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
From The Mayor's Desk
By: Mayor Melissa Brazell Emmons
Note: From The Mayor’s Desk is submitted by Mayor Melissa Emmons and is not the official minutes of the Elgin Town Council.
The Elgin Town Council meeting was held on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 6:00 pm at the Elgin Town Hall. Present were Councilman Brad Hanley, Councilman Paul Rizzo, Mayor Melissa Emmons, Councilwoman Dana Sloan, Chief Alan Anders, Inv. Aaron Threatt, Jamie Parker, Elgin Town Clerk, and John Wells, Town Attorney. The Invocation was given by Mayor Melissa Emmons and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, which was led by Councilman Brad Hanley.
The first order of business was the approval of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. There was no one signed up to speak during Public Forum. A motion to adopt the agenda was made by Councilman Brad Hanley, 2nd by Councilwoman Dana Sloan, with a unanimous vote from Council.
There were no Business Licenses approved during the month of January 2025. There were no Charity Permit Requests submitted for the month of January 2025. There were no official complaints submitted for the month of January 2025. Please remember to check with Elgin Town Hall about completing a Charity Permit Request Form prior to an event taking place. Also, please remember to support the businesses in the Elgin Community and shop locally.
In Old Business, Councilman Brad Hanley provided an update on the Elgin Community Center Construction Project that included the following information: 1) Audio and Visual wires have been pulled. 2) The ceiling is complete. 3) We’re waiting on Spectrum Charter to give pricing for the internet service. 4) Telasco Alarm Service will be pulling wires for the fire and burglar alarm systems by Friday. 5) Questioning whether to treat the wood outside. 6) After wires are pulled the foam insulation will be installed. 7) Outstanding is the slope of the sewer line across Potter Park. The contractors are anticipating to have the project complete by the end of March. 8) We’re meeting with museum representatives on Thursday.
In New Business, Chief Anders presented the Chief’s Outstanding Citizen Award to Stacy Bervard-Mays for helping an elderly couple avoid being scammed out of their life savings.
Also in New Business, Chief Anders provided Council with an update involving parking violations. He stated that the department would begin complying/enforcing state law Section 23-1215; public parking lots within police jurisdiction. Elgin Police Department will post signs with the following language: Under Jurisdiction of Elgin Police Department. They will be placed at the following locations: Food Lion, Family Dollar, IGA, Circle K, and residential neighborhoods located within the Elgin Town Limits. Prior to implementing the new ticketing procedures, a Public Notice will be posted with an effective date. The 1st reading will be at the March 4, 2025, Town Council Meeting.
Also in New Business, Mayor Emmons presented a request to Council to consider being a sponsor again this year at the Kershaw County School District 2025 Teacher of the Year Gala. A motion was made by Councilwoman Dana Sloan, 2nd by Councilman Brad Hanley, with a unanimous vote from Council.
In Council Briefing, Councilman Paul Rizzo had no report. Councilwoman Dana Sloan expressed appreciation to everyone who participated in keeping us safe and posted notifications about our recent winter weather event. Councilman Brad Hanley had no report. Mayor Melissa Emmons reminded Council of the upcoming deadline to file their Statement of Economic Interests Reports with the South Carolina Ethics Commission. Attorney John Wells had no report.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:46 pm. Our next meeting scheduled is Tuesday, March 4, at 6:00 pm. We now live stream our meetings on the “Town of Elgin” Facebook Page. If you miss a meeting, visit www.townofelginsc.com, where we list agendas, meeting minutes, and the calendar of events.
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
Elgin Police Department Incident Reports
On 02-15-2025 at approximately 1640, I (Officer Marcus Pressley) responded to Circle K in reference to a lady making threats to people bearing a knife. Upon arrival, I made contact with three individuals standing in front of the store next to a white in color Kia Soul. A male and female walked away from another female. The female who was walking away from the Kia stated to me that the female at the Kia pointed a knife at her and her husband making threats to kill them. I approached the female near the Kia and noticed there was a green in color knife laying under the driver seat. The knife was laying toward the edge of the seat making it visible in plain view. I detained the female who identified herself as Subject. I confirmed her by her South Carolina drivers license. I detained Subject by placing her hands behind of her back and applying hand cuffs to each wrist. Subject was talking about random topics such as her being in the witness protection program, she was part of a team with the government, she trained people for the military, she was diagnosed with stiff leg syndrome. The above statement were a few of many things Subject spoke about. After I detained Subject, I waited for Sgt. Tate with the Kershaw County Sheriff 's Office to come on scene so I could secure her inside of his patrol vehicle while I continued with my investigation on the incident. I requested for Kershaw County EMS to respond to check Subject for any medical issues she may be having. EMS stated her vitals were good and she refused further medical attention. I spoke to the Store Cashier who stated Subject came into the store causing a scene with
her and exited the store. Subject got into her vehicle where she armed herself with a green knife. Subject started waving the knife around in the air and pointing it at Male Witness in the parking lot. Cashier stated she walked out of the store and told Subject that she did not need to be waving a knife around. Subject then exited her vehicle with the knife and approached the store threatening to kill Cashier. The male mentioned earlier was identified as Male Witness who witnessed Subject approaching the store with the knife. Male Witness exited his vehicle and approached Subject to get her to back away from the store. Cashier entered the store and locked the door to prevent Subject from re-entering and harming anyone. Right after Cashier locked the door, Female Witness who was inside of the store saw and heard Subject make threats to Male Witness. Female Witness unlocked the door and intervened between Male Witness and Subject. I arrived on scene shortly after. Male and Female Witnesses did not wish to pursue charges on Subject, Cashier did. Cashier did not have access to the store cameras at the time of me being on scene. Cashier stated her assistant manager will be working on 2-16-2025 and will attempt to make a copy of the stores security camera video. I advised Subject she was under arrest and will be charged with assault and battery 1st degree due to her making threats to kill Cashier , being in possession of the knife which could carry out injuries that could be deadly and had the present ability to carry out those threats. Body camera was activated while on scene.
Hit and Run of Attended Vehicle: The reporting officer was dispatched to the intersection of
Main Street and Bowen Street in reference to a vehicle accident. Prior to law enforcement arrival it was advised one vehicle involved, a silver Chervrolet left toward IGA. The reporting officer met the Complainant at Family Dollar as he was not injured and was able to move his vehicle. Upon speaking with the Complainant he advised he was traveling South on Main Street in his white 2016 Chrysler 300. That was when a silver Chevrolet Camaro was stopped at the stop sign at Bowen Street. He said the vehicle then attempted to go across Main Street toward the Bojangles side, which is where he said the vehicle struck the right front of his vehicle. The Camaro then made a right instead and pulled into the IGA parking lot, but by the time he moved to meet the reporting officer the vehicle departed. He stated the vehicle was driven by a white female approximately late twenties to mid thirties. The reporting officer made contact with IGA management and was able to review CCTV footage from the fueling area and from in front of the store. It revealed the vehicle pull into the parking lot at 05:13:45pm hours on camera fuel pumps 1-4. The driver got out of the vehicle and looked at the damage to the front left of her vehicle, but got back in the vehicle and drove off. The vehicle then drove past the front of the IGA and departed south on Main Street. No tag could be made out from the CCTV footage. A request was left to access the footage. One still photo was able to be obtained and was uploaded. The reporting officer will be searching flock to attempt to identify the vehicle. Officer's body camera was activated.
All The President's Women
By: Liz Simon, Staff Writer
Did you celebrate or commemorate the three-day holiday weekend February 1517th - Presidents Day? Since the early 1970’s we've celebrated both George Washington's birthday (Feb. 22) and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (Feb. 12) together combined with all our other presidential leaders. It is a day to be away from federal work or school, with businesses offering enticing sales. Most of us can recall almost all 47 presidents, but what do we remember about our first ladies?
In honor of this holiday, I wanted to write my impressions of two former first ladies who were born into the Baby Boomer generation like me, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Laura Welch Bush. My research came from my love of reading their memoirs.
Hillary was born Oct. 26,1947, in Chicago, Illinois, and she attended the exclusive private Wellesley College in Massachusetts where she earned a BA degree, then she went on to the private college of Yale Law School in Connecticut. In 1971, she met her husband Bill in the Yale Law Library. After she graduated and became an attorney, she was asked to be a part of the Watergate impeachment trial team against President Richard Nixon. (Bill still had one year left in law school because he had spent a year abroad as a Rhodes Scholar.) Bill graduated from Yale in 1973 and married Hillary in 1975. Hillary went from the court room to the Arkansas Governor’ s Mansion in 1978 to the White House in 1992. She and her husband had one child Chelsea in 1980, and she was our First Lady from 1993 to 2001. After leaving the role of First Lady, she and Bill moved to New York state where she became a senator from New York from 2001 to 2009, Secretary of State appointed by President Obama from 2009 to 2013, and she has written many biographical books. Her husband Bill Clinton, a Southern Baptist from Arkansas once told his mother,” I want someone I can talk to. I've had it with Beauty Queens.
The woman I marry must be very independent, work outside the home, and not be wrapped up in me.”
Hillary, once described as a gutsy woman, made this statement, “It is hard to be a woman. You must think like a man, act like a lady, look like a young girl, and work like a horse!” Hillary did not close her eyes when her husband’s scandals rocked the nation. She kept her eyes open and stood as her husband’s strongest advocate by his side.
Another baby boomer from my generation who succeeded Hillary in the White House as First Lady was Laura Bush. Laura was a southern girl born November 4, 1946. As an only child in Midlands, Texas, Laura went to public schools and decided she would seek a degree in elementary education because she always wanted to be a teacher. At age 19, Laura and George Bush met on a blind date, and they were married in 1977. Laura went on to earn her degree in elementary education and taught second grade. She went to the University of Texas to earn her master’s in library science because she said, “I always love to read. That is why I became a librarian.”
George Bush, who graduated from Harvard Business School in 1975 and Yale College in 1968, worked in the energy business, described Laura to his mother, “I like to talk, and she likes to listen. The moment I saw her blue eyes; I felt in my heart that she was the one.” George Bush changed his church affiliation from Episcopalian to United Methodist when he and Laura married. Twin daughters Barbara and Jenna were born in 1981.
Laura’s father-in-law was elected President in 1988. His son George W. Bush, assisted him in the political campaign, then decided to run for governor of Texas in 1995. Laura Bush was first lady of Texas while her father-in-law served two terms. In 2001, George W. Bush was elected to replace Bill Clinton as President of our country. Laura had only been first lady for nine months when she was asked to attend a briefing about education at the Capitol where Hillary was serving as a US Senator. Abruptly the meeting was called to a halt by her Secret Service team who told everyone the Capitol building was being evacuated. The US was under attack.
To be continued……..
Blaney Elementary 'Living Museum'
Blaney Elementary fourth graders made history come alive with a Black History "Living Museum!" Dressed as influential figures, they shared inspiring stories with parents and classmates, bringing the past to life.
Left to right: BES Fourth Grader Jordyn Dickerson tells the story of Sojourner Truth to a group of first grade students. BES fourth grader Toby Martinez poses with his research on North Carolina politician Abraham Galloway. The story of George Washington Carver is being portrayed by BES fourth grader Fallon Terry.
Night To Shine Celebrates 6th Year in KC
This was our 6th year, the Tim Tebow Foundation's 11th year. We wel comed 93 Honored Guests, 226 volunteers and 135 parents/caretakers. The theme ELF was chosen by me because I envision every day where our Honored Guests are wonderful, beautifully made and perfect…just like Jesus is and how his loves them everyday, not just his birthday! We danced, sang, cheered on the red carpet, played games, ate, did hair/ make-up/shoe shines. It was truly a perfect, special night. NTS 2026 will be Feb 13., so everyone mark your calendars now!
Article courtesy Kate Stines, photos courtesy Johnny Deal.
Miss Lugoff-Elgin Middle School
Auto, Motorcycle & Truck Accidents • Workers’ Comp
Personal Injury & Death
Business Law • Real Estate Law
• Criminal 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
Schedule a FREE consultation today.
From left, Miss 8th Grade and Miss Entrepreneur Makenna Gladden; Miss LE Middle School, Miss Fan Favorite and Miss Photogenic Alayna Campbell; Miss 7th Grade
CJWL Classroom Grants
The Camden Junior Welfare League is excited to offer Classroom Enrichment Grants for the Spring 2025 semester. Kershaw County School District educators may submit eligible projects for a grant award of up to $500 to support classroom projects and/or extracurricular program support.
Applicants will be scored and awarded based
on the following categories:
• Alignment with CJWL mission
• Student Population Impact
• Creativity
• Longevity of Project/Items Purchased
• Well Defined Plan for Items Requested
Deadline to apply is Friday, March 14, 2025.
Ag + Art Tour Currently Recruiting Farm Sites
The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour returns to Kershaw County on May 31st, and any interested farm sites are encouraged to sign up to participate.
This year, the Ag + Art Tour in Kershaw County will feature homesteads, working farms, and other agritourism sites, as well as art sites such as the Arts Center of Kershaw County and Camden Art Shoppes for one day only, Saturday, May 31st from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is now in its 14th year, and has 22 counties participating in 2024. This annual agritourism attraction is a great way to educate people about where their food and fiber come from and introduce them to local artisans.
Farms sites have until March 1st to register at www.agandarttour.com/for-tour-sites.
For more information and up to date listings of activities, please be sure to like, share and follow www.facebook.com/agandartkershaw and www.agandarttour.com/kershaw.
Miss Camden Visits Blaney Elementary
Former Blaney student and current Miss Camden, Liliana Fogle, visited BES first-grade classes to read "Your Fantastic Elastic Brain" by JoAnn Deak. The students loved learning how their brains can grow and strengthen with exercise, just like their bodies!
DME Students Journey Through Ellis Island
Recently, the 5th grade students at Doby's Mill Elementary School embarked on an exciting journey through Ellis Island as a grand finale to their four-week immigration unit. Students engaged in extensive research using the Ellis Island Foundation's website, along with various other resources, to craft stories about immigrants who traveled to America between 1900 and 1920 and passed through Ellis Island.
During their visit, students admired the iconic Statue of Liberty before entering the Great Hall, where they experienced the challenges of passing through a series of medical, mental, and baggage inspections. First Class passengers, who had their inspections conducted aboard the ship, enjoyed the privilege of moving to the front of the line and were treated to tea and cookies.
All passengers ultimately entered America, where they began the journey of building new lives for themselves and their families. This enlightening experience is fondly remembered by many past 5th graders as one of their favorite activities in elementary school.
Stover Beta Club 'Loves' Midlands Rehab
Beta Club students created cards that were donated to patients at The Midlands Regional Rehabilitation Hospital in Elgin.
2025 Special Olympics Torch Run Kickoff and Polar Plunge at Lake Wateree
I had the honor of speaking at the SC State House on January 28th during the Special Olympics Torch Run Kick Off ceremony. The mission of Torch Run is to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics programs. Obviously, it takes funding to provide all the programs available.
The Torch Run hosts 12 Polar Plunges throughout the month of February. Please visit the Special Olympics South Carolina web site and sign up. I was at the Beavers Den Polar Plunge on Lake Wateree last Sunday (2/16/25). Several of us had the privilege of jumping in some really cold water to raise money for the SC Special Olympics. This was the fourth year this event took place in Kershaw County under the leadership of Retired SCHP Sergeant Matt Southern. The event had a fundraising goal of $5000 this year. We ended up raising more than double the goal (nearly $12,000) for our SC Special Olympic athletes.
As a parent of a Special Olympics athlete, I want to offer a huge thank you to all the officers, parents, volunteers, and donors who make yearround sports and other athletic programs available.
