LAKESIDE THE GOOD LIFE ON LAKE MARION, SOUTH CAROLINA • AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013
Gator Glee
TV Show in Manning
Up a creek With a paddle
Carving artist incorporates knowledge of legends
1 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | LAKESIDE
fyi CLARENDON COUNTY
411 Sunset Drive, Manning (803) 435-0135 www.clarendoncountygov.org POPULATION: Est. 34,400 AREA: 696 square miles COUNTY SEAT: Manning PLACES: Alcolu, Gable, Jordan, Manning, New Zion, Paxville, Rimini, Silver, Summerton, Turbeville, Wilson SELECTED OFFICIALS: U.S. Rep. James Clyburn; state Sen. Kevin L. Johnson Jr.; state Reps. Dr. Robert Ridgeway and Ronnie Sabb; Clarendon County Council Chairman Dwight Stewart Jr.; councilmen Billy Richardson, W.J. Frierson, A.C. English and Benton Blakely; Sheriff Randy Garrett Jr.; Coroner Hayes F. Samuels NOTABLES: African-American tennis great Althea Gibson; Miss America 1957 Marian McKnight; Amelia Bedelia author Peggy Parrish; retired Sen. John C. Land III, longestserving state legislator; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Glenn Murray; Panama Canal engineer David Gaillard.
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY
1437 Amelia St., Orangeburg www.orangeburgcounty.org POPULATION: Est. 92,243 AREA: 1,128 square miles COUNTY SEAT: Orangeburg PLACES: Bowman, Branchville, Cope, Cordova, Elloree, Eutawville, Holly Hill, Livingston, Neeses, North, Norway, Orangeburg, Rowesville, Santee, Springfield,Vance, Woodford SELECTED OFFICIALS: U.S. Rep. James Clyburn; U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson; state Sen. C. Bradley Hutto; state Reps. Gilda CobbHunter and Jerry Govan Jr.; County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright Sr.; Councilwoman Janie Cooper-Smith; councilmen Clyde B. Livingston, Heyward Livingston, Willie B. Owens, Johnny Ravenell and Harry F. Wimberly; Coroner Samuetta B. Marshall; Sheriff Leroy Ravenell. NOTABLES: St. Louis Rams player Alex Barron; Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson; Indianapolis Colts player Tim Jennings; Tennessee Sen. Bob Rocker; World Series champion Herm Winningham; Hollywood actress Shawnee Smith; author Stephen Euin Cobb.
SUMTER COUNTY
13 E. Canal St., Sumter, third floor (803) 436-2102 sumtercountysc.org POPULATION: Est. 105,517 AREA: 682 square miles COUNTY SEAT: Sumter PLACES: Cherryvale, Horatio, Mayesville, Oswego, Pinewood, Privateer, Rembert, Shiloh South Sumter, Sumter, Stateburg, Wedgefield SELECTED OFFICIALS: U.S. Reps. James Clyburn and Mick Mulvaney; state Sens. Thomas McElveen and Kevin L. Johnson Jr.; state Reps. Grady Brown, Phillip Lowe, Jimmy Bales, J. David Weeks and George Smith Jr.; Council Chairman Larry Blanding; Council Vice-chairman Eugene Baten; Councilwomen Vivian Fleming-McGhaney and Naomi D. Sanders; Councilmen Artie Baker, James R. Byrd Jr. and Charles T. Edens; Coroner Harvin Bullock; Sheriff Anthony Dennis. NOTABLES: Original Drifters member Bill Pinckney; educator and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune; U.S. First Lady (1839-41) Angelica Singleton Van Buren; Gov. Richard Irvine Manning III (1914-18); and Miss USA and Miss Universe 1980 Shawn Weatherly.
Contents 24
About Us GENERAL MANAGER Gail Mathis
gail@theitem-clarendonsun.com
PUBLISHER Jack Osteen
jack@theitem.com
ARTICLES & RESEARCH Robert J. Baker, Editor
40 18
bbaker@theitem.com
Rob Cottingham
rcottingham@theitem.com
LAYOUT & DESIGN Cary Johnson
32
LANDMARKS AND LANDSCAPES
4
HEAT AIN’T nothing to mess with
8
UP A CREEK with a paddle
10
TASTE OF THE TOWN festival gets HeartStrong
14
BEAT THE HEAT with catfishing at night
15
CONDITIONS MAKE for a busy hurricane season
16
LOWCOUNTRY BOIL delights Elloree community
18
RUN, FOREST, RUN
20
A COLLECTIVE LEGACY Legends influence carving artist
24
CAR SHOW BENEFITS Clarendon Community
28
BACKCOUNTRY HARVEST Museum offers look at colonial SC
30
GATOR WRESTLING ON THE FIELD TV Show stars delight children
32
‘TEE OFF’ in support of animals
35
ON THE LAKE photos from our readers
36
LOVE, DON’T LITTER, where you live
38
EEE CONFIRMED in Santee-Cooper lake area
40
WILD ABOUT WILDFLOWERS
42 44
LAKE BRIEFS
cjohnson@theitem.com
Manon Zamora-Barwick mbarwick@theitem.com
PHOTOGRAPHY Robert J. Baker, Rob Cottingham & Jamie Hudson Wilson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Earle Woodward, John DuRant, Carll Field, Jolie Brown, Deanna Anderson and Jamie Hudson Wilson For ads, call Gail Mathis at 803-435-8511 For stories, call Bobby Baker at 803-774-1211 or Rob Cottingham at 803-774-1225
2010 & 2012 Award Winning Magazine
2011 Award Winning Magazine
AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | LAKESIDE 3
Landmarks &Land The Santee Cooper lakes, both Moultrie and Marion, cover Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg and Sumter counties. Altogether these counties boast Revolutionary War battle sites, grave markers of war heroes, museums dedicated to preserving watershed moments in state and American history, beautiful churches that have sheltered the worship of Jesus Christ for more than two centuries and wildlife reserves, swampland and nationally recognized, pristine forests.
BERKELEY COUNTY
The 175 miles of waterway that make up the Berkeley County Blueways holds 23 paddling trails in Lake Moultrie, lower Lake Marion, the Santee River and Francis Marion National Force. For more information, visit www.berkeleyblueways.com, email berkconsdist@homexpressway.net, or call (843) 719-4146. Francis Marion’s Gravestone is a popular attraction at Belle Isle Plantation cemetery off S.C. 45 between S.C. 6 and Eadytown in St. Stephen. The plantation
itself has existed at least since 1795, which was the year of Marion’s death.
A community of Roman Catholic monks welcomes visitors every day, except Monday, to Mepkin Abbey, which was built in 1959 on the Cooper River, S.C. 402, north of Charleston, where historic Mepkin Plantation once stood. The Trappist monks who call the abbey home provide guided tours of the church at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Groups of 10 or more visitors are asked to make reservations by calling (843) 761-8509.
CLARENDON COUNTY
Android phone users may now download a Clarendon County Tour App courtesy of George and Carole Summers of the Swamp Fox Murals Trail Society and David Brinkman, a computer software engineer from Columbia. The fully GPS-enabled, multilingual application shows many of Clarendon County’s most historic locales, including audible descriptions of many historical cemeteries. The Swamp Fox Trails are
also included on the app, which is free for anyone to download on an Androidassociated phone. For more information, visit www.clarendonmurals.com. The 11th annual Francis Marion Symposium will be held Oct. 18-19 at the F.E. DuBose Center at Manning’s Central Carolina Technical College, celebrating Gen. Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion’s major role in the American Revolution. Christine Swager will introduce her new Southern Campaign book, while Steven Smith will discuss Francis Marion’s time in the Pee Dee. Other speakers will also be presented. Cost is $95 per person and $175 per couple if registered by Oct. 1. Early-bird discounts are available by Sept. 17. For more information, call George and Carole Summers at (803) 478-2645 or email gcsummers@ftc-i.net.
Lake Marion Artisans, a group of artists from throughout Clarendon County and its surrounding areas, has an open gallery select hours Thursday-Saturday of each week at 108 Main St., Summerton. For more information, visit on.fb.me/ PBIaxD.
MEPKIN ABBEY
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FRANCIS MARION’S GRAVESTONE
dscapes The Lake Marion Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-1 holds its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in the fire department training room at the Emergency Services Complex, 219 Commerce St. in Manning. The public is invited to attend all meetings, which are moved periodically to the second Wednesday of the month due to fire department training. Time chances are noted in advance. For more information, call Flotilla Commander Joe Livingston at (803) 707-4016. The Midlands Organic Mobile Market (MOMM) will be set up at 2 p.m. every Wednesday behind the Clarendon Memorial Hospital cafeteria to offer fresh, locally grown organic produce for sale. For more information, call The Zone at (803) 435-5200.
ORANGEBURG COUNTY
The Elloree Heritage and Cultural Museum on Historic Cleveland Street in downtown Elloree, about seven miles from Santee off Exit 98 at Interstate 95, was founded in 1998 as part of the
Berkeley County • Clarendon County Orangeburg County • Sumter County
downtown area’s revitalization efforts and boasts a rotating series of exhibits in its 10,000-square-foot facility. For more information, call (803) 897-2225, or visit elloreemuseum.org. The Neeses Farm Museum, 6449 Savannah Highway, S.C. 4, Neeses, contains historic artifacts like clothing, butter churns, a wood-burning stove, a cotton gin, a hand-made plow, grain cradles, saws and other farm items. Displays include pottery, arrowheads, jewelry, regalia and more. School tours are popular, giving children a glimpse of life on a farm 100 years ago. For more information, call (803) 247-5811. Orangeburg National Fish Hatchery, located at 427 Lakeview Drive on the S.C. 21 bypass in Orangeburg, is one of more than 60 federal fish hatcheries located in the United States. Operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the hatchery produces a number of species, including striped bass and red breast and bluegill sunfish, which are used to stock lakes and streams throughout the southeastern United States. Nose sturgeon are used for research and development at the site. The
aquarium is open from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call (803) 534-4828, or email the hatchery at orangeburg@fws.gov. The 5th annual Southern Midlands African-American Family Reunion will be held 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 25 at Edisto Memorial Gardens, sponsored by Williams Chapel AME Church. For more information, call (803) 536-0600. Vallentines cotton gin, located in historic Cope, operates from late September through December and allows visitors to follow the progress of cotton from the field to the bale. An adjacent general store displays merchandise from the 1930s through the 1950s. For more information, call (803) 534-0442.
SUMTER COUNTY
The 8th annual Forrest Ray 5k Classic Run/Walk Celebration will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 21, starting at the Sumter County Library. Benefitting the library, the race is one of the most anticipated of the season and one of the most pleasant, as it takes participants
EDISTO MEMORIAL GARDENS
CLARENDON COUNTY MUSEUM
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through Sumter’s Historic District. It is named for the late Forres Ray, one of the library’s most dedicated supporters. Runners and walkers can register at the library, the Sumter YMCA or online at StrictlyRunning.com. There is a cost to participate. The Palmetto Tennis Center, 400 Theatre Drive, will be offering Cardio Tennis, a fun group activity that keeps participants moving and in your zone, from 7-8 p.m. every Monday. Beginners to advanced players are welcome. Cost is $10 per person. For more information, call (803) 774-3969, or email palmettotennis@sumtersc.com. Poinsett State Park in Manchester State Forest encompasses 1,000 acres of separate trails for hiking, biking and trail riders, and also contains Sumter’s 14-mile portion of the Palmetto Trail, a 425mile long trail from the mountains to the sea spread across the state. The lake at Poinsett is the perfect setting for a relaxing ride in a paddleboat, which can be rented at the park’s main office, 6660 Poinsett Park Road, Wedgefield. For more information, call (803) 494-8177. Swan Lake Iris Gardens, one of the premier swan observatories in the world, is located on West Liberty Street in Sumter. Its
SUMTER OPERA HOUSE
6 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | LAKESIDE
renown is due in part to its status as the only public park in the United States to serve as home to all eight species of swans, including black necks, royal white mutes, coscorobas, whoopers, black Australians, whistlers, bewicks and trumpeters. Tables are located throughout the grouns, and a large playground features an antique fire engine that is perfect for climbing. The Bland Gardens feature a boardwalk, on which visitors may meander through a cypress swamp, and a gazebo popular for spring weddings. Call (803) 778-5434 for more information about reservations for any of the park’s facilities or email tourism@ sumter-sc.com. The Sumter Sunrise Rotary 5th annual 5k Run/Walk will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 26, starting at Rotary Centennial Plaza at the corner of Liberty and Main streets in downtown Sumter. Catherine Watkins, past president, said the fundraising efforts go toward the club’s polio eradication efforts and to help provide educational supplies to local schools. There is a cost to participate. For more information, visit the Sumter Sunrise Rotary Facebook page, or email sumtersunriserotary@gmail.com. Compiled by Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com
POINSETT STATE PARK
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Heat ain’t nothing to mess with by EARLE WOODWARD earlew@theitem.com
I
t’s late summer and the temperatures are scorching. Unfortunately, it’s also time to prepare for dove and deer season; that activity can be deadly. Most of us no longer work in the outdoors: We work in an air-conditioned space, drive air-conditioned vehicles and spend our evenings in the air-conditioned comfort of our recliners watching TV. In short, we can’t tolerate the heat anymore. I remember being a child playing in the yard with my friends from morning until Mom called us in at sundown. We acclimated ourselves to the summer’s heat and winter’s cold gradually as the seasons changed. But not anymore. We live in a constant 72-degree world, and anything outside of that temperature range throws us into a tailspin. So, here we are now having been stuck in the office all summer long with just a few late afternoon fishing trips and, all of a sudden, it’s time to hang deer stands and work on food plots. If you’re like me, that means you’re going to put on a longsleeved shirt, a pair of jeans, a hat and a pair of snake boots. After that, it will be a dose of insect repellent with DEET for all exposed skin to ward off the marauding mosquitoes. All of this means one thing: heat. Add in the physical activity, and the sweat will begin to pour. And that’s where the danger comes in. The body cools itself by perspiring moisture – sweat – which cools as it evaporates. If the body’s available supply of moisture runs out, you can no longer sweat. That means you can no longer cool yourself, and then the body temperature skyrockets. It can result in death if left untreated, so it’s serious stuff.
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If you perspire, you must replace the moisture coming out. The popular term these days is re-hydrate. Back in the old days, when people spoke English, we’d say “drink a lot of water.” When my hunting partner, Jack, and I start plowing and mowing and moving stands in late July and early August, we both take several gallons of ice water and a couple bottles of Gatorade. The latter helps replace the electrolytes that the body sweats out. We also take plenty of breaks and relax in the shade. But even after all that, by the time I get home I’m completely drained. It would not surprise me to find that the first day of archery season for deer, which traditionally comes on Aug. 15, will be more than 100 degrees. It will very likely stay that way until mid to late September. Even sitting quietly in a tree stand and pouring sweat can cause heat exhaustion or heat stroke. If you add any physical activity, your chances of those just get worse. I take several plastic water bottles and freeze them and then put them in my back pack, along with one unfrozen one. I start drinking the liquid bottle as soon as I sit down in the stand, leaning against the frozen ones in the pack. It helps thaw the bottles and keeps me cool at the same time. I may not be comfortable, but I don’t stop sweating either. One of the signs of heat exhaustion is when you stop sweating. If that happens, get cooled down as fast as you can and drink all that you can hold.Your day in the sun is pretty much over at that point. I’ve been at that danger point a couple of times during my work with deer stands, but I’ve also been there while sitting in a chair dove hunting.
That first day of dove season, usually the Saturday before Labor Day, is generally unmercifully hot, and most of us will sit in a field from high noon until 4:30-5 p.m., with very little shade and wearing full camouflage and holding a hot metal shotgun. The heat just bears down on us, but the action is so fast and furious that we don’t think about stopping for a bottle of water. All of a sudden we get dizzy, and our skin gets clammy and we aren’t sweating. At this point a cooling action is a necessity. Hey, pour a bottle of water all over yourself to help cool down, and slam one down your throat while you’re at it. Seek shade and a cool spot like an air-conditioned truck, and don’t wait to do it. By the way, if you’re too hot, then your retriever is probably just as hot. Be sure you have cool water for him, and maybe some shade or a pond to swim in. Dogs have died due to overheating on a dove hunt. One trick I use for my dog is to freeze a gallon milk jug full of water, take it to the field and cut the top out of it. The dog can lick the ice, which cools him down, but can’t over drink and throw it back up. We can still have a great time outdoors, just remember to be careful. It’s more about prevention: Wear light-weight clothing and drink more water than you think you need. By the time your body tells you it’s thirsty, it is already stressed. Take plenty of breaks in the shade, and take a partner along just in case one of you does need help. Work and hunt very early and very late in the day if you can. Have fun, but be careful, and good luck with the deer and dove this year.
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Up a with creek ... a paddle
R
obert Kelley is a quiet man with a warm smile that spreads as he talks about what he is most proud of throughout his 77 years: his wife, his family and his work. There is an ease in his stride and a confidence that comes through life experience. He laughs often. He is the man behind Kelley’s Paddles, a small business he started more than 50 years ago. From his workshop in Wedgefield, Kelley has been making the essential fishing gear since 1962. His workshop is a testimony to that. Kelley’s workshop is a labyrinth of materials and machinery, some of which he bought from an army surplus sale; others he fashioned himself, like a 10-foot belt sander that helps him smooth the rough edges of the paddles as well as carve the contours of the handles. A small path leads to dozens upon dozens of paddles in various stages of completion at each station. Paddles yet to be made are evi-
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story and photos by JAMIE HUDSON WILSON jme@gmail.com
dence alone of Kelley’s success. There is a measure of catharsis, Kelley said, to working on the paddles because it is something he enjoys to its very core. “Time flies by,” he said.“It’s like fishing. You forget about everything when you are fishing.”
THE BUSINESS THAT BEGAN AS A HOBBY
Kelley answers modestly when asked if he has always had an aptitude for building things. “I was interested in it when I was in school,” he said. His wife is quick to sing his praises. “Well, he built about three-quarters of our house!” Elizabeth “Lib” Kelley chimes.
The couple married in 1959 and had three children: Dee, Sharon and Darlene. Before he retired from the former Farmer’s Exchange Co-op in 1985, Kelley spent nearly 30 years working eight hours a day. He spent his evenings putting blade to board in his workshop. But he still made time for his family, Lib said. “If they had schoolwork, he was there,” she said.“He was always there.” Kelley wanted Lib to stay at home with their daughters, she said, so he put in the extra hours in his workshop to make ends meet. “It was a long day,” Kelley said. Before the paddle business, Kelley said he began making ax and other tool han-
Time flies by,... It’s like fishing. You forget about everything when you are fishing. dles in his workshop. He came upon the paddles in the early 1960s after hearing that another local carpenter was getting out of the business. “I went out there and watched him make some of the paddles,” he said.“I thought I could do it myself.” His success came from his hard work. When he began churning out paddles in 1962, he went to nearby landings and sold them from the back of his truck for less than $1.50. Kelley said he would also load up his truck, drive to local sporting goods stores and ask them to stock his product. Many did. Soon, he began to sell thousands of the paddles. On a good day, Kelley said he makes 36 of the paddles. In a month, he can sell hundreds. As the business took off, his reach extended to nearby towns, then to other states. His paddles have now been sold in stores throughout the southeast. Kelley recently learned his paddles have been used by some of the stars of History Channel reality TV show “Swamp People,” which focuses on several alligator hunters in Louisiana. And he has done all of this without ever using a typical advertising scheme to promote his business. The sign in his front yard and word-of-mouth are the only advertising Kelley uses, but both have served him well. His success has led him to hire additional help to keep up with demand, especially during peak fishing seasons. But he admits – with a smile – that for a man who manufactures fishing equipment, he doesn’t get to do a lot of fishing himself. “I went twice last year and I haven’t gotten to go yet this year,” he said.
THE SIMPLE ART OF PADDLE-MAKING
Kelley’s process is beautifully simple, appropriate for a man who uses few words. He uses the same original master copies of the paddles he first used in 1962 to draw the contours on each length of wood. Using a large band saw, Kelley carefully cuts out the basic shape of the paddle. He uses cypress wood, a sturdy wood that is typically resilient in aquatic applications, from a vendor located in near Manning. The edges of the rough cut board are then routed and planed before it is sanded smooth.
Kelley uses a jerry-rigged belt sander of his own design to create the divots in the handle and near the blade. The blade is stamped with Kelley’s signature before it is packaged for shipping or to be sold in stores. Since Kelley began churning out boat paddles for local fishermen he hasn’t changed the style or design of his boat paddles. Kelley said he has only had to replace a “handful” of his paddles, mostly due to misuse. “People hit snakes that fall into the boat with them,” he said. Repeat customers also come to him for a new paddle after owning an early version for decades. His paddles have been used to cut the surface of lakes, rivers and ponds in many states. While the majority of his work is used for purely recreational purposes, they’ve also been used as ornamental decoration. Wood artisans have carved designs into the blades of Kelley’s paddles, showing wildlife, initials and even landscapes. They are often displayed in the homes and offices of hunters and anglers who appreciate the call of the outdoors. Kelley makes six sizes of paddles that vary in length from 2.5 to 6 feet. He leaves the wood unfinished, reinforcing the idea that simple is best.
A PADDLE TO ROW AND A WORM TO FISH
Kelley’s other hobby and venture centers on fishing. For the last 20 years, Kelley has been raising worms for bait after finding run-of-the-mill red worms were too small. “Those worms wouldn’t grow big enough,” he said. Kelley decided then that he would research other types of bait that would bring a better fishing haul. He settled on a European red worm, which can often grow to the size of a pencil. Tucked into a corner of his wood workshop is a small air-conditioned room furnished with what appears to be two large tubs of dirt. Kelley takes a small rake and turns over the top two inches of soil only to have hundreds of large red worms explode from the deep. They writhe, trying to find a way back into their dark sanctuary, and Kelley smiles. His initial batch did so well that Kelley has expanded proAUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | LAKESIDE 11
duction over the years. He estimates now that he has roughly 50 large worm beds that teem with the wriggling invertebrates. The beds are made from old bathtubs, large plastic containers and other miscellaneous vessels large enough to hold the worms. The critters eat a diet of hog feed, and they rely on the moist dirt for optimum living conditions, Kelley said. His process is down to a science, and he maintains the beds with great care, ensuring the worm population isn’t decimated by its natural enemy – an ant hoard. Kelley uses a small station outside his home as a sort of store front for his bait business. A high-tech security camera monitors the wooden stand, which is equipped with a refrigerator filled with 12 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | LAKESIDE
small plastic cups. Depending on the size, customers can buy a $5 container of the red worms. They deposit the money in an adjacent mailbox before they take their worms. This honor system has worked out well, Kelley said, with a few exceptions. “Some people have taken (worms) without paying,” he said.“But that’s on them.”
A MAN IN HIGH DEMAND
Kelley’s hands are worn from crafting the wooden paddles. He doesn’t spend as much time in his workshop as he used to, but the paddles are still in demand. Every day, he gets up and walks the roughly 30 feet to his workshop behind his house to tend to his worms or
to make boat paddles. One could assume that Kelley is, in some small part, responsible for many a caught fish in the lakes, rivers and ponds in the Santee Cooper area, maybe even in the southeast. He said there is a trick to figuring out the best paddle for a particular individual. A good measurement, he said, is to hold a paddle vertically while standing. The handle of the paddle should come up to one’s nose. “That’s how you know it’s your paddle.” Kelley’s Paddles is located a 627 S.C. 261 in Wedgefield. For more information, call (803) 494-8305.
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Taste of the Town
Festival gets HeartStrong by ROBERT J. BAKER with photos courtesy of the Post and Courier of Charleston bbaker@theitem.com
TASTE OF THE TOWN FESTIVAL
Old Santee Canal Park, Moncks Corner 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 7 COST: Free admission; food samples are $1-3 14 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | LAKESIDE
A
team of volunteer employees from Santee Cooper are joining hands to honor heart disease and stroke survivors with a parade on Sept. 7 as part of the Taste of the Town Festival at Old Santee Canal Park in Moncks Corner. “We want as many heart (disease) and stroke survivors to attend as possible,” said event coordinator Queen Mack.“The parade is all about them. The proceeds from the taste will benefit the American Heart Association.” Mack said she hopes the event will also bring awareness to the causes of heart disease and stroke, and it is for the entire family. Aside from the parade, there will be a kids’ corner, games, arts and crafts vendors, a water slide and a jump castle. “We have something for everyone,” she said. While admission is free, food samples will range from $1 to $3 each. Mack asks that no coolers or pets be brought. “We’re still learning as we go,” she said.“This is just our second taste benefiting the American Heart Association. Last year was so successful that we decided to keep it going. By (using) the taste to bring awareness to heart and stroke disease, we can educate the public while having a great time.” “We plan on having a lot of fun,” she continued. “There’s going to be a lot of food and we hope and encourage all heart (disease) and stroke survivors from this area or anywhere (else) will come and be a part of our parade.” For more information, email SCHeartStrong1@ gmail.com.
Beat the heat with catfishing
at Night by ROB COTTINGHAM
rcottingham@theitem.com
F
ishing is a year-round pastime in these parts, and that’s especially true of the summer months. People have as many different reasons for fishing as there are fish in Lake Marion, and it never hurts to have a professional’s opinion of where to go, what to fish for and how to get it. Expert angler Don Drose said this season looks good for stripers, but you’ll have to wait a bit. “A law passed not too long ago that put a moratorium on striper fishing until Sept. 30,” Drose said.“But once that season opens, I think we’ll have a really good year for stripers.” Striper, also known as striped bass, must be at least 26 inches in length to be kept legally, and anglers are limited to three fish per fisher per day. As far as where to fish for the local novelty, Drose suggests the area east by southeast from the Interstate 95 bridge to the dam, and added the fish will likely be most active from mid-October through November. Drose said the most common mistake made this time of year is fishing in deeper waters. “When it gets as hot as it has been getting, the oxygen levels in the deeper waters drop, so fish tend to come up a bit to more oxygen-rich depths,” he said. Drose said drift fishing at a depth of 15 to 20 feet, but no more than 30 feet, proves effective during the daytime. He suggests using a drift rig, a setup in which a walking sinker is placed three feet from the end of the fishing line, with a floater set six inches above the hook. This set up will ensure the bait gets to lower depths while reducing the risk of hang-ups or dragging the hook on the bottom of the water. Another favorite target is catfish, namely the blue and flathead catfish. Lake Marion is well-known for its catfish, and Drose has several bits of advice that might help catch a few: • Fish early in the night, about sundown until 10 or 11 p.m. • Aim for a depth of three to five feet for your bait • Use shad, herring or live perch, as many fishermen have had success recently with these baits. • Stay close to the cypress trees along the banks of the lake and its sloughs and tributaries. If you’re fishing for catfish, Drose said there aren’t any limitations for flathead catfish, but fishermen are limited to one blue catfish per day, and it must be at least 36 inches in length. Call your local Department of Natural Resources office for additional information on laws regarding fishing, or visit them online at www.dnr.sc.gov. AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | LAKESIDE 15
Conditions
make for
busy hurricane
season by ROB COTTINGHAM with file photos rcottingham@theitem.com
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ypically, if you were born in the Southeast, names like Hugo, Rita, Fran, Andrew and Katrina rarely provoke thoughts of a person’s identity. Instead, you think of the massive storms that swept through and annihilated everything in their wake. Earlier this year, forecasters with the National Weather Service released their hurricane season outlook. The results of their studies left a grim impression. Meteorologists predict a 70 percent chance of having 13 to 20 named storms this season. They go on to predict that seven to 11 of these storms will become hurricanes, three to six of which will become major hurricanes that will reach at least Category 3 in strength. According to meteorologist Mike Proud of NWS, no changes have been posted by the Hurricane Center since the release of the initial outlook. As far as the impact this season will have on the areas surround lakes Moultrie and Marion, Proud said there are many factors to consider, but none add up to provide a descriptive prediction. “It will all depend on the track, size and strength of the storm,” he said.“If it’s a very large, powerful storm that takes a direct path through the area, then you can expect some major damages.” To put things in perspective, data from NWS’ website shows there were two named storms in June of this year: Barry and Andrea. According to the same data table, the month of June only experiences an average of one named storm every two years, meaning the two named storms from June of this year mark a 300-percent increase in activity, but Accuweather meteorologist Jack Boston said this isn’t necessarily a sign of things to come. “By this time last year, we had four named storms,” he said. Boston noted that, as of mid-July, three storms have been named, all of them coming from the Cape Verde area of the Atlantic Ocean. The locality of the origins of these storms is perhaps more foreboding, along with other factors, as to
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how the season will play out, Boston said. “We typically don’t see storms forming in the Cape Verde area until mid- to late August, when the water’s surface temperature is higher,” he explained.“Higher temperatures in the area accommodated the development of the three storms we’ve seen so far and those waters are still at higher-than-average temperatures.” These Cape Verde storms are what people in the Southeast should keep their eye on, according to Boston. Storms that generate in the area from the Tropic of Cancer to about the 50th latitude are what tend to devastate the East Coast, and the Cape Verde Islands are at the southeast corner of this area. Boston also noted a lack of dry wind to curb the storms. “What usually combats the development of storms in the Cape Verde area is a dry wind that originates from the Sahara Desert,” Boston said.“The dry air hinders storm development, and we’ve noticed an absence of that dry wind.” Another problem: jet stream shifts. “The pressure changes that are expected to happen in the air flow that passes over America could be problematic,” Boston said.“What results could be a force that pulls hurricanes toward the East Coast, but we’ll keep watching and updating the public.” As Boston said himself, hurricane forecasting is about planning, being aware and being prepared.
HURRICANE
PREPARATION With 16 to 20 named storms forecasted for this hurricane season and seven to 11 of those projected to become hurricanes, organizations like Paul Davis Restoration Inc. of Williamsburg and Orangeburg counties offers tips for anyone readying for the brunt of these storms.
PRE-HURRICANE SEASON PREPARATION
• Build an emergency ready kit and prepare a family communications plan. • Know your evacuation routes and shelters • Have extra batteries and flashlights and at least a three-day supply of fuel, water and non-perishable foods.
WHEN A HURRICANE WATCH OR WARNING IS ISSUED
• Protect windows with plywood boards or storm shutters, and secure outside objects. • Pay attention to local weather reports on radio, TV and the Internet. • Make arrangements for loved ones that are elderly or have special needs to be evacuated, and don’t forget pets, too. • Leave low-lying areas, and evacuate if instructed to leave.
WHAT TO DO DURING THE STORM
• Stay in a secure room and away from windows. • Don’t use the telephone or candles, and monitor weather and civic service bulletins on regular of NOAA weather radio. • Remain indoors when the eye of the hurricane moves over your area; the storm will resume shortly.
WHAT TO DO AFTER THE STORM
• Make sure everyone is safe and accounted for. • Monitor the radio and social media sites like Twitter and Facebook for information from emergency management officials. • Before venturing outside, ensure the storm has completely passed. • Report downed power lines and stay away from them.
For more information, call (803) 997-0456 or visit www.PDESOrangeburg.com.
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Lowcountry Boil
Delights
Elloree Community FROM STAFF REPORTS bbaker@theitem.com
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t’s a delicious win-win for anyone attending The Lowcountry Boil. You can enjoy all you can eat boiled shrimp, mouth-watering corn-on-the-cob, spicy sausage and red potatoes along with your favorite beverages and the money you spend helps fund a very worthy cause – The Elloree Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, 2714 Cleveland St. And this year, The Lowcountry Boil is serving double duty. Along with the annual fundraising event, 2013 is the 15th anniversary for the founding of the museum. “We’re celebrating both at the same time,” said Ali Weathers.“The Museum and Cultural Center is funded through private donations. We don’t receive any state or federal money. The Lowcountry Boil is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year.” For $30 in advance, or $35 the week of the event, attendees can enjoy an evening of great food, fun and music. No tickets are sold at the door. Weathers said Elloree’s own Deborah Saverance and members of the Moonlighters will be performing as Palmetto Jazz. They’ll be playing beach music and all your southern favorites. The Lowcountry Boil begins at 6 p.m. The food is served from 6 to 7:30 p.m. while live music can be enjoyed throughout the meal and evening. Weathers urges attendees to arrive on time. If you arrive after 7:30 p.m., the food is gone. At least 200 people attend the event annually, she said. “Everyone has a great time,” she added.“The food and entertainment are wonderful and the money helps us keep the museum and cultural center operating.” Tickets are sold at the museum or tickets can be purchased from any museum board member. For more information, check out the museum’s Facebook page or call (803) 897-2225.
LOWCOUNTRY BOIL
Elloree Heritage Museum and Cultural Center 2714 Cleveland St., Elloree 6-6:30 p.m., food; 6 p.m. until, live entertainment Tickets: $30, advance; $35, week of the event; no tickets sold at door
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Run Forest Run story and photos by JAMIE HUDSON WILSON jme@gmail.com
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uscles flexed, toes toward the finish line, the group of runners await the pop of the starter pistol. It sounds and they are off, each trying to gain a step on the runner in front of them. Faster, a voice inside their head urges. Running is one of humanity’s oldest sports, with roots in competitive running going back thousands of years. The sport played parts in both the early Olympic Games as well as early religious festivals. Today, some run purely for the fun of it while others take a more serious approach, focusing their daily habits on a program that will improve their race time. Shawn Delaney and Rich Timmons became running partners after Delaney was stationed with his family at Shaw Air Force Base several years ago. The two have been running together for years, each spurring one another on to faster running times. In their regular running sessions, they have traversed most of Sumter’s popular running spots and events, including many annual foot races like the Recovery Run held in April and the Forrest Ray 5K in September. Now, the two running aficionados are introducing a new race, which they hope will become an annual tradition for runners across the Southeast. The Cypress Trail 9K will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 17 and is Sumter’s first trail run in recent history. “We run the trail all the time and we wanted to give something back to the community,” said Delaney. The start of the race begins at the trailhead of the Cypress Trail in the far left corner of Dillon Park, beside the Crystal
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Lakes Golf Course. The 5.6 mile run cuts through the wooded area behind the park through dense woods as well as open fields. The Cypress Trail is a winding trail through the wooded areas where tree roots provide natural hurdles along the path. The scenery runs the gamut of the beauty that typifies the local landscape. It’s an enjoyable run, Delaney said. “You can get back to nature,” he said.“It’s a flat, fast, trail run.” All the proceeds from the Cypress Trail 9K will go toward improvements and upkeep of the trail. Bib and t-shirt pick-up will begin at the picnic shelter in Dillon Park at 7:15 a.m. A brief awards ceremony will follow the conclusion of the race at 10 a.m. Awards will given in the following categories: Top 3 Male Overall; Top 3 Female Overall; Top 3 Masters Male Overall; Top 3 Masters Female Overall; Top 2 in Age Groups 0-10, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, and 70 and older. Both Timmons and Delaney have been running competitive races for several years. Both have run in a variety of races. Timmons said he has been running competitively since he was in middle school and has run in 80 timed races. He was a cross country coach at Sumter High School for two years. Running has been a relatively recent venture for Delaney, having begun seriously training in 2010. Since, he has competed in roughly 30 races, including a half-Ironman Triathlon. The two exemplify a recent trend in the fitness goals of people across the world. The running world has seen a recent boon in participants, becoming both a popular form of exercise as
well as sports tourism. In the early 1970s, running as a professional sport became popular after the United States won its first gold medal in the sport. Through the past several decades, its popularity peaked then waned only to be thrust back into the spotlight in recent years. In 1991, there were 5.2 million race finishers. In 2011, that number had swelled to 13.9 million. While half-marathons are the fastest growing race in the country, there are hundreds of races at all times during the year to choose from. Gone are the days of the simple race toward a finish line. It seems as though runners today prefer a race tinged with adventure or challenge. Throughout the past several years, adventure races have grown in popularity. Thousands of runners are participating in Color Runs, where participants run through thrown colored powders, creating a unique design on their white running attire as they run the race. Zombies chase runners in Vermont’s annual Zombie run.“Ugly” sweaters are the uniform of athletes in major cities across the nation in the Ugly Sweater Runs. For those with a big appetite and a strong stomach are the Cupcake race, Beer Belly Two and the Moe’s Burrito Dash in Columbia. Participants in those races must stop mid race and consume a particular food before completing the race. Military-style obstacle courses are also in vogue. Participants push themselves to the physical limit trying to traverse difficult races in which they compete individually or with a team. The Spartan Race and the Tough Mudder race are all popular among the thrill-seeking runners who love the challenge of both running and an obstacle course. Technology has risen to the occasion providing hundreds of fitness Apps or online programs that provide training schedules for avid runners. Local running groups offer support for budding and seasoned runners alike. This year, runners in the Sumter area will have the opportunity toward at least four more races: the Cypress Trail 9K on Aug. 17; the Sumter County Library Forest Ray 5K on Sept. 21; the Sumter Sunrise Rotary 5K on Oct. 26; and the Turkey Trot 5K on Nov. 28. For more information or to register for the first Cypress Trail 9K, visit the race web site at go-greenevents.com/event/id/1342.
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A Collective
Legacy
Artist incorporates styles, lessons of several local legends story and photos by ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com
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bout 55 years ago, a man sat in his home on a quiet afternoon with a pencil in his hand and an image in his mind. As he stared down at the paper in front of him, the pencil began to move by the will of his imagination. Within a short amount of time, the lines, some darker than others, began to form an image. Then the pencil angled itself, adding shadows and depth to the picture. A very young boy named Tom sat and watched his father in wonder as each and every detail became increasingly vivid, almost life-like. Recognizing his son’s interest, the man looked over to Tom and asked,“Son, you think you can draw that?” As Tom stared at the drawing of a squirrel sitting on a stump, he soaked in the nuances of its design. His father then gave the boy a sheet of paper and passed him the pencil. Eight-year-old Tom redrew the image to the best of his ability, and the resemblance between the reproduction and the original astonished his father, leaving him with only one conclusion. “Golly, son,” he said.“I think you’re going to be an artist.”
And the rest is ... well ... not quite history, just yet. Now 63, Tom Brown continues to embrace the passion he inherited from his father, recreating images he sees through his day-to-day life or bringing images of his imagination to life. Brown has expanded his ability far beyond drawing, however. He paints, draws, etches, engraves and most recently ventured into wood carving. “That started about two years ago,” he said.“I’d seen the work of a local carver named Jeffrey Spigner, and was inspired.” As Brown has done so many times, he sought out guidance from Spigner. “He showed me the tools of the trade – dremmels, wood burners, vices – and I went on from there,” he said. Brown took what he learned and applied his own style, his own interests, and began making wildlife pieces. His shop, situated in the backyard of his Wedgefield Road home, is flooded with his woodwork: ducks carved from driftwood, fish chiseled from hickory, paddles whittled from oak and sketches burned into gourds. Brown’s expertise as an artist is apparent to any viewing his talents, even in his newest endeavors. But this isn’t the first
time Brown has adopted a new medium. “I’ve had practice,” he said with a laugh. “And I’ve had a lot of guidance.” And that guidance has come from the right people. When Brown was in his preteen years, he rode his bike down to the old recreational center that used to be on West Oakland Avenue. There, he was introduced and mentored in the use of acrylic paints by none other than Mildred White, a well-known and quite respected educator and instructor of the Sumter community for decades. “Nearly everyone around my age knows that name,” Brown said.“She did everything she could to help anyone out, especially curious young minds.” Through White, Brown discovered the work of another local art phenom by the name of Ray Davenport, whose work has been displayed in hundreds of exhibits in museums around the world. “I’d ride my bike down to Keels Road day after day,” he said.“I’d beg and beg and beg Mr. Davenport to give me tips and advice. He was always a busy man, but he’d show me bits and pieces when he could.” Davenport’s focus on wildlife would have a heavy influence on Brown’s future AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | LAKESIDE 25
as an artist; nearly every piece Brown creates is centered on nature and the creatures within it. “I’ve always loved art and I’ve always loved being outside,” Brown said.“It was only natural to mix the two.” Brown’s apparent talent and relentless hunger for art led to family and instructors to push him toward Ringling College of Art and Design. But some things just aren’t meant to be. “I was dyslexic,” Brown explained.“I should have been getting the Bs and Cs I needed to go to the school, but instead, I was getting Cs and Ds, so I couldn’t go.”
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Looking back, the veteran artist isn’t sore about missing out on the art school. “God had a plan I didn’t have,” he said. “I had to do what I could.” Brown then spent four years in the Army after he was drafted in 1969 at the age of 19, and afterward, he joined the Sumter Fire Department, where he worked for 25 years. As soon as he returned to his home town, Brown began pursuing his interest again. He drew caricatures and comics involving his fellow firemen. “They all got a kick out of them,” Brown said.“Carl Ford especially liked the cari-
catures.” If you stroll around town a bit, you’ll find the artist’s work is recognized by many and sold in several locations. He’s been commissioned by several local figures who requested his work. “Deron McCormick and Talmadge Tobias were always supportive of my work,” he said.“I’ve done several pieces for both. The Reel Discount Store on Alice Drive and Simpson’s Hardware on Wesmark buy and sell some of my art.” To inspire himself, Brown chooses to be surrounded by decorations and items from nature. His shop, which sits just on
the edge of a forest and a few ponds, is full of things like antlers, hornet nests, driftwood and even live animals. “I find things all around here that I use in art or as inspiration,” Brown said.“With my most recent project, I’ve been carving a turtle shell out of a hunk of wood. To get something to serve as a reference, I went
out and found an actual turtle.” And brought it back to his shop, where he houses it in a large bucket with water and food. But like his love for art, Brown has an adoration for wildlife that extends far beyond using it as artistic inspiration. “I won’t keep him long,” Brown said with a reverent smile.“I just need to get
a full understanding of the detail in his shell and the size aspects and ratios; then I’ll let him go.” As far as his work goes, Brown says he has no plans on slowing down his exploration of artistic expression. “It’s always been a part of me,” he said. “I can’t imagine life without it.”
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Car show benefits
Clarendon
Community story and photos by ROBERT J. BAKER bbaker@theitem.com
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anning resident Ken Foflygen normally has time to paint his 1979 Corvette before he presents it in various car shows around South
Carolina. “I do airbrushing and fancy paint jobs on cars, and I work on interiors as well,” said Foflygen, a former Pittsburgh resident who moved to Manning several years ago.“But I had a stroke earlier this year, so I brought it as good as I could get it.” Foflygen was one of more than 100 proud owners who came out and “showed what they loved” at the 4th annual Spring Fling Car and Bike Show at John C. Land III Landing on June 1. Foflygen’s Corvette stood out among the many cars with its gray finish and pink streaks. “It’s a good cause, and it helps that my daughter and her husband organized it,” Foflygen joked. Angela and Adrian Reyes, also transplants from farther north, hold the show each year as one of several fundraisers for the couple’s Community Angels Fund, a nonprofit group that “is for the greater good of Manning and its surrounding areas,” Adrian said. “We look for any and all cars,” Angela said.“Whatever you’re proud of. Whatever makes you comfortable. We want people to
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show what they love.” The couple uses the $20 admission for the show and the $20 participation fee to help less fortunate Clarendon County families. “All proceeds from the show go back into Clarendon County to help Clarendon County family, especially those in Manning, since we call that home,” Angela said. The fund was able to help about 20 families last year with monies raised from the car show and other events. “We help with everything from gas money to get to a job interview or to work, to assist a family with a handicap ramp or with rent for a month,” Angela said,“To helping pay for an electricity bill.” Cindy LaPlante and her husband, Bugsy Carruthers, originally from Connecticut and now of Manning, enjoyed looking at the cars and helping out with a good cause. “They’re just beautiful,” LaPlante said.“We came out here the first year, and they didn’t have this many cars. We hope they do more every year. We enjoy coming out.” For more information about the Community Angels Fund, or to help, call Adrian at (803) 979-7602, Angela at (803) 979-4950, or email info@communityangelsfund.org.
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Back in my day Museum festival offers look at colonial SC by ROB COTTINGHAM
rcottingham@theitem.com
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ountry folk can survive. It’s a phrase any southerner has heard a million times. Basically, we’ve made a name for ourselves getting by without having the luxuries others consider necessities. To get a fresh look at how things were done in the times that determined mindset was developed, when no air-conditioning, cellphones, motorized farming equipment or factories existed, plan on going to the Carolina Backcountry Harvest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Sumter County Museum. Nestled cozily in the corner of museum grounds is a replication that consists of several stations capturing the tasks and professions one would encounter in a typical late 18th- to early 19th-century South Carolina settlement. Visitors will get a firsthand look at the roles woodworkers, blacksmiths, school teachers and textile workers played in the days of old, in addition to the many tasks handled in every household at the time, such as gardening and cooking. Manning
CAROLINA BACKCOUNTRY HARVEST Sumter County Museum 122 N. Washington St., Sumter 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12 Parking and admission are free.
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the cooking station will be none other than Deborah Watts, who oversees the Carolina Backcountry exhibit at the museum. “I’ll be preparing common foods prepared during the pioneer days using the same methods,”Watts said.“I’ll have some help this year, as well.” Among Watts’ help will be children of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who will don authentic attire from the era as they help bring the past to life. “They’ll all dress their parts,”Watts said.“I’m so grateful to have them this year.” Perhaps one of the trademark and favorite stations of the exhibit is the blacksmith’s shop, which just received a new roof. The shop will be manned by longtime blacksmith and nine-year Backcountry veteran John O’Dell, who will the use of tools and the products made by men of his trade back in the old days. For more information, call (803) 775-0908.
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Gator wrestling on the football field TV’s ‘Gator Boys’ delight crowds at Manning High School story and photos by ROBERT J. BAKER bbaker@theitem.com
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ndy Riffle said the best part about his alligator wrestling show on June 1 at Manning High School – aside from the warm reception from the audience – was that there was no blood. “It’s a very real possibility every time we come out,” said Riffle, who performs with his brother, Jimmy, and lifelong friend Tre Burton on the Gator Boys Road Show. Based off the popular Animal Planet TV show,“Gator Boys,” the road show provides entertainment through alligator wrestling, as well as educational opportunities regarding wildlife conservation. The show served as a fundraiser for the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, according to former president Badge Baker. “We are nuisance trappers in Florida,” Jimmy Riffle said during the show.“The (state) Fish and Game Service calls us
and other trappers when they have a complaint of an alligator. But just because we’re trappers, we can’t just go to a friend’s house and catch a gator if they find one. We have to wait until they call into Fish and Game and are issued a permit. Then, if it comes to us, we can go out.” The boys, however, are some of the few trappers who focus on alligator rescue, rather than selling the animals for their meat and skin. “When you’re a trapper, you don’t make money from the state or the people that call you to come to their home or business,” Jimmy said.“You get paid for selling the hide. So, we try to buy from other trappers in Florida. We take donations during our shows in Florida, which we perform daily, and we use that money to rescue alligators.” The boys’ show at Manning High School’s Ramsey Stadium – really six
shows over two hot spring days – featured Jimmy wrestling with the group’s newest gator, Gladiator. “He got his name honest: He likes to fight,” Jimmy said. The show also introduced the six audiences to alligator snapping turtles and other swamp critters. Not present for the fun was Jimmy Riffle’s co-star on the TV show, Paul Bedard. The two are shown on the weekly program capturing alligators and other wild animals in sheds, pools, lakes and other unlikely places. As he does on the small screen, Jimmy showed the crowd June 1 and 2 how he holds the jaws of an alligator apart while putting his entire head in the gator’s mouth. He can also put his hand and arm inside a gator’s mouth as he’s facing the huge reptile. Anitra Hammett said she enjoys watching the boys wrestle alligators. “It’s just exciting,” the Manning resident AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | LAKESIDE 33
said while sitting with daughter, Abbri, 11. Abbri said she particularly enjoyed Riffle’s demonstration where he used no hands to hold the alligator’s mouth open. He used only his chin. “I thought it was cool,” said Noah Walker, 7, son of Garrett and Linda Walker of Summerville. The couple has friends in Manning, heard about the boys stopping by and couldn’t pass up the opportunity. “They watch it at their grandma’s and granddad’s,” Linda Walker said.“But we think it’s interesting, too. They go to all different places and show all different types of wildlife. We thought they would have a good time seeing it in person, and they did.” Manning resident Amanda Ridgeway said she is a “big fan” of the TV show.
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“My daughter, Hannah, who is 12, said I couldn’t embarrass her today,” Ridgeway said.“You laugh at me, but I’m a big, big fan. I started watching when I was just flipping the channels, to be honest. Ever since, I watch it all the time. It’s just cool. It shows that you can have a good family show without all the drama.” Family is a large part of what the TV and road shows are about, Burton said. The boys pick at each other throughout each live show. “We’re a tight-knit group and I think that shows to our audiences,” Burton said. “I think that’s what makes the shows most enjoyable.” Burton said he was pleased the first show in Manning went so well, because Gladiator’s mood was less than ideal.
“We had some problems before we brought him out with a piece of cloth getting stuck in his jaw,” Burton said.“That made him want to bite more than usual. When we tell people there can be serious problems at these shows, we mean it. We’re good at what we do, but what we do is dangerous. Anything can happen.” Had Gladiator, for example, chomped down on one of Jimmy Riffle’s arms or legs, only a car jack could pry the wild animal off him. “It’s 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch in every bite,” Burton said. “If you can’t pry it open on your own, and that’s difficult in and of itself, the last resort is a car jack.” Reach Robert J. Baker at (803) 774-1211.
‘Tee Off ’
in support of animals by ROBERT J. BAKER with file photos bbaker@theitem.com
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cuddly kitten, a playful puppy or a loving mature cat and dog can add spice to a lonely life while giving a needed animal a “second chance.” A Second Chance Animal Shelter in Manning was home to more than 60 puppies and dogs, and also more than 50 kittens and cats in June. With more than 110 mouths to feed on a daily basis, it takes hundreds of dollars a day just to feed the animals. That doesn’t take into account the costs of medications, utilities and upkeep on the facilities. That’s why Wyboo Golf Course has donated its services for the past six years by hosting a golf tournament whose proceeds benefit the shelter. The course is continuing that generosity for another year with the 7th Annual Golf Classic at Wyboo, which will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Sept. 14. “This is one if not the biggest fundraiser we have each year,” said shelter administrative assistant Kathy Buchko.“Money
from the golf tournament keeps our lights on and our animals fed.” Located on Players Course Drive, eight miles south of Manning off S.C. 260, Wyboo Golf Club is an 18-hole Tom Jackson signature course that features a mix of lateral water, well-placed bunkers and sloping greens. It’s a golf course for women and men of all ages, with challenging holes for novices and skilled players. The signature hole is No. 13, a 191-yard Par 3 that challenges accuracy as well as club selection. Lake Marion parallels the entire left side of the hole, while a majestic oak tree acts as a sentinel standing close to the right front of the green. Bunkers sit at the front-left and right-rear of the hole while the green slopes from right to left. The tournament’s registration fee is $20, is tax-deductible and includes green and golf cart fees. For more information, call Wyboo Golf Club at (803) 478-7899, or call A Second Chance Animal Shelter at (803) 473-7075.
7TH ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC AT WYBOO
Wyboo Golf Course • 1 Warrens Way/2566 Players Course Drive, Manning Sept. 14 with a 9 a.m. shotgun start • $20 registration per golfer/4-member teams (803) 478-7899
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On Lake the
MANON ZAMORA-BARWICK/LAKESIDE Lola Barwick, 4, shows a fish caught while on Lake Wateree in July.
NANCY BYER / SPECIAL TO LAKESIDE Turtles sun themselves at Swan Lake during the 2013 Iris Festival in May.
PHOTO SUBMITTED Hunter Coker, 12, of Sumter caught these bass at Taw Caw Creek near Summerton on May 3 with a Zoom watermelon seed trick worm.
PHOTO PROVIDED Cameron Wilson travels one of 10 ziplines at Sky Valley Zip Tours in Blowing Rock, N.C., in early July. One of the ziplines at the park is 350 feet in the air.
Please submit photos to bbaker@theitem.com or cjohnson@theitem.com for submissions for the next edition is July 8, 2013. 36 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 |Deadline LAKESIDE
DANNI RICHARDSON / SPECIAL TO LAKESIDE A lovely rainbow fills the sky above Liberty Hill Church Road in Clarendon County after a rainstorm on June 3.
KATHY CRAMER / SPECIAL TO LAKESIDE This baby lizard, a Carolina anole, just hatched from his egg, and the hibiscus leaf he is perched upon is bigger than he.
MICHAEL CLIFT/ LAKESIDE Jack Clift, 5, caught his first fish in July at a pond on Henderson Street in Sumter while visiting his father, Michael Clift.
HOLLY LARSON / SPECIAL TO LAKESIDE A state Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist shot and killed a 10-foot-1-inch, 300-pound gator on June 16 at Wyboo Pointe Campground and Marina, which is owned and operated by Robert Patterson and Holly Larson.
CASEY BICK / SPECIAL TO LAKESIDE Eddie Bick of Sumter caught this 70-pound catfish in a 15-acre pond on Cherryvale Lake near his home in early June. AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | LAKESIDE 37
Love, don’t litter, where you live by JOLIE ELIZABETH BROWN jolie2@clemson.edu
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here’s a familiar phrase that goes something like,“Litter trashes everyone.” But litter not only trashes everyone, it costs everyone, too. Keep America Beautiful is the nation’s leading anti-litter organization. It first conducted a national survey on the costs and effects of litter in the U.S. in 1969. A 2009 survey is now being used to determine if litter has been reduced and if behaviors have changed. That survey shows that litter costs the U.S. more than $11.5 billion each year. Businesses pick up $9.1 billion of that tab, while local and state governments, schools and other organizations take care of the rest. Not only is there a cost for the cleanup, but litter has indirect costs associated to the crime. The majority of Realtors surveyed think that litter reduces property values by 9 percent. So, to put that in perspective, if you are selling your home for $250,000 and it is located in a littered community, the Realtor thinks you
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would be lucky to get $227,500. That’s a lot of money directly linked to careless, thoughtless behavior on the part of your neighbors. Litter is not only dangerous to your bottom line, it also affects the environment. Litter, like water, eventually ends up in our storm drains. Debris is moved by the rain to the storm drains; it is then carried by storm drains into local waterways. This contamination can have serious environmental consequences, including harmful effects on fish and marine animals who may be poisoned or become entangled in litter that suffocates them while they search for food. Wildlife contracts diseases from eating or being exposed to rotting substances. Litter in the waterways can also reduce oxygen levels for aquatic plants and animals. The reduction in oxygen can lead to fish kills. The latest study also showed that our behavior is based on our environment. People are much more likely to litter if
they are in an already littered area. I live on a well-traveled road, and if I let one piece of litter stay on my lawn, by the end of the week litterbugs have turned my beautiful lawn into their trashcan. However, if I pick up that first piece when I see it, it might be several weeks before a litterer strikes again. After all that doom and gloom, I do have some good news. The 2009 survey showed that successful education, ongoing cleanup efforts and changes in packaging are having a positive influence.Visible litter on our roadways has decreased about 61 percent since 1969; paper, metal, glass and beverage container litter has decreased about 74 percent. To get involved with a cleanup group, contact your local Clemson Extension office. For more information about water quality, visit www.clemson.edu/ carolinaclear. For more information about littering, visit the Keep America Beautiful website at www.kab.org.
INDEX:
D - Inside Spread E - Abnormal Point Example: E1, E2, E3 F - Length of Main Beam G - Normal Point Example: G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 H1 - Smallest Circumference between burr and G1 H2 - Smallest Circumference between points G1 & G2 H3 - Smallest Circumference between Points G2 & G3 H4 - Smallest Circumference between Points G3 & G4
Antler Scoring
a complicated process From the state Department of Natural Resources
M
www.dnr.sc.gov
ore sportsmen are becoming interested in the score of their buck’s antlers. While there are several systems, each with its own set of rules, the Boone and Crockett system is widely accepted as the standard from which all others were derived. The state Department of Natural Resource’s Antler Records Program utilizes the B&C system. Before the rack can be officially scored, it must have air-dried for at least 60 days, cannot have a broken skull plate and cannot have artificially replaced or repaired points. Antlers in velvet are not eligible for entry into the Antler Records Program. Most sportsmen envision the typical set of deer antlers to be symmetrical, with 6, 8 or 10 points arising in a normal manner from the antler beam. However, deer antlers can develop into countless formations that often vary drastically from the typical. These are referred to as “non-typical” antler formations. The rules for scoring non-typical racks are lengthy and complicated and usually require the knowledge of a trained B&C measurer to score them correctly. The state’s White-tailed Deer Antler Records Program began in spring 1974. Since that time, 6,168 sets of antlers (5,936 typical and 232 non-typical) have been officially put on the list. Initially, measuring sessions were only conducted a few times each year, but since 1987 there have been about 12 each year. SCDNR wildlife biologists and wildlife technicians measure about 500 sets of antlers per year during these sessions. About one-third of the ant-
lers measured make the Antler Records List, with the bulk of entrants falling short of the minimum scores. The records program has two purposes: It is a way to recognize outstanding white-tailed deer taken in South Carolina, and also provides management information that allows SCDNR wildlife biologists to identify areas that produce quality deer. When particular areas stand out, it is important to attempt to recognize the underlying characteristics that produce outstanding animals. The state’s measuring system – again the Boone and Crockett system – is based primarily on antler size and symmetry and includes measurements of the main beams, greatest inside spread of the beams, circumference measurements at certain designated locations and the number of length of the points. To be counted as a point, a projection must be at least one-inch long and longer than it is wide at its base. Deductions are made for points that arise abnormally from the main beams or from other points, and for symmetrical differences between corresponding measurements on the right and left antlers. With non-typical antlers, abnormal points are added to the score rather than being deducted. Current minimum scores for the South Carolina Antler Records List are 125 typical points and 145 non-typical points. If a set of antlers meets the minimum score the record is added to the list and a certificate is issued recognizing the outstanding white-tailed deer taken in South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/deer/ scoring.html. AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | LAKESIDE 39
Encephalitis confirmed in
lake area by ROBERT J. BAKER with photos provided bbaker@theitem.com
H PHOTO PROVIDED Ginger Hipp of Manning says she worries about the recent outbreak of Eastern equine Encephalitis and its spread throughout the midlands.
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oratio resident Becky Thayer does everything she can to avoid the mosquitoes that can plague her 85acre property during the hottest parts of the summer. This includes taking her horses a quarter-mile out of the way to avoid bodies of water, those areas most heavily populated by the pernicious creatures. It’s a good idea after state veterinarian Dr. Boyd Parr announced in late June that his office confirmed the presence of Eastern equine encephalitis in a local horse that died on a Sumter farm. It was South Carolina’s first confirmed case for the deadly illness this year. By late July, 12 total cases had been confirmed, with three of those in Sumter County and another in Clarendon County. EEE is a serious, mosquito-borne illness in horses that can also affect humans. It is fatal in about one-third of human cases.
Thayer, who operates Ms. Becky’s School of Ridin’ with her husband on her farm, said she always worries about the mosquitoes. Hers was not the farm discussed in Parr’s announcement. “We’ve sprayed when we’ve gone out,” she said.“And there is a vaccination that is part of our regular annual medical program. It is a concern.” Eastern equine encephalitis is maintained in nature through a bird-mosquito cycle, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The mosquitoes that carry the illness - primarily the blacktailed mosquito - feed on the blood of birds. The virus steadily increases throughout the summer as more mosquitoes feed on more birds and propagate the illness. The mosquitoes then spread the illness to horses, humans, other mammals and even reptiles and amphibians. Symptoms in horses typically develop between two and five days after exposure and include stumbling, circling, head pressing, depression or apprehension, weakness of legs, partial paralysis, the inability to stand and muscle twitching. Dr. Adam Eichelberger, director of Animal Health Programs for Clemson Livestock, said the disease is invariably fatal in horses. There were 14 confirmed cases in 2012 in South Carolina. “About nine out of 10 horses who contract the disease typically die,” he said. Symptoms in humans occur within three to 10 days after exposure and include high fever, muscle pain, altered mental status, headache, meningeal irritation, severe sensitivity to light and seizures. “If anyone has clinical signs where they suspect they may have been exposed to West Nile or EEE, they should contact their human health care provider immediately,” Eichelberger said.“Now that we know that there are mosquitoes in the area that have this disease, our biggest concern is making the public aware that they need to keep themselves and their animals safe.” Eichelberger would not release the name of the farm where the disease was confirmed, citing privacy concerns. “But the farm is in an area that has a significant mosquito problem,” Eichelberger said.“It’s serious that people be aware that it is in the mosquito population in the county.” The announcement was even a concern outside of Sumter. Manning resident Ginger Hipp owns, rides and trains horses at her home off S.C. 261 toward Kingstree. “I have two (American) paints and one mini ... and I’d be devastated if I lose my horse to something I could possibly keep at bay,” Hipp said. Like Thayer, Hipp gets her horses vaccinated every year.
Eichelberger said particularly concerned horse owners and boarders can talk to their veterinarians about twice-yearly vaccinations, particularly near swampy areas where mosquitoes congregate in large proportions. “This is probably one of the most common vaccines for horses; it’s the one we do the most education on, along with rabies,” Eichelberger said.“Areas that are heavy with mosquito activity, particularly farms near swamps, could vaccinate twice a year to be more prepared. They would need to talk with their own veterinarian about that possibility.” Other than the vaccine, Eichelberger said the best defense is a good offense. “We know this disease comes from mosquitoes and that it affects humans and animals, so the main thing to do is mosquito control,” Eichelberger said.“One helpful aspect is that many counties spray for mosquitoes.” Sumter County’s Mosquito Control Program kicked off in mid-June, and Director Alan Penland told The Item then that it will continue throughout the summer. “We’re going to have two to three drivers going out four or five nights a week,” he said.“We’ll go out in the early evening and spray for five, six, seven hours depending on the severity of (mosquito) season, whether it rains and things like that.” The start of this season’s spraying operation was delayed because of the state Department of Health and Environmental Control’s transfer of Vector Control to local governments and entities this year. Santee Cooper’s Vector Management Program is handling spraying for residential areas in Clarendon County. Residents of areas around lakes Marion and Moultrie can even request mosquito services by visiting www.santeecooper.com/ mosquitocontrol. Penland and Eichelberger encourage residents to also decrease mosquito populations on their own. “They can greatly reduce the number of mosquitoes by limiting places for standing water, even in as much as one-half inch,” Eichelberger said, noting that mosquitoes can lay eggs in as little as a teaspoon of water. Penland said flower pots, buckets, tarps or anything else that can accumulate water should also be checked. Tire swings should have holes drilled in them to allow water to escape. “Excessive brush on a property can also create an environment for mosquitoes,” Penland said.“Bird baths and pet bowls should also be cleaned regularly to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in them.” Reach Robert J. Baker at (803) 774-1211.
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Wild about
Wildflowers by DEANNA ANDERSON seakla@yahoo.com
We might see them alongside roadways, in our yards, and in the wild. While most people do not generally give much thought to wildflowers, I am wild about them. As a child I often ran outside each spring to look for flowers that were blooming but as an adult this joy was lost amidst work, family, bills and all the other responsibilities that go along with. Eventually, wildflowers just faded into the background and I failed to see them anymore. Then, a few years ago, I happened to read an article,“Mystery Plant,” part of a series of articles written by John Nelson, curator of the A.C. Moore Herbarium that is printed in several newspapers across the state. He wrote about orange-grass, or hypericum gentianoides, which is a fairly inconspicuous but interesting little herbaceous plant that releases an aromatic and delightful citrus-pine scent when its leaves are crushed. After reading that article, I told my husband and kids,“I think I’ve seen this outside!”We immediately ran out to check, and sure enough, growing by our fence was orange-grass. I grabbed a handful, crushed the leaves and inhaled the pleasantly tangy aroma. From that point on, I was once again wild about wildflowers. When I bought my first digital camera, I bored my family to tears with the numerous pictures I’d take of wildflowers. I started taking walks around the neighborhood getting to know the plants by sight, learning their unique qualities, interacting with them and learning their typical bloom times. I knew in what month I could see what flowers, and I’d go out always anticipating seeing old friends and making new acquaintance, often squealing like a teenage girl when I’d spot a wildflower I hadn’t seen before. I would post a few pictures on Facebook, but mainly I kept them on the computer just for myself, periodically searching for 42 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | LAKESIDE
groups on Facebook regarding South Carolina wildflowers. Sadly, I never found any regional wildflower groups. Then, one day it occurred to me that I could create my own. In February 2012, South Carolina Wildflowers was born, and later received a name change to Carolina Wildflowers when I realized I had members from North Carolina joining. So, just what is a wildflower, and why am I wild about them, wild enough to create a Facebook group devoted to them? Most people think wildflowers are only weeds, something that is expendable and unnecessary, but I prefer to think of weeds in the same context that Ralph Waldo Emerson did. He said “a weed is just a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.” Weeds are, by definition, any unwanted plant. And while I do pull them up when they threaten my garden or ornamental plants, I do not consider wildflowers to be weeds because they are, or should be, wanted in most areas. Wildflowers are any uncultivated flowering plant that grows in a natural state. They have benefits that range from medicinal and culinary to economical and environmental. They can be biennials, perennials or annuals, and while some people consider wildflowers only as herbaceous or vine plants, I consider the term to include anything with a flower. This includes trees, shrubs, flowering cacti, ground cover and flowering water plants. There are basically two categories for wildflowers: native and non-native species. But within these categories are subcategories. Naturalized species are plants that, while not indigenous, to an area have adapted well, are not problematic, and generally are considered a native by the general populace. Naturalized species might also include a cultivated plant that has “gone wild” and now grows freely without human care. Sometimes naturalized plants are defined as an “introduced” species. The non-native species may also include the terms “intro-
duced” or “naturalized,” but a bigger concern are “invasive species” or “noxious weeds,” which are plants that harm an environment. The Japanese honeysuckle (Lonerica japonica) and Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) are two such invasive species. For a plant to be considered invasive, it must meet two requirements: It is non-native to the ecosystem, and it is likely to or already has been detrimental to the environment, the economy or human health. Non-native species may also be called exotic or alien species. Native or non-native, wildflowers are fascinating because they bloom at different times of the year and their blooms, leaves, seedpods and fruits are all different shapes and colors. Each plant has its own unique qualities, appearances and benefits. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) has three distinct leaf shapes: three-lobed leaves, un-lobed elliptical leaves and two-lobed leaves. Some plants close up when bad weather is coming, and others might close up at night. The common morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea) blooms in the morning and the blooms die off in late evening or night. Some are “interactive,” such as the orange-grass that gives off its citrus-pine scent only when crushed. There’s also the sensitive briar (Mimosa microphylla), whose leaves fold up when touched, and which is recognizable by the beautiful pom-pom shaped purple flowers it produces. Yellow-wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta) is also an interactive plant. Its small half-inch green and oblong seed pods, when
full and ripe, will vibrate slightly and burst open, expending the seeds everywhere when the pods are squeezed. This slight vibrating and the burst can actually be felt in your fingertips. So, where can you find wildflowers? The simple answer is everywhere. Wildflowers can grow in our yards, on seacoasts, in swamps, jungles, deserts, forests and mountains. They pop up in our gardens and even in sidewalk cracks.You can also visit state, city and county park information sites to find locations that often have walking trails or paths and promote the growth of native plants. There is also a Web site dedicated to helping visitors find the best wildflower viewing sites in the United States, www.cwildflowers.com/south_carolina.htm. So, the next time you are out walking the dog, playing in the park, going on a hike or just hanging out in the yard, take some time to stop and look around for wildflowers. Take some time to actually stop and smell the roses, as well as the other wonderful wildflowers South Carolina has to offer. Deanna Anderson is a published author, and when she is not working full-time with the Sumter Disabilities and Special Needs Board, she enjoys taking walks or hiking, stopping along the way to take pictures of wildflowers. She is a mother, a wife and the creator of the Facebook group Carolina Wildflowers, which can be accessed at www.facebook.com/groups/scwildflowers.
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briefs NEWS
WILDLIFE REFUGE TO RESURFACE FORT WATSON ROAD
Santee National Wildlife Refuge announced in early July that it will resurface its mile-long Fort Watson Road later this summer. Refuge Manager Marc Epstein said development, which include refurbishing the road’s surface and improving parking and the visible appearance of the road, could begin in early to mid-August. “Our goal is to keep the ‘refuge’ character of the drive but maintain the integrity of the road and give the user a more enjoyable experience,” Epstein said. Funding has been provided, and the refuge is partnering with the Federal Highway Administration to complete the project. Resurfacing the asphalt road, clearing overgrown vegetation and providing better viewing opportunities for both wildlife and Lake Marion are major directives in the refuge’s resurfacing plan. Parking areas will also get a face lift and will be resurfaced with crushed rock and redefined with rail fencing. Access to Gray Road will remain open to residents, Epstein said. Road access to visitors will reain the same as that of the Cuddo Unit, which is open seasonally from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sept. 30 and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 1 through Feb. 28.
CLEMSON YOUTH DEER HUNT REGISTRATION ENDS SEPT. 16
COLUMBIA – The registration deadline for a youth deer hunt sponsored by the state Department of Natural Resources and Clemson University’s Department of Forest Resources is Sept. 16. The Fant’s Grove Youth Deer Hunt is set for Oct. 5 at Fant’s Grove Wildlife Management Area near Clemson. A public drawing for 15 slots on the hunt will be held at noon Sept. 18 at SCDNR’s Clemson office. Another 10 slots will be drawn from the Take One Make One program participants. All applicants must have adults 21 and older with them to hunt, if they are chosen. Adults will be required to have a valid state hunting license, big game permit and a Wildlife Management Area permit. Only youths will be allowed to shoot during the hunt. 44 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | LAKESIDE
A mandatory registration, safety class and shooting range session will be held on the morning of the hunt. One rifle will be allowed per stand, and each youth may harvest one deer of either sex.Verification letters with further details will be mailed to all successfully drawn applicants. For an application, visit www.dnr.sc.gov, or email chrislipj@ dnr.sc.gov.
JOHN D. LONG LAKE CLOSED FOR TWO YEARS
UNION – One of the state’s most infamous bodies of water will be closed for at least two years as the state Department of Natural Resources works to re-balance the fish population. SCDNR said in early July that John D. Long Lake in Union County has become overpopulated with bass, which is hurting the bream in the lake. Efforts to fix the problem thus far have failed, so wildlife officials will draw town the lake and remove the fish. The lake will be refilled, renovations will be completed and bream and bass will be put back in. It became a household name in October 1994 after Susan Smith confessed to killing her two children by rolling her car into the lake. Two years later, seven people visiting the lake for a memorial drowned when their van rolled into the water. Fishermen affected by the lake’s long closing are advised to consider local fishing alternatives such as the Jonesville Reservoir in Union County and the Edwin Johnson Lake in Spartanburg County. For more information, call Rankin at (864)-654-6346, ext. 12.
ALCOA MT. HOLLY AND SANTEE COOPER EXTEND POWER CONTRACT DEADLINE
LAKE MARION – Alcoa Mt. Holly and Santee Cooper have reached an agreement to extend the former’s June 30 power contract deadline for six months to Dec. 31. Santee Cooper Public Relations Director Mollie Gore said the deadline requires Mt. Holly to notify Santee Cooper if the current contract, which expires in December 2015, will be renewed. The extension allows Mt. Holly and Santee Cooper to continue discussions regarding the development of a post-2015 power contract. For more information, call (843) 761-7093.
CAMPING BAN IN EFFECT AT EASTATOE PRESERVE
PICKENS – A camping ban at Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve in northern Pickens County remains in effect because of the risk of falling dead and dying hemlock trees on the property, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. SCDNR reported last month that a group disregarded the camping ban early in the summer, and one of the campers was seriously injured by a falling tree. “Because so many hemlock trees have died to hemlock wooly adelgids, it’s just too dangerous to let people camp in the preserve,” SCDNR wildlife biologist Mary Bunch said.“We hope visitors who use the preserve will respect the camping ban, because it is in place for their safety.” The preserve covers 374 acres in Pickens County, and the steep mountain gorge features the old growth hemlock, a rainbow trout stream, dramatic rock cliffs and rare ferns that are maintained by the creek’s moist spray.
DNR ACQUIRES VAUGHT TRACT IN LEWIS OCEAN BAY
The state Department of Natural Resources recently acquired the 754-acre Vaught Tract, which is entirely enveloped within the 10,000-acre Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area in Horry County. The tract was donated to SCDNR as part of a unique mitigation banking agreement with the Environmental Banc and Exchange (EBX). Mitigation banking is “the restoration, creation, enhancement or preservation of a wetland, stream or habitat conservation area which offsets expected adverse impacts to similar nearby ecosystems,” according to a release from SCDNR. Rep. Nelson L. Hardwick, R-Surfside Beach, who serves as chairman of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee in the General Assembly, said the move is “a win for the people of South Carolina and Horry County.” “Not only are we adding to the already significant Lewis Ocean Bay with additional acreage to be protected into perpetuity, but it also allows the sale of much-needed mitigation credits to local developers.”
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When it comes to investing just start by CARLL FIELD
carllfield@gmail.com Statistics show that only 13 percent of people are very confident that they will have enough money for retirement; and 28 percent are somewhat confident. Almost 30 percent of people say they have no confidence that they can afford retirement. The government has been printing about $85 billion a day, but many people think there just isn’t enough money to go around. This printing has reduced the value of everything other dollar, yet everything we buy with dollars seems to go up. Real estate is no exception. Real estate is one of the greatest investments when money is being printed, even when you think you just don’t have the money to invest. I meet people who think it takes piles of money to invest in real estate, but really it takes far less than most originally believe. It does take credit, however, so take the time to pay off any debt or delinquency that may have a negative effect on your credit. Then, determine how much money you need to invest in real estate. Figure out how much money you spend each month. It won’t matter if you gain income from a rental investment if you’re just going to throw it out the window like the money you previously earned. You need to see where you cur-
rently spend your money. Make a list as if it was one month of your ideal life you’re planning. Don’t leave out entertainment, vacations or anything else you want to have in your life. I encourage you to find someone you trust who won’t judge you to help you make this list. When you’re finished with those two lists, look them over for a few minutes and realize that you are already closer to reaching your retirement goals than you were before this exercise. S it back down and figure out what income you will have in retirement. Web sites are available to show you how much Social Security you may be eligible for when the time comes. Add any other income you may have, such as a pension, annuity, 401K, etc. This will show you the difference between what you currently are scheduled to get at retirement and the amount you want to get at retirement. If you did this exercise, and you realized you will have plenty of money when you retire, you may want to work really hard for a little while and think about retiring early. We have been conditioned to think that retirement is an age that we must reach, but to me retirement is a level of income that allows your expenses to be paid whether you work or not.You can
still work if you want to, but life is different when you can enjoy it whether you work or not. If you still have a long way before you reach your goals, then take a deep breath and get to work. Figure out what you want to invest in, but realize that buying lottery tickets is not the same as investing. Playing the lottery is pure gambling. It’s fine if you choose to do it, but you must keep your money for investing separate. Figuring out what you want to invest in will take some time, so start now. I wish I could tell you what investment is best, but what’s best for me may be terrible for you. If you love people, try single-family or multi-family housing. The more introverted might like tax lien certificates. Many roads can get you to the same destination, but you must know two things: where you are currently and where you want to go. Take this month and do these exercises to empower yourself. Take a free personality assessment online even and see what you can find out about yourself that you didn’t even know. Then begin thinking about what you will invest in to bridge the gap between where you are and where you’re going. Money is printed every day, and you should get your share of it.
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