TheState.com: News

DSS director honored by welfare group

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:13 EST

Columbia’s Marilyn J. Edelhoch has been presented the 2007 Outstanding Service Award from the National Association for Welfare Research and Statistics.

Edelhoch is director of research and evaluation for the state Department of Social Services. She was noted for her outstanding contributions to the association and for her research in welfare policy.

She was formally honored recently during the organization’s annual meeting in Charleston, W.Va.

The National Association for Welfare Research and Statistics exists to exchange ideas to advance research and statistics in public welfare.

Edelhoch serves as board secretary of the nonprofit agency and has served the organization in several other capacities during the past decade.

'The Fabulous Moolah' dies

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 22:38 EDT

Lillian Ellison, 84, the female wrestling legend who made Columbia home, died Friday.

Known as The Fabulous Moolah, Ellison was one of "The First Ladies of Wrestling," performed for 30 years on the mat. Two years ago, she wrote an autobiography and was the subject of a documentary film.

Arrangements are pending at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street.

- Read more in Sunday's edition of The State.

S.C. Guard member killed

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:47 EDT

Updated 3:46 p.m.
KABUL, Afghanistan – A S.C. National Guard soldier, who was just two months away from heading home, died in a humvee accident near Kandahar.

Killed was Sgt. Edward Philpot, 38, of Latta. He was a member of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 263rd Armored Regiment at Mullins.

Philpot, who’s survived by his wife and three daughters, is the first member of the S.C. Guard’s 218th Brigade Combat Team to die in Afghanistan. He’s also the 14th member of the Kabul-headquartered Task Force Phoenix to die since June. The S.C. Guard brigade heads the task force, responsible for training the Afghan army and police.

“We will miss Sgt. Philpot,” 218th commander, Brig. Gen. Bob Livingston, said at Thursday’s memorial service at Camp Phoenix. “He is part of our family.”

The fatal accident happened about 7 a.m. Tuesday when a humvee Philpot was in went off a road and rolled over. A second service member, whose identity is being withheld, was injured.

Retail developer buying sawmill site

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 21:18 EDT

An Atlanta development company known for large shopping centers is buying a tract on the east edge of Lexington where a family-run sawmill once stood.

Officials at Hendon Properties declined to offer details about their plan for the site.

“We are under contract on the property,” Hendon executive Cameron Zurbruegg said.

It is one of the last large parcels on the town’s rapidly growing commercial corridor on U.S. 378 near I-20.

Hendon Properties is acquiring about half of a 170-acre site from Sam and Dwight Corley, members of a family with deep roots in the area.

Beach music luminaries among thousands at Pinkney funeral

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:58 EDT

Updated 2:58 p.m. SUMTER — The Sumter Convention Center welcomed many friends of Willie "Bill" Pinkney today.

Pinkney, the last surving member of the original Drifters, died Wednesday in his hotel room in Daytona Beach, Fla. His funeral today was attended by more than 1,000 people, including many beach music lumninaries.

Among the mourners: Ben E. King, who sang many of the Drifters' biggest hits after Pinkney left the group. Jon "Bowzer" Bauman of Sha Na Na - who joined Pinkney in the fight to stop "fake" bands from using the names of classic groups like the Drifters - also was there, along with Billy Scott of Billy Scott and the Prophets, the Joe Pope Tams, Jackie Gore of the Embers and Johnny Mason of the Clovers.

"He was just a wonderful human being," Bauman said before the service.

Pinkney, who was a decorated war veteran, had his casket covered by an American flag. The atmosphere was calm and relatively subdued, much the same way Pinkney carried himself. Many of his family members wore pins with Pinkney's image on their lapels and dresses.

3 days, 3 issues

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 07:32 EDT

An overhaul of the Transportation Department, income tax cuts, and the state budget — will dominate the discussion when the General Assembly returns to Columbia on Tuesday to complete work left unfinished. Lawmakers have three days to get it done.

Transportation overhaul

What the House wants: To add $40 million — half for the Transportation Department and half for the state infrastructure bank, which provides loans and other assistance to communities for transportation projects. That money would increase to $200 million a year. In addition, the House wants the governor to be able to fire district engineers and opposes requiring Senate approval of the governor’s appointees.

What the Senate wants: Supports giving the agency money only once until the overhaul is given a chance to work. Wants tenure for district-level engineers and to approve the governor’s appointees to the board.

Key players: Rep. Annette Young, R-Dorchester, has led House efforts to overhaul the agency; Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, has spearheaded Senate efforts; Sen. Tommy Moore, D-Aiken, will want to ensure any compromise meets Senate Democrats’ approval, retaining some local control of road selection.

‘Pro-life’ stance has limits, poll finds

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:26 EDT

Forty-eight percent of South Carolina registered voters consider themselves to be “pro-life,” yet an overwhelming 83.5 percent believe a woman should be able to obtain a legal abortion in certain circumstances, according to a new poll from Winthrop University and ETV.

The poll affirms what many South Carolinians say if asked: Abortion is a difficult issue that burns hot in the public debate and forces nearly everyone to take sides.

But individual views on abortion are complicated and sometimes contradictory.

Dig deeper into the poll and a more nuanced view on abortion is evident:

• Sixty-two percent of S.C. Republicans, 35 percent of Democrats and 44 percent of independents consider themselves pro-life.

‘Dangerous’ meth lab raided; 3 arrested

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 22:58 EDT

Lexington County sheriff’s deputies Friday raided a toxic, potentially explosive methamphetamine lab operating in a house in a Gaston neighborhood where more than 20 children live, police said.

“It could have blown up — that’s how dangerous it was,” said Sheriff James Metts, whose undercover agents had had the meth operation under surveillance for six months.

Three men were charged.

Metts said deputies raided the house at 225 Transom Court around 2:30 p.m., just as the dangerous meth-cooking process was beginning. They found a bathtub full of a reddish-brown liquid they suspect was laced with red phosphorus — a key ingredient in making meth by what is popularly known as the “Red P” method, Metts said.

“This is the largest ‘Red P’ lab we have had in the county,” Metts said.

Democrats take stage in reddest of red states

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:53 EDT

Democrats, welcome to South Carolina.

You’ll find this to be a very conservative state, one of the most Republican in presidential election years. It ranks right up there with Utah and Idaho.

Just about everywhere you turn, you’ll find Republicans in charge. They occupy the Governor’s Mansion and are in control of the Legislature. Many local governments also are in the hands of the Republicans

And come Election Day, this state once again will vote Republican. It hasn’t voted for a Democrat since 1976.

But don’t be dismayed, Democrats. Enjoy your time in the spotlight this week.

Republican voters seeking Mr. Right

Wed, 02 May 2007 16:36 EDT

The big-name, big-money candidate with big question marks, or the no-name who checks all the right ideological boxes?

Values voters in South Carolina — pro-gun rights, anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage conservatives who helped put George W. Bush in the White House and remain a potent force in the Republican Party — are grappling with that question.

“I don’t really have a candidate,” said Bob Sawyer, a retired boat distributor who lives in Lexington County. “Right now, it’s open.”

National polls show former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to be the early GOP front-runners, with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney getting consideration, too.

But those polls also show a majority of Republicans want someone different to run.