Lakeside June July 2012

LAKESIDE THE GOOD LIFE ON LAKE MARION, SOUTH CAROLINA • JUNE - JULY 2012

Beware the bears Worship On the Water Get your Barbecue Science degree

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 1

Help kids with cancer have camp this summer

F

By Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com

or Manning resident Bill Ellis, the months April, May and early June are about fundraising.

They have been for the past 20 years.

That’s how long Ellis and former coworkers have been requesting money and gathering materials for the nearly 200 kids who come out annually to Camp Happy Days, which will be held the first week of July at Camp Bob Cooper near Summerton.

His involvement with the camp, which serves as a week-long adventure for kids suffering from cancer and their siblings, began when he was an employee of a South Carolina Electric & Gas plant in Canadys, a small town near Walterboro. Ellis and about 10 of his co-workers would come to Camp Bob Cooper one day during the week of Camp Happy Days and cook boiled peanuts for kids attending the camp.

“They all loved the peanuts, so it just got to be an everyyear thing,” Ellis said. “Since then, I’ve retired, and when I retired, I moved to (Clarendon County). I live here in Manning now, and the guys from the plant still come up and do it.”

Several years ago, Ellis and his friends began asking local businesses and individuals to assist with money and by putting special gift bags together for those attending the camp, gathering sunscreen, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hats, T-shirts, water bottles, pads, pens, pencils, envelopes, rulers and “just about any promotional items that a company would send.”

Ellis collects items and raises money throughout the year, but he gets especially serious toward the beginning of summer. He and his former coworkers were recognized in April for their efforts by Gov. Nikki Haley.

“These kids get to come to this camp for free,” he said.

“They don’t have to pay anything, and we like to be a part of helping make that happen.”

Founded by a Charleston-based charity operating under the same name, Camp Happy Days has operated for 29 years, serving children diagnosed with cancer, their siblings and the siblings of children who have died of cancer.

“The camp provides children diagnosed with cancer and their siblings an experience of a week of magic and wonder away from the stresses of hospitals and other troubles that they face while combating a disease such as cancer,” said camp Programs Director Connor Howder in 2008. “This camp serves as a great support system and chance for them to experience a normal week in a year that’s usually filled with a lot of uncertainty and hospital visits.”

To help, call Ellis at (803) 460-7666.

2 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

IN THIS ISSUE

GENERAL MANAGER Gail Mathis gailm@theitem.com PUBLISHER Jack Osteen jack@theitem.com

20

ARTICLES & RESEARCH Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com

30 36 40

LANDMARKS AND LANDSCAPES PRICE IS RIGHT

LAYOUT & DESIGN Cary Johnson cjohnson@theitem.com

12 4 8

BEWARE The bears

12

HAPPY (SAFE) RV Trails to You

14

WINTERING BIRDS Affect Lake Marion

PHOTOGRAPHY Robert J. Baker Gail Mathis CAMPING IN The Great Outdoors

26

CHECK THAT LIST Twice for that camping trip 28 GET YOUR Barbecue Science Degree

30

WORSHIP On the Water

36

16

ECO-FRIENDLY CAMPING 20

2010 Award Winning Magazine 2011 Award Winning Magazine

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Yana Mathis, Earle Woodward, Ray Winans, John DuRant and Nancy Harrison For ads, call Gail Mathis, for stories, call Bobby Baker at (803) 435-8511

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 3

LANDMARKS AND LANDSCAPES

Berkeley County • Clarendon County • Orangeburg County • Sumter County & Williamsburg County calling (843) 761-8509.

The Moncks Corner Train Depot was once the first destination for mail and news from the outside world and also served as a platform for farmers to sell goods.

Renovated in 2000, it now serves as the town’s Visitor and Cultural Center, and the facility can rented for special occasions, meetings and seminars.

The Santee Cooper lakes, both Moultrie and Marion, cover Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg and Sumter counties. Altogether these counties boast Revolutionary War battles 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 Berkeley County Blueways consist of 175 miles of waterway comprised of 23 paddling trails in Lake Moultrie, lower Lake Marion, the Santee River and Francis Marion National Forest. For more information, visit www.berkeleyblueways. com, email berkconsdist@homexpressway. net, or call (843) 719-4146.

Fabulous Fourth in the Creek will be held 6-9:30 p.m. July 4 at the Marguerite H. Brown Municipal Center, 519 N. Goose Creek Blvd., S.C. 52, in Goose Creek, featuring a fireworks display, live entertainment, vendors and a jump castle.

Guests are asked not to bring alcohol, pets or outside fireworks, including sparklers. Tailgating will not be permitted in the parking area. Off-site parking will be available at the Casey Community 4 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

Center on Old Moncks Corner Road.

For more information, visit www. goosecreekrecreation.com/fireworks.html.

Mepkin Abbey, a community of Roman Catholic monks, was built in 1959 on the Cooper River, S.C. 402, north of Charleston, where historic Mepkin Plantation once stood. Guided tours of the church are provided at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday; and 3 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The abbey is closed to visitors on Mondays. Groups of 10 or more visitors are asked to make reservations by

Monck’s Corner’s July 4th activities will begin a weekend early with the Miss and Master Fourth of July Pageant on June 25, with girls through age 19 and boys through age 4 allowed to compete. The Fourth of July Street Dance will be held 8-11:30 p.m. July 1 at the Train Depot, featuring the Custom 4 + 2 Band. Festivities will conclude 10 a.m. July 2 with the town’s annual Fourth of July Parade on Main Street. For more information, call (843) 899-4708. For a pageant application, visit www.1.usa.gov/jPjOhI.

CALHOUN COUNTY

Aeolian Hill, which sits two miles east of St. Matthews on S.C. 6, was built by the Rev. John Jacob Wannamaker in 1875 and served as the main house of Aeolian Plantation. The plantation is named due

The 18th annual Eagle Point Fourth of July Parade will be held 10 a.m. July 4 starting at Eagle Point, Quail Trail in Manning off S.C. 260. For more information, call Gloria Norris at (803) 478-4709.

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 Service Complex, 219 Commerce St., 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 changes are noted in advance For more information, call Flotilla Commander Joe Livingston at (803) 707-4016. to the strong winds that swept across the land, and the name translates roughly to “where the wind blows.” The plantation covers 395 acres, which includes 158 acres of planted pine trees, 34 acres of pecan trees and meadows and 147 acres of cropland.

Belleville Plantation and Cemetery dates back to the Revolutionary War when Col. William Thomson and his new bride, Eugenia Russell, bought 400 acres of land on Buckhead Creek. Located on the Congaree River near Fort Motte in St. Matthews of U.S. 601, the site almost became the state capitol after the war, but lost out by a couple of votes.

The Calhoun County Museum and Cultural Center, located at 303 Butler St., St. Matthews, contains an art gallery, along with agricultural galleries and a research room with archives. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday-Friday, the museum also offers research opportunities by appointment only.

Right now, the museum’s prime feature is the map collection of Dr. John L. Ward, which showcases the original, complete Robert Mills Atlas of 1820. For more information, call (803) 874-3964 or visit www. calhouncountymuseumandculturalcenter. org.

from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Clarendon County Recreation Department at the park. Registrations are due by July 20; a $10 late fee will be imposed for registrations made after that date. Registrations made before June 15 will receive a free jersey.

The Manning Farmers Market will hold its grand opening 10 a.m. June 16 and will open the same time each Saturday through October at Manning Municipal Park, corner of Church and Boyce streets. For more information, call Manning City Hall at (803) 435-8477, ext. 118.

The Clarendon Cup Race Series will continue 9 a.m. July 7 with the Hot Dam Run starting and ending at the Lake Marion Dam at Randolph’s Landing in Clarendon County. Races are held rain or shine. Overall male and female winners from each race will win $100. For more information, call The Zone at (803) 435-5200. Results from prior races can be seen at strictlyrunning/ Gprptresult-7d.asp.

New Zion will hold its annual Fourth of July Parade at 10 a.m. July 4 on Salem Road in New Zion, with a patriotic Veterans Program following at New Zion United Methodist Church. Fireworks will be held at sunset behind the New Zion Corner Store.

ORANGEBURG COUNTY

The Elloree Independence Day Celebration will begin 6 p.m. July 4 at Joe

CLARENDON COUNTY

Challenger Sports will return with its British Soccer Camp from July 30 to Aug. 3 at J.C. Britton Park, Raccoon Road, Manning. Kids ages 3-16 may participate for several different time and pricing options.

Register online at challengersports.com or SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 5

store displays merchandise from the 1930s through the 1950s. For more information, call (803) 534-0442.

SUMTER COUNTY

Miller Park, near intersection of Old Highway 6 and Harlin Street, with no admission charge and food items for sale.

Tickets for games and rides are typically $1 or $2. A fireworks display will begin at dark.

The Sugarloaf Mountain Boys will perform.

Coolers and leashed pets are welcome, but alcohol is not. For more information, call Elloree Town Hall at (803) 897-897-2821.

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 downtown area’s revitalization efforts and boasts a rotating series of exhibits in its 10,000-square-foot facility and specifically focuses on rural life of the past. Opened Oct. 5, 2002, the museum’s Farm Wing is its oldest, continuously run exhibit. 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 as part of a Native American cultural exhibit and exhibits on World War I and II. 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. 6 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

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.

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

Jammin’ July 4th will be back another year to provide great fun for the entire family from 5-11 p.m. at Dillon Park.

Hosted by the 20th Fighter Wing from Shaw Air Force Base and the city of Sumter, the event will feature one of the state’s largest free fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

Parking with RTA shuttles will be available every 30 minutes to and from the Belk side of Sumter Mall. Participants are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs, but are asked to leave coolers, alcohol and pets at home. For more information, call (803) 895-4897 or visit www.sumtersc.gov or www.20thfss.com.

The Palmetto Tennis Center, located inside Palmetto Park in Sumter, boasts 24 state-of-the-art tennis courts for day or night play. Three on-site tennis professionals offer private lessons and group clinics for beginners and advanced players 3 and older.

Other amenities include two ball machines, stringing services and a pro-shop. Individual lessons are $25 per 30 minutes; $45, for an hour. Group lessons may also be purchased for $23 per person for two people; $15 per person for three; $12 per person for four; and $10 per person for five or more. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mondays-Fridays; 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays; and 1-9 p.m.

Sundays. The center is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and during inclement weather. For more information, call (803)

The city of Sumter opened Spray Parks on May 12 located at Crosswell Park, corner of Lafayette Boulevard and Yeadon Street; North Hope Park, 904 N. Main St.; and South Sumter Park, corner of South Sumter and Atlantic streets. All three parks have playgrounds and green space for picnicking, but the most fun comes from placing your hand on the handprints and seeing the water flow. Bring a towel and sunscreen. For more information, call (803) 436-2640.

774-3969 or email palmettotennis@ sumter-sc.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 425-mile long trail from the mountains to the seat 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 office, while Lake Marion is obviously ideal for kayaking and canoeing. The park office is located at 6660 Poinsett Park Road, Wedgefield. For more

information, call (803) 494-8177.

The Sumter Aquatics Center, 115 S. Lafayette Blvd., is open for all swimming noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $3 for swimmers 13 and older; $1 for non-swimmers 13 and older; $2 for swimmers 3-12; and free for swimmers 2 and younger. Passes may also be purchased at $60 for 13 and older, $40 for ages 6-12. Children 12 and younger must be accompanied by adults at all times.

Swimmers ages 13-18 must sign up for an official ID. For more information, call (803) 774-3998.

Swan Lake Iris Gardens, one of the premier swan observatories in the world, is located on West Liberty Street in Sumter. Its renown is due in part to its status as the only public park in the United States serving 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 grounds, 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.

Compiled by Robert J. Baker, bbaker@ theitem.com.

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 7

Livin’ Lakeside

Price it right or get out of the game

By Yana Mathis

W

ell, here we are again, the beginning of another summer and a glorious “neighborhood” lake on which to enjoy it. I am so glad we aren’t commercialized yet and still have the laid-back atmosphere that many vacation spots have lost to big buildings, high prices and just plain ‘ole congestion. Although the county is laying down some major water lines, I think the growth is slow enough that we will have many more years of leisure ahead of us.

The real estate market is somewhat busier,

8 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

but as I have been reporting, sellers are taking some hits and the market will continue to belong to the buyers throughout the rest of this year. The latest info from the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) showed that for every new property sold in the past 30 days, there were five new listings. The fact that interest rates are still shockingly low with 30-year mortgages at 3.75 percent and below has not created the mad dash of buyers that everyone would like to see.

Although it is not the best time to get the most money for selling a property, some people have to sell, and for that very reason it is crusial to price it right from the very beginning. Any seasoned Realtor will tell you that pricing is a high priority when placing your home on the market. Of course, maintenance, cleanliness and curb appeal are important, too, but no one will even ride by to take a look if you’ve overpriced yourself.

There’s a sign at the place where I get my hair cut and it says, “I’m a Beautician, not a Magician.” This is just as true for real estate agents in the fact that we cannot magically make your property sell for more than it’s worth, at least not in the current market and economic times that we’re in. I’ve been in the business long enough to remember the times when people were coming in with cash wanting to buy up everything around and there were plenty of lenders wanting to make loans to buyers as well.

There are some people that decide they’d like to sell (as opposed to needing to sell), and they have already made their minds up as to what they think their house should sell for. It is not the agent’s fault that an overpriced property doesn’t attract a buyer. In fact, a savvy agent will do his or her homework, pull some comparable sales, look at the current tax appraiser’s value and, based on the condition of the property, may elect not to list that home if the price the owner is seeking is unreasonable.

If you, as a seller, are armed with information that tells you you’re

0% APR

36 Months with equal payments

or choose 5.9% APR financing or Up to $1250 Instant Rebate Call today this offer ends june 14

Central Carolina Homes, Inc. 888-731- 0189 YOUR ONE CALL COMFORT SOLUTION

BOCAnniversary_BOCLakeside 5/16/12 4:27 PM Page 1

Manufactured and Modular Homes 3590 Broad St Sumter, SC 29154 800-251-0592 toll free | 803-494-5700

www.cchomes.biz

Eighty Years Of Stability, Strength & Service.

We’ve seen lots of change in banking in 80 years. But the most important things never change. Not at Bank of Clarendon.

As we stay on the cutting edge of technology and expand our services and service area, we never lose sight of what has made our customers and our bank great partners for 80 years. Core commitments to trust, respect, and expertise keep us true to our legacy of strength, stability, and service.

We’re not changing our name. We’re not selling to a larger bank.

You won’t see a different face when you walk in. You will never be just a number or a source of fee income at Bank of Clarendon. You see, all banks aren’t the same. We’ve known that for 80 years.

Thanks to all our customers for feeling the same way.

433-4451 bankofclarendon.com MANNING • SUMMERTON • SANTEE • WYBOO • SUMTER

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 9

asking more than any comparable property has sold for, then you really have two choices. First, you should listen to reason and go with the suggested list price that a professional agent has given you.

Second, if you can’t live with the price that the market is suggesting, then you need to wait. The agent is only the bearer of bad news as the facts speak for their selves.

This is the very best time of the year to sell your property. Make sure you don’t leave any money behind on the table by not paying attention to small, inexpensive items that need repair or updating in your home.

Start to de-clutter before you have the agent come out to take a look. Make sure all of your light bulbs are working and places that need painting or touch ups are taken care of. Yard work is important to keep the curb appeal attractive. People that can look beyond the mess and disrepair are called investors and like to pay less than 50 cents on the dollar. Your home is your investment, so either take care of it and wait to get top dollar, or do the best you can and cut your losses if you really do need to sell. Hopefully you can make up any loss on your current home by getting a good deal on the next one you purchase.

If you need to move, but can’t sell your home, renting is a good alternative. Our rental market is doing great and just about any Realtor can point you toward a good property manager. The good thing about turning your home over to a good rental company is that you get to sit back and collect a check each month and leave the work and worries to someone else.

Gene’s Heating & Air, LLC 4035 Raccoon Road • Manning, SC

505-4822 • 24/7

WE INSURE COMFORT FOR YOUR HOME. Call Now for your Summer Tune-up!

SAVE UP TO $1250 WITH COOL CASH REBATE

March 1, 2012 thru June 30, 2012

Many people say, “Oh, I don’t want someone tearing up my house,” but truly, a carefully screened tenant who passes a credit check and can easily put down a deposit plus the first month’s rent – and possibly the last month’s rent as well – is far superior to letting your home simply sit empty. Unfortunately, a vacant home attracts mischief and deteriorates over time.

Feel free to email me with your questions and remember to always choose an experienced Realtor who abides by the Realtor Code of Ethics.

Yana K. Mathis is a licensed Realtor with The AgentOwned Realty of Manning. She can be reached by email at yanakmathis@ gmail.com.

Santee Shoreline Custom Built at the Lake, River or Beach Docks • Piers • Retaining Walls • Seawalls Boat Lifts • Repair Service

Free Estimates–46 Years Experience LICENSED • INSURED

Manning 460-4656

SANTEE LAKES CAMPGROUND

On Lake Marion At I-95 Exit 102 North Santee H Family Camping H 200 Scenic Heavily Shaded Pull Thru Sites H A/C in Restrooms H Swimming Pool H Kiddie Pool H Sandy Beach H Permanent Sites Available

Call For More Info!

803-478-2262 www.geneshvac.com 10 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

www.santeelakes-campground.com 1268 Gordon Rd. • Summerton, SC 29148

Fishing for a restaurant?

Get hooked on this local business directory.

searchsumter.com every business in one place

Online & On your mobile device. m.searchsumter.com

Motel • Restaurant Tackle Shop • Guide Service Boat Rentals • Cottages Mobile Homes

RANDOLPH’S LANDING Hwy. 260 at the Santee Dam www.randolphs-landing.com 1-800-BIG-CATS • 803-478-2152

Robert’s Pest Control SC Licensed & Insured Spiders, Ants, Fleas, Roaches, Bees, Wasps, Termites, Rats, Mice, General Pest Solutions.

Nuisance Wildlife Control: Bats, Birds, Fox, Ground Moles, Opossum, Raccoons, Snakes, Pond Turtles Weed & Bahia Grass Control

Serving Manning, Santee SC, & The Surrounding Areas

PH: 803-566-1566

PO Box 339 Manning, SC 29102 SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 11

BEWARE

THE BEARS

DNR REPORTS INCREASED BEAR ACTIVITY FOR SPRING, SUMMER

By Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com 12 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

T

hey’re typically shy and evasive. They probably are more afraid of you than you are of them.

But if you see a black bear – or any other bear – this summer, the state Department of Natural Resources wants to make sure you steer clear of the large, fuzzy creatures.

“The warm weather has the animals moving this spring,” according to a statement released May 1 by DNR. “While you may be excited about seeing a bear, please remember they are wild animals and should be respected.”

DNR officials say there has never been a human fatality or even an attack attributed to a black bear in South Carolina and while the animal’s mere presence is not necessarily a problem, DNR would like residents

who spot these curious creatures to use a new Web-based reporting form to record sightings. By May 1, the bears had been reported in 45 of 46 South Carolina counties, excluding Bamberg County.

“We will only contact you if we have a question about your sighting,” DNR notes, adding that photos and physical evidence may also be submitted.

Resident reports are used to aid in black bear management. DNR biologists say that while most of the animals are just “passing through,” an easy meal is something the creatures will take advantage of.

“The key to dealing with wandering bears is not giving them a reason to hang around,” according to DNR. “Removing anything that would attract bears from your (home) will greatly reduce any bear issues.”

DNR offers these common sense suggestions to cope with bears: • No feeding – A bear that becomes accustomed to having food provided is an accident waiting to happen. Don’t feed him the first time and he will likely leave the area.

• No garbage – Keep garbage in tightly shut or bearproof trash cans. Garbage left in the open, in an open dumpster or in the back of a truck is an open invitation for a bear.

• No pet food – Store pet food properly if kept outside.

Put food in airtight storage containers and don’t leave leftover food out in the open.

• No messy grills – Keep charcoal and gas grills covered and clean to keep food odors from attracting bears.

• Watch bird feeders – If a bear started getting into your bird feeders – and he will if given a chance – take the feeders down and put them away for a while. The bear should move on quickly. Or you can install the feeder on a rope or cable so it can be raised and lowers.

• Beehives – If you’re going to have beehives in bear territory, protect that investment with a simple bearproof electric fence.

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 13

Happy (safe) RV trails to you

By John DuRant john@durantinsurance.com

I finally did it. I mentioned in a previous column that it has been my dream to purchase a camper and take off on a family journey across the country. I haven’t quite gone cross-country yet, but I have acquired a travel trailer and, since then, my family has thoroughly enjoyed exploring different regions of the state via the State Park System.

Admittedly, I am a rookie at camping and friends like William Johnson and Steve Wearden have resorted to calling me John Griswold. It was bad enough when I thought they were comparing me to Clark Griswold – of “Vacation” film series fame – but it was definitely a reflection on my camping abilities when I figured out they were modeling me after Cousin Eddie (played by Randy Quaid in the same “Vacation” films).

Since I am now an official RV-er, there are a few things I can add to my last camping column about insurance and risk management when it comes to camping.

Much like a truck driver, when you’re pulling a travel trailer of or fifth wheel, you have to think like the other drivers on the road.

Most other drivers have never pulled anything in their lives, much less anything as heavy as a camper.

They don’t realize that you just can’t stop on a dime like they can.

The 20-percent Rule is one not to be taken lightly. In other words, always allow an extra 20 percent to your driving, whether it be stopping, pulling into traffic or passing another vehicle.

That sounds simple, but it’s easy to forget how tall a fifth wheel is, especially in the foothills and mountains where there may be low clearance bridges and overpasses. Tape the height of your rig and put it on a sticky note attached to your dash to remind yourself.

Always perform a walk-around before you leave. I’ve pulled out twice with the door steps down before I caught myself in the side mirror and avoided disaster.

Check your tire pressure before you leave. According to the GMAC, 60 to 70 percent of all comprehensive claims come from tire blowouts caused by improper tire pressure. Check the tires when they are cold as heat generated from driving can cause a slight increase in pressure.

If you let air out, then you could actually lower the pressure too much. Replace your tires after seven years whether they have tread wear or not.

Apply turn signals well in advance as motorists behind you can often become impatient and pass inside of your turn when you’re making a left hand turn. Similarly, always drive with headlights on. You’d be surprised by how many people in a claim situation say, “I just didn’t see them.”

Use an assistant when backing your rig no matter how good you think you are. As a side note, if your assistant is your spouse, arrange hand signals beforehand and what they mean to ensure clear communication. Failure to do this can lead to marital discord – especially if your next task is to put up the awning that you both forgot how to do.

RV camping is a wonderful experience and a great way to get away from the hassles and pressures of the rest of the world.

When you camp with good friends and families, well, it’s even better. The memories and experiences will last your children a lifetime. See you on the road!

John DuRant is an independent insurance agent and owner of DuRant Insurance in Manning. Call him at (803) 435-4800 or by emailing john@durantinsurance.com.

John DuRant

14 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

PH

O

ASSURANCE IN UNSURE

NE D I G I TA

L

TV

TIMES

Need to raise cash?

•REAL ESTATE• •MACHINERY & TRUCKS• •BUSINESS LIQUIDATION• INT

E

R

NET

Y WI

R

E

E C U RI

T

LE

SS

S

We at Worldnet Auctions know there are many choices when it come to selling your real estate and equipment. So, you need to choose a professional company with over eighty years of combined experience that is in constant contact with this rollercoaster market. Worldnet has many options to fit your needs and best of all we can customize that option to best fit your needs, whether it is a cash advance, a complete buyout, or a commisioned auction at your place or ours!

Call us today for a free consultation!

Worldnet Auctions.

Assurance in unsure times!

It’s Your Lucky Day With FTC! Select a minimum of 3 out of 5 offerings and experience HUGE savings!*

Chuck Easler Aaron Easters

843-372-0950 843-858-0677

Home office 843-426-4255 Fax: 843-426-4256 info@worldnetauctionslive.com blackriverequip@aol.com

9988 Hwy 521 Greeleyville SC 29056 online bidding provided in every auction by: www.Equipmentfacts.com

|

888-218-5050 www.ftcpick3.com *SC Advantage and US Advantage Plus required in certain areas. Other restrictions may apply.

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 15

Wintering birds affect more than fish on Lake Marion

By Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com

Photography courtesy of William C. Couter III

16 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

W

hen Clarendon Hall biology teacher Julia Carter tasked 13 of her advance biology students to research the effects of cormorants on the lake’s striped bass population, she figured the study would stop there.

But the kids’ findings show that the birds have a more far-reaching effect on the lake than anyone previously imagined.

“The birds come across in the morning and go across the lake to eat, and then they come back in the evening,” Carter aid. “With their seemingly large numbers, we started out with the question – Is the large number of cormorants depleting the fish population? … Their large number could be effecting the entire lake.”

On a peak day, the students counted 14,323 cormorants, more than 2,300 more than anyone had ever recorded on a given day during the birds’ roosting season in the county – which starts in October and runs through late February.

When the students presented preliminary findings March 19 to the Santee Tourism Board showing the roughly 14,000 bird coming through the area most likely were affecting the fish, Carter’s idea that the birds were affecting deforestation of the cypress trees where they roost was just a hypothesis.

“We were able to compare using Google Earth the tree population from 1994 through 2011, and we’ve found that six trees are gone,” Carter said. “It seems like small amount, but that’s a change in that ecosystem.”

Carter said the birds’ fecal matter is what can choke out a forest.

“This whole thing morphed into a study of the impacts of the cormorant population on Lake Marion as a whole,” she said. “Where we will go from here is take another class next year and run a comparative study.”

The state Department of Natural Resources and the Santee National Wildlife Refuge – who observed the study and questioned students about their final results last month – will provide additional help in the coming school year to determine several more issues with the birds.

“We have been told that it may be possible for DNR to get us one of the birds to dissect, so that we can see exactly how much fish they are eating,” Carter said. “The impact on the fish is tremendous.”

That impact could be as much as a pound a day for each bird on the lake.

“All the peer-reviewed research the students completed showed that the birds eat about a pound of fish a day,” she said. “If you’ve got 14,000 birds, maybe more, eating that much a day, well, even with the restocking efforts (from the National Fish Hatchery in Orangeburg) and other conservation measures, that’s a huge toll on the fish population.”

And Carter said while the students were told the birds do not nest in Clarendon County, one student, Justice Beach, was able to show cormorants nesting near Stump Hole Landing.

“If any population of the birds is summering on our lake, that’s pretty significant,” she said.

Carter said the students began the study at the urging of fisherman Chris Hodges, who was concerned about the birds’ affect among many other factors hindering the growth of fish in the deep, dark waters of South Carolina’s largest lake. Low water levels in 2007 and 2008 have led to a few seasons where the largest catch barely reached the acceptable SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 17

limit imposed by DNR regulations, and the hatchery has been working practically overtime to restock the lake with the fry of the famous finned wonder.

Carter and her students – many of fish the waters of Lake Marion – set out to assess the situation by counting the birds on two days each week from late January through late February, initially from the unused third bridge parallel to the ones connecting Santee and Summerton on Interstate 95. The students went in split groups on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, mostly, and walked more than a mile down the bridge to wait for the birds’ arrival.

The birds were counted as they traveled from one side of the lake to another. Students used various methods for counting – specifically taught by bird enthusiast Susan Heisey, park ranger for the Santee National Wildlife Refuge – wish some trying by twos or by threes. Carter herself used larger bases of 20 and 50 sometimes.

“The birds come across in the morning and go across the lake to eat, and then they come back in the evening,” she said.

Next year’s students will continue using such methods, Carter said, although this year’s crop have a few suggestions.

“One suggestion is to start earlier, since the birds start in October,” Carter said. “Another is to count more than one place, more than just the bridge. For example, we went out to a cow pasture once and counted 5,000 in a flyover. So, those were birds not flying over the bridge in our larger counts.”

Carter also wants to follow the birds.

“We want to see where they’re going during the day, see what kind of impacts there are other than what we’ve seen,” she said.

She’s also hoping to inspire a new group of kids to take a different look at science. Most of the students who took her advanced biology course this year – a first for Clarendon Hall – did so just to get out of physics.

“I don’t blame them for that,” Carter said. “But they really came to enjoy the work. And it was hard work. I’m excited that the students have a new view of the field. And I’ve got two students who were kind of aimless at the beginning of the year. They knew they were going to college, but didn’t know what they wanted to do. They’ve now considered becoming field biologists. That’s tremendous.”

Another student, Hunter Hodges, has found classes at Clemson University that will allow him to do field work on his home lake.

“He was really excited about that,” Carter said.

While Carter herself plans to bind the students’ work and publish it for the school’s library, she plans to wait a year until the next class has more results before she attempts publication in a peer-reviewed journal or other periodical.

“We think that with more results in a comparative study, we will be able to make better conclusions about how much these birds are affecting this area,” she said.

Ingrid’s Antiques & Collectibles OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Mon. - Sat. 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 1:30 - 6:00 PM

Eutawville Home Town Proud

Fresh Grocery Values Every Day of the Week 3 Day Sales • No Card required 225 Branchdale Hwy., Eutawville, SC 29048

803-492-7515 Ruffin Baird, Store Manager

Open 7 Days A Week • 7am - 9pm 18 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

7,500 Square Feet of Antiques and Collectibles.

Santee Outlet Mall Suite 15E & 16E • Santee, SC 803-854-2917 Where Boating Fun BEGINS! WE SELL Boating Accessories Motor Parts • Fishing Seats Trailer Parts • Propellers Boat Covers • VHF Radios

www.sumtermarinesupply.com

ALWAYS go to the Boating Authority

1410 Hwy 15 S. Sumter, SC

803-775-1324

w w w.sumtermarinesupply.com

Thirteen Clarendon Hall seniors participated in the study on cormorants and their effect on the Clarendon County side of Lake Marion. Instructor Julia Carter made the group an even 14.

Justice Beach Amber Bjorge Jessica Brazell Carly Broadway Kesley Carlisle Katelyn Carlisle Rachel Carlton

SAVE ON GAS

with one of these new models!

42mpg

2012 Chevy Sonic 40mpg

Come check out our special deals!

Since 1926

PROTHRO CHEVROLET, INC. BUICK - GMC 452 N. Brooks Street • Manning 803-433-2535 or 1-800-968-9934 • www.prothrochevy.com

WEARE PROFESSIONAL GRADE

Kay Cee Fabric Outlet

UPHOLSTERY SERVICES AND CUSTOM HOME FABRICS 625 Spencer Street • Manning, SC 29102

New Outdoor Print and Stripe Fabrics • Comforter Sets • Baby Bedding • Window Treatments • Decorative Pillows • Shower Curtains and much more...

Custom Upholstery for Your Furniture

Custom Made Home Fashions and Monogramming Available

KAY CEE OUTLET Spencer St.

Alfred Henry Dr.

2012 Chevy Cruze Eco

Cameron Cogdill Trey Fleming Danielle Harris Madi Hendricks Hunter Hodges Andrew Smoak

Hours: Monday - Friday • 8 am - 5 pm

Toccoa Dr. Old BiLo

Sunset Dr./Hwy. 301

(803) 435-4335

www.kayceemanufacturing.com

The American Pontoon Company Get a Brand New

Sunbrella Bimini Top With Frame

$595 Installed!

1772 Kenwood Rd Manning, SC (by the Dam) Call us at 803-979-7602

No Trailer, No Problem

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 19

STAYING ECO-FRIENDLY WHEN CAMPING

F

ew vacation ideas are as family-friendly as camping.

When vacationing, families may be concerned about financing their trip. In camping, however, individuals often find an affordable vacation alternative both parents and kids can enjoy.

That affordability is why camping continues to be overwhelmingly popular. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, approximately 1 in 5 Americans went camping in 2008.

While that’s good news for outdoor enthusiasts, it’s not always great news for the environment. When camping, campers need to remember to be clean and environmentally conscious. Even a campsite with maintenance staff needs to be treated like a remote spot in the woods with no one to clean it up. When camping, consider the following eco-friendly tips to ensure your vacation is as good for the environment as it is for the family. * Purchase reusable cookware. Though you might not be in the comforts of your own kitchen, that doesn’t mean you can’t bring some reusable cookware with you to the campsite. Instead of paper plates, plastic utensils and foam cups, purchase some inexpensive reusable dishes, utensils and coffee mugs. Many camping stores sell supplies that will be exactly what you’re looking for. Reusable items will greatly reduce the trash you produce and save you money over time.

20 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

* Don’t forget to recycle, particularly when in a remote camping area. If you recycle at home you should bring that eco-conscious practice with you to the campsite. The campsite you visit may or may not have recycling bins, so bring some extra trash bags with you to separate your recyclable from garbage while in the woods. * Cook around the fire. True campers will insist that meals are cooked over a fire they started themselves. However, families without a camping history often choose to bring along stoves that use propane or electricity to operate. Fuel-powered options are not as environmentally friendly as cooking over a fire. Wood is typically easy to gather around a campsite, and cooking over a fire lends a more genuine feel to any camping trip. Just be sure to properly extinguish any fire afterward. * Sleep in tents. Most families already bring along tents, but those that don’t often sleep in campers or RVs. While these might be more luxurious accommodations, they’re also less environmentally friendly. RVs use more fuel than a car or smaller SUV and likely more electricity since many campers or RVs boast many of the same amenities of home. Kids will also likely prefer sleeping in tents than inside, as it’s more fun and closer to a genuine camping experience than sleeping in a camper or RV. For more camping tips, visit www.gocampingamerica.com.

WINE. DINE. SAVOR. ENJOY Summerton Diner “A Summerton Tradition” “Good Southern Home Cooking” Daily Specials starting at 11AM!

Hours: Sunday – Wednesday 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM Friday & Saturday 6:00 AM – 8:30 PM Closed on Thursday’s.

30 S. Church Street • Summerton, SC 29148

(803) 485-6835

Fayz Place

NOW AT RANDOLPHS LANDING

DOUBLE BACON CHEESEBURGER AND HOMEMADE ONION RINGS

Yes! It really does look like this!

SUN: 7AM - 2PM • MON-WED: 7AM - 2PM • THURS-SAT: 7AM - 9PM

(803) 478-2001 • Call ahead for Take-Out

HIGHWAY 260 - MANNING, SC • FOLLOW THE HIGHWAY TO THE DAM

Locally Owned and operated since 1947

DAILY BUFFET

Dine In. Drive Thru. Catering

Sun: 11am-2pm • Tues-Sat: 11am-8pm

12834 Hwy 260 • Manning, SC 29102

803.472.0018

Seafood Specials

Mon-Weds: 11:00am - 8:00pm Thurs-Sat: 7:00am - 9:00pm Sun: 7:00am - 6:00pm

Thurs - Sat

Breakfast Served Thurs - Sun

803-433-2189

412 S. Mill St., Manning, SC

(Next to Clarendon Memorial Hospital)

Sandwiche Castle SANDWICHES • SUBS • PIZZAS • FRIES • SALADS • DESSERTS • & MORE

Thursday & Friday Nights

PORK LOIN, STEAKS & SALMON Bringing you the finest quality meat, prepared to perfection!

Done Well Every Time!

525 SOUTH MILL STREET • MANNING • 803-433-4634

Early Bird Breakfast Buffet Special

4

$ 99

Monday - Friday 6am-9am Breakfast-to-Go by the Pound! $3.99/lb

Eat a Little, Pay a Little

Santee (803) 854-3914 • Manning (803) 669-4481

It’s Not Homestyle if You Can’t Get Seconds.

Open 24 Hours aToDay 7 Days a call Week advertise

803-435-8511 Kids Eat Free!

(Located inside the TA)

803-473-2568 ext. 21

3014 Paxville Hwy • Manning, SC SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 21

3

MANCHESTER STATE FOREST WMA

SUMTER SUMTER SUMTER15 SUMTER SUMTER SUMTER SUMTER SUMTER 15 15 15 15 15 15 15

3838 3838 38 3838 38

sparkleberry sparkleberry sparkleberry sparkleberry sparkleberry sparkleberry sparkleberry sparkleberry landing landing landing landing landing landing landing landing

CALHOUN CALHOUN CALHOUN CALHOUN CALHOUN CALHOUN CALHOUN CALHOUN

3737 3737 37 3737 37

1

1111 1111

low Falls low Falls low Falls low Falls low Falls low Falls low Falls low Falls landing landing landing landing landing landing landing landing

6666 6666

Cameron ameron Cameron Cameron Cameron ameron Cameron Cameron

HICKORY TOP WMA

rIMInI rIMInI rIMInI rIMInI rIMInI rIMInI rIMInI rIMInI

Summerton Summerton Summerton Summerton Summerton Summerton Summerton Summerton

3636 3636 36 3636 36

lonestar lonestar lonestar lonestar lonestar lonestar lonestar lonestar 33 33 33 3333 33 33 33

3535 3535 35 3535 elliott's elliott's elliott's 35 elliott's elliott's elliott's elliott's elliott's landing landing landing landing Carolina king Carolina king landing landing Carolina king Carolina king landing landing Carolina king Carolina king Carolina king Carolina king retreat retreat &retreat Marina retreat &Marina Marina retreat &Marina Marina retreat &&Marina retreat & Marina &Marina retreat &

267 267 267 267 267 267 267 267

3434 3434 34 3434 34

2222 2222

3333 3333 33 and 3333 33 and Guide service and Guide service and Guide service and Guide service and Guide service Guide service and Guide service and Guide service

Elloree Elloree Elloree Elloree Elloree Elloree Elloree Elloree

3232 3232 32 3232 32

4444 4444 santee santee santee santee santee santee santee santee state Park state Park state Park state Park state Park state Park state Park state Park

267 267 267 267 267 267 267 267

3030 3030 30 3030 30

5555 5555

Vance Vance Vance Vance Vance Vance Vance Vance 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 210

lakeside Marina lakeside Marina lakeside Marina lakeside Marina lakeside Marina lakeside Marina lakeside Marina lakeside Marina resort resort &resort resort &resort resort &&resort &&resort & &

7777 7777

5

SANTEE COOPER WMA

6666 6666

1010 1010 10 1010 10

Hide-a-way Hide-a-way Hide-a-way Hide-a-way Hide-a-way Hide-a-way Hide-a-way Hide-a-way Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground 9999 9999 B Blount' Blou Blo Blount's Bloun Marker 7979 Marker 79 l landin Marker 79 Marker 79 79 land Marker Marker 79 la landing Marker Marker 79 landi Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina

Eutawville Eutawville Eutawville Eutawville Eutawville Eutawville Eutawville Eutawville

1111 11 11

453 453 453 453 453 453 453 453

36 36 36 3636 36 36 36 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 210

22 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

La Lak La Lak La Lak La Lak Mar Mari Ma Mar Mar Mari Ma Mari

lake Marion lake Marion lake Marion lake Marion lake Marion lake Marion lake Marion lake Marion resort Marina resort & Marina resort &Marina Marina resort & Marina resort &&Marina resort & Marina resort & resort & Marina

Mill Creek Mill Creek Mill Creek Mill Creek Mill Creek Mill Creek Mill Creek Mill Creek

176 176 176 176 176 176 176 176

2525 2525 25 2525 25

sc sca M

2929 2929 29 2929 29

Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina 66Marina 6666 Marina 66 Marina

elloree elloree elloree elloree elloree elloree elloree elloree 36 36 36 3636 36 36 36

Reevesville Reevesville Reevesville Reevesville Reevesville Reevesville Reevesville Reevesville

2 24

Goat Island Goat Island Goat Island Goat Island Goat Island Goat Island Goat Island Goat Island resort resort resort resort resort resort resort resort Polly's Polly's Polly's Polly's Polly's Polly's Polly's Polly's landing landing landing landing landing landing landing landing

6666 6666

Bowman Bowman Bowman Bowman Bowman Bowman Bowman Bowman Orangeburg --25 25 miles angeburg miles Orangeburg -miles 25 miles rangeburg -25 miles Orangeburg -25 miles ngeburg ---25 Orangeburg 25 miles angeburg 25 miles Florence --56 56 miles rence miles Florence -miles 56 miles orence -56 miles Florence -56 miles rence ---56 Florence 56 miles orence 56 miles 178 178 178 178 178 178 178 178 Sumter --30 30 miles mter miles Sumter -miles 30 miles umter -30 miles Sumter -30 miles mter ---30 Sumter 30 miles umter 30 miles Summerton 5miles miles mmerton miles Summerton miles ummerton Summerton mmerton ---5-55-5-miles Summerton -5-miles 55miles miles ummerton Manning 8miles miles nning miles Manning miles anning Manning nning ---8-88-8-miles Manning -8-miles 88miles miles anning

john land john land IIIland john C. land john C.john land IIIland C. IIIIIII john C.C.john land IIIC. C. john C. land III Boating Facility Boating Facility Boating Facil Boating Facility Boating Facility Boating Facility Boating Facilit Boating Facility

santee lakes santee lakes santee lakes santee lakes santee lakes lakes santee lakes santee lakes 31 3131 31 31santee 31 31 31 Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground

Santee Santee Santee Santee Santee Santee Santee Santee ORANGEBURG ORANGEBURG ORANGEBURG ORANGEBURG ORANGEBURG ORANGEBURG ORANGEBURG ORANGEBURG

eaDYtoWn eaDYtoWn eaDYtoWn eaDYtoWn eaDYtoWn eaDYtoWn eaDYtoWn eaDYtoWn

taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground &&&& &&&& Campground Campground

Park Park Park Park Park Park Park Park

Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina 2727 2727 27Marina 2727 27 Cooper's landing Cooper's landing Cooper's landing Cooper's landing Cooper's landing Cooper's landing Cooper's landing Cooper's landing

3333 3333

267 267 267 267 267 267 267 267

OAK LEA WMA taw taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw Caw taw Caw taw Caw

2626 2626 26 2626 Creek Creek Creek26 Creek Creek Creek Creek Creek 28 2828 28 28 28 28 28 landing landing landing landing taw Caw taw Caw landing landing taw Caw taw Caw landing landing taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw

arBUCkle's arBUCkle's arBUCkle's arBUCkle's arBUCkle's arBUCkle's arBUCkle's arBUCkle's lanDInG lanDInG lanDInG lanDInG lanDInG lanDInG lanDInG lanDInG

Poplar Creek landing Poplar Creek landing Poplar Creek landing Poplar Creek landing Poplar Creek landing Poplar Creek landing Poplar Creek landing Poplar Creek landing

301 301 301 301 301 301 301 301

CLAREND CLARENDO CLAREND CLARENDO CLAREND CLAREND CLARENDO 2 CLARENDO

jack's Creek jack's Creek jack's Creek jack's Creek jack's Creek jack's Creek jack's Creek jack's Creek landing landing landing landing landing landing landing landing

stump Hole stump Hole stump Hole stump Hole stump Hole stump Hole stump Hole stump Hole landing landing landing landing landing landing landing landing

176 176 176 176 176 176 176 176

M M

Pack's Pack's Pack's Pack's Pack's Pack's Pack's Pack's landing landing landing landing landing landing landing landing

8888 8888 eUtaW eUt eUtaW eU eUta eUta eUt eUtaW

45 45 45 4545 45 45 45

Bell’s Marina Bell’s Marina Bell’s Marina Bell’s Marina Bell’s Marina Bell’s Marina Bell’s Marina Bell’s Marina sPrI sPrInG sPr sPrIn sPrIn sPrInG sPr sPrInG

176 176 176 176 176 176 176 176

Holly Hill Holly Hill Holly Hill Holly Hill Holly Hill Holly Hill Holly Hill Holly Hill 453 453 453 453 453 453 453 453

176 176 176 176 176 176 176 176

311 311 31 311 311 311 31 311

Harleyville Harleyville Harleyville Harleyville Harleyville Harleyville Harleyville Harleyville

27 27 27 2727 27 27 27

WILLIAMSBURG WILLIAMSBURG WILLIAMSBURG Kingstree WILLIAMSBURG WILLIAMSBURG WILLIAMSBURG WILLIAMSBURG WILLIAMSBURG Kingstree Kingstree Kingstree Kingstree Kingstree Kingstree Kingstree

Manning Manning Manning Manning Manning Manning Manning Manning

521 521 521 521 521 521 521 521

DON ON DON ON DON ON DON ON

2323 2323 23 2323 23 j&j j&j j&j j&j j&j j&j j&j j&j Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina

22B 22B

&

Lil

377 377 377 377 377 377 377 377

Greeleyville Greeleyville Greeleyville Greeleyville Greeleyville Greeleyville Greeleyville Greeleyville

Alex Harvin Landing

52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52

lighthouse Pointe lighthouse Pointe lighthouse Pointe lighthouse Pointe lighthouse Pointe lighthouse Pointe lighthouse Pointe lighthouse Pointe Family Campground Family Campground Family Campground Family Campground Family Campground Family Campground Family Campground Family Campground

2424 24 24 2424 4 24

scarborough carborough scarborough scarborough scarborough arborough scarborough scarborough Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina

52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52

Lil N8’s

2222 2222 22 2222 22

dIIIIII lity ty

Salters Salters Salters Salters Salters Salters Salters Salters

lake Vue lake Vue lake Vue lake Vue lake Vue lake Vue lake Vue lake Vue landing landing landing landing landing landing landing 21landing 21

2121 2121 21 21

Lane Lane Lane Lane Lane Lane Lane Lane

randolph’s randolph’s randolph’s randolph’s randolph’s randolph’s randolph’s randolph’s

landing landing landing landing landing landing landing landing 20 2020 20 2020 20 20

ake ke ake ke ake ke ake ke rion ion arion rion rion ion arion ion

4 4

SANTEESANTEE DAM DAM WMA WMA

BERKELEY BERKELEY BERKELEY BERKELEY BERKELEY BERKELEY BERKELEY BERKELEY

Wilson’s Wilson’s Wilson’s Wilson’s

Wilson’s Wilson’s Wilson’s Wilson’s 19 19 landing 19 19191919 landing 19 landing landing landing landing landing landing

Harry’s Fish Harry’s Fish Harry’s Fish Harry’s Fish Harry’s Fish Harry’s Fish

Harry’sHarry’s Fish Fish 18 Camp Camp 18 Camp Camp 18181818 18 Camp Camp 18 Camp Camp

45 45 45 4545 45 45 45

8 8 Pineville Pineville Pineville Pineville Pineville Pineville Pineville Pineville 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 Palmetto Palmetto Palmetto Palmetto Palmetto Palmetto Palmetto Palmetto Trail Trail Trail Trail Trail Trail Trail Trail St. Stephen St. Stephen St. Stephen St. Stephen St. Stephen St. Stephen Stephen St. Stephen 35 35 35 St. 3535 35 35 35 WEE TEE WMA WEE TEE WMA

Harry’s Harry’s Fish Harry’s Fish Harry’s FishFish

Harry’s Harry’s Fish Harry’s Fish Harry’s FishFish Mac’s Mac’s Mac’s Mac’s Mac’s Mac’s

Mac’s Mac’s Camp Camp Camp Camp landing landing landing Camp landing Camp Camp Camp landing landing landing landing 17 17 17 17171717 17 Camp Camp &Camp Camp & Camp &&Camp && Camp & & Camp

Blount's Blount's unt's ount's s's Blount's nt's landing ng landing ding anding g landing ing

Hill’s Hill’s Hill’s Hill’s Hill’s Hill’s Hill’s Hill’s Quattlebaum’s Quattlebaum’s 16 Quattlebaum’s Quattlebaum’s Quattlebaum’s 16 16161616 landing landing Quattlebaum’s Quattlebaum’s 1616 landing Quattlebaum’s landing landing landing landing landing

rocks Pond rocks Pond rocks Pond rocks Pond rocks Pond rocks Pond rocks Pond rocks Pond 1111 11 1111 Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground

Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground kCampground 14 1414 14 14 kCampground kkkk 14 14 kk 14 Big oak landing Big oak landing Big oak landing Big oak landing Big oak landing Big oak landing Big oak landing Big oak landing &Campground Campground &Campground Campground &&Campground &&Campground &Campground &Campground

7 7

Mac’s Camp Camp Mac’s Camp Mac’s Camp Mac’s Camp Camp MMac’s Mac’s Camp Mac’s Camp MMMM MMMMac’s Canal lakes Canal lakes Canal lakes Canal lakes Canal lakes Canal lakes Canal lakes Canal lakes 13 1313 13 1313 13 13 Fish Camp Fish Camp Fish Camp Fish Camp angel’s angel’s Fish Camp Fish Camp angel’s angel’s Fish Camp Fish Camp angel’s angel’s angel’s angel’s nnnn nnnn landing landing landing landing landing spier’s spier’s landing spier’s spier’s landing landing spier’s spier’s spier’s spier’s 45 45 45landing 4545 1515 1515 45 15 1515 45 45 15 landing landing landing landing landing landing landing taW W UtaW aW aW W taW W ll ll ll ll aaaa aaaa InGs Gs rInGs nGs nGs Gs rInGs Gs 45 45 45 45 4545 4545 B B B B B B B B MOULTRIE 6666 6666 MOULTRIE CCCC CCCC WMA WMA

1212 1212 12 1212 12

CANALCANAL WMA WMA

6 6

Big oak landing Big oak landing & Big oak landing Big oak landing Big oak landing Big oak landing & Big oak landing Big oak landing && &&&& Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground Campground

DDDD DDDD

Canal lakes resort Canal lakes resort Canal lakes resort Canal lakes resort Canal lakes resort Canal lakes resort Canal lakes resort Canal lakes resort Hill’s landing Hill’s landing Hill’s landing Hill’s landing Hill’s landing Hill’s landing Hill’s landing Hill’s landing Black’s Fish Camp Black’s Fish Camp Black’s Fish Camp Black’s Fish Camp Black’s Fish Camp Black’s Fish Camp Black’s Fish Camp Black’s Fish Camp

52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 41 41 41 4141 41 41 41

Lake Lake Lake Lake Lake Lake Lake Lake Moultrie Moultrie MoultrieBonneau Moultrie Moultrie Moultrie Moultrie Moultrie Bonneau Bonneau Bonneau Bonneau Bonneau Bonneau Bonneau

ee ee ee ee FF FF FF FF

lM lM &Campground MCampground Campground &Campground lMCampground &Campground l l&l&lM l&Campground &M MCampground &M ss& s&s& sCampground Campground Campground ssCampground Campground ss&s&s&s& Campground s& sCampground Campground 6666 6666

Bonneau Beach Bonneau Beach Bonneau Beach Bonneau Beach Bonneau Beach Bonneau Beach Bonneau Beach Bonneau Beach resort resort resort resort resort resort resort resort

jj jj jj jj

Cross Cross Cross Cross Cross Cross Cross Cross

111 11

10 10

HATCHERY HATCHERY WMA WMA

GGGG GGGG

6666 6666

17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17

17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 52 52 52 52 52 52 5252

riverside Marina riverside Marina riverside Marina riverside Marina riverside Marina riverside Marina riverside Marina riverside Marina and restaurant and restaurant and restaurant and restaurant and restaurant and restaurant and restaurant and restaurant

atkins atkins atkins atkins atkins atkins atkins atkins landing landing landing landing landing landing landing landing

HHHH HHHH II II II II

Moncks Moncks Moncks Moncks Moncks Moncks Moncks Moncks Corner Corner Corner 9 Corner Corner Corner Corner Corner

the Dock the Dock the Dock the Dock the Dock the Dock the Dock the Dock restaurant restaurant restaurant restaurant restaurant restaurant restaurant restaurant

FRANCISFRANCIS MARIONMARION NATIONAL NATIONAL FOREST FOREST WMA WMA

9

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 23

Lake Marion Map Information

33 8 14 11 15 35 31 36 29 18 10 16 34 23 25 5 7 21 22

Arbuckle’s Landing..................................... 803-478-5260 Bell’s Marina.............................................. 803-492-7924 Big Oak Landing & Campground................ 843-753-2285 Blount’s Landing........................................ 803-492-7773 Canal Lakes Fish Camp.............................. 843-753-2271 Carolina King Retreat & Marina................. 803-478-2800 Cooper’s Landing and Guide Service.......... 803-478-2549 Elliott’s Landing......................................... 803-452-5336 Goat Island Resort...................................... 803-478-8165 Harry’s Fish Camp...................................... 843-351-4561 Hide-a-way Campground........................... 803-492-9695 Hill’s Landing............................................. 843-753-2731 Jack’s Creek Landing.................................. 803-478-2793 J&J Marina.................................................. 803-478-2490 John c. Land III Boating Facility.................. 803-854-2131 Lake Marion Resort & Marina..................... 803-854-2136 Lakeside Marina & Resort.......................... 803-492-7226 Lake Vue Landing....................................... 803-478-2133 Lighthouse Pointe Family Campground...... 803-478-2138

piggly wiggly Local Since FOREVER

36 Sunset Dr., Manning, SC 29102 803-433-2118 • Deli: 803-433-8544 Pharmacy: 803-433-2412

Looking for Land?

FOREST MANAGEMENT • TIMBER APPRAISALS • LAND AQUISITION

DWIGHT STEWART, JR. AND ASSOCIATES CONSULTING FORESTERS 26 E. BOYCE ST., MANNING, SC 29102

803-435-2301

24 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

1 17 6 37 30 3 20 12 32 4 24 38 13 2 26 27 28 9

Low Falls Landing...................................... 803-826-6050 Mac’s Landing & Camp.............................. 843-871-1224 Mill Creek Marina....................................... 803-492-7746 Pack’s Landing........................................... 803-452-5514 Polly’s Landing........................................... 803-478-2351 Poplar Creek Landing................................. 803-897-2811 Randolph’s Landing....................................800-BIG-CATS Rocks Pond Campground........................... 803-492-7711 Santee Lakes Campground......................... 803-478-2262 Santee State Park....................................... 803-854-2408 Scarborough Marina................................... 803-478-2184 Sparkleberry Landing................................. 843-761-4068 Spier’s Landing.............................................................NA Stump Hole Landing................................... 803-826-6111 Taw Caw Campground & Marina................ 803-478-2171 Taw Caw Creek Landing................................................NA Taw Caw Park................................................................NA Marker 79 Marina....................................... 803-492-8200

Summerton Baptist Church 215 East Main Street In Summerton • 803-485-6023

SUNDAY SERVICES

8:30 AM Worship Service 10:00 AM Bible Study 11:00 AM Worship Service Pastor Brent Hutsell

Didn’t bring your church clothes to the lake?

Don’t worry, Come as you are!

“Whatever it takes to see God’s purposes accomplished!”

Get Your System Ready for Those Hot Summer Days Ahead 23-Point Super Spring 4Precision Tune-Up and Professional Cleaning

$84.99

Main Street Manning Matchless for Beauty and Hospitality

Town Fashions

Bridal Gowns, Prom Dresses, Tuxedos, Dance Wear, Casual Wear, Hair Extensions, Wigs, Cosmetics & Accessories

David & Jung 34 N. Brooks Street, Manning, SC 29102 Tel: (803) 435-2548 • Fax: 435-8143 Mon-Sat: 10am - 6pm townfashions@gmail.com Alfred Angelo • Capezio • Tervis Tumbler • Avon

COTTINGHAM INSURANCE AGENCY AUTO-HOME-MOBILE HOME COMMERCIAL-MOTORCYCLE-BOAT WE CAN FINANCE FOR YOU! AMY BRIGGS JUNE BRIGGS 10 WEST RIGBY STREET MANNING, SOUTH CAROLINA 29102

803-435-2368 OFFICE 803-435-8292 FAX

Now Carrying LAKE LIFE Southern Style T-Shirts, Caps, Visors, Koozies & Vinyls

JENNIE LEE

OWNER / BEAUTY CONSULTANT

17 West Boyce Street Manning, SC

(803) 433-4333

BRUNSON’S PHARMACY

12 N. Brooks Street, Manning, SC

(803) 435-2511

The Safe Prescriptionists

James O. Ham RPh • W.T. Benton RPh

The Shoppe on Brooks Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturdays Available Walk-Ins Ruth and Nilda Welcome!

17 N. Brooks St. • 803-433-4257

JIA

Specialty Gifts • Southern Tide • Tyler Candle • China SC Gourmet • Nova Beads • Cotton Seed • Logger Head Crabtree & Evelyn • High Cotton • The Naked Bee (803) 433-4438 donnashouseinc@yahoo.com

15 W. Rigby Street Manning, SC 29102

JEFFORDS

INSURANCE AGENCY

Jeffords Insurance Agency

John W. Mathis, Agent

Business & Personal Insurance

8 W. Rigby Street, Manning, SC 29102 Office: 803-433-0060 • F: 803-433-0061 Toll Free: 800-948-5077 Cell: 803-473-6205 johnwmathis@yahoo.com www.jeffordsinsurance.com

jennielee@merlenormanstudio.com

Donna’s House

(803) 435-4235

Auto • Home • Farm • Business • Boats • Health & Life

• Needlepoint Rugs & Pillows • Kelly Rightsell • Twelve Timbers • Mustard Seed • Pluff Mud Designs • And Much More!

Marion Weaver Mellie Lee

the brooks street EXCHANGE

10 N. Brooks Street Manning, SC • (803) 435-4364 • BrooksStreet@sc.rr.com TUES-THURS 1 PM - 5 PM • FRI 10 AM - 5 PM • SAT 10 AM - 4 PM

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 25

Nothing like camping in the great outdoors

By Earle Woodward earlew@theitem.com

T

here was a time, back in the 1960s and 70s when I was a Boy Scout, that I loved to go on campouts.

We’d pack up our tents, which were really Army surplus shelter halves, along with our sleeping bags and few “supplies” and head out to camp wherever the scout master had deemed the proper place for us to camp was.

We pretty much lived off the basics. We cooked using a collapsible mess kit, lit the camp with flashlights, until the batteries ran out, and pretty much froze to death in the winter and swatted mosquitoes all night during the summer.

To put it bluntly, we had a ball and didn’t know just how miserable we were. A very small part of me would love to go back to those days, and I do mean a very small part.

As I matured and grew into manhood, I picked up a love for duck hunting that has yet to fully wane. My hunting buddies and I would plan weeklong camping trips into Sparkleberry Swamp or Persanti Island to camp and hunt, and we’d carry everything that we could pack into our small Jon boats. Of 26 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

course, those were pre-marriage days.

By this time, I had procured a small backpack-type nylon tent that was a little bigger than two shelter halves, along with a few campout necessities, like a Coleman lantern and a Coleman stove. Throw in a couple of pots and pans, and we felt like we had arrived.

We still had no idea what was possible in the way of total camp comfort; that would take a few more years and a little bit more in the way of cash. The good part is that you don’t have to buy it all at once. Just start with the bare necessities and work your way up.

Most of my camping revolves around hunting or fishing. I have spent many hours camped out on the banks of the Upper and Lower Santee River, and more than my fair share of time in the depths of the swamp and beside a wonderful little mountain trout stream.

To be able to come back to a comfortable campsite after a hard day of fishing or hunting really allows one to recharge for the next day’s activities. Flash forward to maybe 15 years ago, and that is about the time I really began to take this more seriously.

My old buddy Clyde and I pooled our money and purchased an 8-by-10 tent that was big enough for a person to stand up in. It was also large enough to allow for two folding army type cots. Man, what a difference that made. To be able to get off the ground when up from sleeping, and to be able to stand up when you pulled your pants on in the morning, now that was top drawer! I’ve made even more improvements since those days.

Camping gear has come such a long way since those days in the Boy Scouts. Maybe the number one piece of new gear may be nothing more than the Therma-cell. Just about every fisherman and hunter out there has one, and I sincerely hope that the inventor is a very wealthy man.

The Therma-Cell is a mosquito-repelling device that is unequaled in its ability to keep the thirsty blood suckers away. It cost less than $30, and one device can repel bugs over an area of about fifteen feet and keeps them away for hours at a time. A couple can keep the entire camping area skeeter-free.

There is nothing more miserable while camping than having a mosquito buzzing your ear the entire night; sleep is often out of the question.

Tents have now evolved into outdoor mansions. Most of them

are relatively light weight, easy to erect and spacious inside. They come equipped with ample ventilation and mesh windows to keep the critters out; some even have battery-operated fans and lights installed.

Cots come in all sizes and weights and are invaluable when the day comes to an end. Be sure you invest in a good pad to go on top of the cot to keep the cold from seeping up from below. Trust me: It makes all the difference in the world. If your back gets cold, invest in a thicker pad. There is no sleep for the cold.

New materials have made for bigger and better sleeping bags; they are warm and comfortable and come in a variety of shapes. Just be sure that you pay attention to the temperature ratings, you don’t want to try to sleep in a bag rated for 45 degrees when its 20 degrees outside. I’ve been there and done that, and it’s not fun at all. I have bought a light bag for spring and summer camping and have a heavy bag for colder weather.

By adding a few essentials to the Therma-Cell, cot, tent and sleeping bag, you can make a campsite a dream come true. These include a good cooler that holds ice for a long time and a big tarp to hang between trees, allowing you to get out of the rain and sun without staying in the tent. Also invest in several Coleman-style lanterns and perhaps a fish cooker, and you’re just about set. A couple of folding chairs to leave around the fire, and you have all the comforts of home.

Of course there are always those little things that you just can’t live without, like a good axe, a small grill and maybe a heater to round it all out.

Most state and national parks have camping facilities that are

available for a small fee. Try Poinsett, Santee or Lee state parks, and there are ample opportunities to camp along the Santee River and on some of the islands that dot the lake. It doesn’t take too much research to find a good spot to camp.

In the mountains, we camp along a river that is part of the Sumter National Forest. There are about 20 campsites spread far enough apart so that you don’t interfere with other campers, and they are first-come, first-served and free for the taking. Best of all, they have a centrally located “outhouse” that is kept very clean by the Department of the Interior. What more could you ask?

The cool afternoons and evenings are spent around a roaring campfire, meals are cooked with the coals left by the burning oak and hickory logs, the soft sounds of the flowing river fill your head and there is no need to talk.

Camping has come a long way from the “good ole days” and it surely has become more enjoyable.

It’s not hard to plan, and it’s not hard to do. A person can camp out under a piece of plastic stretch over a rope between two trees; even a camp that simple can be a lot of fun. I, however, prefer the more elaborate way.

As for me, I got a branch new 12-by-12 tent for Christmas and I can’t wait to get out and give it a try. Grab the wife and kids, plan a trip and enjoy the great outdoors. You don’t need a lot of experience, although a little is nice.

If it gets too rough for you, just pack it up and go home. Have fun and remember; if you pack it in, be sure you pack it out. Don’t leave your litter for others to pick up. Go camping; you’ll be glad you did.

VISIT OUR SANTEE BRANCH 8835 Old Number 6 Hwy.

Santee Do It Best Hardware 800 Bass Drive (803)854-2223 Mon - Friday 8am-6pm Saturdays 8am-5pm Sundays 2pm-5pm

Open Monday & Wednesday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 6pm 24 Hour ATM & Night Drop Box Available If you live, work, worship or go to school in Lee, Clarendon, Sumter or Orangeburg counties or parts of Kershaw, Florence, Richland or Lexington counties, you may be eligible to join.

Stop by, call 803-469-8600 or visit safefed.org

ExperienceSAFE. SAFE. Where Membership Experience MembershipMatters.

Matters.

Federally Insured

by NCUA

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 27

Make a list and check it twice for that camping trip

By Ray Winans I hope your spring has been as fun and enjoyable as mine this year. The fishing has been really good and the weather has cooperate somewhat. I know I sound like a broken record, but I am really, truly boastful about our bass fishing on the Santee Cooper lakes. We are seeing big numbers of fish being caught each week, and the sizes are just astounding.

Usually by this time each year, in the past, the weights and numbers of fish caught in local tournaments steadily decreases by June, but that’s not the case this year. It is still taking more than 25

28 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

pounds a tournament to win, and it’s not the same people winning each tournament.

There seems to be great fishing everywhere on the lakes, and it is my belief that the emergency of different types of aquatic vegetation is one of the key factors contributing to this. What I am trying to say is that you should get out there and enjoy some great fishing!

Now for my problem. You see, this issue of Lakeside is dedicated to camping and enjoying the great outdoors. I have not even had a chance to take my jon boat out to run it, let alone go camping.

But don’t fret: I think I can lead you into my future column with a preview of my annual camping trip this time around.

This year our plans have changed a bit. In the past we always started in Columbia on Friday and made our way down the Congaree River to where our transportation happily met us at Pack’s Landing about midday Monday. We have decided this year to alter our course to start in Camden, from where we will venture down the Wateree River for most of our journey.

Everything should go smooth as planned, right? As of right now, we are watching the weather to make sure we don’t get washed out. If this happens, we will probably just go up the river from Pack’s and find a good location for the weekend.

Now for some of the things that are on the checklist, and some things I left off. The most important thing to take on the river is Deep Woods Off. I don’t care how much soap, shampoo, toothpaste, food, water or dry clothes you have, there are biting insects out there that will carry those items off and eat you for dessert. But the one thing they can’t stand is the repellant. I made the mistake of only taking one can with me last year and some people, not mentioning any names Patrick, like to bathe in the stuff. Hopefully, everyone will bring a can for

themselves; I will have a spare with me.

The next thing you better has if plenty of gas to make it your destination. Again, not mentioning any names Ken, but we stick together in case someone needs a tow. Snacks are something you take, but don’t really tell anyone about the good ones you have.

Whatever you put out for everyone to eat, always hide a little bit for later. If you know those Devine boys, those young men can eat and they’ll find food no matter where it’s hidden.

Those are just some of the necessities you need.

Some of the things you can scratch off the list are as follows: dry sneakers (they won’t stay that way), a comb or brush (a good hat takes care of that) and S’mores (the chocolate always melts in the boat during the trip before you get to make any).

That’s my preview into a great camping trip this year. As always, the guys on the trip can take a good ribbing and I will continue to jab at them whenever I can. They like to dish it out themselves, so I expect them to get even. They are a great group of guys and I would not trade this annual trip for anything in the world. The fellowship we share is a blessing in my life as is the trip.

I promise to have pictures of our journey and I’m sure my next column will be full of all the details. If you have some buddies that like this type of adventure, I encourage you to plan a trip and go. You will not be disappointed.

Santee Quick Lube Wash & Tire Tune-Ups

• Oil Changes • Hand Wash/Wax • New Tires • Mechanical Repairs ** NEW M5 Automatic Laser Car Wash • Open 25 Hrs. **

808 Bass Drive • Santee, SC 29142 • 803-854-5823 Mon. - Fri. 8:30 am - 5:30 pm • Sat. 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Carpet • Hardwood • Tile • Laminate • Vinyl • Area Rugs • Cabinets & More!

SHAW LUMBER COMPANY • SHAW 200 DINGLE STREET • SUMTER, SC • (803) 778-2423

MON-THU 8AM-4PM • FRI 8AM-12PM • SAT-SUN CLOSED

Stokes-Craven 2601 Paxville Hwy., Manning, SC (803) 433-5400 • www.stokescraven.com

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 29

-Barbecue ScienceDEGREE THIS SUMMER GET YOUR B.S.

By Nancy Harrison

I

f your household is among the 75 percent of U.S. households with a grill fueled primarily by propane, then you’ve already got your basic barbecuing diploma.

According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, you’ve probably prepared a dish on the grill at least once a week during the summer months. Now, take your grilled foods to the next level by taking these short courses at Barbecue University.

It’s quite easy. Just read, then grill.

Marinades and Sauces 101

Try marinating steaks, chops and seafood before grilling. Marinades with ingredients like molasses and lemon juice keep foods moist, tender and flavorful in dishes like lemon dill shrimp kabobs.

After grilling, add flavor with your own homemade tasty barbecue sauces.

Technical Skill 101

your grill heats up instantly when you turn the switch to “on.” You also control the temperature by simply adjusting the temperature settings.

Grill with the lid down to conserve energy and to cook food faster. Every time you raise the lid on your grill, you lose 15 minutes of cooking time, says Rick Browne, host of public television’s “Barbecue America” series and author of “Grilling America.”

Use an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of meats and chicken to judge when they’re done. Fish is done when it begins to flake.

Food Safety 101

Marinated foods should be placed in the refrigerator for the entire process. Don’t reuse marinades that have touched raw meat, chicken or fish; discard them. Discard any food left out for longer than one or two hours if the temperature has been about 90 degrees.

Propane Safety 101

Manning group looking to re-beautify Pocotaligo Park

Review the grill manufacturer’s instructions, and keep them in easy reach. If you’ve got a charcoal grill, time how long it takes for the coals to ash over. Learn how to control the temperature by When you have your cylinder refilled, have the supplier check for adjusting the flues, adding more charcoal or dousing flare-ups with dents, damage or leaks. Purchase a leak-detection solution. Before water. connecting or lighting your propane gas grill burner, use the soluIf you’ve got a propane-powered gas grill, you alreadyBy know that tion to check all connections for tightness.

Robert J. Baker

bbaker@theitem.com

30 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

After filling or exchanging your cylinder, take it home right away. Transport it in a vertical, secured position. At home, store your propane cylinder outdoors, but not in a garage or shed. Do not smoke or use a match around the propane cylinder. Do not allow children to play around or with the cylinder.

Grill Storage 101

When your grill is not in use, turn off the grill burner controls.

For additional information on safe grilling, visit www. usepropane.com.

Nancy Harrison is a retired nutrition educator with the Clemson University Extension Service. She can be reached via email at nhrrsn@clemson.edu.

Grilled Striped Bass

with Spicy Pickled Red Onions

½ orange for juice 1 lime for juice ½ cup of 3.5-ounce package achiote paste 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons ground oregano, preferably Mexican 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3 whole striped bass, scaled, gutted and cleaned Vegetable oil or canola oil 1 cup pickled red onions, recipe follows 1 avocado, halved, pitted and sliced for garnish ½ bunch cilantro, leaves cleaned and roughly chopped for garnish

To make pickled red onions, you need one thinly sliced red onion, two limes, a half-cup of orange habanero pepper or one whole jalapeno chile, seeded and chopped, and one teaspoon salt. Add the sliced onions to a medium-sized bowl large enough for the onions to be spread out into a thin layer.

Juice the limes into the bowl, then add the chopped chile and salt. Stir to combine. Allow to sit at room temperature for two hours, stirring every 30 minutes, or cover and refrigerate overnight. Onions are ready when they are bright pink and softened. Their flavor will be sweet and spicy with a little texture, but not crunchy.

To put it all together, preheat the grill to medium-high. In a medium bowl, add the orange juice and lime juice. Stir in the achiote paste, cumin, oregano and salt. Mix into a smooth paste. Rube the paste all over inside and outside of the fish.

Drizzle both sides of the fish liberally with vegetable or canola oil. Put the fish on the grill. Grill until golden, about 4 minutes, and then carefully flip the fish over. Grill until the fish starts to separate when lifted with a spatula. Fish will be golden brown with some charring. Lay the fish on a large platter. Cover with pickled red onions, sliced avocado and chopped cilantro and serve family-style.

Grilled Striped Bass

with Veracruz Sauce

2 pounds striped bass fillets or 2 whole fish, 2 to 3 pounds. each 1 teaspoon cooking oil 2 limes for juice 2 teaspoons olive oil 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 medium onions, sliced 4 large ripe tomatoes, peeled, quartered, and seeded ½ cup sliced green olives Salt and pepper

Brush fish with 1 teaspoon cooking oil and sprinkle with lime juice, including cavity. Place in well-oiled grill basket, or on oiled aluminum foil with holes poked in it and placed on the grill. Cook over moderately high heat until thickest part of fish is done. Heat olive oil in saucepan. Sauté onion and garlic until tender, stirring occasionally. Mix in tomatoes and olives and continue cooking over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and reserve; reheat when ready to serve.

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 31

START NOW TO BAG THAT

By Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com

G

ator season doesn’t technically start until Sept. 8 this year, but outdoorsmen and women looking to nab one of these large, swamp-dwellers must start applying now for the opportunity.

The state Department of Natural Resources began accepting applications May 15 and will continue through June 30. Department officials reported in 2011 that more than 6,000 applications were received by hunters vying for 1,200 permits given for the 30-day hunt each year.

Jay Butfilowski, public alligator hunting season coordinator and DNR wildlife biologist, said about two-thirds of hunters selected for permits will actually purchase the $100 license giving them carte blanche to bag one of the fearsome animals. Started in 2008 after more than 40 years of prohibition from the Endan32 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

GATOR

LATER

gered Species Act, the Public Alligator Hunting Season provides a select group of hunters with the opportunity to help DNR keep the number of nuisance alligator complaints at a manageable level, Butfilowski said.

The successful return of the American alligator since its near demise and subsequent listing as ‘endangered’ by the Endangered Species Act in the 1960s has prompted most Southeastern states to implement hunting seasons to allow the public use of this unique natural resource,” Butfilowski wrote in the statewide report for the 2010 public hunt.

Hunters have this set time through June 30 to apply for the “gator hunting lottery,” in essence, for a non-refundable $10 fee; they must then pay the actual licensing fee upon selection. Outof-state qualifiers also pay $200 for a non-resident alligator hunt-

ing fee in addition to the $100 license fee. Out-of-state hunters must also pay $40 for a three-day state hunting license. Another permit must be purchased for hunters younger than 16.

Butfilowski said these fees are nothing compared to those outof-state outdoors enthusiasts who spend considerable cash on the trip to make their wishes for alligator hunting a reality.

“We have people apply from all over the country, even from other countries,” Butfilowski said in 2010. “Obviously, this is good for the state at an economic level. These hunters traveling into the state spend money oftentimes on lodging and other expenses. It can take a considerable amount of money just for the trip, but it’s a trip-of-a-lifetime for many of them.”

Butfilowski said hunters are chosen at random through a computer program.

“There’s a myth out there that the sooner people sign up, the better their chances will be, but that’s not the case,” he said.

Those chosen at random for the program hunt during the 30day period in one of the state’s four managed units.

“Those units are designated when they are chosen for the hunt,” Butfilowski said.

Thus, a hunter living in one area can wind up snagging his gator in another, like Irmo resident Bert Sorin did in 2010, killing a 500-pound, 12-foot gator near Eutawville the day after the 2010 season opened. A weightlifting enthusiast who owns and operates a gym with his father in the Columbia area, Sorin said it’s easy for someone like him to underestimate the power gators possess. Five men had to help Sorin pull his beast to shore.

“He turned our boat around,” Sorin said in 2010. “He kept pulling us out in the water and he hit the boat’s engine with his tail. We got him to the landing and everyone freaked out.”

DNR allows the kind of help Sorin received in snagging his prey.

“Because alligators can grow to considerable size, alligator hunters can have others assist them with the taking of an alligator during the season,” Butfilowski said.

Butfilowski said DNR’s move to allow 200 more hunters to gain licenses in 2011 led to a 69 percent increase in applications, a total of 6,396 for the filing period last year.

“This number included applicants from 42 different states, including South Carolina, and one from Canada,” he wrote in the DNR report on last year’s hunt. “A total of 1,060 of the 1,205 hunters selected – 88 percent – completed the (harvest tag and permit process).”

By Dec. 1, about 70 percent of all permit holders had reported their results, whether they went hunting or not. Hunters who did not report are not allowed to compete in this year’s application process. Overall, DNR reported that 472 gators were taken during the season, a decrease of one alligator from 2010.

“This represents a success rate of 44.5 percent for all fully permitted hunters and 39.2 percent for all selected applicants,” Butfilowski wrote.

Eighty-eight of the gators taken were from the Midlands unit that includes Clarendon and Sumter counties.

Butfilowski said that most southern states hold such lotteries and subsequent hunts. The successful return of the American alligator since its near demise and subsequent listing as ‘endangered’ by the Endangered Species Act in the 1960s has necessitated the hunts, he said, “to allow the public use of this unique natural resource.”

For more information, visit www.dnr.sc.gov/hunting.html.

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 33

On the Lake...

Left: Photo provided by Roger Holman Randy Bonner watches the Florida Everglades burn while on a fishing trip earlier in the year with his son, Nick, and father-in-law, Roger Holman.

Below: An Anhinga, or “snake bird,” was spotted recently in this photo taken by New York native Iretta Alexander. Often seen with egrets, the bird is known as a “snake bird” for its habit of swimming in water with only its head and neck exposed, resembling a snake.

Above: Iretta Alexander captured a rainbow through tree branches during a light rain at Swan Lake while visiting family recently.

Right: Photo by Kyle Osteen American Bald Eagles rest on a tree on Jordan Landing Road in Murrells Inlet.

34 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

Right: Photo provided by Melanie Hatfield The sun sets on Christmas Eve last year over Lake Ashwood in Lee County.

Below: Photo provided Parker Reynolds, daughter of Jody Reynolds and a student at Laurence Manning Academy in Manning, shot this turkey recently in Clarendon County.

Above: Photo by Sandra Holbert A squirrell decided this stump, left from a tree cut down in John McJunkin’s yard recently, was a perfect place to have his breakfast one early morning in May. Left: A photograph taken by Richard Menzing of Sumter shows one of Swan Lake-Iris Garden’s swans took a peck at one of the park’s fish in December.

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 35

Worship

ON THE WATER Santee Summer Ministry offers unique ‘boat church’ for lake folk

By Robert J. Baker with file photos bbaker@theitem.com

36 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

T

hey come by water and highway every Sunday morning from Memorial Day to Labor Day to worship the Lord on Lake Marion, and they have been doing so since 1970.

In that year, Aldersgate United Methodist Church began sponsoring a weekly worship service unique to the area, and maybe even the state – one where residents pull up to a cove in Boyle’s Point on Wyboo Creek in Clarendon County for their Sunday services.

Frankie Moore, secretary of the Edwin Boyle Santee Summer Ministry said the 43rd year of worship on the lake began 9:30 a.m. and will continue the same time each Sunday through Sept. 2, or Labor Day weekend.

“This is the 43rd year that these services have provided a worship program for those who spend their summer weekends at Lake Marion,” she said.

Governed by a Board of Directors, the ministry is selfsupported. The Rev. Dr. Reginald Thackston, a retired minister, has conducted the lake services for 13 years.

Board member Allen Prescott said in 2006 that while they were first organized in earnest in 1970, church services began on Lake Marion much earlier.

“The Episcopal Church was holding worship services on the lake for years,” he said.

Three doctors from the church who owned lake houses along Lake Marion started the worship services for those not wanting to drive 20 or 30 minutes into Santee, Manning or Sumter to attend from their lake homes.

These residents would spend weekends during the summer – or the whole season – on the lake and hold the services in their front yards with just a few gathered, Prescott said. As the size of the congregations increased, these services were relocated to property owned by Edwin Boyle, a large supporter who helped spearhead the effort.

The services were incorporated under his name in 2003.

These days, the services are affectionately referred to as “boat church” by its congregants, and parishioners owning boats drive up to the edge of the creek to listen to the pastor’s sermon. Others drive their cars or golf carts.

“It’s an interesting phenomenon,” said Thackston, who was a United Methodist church pastor for 40 years.

“We have people who live across from the creek that come out and sit on their docks to listen,” he said. “People drive up in golf carts and in cars bringing their folding chairs with them.”

The street address for GPS users is 1098 Lemon Ave. For more information, call Thackston at (803) 773-3409 or Moore at (803) 469-6770.

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 37

Lyles Package Store Now Two Locations to Better Serve You.

513-A South Mill Street

Exit 119 @ Hwy 261 and I95

MANNING (803) 433-7333

MANNING 803) 473-7333

Across from the Hospital ER

Beside Horizon Station

ns Lot Clearing o s r a C & Dirt Sales

Land Clearing Grading Hauling

Multi, Tri, Quad, Dump Trucks Available.

&

325 S. Mill Street • Manning, SC 29102

803-433-5253

Suzanne Kirven, Stylist/Owner

Pontoon Rentals Hwy 260 at the First Water - Manning, SC (803) 478-2490 • Owned and Operated by Jim Keith Authorized Pontoon Dealer

Gene's Landscaping & Clearing, Inc.

T & W Metals

Lot Clearing • Top Soil • Fill Dirt • Tree Trimming & Tree Removal • Demolition & Debris Removal • Excavation: Duck & Fish Ponds • Grading: Driveways & Roads

Aluminum, Cans, Cars, Copper, Batteries, and More!

FREE ESTIMATES

473-4884 Office • 473-6029 Cell GENE CONYERS

Lakeside Marina, Inc.

New Boat & Motor Sales & Service Boats by:

located on highway 260 on the way to the lake

GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE WALK-INS WELCOME MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN

Skidsteer Landscaping Under Brush Removal Dirt Sales Demo Dozer

Driveways Bushhogging New Construction Excavator SAND • TOP SOIL • RED CLAY • CRUSH-RUN • ASPHAULT • SLAG • ETC. Commercial | Residential

Splitt Endz

Tues-Fri: 9am-4pm • By appt. after 4pm • Saturday by appt.

803-823-9053 803-707-5252

CLAY CONYERS

224 Memorial St. Manning, SC 29102 803-433-2925 Owner: Jerry Strickland

ELLIOTT’S LANDING & CAMPGROUND 2010 Elliott’s Landing Rd. Pinewood, SC 29125

(803) 452-5336

Located On Lake Marion At Rimini

• 47 Campsites • Full Hookups • Showers • Fishing Pier • Camp Store On Site • FREE Wi-Fi Now Available!

LIVE CRAWFISH Retail to everyone in any amount through June.

riminisan@ftc-i.net • www.elliottslandingandcampground.com Mark & Amber Prickelmyer Above & Inground Pools • Spas Services & Supplies • Pool Cleaning Water Analysis • Outdoor Kitchen 216 Commerce Street • Manning, SC 29102

(803) 433-7946 • (803) 433-7665 FAX (SWIM)

www.swimminhole.com

C & H Automotive Repair 236 Commerce Street • Manning, South Carolina 29102

Full Automotive Service SHOP RATES 1/2 Hour Diagnostic 18 Full Diagnostic 36 (803) 433-4433 Also Offering the Lowest Tow Rates Around by Joey’s Towing Service

TO LIST YOUR BUSINESS ON THIS PAGE CALL (803) 435-8511

38 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

life a $

$

00

00 and up

Labor $6500 per hour Oil Change $1000 plus parts

Thank You

Brake Special $9900 and up

PORTABLE STORAGE BUILDINGS ON THE SPOT & CARPORTS FREE FINANCING DELIVERY

PAT TOURS

803-473-9912

PHONE 803-435-5025 • CELL 803-473-8491

Financing Available or Rent to Own

pattourss@sc.rr.com P.O. BOX 716 • MANNING, SC 29102

CELL 803-225-6618

Terry Truluck • 3217 Sumter Hwy., Manning, SC

TREAD SAFELY! When you deal with us you can count on top-quality, nationally known name brands and the oustanding service only we can deliver.

Call for a list of current tours!

CLARENDON

Exterminating Company “With over 150 years combined experience we are your pest control experts!”

Your professionals for pest control... protection for your home or business.

AMERICA’S #1 TERMITE DEFENSE IS THE BEST DEFENSE FOR YOU.

WALKER TIRE 433-4444

535 S. Mill St. • Manning 803-435-8689 Jake Buddin & Chuck Buddin

114 S. Mill Street • Manning, SC 29102

Redefining Pet Care Over 30 Years of Pet Care Experience

TERMIDOR AMERICA’S FIRST 100% TERMITE SOLUTION

Serving your needs with compassion, understanding and trust.

Complete Animal Care • House Calls • Surgery Preventative Health Care • Boarding & Baths

Pam Stephens Shayne Stephens

Morris Animal Clinic

(803) 435-2179

Wayne Morris, DVM

304 N. Church Street Manning, SC 29102

2093 Alex Harvin Hwy Manning, SC 803-435-8001

Mon-Thurs: 7:30am - 6:30pm Fri: 7:30am - Noon • Closed: Sat & Sun www.morrisanimalclinic.com

www.stephensfuneralhome.org

LOW COUNTRY SCRAP METAL Paying Top Dollar on all Junk Cars & Metals In Clarendon and Sumter County

THOMAS CONCRETE, INC. REDI-MIX CONCRETE

We Buy All Kinds Of Metals!

“Dependable Concrete Products”

803-473-7626 301 Past Gable

• RADIATORS • SEAL UNITS • CANS Sardinia Cross Roads • COPPER • STARTERS • ALTERNATORS Mon-Fri: 7:30am - 5:00pm • ALUMINUM • BATTERIES • ELECTRIC MOTORS Saturday 7:30am - 1:30pm

Concrete • Block • Brick • Sand • Mortar

(803) 433-8357

630 S. Mill St. (Hwy 260) • Manning, SC 29102

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF: BlueChoice® HealthPlan BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina UnitedHealthcare

L&S MARINE Sales & Service Center

Home - Auto Life - Long Term Care - Health

and leisure • Indoor Showroom • Parts & Accessories • Lake Service Calls by Appointment • Pontoon Restorations • Certified & Master Technicians

(803) 505-8727 • Manning, SC • Hwy 521 @ I-95 Exit 122 NEW BOATS • USED BOATS • STORAGE • SERVICE

201 E. Boyce Street P.O. Box 609 Manning, SC 29102

www.LSMARINE.net

1-800-799-7500 Claims (803) 435-4357 Office (803) 435-4359 Fax (803) 428-3106 Home (843) 858-0826 Mobile RickHickson@SCFbins.com

Rick Hickson Agency Manager

Representing: Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina As Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 39

THE AREA’S BEST LISTINGS

Lakeside or In Town!

Robin Brice

(803) 225-8274

Johnny Odom 803-460-4955

Mary Wilson 803-460-4251

Patty Wood

803-410-0082

312 Lake Arbu, $385,000

Absolutely Beautiful custom built home wonderful open floor plan shows great 4th Bedroom could make a wonderful den Large oversize Garage Corian counter tops Hardware Flooring Manicured Lawn Gated community see covenant & restrictions apply, A must see home !!

1093 Comstock Lane $67,900 3Br, 2Ba, 1232 Sq. Foot. Very Nice 28'X44' Detitled Brick underpinned MH that sits on over 2 acres. 12'X12' out buildingand all appliances convey.

Call Robin Brice today!

1041 Vangie Court, $135,000

Built 2006 3 Bedroom 2 Bath home with screened back porch back yard offers wood fencing,Landscaped beautifully, stainless steel appliances, Master Bedroom offers Tray Ceiling,2 Car Garage with Hurricaine resistance garage door, well insulated home A Must see...

1134 Conestoga Lane, REDUCED $50,000 Motivated seller!!! 3 BR, 2 BA waterfront home on good water on Wyboo Creek. Reduced $269,900.

1174 James Loop Rd, $265,000 3Br, 2Ba, Very well maintained one and a half story waterfront home with pier and sandy beach. One car garage, all appliances convey.

1055 Dorothy Street, $449,000 Own your own private retreat on a large, shady waterfront lot on Lake Marion. This 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath house has a private pier, 3-car garage, and a workshop.

1514 James Loop Road, $269,000 View beautiful sunsets from screened porch or large deck with this waterfront home. Beautiful kitchen, stainless steel appliances, solid surface countertops. 4 bedroom, 2.5 baths. Fenced yard.

1700 Quail Trail, $239,000 Enjoy a view of Lake Marion from your front porch and moor your boat in your backyard. Large sunroom, screened back porch, fish cleaning station.

3 bedroom, 2 bath.

1369 Quail Trail, $379,000 Great starter home or lake home with all the furnishings you need.

Excellent condition, close to the lake and golf courses.

Move right in today.

1049 Island Court, $239,900 REDUCED!!!! WATERFRONT, 3Br, 3.5Ba, Gated Community with shared pier & pool. Appliances convey. GREAT location.

1721 White Oak Drive, $62,500 Waterfront home in Eagle Point subdivison. 3/4 bedroom, 3 bath, fireplace, screened porch, private dock, finished bonus room with closet, bathroom and separate heat/air, 2-car garage, underground sprinklers.

Marginal lease. Furniture negotiable. Taxes based on 6 percent.

We've got a home for you!

by the lake!

ATTN: ALL REAL ESTATE AGENTS Call Gail at 803-435-8511 to place your listing on this page.

Reach thousands of people with your homes for rent or sale 40 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

AVON

Sales Reps needed in all areas. No inventory, set your own hours, FREE training.

803-473-7384 or www.startavon.com Ref. code: annthomas

ODOM

AUCTION CO. Specializing in Estate Auctions, Used Furniture, Antiques and Business Liquidations

803-433-2696 Visit our retail sales location at

539 S. Mill St. Manning, SC 29102

WWW.ODOMAUCTION.COM

John M. Odom SCAL #627 Johnny Odom SCAL #4219

J & J Catering Service Weddings • Banquets • Birthdays Family Reunions • & More

Home • Business Auto • Health

Purina Dealer©

E&E Feeds • Manning Farm • & Garden Shop, Inc. We Carry

• Feed & Seed • Insecticides • All Your • Fertilizers • Pesticides • Feed & Garden Wide Selection of Bulk garden Seeds, Lawn & Plant Fertilizers and Gardening Tools Sold Here Needs Manning, SC 29102

803-435-4800

www.DuRantInsurance.com

2236 Hwy. 301 Manning, SC (803) 435-2797 or 1-800-422-8211

A Complete Line of Garden Supplies

“When Better Seed Is Sold...We Will Be The First To Sell It”

803-435-2475 201 S. Mill St. • Manning, SC 29102

Lakeside Classifieds

Computer Problems?

PO BOY’S

TREE SERVICE

Call Tanisha at Julius & Josephine Dukes Owners 204 N. Church St. Manning, SC 29102 803-435-0699 • 803-435-8996

E&E Car Wash

NOW OPEN! Foam Brushes Hot Water Wax • Vacuum 24/7 Self Serve 2199 Sumter Hwy Manning, SC Across From E&E Feed

Wayne’s Hauling

Junk Cars Wanted We buy junk cars, scrap metal and aluminum.

Home 803.473.5742 Cell 803.972.0173

MANNING, SOUTH CAROLINA

OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE LICENSED & INSURED

100 Capital Way Manning, SC 29102

Po Boy’s • Rex Prescott & Tommy Thompson

Tel: 803-460-1900

469-7606 or 499-4413

Ding Dong AVON calling! $10 to start.

Let’s talk!

Call Vi Milliard 803-934-6292 vi.avon@yahoo.com

Ricky’s Tree Service Trash To Treasures We’ll go out on a limb for you!”

• Bucket Truck Service • Bush Hogging • Tree & Stump Removal • Topping & Shaping • Demolition • 24-Hour Emergency Services • Licensed and Insured

Lowest Prices, Fast Friendly & Dependable Service Ricky Barnes, Owner 1096 Loblolly Drive Manning, SC 29102

Cell 803.460.8747 803.435.2223 1.877.283.8733

Manning Feed Mill & Supplies “Mill has been making feed for over 100 years”

• Horse Feed • Hog Feed • Cow Feed • Chicken Feed

• Corn • Oats • Wheat • Hay & Oat Straw

Dog Shots • Wormers • Dog Feed 803-435-4354 or 803-460-4574

233 Dinkins St. • Manning, SC • 29102 Warren G. Comstock, Owner

THRIFT SHOP BUY ~ SELL ~ TRADE

803-460-1538

2277-A Alex Harvin Highway Manning, SC 29102 Wed-Fri 10 AM - 5 PM • Sat 10 AM - 2 PM

Goldsmith

& Associates, Inc. Insurance

TERRY RICHBURG

117 South Brooks St. Post Office Box 760 Manning, South Carolina 29102 803/435-4433 Fax 803/435-2011 SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 41

Renovating a rental property

W

hen the economy struggles to the point of recession, few people benefit. However, there are some businesses that thrive during a recession, using the circumstances to their advantage and actually growing business in spite of a sagging economy.

One such business is rental agencies or property management companies. Even landlords with a single investment property tend to do better during a recession, when individuals might be fearful of buying a home or simply unable to afford it. Such individuals still need a place to live, however, and landlords benefit as a result.

One of the best things a landlord can do during a recession is to pay more attention to their rental properties, ensuring the properties are in tip-top shape so they can get the most out of each unit at a time when the rental market is most competitive. This might require some renovations, which landlords should be making periodically anyway, regardless of how strong or tenuous the economy might be. * Update the paint. Apartments are typically empty when shown to prospective renters, and any issues with the paint job are very noticeable during such viewings. If the paint is outdated or there is any fading, update the walls with a fresh coat of paint. It’s ideal to do so whenever a tenant moves out, but landlords whose buildings have a high turnover rate likely won’t need to repaint every time a tenant moves out. When adding a new coat of paint, choose a light, neutral color to give the property a fresh, inviting look. * Replace the carpeting. Carpeting is another area prospective renters are instantly drawn to when viewing an apartment. New carpeting is always attractive to potential tenants, and landlords won’t have to break the bank to replace the carpets when an existing tenant moves out. Instead of expensive carpeting, choose a me-

LOWER YOUR POWER BILL WITH AN ENERGY EFFICIENT WESTINGHOUSE HEAT PUMP CALL US, WE’LL SAVE YOU HUNDREDS!

Town, Lake Area, Waterfront Homes and Condos

Heating and Air, LLC LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

Chris Mathis

Jimmy Mathis

803-460-5420 OR 803-478-5957 SALES & SERVICE ON ALL BRANDS 42 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE

DEE'S RENTALS

Lake Marion Area Monthly and Long Term Rentals

Jimmy’s

Serving Clarendon County For Over 33 years!

dium grade carpet with a neutral color, ideally beige or light brown, which can hide spills or stains should the next tenant prove messy and move out after the original lease terms are up. Before laying carpet, don’t forget to lay down quality padding underneath. Such padding makes the carpet feel softer and of higher quality. * Upgrade the appliances. Perhaps nothing evokes a stronger response from prospective renters than a property’s appliances.

Outdated appliances make renters speculate as to what else might be outdated and if the building is well taken care of. On the other hand, newer appliances, particularly stainless steel items, create a contemporary feel and give the impression, true or false, that a landlord won’t allow the building to grow dated or fall into disrepair. When shopping for appliances, choose ones that are more basic so any eventual repairs won’t be too complicated or costly.

Newer appliances enable landlords to charge more rent for a given property, and many renters would agree that such properties are worth the extra money. * Install new windows. Older buildings tend to have creaky or drafty windows, which not only makes the property colder during the winter months, but it also drives up utility costs as renters are forced to turn up the thermostat to combat drafts and cold air entering the unit. New windows can eliminate such drafts and reduce utility costs, something landlords can use to their advantage when discussing the property with potential tenants. Landlords might even be able to earn tax breaks when installing new, energyefficient windows. Discuss if any such breaks exist with the local municipality.

When it comes to renovating a rental property, landlords can make a handful of small renovations that, while relatively inexpensive, enable them to earn substantially more money from each unit over the long haul.

www.deelakerentals.com 322 South Mill St. • Manning, SC

803-433-7355

20 Years Property Manager Experience

Dee Osteen

one Right!

Cleaning D

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Water & Fire Damage • Smoke/Odor Removal Mold Sampling and Remediation 24/7 Emergency Service Hiram Spittle

1500 Airport Road Sumter, SC 29153

803-938-5441

www.spittlescleaning.com

TO LIST YOUR BUSINESS ON THIS PAGE CALL (803) 435-8511

sumter life and leisure

THE AREA’S BEST LISTINGS

Lakeside or In Town!

Alfred Kelley 803-460-4422

Deborah Ridgeway 803-938-3088

1101 Tennis Lane: For sale or rent. Very nice home on Foxboro Golf Course, Mother in-law suite across back with a LR area and a MBR and MBA.and up front 2 BR’s with 2nd BA. also Lg Master with nice Bath.a bonus room at Patio. MLS #110126

1380 Lake Shore: Waterfront Home 3 BR, 2BA, fireplace w/gas logs 2 covered boat slips, fishing dock, boat ramp. Remodeled 2003, fenced yard. All appliances including washer/dryer. mls # 108672 $249,900.

1148 Joyner Dr. Waterfront Tri- Level w/4 BR’s and 2 BA on Deep Water, fishing pier. Has game room on ground floor. Home needs some work and TLC. Large storage shed. 2 BR up stairs, 2 on main level mls# 97263 $279,900.

128 Gibbons: Lovely home in town within walking distance to hospital, shopping and schools. Nice fenced in yard.

MLS# S105561A $66,500

2584 Princess Pond Road: Big Water sunrise and sunsets!! Sandy Beach!!! Shared pier with boat lift. Two car carport. Paved circular drive.

Waterfront Home with lots of storage too. MLS# S111429A $515,000

12969 Hwy 260: LOOK! LOOK! Great location with a church branch view from your deck!!!!Close to Alex Harvin landing! Not far from the dam! 3BR/2BA MLS# S111639A $99,500

www.alfredhkelley.com alfred@alfredkelley.com.

deborahridgeway@hotmail.com SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 43

ummer S & ather’s ay

F

D

arrive this month and the deals are HOT at Discount Furniture Outlet where you get National Name Brand Furniture & Mattresses at Major Savings!

DFO

We have the Perfect Gift for Dad! A Recliner from

Starting At

249

$

99

90 Days SAme As Cash

Made In The USA With Pride

Fast Delivery on In-Stock MDSE and Special Order

Live Better For Less

803-469-8733 Open: Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm • Sat: 10am-5pm • Closed Sunday 2891 Broad St. Sumter, SC

44 JUNE • JULY 2012 | LAKESIDE Cash, Check, Credit Cards, Financing & Layaway available See Store For Details