Elgin News - 6A 2024

Volume 20, No. 6A

“A Companion for People who Live, Work, & Play in Elgin, Lugoff and Camden”

LUGOFF-ELGIN CLASS OF 2024 SEE PAGE 6

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June 7, 2024

Letters To The Editor

Letter Submissions 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.

Examples of content that will cause letters to be rejected include the following: • Disrespectful comments regarding a group's or individual's ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, religion, culture, or race.

• Poor taste.

• Endorsements for or complaints about individually named commercial products or services.

• Personal attacks.

The Elgin News will not knowingly publish factually incorrect information.

Only letters written exclusively to the newspaper will be published. Letters to a third party or those written to more than one newspaper are not accepted.

Letters written in response to other letter writers should address the issue at hand and, rather than mentioning the writer by name, should refer to the headline and date the letter was published. Discourse should be civil and people should be referred to in a respectful manner. Letters referring to news stories should also mention the headline and date of publication.

All letters must be signed and include the writer's street address or route address telephone number, which will be used for verification purposes only.

We welcome your input. You may write to us by e-mail at elginnews@gmail.com or by regular mail at:

Letters to the Editor The Elgin News P.O. Box 152 Elgin, SC 29045

Cate Goff, Editor (803) 513-5108

Dear Editor, Politics has become a dirty word in our communities. Up until four years ago I was “too busy” to pay attention to politics. When my children, myself, and many others who called me crying had their basic liberties trampled on in the name of the “greater good,” I began to search for answers. I thought common sense would prevail in our elected officials. Some rose to the occasion but many did not. I quickly learned that our government system and who we are electing local and statewide needed major attention. I realized quickly that there are only a few true leaders in elected positions and the rest are easily bought, manipulated, have special interests, and lack basic understanding of how our government works. Instead of protecting the citizens of our communities it has turned into protecting the system.

How do we change that? Dig deep and pay close attention. Learn about each candidate. Do they know how to manage large budgets, understand our State and US Constitution? I have seen the voting numbers for Elgin. If we show up and vote during the Primary we have the potential to influence who makes it on our November ballot. Let's VOTE! Sincerely, Tiffinie Lee

News From KC Council By: Councilman Derek Shoemake

Summer is that wonderful time of year where we enjoy sunshine, vacations, and talk of county budgets.

Ok, maybe that last one is unique to the Shoemake Household (or specifically unique to this one member of the Shoemake Household). But I am a bit of a nerd, and I think understanding how the budget works is perhaps the most important thing to learn for a person serving in local government. I am still learning, and this is why I enjoy serving on the finance committee for Kershaw County Council and stay plugged in on budget issues.

The beginning of Summer is budget season for county governments in South Carolina, and Kershaw County Council’s final reading of the budget will be at our meeting on June 28, 2024. In next month’s column I will offer a summary of the budget.

Before that, I thought it would be helpful to outline a primary way our county collects revenue: property taxes on homes, also called real property tax. Although most everyone is familiar with property tax in general, the exact way property tax works can be complicated at first glance. It does not have to be, thanks in large part to some wonderful information that I am borrowing from Kershaw County Auditor Dennis Arledge.

First, there are some important terms to understand when looking at how Kershaw County uses property taxes: • Assessed Value: This is the value of the property against which taxes are computed, which is much smaller than the actual value of the property. For owner-occupied primary residences, the assessed value is 4% of the actual, or appraised value, of the property.

• Millage Rate: Commonly called millage or mills, this is simply the annual tax rate. Generally, a tax rate of one mill represents a tax liability equal to one thousandth per one dollar of assessed value. Millage rates are typically referred to as two- or three-digit whole numbers but represent several pennies to a dollar. So, for example, 400 mills would result in a tax liability of .40 cents for every dollar of assessed value (1.00 X .400 = .40).

See SHOEMAKE, Page 11 >>

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.

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

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June 7, 2024

From The Chief 's Desk

In this article, I want to keep introducing our Officers to the public. We have hired a new Officer, Robert Cooper. Robert came over to us from Forest Acres PD. While at Forest Acres, Robert served over 13 years, reaching the rank of Sergeant. He has 2 children, a young son and brand new baby girl.

Chief Alan Anders We believe Robert will be a great addition to the Elgin Community. He has a lot of experience and a strong work ethic. So please be friendly to the new guy, let him know how nice Elgin can be.

At left, Elgin Police Chief Anders swears in new officer Robert Cooper.

Elgin Police Department Incident Reports

Trespass of Real Property: On 05-15-2024, Victim stated he saw on his surveillance camera two young black males come in his front yard and tried to call his golden retriever puppy to them that was in his back yard over to the fence. Victim stated he has a wooden fence so he does not know how they knew he had a dog in the back yard.

Victim stated this is the third time they tried to get his puppy. Officer saw the video of the incident and saw two young black male in Victim's front yard, One wearing a red hoodie pulled over his head and the other was wearing blue jeans and a black coat he also had small black dreads, that could see a little of his face. Victim will have his wife email the video to Sgt. Delong when she gets home. Officer or Victim did not know how to send the video.

Shoplifting: On 05-15-2024, Cashier for Circle K at 2507 Main St in the Town Limits of Elgin saw a black male driving a black Yukon take a bag of ice out of the ice box outside and leave without paying for the bag of ice (valued $3.00). Officer checked the area with no results. Officer with get with the manager at 2300hrs and get store video.

Financial Card Fraud: On 11 May 2024, Officer was advised of an incident that had occurred on 10 May 2024 wherein the Suspect was in possession of multiple financial cards while attempting to buy alcohol at incident location. Officer made contact with the Complainant and she related that at the incident time, Suspect was in the business and had selected several items for purchase. Suspect opened a small bag and was ruffling through "a stack of cards". She handed one to Complainant

American Legion Teacher of the Year

and said "this is my cousin" (or, words to that effect), then told Complainant to throw it in trash. Shortly thereafter, Suspect said her ride was leaving and she ran out the door, entering a car with a "Walter" (803-427-9986) in it, leaving the card behind. Complainant completed a statement, which will be attached to the report. Complainant will have Owner pull the video tape.

Shoplifting: On 05/14/2024, Officer was dispatched to a call about a white male shoplifting items from Food Lion. Officer arrived, viewed the cameras and spoke with staff members who stated that the male entered the store, and left with a buggy full of items such as health supplies, meats, and charcoal. It was estimated that the male stole around $150.00 in items. The white male was later identified.

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June 7, 2024

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Reunited, And It Feels So Good...

By: Liz Simon, Staff Writer

It seems customary for families, churches, military veterans, college and high school classes to hold reunions, but there is one group in Kershaw County that appears to have set a trend. Rosemary Russell Shuler invited the LEHS teachers to her home for a springtime picnic in May 1999. Then, for several years we carried covered dishes to school secretary Hebron Lyell and math teacher Mary Lostetter's homes. In 2003, at the insistence of retired guidance counselor John Cole, we began including the males on the faculty.

As we planned the reunion each year, we decided that the 4th Thursday in April was a date that suited almost everyone. We had a new venue in 2009 when our LEHS cafeteria manager Linda Hall allowed us to use their meeting room at Halls restaurant. Some of the faculty became elaborate with planning themes, decorations, and door prizes.

COVID interrupted our plans for 2020, Halls closed, and we went to Dave's place for an outdoor venue in 2001. As part of LEHS’s 50th celebration, Principal Corey Wright invited us to return to the old school cafeteria for our meeting place in 2022.

For the past two years, we have met in Camden at The Everyday Gourmet owned by biology teacher Marsha and Buzz Cashion’s daughter Kim and her husband, Clayton Daniels.

There is no other school in South Carolina that has a yearly faculty reunion.

This April we had over 40 teachers reply that they would attend. Sharon Huff and her husband drove from Pickens where Sharon is still teaching. Chuck Bingham, retired student council and history teacher from the 70’s and 80’s came from North Carolina’s Lake Norman area.

Wendy Campbell welcomed everyone by highlighting her relationship as both a student and faculty member at LE. Harriett Thomas presided over the memorial tribute to the faculty members we had lost this year: John Cole,

Coach Rut Dingle and Bob Aldrich. Glenn Price related a story about a trip the four men had taken to Atlanta to see a Braves baseball game and how they caught a ball knocked out of the park. Guess who caught the ball!

Some of our faculty have developed new hobbies. All really love to travel.

Marsha and Buzz Cashion have been to Europe seven times. Theresa Muldrow and her husband present programs for senior groups and have written a book together. Theresa also recently visited Egypt. Scott Jones has had his third book What a Crowd professionally published. Margaret DeGroat works with stained glass. Harriett Thomas and I are both great grandmothers. Daphne Clonts is a quilter. Bill DeWitt enjoys acting in plays.

Glenn Price is the director (conductor) of the Camden Community Band along with assistance from Annette Wertz's husband Robert. Annette is involved in painting. Susan Durant Jones attended the reunion for the first time and says she will be back. Linda Hall still enjoys cooking for us and brought a chocolate cake and a carrot cake.

Each year, Kay Roberson writes a poem that she shares with us. “One day when morning came” …Morning came like a softly whispered sigh, hushed between day and night, silent and stilled. It's silken, milky mist, silhouetted shadowy images against cotton candy clouds circled with crimson rings and gold. The sun- huge and sleepy eyed -peeped just above the horizon hesitantly, then suddenly, gigantic and magnificent, it appeared thundering up over the edge of the world as though pushed up by someone's mighty hands up-up until it's redder than watermelon red blaze burst into the heavens lavishing the sky with pinks and reds and pockets full of gold. Such unexpected beauty, so abundant, so lavish, so free for all to see. In an instant this brilliant explosion of day vanished as though it had never come, but I know- I know that one day when morning came it came- just this way.

Jean Boan said, “Sharing memories of those we have lost and enjoying many great laughs when we get together that's what makes a reunion.”

We became a family as grew from our young 20’s into middle age. We raised our children together, grieved when we lost loved ones, and enjoyed teaching our students. It was this atmosphere that led us through the decades.

LEHS has given us a sense of place. We reminisce and cherish the red, white, and blue.

SC Rep. Ben Connell Announces Campaign For Kershaw County Council Chairman

State Representative Ben Connell has announced his campaign for Kershaw County Council Chairman following the resignation announcement of Chairwoman Katie Guinn. Connell is a proven, steady leader for Kershaw County, given his prior success on County Council and experience in the State House. The Republican primary will be held August 6, 2024.

"It has been an honor to serve Kershaw County at the State House and, given the recent end of the general legislative session, I have turned my attention to serving locally, where my family is, where my heart is, where I live, work, and worship. I was humbled by, and thoroughly enjoyed, serving on Kershaw County Council and am excited about the future of Kershaw County and the opportunity to work for its citizens. I look forward to bringing leadership, professionalism, and continuity to the office, with an eye toward the future success of Kershaw County, controlling growth, and serving the voters of Kershaw County. In preparing for our future success, I am glad to bring back to Kershaw County the valuable relationships I developed with State House leadership, Governor McMaster’s office, and numerous state agencies.”

Connell, a local attorney and owner of multiple small businesses, has deep roots in Kershaw County, with his family living and working in the community for generations. The son of Joe and Kerry Connell, he was born in Camden and his family moved to Lugoff when he was in third grade.

Connell graduated from Lugoff-Elgin High School where he was a fourtime State Champion wrestler, National Champion heavyweight wrestler, an

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Academic All-American, an All-State football player, and Shrine Bowl starter for the State of South Carolina. He also became a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and received the Dave Schultz National Excellence Award. Connell was inducted into the Lugoff-Elgin High School Hall of Fame in 2022. He graduated from the UNCChapel Hill with a degree in Business and a double major in Economics, where he also wrestled for the Tar Heels and received the Kehaya Leadership Award. Connell graduated from the Ben Connell UNC School of Law where he received multiple academic awards, including best oral advocate.

In 2016, Connell was elected to serve Kershaw County Council District 3 covering the Elgin area, where he showed continual devotion to constituent service and conservative principles. Connell led or partnered with fellow

See CONNELL, Page 10 >> June 7, 2024

June 7, 2024

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Congrats, LEHS Class of 2024!

Starting their high school careers during the height of the pandemic, the Lugoff-Elgin Class of 2024 is no stranger to doing things differently.

When a lighting storm halted the ceremony on Friday, May 24th, the graduates took it in stride. After a brief delay, it was announced that graduation would resume the following morning.

A ceremony that began with high winds and lightning at 7:30 pm, concluded under sunny skies at 9:30 am the next day. CongratsC lass of 2024!

Some photos courtesy Julie Jackson Prickett.

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June 7, 2024

2024 Senior Walk

Former Doby's Mill Dolphins and Stover Middle Tigers visited the halls of their former schools one last time as they participated in their "Senior Walk" ahead of graduation.

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New Blaney Principal

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The Kershaw County School District Board of Trustees recently voted to approve Adele Dixon as the new principal at Blaney.

“We're delighted to welcome Adele Dixon as the new leader of Blaney Elementary.

Her extensive administration and teaching experience within our district, including her past time at Blaney Elementary, is invaluable.

Mrs. Dixon is known for her dedication to instruction and fostering a positive school environment. Her passion for education and Adele Dixon, the Elgin community is truly inspiring,” says Blaney Elementary Principal Dr. Harrison Goodwin.

Dixon began her teaching career in 2001 as a fifth-grade teacher at Caughman Road Elementary in Columbia before moving to Pine Tree Hill Elementary in 2006. From 2008-2014 she taught third, fourth, and fifth grades at Blaney Elementary, where she was selected as the school’s 2010 Reading Teacher of the Year and 2013-2014 Teacher of the Year and District Honor Roll Teacher. She served as Blaney Elementary’s reading coach during the 2014-2015 school year.

In 2015, Dixon was promoted to assistant principal of Lugoff Elementary, where she has served for the past nine years. During her time at Lugoff Elementary, she has been instrumental in helping the school obtain the Strengthening Families Program Grant and 5210 Healthy Generations recognition. She also implemented a school-wide Reader’s Workshop.

“As a member of the Elgin community, I am so blessed to have the opportunity to serve the students, parents, and faculty of Blaney Elementary.

I look forward to the partnerships we will create as we work to ensure every child’s success. It is my great honor to return to the ‘Heart of Elgin,’” says Dixon.

As many students are graduating and going into summer break, remember to keep our youth safe by preventing underage drinking and talk to them about the risks related to alcohol use.

Auto, Motorcycle & Truck Accidents • Workers’ Comp Personal Injury & Death • Criminal Law Business Law • Real Estate Law • Nursing Home Abuse Medical Malpractice • Probate, Wills & Estates

All State & Federal Courts Serving Kershaw County for over 30 Years ATTORNEYS: JOSEPH N. CONNELL | J. BEN CONNELL | DEREK SHOEMAKE

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• • • •

Increases risks of developing substance use problems later Effects brain development Is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to buy, drink, or be in possession of alcohol Is illegal to transfer alcohol to anyone under the age of 21

If you are concerned about someone’s substance use/misuse, contact ALPHA Behavioral Health Center online at alphabehavioralhealthcenter.org or call 803-432-6902 to get help.

June 7, 2024

Traveling Exhibit The 512 All-Stars To Visit Camden Through Sept.

A traveling exhibit from the South Carolina State Museum has made its way to Camden.

Featuring 40 photographs exploring the story of the black baseball team from Rembert, and their fans, this exhibit is on display through September at the African American Cultural Center, located at 517 York Street.

Until Jackie Robinson and Camden’s Larry Doby broke the color barrier in 1947, major league baseball was the strictly for white players and fans.

Segregated and separated, black players were forced to form leagues of their own. Based on the 1998 book The 521 All-Stars: A Championship

Above, part of the photo exhibit that will be showcased at the African American Cultural Center in Camden through September.

Story of Baseball and Community, by Frye Gaillard with photographs by Byron Baldwin, this exhibit displays the 521 All-Stars, which formed in the 1920s, and the community that surrounded and supported them. It showcases both the camaraderie of the game - teams made up of brothers, fathers and sons, along with the harsh realities of the conditions they played in – bits of scrap metal collected to create base lines, rotten wood bleachers, pine tree branches for brooms.

“This exhibition encapsulates not just the story of the 521 All-Stars, but of comradery and community, of stories and memories that bring people together. I think that is powerfully beautiful,” says Timia Thompson, Collections Outreach Manager.

Named for Hwy 521, which runs past their baseball field, the 521 All-Stars played for the love of the game. In 1996, author Frye Gaillard was driving north on Route 521 when he discovered a homemade ballpark and stopped to take pictures of the players. He and photographer Byron Baldwin spent two more seasons documenting the baseball team.

"I think this exhibit is important because it shows how a game like baseball brings people together," says South Carolina State Museum's Curator of History, Fritz Hamer who organized the traveling exhibit.

Byron Baldwin donated his photographs for this traveling exhibit. It will be on display through September at the African American Cultural Center, 517 York Street in downtown Camden.

The Center is currently open on Saturdays, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

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Triumphant Praises Church Event

Triumphant Praises Church International announced this year’s Holy Church Consecration & Convocation scheduled for Thursday, June 20th through Saturday, June 22nd, with music; informative, impactful Workshops; and nightly General Sessions!

Thursday and Friday Workshops will be held during the day sessions; led by Apostle-Elder Yolanda Bowers, Pastor Tashia Castellano and Apostle M.L. Gallman. Powerful messages will be brought by Apostle Dr. Phillip O. Coleman of P.O. Coleman Ministries (Sumter) at 7 p.m. on Opening Night, and Apostle-Pastor Sylvia Bostic of Soaring Eagles of Faith International Ministries (Columbia) 7 p.m. on Friday night. Saturday's Consecration Services, as conducted by Apostle Margie L. Gallman, will acknowledge God’s Gifts to the Body of Christ as demonstrated by the candidates. Musical Guests for the week include #SOAR of the Soaring Eagles of Faith International Ministry on Friday evening, and the week’s guest musician is Terry Brown.

This solemn gathering will be free and open to the public in the Congaree Room of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street in the heart of Columbia 29201. Call our International Church Administrator, Senior Pastor Tashia Castellano at 803-764-2720 for more details or email her at teamgallman@gmail.com.

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Summer 2024 Small Business Workshops

The City of Camden continues to host a summer series of small business workshops at the Camden branch of the Kershaw County Library. Kat Spadacenta, Community Development Coordinator, and representatives from the Library and Small Business Development Center will lead workshops for small business owners and any member of the public wishing to attend.

Workshops will be held on Tuesdays - June 25, July 9, July 23, and August 6 at the Camden Library Branch, 1304 Broad Street. A community development workshop will be held August 13. All workshops are from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.

June 25 – How to Write an Effective Business Plan - An effective business plan is an important tool for a business owner. Join this webinar, hosted by SC Small Business Development Center’s Bob Jones, and learn about the elements that make a business plan effective. Bob will cover what information should be included in a business plan, how to write an executive summary, and the purposes of a business plan and what impact it can have.

July 9 – Library Resources for Business - Cris Wilson, Adult Services Librarian for Kershaw County Library will give an overview of the online resources available to your business, courtesy of the South Carolina State Library. Any South Carolina resident who has a current, valid library card can access these resources. The Camden Branch also has a business reference collection, which will be covered. These materials are available for use inside the library building. Bring a laptop to this workshop.

July 23 – Boost Your Money Management Skills for Your Small Business - Whether you're starting a new business or already managing one, it’s important to understand how to manage your business finances. Having good money management skills will help increase your business’s opportunity for success. This Grow with Google workshop will show you how to separate business and personal finances, track your business finances, understand cash flow and profit & loss. Plus, you'll learn about money management mistakes to avoid.

August 6 – Cybersecurity and Your Small Business - Cybersecurity is an important issue for businesses of all sizes. In this Grow with Google workshop, you will learn the basics of online security and how it applies to your business and customers, ways you can identify common digital threats, and steps you can take to protect your business. You’ll walk away with practical tips and tools to increase your business’ cybersecurity, as well as what steps you can take after a potential security breach.

August 13 – Cultural District and Community Development Strategy Workshop – Join Community Development Coordinator Kat Spadacenta to learn about upcoming events and activities taking place in the Downtown Camden Cultural District and how you can be a part of them. Help in the planning and design of a community mural, brainstorm for the holiday season, and share your thoughts on what you’d like to see in your community.

For more information, visit www.kershawcountylibrary.org or www. experiencecamdensc.com.

CONNELL, From Page 4 council members to achieve several Kershaw County milestones. In 2022, Connell was elected to serve State House District 52, a new, Kershaw County-focused district created in the 2022 reapportionment. This 100% Kershaw County district was eliminated for 2025 and beyond due to litigation, resulting in the new District 52 being composed of approximately 60% Richland County population for 2025.

Key Accomplishments in the State House Connell’s service in the State House was focused on the constitution, protecting taxpayers, increasing investments in roads and bridges, bettering education, helping veterans, protecting the second amendment, protecting life, and keeping South Carolina safe. He voted to cut taxes while also investing more than $1 billion in improving infrastructure, increasing land conservation, funding pay raises for law enforcement, and raising teacher pay.

Notably, as State Representative and Chairman of the Kershaw County Delegation, Connell voted to reduce property taxes for veterans during overseas deployments, increase funding for paid military leave, and fund three new veteran's nursing homes in South Carolina. He also voted to heighten penalties on fentanyl crimes, increase the punishment for drug traffickers, end the revolving door for violent criminals, and to establish SLED’s Illegal Immigration Enforcement Unit. Connell worked to bring back over $45,000,000 to Kershaw County while at the State House, including funds for the Wateree River boat ramp project in Lugoff, Historic Camden improvements, irrigation improvements for the state-owned Carolina Cup racetrack, sewer facility improvements for Kershaw County, ADA improvements at the Kershaw County Fine Arts Center, funds for the Bethune Water Tower project, funds for Cassatt Water infrastructure improvements, and the first-ever DOT approved crosswalk for safety in downtown Elgin, among several other utility and infrastructure projects.

Key Accomplishments on County Council While serving on Kershaw County Council for six years, Connell led or partnered with fellow council members to achieve several Kershaw County milestones. For example, they moved solid waste handling in-house and cut recurring costs by at least $1 million per year. They reduced capital costs

on a chemical lab project from a proposed bid of $1.436 million to a final bid price of $616,000 by opting out of unfavorable federal bonds payments.

They implemented a vehicle fleet maintenance and repair program, saving Kershaw County citizens at least $300,000 per year.

They improved the quality of life in Kershaw County by adding ball fields at the West Wateree Sports Complex and adding a new walking track and new lighting.

Connell helped secure a $275,000 state grant for the first Kershaw County public park in the Elgin area, located around a beautiful pond the county owns across from MUSC Health Elgin Urgent Care. In addition, Connell obtained over $400,000.00 of private donations in land, equipment, fencing, irrigation, and technology for a turn-key public dog park in Lugoff, the first of its kind in Kershaw County. He also worked to secure $200,000 for the Community Center being constructed in Elgin.

Connell also focused on improving public safety by supporting law enforcement and emergency responders, including supporting a new EMS station in Elgin. They fought crime by increasing the Sheriff 's budget for vehicles, equipment, and staffing. They transitioned from a professional volunteer fire service to a full-time professional fire service providing 24/7 coverage throughout the county at the lowest cost per capita for any full-time fire service in the county. Connell also supported the Lugoff FireDepartment’s requests and proposed budgets for public safety, all in view of sustaining that organizations outstanding ISO rating and strong leadership.

Kershaw County had substantial activity in economic development while Connell was on County Council, with multiple companies opening or expanding locally. To provide an educational and training campus unique in the state, County Council partnered to co-locate Central Carolina Technical College's campus, the Woolard Technology Center, the Kershaw County Economic Development office, and the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce, all at one site in Camden near I-20.

Other accomplishments include cutting the overall tax rate by half a mil and upgrading public works facilities and equipment to improve countymaintained roads. As shown by his track record, Connell will listen and work tirelessly to make sure Kershaw County continues to be a great place to live, work, worship, and raise a family.

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June 7, 2024

Your Vote Counts In EVERY Election

We all tend to get very motivated to go out and vote for our choice for the President of the United States every four years. That's a good thing. Our next president will be very important to our country's future. However, I believe our local offices will have a greater impact over our day to day lives.

Depending on where you live in Kershaw County, your ballot may give you the chance to vote for your Kershaw County Clerk of Court, SC State House Representatives (District 45 & 70), and SC State Senators (District 27 & 35). You can go online to SC Votes.gov to find the candidates that will be on your ballot.

Early voting has already started. Primary election day is Tuesday, June 11th.

Any runoff elections will follow two weeks later on June 25th. We will also have a special election for Kershaw County Council Chair on August 6th. Do your own research on the candidates running for offices. I commend every

candidate that is willing to put themselves up for a political office. They are making several sacrifices to offer themselves up for serving our community.

I know from personal experience it is not easy. It is nearly impossible for all the candidates to make it to your house to talk to you in person. Please do not get frustrated with any of their methods of getting their message to you. These days candidates may use campaign signs, events, text messaging, commercials, mail outs, social media, etc. to share their message. They are doing their best to earn your votes. Focus on what each candidate can do for Kershaw County, not just for you personally.

DISCLAIMER: I am not up for election this year. This is not a campaign ad for me. I am a voting citizen in this election. I will make sure my vote counts.

SHOEMAKE, Continued from Page 2 • LOST Credit Factor: This is basically a credit Kershaw County residents get because the County has a local sales tax. The Local Option Sales Tax (“LOST”) has provided property tax relief to hundreds of thousands of South Carolina homeowners. Through a rather complicated formula, a rate is developed by which property taxes are reduced. Last year, for Kershaw County, the LOST tax credit was approximately .001380, meaning a reduction of .00138 cents for every dollar of appraised value, not the lower assessed value.

You can read more about how that rate is calculated here: https://www.masc. sc/uptown/04-2016/calculating-right-lost-credit-factor.

• School Tax Credit: South Carolina law gives all owner-occupied residential property owners a credit on school operating taxes, meaning that a Kershaw County homeowner is paying school bonds, but not the school district’s operating taxes. Last year, for Kershaw County, the lost tax credit was approximately .1629, meaning a reduction of .1629 cents for every dollar of assessed value.

Second, with these terms in mind, we can see how tax is calculated, although the numbers used below rely on previous years’ data as the updated rates are not yet available. Imagine a primary residence with an appraised value of $150,000. The property tax would be calculated as follows: • First, the assessed value would be 4% of the appraised value, which is $6,000 (150,000 X .04).

• Second, the millage rate would determine the tax rate. Last year, including the school district and all other millage, the rate was 331.8 – which

June 7, 2024

means .3318 cents for every dollar of assessed value. This results in a tax of $1,990.80 (6,000 X .3318).

• Third, you would subtract the credit provided to Kershaw County homeowners from the LOST Credit Factor, which is $207 (150,000 X .001380). Thus, the new tax becomes $1,783.80.

• Fourth, you would subtract the credit provided to Kershaw County homeowners from the School Tax Credit, which is $977.40 (6,000 X .1629).

Thus, the new tax becomes $806.40 • Fifth, you would add any applicable fees, which would be approximately $203 because in this area of the County there is a fire fee of $80 and a solid waste fee of $123. Thus, the total property tax bill for a $150,000 home is $1,009.40 (806.40 + 203).

Vehicle property taxes are determined in a similar manner, and property taxes make up nearly all the annual revenue to fund the entire County, including fire, police, EMS, maintenance, local infrastructure, recycling centers, and parks and recreation. Hopefully this helps folks understand a little bit about how the County goes form the value of your property to the tax bill.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, please text or call me at 803-427-4929, email me at derek.shoemake@kershaw.sc.gov, or follow my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/councilmanshoemake (where I also share updates on County business).

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