Elgin News - 3B 2023

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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

KC Teachers Visit State House

The Kershaw County Teacher Forum and Leadership Council recently spent the day at the State House in Columbia visiting with their local legislators and discussing education policies and upcoming bills. They also talked with State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver about the budget priorities she presented to the Senate.

From the Chief's Desk

It’s always exciting to see growth and positive changes in our community. Elgin is constantly changing and growing. We have many flourishing businesses in town and with those many businesses comes many visitors and lots of traffic.

One way that we are dealing with the traffic issue was to have SCDOT install turn signals at the traffic light. I’m sure many have already noticed the new changes to the intersection. We have noticed that it has drastically improved the flow of traffic during our high travel times of the day. Another thing that we have noticed is that some drivers are not paying

close enough attention to those changes and not yielding to the drivers that have turn arrow. This has caused several close calls and road rage incidents. I’m confident that we will all soon be used to the change and most of these problems will resolve.

So until then, please be patient, pay attention to other drivers and lets all appreciate the positive growth in Elgin. Thank you.

Elgin Police Department Incident Reports

Tresspass of Real Property: On 3/07/2023, Sgt. Sinclair received a phone call from Assistant Manager at Food Lion. Manager advised her co-workers called her to tell her Subject was at the store. There have been several complainants on Subject panhandling and making customers very uncomfortable. Subject has been warned in the past about panhandling and continues to do so. Cpl. Delong, and Sgt. Sinclair responded to Food Lion and located Subject sitting in his car in the parking lot. Contact was made with Subject and we explained the reason for the contact. Subject was further advised, at the request of Food Lion, he was being placed on Trespass Notice for the property. The Trespass Notice was explained to Subject and he stated he understood. Subject signed the Trespass Notice and was given a copy. Sgt. Sinclair also explained to Subject, due to the volume of complaints regarding his panhandling, he would be charged if found doing so again in the Town Limits of Elgin. Subject stated he understood and Sinclair further explained to Subject the fine amount for each panhandling violation is $500.

Domestic Disturbance/Verbal: On 03/06/2023 at approximately 2000 hours Officer Handy, responded to Surrey Lane in reference to a Civil Disturbance. Once on the scene I met the Victim who stated she wanted her, "Baby-daddy," Subject, out of the house. Victim also stated she and Subject had been arguing over medication Subject was supposed to buy for their child, but he refused to buy. When I spoke to Subject, he stated he and his brother were going to get their belonging from the home and leave. During the time Subject was getting his belonging from the home, Subject and Victim began to argue about money he had recently paid her for rent. Victim told Subject that when she get her income tax money she would repay him for the rent. Both parties stated the altercation never became physical. I advised Victim of the state eviction process which she stated she was very familiar with the process. Once Subject had removed all his belongings and departed the scene, I returned back to service.

Civil Matter/Disturbance: Officer responded to Abbey Rd. to investigate the complaint of pine cones dropping into Complainant's yard. Upon arrival, Officer spoke with Complainant who stated that her neighbor, Subject and his wife, were not very good neighbors. Complainant stated a pine tree, which Complainant claimed was not in her yard, was dropping an excessive amount of pine cones into her yard. Complainant stated she was old and could not keep up with the amount of pine cones the tree was dropping into her yard.

Complainant stated the Subjects were throwing pine cones into her yard rather than disposing of them. Officer advised Complainant that it may be more effective to hire a neighborhood kid to pick up the pine cones. Officer also advised Complainant that she would most likely need a professional surveyor to establish the tree's ownership before the court would even hear her complaint. Next, Officer spoke to the Subjects who stated Complainant had come into their yard, looked directly at their surveillance camera located on the left side of their home, and proceeded to throw pine cones into their yard. They were unable to provide me video at the time of this report, but stated they could provide it later. The video did not show Complainant throwing anything into their yard. The Subjects also stated Complainant placed pine cones onto their vehicles. Officer advised the Subjects to stop throwing anything into Complainant's yard. Officer then returned and advised Complainant to stop throwing things into the Subject's yard and further advised Complainant to find a group of friends with which she could visit. Officer discussed with Complainant several non-judicial solutions to the tree issue that would be less costly than what it might cost to litigate the issue.

Public Disorderly Conduct: Officer responded to investigate a suspicious person in a white SUV in Complainant's backyard, near his enclosed trailer. This residence is located in the jurisdiction of Elgin Police Department. As Officer was pulling up, Complainant stated that the person was still on scene and parked between his house and another. Officer made contact with the driver of the vehicle, Subject, who showed signs of intoxication. His words were slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and a strong odor of alcoholic beverage was coming from his person. Officer placed Subject under arrest for public disorderly conduct and transported him to KCDC for booking. Complainant did not wish to have Subject charged with trespassing. Complainant stated that nothing was missing from his backyard and that Subject had merely driven back there until Complainant told him to leave. Complainant stated "I didn't want to get anyone in trouble." KCSO deputies who arrived to assist EPD unit found a silver handgun in the glove compartment which was run through Kershaw Dispatch and it came back clear. Subject was not prohibited from owning or possessing handguns, but the handgun was confiscated for safekeeping at EPD since the vehicle was going to be towed. The handgun was logged into EPD evidence and labeled for safekeeping only.

ATAX Grant Application Window Now Open

Kershaw County Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee is now accepting Accommodation Tax tourism funding grant applications for the 2023-2023 funding cycle.

The grant is open to non-profit organizations for the purpose of advertising and marketing projects or sites promoting tourism activity in Kershaw County.

Applications may be obtained online at kershaw.sc.gov or by calling the

Kershaw County Government Center at 803.425.6778. Completed applications for funds must be mailed or delivered to:

Attn: Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee

Kershaw County Administration, 515 Walnut Street, Camden, SC 29020 Applications must be received by 5:00 PM on April 3, 2023. Applicants will be notified of the status of their grant application in the week following Kershaw County Council’s approval of funding.

Diary of a 21st Century Pilgrimage

By: Liz Simon, Staff Writer

Pop! Bang! I jerked and maybe screamed! It was difficult for the driver; however, he maintained complete control of our shuttle bus as one of the back left tires blew out 25 miles from our first night’s destination in Charlotte. Burke’s Christian Tours handled our situation by assuring our driver it was still safe to drive on to our hotel. Organized by retired Lee County Probate Judge Catherine Harris, this trip was a Christmas gift for my husband.

The next morning, we boarded our large motor coach (friends from Bishopville and Lugoff as well as 25 new friends we met) and rode through the scenic haze of the Great Smoky Mountains into the Blue Ridge Mountains through the Cumberland Gap. Our excellent tour guide Althea Bartlett played DVDs with the music of the legendary country singers of Tennessee and Kentucky and read inspiring devotions such as “If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.” She also related many facts about the history and attractions of the area.

We stopped in Knoxville, TN to visit The Sunsphere, a tourist attraction, built in 1982 for the World's Fair. It cost over two million dollars to renovate in 2018, and it reminded me of a disco ball, a Golden Globe in the sky. Sunsphere was 266 feet of steel with a 75-foot 24 karat gold tinted glass windows. When we reached the top, we could see 360 degrees of the city viewing the Tennessee River, the University of Tennessee, and the Smoky Mountains. We arrived at our hotel in Georgetown, KY, a beautiful city in the heart of Kentucky bluegrass around 7PM. Thursday morning, we celebrated Saint Patrick's Day wearing our green and visiting the Creation Museum in the town of Petersburg. It was ironic there was a cold rain.

The Creation Museum reflected the history and the timeline of the Bible with exhibits, gardens, etc. Built in 2007 for 27 million dollars, we entered

Stover Students Place at Regional Science Fair

the Garden of Eden, viewed the Tree of Life, and found ourselves in the Dinosaur Den with the models of giant dinosaurs. The average dinosaur depicted was 11 feet tall and 30 feet long. There were holograms of the story of Adam and Eve, the Flood, how the earth was rearranged after the flood, the mountains formed, and the rivers retreated.

After lunch we boarded the bus to visit The Ark Encounter. The ark was the most massive structure I have ever seen. It was 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high almost the size of two football fields. It was made of cedar wood by Amish builders. There are three decks to explore once you board the ark. We could hear the sound effects of the rain, thunder, and noise of the animals calling out to each other. Outside of the ark was a restaurant Emzara’s Kitchen which is the Jewish name for Noah's wife. We had a buffet dinner for under $20.

Deborah Kennington Boan said, “My grandson Dalton and I had an awesome trip… To see the effort that God made to save Noah's family from the flood and so much detail that went into the planning of the ship was amazing. The bus and professional driver Ray Rutherford may have been Dalton’s favorites. I highly advise this trip for everyone. Noah has always been one of my favorite characters of the Bible.”

The Ark, opened in 2016, has no steps to go from floor to floor but large ramps and elevators. There are replicas of the living quarters of Noah and his family, along with an indoor garden, a kitchen, and his study/ library.

Ed and Karen Fields of Lugoff who went on the trip said they were both amazed by the time and efforts of the construction by Noah and his sons of the ark and also the builders who worked on constructing the Christian theme park.

We returned to our hotel after a long day. Saturday morning, we packed and left at 8 am to visit one of the famous national historic sites, Keeneland, a thoroughbred racehorse course and auction farm for horse sales.

Hours later we said goodbye to our group and returned to our homes with our spirits and faith renewed. We were moved by the promise of the rainbow blessing.

the awards ceremony on March 25, 2023 to find out exactly where they place. Those students are Layla McCoy, Laila Miller, and Andrew Rynbrandt.

Blaney Elementary's cafeteria team celebrated National School Breakfast week by helping students and faculty "dig in" to a good breakfast.

Blaney's Nicole Kirkley Named 2023 KCSD Principal of the Year

Blaney Elementary School Principal Nicole Kirkley was named Kershaw County School District (KCSD) 2023 Principal of the Year today. Kirkley was selected after a vote of school and district administrators. She has served as principal of Blaney Elementary since 2021.

Kirkley was a student at Blaney Elementary in the 1990s and graduated from Lugoff-Elgin High.

Prior to joining Blaney’s staff in 2019 as an assistant principal, Kirkley was an assistant princi-

High School for two years.

Kirkley received a Bachelor of Science degree in Middle Education from Winthrop University and also earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Phoenix.

She is a member of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA) and Palmetto State Teachers Association (PSTA).

Kirkley is married to Michael Kirkley, and they have two children, Kate and Rhett.

She will be formally recognized on April 27 at the school district's Teacher of the Year Gala.

Pictured left to right: Dr. Harrison Goodwin, Superintendent; Dan Matthews, Chief Academic Officer; Nicole Kirkley; Michael Kirkley; Kate Kirkley; and Ginger Catoe, Director for Elementary Education.

CCTC Foundation Receives $160,000 Gift from Hospital Auxiliary of KershawHealth

The CCTC Foundation recently received a $160,000 gift from the Hospital Auxiliary of Ker shawHealth.

The Foundation was one of three recipients to benefit from the organization, which will disband in the next few weeks. Kershaw County School District's (KCSD) Woolard Technology Cen ter (WTC) received $81,000 and the Kershaw County Education Foundation (KCEF) received $76,000. The money is to be used for healthcare education.

The Hospital Auxiliary has a long history in Kershaw County dating back to 1913. The orga nization has changed names and focus over time from supporting the hospital financially to sup porting healthcare and education.

The check was presented by the organization's president Mary Clark, to Misty Hatfield, CCTC's vice president for Institutional Advancement. Checks were also given to WTC's Director Gor don Morris and Wesley Herndon of the KCEF.

"We are so grateful for the generous donation from the Hospital Auxiliary of KershawHealth," Hatfield said. "The organization knows first-hand the importance of healthcare education and its impact on our area."

The money will benefit healthcare programs at Central Carolina Technical College. Currently the college hosts the following programs in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences: Nursing, Surgical Technology, Pharmacy Technician, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting and Medical Coding.

Wateree Elementary School Clean Up Day

Mary Clark, of the Hospital Auxiliary of KershawHealth (center) hands a check to Woolard Technology Center Director Gordon Morris (third from left). Two other checks were handed to Central Carolina Technical College Vice President for Institutional Advancement Misty Hatfield (second from right) and Wesley Herndon (far right), of the Kershaw County Education Foundation. They are joined by (from left) auxiliary member Linda Branham, Kershaw County School District Superintendent Dr. Harrison Goodwin and auxiliary member Sandy Slaughter.

On March 18th, the campus of Wateree Elementary was spiffed up thanks to a joint effort by the School Improvement Council and the Beta Club.

Spring Litter Pick-Up

Saturday,

Clothing Giveaway at Blaney Baptist

Blaney Baptist Church is having another clothing giveaway on Saturday, April 22 from 1:00 –4:00 p.m. It’s open to the public. Plenty of adult and children’s clothing will be on hand. Contact Blaney Baptist Church at 803-4383161 if you have any questions about this event.

Easter Egg Hunt

Salem United Methodist Church invites the community to a free Easter Egg Hunt:

2306 Bowen Street, Elgin

Saturday April 1st | 9 am to 11 am

2023 Farmers Market

Spring Fling Kickoff

Join the Kershaw County Farmers Market for their 2023 Spring Fling market, which will be packed full of vendors!

April 8th | 9am-2pm

906 Broad Street, Camden

Interested in setting up a booth? Visit the Farmers Market website to register. The cost is $25 for a single 10x10' space, $35 double space, and $45 triple space, and food trucks are $35. For more info on the Kershaw County Farmers Market, visit them online at: www.kershawcountyfarmersmarket.com

Arts Center's Paddock Parade Plus

“Paddock Parade Plus” will be open from March 30 to May 14, Monday to Friday 10:00am to 5:00pm and Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm. The opening reception for “Paddock Parade Plus” will be held March 30 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm in the Bassett Gallery at the Arts Center of Kershaw County. The reception is open to the public and will include a brief talk led by artist Boyd Saunders.

This exhibition is a part of the City of Camden’s Gallery Gallop on March 30, which features six open galleries, studios, and artist spaces, leading into The Cup weekend. For more information on the Gallery Gallop visit the City of Camden online at www.cityofcamden.org.

About the Exhibition

The Arts Center of Kershaw County is proud to announce its latest gallery exhibition: “Paddock Parade Plus!”

A stunning collection of prints, original drawings, and bronze sculptures by retired USC professor Boyd Saunders, “Paddock Parade Plus” celebrates the majesty of all things equestrian. The exhibition takes its name from “Paddock Parade Plus,” a collection of 12 original drawings featuring horses circling the paddock as they prepare to race. Visitors to the exhibition will also enjoy prints and sculptures based on Saunders’ partnership with the late William Faulkner to illustrate his short story Spotted Horses. The exhibit also features a series of lithographic prints and sculptures from the “Aikenhead Collection.” For more info, visit the Arts Center online at https://artscenterkc.org

For the 4th year in a row, Doby’s Mill Elementary School 5th graders have had the opportunity to attend a week-long field trip to the Department of Defense’s STARBASE at McEntire Joint National Guard Base. The instructors work tirelessly to make this a fun-filled learning expedition. Students participated in STEAM activities and a tour of the base where there interacted with night vision goggles, F-16 simulators, an up-close visit with F-16 fighter planes and pilots, and learned about the different STEAM jobs that are military related. This is an experience the students will never forget!!

At right: Aaron Davis measures liquid for an experiment. Huntley Kirkland, Boykin Spivey, and Bentley Way in front of plane.

Kershaw County Library April Events

Weekly Events

Weekly on Wednesdays | 10:30 AM – 11 AM | Camden

Get Set to Read Storytime: Join us for stories, songs and fun. For ages 3-5.

Weekly on Wednesdays | 11:15 AM – 12 PM | Camden

Baby Storytime: A fun time of stories, songs and movement for the very young. For ages 0-2.

Weekly on Thursdays | 10:30 AM – 11 AM | Elgin

Get Set to Read Storytime: Join us for stories, songs and fun. For ages 3-5.

Weekly on Thursdays | 11:15 AM – 12 PM | Elgin

Baby Storytime: A fun time of stories, songs and movement for the very young. For ages 0-2.

Events

Tuesday, April 4 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Elgin

Duplo Fun Time - Elgin! Little hands can make big fun with our larger Duplo Legos. Let their imaginations loose! For ages 18 mos. – 5 years.

Tuesday, April 4 | 4:30 PM – 5 PM | Camden

Quiet Reading: Join us in a comfortable, quiet space to read for 15 minutes. You can read anything you’d like! This time is available for those who signed up for the Fireflies Reading Program in particular, but anyone is welcome to come into the Camden meeting room to read. This is purely quiet individual reading time!

Wednesday, April 5 | 4:30 PM – 5 PM | Camden

Quiet Reading: Join us in a comfortable, quiet space to read for 15 minutes. You can read anything you’d like! This time is available for those who signed up for the Fireflies Reading Program in particular, but anyone is welcome to come into the Camden meeting room to read. This is purely quiet individual reading time!

Thursday, April 6 | 4 PM – 5 PM | Camden

Lego Club: Let’s have fun with Legos! All ages are welcome for free play inside.

Tuesday, April 11 | 2 PM – 3 PM | Camden

Master Gardener: Tomatoes: Jackie Jordan, Master Gardener Coordinator for Fairfield, Kershaw and Richland Cooperative Extension Offices, will be here to talk about the proper care and feeding of tomatoes! Come grow with us!

Tuesday, April 11 | 4:30 PM – 5 PM | Camden

Quiet Reading: Join us in a comfortable, quiet space to read for 15 minutes. You can read anything you’d like! This time is available for those who signed up for the Fireflies Reading Program in particular, but anyone is welcome to come into the Camden meeting room to read. This is purely quiet individual reading time!

Tuesday, April 11 | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Camden

Scrub n’ Grub: The crazy crafters are at it again! Treat yourself AND your feathered friends by attending this double-header DIY! Space is limited. Please call 803-425-1508 to register. For ages 18 and over.

Wednesday, April 12 | 4 PM to 5 PM | Elgin

Bricks n’ Blocks: Join us in Elgin to build with Legos, K’nex, building blocks, and more! *formerly Legomania*

Wednesday, April 12 | 4:30 PM – 5 PM | Camden

Quiet Reading: Join us in a comfortable, quiet space to read for 15 minutes. You can read anything you’d like! This time is available for those who signed up for the Fireflies Reading Program in particular, but anyone is welcome to come into the Camden meeting room to read. This is purely quiet individual reading time!

Thursday, April 13 | 4 PM – 5:30 PM | Camden

Chess Club: Come on in for a chess club for all! Teaching of beginners and play for all levels will be available. Ages 7 to adult.

Friday, April 14 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Camden

Little Explorers’ Club: Feed the Birds: Join us to make a peanut butter and pinecone birdfeeder! Ages 2-5. Please preregister by emailing: laurend@ kershawcountylibrary.org

ALLERGY ALERT: This craft will contain peanut butter.

Monday, April 17 | 5 PM – 6 PM | Elgin

Law Talk: Social Security Disability: Join the Elgin branch and SC Bar Public Services for a legal clinic on Social Security Disability (SSD). The Law Talk will consist of a 30–40-minute lecture presentation, followed by an open question and answer session. Registration required. Contact the Elgin branch at 803-438-7881 to sign up. Law talks are designed to provide general legal information, not to provide guidance on your specific situation. The free clinics are sponsored by the South Carolina Bar Public Services Division.

Thursday, April 20 | 4 PM – 5 PM | Camden Lego Club: Let’s have fun with Legos! All ages are welcome for free play inside.

Saturday, April 22 | 10 AM – 2 PM | Elgin

Strategy Saturday: Join us for board games at the Elgin library! We have board games for all ages, classics and indie games alike! From Jenga to Carcassonne, Connect-4 and Sorry, to Ticket to Ride… we’ve got what you’ll love. Play together, in a quiet area, or on our enclosed porch. All ages welcome.

Monday, April 24 | 5 PM – 6 PM | Elgin

Elgin Book Club: Join us in Elgin for our branch book club! We’ll be reading Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan. Pick up your copy at the Elgin front desk!

Thursday, April 27 | 4 PM – 5:30 PM | Camden

Chess Club: Come on in for a chess club for all! Teaching of beginners and play for all levels will be available. Ages 7 to adult.

Thursday, April 27 | 6 PM – 7 PM | Camden

Camden Book Club: We will be discussing Call Me Athena: Girl from Detroit by Colby Cedar Smith. New members are always welcome. You can pick up a copy of the book at the Camden branch.

Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office

Now Hiring - Come Work with KCSO!

Your KCSO was out recruiting new applicants at two different locations last week: the University of South Carolina (USC) Criminology and Criminal Justice Career Fair in Columbia and the Kershaw County Economic Development Career Fair for Central Carolina Technical College (CCTC) at their Kershaw County Campus. Despite what some say, law enforcement remains one of the most noble professions in the world. We truly believe KCSO is one of the best agencies around with very competitive salary and benefits.

If you missed us at USC and CCTC, you can always get employment information by scanning our QR code.

Hough Named New NCM Asst. Principal

Katherine (Katie) Hough has been named the new assistant principal of North Central Middle School starting July 1, 2023. Hough replaces Lori Pate, who is retiring in June.

“I am very excited to have Mrs. Hough join us as assistant principal at North Central Middle School. She is a tireless worker that has a vested interest in our community. Her attention to detail, as well as her knowledge of school instruction and data, along with her experience as a former teacher in our community are great attributes that will serve North Central Middle well,” says North Central Middle Principal Chad Dixon.

Currently, Hough serves as the Director of Operations for Graham Realty. Hough previously served as an assistant principal at Camden High School from 2019-2022. She also taught and served as an assistant administrator at North Central High School for six years, where she was named the school’s teacher of the year in 2016. She completed Kershaw County School District’s Developing Administrators Program and the Kershaw County Leadership Academy.

“I am honored to be a part of the administrative staff at North Central Middle, and look forward to serving our community and students,” says Hough.

who live along the Iditarod trail in McGrath, Alaska! These students get to take a field trip to the McGrath Checkpoint every year, where they visit with mushers, vets, and of course... dogs! We learned that SC students have a lot in common with Alaskan students, but we were wowed by the drastic differences that also exist, mainly because of our drastically different environments. It was so cool to make this powerful connection to conclude our school-wide Iditarod study, including our Idita-READ competition.

She received a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Winthrop University, a Master of Arts degree in Teaching from the University of South Carolina (USC) and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clemson University. While at USC, Hough received the Preston Award in Secondary Education.

Hough, her husband, and their two daughters are life-time residents of Kershaw County.

Sheriff Lee Boan

WORK WITH KCSO

Katie Hough, NC Middle Assistant Principal