my songster as the Eastern whip-poor-will. Yes I know its range covers the eastern U.S. but to me it’s a Southerner for what’s a Southern evening without its dulcet song. And now I hear cicadas of another kind add a sawmill whine refrain to nature’s symphony. But we have annual cicadas come summer, and how we’d miss their call if they left.

Yes, down South, nature blesses our days and nights with music. Cicadas’ rising-falling singsong gives summer days rhythm, a pleasing crescendo decrescendo. Just past sundown, katydids chime in with their nightshift song, a castanet patter backed by cricket chitter. And then from an isolated outpost, the lilting call of a whip-poor-will drifts through darkness. The whip-poor-will’s lament will haunt you. Title its mournful song, “Desolation.”

There’s another name for our desolate troubadour of the night, nightjar. The name comes from Europeans, but their nightjars don’t make music anywhere sweet as our evening companion’s three-note song Each time I hear that melodic, repetitive, mesmerizing call I’m so lonely I could cry. The night I heard the music and looked out my boyhood window at 3 a.m. I was 14 or so. We had just buried one of our family dogs. The troubadour of the night perched on a backyard cedar pole. A male whip-poor-will found the perch, bereft of the birdhouse, to its liking. It sat there eulogizing the night with its song.

City dwellers in your country wanderings you’ve heard this night song. Don’t you miss the call of this nocturnal bird? I surely do. And we may miss it much more than we think It’s on the decline. Thank you modern world with your insecticides, brush-clearing machines, and prowling cats.

Glory be to the bird that’s bigger than a robin but smaller than a crow. It’s famous. Poems, songs, I daresay literature, pay homage to our troubadour. “Like a flute in the woods,” wrote Longfellow. “Oh whippoorwill you make my heart stand still.” That lyric comes from the Ozark Mountain Daredevils

“Whippoorwill.” And then there’s this. They lay their eggs in phase with the lunar cycle. Little whip-poorwills come into this life about 10 days before a full moon.

Beautify your life. Mark the calendar. On a night when the moon is near full, sit on your porch, deck, or open a window and listen. Mom and dad whip-poor-will be foraging, bringing home the bacon to their nestlings. Perchance you’ll hear our Southern troubadour.

“‘Perchance I’ll see one,’ you say?” No

I have yet to see its complicated mottling of gray and brown rendering it near invisible on bark and leaf litter. I may have seen one flutter across my headlights, maybe, but I hear its sad poignant call, and I have yet to see its round, fine head and mustached bill, but I hope to before I die. And when I do I’d like for someone to play its lilting call at my funeral. Just sixty seconds’ worth. Maybe someone will recall I wrote this little troubadour story. Maybe someone will feel so lonesome they could cry.

THIRD PLACE Aida Rogers

SECOND PLACE

Ken Makin

COLUMN OR EDITORIAL WRITING

When A Church Dies

Some linger in woods. Some stand, for now, at the end or side of a dirt road. Some hide behind other buildings, and some haunt the edge of hamlets and villages.

Abandoned churches. How does a church die? I know that things change, that people move away, that often an elderly congregation has no youth to replace it and that towns die and an exodus takes place. People leave a church when it’s no longer possible to carry on. I like to think that when that day of dread arrives, a congregation of three or four sings a hymn, prays, and then cries as they shut the door for the last time.

In the past few years I’ve photographed abandoned churches in South Carolina and Georgia, my province of Georgialina. My wanderings have taken me to churches named Friendship in Georgia and Dothan in an extinct South Carolina community known as Morgana. Morgana, say it again. What a beautiful word as in Fata Morgana, a mirage, and what you see here is a kind of mirage, a church that is not a church anymore. You see the shell of a church. A church dies when its congregation is no more.

FIRST PLACE

Tom Poland

Some cling to life through the kindness of others such as Barrs Chapel in Edgefield County. I read that services take place there twice a year, once in autumn and at Christmas when a candlelight service takes place. And I’ve stopped by Friendship Baptist Church near Tignall, Georgia. A long steel cable runs from the church to a tree. Best I figure that’s to keep it from falling over.

Many old churches still have pews and a piano. (I heard the beautiful and haunting tale of a forester who taught himself to play a piano in an abandoned church.)

Some churches command me to visit them. On A Sunday in April I drove to Peak, South Carolina. I was on a quest. I sought the St. Simon’s Episcopal Church, but finding it wasn’t easy. The old church hid behind a home and you had to know just where and when to look or you’d miss it. I missed it. Missed it more than once. Flustered I parked near a building to figure out what to do when by a stroke of good luck, I spotted a gentleman and asked him where it was. A pillar of the community, Dr. Carroll Pinner, led me to the church. Engraved into the church’s cornerstone wreathed in vines is 1900, a cross, and an ear. The old carpenter gothic church still stands. She’s ailing though. Members of the Pinner family, Peak community, and others hope to restore the church but help is needed. More on that to come.

The church is beautiful and historic. It’s had a significant impact on civil rights in South Carolina and has ties to astronaut Maj. Gen. Charles F. Bolden. With the help of a friend of St. Simon’s Church, Buddy Johnson of Little Mountain I hope to sit down with the Reverend Simon P. Bouie to get details on the church’s history and legacy. Buddy sent me a document that says the church had its beginnings as an African American Episcopal congregation in 1889 under the leadership of Reverend G.E. Howell.

It may be, I’m told, the earliest instance of an integrated school in South Carolina, long before any civil rights movement began. I’ll be returning to this story in a magazine feature where I will be armed with much more information. For now “When A Church Dies” is a sad familiar refrain other inactive and abandoned churches know so well. As Peak’s population declined, attendance at St. Simon’s dropped. By the 1 920s regular services were pretty much a thing of the past.

As my Grandmother Walker faced the inevitable, she told me more than once that all her friends were in the ground. That’s how an abandoned church must feel. All its members are in the ground. It falls on others, latecomers, you could say, to step forward and save places of import and charisma. St. Simon’s has both and it deserves to be saved and restored

Beautifully captures what happens when a church dies. This class was challenging to judge due to several outstanding submissions. This column takes the prize for interesting subject matter and writer’s conversational tone and style... felt like I was talking to a friend.

Opinion

By Vic MacDonald Editor

transfer properties from the City of Clinton to the CEDC.

And imagine for minute that you are a landlord and you are interested that the city is going to start assessing a fee for when people move out and leave their couches and fridges on the curb. Could you tell from Item 8 that that’s what’s being discussed?

Or say you are a property developer and you’re concerned that the city is going to charge fees based on what the effect might be from your development?

Could you tell from Item 10 that that’s what’s being discussed? Well, maybe, because you know what the words “impact fee” means, most of the rest of us don’t. But, could you tell from that agenda item what the fee is going to be for your $10 Million housing development?

Or say you’re someone interested in the fact that Clinton no longer has a Museum.

Could you tell from Item 13 that the council is going to transfer that property to semi-public board for its control and marketing?

And, you can’t even tell from meeting minutes. The Clinton City Council Minutes from Jan. 8, Jan. 11 and Jan. 29 are not posted until approved as written by council at the Feb. 5 meeting (those now have been posted).

So, at the Feb. 5 meeting, Council Member Anita Williams asked those questions. She was told people could come to the public hearings - it’s a different public body but the same circumstances, people north of Laurens didn’t know to comment on a $5 Million slaughterhouse given a fee instead of taxes by the County Council, and that could requires 3 Readings, compared to the City’s (and the school

COLUMN WRITING

FIRST PLACE

Thomas Hyslip

Tega Cay Sun

This is an excellent column. I enjoyed each submission, and feel I learned something myself. The author has a way of explaining things that may seem mundane to many, but complicated to most, in a way they can understand. Passwords and cloud storage particularly are issues I’ve seen older generations struggle with, and younger generations have issues with keeping up with their credit. So, kudos to a column that reaches a broad spectrum of people!

That's right. Dick: See,

COLUMN WRITING

When

THIRD PLACE

Cody Sossamon The Gaffney Ledger

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2024

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2024

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2023

SECOND PLACE

Trey Stewart The Greer Citizen

Common sense prevailed

POLICY: a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by a government, party, business, or individual.

Generally speaking, we all know what policies are and why we have them — so that all things can be treated equally and to offer protection.

Let me give you an example. The Ledger has a policy that ALL obituaries must come though a funeral home. Brother Bob can’t bring one in to be published. Or daughter Judy. And so and so forth.

CODY SOSSAMON PUBLISHER

Why do we have this policy, you ask?

For our protection. And that’s why most polices are implemented.

Some years in the distant (before policy)

past we had an incident in which someone submitted a fake obituary as a prank or maybe for some sinister purpose.

Either way it was false. The person had not died.

We implemented this policy plus others to protect ourselves and those who might have been harmed by false information being published in our paper.

Over the years I have been faced with having to make exceptions to these policies. One example is that a friend of my Dad’s died in a distant city. His daughter wanted to publish the obituary in The Gaffney Ledger.

For some reason or another the funeral home would not send the obituary that ran in her hometown

EASY DOES IT THEIR VIEW

newspaper so she sent me a clipping and asked that we publish it. knew her and I knew that her Dad had actually died.

So broke our policies and published the obit even though it did not come from a funeral home.

am saying all of this to say that having policies is a good idea but sometimes you have to break them.

Although I just said polices are good to have, they must be very clear and even have a little wiggle room because certain situations require using a little common sense.

For instance, the termination hearing of Erin Hogue I attended Monday along with about 100 others left me and most everyone else a bit confused.

The term ‘unprofessional conduct’ was used on numerous occasions. The words ‘hit’ and ‘pop’ were used. According to the administration’s attorney in the hearing there are 16 different grounds for dismissal and the superintendent found Hogue ‘unfit for the teaching profession,’ which I suppose is one of those 16 grounds.

The board did the right thing by overruling the superintendent’s decision to terminate Hogue, who from all accounts, even his, is an excellent teacher. She is clearly FIT for the teaching profession. Who among us has not erred in judgment as she admitted doing? In this case, common sense prevailed.

Learning from home

responsibility to verify if each candidate for every office is a qualified elector?

I understand those seeking office sign a pledge as to their residence when they sign up and the commission takes them at their word. State law is even more confusing. The Municipal Association of South Carolina says several factors are listed to be considered when determining a person’s residence, but goes on to say “the truth of the residency, from a legal standpoint, requires the person’s intent to reside there.” It continues, “council may remove a council member from office.”

And that’s not all that makes this a controversial issue.

Henderson, Hutchins key in Tiger win

Over rival Greer

BY TREY STEWART

SPORTS EDITOR

election commission and city council have a tough task in making a decision on Blankenship’s complaints. Not only that, but how these hearings are to be conducted and which body has the final say are anything but clear. A city ordinance states, “At the time of their election, mayors and councilmembers shall be qualified electors of the city and councilmembers shall be qualified electors of the district prescribed for their election.”

So does the registration board have the

Blankenship posted some signs on his Main Street business referencing the issue, and some community members took them as being racist. One sign read “Dawkinsville.” Blankenship explained he was referring to Titus while others felt it was a slap at new Mayor Lyman Dawkins. Both are Black. District 1 is a minority district and the incumbent Titus Dawkins defeated, Harold Littlejohn, is Black. If Dawkins is removed from office, it is almost a certainty a Black candidate would replace him. Granted, Blankenship’s signs could have been interpreted as being racist, but after discussions with him and several others familiar with the situation, don’t see it that way. After what appeared to be a fresh start for city council, this issue threatens to sow seeds of animosity in the community and perhaps even council. No matter the outcome, there are going to be some

late afternoon. Chris, Karen, Karen’s mom JoAnn, Drake’s brother Drew and his wife Heather had been there since about noon. At 5:50 I sent a one word text to Sherry: News? Her reply: Same. Later at 6:55 sent: ?. This went on for several hours. Always the same reply: She’s doing great. A little while later she added: She’s making progress. than asked: Crown yet? My sister Polly had asked me that and then proceeded to explain what ‘crown’ meant. already knew. Kinda. Sherry: Not crowning yet, but can see her head and she has hair. Hmmm. thought that’s what crowning meant. Oh well. Then the next text: We are so close. She is doing great! Then at 10 p.m. She’s here.

In a game that went back and forth until the final buzzer, the Blue Ridge Lady Tigers (5-1) came into Greer (2-2) and outlasted the Lady Jackets 5550 on Friday night. The Lady Tigers came into a tough away environment and pulled out a tight win.

“We knew this place was going to be loud,” said Blue Ridge head coach

Followed by a picture of Siena with Drake cutting the umbilical cord. When I saw that, cried, well, like a baby. Drake could be heard on the ‘live’ picture saying, “Do just cut it normal?” He explained he wasn’t sure if he should cut it at an angle or straight. Umbilical cords are LONG! just looked it up. The average is 20 inches and 1 inch in diameter. Now the question is will Siena’s belly button be an innie or an outie? showed a picture to Karen and the first thing she did was count “10 fingers, 10 toes.” Now that she’s here, besides weight and length, everyone wants to know the name and significance. Siena for a few reasons. One, Abbie and Drake liked the sound of it. Two, Siena, Italy was their favorite place to visit in Italy. Three, Abbie walked down the aisle at her wedding to ‘Song for Sienna.’ Our baby girl’s spelling is with one ‘n.’ Kathryn is after my mother, which is also my sister Kit’s name and spelling. She made a point to post that on Abbie’s Facebook page. When they were thinking about names, Sherry got behind another vehicle here in Gaffney. You guessed it. A Toyota Sienna. That was a sign, don’t you think? wrote this in my column of September 2, 1992 just a few days after Siena’s mother was born: “With each initial cry of a newborn, God’s presence in our lives is reinforced.

Alex Smith. “It’s an emotional game. It’s a rivalry. But we came here to take care of business.”

Zikira Henderson accounted for nearly half of Blue Ridge’s scoring herself, putting up 24 in the victory.

“I can’t say enough about Zikira. She brings it every

Over Greer

BY TREY STEWART SPORTS EDITOR

Riverside head coach Allen Arnold will be the first to admit it: he’s a nervous wreck before games.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time, but I’ll be honest, I can get nervous sometimes,” said Arnold.

“Before games, I always have jitters. But once it gets going and we’re performing well, don’t have those jitters anymore.”

It took all of two minutes for those jitters to go away when Riverside took on Greer Tuesday night.

In a matchup of region heavyweights, Riverside dealt the first blow by jumping out to a 10-0 lead just 1:58 into the game. The Warriors (18-4, 4-1 region) never relented en route to a statement 74-61 win over the Jackets (19-4, 4-1 region).

“Sometimes, you just have these kind of nights,” said Arnold.

RIVERSIDE ROLLS

Warhawks win region title, prepare for

Sudduth

was Sunday evening a little past five. Pat was wearing his U.S. Marines cap accompanied by a

and

et. Janice wore a

and a

I’d set up this time to interview Mr. Sudduth after Greer High named its alumni room in his honor. knew it would make a great story in next week’s paper. met with Pat seeking what wanted in a feature. Instead, I found what I want in my future. If there are a million

I

GAFFNEY LEDGER

The lost art of letter writing

COLUMN WRITING

How good are you at listening?

I regard this short story as a bit embarrassing, but I’ll share it anyway.

I’m 19 years old, back from college during winter break, and reuniting with a close high school friend. We’re in the car, and I’m talking nonstop about first semester when my friend turns to me and says, “You talk too much.”

FIRST PLACE Steve Ferber The Daniel Island News

To this day, remember the moment, and from that day forward, resolved to shed the label. Here’s my personal reveal: In virtually every conversation since, privately monitor what percent of time I’m talking relative to the other person. True story.

THE WORLD’S MOST IMPORTANT SKILL?

Listening might not be the world’s most important skill, but it’s hard to argue otherwise. Dana Brownlee, in her piece for Forbes, calls listening “a stealth skill.” And author Arlin Cuncic, who wrote “The Anxiety Workbook,” quotes psychologist Sabrina Romanoff, who refers to it as

a power skill. And no one questions the obvious: listening is the key to building, and maintaining, strong relationships.

Which leads to this curious question: Why is it never taught in school?

Report cards highlight reading, writing, and speaking, but not listening. Curious.

“While listening is a skill universally lauded,” note authors Robin Abrahams and Boris Groysberg in their article for the Harvard Business Review, “it’s rarely, if ever, explicitly taught as such, outside of training for therapists.”

cus on our response rather than what the listener has to say.

SEVEN TYPES OF LISTENING

My initial research unveiled seven types of listening: active, critical, empathetic, reflective, nondirective, purposeful, and malicious. (Malicious listening, according to Russell Bishop in an article for the Huffington Post, is when a person listens with the intent to prove you wrong.)

email at katherine@thedanielislandnews.com.

MY GARDEN IS A SALAD BAR

I love my backyard garden here on DI. It is my little oasis. I don’t have any artistic talent, so planning my garden, envisioning new possibilities, and creating a palette of color, shapes and textures is my outlet. Not to mention that seasonal cutting, trimming, planting, and mulching provide a bit of exercise; it’s a labor of love.

20,000-30,000 WORDS A DAY It might rarely be taught, but listening has been studied extensively.

Abrahams and Groysberg cite a 2015 study that found “while 78% of accredited undergraduate business schools list “presenting’ as a learning goal, only 11% identified ‘listening.’”

To begin, a short quiz.

Leadership expert Charley Swords cites a range of revealing statistics, “The average person hears between 20,000 and 30,000 words during the course of a 24-hour period,” and “most people usually only remember about 17%-25% of the things they listen to.” Other notable stats:

If you’re in the market to improve your listening skills, active listening is the standard, with impactfactory.com drawing this notable distinction: “Unlike critical listening, active listening seeks to understand rather than reply. The three A’s of active listening are attention, attitude, and adjustment…. Most importantly, don’t fall for the common misconception that active listening is only about making the other person feel listened to. Equally important is actually understanding what they are saying.”

internal conversation. Psychotherapist Brooke Schwartz suggests we befriend our inner critic, approach it with curiosity, adopting an “Oh, it’s you again” attitude. When our inner critic rises, Schwartz encourages us to ask ourselves three questions:

LIKE A TRAMPOLINE

Name the three people with whom you’ve spent the most time in the last two years. Feel free to take a moment as you contemplate the answer. We’ll wait. Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm.

No rush, take your time.

The average person speaks roughly 110-150 words a minute, yet we can hear about 450 words a minute, leaving plenty of time, it seems, to fo-

now, and there is no more mystery – it’s the deer.

What typifies a good listener?

1. “Why did my inner critic show up and tell me that right now?”

Brownlee shares this wonderful quote from leadership consultants Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman: “…good listeners are like trampolines. (They) are someone you can bounce ideas off of — and rather than absorbing your ideas and energy, they amplify, energize, and clarify your thinking. They make you feel better not merely passively absorbing but by actively supporting.”

Our quiz, of course, is a bit of tomfoolery but its answer is anything but. The person with whom you spend the most time, moment-in, momentout (no need to jot this one down) is you. The point is translucent: when it comes to kindness, we often neglect the person with whom we spend all of our time. Why is that?

These beautiful animals love my garden. I asked several garden centers for advice. They all said, “We no longer say that any plants are deer-resistant.” The deer visit individually, and in groups.

The world’s universal message is to treat others kindly, to avoid criticism and blame, to impart love and understanding. So why do we abandon these precepts when dealing with ourselves?

OUR INNER CRITIC

TRIED AND TRUE TIPS When it comes to teens, or adults, it gets bit trickier. But there are few tried and true rules:

don’t want them to go away. I just want them to stop treating my garden like a salad bar.

1. Open-ended is always in season

The other day, an adult deer wandered into our garden midday and just sat down for a while.

Amateur gardeners like myself, “transplanted” from the North, get a kick out of winter blooms of camellias and the Thanksgiving yellow floral bouquets that emerge from the ubiquitous tractor seat plants.

is, they don’t force person to talk about any particular subject, they can go wherever they wish.

I watched it in appreciation of its beauty and stressed that it might fill its stomach with the day’s offering.

2. Try forward, not back – While at the gym on Saturday morning quickly learned the difference between: “How was work this week?” and “What do you have on tap for the weekend?” Going back in time typically leads to judgment, “fine,” “stressful,” “really busy,” “uneventful.” But when you go forward, opens the door to a much broader universe. “What’s planned for the weekend?” led people to talk about their hobbies – “I’ll be working in the garden most of the day” – or their personal life: “I’m picking up my sister at the airport, she’s in from .” In either case, we’re now underway.

Yet, like two people witnessing the same event or having read the same book, but coming away with very different opinions or perceptions, my garden does not seem to be an oasis for everyone in my neighborhood. Too often, purchase colorful annuals and perennials, select an appropriate pot or garden placement (bringing great satisfaction from matching the right plant with the correct location), and by the next morning, I am frustrated to find the plants have been eaten or evicted from their newly dug home. This routine has gone on for a couple of years

2. “What emotion is my inner critic asking me to focus on?” and 3. “Is my inner critic worried I’m in danger?”

Science writer Tasha Eichenseher, quotes psychotherapist Sam Nabit, “We find it difficult to be kind to ourselves because our inner critics have a louder voice.”

“Self-criticism is a defense mechanism; it protects us from the potential dangers that our brain perceives from uncertainty.” Adds counselor Laurie Gatti, again quoted by Eichenseher: “There is also the misconception that in order to achieve or produce, we need to be hard on ourselves.”

Next week’s poll: Evaluating political candidates

There’s no doubt that self-criticism has role, and one probably linked to survival. After all, if we don’t behave in a reasonable manner, those who protect us, and those who look out for us, might no longer wish to do so. But, too often, our inner critic dominates the

TURNING CRITICISM

INTO COMPASSION

The 2024 South Carolina primary election begins early voting in just a few days, and voters are sifting through all the political rhetoric bandied about to decide on which candidate to support. When evaluating your options, what characteristics do you look for in a candidate? And will you be voting in the primary or sitting it out and waiting to vote in the general election? Let us know at surveymonkey.com/r/

Where do we begin? With self-comfort, self-love, self-kindness, self-care and positive self-talk, but the key, experts seem to gravitate to, is developing self-compassion. And it’s not the same as self-esteem. Schwartz explains: “While self-esteem involves comparing your abilities with others’, or against a gold standard, in order to feel superior or valued, self-compassion ori-

ents

“No,

and we’d be off and running, as one of those crazy questions just triggered a memorable moment.

3. “Tell me more” or “Tell me more about that” the phrase, though not question per se, is one of the best ways to learn more, and keep a conversation flowing.

Last week, the night before trash pickup, I went to place a bag of garbage into the receptacle at the curb. I looked over to the nearby large ceramic pot that, earlier in the day, was full of hearty, large-leaf red begonias. Standing there was a deer, and the begonias were now just a clump of red stalks. Don’t get me started on the deer eating my hydrangeas, azaleas, and much more.

Evaluating_Candidates or use the QR code by Sunday, May 26, at 5 p.m.

I’ve changed that question to: “Where else have you lived?”

Next week’s poll: Did President Biden do the right thing by stepping down?

am resigned to accept that the deer were here before me. So, I guess will find a way to grow my garden oasis and… Well, do enjoy a wellstocked salad bar too.

Peter Zalka

Daniel Island

MY FAVORITE REPORTER

UNWELCOME QUESTIONS

“What

On Sunday, July 21, President Joe Biden announced he was stepping down as the Democrats’ 2024 presidential candidate after weeks of speculations and falling poll numbers. Do you believe he made the right decision? And what are your concerns about the race moving forward? Share your thoughts at https://www.surveymonkey. com/r/Biden_ steps_down by Sunday, July 28, at 5 p.m.

letter to the EDITOR

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Terry Manning

The Island News

Margaret Evans

Lowcountry Weekly

Viewpoints

SUNDAY

Viewpoints

One thousand, five hundred and fifty-one.

On a good day, that distance can be driven by car in 23 hours and 6 minutes.

Now, plug into that distance one 26-foot Penske truck that’s been fully loaded top to bottom, front to back. Add a pickup truck hauling a big camper that’s also loaded with various possessions. Last, and certainly not least, add an SUV with two dogs and a cat, and pulling a fully loaded utility trailer.

From the south end of Lake Greenwood to Tijeras, New Mexico, those three and their drivers caravanned their way over the course of three days, covering nine states in all.

If that sounds like work and too dang much driving to you, you’re right. Then again, you’re not. Really, it depends on your perspective and your willingness to help some friends start their next adventure.

The Friday before we left Greenwood Shores was one of the area’s hottest. Perfect temperature and humidity for loading the contents of a storage unit and an entire household, don’t you know. But it was done, a day ahead of schedule and a day ahead of some torrential rain that would have put more than a damper on the moving progress. Saturday required only minor last-minute packing, giving ample time to rest up before setting out on a cross-country journey at roughly 7 a.m. Sunday. Sunday was fun day because any day that takes one through Atlanta is the essence of pure joy. Like a Christmas present one has longed for. Next up,

aging dogs and adults need to stretch their legs and empty their bladders. Plus, all three vehicles were mighty thirsty and had to make many stops along the way to gas up. One stop included a Buc-ee’s, by the way, but this was not the occasion for a standard 45-minute sensory overload. Still, there was time to snag some of their beef jerkeys.

On we went, ever venturing along I-40 that took us past Checotah and Henryetta, Oklahoma. The significance?

Signs told us. Checotah is Carrie Underwood’s hometown and NFL quarterback Troy Aikman spent some formative years in Henryetta.

If we couldn’t linger at Buc-ee’s, no way were we veering off the interstate to visit either town. Too many miles ahead. Like the Blues Brothers, we were on a mission — just not one from God. Plus, we had more than 106 miles to go, none of us had or smoke cigarettes, it was still daylight and that’s when we wore our sunglasses.

The mission now? Get past Oklahoma City. And we did. Elk City, Oklahoma for the night. La Quinta was a welcome change from the Forest City Quality Inn. As I told the others, the word “quality” requires a qualifier because there’s excellent quality, good quality, poor quality and then there’s the hotel in Forest City, Mississippi.

If you find yourself in Elk City, be sure to swing by Fred’s for dinner. Open till 10, and on a Monday at that. Great steaks cooked to perfection. If she’s still waitressing, tell Emmie that Jeff, Lance and Richard said hello. And tip her well. You’d think she’d been trained at Chickfil-A, but I chalk it up to good home training too. Next morning, we welcomed the final leg of the trip. But first, a real decent breakfast in the lobby. They might have been liquid scrambled eggs from a carton, but they looked and tasted normal. Good coffee, too. If you did not know this already, Texas is big. Real big. Venturing along I-40 — still — we saw signs of civilization on

As we prepare to go headlong into the summer season with the Fourth of July week, there is no better time to wave the water safety banner. Already, on Memorial Day Weekend, we experienced the tragic loss of a life when a woman drowned in boating

August 18, 2024

when skiers

giving us ample time to survey the landscape in search of that Buc-ee’s, even though we had topped off the tanks in Groom. Turns out the signs were a tease. That Buc-ee’s has yet to be built. Next thing we know, we have crossed the border into New Mexico. And ever since then, a song by Little Feat keeps popping in my head. The song is “Willin’.” Tucumcari, New Mexico. Until that day, it was just one of the cities in the song’s lyrics. Then, and finally, we reached the new home in Tijeras. Bright day, beautiful blue skies.

We couldn’t have said it better, Kathleen Parker. We had planned to say it in this space, but you beat us to the punch with your insightful words today. No, we do not derive all our inspiration from the writings of Parker or even Alexandra Petri, although we admit having a fondness for Petri’s style of writing that oft drips with sarcasm and humor while making a serious point.

along the shoreline, or into bridges and trestles crossing the lakes. It’s when excessive consumption of alcohol can result in an accident or drowning. That risk is demonstrably increased when people and watercraft crowd the waters during a holiday such as the Fourth, when a day full of activities are combined with an evening of fireworks displays. A day spent on the water in the heat and sun when combined with too much alcohol is no way to celebrate our nation’s independence, but all too often that is exactly what occurs. And all too often, it can end with an accident — or worse. So please, by all means enjoy the lakes and the activities they offer. Just do so safely and with a solid knowledge of rules of the waterway, how to boat, tube and ski safely. If renting watercraft, read and fully understand the information given you, and abide by it. It’s for your safety, the safety of your passengers and, certainly, for the safety of others enjoying the lake. You can even gain good bit of knowledge from the comfort of home, on your computer. The state Department of Natural Resources offers online and classroom courses. Visit https://www.

After a quick look at the first floor, Task Master Lance guides a repositioning of all vehicles, opens the door to the Penske — nothing fell out, by the way, despite some of the horrific bumpy roads we traversed — and pulled out the ramp. Tuesday became fun day as we dutifully began offloading that truck. There was but one minor fatality, that being a few tiles on a patio table with a gas fire pit. Next, the utility trailer. Next, a few things from the camper and ... done. A couple of wonderful meals Tuesday and Wednesday nights, prepared by the relocating couple’s son-in-law and daughter, who live nearby, were mixed in with setting things in place as much as could be done. The evenings were filled with starry skies, nice breezes and absolutely zero humidity. Perfect for a whisky and cigar for some of us. either. Plenty of greenery and trees and hills. Quite pleasant. But Thursday came, as did my flight back to Green ville-Spartanburg airport.

Just this past week we referenced the two syndicated columnists

become class president. For the most part, for a long time before they stood on the same debate stage, the two kept their distance from each other and only spoke about each other when the other wasn’t in the same room. Now, however, they would have to address questions about why they, not their opponent, should be elected senior class president. The narcissistic bully must have been coached by supporters who suggested he not come on too strong. He was able to dial himself back some. Initially. Eventually, however, the self-praise and unsupported generalities and falsehoods rolled out of his mouth, often without actually addressing the questions put before him, and the vitriol surfaced time and again. The quieter one verbally stumbled right from the start and often stared blankly at his opponent or, worse, at the lectern before him, occasionally picking up a pen and studying the pad while struggling to write the words that were swirling somewhere in his head. He sounded tired and hoarse, as if he’d spent far too many hours preparing in mock debates. He looked weak, perplexed and even stunned.

at Dallas-Fort Worth and miss the con nector. Proof Friday’s newspaper pages while in the airport, get the next flight and land at GSP about 10:45 p.m. where the days are not only hotter

When his opponent would fire volley across his bow, he was slow to react and had difficulty finding the words he sought in reply. And when he was able to fire back, it was often with jumbled sentences that provided his opponent more ammunition, even leading him at one point to note that he didn’t think the quiet man even knew what he had just said. When the debate ended — mercifully — the senior class that would soon cast its votes for the next president was left shaking their collective heads. They wondered, “Is that all there is? Is this what it’s come to? Our choice is two seniors, one who has a criminal history, lies incessantly, is a narcissist and the other who cannot speak coherently and appears not to even know where he is.” Is too late, they began to ask themselves. Is it too late to find two other candidates who might actually be worthy of our votes?

Whiting is executive editor of the Index-Journal. Contact him at 864-9432522; email rwhiting@indexjournal.com, or follow him on X @IJEDITOR. Views expressed in this column are those of the writer only and do not represent the newspaper’s opinion.

when it comes to the sale of guns, wanting nothing to do with implementing any further sensible gun laws to curb rampant gun violence. They support individual rights and liberties, especially when it comes to upholding the Second Amendment at all costs, all but tying it not only to an unrestricted constitutional right, but also a

who think they know best and will allocate to us what liberties we can have. Whiting is executive editor of the Index-Journal. Contact him at 864-9432522; email rwhiting@indexjournal.com, or follow him on X @IJEDITOR. Views expressed in this column are those of the writer only and do not represent the newspaper’s opinion.

COLUMN WRITING

DIVISIONS B & C COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

John Boyette

Aiken Standard

Very thought-provoking and informative in style and content. At no point was I asking myself, “Why am I reading this?” It was clear and filled with good-quality storytelling.

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

The State

Matthew T. Hall

Paul Hyde

South Carolina Daily Gazette

COLUMN WRITING

FIRST PLACE

Cindi Ross Scoppe

The Post and Courier

Great job at tackling some complex topics and presenting the issues in a way that readers can engage with.

HUMOR COLUMN WRITING

THIRD PLACE

Now on to Caitlin Clark, who is a great basketball player. Gamecocks fans do not need to be reminded she led Iowa to a victory over Carolina in the Final Four last year. It was Carolina’s only loss. This year, Caitlin began chasing the all-time women’s NCAA scoring record. After every game, we were brought up to date. Finally, Caitlin broke the women’s record. “The Today Show” even covered it, while the staff nibbled on Mama Kelce’s chocolate chip cookies,

etc. Everybody in the box with Taylor soon saw their likenesses splashed all over social media. Conspiracy theorists speculated that one of her guests was a devil worshipper from the way she held her hands and the cross she was wearing. What? Soon, the Kelce worship spread to Travis’s older broth

LSU head coach Dale Brown reportedly charted every one of Pete’s shots in college. Using where the 3-point shot is today as a guide, Maravich would have scored 4,731

averaging 57 points a game. The all-time women’s record

Lex Leo Boozer

Lex Leo Boozer, 78, of Batesburg, passed away on Friday, March 8, 2024, at his home. He was born December 2, 1945, to William Alva and Fannie Ward Boozer.

Lex was a member of Faith Lutheran Church and was a farmer, teacher, coach, husband, father and friend. His greatest role was “Papa” and he loved his grandchildren more than anything. He will be missed by many.

Lex’s family and friends have so many “one-liners” and memories to keep his legacy going.

Tonight I’m beginning my 47th year and 48th season of covering Saluda High football. During that time I’ve missed only two games. I claim the record for that feat. By simple association, I know a good bit about football, but just couldn’t play it well, on the regulation field. I was pretty good twohand tag. As a child, I assumed I’d be a good football player, because my Uncle Ed Shealy was a starter on the 1941 Saluda High state championship team, and two of my first cousins, Larry Thompson and Russell Shealy, were conributing members of the 1962 and 1963 state title teams. That should make me talented, right?

The thing about Murderers Row is you didn’t know the assigned number of your teammate. The object of the drill was to run between the two sides, carrying a ball at top speed. Coach Spotts would call out number and that player would blind side the runner. It was my turn to run, and looked skyward and said, “Please don’t let him call out J.W.’s number!”

You know the old saying, “Sometimes God’s answer to a prayer is ‘No.’

Council recognizes World Series champs

RALPH SHEALY

by Ralph Shealy

Leesville – Services for Betty “Tissy” Lewis Price, 76, were conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Wittenberg Lutheran Church with the Rev. Keith Getz officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. The family received friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Monday at Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Historic B-L Chapel. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Wittenberg Lutheran Church Food Pantry, P.O. Box 3447, Leesville, SC 29070. Mrs. Price passed away Saturday, March 9, 2024. Born in Batesburg, she was a daughter of the late Lavan Olin and Etta Rozalia Duvall Lewis. She was an active member of Wittenberg Lutheran Church, WELCA and Circle L. She worked at the SCDOT and Rawls Auto Auction, prior to retiring as an Administrative Assistant with Lexington County School District 3. Tissy was an avid camper at Ocean Lakes Family Campground, site J-34. Surviving are her husband, Jerry Price; daughter, Debbie Borden (Mike); son, the Rev. Michael Price (Lora); beloved sister, Lazette “Boots” Langford, grandchildren, Emily Horne (James), Avery Finger, Elena Price, Rosalie Price and Analiese Price; and two great-grandsons: Sellers and Harrison Horne. She was predeceased by her brothers, the Rev. Doug Lewis, Billy Lewis and Tommy Lewis, and sister, Kathy L. Sharpe. Online register at BarrPrice.com.

Deward L. ‘Stump’ Swygert

Saluda gains grant for wellness center

BY RALPH SHEALY

no Little Debbie. I hope I can give up sweets for Lent, and then continue on after Easter.

Lex is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda T. Boozer; daughters Kelly B. Arnold, Rebekah B. Sims (Bryan) and Kimberly B. Miller (Jeff); six grandchildren: Leo William Arnold, Bishop Boozer Sims, Jacob Ward Miller, Mason Lane Miller, McKenna Jane Miller and Gracyn Rose Miller. He is also survived by his sister, Brenda B. McCarty; along with several nieces, nephews and extended family members. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings Lenda B. Edwards, Happy W. Boozer, William “Bill” A. Boozer, Jr., and Max. G. Boozer. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date where memories can be shared. Milton Shealy Funeral Home is assisting the Boozer

It’s like Donald Trump bragging about his uncle, who was a longtime professor at MIT. He seems to think his uncle’s brilliance makes him smarter. If Donald can develop X-rays and radar technology, like his Uncle John did, I’d buy it, but don’t think that’s his expertise. Inherited football ability was not my expertise, either. My first foray into organized football was very brief. Some fathers got the idea of starting a midget football league in Saluda. Potential players were asked to gather in front of Saluda High School and wear their own uniform. If Santa didn’t bring you a football uniform for Christmas, you were out of luck. These uniforms weren’t built for safety. They were designed for picture taking and running over your little

“Something has got to be done. We must protect future Duke players! …” If a Gamecock player had been knocked down, it would not have been mentioned. Many people noticed the Duke bias.

One wrote on RedditCFB:

Another

Leesville – Funeral services for Deward L. “Stump” Swygert, 88, were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10, 2024, at Cedar Grove Lutheran Church with the Rev. Kevin Ogilvie officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. The family received friends on Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Historic B-L Chapel. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Cedar Grove Lutheran Church, 1220 Cedar Grove Road, Leesville, SC 29070. Mr. Swygert passed away on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, and was a son of the late George William and Cattie Inez Caughman Swygert. He retired from JB Martin after over 40 years of service and in retirement, was a funeral assistant at Barr-Price Funeral Home. He was a member of Cedar Grove Lutheran Church.

“A Duke basketball player suffered a career-ending injury under heavy sniper fire at Wake Forest four days ago, and made a miraculous recovery to play in the game today. The brave doctors at

Leesville — Funeral service for Peggy Spradley Oswald, 88, was conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at First Baptist Church of Lees

You see miss some of my great looking clothes. have suits just hanging there because can’t wear the pants. I was skinny all my life. I weighed 125 pounds when I graduated from high school. I gained my “freshman 30” at Carolina and held that 155- to 160-pound weight until I was 56 years old. Then, after smoking my fourth pack of cigarettes in one day in October, knew had to quit. When my parents drove off after putting me out at Carolina for my first day in 1969, made sure they were out of sight before I walked out of my dorm in the Honeycombs, crossed the street to The Big Bird, bought a pack of Salems and smoked from then on for the next 38 years. I knew I couldn’t stop cold turkey, so got a $125 prescription for Chantix. It was supposed to be threemonth program, but I quit after only one month. I was sports news, national “there are wars” news.

10,850-square-foot facility will be much like the Batesburg-Leesville Leisure Center. A master plan has been developed that accommodates additional features including a future pool and splash pad, gymnasium, soccer field and tennis and pickle ball courts. The Town has aligned the partnerships and resources needed to successfully implement and sustain this project and deliver community benefits for years to come. Town of Saluda Council has committed $500,000 toward the project, and under-

said Saluda County needs solutions to improve health outcomes for its residents. Compared to South Carolina as a whole, Saluda County: • Has a much higher prevalence of coronary heart disease, heart attack, diabetes and adult obesity; • Has significantly higher portions of

Tidbits from Saluda

by Ralph Shealy

Keith Brannon

SALUDA NEWS

Tissy Price

BY MAXPREPS

OF SEARCH COMMITTEE

2562 BREWER ROAD MANNING, SC 29102

DONATE YOUR CAR TO KIDS. YOUR DONATION HELPS FUND THE SEARCH FOR MISSING CHILDREN. ACCEPTING TRUCKS, DENTAL INSURANCE FROM PHYSICIANS MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY. COVERAGE FOR 350 PLUS PROCEDURES. REAL DENTAL INSURANCE –NOT JUST A DISCOUNT PLAN. DO NOT WAIT! CALL NOW! GET YOUR FREE DENTAL INFORMATION KIT

will now prepare for their contest against Whitmire (Whitmire, SC). The Wolverines enter the non-league contest with a 0-1 record. In their last contest, Whitmire was toppled by Branchville (Branchville, SC), 27-20, in a non-league contest.

Coming up next, the Saints battle the Patrick Henry Academy Patriots (Estill, SC) in a non-league contest, on Friday, August 30. Clarendon Hall will attempt to better on its 0-1 season record. The Patriots enter the contest with a 1-0 record after their 34-7 non-league win over Academic Magnet (North Charleston, SC).

Scott’s Branch overwhelmed by East Clarendon August 23, 2024

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE FOLLOWING ESTATES

BY MELISSA MCCOY mtscreporter@gmail.com

gene A Kennedy Jr

With the defeat, Scott’s Branch drops to 1-3 on the campaign. The Eagles travel to Branchville (Branchville, SC) to meet the Yellow Jackets in a A Region 5 test on Friday, September 20.

lenge against Manning (Manning, SC). The Monarchs enter the non-league challenge with a 0-1 record. In their last challenge, Manning was ripped by Crestwood (Sumter, SC), 17-14, in a non-league challenge.

RELOADING EQUIPMENT FOR HUNTERS, FISHING EQUIPMENT, KEROSENE HEATER, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, CLOTHING, BOOKS AND MUCH MORE. 1847 SCOTT LAKE ROAD, SUMMERTON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10 AND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11TH 8AM3PM

John Paul II knocked off by Laurence Manning Academy August 22, 2024

John’s Christian Academy Cavaliers (Moncks Corner, SC) volleyball knocked off the host Clarendon Hall Saints (Summerton, SC), 3-0 in Monday’s non-league bout. The Cavaliers now possess a 8-3 record. They play next when they travel to Cathedral Academy

The East Clarendon Wolverines walloped the host Scott’s Branch Eagles football team by a score of 32-0 in Friday’s non-league challenge.

ESTATE: Charles Jackson Mock, Jr

matches by more than 34 points this season, Friday’s blowout was nothing new.

Address: 110 Hampton St Olanta, SC 29114

BY MELISSA MCCOY

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE FOLLOWING ESTATES MUST FILE THEIR CLAIMS ON FORM #371ES WITH THE PROBATE COURT OF CLARENDON COUNTY, THE ADDRESS OF WHICH IS 411 SUNSET DR. MANNING SC 29102 WITHIN EIGHT (8) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE TO CREDITORS OR WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR

Case No# 2023ES1400093

In their next game, the Wolverines face the Ridgeland (Ridgeland, SC) in a non-league challenge, on Thursday, August 29. East Clarendon will attempt to improve on its 1-0 season record. The enter the challenge with a 1-0 record after their 30-6 non-league win over Eau Claire (Columbia, SC).

Manning’s victory bumped their record up to 3-1. As for Ridgeland, they are on a three-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 1-3. Both teams are looking

Personal Representative: Sharon Mock

Attorney: Charles David Barr

In Thursday’s non-league game, the Laurence Manning Academy Swampcats (Manning, SC) football team overcame the host John Paul II Golden Warrriors (Ridgeland, SC), by a tally of 54-25. In their next game, the Swampcats battle the Heathwood Hall Episcopal Highlanders (Columbia, SC) in SCISA 4A game, on Friday, August 30. Laurence Manning Academy will attempt to better on its 1-0 season record. The Highlanders enter the game with a 0-1 record after their 35-0 non-league loss to Hannah-Pamplico (Pamplico, SC). The Golden Warrriors (0-2) will now prepare for their game against Battery Creek (Beaufort, SC). The Dolphins enter the non-league game with a 0-1 record. In their last game, Battery Creek was toppled by Hilton Head Christian Academy (Hilton Head Island,

The Eagles (0-1) will now prepare for their chal-

Address: 1245 Striper Drive, Manning SC 29102

Attorney: N/A

(03/23-04/06)

Address: PO Box 83 Kingstree, SC 29556 (03/30-04/14)

ESTATE: John Edgar Blanton II

Case No# 2020ES1400112

ESTATE: Bruce Alden Messier

Case NO# 2023ES1400008

MJHS Coach Terry Kinard honored as

Personal Representative: T J messier

one of

New York Giants’ Top 100 Players of All Time

Personal Representative: Candace Blanton

seasons with the Giants, Kinard spent his final season with the Houston Oilers in 1990.

Address: 255 Mason Drive Orangeburg SC 29118

FROM DATE OF DEATH, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER (SCPC 62-3-801, ET SEQ.) OR SUCH PERSONS SHALL BE FOREVER BARRED AS TO THEIR CLAIMS. ALL CLAIMS ARE REQUIRED TO BE PRESENTED IN WRITTEN STATEMENTS ON THE PRESCRIBED FROM (FORM #371 ES) INDICATING THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE CLAIMANT, THE BASS OF THE CLAIM, THE AMOUNT CLAIMED, THE DATE WHEN THE CLAIM WILL BECOME DUE, THE NATURE OF ANY UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE CLAIM, AND A DESCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITY AS TO THE CLAIM WILL BECOME DUE, THE NATURE OF ANY UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE CLAIM, AND A DESCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITY AS TO THE CLAIM.

Address: 1269 Redwood Farm Court Virginia Beach VA 25452

Bowl victory and cemented his legacy as a defensive powerhouse. Kinard, born Alfred Terance Kinard on November 24, 1959, in Bitburg, West Germany, began his athletic career as a standout at Sumter High School in South Carolina. After graduating in 1978, he went on to play college football at Clemson University. Kinard’s time at Clemson was marked by impressive achievements, including being named a two-time consensus All-American and earning the title of CBS National Defensive Player of the Year in 1982. With 17 interceptions and 294 tackles, Kinard remains Clemson’s all-time leader in interceptions and tackles by defensive back.

During his time with the Giants, Kinard contributed to their 1986 Super Bowl win, a career highlight that has remained a cherished memory. His connection with the team remains strong, as evidenced by his recent inclusion in the franchise’s Top 100 Players of All Time. Speaking about the honor, Kinard said, “I was shocked, honestly. There were a lot of great players during my time with the Giants, and I always thought I had a solid career, but this was truly a surprise. It’s such an honor to be included in that list.”

Attorney: N/A (03/23-04/06)

ESTATE Danal Dene Hutson Case No# 2023ES1400085

Personal Representative: Pamela Hutson

Selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft, Kinard quickly became an integral part of the team’s defense. Over his eight-year career in the NFL, he played 121 games, started in 115, made 31 interceptions, and recovered seven fumbles. After seven

MUST FILE THEIR CLAIMS ON FORM #371ES WITH THE PROBATE COURT OF CLARENDON COUNTY, THE ADDRESS OF WHICH IS 411 SUNSET DR. MANNING SC 29102 WITHIN EIGHT (8) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE TO CREDITORS OR WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR FROM DATE OF DEATH, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER (SCPC 62-3-801, ET SEQ.) OR SUCH PERSONS SHALL BE FOREVER BARRED AS TO THEIR CLAIMS. ALL CLAIMS ARE REQUIRED TO BE PRESENTED IN WRITTEN STATEMENTS ON THE PRESCRIBED FROM (FORM #371 ES) INDICATING THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE CLAIMANT, THE BASS OF THE CLAIM, THE AMOUNT CLAIMED, THE DATE WHEN THE CLAIM WILL BECOME DUE, THE NATURE OF ANY UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE CLAIM, AND A DESCRIPTION OF ANY SECURITY AS TO THE CLAIM WILL BECOME DUE, THE NATURE OF ANY UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE

In celebration of the Giants’ 100th season, an independent committee of award-winning journalists, NFL and Pro Football Hall of Fame executives, and superfans ranked the Giants’ Top 100 Players, presented by Bud Light. Kinard was notified of the honor several months before it was made public, but he was sworn to secrecy until the official announcement. “They called me about two or three months before the event and told me had made the list. It was hard not to tell anyone, but kept it quiet until they made it official.”

Address: 1062 Palmetto Lane Manning SC 29102

“It was incredible,” Kinard said of the weekend. “They flew us in, and we got to be part of a huge fan festival.

Attorney: Rodney C. Jernigan Jr Address: PO Box 2130 Florence SC 29503 (04/06-04/20)

Over 60,000 fans were there, and they brought us out one by one. There was big light show, and then we got to go to the game and be recognized at halftime. It was really special.”

Kinard also enjoyed reuniting with former teammates during the weekend. “Seeing the guys played with was one of the best parts,” he said. “You don’t get the chance to catch up with everyone often, but events like this give us that opportunity. The Giants do a great job of keeping the Legends community connected.”

ESTATE: Dorothy Anderson Nelson Case No: 2021ES1400202

The celebration event was held in New York, where Kinard and other players were honored over a special weekend. The Giants organization pulled out all the stops for the occasion, hosting the top players at their stadium for a fan festival and a Giants game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Attorney: N/A

H. Hodge

Address: 4727 Corbett Road Pinewood, SC 29125

Though Kinard’s professional football days are behind him, his passion for the sport lives on. After owning a restaurant in Atlanta and working in vacation rentals, Kinard returned to South Carolina in 2012. He now pends his time coaching junior high football and working as a physical education teacher at local schools.

Reflecting on his coaching role, Kinard said, “Most of my players know played in the NFL, but they don’t really know the full extent of my career. After this weekend, I think they have a better idea. I’m just glad to be in a position where can pass on what I’ve learned and help these kids.”

Personal Representative: Demetrick Antwon Nelson

With a storied career and lasting legacy, Kinard continues to inspire young athletes, showing them what dedication and hard work can achieve on and off the field.

Address: 1184 Charwood Road, Alcolu SC 29001

Attorney: N/A (04/06-04/20)

Brogdon Road, Clarendon County, South Carolina, TMS No. 174-00-03-010-00, their heirs and assigns, and all other persons, firms or corporations entitled to claim under, by or through the the above-named Defendants(s), and all persons or entities unknown claiming any right, title, interest, estate in, or lien upon the real estate described as 2957 Brogdon Road, Clarendon County, South Carolina, TMS No. 174-00-03-010-00, Defendants TO: THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this Action, a copy of is herewith served upon

FIRST PLACE

The News & Reporter

Story has a good flow. Very informative and usage of quotes. Really enjoyed author’s writing style.

Brian Wilmer

especially with such little time left on the clock,” said Greer head coach Demarcio Downs. “It’s unbelievable.” With 3.7 seconds left, Greer inbounded the ball down 53-50. Greer point guard Amiyah ClarkLamelle dribbled the ball down the court and passed to Samora Moody on the left wing. Just before the buzzer sounded, Moody pulled up for a three-pointer. She was fouled with 0.5 seconds remaining. Moody stepped to the line, knowing she needed to make all three free throws for Greer to stay alive. She did just that, and the Jacket student section went crazy. But hold everything. As Moody stepped away from the free throw line, a referee noticed, somehow, for the first time in the game, with 0.5 seconds remaining, that Moody had jewelry on her nose. He called Moody for a technical foul. “I’ve never seen that,” said Downs. “I’ve had girls have to sub out if they have jewelry in, and we’ve gotten warnings, but I’ve never seen someone get a technical foul right away.” Byrnes would get two technical free throws as a result. Not only that, but as it was Moody’s fifth foul of the game, her free throws were negated from the scoreboard after she’d already attempted them. Rashiya Earle stepped up from the bench, however, and in her first bit of action of the game, came in to attempt three free throws for Greer in place of Moody. Earle hit all three of them, too. The Greer student section exploded with cheers.

But

SPOT SPORTS STORY

Down Pendleton 65-55 in first round

BY TREY STEWART SPORTS EDITOR

FIRST PLACE

Trey Stewart

The Greer Citizen

Down 33-25 to Pend- leton at the break, Nash Somero went through his usual halftime routine. Somero’s pattern is sim- ple. He doesn’t go through layup lines. He passes on putting up practice shots. In reality, Somero choos- es not to do anything at all.

Blue Ridge’s star point guard simply sits on the bench, breathes in heavy, and thinks deep. Every single game—with a Gato- rade bottle in hand—that’s Somero’s routine.

On this particular night, Somero thought about his first-half performance. He wasn’t happy.

Somero was 2-9 from the field with just six points. His normally-reli- able jump shot wasn’t fall- ing. Somero was getting good looks all over the floor—the ball just didn’t want to go in the basket, so it

Potentialseemed.reality began setting in.

“I was sitting on the bench, thinking to myself ‘Man, this might be it for me. This could be my last game,’” said Somero, a se- nior. “I didn’t want it to end right there.”

Blue Ridge small for- ward Paul Bishop saw Somero sitting alone and in thought. Bishop had the majority of the Tigers’ first-half offense with 16 points. He walked over to the team’s senior leader and spoke to him, lifting his spirits.

“I sat down with Nash and told him, straight up, SEE TIGERS B3

PRESTON BURCH |THE GREER CITIZEN

Blue Ridge guard Nash Somero dropped 28 points in the Tigers’ rst-round victory over Pendleton.

Colt 45 at church

BY TREY STEWART SPORTS EDITOR

Somero, Bishop fuel second-half BR comeback Byrnes bulldozes past Rock Hill, Fort

PRESTON BURCH |THE GREER CITIZEN

LEAVING NO DOUBT Jackets dominate Red Raiders in playoff rematch

The Greer bench celebrates in the third quarter of the Jackets’60-45 win over Greenville.

There’s a picture sitting on Greer head coach Devin Liferidge’s desk. It’s been there for just over a year. Liferidge sees it nearly ev- eryTheday.photo — taken a year ago — is of now-se- nior point guard Brayden Lytes. Lytes is sitting silent- ly on the hardwood gym floor at Greenville High, staring up at the score- board. Through tear- stained eyes, Lytes is seen basking in the sadness of the Jackets’ second-round playoff loss to the Red Raiders last year. That defeat ended Greer’s 2022-23 season.

“I still have that pic- ture in my office,” said Liferidge. “He was just heartbroken.”

“I’ll never forget that feeling,” said Lytes. “My SEE JACKETS | B2

PRESTON BURCH |THE GREER CITIZEN Greer center Bradyn Durrah got the Jackets o to a hot start, scoring 10 points in the rst quarter of play.

A picture is worth a thousand words and remembering it was worth more! Felt like I was at the game.

efore Covid in 2020, my father used to be a Memberspastor.of my dad’s church were atypical in the eyes of many. Trade in jackets for jeans and tailored suits for t-shirts, and that’s what you’d find at Impact Church. My father has always had a way with commu- nicating his thoughts to other people. He’ll be the first to admit, however, that his tone was often more fiery than his mes- sage required. It felt like fire and brimstone every other week with my father. But he never tiptoed around truth. Our blue-collar, island of misfit Christians congregation didn’t mind it one bit. They loved it. I remember a select few of his best sermons, but one will always stick out in my mind. This one wasn’t too intense, either—just full of facts. After the worship band finished playing one Sun- day, my dad walked up on the stage. He flipped on his lapel microphone but said not a word. In his hand, he carried three unopened bottles full of liquid. He set them down on a small stage front table. One at a time. On the right side of the table, he placed a bottle of water.

In the middle—a bottle of Code Red Mountain

And on the left side of the table, my father—in his incredible love for the ridiculous—plopped down a 40-ounce bottle of Colt 45 Malt Liquor. The congregation was visibly confused. But once the shock effect subsided, my father somehow tied those three drinks—in- cluding the Colt 45—into a fantastic sermon about discernment in what we consume in this life. He used music to drive home his point.

Summerville captures region volleyball title

Green Wave wins

FIRST PLACE

Wes Kerr

The Island News

The writing was very exciting. It made me feel like I was in the game and was captivating every second.

THIRD PLACE

Driggers Morning News

SECOND PLACE

Justin

Scott Chancey Morning News

FIRST PLACE

Justin Driggers Morning News

A solid look at a team’s pursuit of a championship. Good quotes from players, especially the seniors who got to go out the best way – as champions.

THIRD PLACE

The Sun News

SECOND PLACE

Dawson Aiken Standard

Ben Morse

Kyle

FIRST PLACE

Kyle Dawson

Aiken Standard

This is an excellent piece that highlights both the action on the field and the heart behind the Rookie team. The writing is engaging, flows smoothly and brings the story to life, making it a standout piece.

THIRD PLACE

The State

SECOND PLACE

The State

Jordan Kaye

Chapel Fowler

FIRST PLACE

Jordan Kaye

The State

A well-written, informative, fun story about an unexpected topic.

SPORTS ENTERPRISE REPORTING

SPORTS ENTERPRISE REPORTING

ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

A very good and well thought out look at how young athletes are starting to steer away from specializing in just one sport.

I grew up in a time before specialization became widespread, so I’m glad to see this happening in other states.

Joe Wedra

Myrtle Beach Herald

SPORTS ENTERPRISE REPORTING

DIVISIONS B & C COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

The Sun News

SECOND PLACE

Elizabeth Brewer The Sun News

Ben Morse

SPORTS ENTERPRISE REPORTING

DIVISIONS B & C COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

These stories are in my mind exactly what an enterprise story is – researched reporting of a relevant topic. Well done!

Ben Morse

The Sun News

SPORTS ENTERPRISE REPORTING

DIVISION A

THIRD PLACE

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

The State

Scott Hamilton

Lou Bezjak and Joshua Boucher

SPORTS ENTERPRISE REPORTING

DIVISION A

FIRST PLACE

Andrew Miller

The Post and Courier

Fantastic job telling the story of NIL and the transfer portal’s effect on a smaller school and its sports future, something we’re seeing play out across the country. That it’s The Citadel, a military college, gives it uniqueness, too.

SPORTS FEATURE STORY

THIRD PLACE Garrett Mitchell

The Woodruff Times

Lady Wolverines Turner Learns to Lead Through Adversity A Knee Injury Took Away her Sophomore Season, but Woodruff s Point Guard Has Learned to Lead from a Different Perspective

By: Garrett Mitchell

Jensyn Turner had big plans for her sophomore basketbal season. Then, while playing in a volleyball match in August she felt the pop in her knee.

In a flash, all those plans were gone as Turner was diagnosed with a torn ACL ligament that would require reconstructive surgery and ending her volleyball season early, and basketball season before it had even begun.

For Jensyn, who has been a member of the Lady Wolverines varsity basketball team since she was in the seventh grade, the diagnosis was devastating

It was definitely heartbreaking knowing that would be out for a while,” said Turner It’s definitely taking processing and thinking, ok, tore my ACL so what am going to do with this.

But hearing the news that she would miss the entire basketball season was something that took Turner a while to come to grips with.

“It was hard to process it, but God let this happen for a reason so can use it to watch the game from a different perspective.”

Turner has always been a natural leader. She was the first middle schooler to ever play varsity basketball for Woodruff High School, and as an eighth grader became the starting point guard

She led the team in assists, steals, and was one of the leading scorers as both an eighth grader and freshman.

It was anticipated she would become the school s all-time leader in assists and steals this season Instead, Jensyn has transitioned to a new role while she progresses through the rehabilitation of her knee. That of a player “coach.”

With a young roster that sports several freshmen and fellow sophomores, hough none with the varsity experience of Turner, she has learned how to lead her teammates in practice and from the bench as she helps the progress as players.

“I’ve started noticing the little things more, especially with the younger girls,” Jensyn explained.

“Knowing the mistakes they are making, ve made before, so m trying to help them learn from their mistakes and my mistakes.

Head coach Jon Jansen has been impressed with Turner s maturity and approach to adversity while continuing to be there for her teammates. Her dedication being an attribute that has continued to benefi the team.

Jensyn has been a very supportive teammate throughout the adversity she has endured,” he said. “Her daily presence at practice has provided great opportunities for both Jensyn and her teammates to learn from one another. applaud her attitude and how positive she has remained, all while trying to rehabilitate from her injury and be at practice daily.”

SECOND PLACE

Travis Jenkins

The News & Reporter

SPORTS FEATURE STORY

FIRST PLACE

Andrew Wigger

The Newberry Observer

Kelly Duncan kduncan@championcarolinas.com

NEWBERRY — Newberry County Council and the Newberry County Water and Sewer Author- ity have come to an agreement in the Authority’s request for Council to provide additional funding for the upgrading and expansion of the Cannon’s Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. During the last meeting, the NCWSA Board and members of the community spoke in support of the project, totaling at a cost of $5,154,560. The improvements to the plant are one of 12 Capital Project Sales Tax projects that were listed on the 2022 Referendum.

In that same meeting, NCWSA Manager Brent Richardson said while the scope of the project had not changed, the amount to complete the project has. Due to inflation and factors such as an increase in site work, he said the cost increased by $4,462,231 since the 2022 Referendum. Councilman Les Hipp proposed in that meeting that Council fund half of what the Authority was asking with the anticipation that at the end of the other projects (and seeing as though there was funding to do so) to pay for the remaining half of the project.

Chairman Todd Johnson also proposed putting together an agreement that would protect the remaining CPST projects.

Last week, Richardson and members of the NCWSA Board returned to Council with a poten- tial solution. Richardson said a revision of the ordinance was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors. “What the revision does basically is pulls $1.4 million out of our request for CPST funding - our Board is very dedicated to seeing that CPST proj- ects are successful not only for the Authority, but for the CPST recipients as a whole,” Richardson said. “We gladly pulled this $1.4 million out and we will fund it through a bond issue. There was some concern because there was $3.5 million with the original amount and excess resources to cover overages for all of the projects. This would take those excess resources to $4.9 million, which would be right at $5 million. That would give a

A NEWS

Obituaries: 2

Editorial: 4

Comics: 5

B SPORTS

Classifieds: 2-3

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Andrew Wigger For The Observer

NEWBERRY COUN-

TY – The start of a new season for the Newberry College wrestling team means a crop of new wrestlers with unique backgrounds and stories. One of those unique stories is that of Bashir Rostami, an Afghanistan refugee who, after wres- tling for his high school in Florida for one year, found his way to New- berry.

Rostami was born in Kabul (the capital city of Afghanistan), and grew up in the Parwan Province before once again living in Kabul. His sister, Malalai, had a high-level position at the Kabul International Airport and according to Bryant Blanton, associ- ate head wrestling coach at Newberry college, she bravely risked her own life helping to get American soldiers out of Afghanistan.

This heroic act led to the troops offering to get her and her family out of Afghanistan, to which they took advantage.

The family then came to the United States, spe- cifically Tampa, Florida. Rostami attended Free-

dom High School for two years. While he was unable to wrestle his junior year, he did par- ticipate during his senior year.

And wrestled he did as Rostami said he won over 20 matches with just one loss.

This was not Rastami’s first experience with wrestling, or contact sports in general. He said he wrestled for about six or seven years in Afghanistan, as well as practicing kung fu, muay thai, mixed martial arts and soccer.

Rastami said he has a goal of being a UFC world champion and that his family is his motiva- tion to succeed, espe- cially that of his father who passed away two years ago.

Unfortunately, his high school career was cut short as he was disquali- fied prior to going to the state championship in Florida.

According to Blanton, Rostami’s opponent acted unsportsmanlike to get a reaction out of him – which led to the disqualification.

“That wrestler’s coach contacted me, saying his wrestler was in the wrong and should have been disqualified, and the best kid in the state (Rostami) would fly under the radar because he was not going to state,” Blanton said. This phone call led to Blanton getting in touch with Rostami – putting the young wrestler one step closer to Newberry College.

“His story tells me how solid this young man’s values are, he comes from a family that helped support and protect free- dom, helping the United States,” Blanton said. Blanton invited Rosta- mi to visit the Newberry College campus, to see how he performed on the mat. After seeing him wrestle live, the decision was made that Rostami could benefit the pro- gram and likewise, they can help him achieve his dreams. However, prior to com-

Very unique story of the outside features impacting this outstanding athlete. Really lets us get to know him and his passion for the sport.

The Rostami Family. Photo Courtesy of Bashir Rostami.

Freshman Newberry College wrestler, Bashir Rostami, with Associate Head Wrestling Coach Bryant Blanton. Photo Credit Andrew Wigger

THE LONG WAY HOME Lyons beats the odds to ful ll college football dream

people. To his right, his mother, Jessica, sits with pride beaming in her son’s direction. She knows that life hasn’t always been as sweet for them as it is today.

coaches and family pile into Greer High School’s alumni room. The Jackets’ star senior cornerback prepares to put pen to paper and sign to play college football at Limestone University. Above the surface, it’s a day many dream of. Lyons pinches himself to make sure it’s real.

“I’ll be honest, never really thought this would happen for me,” said Lyons, infectious grin hardly waning between syllables.

“I didn’t even start playing football until the ninth grade. But worked and made sure to grind hard to get here.” Beneath the surface, however, Lyons’ story runs much deeper than a football and pads. The 6-foot4 giant knows his gridiron success represents merely the denouement of a much larger, more convoluted journey. Lyons’ path was never a straight one.

UNSTEADY, UNSTABLE

At the signing table, Lyons is joined by two

“We’ve been through some really rough patches in our lives,” said Jessica.

“At times, it’s been a real mess.” In 2012, Jessica and her husband separated. Anthony was just five years old at the time, confused about what was taking place. Hard times fell on Jessica after the divorce, and as a result, Anthony and his older sister were transferred to Connie Maxwell Children’s home in Greenwood. The ministry is de-

SPORTS FEATURE STORY

FIRST PLACE

The Horry Independent

This is a heart-wrenching story that touched me and clearly a story of a true medical and God-inspired miracle! Great job.

Joe Wedra

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Eric Sprott

The Journal, Seneca

Ian Taylor

The Journal, Seneca

SPORTS FEATURE STORY DIVISION C

FIRST PLACE

Tim Leible The Sumter Item

This feature masterfully captures Tylee Craft’s life and legacy, blending rich storytelling with heartfelt reflections from those around him. The visuals are

impactful, and the dynamic front-page design gives the tribute a sense of depth and presence that makes it even more powerful. It is a truly

THIRD PLACE

Kyle Dawson Aiken Standard

SECOND PLACE

John Boyette Aiken Standard

SPORTS FEATURE STORY

FIRST PLACE

Ben Morse

The Sun News

I love the “tie”-in of the teal tie. I think you did a great job evolving from the tie into the heart of the story.

THIRD PLACE

David Cloninger

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

Benjamin Simon

The Post and Courier

SPORTS FEATURE STORY

FIRST PLACE

Kalyn Oyer

The Post and Courier

Quite a strong field in this category, but this one stood out across the board. It is an engaging, well-crafted piece on a topic outside the norm. There are so many fantastic quotes; it’s clear that the reporter connected well with the participants.

SPORTS COLUMN WRITING

less days, crying nights, it’s come to a point where I’ve had the darkest thought anyone could have.

“I’m barely living, I should just die.” Every website, every app, every bookie nearby me — I’ve participated. I’m sick, but I’m recovering.

Greenwood

t took almost no time for this New Yorker to come to the realization of what Greenwood means to its people.

As finished my 13-hour drive into a place I’d never been to before, it became clear I made the right choice to begin my professional career here. Your welcomeness, warmth and sheer kindness shined bright. A little bit about this kid from the Northeast: While my accent may sound a bit different — or maybe a lot… — make no mistake I come to South Carolina with the strict journalist values and strong work ethic I have continuously grown on.

A recent graduate from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, becoming a sports reporter has been a lifelong dream of mine.

Thankfully, I’ve had a tremendous support group throughout that time, and now I find myself in a tremendous

To see my lifelong dream be sprung to reality in a place where community is most important and kindness reigns above all else is a blessing, and I’m entirely thrilled to share the most compelling stories while serving the Lakelands. As a writer turned editor at

From left, Jennifer Scruggs, Shelby-Anne Scruggs

SPORTS COLUMN WRITING

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2024

OPEN DIVISION

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2024

SPORTS

SPORTS

Crushes AC Flora, 62-32

BY TREY STEWART SPORTS EDITOR

The Riverside Lady Warriors aren’t shy about how they feel. Their warmup shirts before Saturday’s state championship served as proof.

‘That was just greatness’ Henry’s steal, buzzer-beating layup lift Greer to win over Greenville

On the front of the solid black shirts: The Riverside ‘R’ logo.

On the back: A massive red and white target. It held a meaning.

FIRST PLACE

BY TREY STEWART SPORTS EDITOR

Trey Stewart

Isaiah Henry and Greenville have some history.

During Henry’s time at J.L. Mann, he never beat the Red Raiders. Zero wins and three losses.

The Greer Citizen

Henry’s first time watching his new team, Greer, play was in the second round of last year’s Class 4-A playoffs. The Jackets’ opponent? Greenville. Greer lost a heartbreaker then to the Red Raiders to end its 2022-23 season.

From the moment Henry came to Greer, he said, he wanted another shot at Greenville. He got it, and he didn’t waste it.

Henry’s steal with five seconds remaining and buzzer-beating layup gave Greer (15-3) a 59-57 win at Greenville (10-3) — the Jackets’ first win over the Red Raiders since 2020.

‘After I made the move to Greer, the second I got here, I wanted Greenville.’

Isaiah Henry Greer High guard

ball before softly floating the ball off the glass and in over two Greenville defenders.

The final buzzer sounded just as the ball cleared the net.

Crane relief, Wendell homer earn Greer win

Over Eastside

“We feel like we had a target on our backs this entire season,” said Lady Warrior star guard Kyndal Haroski. “Everyone hated us and doubted us.”

“Everyone was always asking ‘How is Riverside winning all these games?’ and saying we weren’t really that good,” said Riverside forward Elly Trickett.

“They said we were overrated, that we weren’t all that.

PHOTO | SUBMITTED

Former Eastside star David Mershon surprised his teammates and the crowd at Mississippi State’s March 8 game vs. Evansville, performing the national anthem before the game.

“But we proved them wrong.”

That might be an understatement.

OH SAY,

Riverside thoroughly dominated AC Flora in the Class 4-A state championship in Florence, 62-32. They never trailed in the game, going on a 20-0 run in the third quarter led by Trickett to seal the first

CAN YOU SWING? Former Eagle Mershon

hitting all the right pitches

BY TREY STEWART SPORTS EDITOR

When Christian Crane steps to the mound for Greer, it’s hard to ignore two things from the senior reliever.

His confidence and competitiveness.

with no outs and I know I’m going to get out of it,” said Crane. “I can put myself through the rough parts of a game and still make it happen.”

Greer bounced back from a series-opening 5-2 loss against the Eagles to even the series. Trey Wendell, a senior for Greer, hit his first-career home run in the top of the second inning.

aitlin Clark.

f my pen had the power,

I’d write it all differently. There’s nothing like the heartbreak of being so close but coming up just short. This week reminded me of that.

All season long, I’ve told the stories of the teams watched in Florence this weekend.

state title in program history.

Against Eastside on Wednesday night, Crane was fired up after every inning-ending out. He’d leave the mound pumping his fist, screaming to the sky, high-fiving teammates. That showcased his competitiveness.

“We were kind of the underdogs all season long. Overlooked and not re-

Wendell unloaded on a fastball and the wind did the rest, carrying the ball over the left-center field wall.

spected,” said Riverside head coach Brianne Jones.

Crane threw four solid relief innings for the Jackets, earning the win in a 12-9 Greer victory. His comments after the game? That’s where the confidence came out.

“Off the bat, I was hoping to get a triple, but the wind really picked it up and carried it over,” said Wendell. “I was so excited… I was sprinting around the bases.”

“But we always found a way to come out on top.”

ever insert yourself into the story. It’s one of the golden rules of journalism. I don’t find that one hard to follow. However, this week, for the first time, I felt like the story, in a way, roped me into it.

For my money, she’s more entertaining than any men’s college basketball player I’ve watched in a long time. I’m sure many would agree. I haven’t made a point to take in many nonMarch Madness men’s college basketball games in years. The sport just hasn’t been a draw for me. But Clark? Anytime she was on television this season, I sat. I watched. I admired.

Trickett poured in a game-high 16 points. Most of those came in the second half, as the forward’s shots weren’t falling in the first. Not to worry, as

Greer led 4-0 after the second inning, but the Eagles stormed back with six straight runs to take the lead after three.

“Whenever I’m on the mound, I have the mindset that I’m better than whoever is in the batter’s box,” said Crane. “They will not beat me, no matter what.”

I was at the Byrnes vs. T.L. Hanna basketball game Thursday night. The atmosphere was electric, as the Rebels and Jackets are two of the top teams in Class 5-A basketball. The game was a potential preview of a deep playoff matchup later this February.

This basketball season, it seemed like every week, our teams and players found ways to pull out improbable wins. They’d break records and set new marks so often that I’d almost lose track. There was that time that Will Fowler led a 10-point comeback in the fourth quarter against Dorman to win Byrnes its first region title since 2016. How about Isaiah Henry’s steal and buzzer-beating layup when Greer finally beat Greenville earlier this year?

That woman can flatout ball. Clark has done immeasurable good for the sport of women’s basketball. Years ago, most social media posts revolving around women’s basketball were flooded with the same recycled comments and quips, many of them considerably sexist in nature.

Aylissa Pelzer came off the bench during the first half when Trickett picked up two fouls, and the SEE TARGET B3

Or Jack Sauer’s ridiculous 30-foot three-point bank shot to help Riverside knock off Catawba Ridge in the upper state semifinals?

These teams were special. All of them. To me, with every miraculous victory, they all seemed draped in destiny—fixed in favorable fate. Nothing could stop them. And if my pen had the power, nothing would have.

You know, the “belongs in the kitchen” types. Lame and tired.

BY TREY STEWART SPORTS EDITOR

“I feel like we really needed this win as a team,” said Henry. “Every one of us wanted to come in here and finally beat Greenville, and we got it done.”

“I could tell they were going to try to pass it to [Cooley]. I was just being patient and waiting for the right time to step up and try and get it,” said Henry. “When the time came, I attacked the pass and took it. The rest, that was just greatness.”

With the score tied at

57 and Greenville main-

Greer head coach Devin Liferidge passed on the chance to call a timeout after Henry made the steal. He trusted the junior

Before Mississippi State’s March 8 game against Evansville, David Mershon looked for a quiet spot in the locker room. Not just a quiet spot—a secret location, a place where none of his teammates could hear him. The former Eastside baseball star turned Bulldog found a room in the back of the team’s clubhouse. While the rest of his team talked to one another and locked in on the

What happened next, he said, he wanted to keep a surprise from his teammates.

As the Bulldogs walked onto the field, all seemed normal. They lined up on the base paths, just as they’d done before every game. But when it was time to sing the national anthem, a few players noticed there was no one standing on the field to perform.

Star-Spangled Banner, drawing raucous applause from his team and the stadium filled with Bulldog fans.

Mississippi State’s sophomore rising star said the music has always been in him.

Crane worked his way out of several jams to preserve the win, including a bases-loaded jam with two outs in the final inning.

“It could be bases loaded

The Jackets responded with a five-run top of the fourth and didn’t relinquish the lead. They took down the Eagles in Friday’s rubber match too, 6-1, to claim the series victory.

“These guys bounced back after losing the first game [of the series vs. Eastside],” said Greer head SEE WIN | B2

For years, women’s basketball stars have cried out for equality. Similar treatment and appreciation for the women’s game as the men receive. Similar pay, too, which is a different topic for another day.

The author’s first-person voice and conviction comes across strong, and his thoughts are conveyed in a way that makes me ponder on them, and feel them. Well done.

That’s when Mershon stepped out of line and stepped to the mic. His teammates looked at

“I went to Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Taylors growing up. I was part of their children’s choir,” said Mershon. “We sang Gregorian Chants and things of that nature. I was part of a couple of choirs for my school coop, and we went to nurs-

Byrnes point guard Will Fowler came into the game like a man on a mission. He scored nearly half of the Rebels’ 85 points, dropping a career-high 41 as Byrnes rolled to a statement 8578 win over T.L. Hanna. I stood underneath the basket for most of the game with my camera, mouth agape in awe of the masterclass Fowler put on. Every shot he took was going in.

So of course, with the rising interest in women’s basketball generated by Clark, surely these same stars would be cheering Iowa’s senior star on, right?

Not even close.

I’m a fairly emotional guy. wore my heart on my black suit jacket sleeve this weekend as watched two of our teams fall just short in the state championships. It wasn’t supposed to end that way. saw young athletes I’ve followed every step of the way this season tuck their heads into their jerseys and burst into tears. No ceremonious send-offs for seniors, just sadness. The final chapters of these teams’ incredible stories didn’t have a happy ending. That sucks. I won’t sit here and pretend it doesn’t. On the way home from Florence on Saturday night, I thought to myself, do get a little too invested in our teams? mean, if anyone watched the My40 television broadcast of

Former WNBA star

Sheryl Swoopes rambled on a podcast about how Clark’s record-setting college career should be invalidated because “she’s

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Candace Rathbone

Candace Rathbone

INFORM • INSTRUCT • INSPIRE August 2024

FIRST PLACE

Candace Rathbone

The Baptist Courier

Life’s a Game of Inches, But God Controls the Inches Head Coach Bobby

INSIDE:

A Convention of Complementarian Churches

Clean, simple design. Dominant image pairs well with headline to draw readers in.

FIRST PLACE

Charles Swenson

Coastal Observer

Beautiful design with dominant art and package that draws readers in.

Great job displaying and teasing several other important stories on this holiday front. Well done.

THIRD PLACE

Melanie Smith

The Sumter Item

SECOND PLACE

The Sumter Item

Melanie Smith

FIRST PLACE

Robert Miller

Very neat layout. Grabs the attention. Good content and photo as well as graphics.

FIRST PLACE

FEATURE PAGE DESIGN

FIRST PLACE

Laura Allshouse

Greenville Journal

KEVIN KELLER

became an inventor out of necessity.

The local plastic surgeon has worked in Greenville for over two decades, during which time he has invented two biomedical devices. Each device aims to improve the efficiency and result of a cosmetic procedure.

“Professionally, am driven to find ways to simplify techniques so myself and other providers can provide patients the very best treatment dependably and safely,” Keller said.

FUNNELING SOLUTIONS

The idea for his first biomedical device came to him in 2006. The Food and Drug Administration had approved the use of silicone implants for breast augmentation. Unlike saline implants, silicone implants are prefilled with a silicone gel and can be more difficult to insert into the breast cavity.

At the time, Keller was working at Upstate Plastic Surgery, a private practice he founded in 1999. He built his practice based on completing underarm incisions for breast augmentation surgery and maneuvering the implant across the chest into the designated pocket.

“To get a silicone prefilled implant through that area is a lot,” Keller said. “It’s not good for the implant because you have to manipulate it so much.”

16 September 2024

“I would like to continue being the idea guy.”

—Dr. Kevin Keller

He invented the Keller Funnel, a sterilized, lubricated funnel, to efficiently place a silicone implant into the breast pocket. The prototype for the device consisted of a sterilized cake piping bag. Keller filed a preliminary patent for the device in 2006.

“I had no idea how to get it to the next step,” Keller said. Luckily, Keller met Howard Preissman, a biomedical engineer living in Florida, who was willing to help get his invention into the market. They each invested $5,000 to start a private medical device company called Keller Medical.

The two men worked together for six months developing the Keller Funnel. The product began to sell in the market in 2008.

“We were profitable the second year we were in the market,” Keller said.

Keller and Preissman received a patent for the device in 2013.

For the next 10 years, Keller served as the medical director for Keller Medical and Preissman served as CEO. In 2017, they sold the company to a global pharmaceutical company called Allergan, now a part of AbbVie. The Keller Funnel is now a widely used device in breast augmentation surgery. The one-time-use device costs around $100 per funnel. It has proven to cause less trauma to the implant and incision area, better wound healing, and less contamination.

Q: How you would describe yourself?

A: I’m just a normal person that has taken advantage of my gifts.

Q: What drives you?

A: Personally, am driven by two major desires: do what is best for my family and have an uncontrollable energy and try to channel it to creative outlets which will bring happiness to others.

Q: What is your favorite part of your career?

A: When you’re early in your career, you like excitement. You like challenges. Then as you age into that and you deal with complications, you’ve become very happy with more static. So when was involved in the development of the Keller Funnel and now (the NavaClick), that gives me a little bit more variety.

of plastic surgeons reported the Keller Funnel makes delivery of silicone breast implants easier to complete.

63%

96% of plastic surgeons reported the device saves time during breast implant insertion.

Source: Study completed by Allergan in 2017

Beautiful layout, strong use of art but the design doesn’t overtake the story. Great work.

with Dr. Kevin Keller

FIRST PLACE

Roshan Lal

The

Sun News

The choice to make such a stunning photo a big emphasis works so well and is balanced out by the white space around the headline. The six-column layout with the smaller photo in the center also works well to balance the other half of the page. A very

and

design.

SPORTS PAGE DESIGN

FIRST PLACE

Cary Howard Lexington County Chronicle

I liked the photo selection and layout.

SPORTS PAGE DESIGN

FIRST PLACE

Julie Holcombe & Trey Stewart

The Greer Citizen

Well-designed page that packs in a lot of information in easy-to-read form. Good use of space, photos and graphics.

FIRST PLACE

Hope Falls

The Island News

SPORTS PAGE DESIGN

FIRST PLACE

Barrick

FINALLY CHAMPS!

FIRST PLACE

April is Autism Awareness Month; Lexington area parents say community is

his honor. He remains a national hero in Scotland to

day. That was just the kind of inspiring figure Finger was looking for. So Bruce would do nicely for the new character’s first name. Finger then turned his attention to finding surname. That proved a bit trickier.Batman’s alter ego was an upper-crust sophisticate and philanthropist, the son of murdered wealthy parents who had been to the manor born. “Being a playboy, he was man of gentry,” Finger later recalled. He wanted a name that suggested a connection to the country’s earliest days. “I searched for a name that would suggest colonialism.” He first tried Adams and Hancock, but those didn’t work. So Finger opened some American history books, rummaged around in the past, and

found his answer in a Revolutionary War figure.Schoolkids today can tell you about George Washington, Paul Revere, the Marquis de Lafayette and John Paul Jones (plus Benedict Arnold, but that’s another story for another time). Yet, how many know about “Mad” Antony Wayne? Daring, tenacious and quick-tempered, those qualities combined to earn him his nickname (It was “mad,” as in crazy or insane, not the angry definition). The Chester County, Pa. native proved his military mettle by serving in the disastrous invasion of Quebec (the less said about that fiasco, the better). His repu-

FIRST PLACE

CYCLING BOOM BUILDING

photo by Bonfire Visuals

FIRST PLACE

Rhonda Barrick

The Sumter Item

All in the family Myson’s Tires grows and changes, but family business retains values, hard work and Tire Man on Broad Street

BY KAYLA GREEN kayla@theitem.com

Men often salute military memorials, and the fullscale Tuskegee Airmen’s P-51 Mustang Red Tail at Sumter Veterans Park is no exclusion. Those men are usually not made of tire.

An original Tire Man welcomed mo-

nal Broad Street location, co-owner Matthew Tickel is helping to pump new life into the business he was forced to work at when he was 13 that he now runs at 3890 Broad St. Logan opened the first Myson’s in 1969 on U.S. 521 South before moving to Guignard Drive in 1996. That store, which Logan had sole ownership of after taking over the business from his father in 1988, according to The Sumter Item archives, closed in May. The Broad Street location opened as a partnership between Logan and portunity

to work at the beginnings of the Guignard store. He strived to do something better than any other worker, and his motivation and commitment to his work led Logan to partner with Larry Tickel to reopen a Broad Street location.

for payroll, waiting to be told what to do to handling the family business’ accounting, customer relations and anything else needed from an owner/operator.

mer break mirrored what many young teenagers would feel, he said he looks back now with appreciation. He did whatever Dad told him to, sweeping, cleaning, learning. Maybe begrudgingly at the time, 39-year-old Tickel credits those formative years for the development of his work ethic and business

Eventually, his friends even started working at Myson’s, and “they learned Now, Tickel has exchanged brooms

He brings knowledge he learned from seven years he spent in Columbia working at Love Chevrolet.

While Myson’s mainly services and sells tires, alignment and brakes, Tickel gained experience in an array of vehicle services.

“There was a time when I realized how hard I was working and putting it toward something that wasn’t really necessarily going to be mine. A lot of people do that, and that’s what a lot of people are able to do, but I had an opportunity like this with a business that could be mine down the road,” Tickel said. “I was about 26, 27 when I made up my mind to go back and put my effort into Myson’s Tires and better that company.”

His dad has told him had he not returned home to rejoin the family business, he probably would have “sold everything or shut down.”

Tickel turned 30 and “really started digging in and getting serious.” He

What I liked most about this was a great local package. Great cutout, great portrait photo and a wonderfully balanced page. Excellent work for an inside page that could have easily been a front page.

PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN THE SUMTER ITEM

Myson’s Tires co-owner Matthew Tickel stands for a portrait.

PHOTO PAGE DESIGN

PHOTO PAGE DESIGN

DIVISIONS D & E COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Charles Swenson Coastal Observer

I thought the layout flowed well, and the top and bottom pics were very well conceived.

PHOTO PAGE DESIGN

FIRST PLACE

Chris Tabakian

The Post and Courier

Great photos celebrating the Olympics. I love the facial expression on Michael Okas and the cat giving a side-eye.

Great photos of community celebrations surrounding all Olympic Games!

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Vic MacDonald

The Clinton Chronicle

Elijah de Castro

The People-Sentinel

SPOT NEWS PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Jonathan Vickery

The People-Sentinel

Putting a human face on such a disaster makes in so relatable. I like the way this one was captured. Destruction and survival are both reflected here.

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Anna Brown

Union County News

Chris Sokoloski

Coastal Observer

SPOT NEWS PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

photo of a house fully engulfed in flames and a firefighter battling the blaze. Good job.

Mark Wade

Union County News

Nice

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Andy Brack

Charleston City Paper

Bob Sofaly

The Island News

PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Janet Morgan

The Post and Courier

Myrtle Beach/ Georgetown Times

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

The Sumter Item

Adam Flash

Matthew Robertson

Morning News

PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Larry Hardy

The Times and Democrat

Such an amazing photo to capture! The woman’s emotions are easily understood in this photo especially given the situation she has found herself in. Nice work!

NEWS PHOTO

DIVISIONS A & B COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

Jason Lee The Sun News

SECOND PLACE

Matthew Christian Aiken Standard

SPOT NEWS PHOTO DIVISIONS A & B COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Bill Bengtson

Aiken Standard

Those that continue to work in the elements to ensure all the necessities we are used to continue to work. Thank you! Great job!

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Jackie Broach

Georgetown County

Jackie Broach

Georgetown County

NEWS PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Gwinn Davis

This captures the emotion of the day and focuses on people’s faces, where you can see their expressions.

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

The

Brian Garner

News & Reporter

Simeon Little

Pageland Progressive-Journal

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Simeon Little

Great shot and great framing. Love the juxtaposition of the toy plane vs. real airplane.

Pageland Progressive-Journal

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Peter Finger

The Daniel Island News

Charles Swenson Coastal Observer

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Chris Sokoloski

Coastal Observer

Even though this is a planned event, catching the raw emotions of excitement in the audience and Ms. Giles’ smile makes this a winning photo.

THIRD PLACE

Janet Morgan

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

Janet Morgan The Post and Courier

Myrtle Beach/Georgetown Times

Myrtle Beach/Georgetown Times

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

FIRST PLACE (TIE)

Janet Morgan, The Post and Courier Myrtle Beach/Georgetown Times

One of the most striking photos I have seen in a long time. The use of the horse’s ears as a framing device takes this photo to another level. The capture of the rider’s face, and the use of light, is just outstanding.

Another excellent use of light, and a great capture of a moment in time. Plus, it’s a part of the rodeo world that most of us have no knowledge of. Intriguing and captivating photo.

THIRD PLACE

The Journal, Seneca

SECOND PLACE

The

Sean Smith

Sean Smith

Journal, Seneca

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Adam

Flash

The Sumter Item

Spot news happens at planned events, too. Good photo!

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO DIVISIONS A & B COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

Henry Taylor

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

The Post and Courier

Andrew Whitaker

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO DIVISIONS A & B COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Grace Beahm Alford

The Post and Courier

Excellent photo that captures the emotion of the moment.

FEATURE PHOTO

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Jackie Broach

Georgetown County

Gwinn Davis

FEATURE PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Ken Makin

FEATURE PHOTO

THIRD PLACE

The News & Reporter

SECOND PLACE

The News & Reporter

Brian Garner

Travis Jenkins

FEATURE PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Deborah Tucker

News-Chronicle

This photo is not only amazing in quality, but it also captures the impact of the cutline description. The child in the middle really sets it apart with her curious gaze.

PHOTO

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

The Gaffney Ledger

Cody Sossamon

Judith Brown

Laurens County Advertiser

FEATURE PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

This photo speaks of honor and continuance. A good and very human capture.

Shellie Murdaugh

Jasper County Sun Times

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Amber Hewitt

The Island News

Janet Morgan

The Post and Courier

Myrtle Beach/Georgetown Times

FEATURE PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Matt Bise

The Gazette

Love it. So hard to get a bubble to show up well in a photograph. Really good shot of a festival scene.

PHOTO

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

The Sumter Item

Adam Flash

Matthew Robertson Morning News

FEATURE PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Sean Smith

The Journal, Seneca

You can almost hear the laughter of the children and the fun they are having in this feature photo.

PHOTO

THIRD PLACE

The Sun News

SECOND PLACE

The Sun News

Jason Lee

Jason Lee

FEATURE PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Jason Lee

The Sun News

This photo captures the entire feeling that day. Love this shot!

PHOTO

THIRD PLACE

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

The Post and Courier

Henry Taylor

Andrew Whitaker

FEATURE PHOTO DIVISION A

FIRST PLACE

Gavin McIntyre

The Post

and

Courier

The angle is perfect, the backlighting emphasizes everything, and the bird’s spread wings make this photo a perfect capture.

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Tom Priddy

Tom Priddy

SPORTS PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Astounding capture of motion. Very dynamic.

Gwinn Davis

THIRD PLACE

The Journal, Williamston

SECOND PLACE

The Journal, Williamston

Michael Lollis

Michael Lollis

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Michael Lollis

The Journal, Williamston

Great action shot!

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Mac Banks

The Lancaster News

Bruce Cook

Union County News

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Bruce Cook

Union County News

WOW! Great job on this photo. I can feel the sand being thrown!

THIRD PLACE

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

The Island News

Janet Morgan

Myrtle Beach/Georgetown Times

Bob Sofaly

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Bob Sofaly

The Island News

Great job on capturing the moment!

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Index-Journal

Greg K. Deal

Caleb Gilbert

The Journal, Seneca

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Donny Knight

The Times and Democrat

Beautiful animals. Great action shot!

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

The Sun News

Jason Lee

Ken Ruinard Independent Mail

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Kyle Dawson

Aiken Standard

The simplicity made this photo a winner. Caught at the peak of action with no distracting background was perfect. The athlete’s expression fits the situation.

THIRD PLACE

Gavin McIntyre

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

Andrew Whitaker

The Post and Courier

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO DIVISION A

FIRST PLACE

Jeff Blake The State

A crisp, tightly focused image with so many layers to unravel – from the players’ faces to the dirt in their cleats to the ball and glove, and more.

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Michael Lollis

The Journal, Williamston

Charlie Bryant

The Berkeley Independent

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Michael Lollis

The Journal, Williamston

There are five entries in this category that I really liked and that captured the moment well. This one emerged on top. This entry both captures the moment, and I love it from a technical and a visual point of view. Great work.

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Scott Powell

The Gaffney Ledger

Bruce Cook

Union County News

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Peter Finger

The Daniel Island News

Great action! Excellent photo!

THIRD PLACE

Taylor Beltz

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

SECOND PLACE

Roger Lee

The Summerville Journal Scene

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Rob Gantt

The Gazette

What a photo! This photo speaks to you. Absolutely the best Sports Feature Photo. This was a great time and I’m sure a memory.

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

The

Times and Democrat

Donny Knight

Caleb Gilbert

The Journal, Seneca

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

David Yeazell Morning News

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Kyle Dawson Aiken Standard

Alex C. Hicks Jr. Herald-Journal

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Ken Ruinard Independent Mail

Perfect timing, perfect capture of the moment. Tells the story without any words needed.

PHOTO

THIRD PLACE

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

The Post and Courier

Andrew Whitaker

Andrew Whitaker

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Gavin McIntyre

The Post and Courier

From the pup going all out to the crowd’s reaction behind him, it’s hard for me to not pic this as the winner. And it makes me miss all the dogs I’ve had in my life.

PERSONALITY PHOTO OR PORTRAIT

DIVISIONS E & F COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

Cody Sossamon

The Gaffney Ledger

SECOND PLACE

Alexandria Feagin

The Manning Times

PERSONALITY PHOTO OR PORTRAIT DIVISIONS E & F COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

S.T. Cardinal

This photo captures the subject well. The deep concern on this farmer’s face is moving and one finds oneself concerned as well. Very effective photography.

Myrtle Beach Herald

PERSONALITY PHOTO OR PORTRAIT

DIVISION D

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Ashley Stanol

Charleston City Paper

Ashley Stanol

Charleston City Paper

PERSONALITY PHOTO OR PORTRAIT

DIVISION D

FIRST PLACE

Janet Morgan The Post and Courier

Great capture of a personality photo with a creative angle and view of the hibiscus. I feel like I know her story just from this photo.

Myrtle Beach/ Georgetown Times

PERSONALITY PHOTO OR PORTRAIT

DIVISION C

THIRD PLACE

The Sumter Item

SECOND PLACE

Micah Green

The Sumter Item

Micah Green

PERSONALITY PHOTO OR PORTRAIT

DIVISION C

FIRST PLACE

Adam Flash

The Sumter Item

AWESOME! love the use of sunglasses on pavement to show the plane and pilot. FANTASTIC JOB!

PERSONALITY PHOTO OR PORTRAIT

DIVISIONS A & B COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

The Island Packet

SECOND PLACE

The Sun News

Drew Martin

Jason Lee

PERSONALITY PHOTO OR PORTRAIT DIVISIONS A & B COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Andrew Whitaker

The Post and Courier

A simple yet powerful portrait that effectively uses focus and blur to draw the viewer’s eye straight to the subject. This photograph clearly captures the essence of the “little details that matter most” with a compelling and well-balanced composition.

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

The

News & Reporter

The Clinton Chronicle

Brian Garner

Vic MacDonald

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

My heroes have always been cowboys (and cowgirls)

FIRST PLACE

Brian Garner

The News & Reporter

The definite winner here. The photographs work to tell the story of the rodeo. Overall, good job!

THIRD PLACE

PHOTO

SERIES

OR PHOTO STORY

FIRST PLACE

Chris Sokoloski

Great pictures! Captures actions and emotions so well.

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY DIVISION D

THIRD PLACE

Janet Morgan

The Post and Courier

Myrtle Beach/Georgetown Times

SECOND PLACE

Janet Morgan The Post and Courier

Myrtle Beach/Georgetown Times

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

DIVISION D

FIRST PLACE

Janet Morgan

The Post and Courier

There were several absolutely stunning shots in this series - the composition and use of color were impeccable.

Myrtle Beach/ Georgetown Times

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY DIVISION C

THIRD PLACE

The Sumter Item

SECOND PLACE

The Sumter Item

Micah Green

Adam Flash

PHOTO

SERIES

OR PHOTO STORY

FIRST PLACE

Adam Flash

The Sumter Item

Love the contrast of the smoke and trees. Great shot!

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

THIRD PLACE

Lee The Sun News

SECOND PLACE

Independent Mail

Jason

Ken Ruinard

PHOTO

SERIES

OR PHOTO STORY

FIRST PLACE

Jason Lee

The Sun News

I like the contrast of the lights and the various colors how dimension.

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY DIVISION A

THIRD PLACE

Henry Taylor

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

Grace Beahm Alford

The Post and Courier

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

DIVISION A

FIRST PLACE

The Post and Courier

Heart wrenching, captivating, and beautiful work by the photographer. The variety of scenes powerfully depict the lives of the subjects involved.

Andrew Whitaker

PICTORIAL DIVISIONS E & F COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

S.T. Cardinal

SECOND PLACE

Myrtle Beach Herald

Charles Swenson Coastal Observer

PICTORIAL DIVISIONS E & F COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

S.T. Cardinal

Myrtle Beach Herald

I love how this photo draws the eye to the sand, which is where the subjects are focused. The silhouettes are amazing. One minute later, and too many of the subjects’ features would have been visible. The white in the buckets, hat and socks is perfect. A truly excellent photo!

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Ashley Stanol

Charleston City Paper

Bob Sofaly

The Island News

PICTORIAL DIVISION D

FIRST PLACE

Kimberly Lamphier

The Link

I love this photo from several perspectives. I like the composition, the tone and the lack of color, which brings more attention to the subject. In addition to aesthetics, this picture also works to tell a story about domestic violence awareness month. Great job. I wouldn’t change anything about this picture.

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Jason Lee The Sun News

Jason Lee The Sun News

FIRST PLACE

Jason Lee

The Sun News

Very visually compelling, strong background and composition. Good moment.

PICTORIAL DIVISION A

THIRD PLACE

Grace Beahm Alford

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

Henry Taylor

The Post and Courier

PICTORIAL DIVISION A

FIRST PLACE

Henry Taylor

The Post and Courier

Very clean composition and a perfect photo for the story.

HUMOROUS PHOTO

THIRD PLACE

The News & Reporter

SECOND PLACE

The News & Reporter

Marissa Hembree

Brian Garner

HUMOROUS PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Deborah Tucker

News-Chronicle

Nice moment to capture. Put a smile on my face.

HUMOROUS PHOTO DIVISIONS D & E COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

The Island News

SECOND PLACE

The Post and Courier

Bob Sofaly

Bianca Moorman

North Augusta/The Star

HUMOROUS

PHOTO

DIVISIONS D & E COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Charles Swenson

Coastal Observer

The guy on the right! Ha!

THIRD PLACE

Morning

News

SECOND PLACE

The Sumter Item

David Yeazell

Adam Flash

HUMOROUS PHOTO

FIRST PLACE

Adam Flash

The Sumter Item

This one made me laugh the hardest. Good job of capturing the moment and the look on the rider’s face.

HUMOROUS PHOTO DIVISIONS A & B COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

Jason Lee The Sun News

SECOND PLACE

Jason Lee The Sun News

HUMOROUS PHOTO DIVISIONS A & B COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Jason Lee

The Sun News

So funny! Love the monkeys and expressions!

THIRD PLACE Staff

The People-Sentinel

SECOND PLACE Staff

The Post and Courier

USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

FIRST PLACE

Orizo Hajigurban and Kara Ellis

The Sun News

The video was not only professionally crafted but also highly engaging, resonating with viewers on a meaningful level. Its polished production quality and compelling content made it both entertaining and impactful.

INDIVIDUAL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

DIVISION A

SECOND PLACE

David Ferrara

The Post and Courier

INDIVIDUAL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

DIVISION A

FIRST PLACE

Chris Trainor

The State

South Carolina can always count on Chris Trainor to bring the news and the funny with his social media presence.

VIDEO

DIVISION C & ALL WEEKLY

THIRD PLACE

Travis Jenkins and James McBee

The News & Reporter

SECOND PLACE

Audra Grant Morning News

NEWS VIDEO

DIVISION C & ALL WEEKLY

FIRST PLACE

Larry Hardy

The Times and Democrat

I thought you did an excellent job of combining video and photos to support interviews. Well put together. Good job!

THIRD PLACE

The Sun News

SECOND PLACE

Jason Lee

Loumay Alesali & David Weissman

The Sun News

FIRST PLACE

Drew Martin and Evan McKenna

The Island Packet

Important

topic.

VIDEO

THIRD PLACE

Gavin McIntyre

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

Henry Taylor

The Post and Courier

NEWS VIDEO

FIRST PLACE

Andrew Whitaker

The Post and Courier

This video had crisp, clear audio that was good volume, didn’t have too much interference, and wasn’t tinny or anything. The video quality and editing were nice and smooth, and the transitions felt organic.

FEATURE VIDEO

DIVISION C & ALL WEEKLY

THIRD PLACE

Travis Jenkins and James McBee

The News & Reporter

SECOND PLACE

Zac Hooks

The Sumter Item

FEATURE VIDEO

DIVISION C & ALL WEEKLY

FIRST PLACE Zac Hooks

The Sumter Item

This video stands out for its heartfelt message, “Foster Kids Matter,” and thoughtful execution.

The introduction is strong, the storytelling is clear and the editing is crisp, creating a memorable and inspiring piece.

THIRD PLACE

The Sun News

SECOND PLACE

The Sun News

Jason Lee

Jason Lee

FEATURE VIDEO

FIRST PLACE

Drew Martin

The Island Packet

Nice story. This video told the story about this interesting ice cream and used shot sequencing techniques found in video production. The videographer managed to match the shots with the interview words to tell the story visually as well as with words.

THIRD PLACE

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

The State

Henry Taylor

Joshua Boucher

FEATURE VIDEO DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Grace Beahm Alford

The Post and Courier

Viewers are drawn in with an emotional story. Seeing who Magwood is through the images and the memories shared merits this first place.

SPORTS

VIDEO

ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

The News & Reporter

Travis Jenkins and James McBee

Joe Wedra

Myrtle Beach Herald

SPORTS VIDEO

ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Trey Stewart

The Greer Citizen

The reporter could feel that something big was about to happen. Excellent positioning and coverage.

SPORTS

VIDEO DIVISIONS B & C COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

Jason Lee The Sun News

SECOND PLACE

Zac

Hooks

The Sumter Item

SPORTS VIDEO

DIVISIONS B & C COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Zac Hooks

The Sumter Item

What a powerful tribute to a young athlete by those who knew and loved him best.

SPORTS

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

The Post and Courier

Gavin McIntyre

Joshua Boucher

The State

SPORTS VIDEO

FIRST PLACE

The Post and Courier

This is a pleasant local story about a sport making its worldwide comeback.

Grace Beahm Alford

FIRST PLACE

Municipal Association of South Carolina

Brief, useful newsletter summary of weekly legislative action with links to comprehensive reports, podcasts and more. Impressive engagement metrics.

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Greenville Journal

Greenville Journal

NEWSLETTER

FIRST PLACE

Greenville Journal

The top three entries all caught my eye! I think these newsletters did a really good job of making me want to learn more about each story. The top one was compelling for its more broad top story that followed with more specific articles following.

SECOND PLACE

Hanna Raskin

FIRST PLACE

Municipal Association of South Carolina

Vast amount of resources and information on municipal governance. Winner for ease of navigation, functionality and impressive content.

DIVISION

THIRD PLACE Aiken

SECOND PLACE

GENERAL EXCELLENCE - DIGITAL

DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

The Post and Courier

The in depth dedication to digital content merits this first place. Videos are well crafted and the interactive features are fun.

NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE PUBLICATION

DIVISION G

FIRST PLACE

S.C. United Methodist Advocate

Delegates gather for UMC General Conference

Both editions were packed with local and state news, features and thoughtful commentary. The Advocate is a

for

Really enjoyed the stories, photos and briefs featuring local church events and projects. Very well done publication in a

and

GENERAL EXCELLENCE - PRINT

COASTAL OBSERVER

FIRST PLACE

GENERAL EXCELLENCE - PRINT

FIRST PLACE

Brandon Roberts

The Summerville Journal Scene

Of all of the entries, this one hit me with the most important stories delivered in a straightforward manner from the jump. Also covered the breadth of areas described in the criteria. I enjoyed the range of serious to lighthearted (Smith Says) in opinions also.

JIM DAVENPORT AWARD

The Voice of Fairfield County for Excellence in Government Reporting

Barbara Ball

KEN BALDWIN AWARD

Charles D. Perry

DAILY

KEN BALDWIN AWARD

South Carolina Daily Gazette for Excellence in Business Journalism

Jessica Holdman

JAY BENDER AWARD FOR ASSERTIVE JOURNALISM

Alexandra Whitbeck

The People-Sentinel

JAY BENDER AWARD FOR ASSERTIVE

JOURNALISM

David Weissman

The Sun News

WEEKLY MONTGOMERY/SHURR

Freedom of Information Award SECOND PLACE

FIRST PLACE

WEEKLY MONTGOMERY/SHURR

Freedom of Information Award

Travis Jenkins

The News & Reporter

HONORABLE MENTION

DAILY MONTGOMERY/SHURR

Freedom of Information Award

Elizabeth Brewer

The Sun News

Zak Koeske The State

DAILY MONTGOMERY/SHURR

Freedom of Information Award FIRST PLACE

Zak Koeske The State THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Cynthia Beasley WIS News 10

FIRST PLACE

David Weissman The Sun News

PHOTOJOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Ken Ruinard Independent Mail

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Travis Jenkins

The News & Reporter Weekly

Daily

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Tony Bartelme

The Post and Courier

PRESIDENT’S AWARD For Excellence

THE NEWS & REPORTER

PRESIDENT’S AWARD For Excellence

COASTAL OBSERVER

PRESIDENT’S AWARD For Excellence

THE POST AND COURIER MYRTLE BEACH/

GEORGETOWN TIMES

PRESIDENT’S AWARD For Excellence

THE SUMTER ITEM

PRESIDENT’S AWARD For Excellence

THE

SUN NEWS

PRESIDENT’S AWARD For Excellence

THE POST AND COURIER

AWARDS CELEBRATION BANQUET