Rural S.C. needs a lift

Sat, 05 May 2007 21:34 EDT

No one needs to tell Virginia Townsend that life in rural South Carolina isn’t all fun and front-porch friendliness.

A retired teacher who grew up in the Orangeburg County town of Holly Hill, Townsend sees residents struggle in a variety of ways: limited access to health care for strokes and heart attacks, poor children who struggle in school and adults who face long commutes to work — if they can find a job.

“As a schoolteacher, I saw deficiencies,” Townsend said. “And now that I’m retired, I still see deficiencies. I just think we can bring about change.”

Change is the mantra of those who want to be president and will be spending an increasing amount of time in the Palmetto State, home to important Democratic and Republican primaries early next year.

Change is desperately needed in rural communities, policy experts and residents say.

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Rural S.C. needs a lift