TheState.com: Bertram Rantin

Lawyer’s passion brings recognition

Tue, 13 May 2008 21:43 EDT

Ginny Nissen Waller has been a champion for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Her passion for those victims and her love of the law have distinguished the Columbia attorney among the state’s best.

Waller recently was named Young Lawyer of the Year by the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division.

“It’s one of those awards that you never think you’re deserving because you work with so many other wonderful people,” said Waller, who was formally honored last week during the Bar’s House of Delegates meeting at Francis Marion University.

The Young Lawyer of the Year award annually recognizes a young lawyer who most exemplifies excellence in practicing law and public service.

Arcadia Lakes picnic celebrates ‘sweet town’

Mon, 05 May 2008 06:28 EDT

Arcadia Lakes isn’t known for its zoning squabbles, major budget reforms or political pandering.

For those in the small community five miles northeast of the city of Columbia, the area instead is marked by its friendly residents, quite neighborhoods and one of the best annual picnics going.

Town residents celebrated that sense of community Sunday as more than 200 people brought their favorite side dishes to the grounds of the Tree of Life for the 21st annual picnic.

“It’s a bedroom community and we try to keep that atmosphere alive,” Arcadia Lakes Mayor Rick Thomas said as he surveyed the modest gathering of folks who had claimed their spots in lawn chairs and along the rows of picnic tables.

They had come to mingle with old and new friends before helping themselves to the fried chicken dinners from Shealy’s Bar-b-que and to choose from the long list of individual dishes brought along from their homes.

Couple serves county above and beyond

Fri, 02 May 2008 23:48 EDT

As law enforcement officers, Eric and Ashley Russell know something about helping others. But the Lexington County duo also have been focusing their efforts on bettering their community.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department recently honored the married couple as its Employees of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2008.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Advisory Council made the selection, and Sheriff James R. Metts made the formal presentations at the recent quarterly Sheriff’s Department Employee Awards Ceremony.

Eric Russell, 41, has worked for the Sheriff’s Department 15 years and is a detective in the Major Crimes Unit. Ashley Russell, 43, a sergeant, has worked for the department eight years and supervises detectives who investigate property crimes in the South Region patrol district, based in Pelion.

The two were noted for developing a protocol to rescue large animals and ensuring they receive proper care at their Lexington home. Lexington County Animal Services can rescue only cats and dogs, while the Sheriff’s Department responds to calls concerning horses, pigs, goats and other large animals found roaming free across the county.

Volunteers' remodeling project brightens boys home

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:18 EDT

Shiny new countertops, brightly painted walls and freshly sanded floors await the young residents at the Carolina Boys Home. It’s an upgrade several months in the making for the north Columbia residential facility and one that has members of this year’s Leadership Columbia class smiling.

“The transformation has been wonderful,” class member Noushin Sprossel said. “And the best thing is to see the look of amazement on the faces of these kids when they see all the changes taking place That’s the biggest prize for me.”

Sprossel was among several members of this year’s Leadership Columbia class who came out to the home Tuesday to formally mark the completion of their renovation effort. It was carried out by class members with the help of several area businesses.

The 55-member group selected the Carolina Boys Home for its community outreach in September and began gutting and restoring it earlier this year. The work in the two-story building includes a renovated kitchen and upstairs bathroom, new carpet throughout, new heating and air system and ductwork, and outdoor landscaping.

Class member Stephen Ross said the kitchen upgrades were a particularly significant part of the effort, as the young, at-risk residents of the home learn to cook as preparation for independent living.

Colonial Life volunteer keeps on giving

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:28 EDT

Jim Mayfield believes there are two short steps between the existence of community needs and the efforts required to address them.

For the Columbia man, it all comes down to awareness and time.

“There are so many ways we can improve the area if we just take a little time and do our part,” he said.

Mayfield’s words are supported by his actions. His volunteer activities include working with the Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Red Cross and Special Olympics.

Those efforts and others were recognized publicly last week when Mayfield was named Colonial Life’s Volunteer of the Year.

Rantin: Lunch pals learn from each other

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:12 EDT

Takiaya Jenkins looks forward to her bimonthly lunch gatherings with Palmetto Health employee Julie Riffle.

For the Carver-Lyon Elementary School fifth-grader, the regular meetings with Riffle are can’t-miss affairs.

“I get to spend quality time with my buddy,” Takiaya said. “We eat lunch and talk about regular stuff.”

On most days, those discussions take place in the school cafeteria. But this week, the two shared conversation and fellowship as they strolled through the animal kingdom of Riverbanks Zoo.

Riffle and other Palmetto Health employees joined students from Carver-Lyon and E.E. Taylor elementary schools Thursday for the year-end celebration of the Lunch Buddy program. The Richland 1 initiative pairs area adults with students for two hours each month during the school year to share food, fun and friendship.

Ex-Section 8 residents honored

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:23 EDT

The two newest faces on Columbia’s wall of inspiration have worked to better the community’s health, boost the area’s education level, and improve the outlook of the area’s youths.

Regina Hampton Brown and Harriet McMillan Perkins became the latest members of the Columbia Housing Authority’s Wall of Fame during annual recognition ceremonies Friday as more than 200 people gathered at the Drew Wellness Center gym to pay tribute.

The Wall of Fame honors former residents of public or Section 8 housing who have achieved success in their chosen career fields and have given back to their community.

“It’s an honor,” Brown said after Friday’s induction ceremonies. “I look at all the folks that are on the wall, and I think about all the contributions they have made in the community. Now, I’m a part of that same group that is making those contributions.”

Brown and Perkins join the more than 40 others whose names have been added to the Read Street wall since it was erected in 1988. That list includes educators, political leaders, business professionals, national entertainers, professional athletes, church leaders and civil servants.

Rantin | Electronic filing helps ease rush at tax time

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:10 EDT

A strange but inviting calm invaded the makeshift drive-through Tuesday at the Department of Revenue.

As in years past, agency workers lined the sidewalks outside the Columbia office to hand out tax forms and collect completed returns from last-minute filers looking to beat the midnight deadline.

But the number of people taking advantage of the service was down considerably this year, a trend revenue officials attribute to an increase in early-bird and electronic filing.

About 350 taxpayers took advance of the drive-through option Tuesday. That’s about half as many as last year and less than a third of those who had used the service in previous years.

“We’ve been constantly seeing an increase in electronic filing,” said Lauranne Mays of the Department of Revenue’s tax resolution and services division.

EX-LOGGER, ‘PRAYING MAN’ 115

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:46 EDT

As Richard Washington celebrates another year of living today, it will be with a perspective arguably shared with no one else on the planet.

The Darlington man turns 115 years old, setting a milestone some think could make him the oldest person in the world.

Washington’s Social Security documents list his birth date as April 13, 1893, seven days earlier than Edna Parker of Indiana, currently listed as the world’s oldest person by the Guinness Book of Records.

While the S.C. man lacks enough documentation to be proclaimed the world’s oldest, researchers say that possibility is not out of the question.

“He could be the oldest person in the world,” said Robert Young of the Gerontology Research Group, which validates ages and whose findings officially are recognized by Guinness.

‘ER’ flat-lined years before its planned exit

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:13 EDT

Creators of the NBC series “ER” finally have faced up to a reality many of its bedside characters have avoided throughout the show’s history.

Executives announced this week that the once-hit drama will end its 15-year run next season. But the truth is, there hasn’t been a pulse there for years.

Make that seven or so years, to be specific.

To be sure, “ER” once was a standard-bearer for appointment television, providing a clever blend of high-paced emergency-room heroics with just enough interaction between the characters’ professional and personal lives. I, for one, was among those who wouldn’t have dreamed of missing an episode during the show’s earlier days.

But as original cast members begin exiting one by one, the hospital drama started to lose its way, with one drawn-out personal story after another and far too many overdone plotlines. I mean, isn’t the ER exciting enough without cars crashing through walls, toxic chemicals escaping into the hospital or gunmen holding doctors and patients hostage? Get real.

Public kudos are a nice new chapter for volunteers

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:11 EDT

These folks are definitely worth checking out.

The Richland County Public Library has named its top volunteers for 2007. They were recognized formally last week during an event at the main branch.

Clyde Dornbusch was named the Adult Volunteer of the Year. Dornbusch has volunteered at the library since 1993 and contributed more than 950 hours. He has worked as a patron assistant and regularly attends library programs.

Maria Piroli, was named Teen Volunteer of the Year. The A.C. Flora High School student has volunteered more than 35 hours in the past year at the Southeast Regional Branch, shelving and sorting materials and organizing the teen area. Piroli has worked with library programs such as Children’s Day, the Southeast’s annual bilingual event and the Summer Reading Wrap-Up Party for families.

Morgan Osborne was named Junior Volunteer of the Year. A student at St. John Neumann Catholic School, Osborne has been a volunteer at the Sandhills branch. Since 2005, she has spent more than 100 hours sorting newspapers and magazines, processing paperbacks, cutting name tags and assisting with children’s programs. She also was named a library Spotlight Volunteer in 2006 for her contributions at the Sandhills branch.

Fourth-grader wins through stroke of a pen

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 06:10 EDT

Brittney Desmond has a signature worth a second and third glance.

The St. Joseph Catholic School fourth-grader recently was named the 2008 State Handwriting Winner in the National Handwriting Contest. More than 1,500 students competed in the competition sponsored by Zaner-Bloser Educational Publishers, the nation’s largest leading publisher of handwriting programs for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

“Catholic schools have historically placed a strong emphasis on good handwriting skills,” St. Joseph principal Rose Tindall said. “We are excited Brittney received such a prestigious honor.”

Dennis Williams, national product manager for Zaner-Bloser, explained that students who follow structured handwriting curricula throughout elementary and middle school typically score higher on standardized tests.

Brittney will go on to complete at the national level.

Special Olympics Fundraiser | Filling up on serving others

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:13 EDT

Amanda Massengale is always up for a little cross-training.

Her Friday routine of refilling sweet-tea orders and delivering cheese biscuits to eager diners was a stark contrast to her days otherwise consumed by traffic citations and court appearances.

“I feel more comfortable in my (regular) job, but I enjoy this a little more than giving someone a ticket,” the city of Cayce police officer said. “At least they’re happy to see me here.”

The officer was among several dozen area law enforcement personnel who added aprons to their uniforms Friday as part of the annual Cops and Lobsters fundraiser. As they have for the past 12 years, the representatives from the various agencies worked alongside staff at the Red Lobster in Cayce to raise money for Special Olympics. The funds support year-round training of the 15,500-plus Special Olympics athletes in the state.

Sam Alexander of Special Olympics explained the event had been sponsored nationally by the restaurant chain until three years ago. But after that commitment ended because of other obligations, managers in this state carried on the tradition.

Players got trophies, but teen is the prize

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:25 EDT

Matthew Neese has the heart of a champion.

The 13-year-old Calhoun Academy student has fond memories of his younger days playing in a Cayce youth basketball league. So when he learned recently that a championship team from the league might go home empty-handed, he stepped up to the line in a big way.

Coach Marion Taylor’s team had claimed the division championship at Spires Gym in Cayce, but didn’t have the resources to buy trophies for the players.

“I know how much fun I had in that league when I was a little kid,” Matthew said. “I remember that I like getting trophies, so I felt they should get one, too.”

To ensure they did, Matthew donated his eight-in-one gaming table and his 10-speed bicycle for a fundraiser. The proceeds from the sales were enough to buy trophies for the entire team.

Volunteers pitch in to pick up trash

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:45 EDT

Scarcely a plastic bag, paper cup or gum wrapper was left unturned by the small band of volunteers who had embarked on a one-mile assault on litter.

The dozen or so workers picking up trash along Two Notch Road in northeast Richland County this weekend were part of an effort to spruce up the Midlands.

“It just looked so bad,” Jackie Prueitt said Saturday as she surveyed the grounds bordering the railroad tracks near Spring Valley High School. “I just decided to do it and started to beg others to come out.”

All across the area, cries likes hers are being heard. Prueitt is the leader of one of several teams holding community cleanups as part of The Midlands Makeover. The annual effort, which began in recent weeks, is part of the Great American Cleanup — the nation’s largest community improvement program.

Keep the Midlands Beautiful executive director Heidi Johnson said participation in the program is up this year. Last year about 300 people from Lexington and Richland counties got involved, and this year the number already is approaching 500.

Healthy Learners applaud helping hands

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:57 EDT

A Columbia hospital CEO and a school nurse have been recognized for their efforts to improve the health care of disadvantaged youth.

Healthy Learners honored Sister Judith Ann Karam and Carolyn Duff with two service awards last week. The recognitions came during the organization’s appreciation luncheon for its volunteers, sponsors, financial supporters and others.

Healthy Learners provides health care services to economically disadvantaged elementary- and middle-school children.

Karam — president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals and president of Sisters of Charity Health System — received the In All Things Charity honor. The award, the most prestigious given by Healthy Learners, goes to someone who exhibits sincere commitment and dedication to Healthy Learners and acts as a spokesperson for the organization, enhancing community awareness.

‘This award is for everyone who supports Healthy Learners,” Karam said.

Woodyard Fund giving grows

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:36 EDT

Midlands residents looked past an uncertain economy and offered a certain hope to many struggling to stay warm again this winter.

Donations to the annual Woodyard Fund totaled $159,758 this year — up more than $30,000 from the $125,340 collected last year. That generosity provided 508 families with the financial assistance needed to keep their heat running, compared with the 415 families who were helped last year.

“I think it is sometimes during those difficult times that people are reminded of their own financial vulnerabilities,” said Capt. Ethan Frizzell of the Salvation Army, which administers the fund.

For years, the community-supported Woodyard Fund has helped families facing difficulties paying their heating bills because of extreme financial circumstances. Those circumstances range from a loss of employment to an unexpected medical emergency. But Frizzell said that even while keeping a close eye on their own finances, many families have continued to reach out to others through the fund.

“The amount of contributions in the wake of some uncertain financial times has been really considerate,” Frizzell said.

Old hand gets State Fair job

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:32 EDT

A familiar face has assumed a new job at the South Carolina State Fair.

Nancy Smith has been named assistant fair manager.

Smith, a Columbia native, has worked with the State Fair full time since 2000. For 15 years prior, she worked in the fair’s home and craft department, serving seven of those years as department superintendent.

“I really have a passion for the fair,” Smith said. “It a great family tradition within the state that brings smiles to the faces of so many people each year.”

Smith was named a certified fair executive by the International Association of Fairs and Expositions in 1996. She was one of 12 fair executives selected that year from the more than 3,200 organized fairs in the United States and Canada. She serves on the International Association of Fairs and Expositions State and Provincial Association Speakers Bureau and also is actively involved with the South Carolina Association of Fairs.

Girl Scouts honor Women of Distinction

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:14 EDT

They are recognized as community leaders and role models for young women throughout the state. The five Midlands-area women have been named the 2008 Women of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of South Carolina — Mountains to Midlands.

This year’s honorees include Donna Sorensen, Linda C. Stern, Sarah Shuptrine, Patty Patterson and Ann Marie Taylor.

All five have been noted for their community and professional achievements.

• Sorensen of Columbia is a former Girl Scout and has served as chairman of the board of directors for the former Girl Scouts Congaree Council. She is noted for her efforts to enrich the lives of youths, particularly in the area of nutrition.

• Stern of Columbia is a former Congaree Girl Scout. She has served as chairman of the Arts Commission and is noted for having spearheaded significant projects to enhance local South Carolina arts and artists.

Sheriff honors district leader

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:41 EST

Karen Woodward knows the value of a strong relationship between law enforcement and the school system.

For years, the Lexington 1 superintendent has worked to build partnerships between law enforcement and school administrators. Recently, her efforts were recognized for increasing school safety in the district.

Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts presented Woodward with the Sheriff’s Award — the highest civilian honor the sheriff can bestow. The presentation came last week during Lexington 1’s regular school board meeting.

In her eight-year tenure as superintendent, Woodward has worked with the Sheriff’s Department to encourage school administrators to work closely and communicate effectively with sheriff’s deputies about criminal activity and public safety issues on school grounds.

“Dr. Woodward ensures that School District 1 and the Sheriff’s Department make decisions together concerning public safety issues,” said Metts, adding Woodward also has maintained an open-door policy for communicating with his department.