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It is the policy of The Elgin News to encourage reader participation on its editorial page. Diverse and varied opinions are welcomed. Because of space limitations, we must limit all contributors to one letter per person per month. Letters of 200 words or less will be published unless they contain language or content that the editors feel is inappropriate.
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Letters to the Editor
The Elgin News P.O. Box 152 Elgin, SC 29045
Christmas Tree Lighting and Citizen of the Year
On Thursday, December 5th, the Town of Elgin held their annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. Visitors enjoyed music from Radiate Church's Worship Band, selections performed by the Doby's Mill and Blaney School Choruses and a variety food trucks and activities from other area churches. Featured as part of the celebration was the announcement of the 2024 Citizen of the Year, Becky Robinson. Becky is a Kershaw County native, and has been involved in many local activities in the community, including the Kershaw County Special Olympics, the Kershaw County Clean Community Commission, being the Chapter Leader for Armed Women of America, and serving on Elgin's Planning and Zoning Commission.
Photos courtesy Radiate Church.
The Elgin News builds community and brings people together by informing everyone about local businesses, services, schools organizations, government, activities, events and other information useful for becoming involved. It helps those who live and work in Elgin to get to know each other as people and to become friends.
Cate Goff, Editor (803) 513-5108
The Elgin News accepts no responsibility for the contents of the advertisements or articles. Advertisements and articles are accepted with the full responsibility of the advertiser for worth and accuracy. Readers who wish to comment or have concerns regarding advertisements contained herein are urged to phone the Elgin News at (803) 513-5108 or (803) 466-4604. The Elgin News will discontinue accepting advertising from firms of alleged dubious reputation.
Rates are net - discount agreements must be reflected on the publication order. Invoices due on receipt. Tearsheets and proofs available upon request. Advertising setup, changes and publication verification are provided at no charge. 15% agency comm. is 30-days firm. Photography charges negotiable. By-line articles are the property of the contributor and may not be reproduced without permission.
The Elgin News, PO Box 152, Elgin, SC 29045 · (803) 513-5108
Cate Goff, Editor · Email: elginnews@gmail.com
Elgin PD Incident Reports
Civil Disturbance: The Complainant (Suspect) contacted central dispatch advising the manager of the incident location assaulted her. The reporting officer responded finding the Complainant standing out front of the incident location. She was identified by her South Carolina driver's license and was clear NCIC. She admitted to coming into the store at 1859 hours and the manger had an attitude. She claims after making a purchase the manager and her exchanged insults as she was requesting the owner of the business information. She advised all she wanted was the information to contact the owner due to the employees rude behavior and her trying to slam the door on her. Contact was made with the manager (Witness) who advised the Suspect came into the store one minute before closing. She was taking a long time to select merchandise and having to transfer money to make a purchase. She claims they exchanged words and the Suspect was asked to leave as the transaction was already complete. However, the Suspect was attempting to record her and was outside of the threshold of the door, so she was trying to close and lock the door. The Suspect was trying to walk back inside and she put up her forearm to keep her out and to close the door. She advised she wanted the Suspect to be trespassed due to the incident. The witness was identified by name and birth date. She was clear NCIC. Neither party had any visible injuries or admitted to striking the other. CCTV footage was not able to be reviewed as the owner is only one with access and he was not present. It appears the Witness used reasonable force to prevent the Suspect from coming back inside
the business. The Complainant was provided the owners name and contact information. She was then issued a trespass notice, which she signed acknowledging she was not to return. The reporting officer's body worn camera was activated.
Shoplifting: On 12-11-2024 at approximately 0805, Officer responded to 2507 Main Street (Circle K) in reference to a shoplifting. Upon arrival, Officer made contact with the Manager who stated she and an Employee (watched a male come into the store and take multiple items and leave the store without paying. The male was identified as Subject who entered the store at 0802 and stole the following items:
Honey Bun - $2.69
2% Milk - $1.99
Brownie x 5 - $14.99
Gatorade - $3.29
Donut x 2 - $4.38
Subject deprived Circle K of $27.19 worth of items. Subject left the store at 0805 and got into a red in color Kia Soul. Manager was able to confirm the above details on the stores security camera videos. Once I left the store, Officer was able to locate Subject on Ivo Circle sitting in the red Kia. Ivo Circle is nearby the incident location, it is outside the Town of Elgin town limits in Kershaw County. Subject was sitting in the driver seat of the vehicle eating. I did see the donuts wrapped on the dash, Subject admitted to stealing the items. I issued a ticket to Subject charging him with shoplifting (UTT - 20240840011323).
I also completed a Notice of Trespass form and informed Subject not to return back to the property. I provided Subject with a copy. I activated my body worn camera upon arrival and deactivated
when I cleared from the scene.
Assisting Other Agency: Deputies were dispatched to the incident location in reference to a female outside hallucinating and refusing to come inside. Due to the close proximity of town, the extreme cold conditions (27 degrees), and only one deputy responding the reporting officer responded as back up. Sgt. Tate and the reporting officer arrived to find the suspect sitting outside shivering under a blanket. Her husband called due to her refusing to come inside and her not having proper medication in four days. She agreed to go to the hospital without incident. The reporting officer's body worn camera was activated.
Assisting Other Agency: On 12-08-2024 at approximately 0530 Officers responded to 2470 Bowen Street in Kershaw County S.C. in reference to an overdose. Upon arrival, I made contact with a female at the front door who stated there was a different female inside of the house who she believed to have overdosed but the said female was now awake and responsive. Kershaw EMS and fire arrived on scene and asked the female if she felt okay. The female responded with correct answers and did not need to go to the hospital for further treatment. The female claimed that she did not use any drugs and fell asleep after drinking alcohol. I did see empty cans laying around the house and did not see any signs of drugs. Due to the female not needing further for police or medical, we cleared the scene. Due to the close proximity of the Town of Elgin and us being the closer units we responded to assist Kershaw County Sheriff's Office. This report is only for documentation purposes.
December Reflections and Recollections
By: Liz Simon, Staff Writer
The holiday season officially began this past weekend with The Catfish Stomp parade at 10:00 on Saturday morning in Elgin. It is one of the most popular events in our LugoffElgin community along with The Lights of Lugoff Parade. The Stomp and the Stew committees are busy planning next year’s activities with excellent leaders and volunteers who have donated their time for this community tradition that has been happening for almost 50 years. The Lights of Lugoff parade will be held this Saturday night. Everyone loves a parade.
Celebrations and observances fill the weekdays and weekends. Make good choices with your list of how you want to spend your time so that you don't have holiday burnout!
Did you go Black Friday shopping? I know a lot of people who enjoyed trying to get a bargain that day. I don't know if shoppers found everything that was on their list! I would rather sleep in on Black Friday after a busy Thanksgiving Day.
Did your favorite team win the Palmetto State Bowl? Clemson and Carolina through the years have nagged each other through the month of November. The record has been 73 wins for Clemson, 44 for Carolina, and four ties. Dabo Sweeney has been the ACC winningest coach and has been at Clemson for 17 years. That makes him the longest serving coach in the school’s history. In his record against Carolina, Dabo has won nine and lost six to Carolina. This past Saturday, the Clemson Tigers defeated Southern Methodist University Mustangs from Texas to win the ACC conference title. Shane Beamer has only been head football coach at USC since 2021. His team has defeated Clemson twice in the last three years. The first game in the state rivalry was in 1896. The last game was played Nov. 30, 2024. My team will always be the Clemson Tigers even though they lost this year 17-14. I
will pull for the USC Gamecocks when they do not play Clemson. Recently USA Today named Shane Beamer as the SEC Coach of the Year. What’s ahead for these two outstanding coaches and teams? The Playoffs?
Last week on Saturday we marked December the 7th as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Dec. 7, 1941, is a “day that will live in infamy.” That quote was stated by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt over the radio the next day, Dec. 8,1941, as he addressed our nation. My parents and grandparents often talked about this event.
I will remember from what I have studied and been told what happened 83 years ago. It was a surprise attack on the Pacific fleet of ships and planes in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory by the Japanese on that Sunday morning. I remember that date not because I was alive, but because I always heard my parents, or my teachers discuss the shock that our country endured when more than 3, 500 Americans were killed or wounded.
Tomorrow, I will participate in my hometown of Bishopville’s ceremony Wreaths Across America where family members as well as Girl Scouts will lay the wreaths on the men and women who served their country and who are buried in the church cemetery. As they place the wreathes, they say the names of the veteran. As long as their name is called, they are not forgotten. Quaker Cemetery in Camden will also hold this ceremony Sat. Dec. 14 at noon.
At Christmas, there are so many places to visit and activities to participate in, I wish we did not have to make a choice. I always am amazed at how beautifully decorated the churches are. When Christmas carols are sung, my heart soars a beat.
We all wish for family and friends who gather to recall good times. We need to remember not everyone is happy at Christmas. I am attending two funeral services this week: my first cousin Dr. Calhoun Aycock and my mentor and dear friend Rosemary Russell.
When I see the delightful joy on children’s faces as they act in the story of Jesus’s birth, my own eyes sparkle with their precious sweet spirits. I can brush my tears away, but some can’t. Oh, to have that time again with that childlike wonder!
2024 Elgin Catfish Stomp
Congrats to the Parade Winners:
• Most Christmas Spirit-Palmetto Dance
• Best Church-Radiate Church
• Best Civic Group-Jamil Shrine Center
• Most Comical-The Cozy Cattle Company
• Honorable Mention-American Legion Post 195
• Overall Best-Evans Heating & Cooling All proceeds raised from the parade and festival benefit the Elgin Police Department Toys Roundup and Caring Hands Foundation.
2024 Elgin Catfish Stomp
2024 Elgin Catfish Stomp
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LaserForm & Machine Expanding Operations in Kershaw County
(LaserForm & Machine), a metal fabrication and machine shop, today announced it is expanding its operations in Kershaw County. The company’s $16 million investment will create 32 new jobs.
Founded in 1994, LaserForm & Machine produces low- and high-volume quantities to meet customers’ needs. The company’s capabilities include laser cutting, forming, turret punching, welding, machining and powder coating.
LaserForm & Machine will expand its Kershaw County metal fabrication operation by purchasing a 101,000-square-foot facility located at 412 Groves Street in Lugoff. In addition to its existing Kershaw County operation, which will remain operational, the company also operates a facility in Richland County.
Operations are expected to be online in the second quarter of 2025. Individuals interested in joining the LaserForm & Machine team should visit the company’s careers page.
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded a $200,000 Set-Aside grant to Kershaw County to assist with the costs of building renovations.
We are excited to announce that we will be holding a special winter open trails at The Nature as Teacher Preserve for Education on December 21st from 10am-2pm!
Open Trails is always FREE and you can enjoy our 10 miles of trails on foot with your furry friend (on leash) or by bike (helmets required).
Don't forget to sign in at our info table and enjoy the cooler winter weather at the preserve! Thanks to our amazing volunteers who help to make more open trails days possible!
Our preserve is located at 247 Chestnut Ferry Road in Camden, SC. Sometimes GPS will tell you to stop short of our driveway or direct you to drive past it. Look out for the pinecone logo sign! Driving Directions: From Walmart in Camden head north on Springdale Drive, toward the race track. Chestnut Ferry Road (a dirt road) crosses over Springdale drive at the bend. Turn left onto Chestnut Ferry road and continue down until you see our pinecone logo sign. Our driveway is the last on the left. After proceeding through our gate, do not stop in the maintenance lot. Continue down our long driveway, past the right turn, and into the parking area. You will see our green and tan restroom building.
Lugoff Elementary 2nd graders recently held a "Balloons Over Lugoff" holiday parade (inspired by the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade). Each student created their own balloon and marched in the parade as students, staff, and parents cheered them on along the parade route!
Balloons Over Lugoff DME Choraliers Visit Camden
DME music teacher, Helen Walker-Schmitt, was proud to have the DME Choraliers perform at the KCSD Administrators' meeting. Afterwards, they continued the tradition of community outreach, singing, and bringing holiday cheer to the residents at Springdale Nursing Home, The Legacy of Camden, and Karesh Wing. They polished off the trip with an educational lunch stop at Historic Camden.
KCSO Announces Award Winners
Deputy of the Year:
Master Deputy Tashawn Moore
Sponsored by:
Kershaw County Sheriff’s Foundation
Rookie of the Year:
Deputy Kenzie Alkinburgh
Sponsored by: Lugoff Ford
Civilian Employee of the Year: Laura Garcia
Sponsored by: Lugoff Toyota
Supervisor of the Year:
Lieutenant Derek Robinson
Sponsored by:
Carolina Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
K9 of the Year: K9 Kilo
Sponsored by:
South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police (SCFOP) - Wateree Lodge #33
Leonard Price Friend of Law Enforcement: Steve Zobel (Posthumously awarded & received by family)
Sponsored by:
Kershaw County Sheriff’s Foundation
We would like to thank all the sponsors that so generously supported these annual awards and our Christmas dinner:
Kershaw County Sheriff's Foundation Lugoff Ford Lugoff Toyota
Carolina Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police (SCFOP) - Wateree Lodge #33
award was
awarded & received by
Left to right: Deputy of the Year: Master Deputy Tashawn Moore, Rookie of the Year: Deputy Kenzie Alkinburgh, Civilian Employee of the Year: Laura Garcia, Supervisor of the Year: Lieutenant Derek Robinson, K9 of the Year: K9 Kilo (w/ Handler John Carter)
Leonard Price Friend of Law Enforcement: Steve Zobel This
posthumously
Steve’s daughter (Samantha Zobel) and wife (Cathy Zobel).
