LAKESIDE THE GOOD LIFE ON LAKE MARION, SOUTH CAROLINA • OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2011
Office with a lake view Veteran ventures into boat tours
Coast Guard Auxilary offers boat inspections
Haunted Hideaways Spirits, tall tales and myths
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Look for Our Next Lakeside in December! Email us your photo to clarendonsun@yahoo.com To place an advertisement call Gail or Ashley at 435-8511. We need your story ideas. Please call Bobby at 435-8511.
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Ad Space Reservation November 28, 2011
Publish Date December 9, 2011
OPEN RATE 6 ISSUES $145 $125 $280 $240 $370 $300 $530 $460 $1012 $890
41 N. Mill Street • Manning, SC 29102
(803) 435-8511
2 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
IN THIS ISSUE
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GENERAL MANAGER Gail Mathis gailm@theitem.com PUBLISHER Jack Osteen jack@theitem.com ARTICLES & RESEARCH Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com
19
R. Darren Price dprice@theitem.com LAYOUT & DESIGN Cary Johnson cjohnson@theitem.com
42 LANDMARKS AND LANDSCAPES
4
AIN’T ABOUT THE FOWL
14
SAFETY In your sights 16 SEE YA LATER, Alligator 19 LIVIN’ LAKESIDE The saga continues
PHOTOGRAPHY Robert J. Baker, Darren Price & Gail Mathis
COAST GUARD AUXILARY Offers boat checks
28
PICK YOUR Haunted Hideaway
38
OFFICE WITH A Lake View
42
A ROAD RARELY TRAVELED
46
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Yana Mathis, Earle Woodward Ray Winans, Dr. David Woodbury
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(803) 435-9292 • Hwy. 261, Manning, SC • Next to SMS Sportsworld Hours: Mon. - Fri. 10 am - 6 pm • Sat. 10 am - 4 pm • Closed Sunday
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LANDMARKS AND LANDSCAPES Berkeley County • Calhoun County • Clarendon County • Orangeburg County & Sumter County
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.
visitors on Mondays. Groups of 10 or more visitors are asked to make reservations by 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. Old Santee Canal Park and Berkeley Museum are located on S.C. 52, near the Tailrace Canal in Monck’s Corner. For more information, call (843) 761-9622.
CALHOUN COUNTY
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.
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 to the strong winds that swept across the land, and the name translates roughly to “where the wind blows.” The plantation covers 395 acres,
Francis Marion’s Gravestone is a popular attraction at Belle Isle Plantation cemetery off S.C. 45 between S.C. 6 and Eadytown in St. Stephen. The plantation itself has existed at least since 1795, which was the year of Marion’s death. 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 4 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
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. Shady Grove Methodist Church, located on State Road S-9-53 in Cameron, was built in the 1800s on land given to Conrad Holman in 1740 by King George II. Its oldest section was built with handhewn log framing set by wooden pegs in the early 1800s. Its white-frame building, along with its bell tower and steeple, were recognized as a historical site in June 1970.
CLARENDON COUNTY
The Clarendon County Museum and History Center, operated at 102 S. Brooks St., Manning, by the county’s Historical Society, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday-Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, excluding holidays. The museum features permanent exhibits dedicated to war memorabilia and the county’s agricultural history as well as an early 20th century kitchen furnished with an antique wood stove, cast-iron water pots and old-fashioned china and cutlery. The museum’s newest exhibit features items from Alcolu’s heyday in the 1930s and 1940s.
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sills now used in combination with mellow brick floors.
The Clarendon Cup Race Series will conclude 4 p.m. Oct. 29 with the Spooky Sprint starting and ending at Summerton United Methodist Church, 2 Briggs Ave., Summerton. The race is the fifth of the series and will be held rain or shine. Results for previous races can be viewed by visiting www.strictlyrunning/Gprptresult-7d.asp. Call The Zone at (803) 435-5200 for more information.
Santee National Wildlife Refuge, located in North Santee and Summerton, was first opened in 1941. The refuge manages 10 conservation easements and serves as a major wintering area for ducks and geese and a stopover area for neo-tropical migratory birds, raptors, shore birds and wading birds. Endangered and threatened species at the refuge include the American alligator and the wood stork. The Visitor’s Center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., TuesdaySaturday. For more information, call (803) 478-2217, or email santee@fws.gov. The Swamp Fox Murals are spread throughout Clarendon County and
Lake Marion Artisans, a group of artists from throughout Clarendon County and its surrounding areas, has an open gallery select hours ThursdaySaturday of each week at 108 Main St., Summerton. The 33-mile Lake Marion passage of the Palmetto Trail skirts along the high water mark of the north side of Lake Marion in Clarendon County. Trail users can enjoy some of the most magnificent vistas in the coastal plain with opportunities to spot abundant wildlife and colorful flora. Much of the land along the trail is open for hunting, and users should wear bright colors during big game hunting seasons, which is from the middle of August through January. The Morgan Sauls Home, located on Old Georgetown Road four-and-a-half miles northeast of Manning, is an attractive “raised cottage” built in the mid-1800s by Minto McFaddin, Morgan Sauls’ great uncle. Acquired by the Sauls in the 1930s, the building was renovated, and wings were added on each side for bedrooms, a dining room and a kitchen. The downstairs area, once a dining room and kitchen, has been redone, exposing the original hand-hewn
6 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
Brooks Street, Manning, is a state-ofthe-art performing arts facility originally built in 1954 and re-opened after years of disrepair in December 2010. For more information and a schedule of events, visit weldonauditorium.org.
ORANGEBURG COUNTY
The Alex Salley Archives Building, located on the corner of Middleton and Bull streets in Orangeburg, houses irreplaceable historical records, papers and other items relating to the county’s past. Hours are 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the first Saturday of each month. For more information, call (803) 535-0022. The Branchville Railroad Shrine and Museum, 7204 Freedom Road, Branchville, is located at the world’s first and oldest railroad junction, featuring a line that once operated on the country’s first scheduled passenger train. Call (803) 274-8820 for hours and admission prices.
The Children’s Garden Christmas is a popular holiday attraction, giving the Edisto Memorial Gardens an annual light display stretching one-half mile on a vehicular trail that includes 25 animated and 14 motionless displays along with 60 lighted cherry trees and a kids’ walk with 14 more displays. The lights operate daily beginning the first Monday before Thanksgiving through the first week of January. feature depictions of Gen. Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion and his soldiers fighting the British in Clarendon and surrounding areas. Murals in Manning are located on the walls of B-Mart, the Manning Fire Department, IGA, Edward Jones, Piggly Wiggly, Geddings Do It Best Hardware and Substation II. In Summerton, they are located at Baucom Realty, Ginger’s Flower Shop, the Walker building, Detwilers and Gaters Law Office. In Turbeville, they are at Dollar General, the Smith Building and the corner of Main and Gamble Streets. The newest mural, completed in June by Terry Smith, is located at CitiTrends, South Mill Street, Manning. Weldon Auditorium, North
The Elloree Old Town District features buildings that date back to the early 20th century, antique shops, gift boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and the Elloree Heritage and Cultural Museum. Located on Historic Cleveland Street in downtown Elloree, about seven miles from Santee off Exit 98 at Interstate 95, the
as a headquarters by Gen. William T. Sherman during the Civil War.
museum 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 former site of Hawthorne School of Aeronautics is three miles south of Orangeburg on U.S. 21, featuring a retirement community known as The Oaks where the Air Force’s former primary flight school trained 5,924 American and French pilots from 1941 to 1945. The school had one of the best training records, accounting for the fewest training accidents, during its operation. The Judge Thomas Glover Home, located on Whitman Street in Orangeburg, was built in 1846 by Thomas Glover, one of the signatories of the Ordinance of Succession. The home was ultimately used
Orangeburg National Fish Hatchery, located at 427 Lakeview Drive on the S.C. 21 bypass in Orangeburg, is one of more than 60 federal fish hatcheries located in the United States. Operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the hatchery produces a number of species, including striped bass and red breast and bluegill sunfish, which are used to stock lakes and streams throughout the southeastern United States. Nose sturgeon are used for research and development at the site. The aquarium is open from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. For more information, call Hatchery Manager Willie V. Booker at (803) 534-4828 or email the hatchery at orangeburg@fws. gov. The Orangeburg County portion of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor contains 50 sites of interest, including parks and trails, railroad history, military battlegrounds, historic homes, agricultural heritage, churches/cemeteries and museums and historic schools. Beautiful gardens, rivers and lakes are prominent. The Discovery Center involves a four-county region, including Orange burg County, and opened in Blackville, U.S. 78, recently. For a brochure with a map that pinpoints locations, call the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce at (803) 534-6821 or visit www.orangeburgchamber. com. Information on the entire heritage corridor can be found at www.scheritagecorridor.org.
SUMTER COUNTY
The Carolina Backcountry Oyster Roast will be held 6:30-9:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Sumter County Museum, 122 N. Washington St., providing all the steamed oysters one could handle. Barbecue, chili, drunken collards and beverages will also be served. Tickets are $40 per person and limited to 500 people. Call (803) 775-0908 for more information. The Cultural Center on
Haynsworth Street in Sumter contains both the Sumter Gallery of Art and Patriot Hall. Housed in a newly renovated facility, the gallery offers classes throughout the year for kids, teens and adults. Located at 135 Haynsworth St., Sumter, Patriot Hall frequently hosts national and international acts, including the Moscow State Symphony of the United Soviets Socialist Republic, the Charleston Ballet, the Atlanta Symphony, the U.S. Coast Guard Band and a variety of touring plays and musical productions. For more information, call (803) 436-2260. “Dracula – Ballet with a Bite” will be
Oct. 21-22 at the Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St., performed by the Columbia City Ballet. Count Dracula and his brides are back with new choreography to match the haunting visuals, graphic special effects and pulsating rock-jazz musical score composed by the late Thomas E. Semansk. Call (800) 688-4748 for tickets and information. The Festival of Lights will be held for the 24th year at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens beginning shortly after Thanksgiving. The 150-acre park will be illuminated with more than one million lights and 150 lighted figures. This will also be the 32nd year the park features the Floating Christmas Tree, which features the word “Noel,” the Old French word for Christmas. Call (803) 778-5454 for more information or email tourism@sumter-sc.com. Oktoberfest on Main presented by Hamptons will be held Oct. 14, transforming downtown Sumter with the feel of an old German town through German beer, wine, music and delicious food. The Little German Band and DeasSANTEELAKESIDE.COM 7
(803) 494-8177.
Guyz will perform. Call (803) 436-2640 for more information.
The 5th annual Sip and Stroll will be held 6-8:30 p.m. Nov. 4 in downtown Sumter, benefitting Meals on Wheels provided by Sumter Senior Services. This event kicks-off the WineFest season with a stroll through downtown Sumter while tasting a wide variety of wines and hors d’oeuvres. Call (803) 773-5508 or visit www. sumterwinefest.org for more information.
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
The Sumter County Genealogical Society, 219 W. Liberty St., Sumter, is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, but is closed for all major holidays. Queries begin with a nonrefundable deposit of $20, which also covers the first hour of research. Copies and mailing charges are extra. Facility volunteers ask that requests be as specific as possible, with all relevant information
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provided. For more information, call (803) 774-3901, or email Editor Jay Ingersoll at sumtergensoc@aol.com. The University of South Carolina Sumter will hold a Masquerade Party 7-11 p.m. Oct. 22, with tickets at $10 per person, to raise funds for Fire Ant athletics. Masks and costumes are preferred at the event, which will feature ballroom, shag and line dancing. Call (803) 968-4760 for more information. Compiled by Robert J. Baker, bbaker@theitem.com.
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The freezer’s full and the season’s not over By Earle Woodward earlew@theitem.com
I
’ll always remember 2011 as historic. For the first time in recorded history, I missed the very first day of a deer season. After working overtime to prepare things for the opener, making sure bows were tuned, stands were hung and hunting clothes were cleaned and ready, I just wasn’t going to make it. You see, a couple of months before the opener, my son Robert and his bride, Valerie, announced to us that we are going to be grandparents. That, in and of itself, is a wondrous miracle from God. We are all excited beyond words. That first day of bow season, Aug. 15, was the same day Valerie had an appointment to possibly reveal the gender of the coming child. Of course, that meant we’d all get together for an announcement over dinner. It’s just one of those things you have to do.
Let it be known that sometime in January, Katherine Elaine Katie - will join our motley crew. Personally, I really don’t care if it is a boy or girl; I just want mom and daughter to be happy and healthy. The next few years are going to be a lot of fun! Back in the real world, deer season is in full swing and the following afternoon could not come quickly enough. But it was, for the most part, a bust. Yes, the temperatures were down a bit and the humidity wasn’t nearly as bad as it has been, so it didn’t feel all that bad, especially as the sun began to set. The down side was that no deer wandered through our little slice of heaven, although according to the trail camera, two bucks and a gaggle of does did show up the day before. I’m sure they’ll be back. The stand is on a road that overlooks a small, little open area that we keep cut back. It is surrounded on the east by some volunteer pines that are now about 25-30 feet tall and on the west by a mature, mixed hardwood and pine forest. We’ve kept several trails open from the little open area over to a soybean field, which is about 200 yards away and on the other side of the small pines. The deer are coming from the woods, into the opening and down a trail of their choosing to the beans. They always seem to slow down and search the opening for fresh greens as they pass through, offering a reasonable shot in the process. The trail camera was showing some 5-6 grown does, two bucks and several fawns using the trail throughout the day and night, but mostly about 7 p.m. Plenty of activity. I was in the stand by 6:30 the next night. At 7, right on cue, I caught motion to the left of my stand and watched as a fawn, complete with white spots, wandered out into the opening and meandered around. His brother and cousin joined him about a minute apart. As they fed, they kept a watchful eye on the trail from which they had entered the opening, and at about 7:10 they all froze and glued their attention to the trail. I slowly rotated my head to the left and watched as a set of velvet-covered antlers swiveled as the buck surveyed the road. Behind him was another set, not as big, but still as tall and as thick. SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 9
Without a moment’s hesitation, the six-point buck strolled into the opening, dropped his head to search for green morsels and offered the perfect quartering away shot. I glanced back at the other buck - which I could now determine was a four-point - and made sure his vision of me was obscured by branches. I drew my bow and settled the 20-yard pin just ahead of about the third rib from the back. This would put the arrow traveling diagonally through both lungs, assuring a quick end to the hunt. After making sure all of the fawns were clear of the buck, I touched the trigger on the release and the arrow was away, the bright Illuminock tracing its path. The shot was perfect. I stayed in the stand for about 15 minutes, letting my nerves calm down and my legs quit shaking, and after about 10 minutes, the fawns came back and walked on down the road and out to the beans. My prize was some 40 yards down the trail and 10 yards from the truck path. It was a handsome six-point that would have gotten a pass if I had been hunting any other property, but we are surrounded by public land where anything that walks is fair game, so our opportunities to grow superior bucks just isn’t there. I elected to put meat in the freezer. I can now spend my days hunting does and the biggest buck of my life; the pressure is off for deer season. I had good reason to miss the opening of deer season, but I wasn’t about to miss the opening of dove season a few weeks later. This year, Sept. 3 was the day of one of the largest social events of the year from the sportsman’s perspective. Folks gather from far and wide to a central location - usually a sunflower field, a cut corn field, perhaps a little Milo or just a small pond used for watering. The best may be a combination of the bunch, which is what we had last Saturday. My cousin Ken, aka “Cuz,” invited me to join him on a shoot put together by his brothers-in-law and himself. Well, let’s be really truthful; I called him and asked him if he had a nice, quiet spot on his farm where I could sit that would be out of the way and still have a few birds. Being the fine young man that he is, I wound up on a cut corn field with strips of sunflowers growing through it that backed up to a stock pond. We met at Cuz’s house as instructed and joined up with Cuz and
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his two boys, T.J. and William. T.J. and William both are all-boy; they love all things outdoors, including lizards, snakes, dogs, dirt. You name it, they love it, and I love to watch young folks hunt, so this was going to work out just fine. We met the other hunters, probably 12-15 or so, in the field right across from Cuz’s house and we divided up into shooting positions around 2 p.m. I was lucky enough to be on the side of the stock pond, which was surrounded by live oak trees that provided ample shade for me and Chip, the chocolate Labrador retriever. The breeze was blowing through the shade and it was cool, at least early on in the shoot. As the sun progressed in its never-ending arc, the shaded spot got smaller and smaller until it was gone. While the shade was nice, the trees did limit the shot opportunities to those directly in front; not much doing with the stuff coming from behind. Hey, that was OK. I really didn’t want to be too fast and furious. Chip had not hunted dove at all the year before, and I had a feeling he was going to be a bit rusty. I was not wrong. The first bird came by low and slow, from right to left. I swung in front of him, touched the trigger, the gun went off and the bird kept flying. That was not what was supposed to happen. I pulled the trigger again with the same results. Finally, on shot No. 3, the bird folded up and Chip got to make a retrieve. That was the last time I fired three times at a bird all day. Oh, did I mention that the pond I was sitting on had somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 released mallards sitting on it? And did I mention that we were downwind and Chip could smell them? We had to come to an understanding early, he was not to chase the ducks. Until the breeze died and the afternoon heated up, he was a handful to keep at my side. Once he got a few retrieves and the day got hot, he calmed down and did his job. For a dove hunt, I’ve got to say that the field was done extremely well and it showed. Birds were coming in from every point on the compass and everyone in the field was getting ample shooting. From my vantage point, I could see almost all of the other hunters and watched some exceptional shooting and some fine dog work. Cuz and the boys were out in front of me, snuggled up to three round bales of hay, T.J. shooting a 20-gauge gun and William a .410; Dad was playing backup with his own 20-gauge.
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Yep, Chip was a bit rusty. He was taking the hand signals just fine, and he picked up every bird I shot, but he just wasn’t concentrating at the beginning. His mind was on ducks and marking every blade of grass around the pond; later in the afternoon, he was extremely hot and just seemed to lose the want to. I did bring a cooler of ice and poured it out on the ground, a bit at the time, so that Chip could lay down in it, which he loves, and eat it, which he also loves. Somewhere around 5:30 p.m., we all began to drift back to the trucks with our take for the day. I had my bag full, having put in what I thought was my fair share, and was proud to have connected so many times when one of the other hunters asked one of the guys
if he had gotten his “15.” Fifteen? Then it dawned on me, the limit this year and last year is and was 15 birds. I was still hunting on the 2009 limit of 12. Oh, well, 12 birds are a gracious plenty, as many as I want to clean anyway, and doing it on a box and a half of shells offers some additional satisfaction. It had truly been a fantastic hunt; plenty of birds, plenty of fellowship and plenty of fun. I’m usually not much of a social butterfly, but this is one social event that I can’t stand to miss out on. A special thanks to Ken and his brothers-in law for the invitation and a great hunt. I look forward to socializing with you folks again.
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What a daze... HOLIDAY SHOPPING STARTS EARLY IN MANNING, SUMMERTON By Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com Last-minute Christmas shopping is so 2009. Or that’s what the Manning Junior Ambassadors are hoping local residents and visitors from surrounding counties will think as they host the 2nd Holly-Daze Market from Nov. 20-21 at Weldon Auditorium. Held for the first time last year at the auditorium shortly before its grand opening, the market is a fundraiser for renovation of the old Breedin Park, which sits on 3.23 acres of Gibbons Street in Manning. The Junior Ambassadors and Junior Chamber of Commerce have set a fundraising goal of $50,000 to renovate the old park so it can be used again by its local residents. The market began as a “fun idea,” ambassador Carrie Trebil said in 2010. Only weeks into the planning phase, the group had to actually turn away businesses wanting to participate. “It was definitely more popular than we expected, which is a good thing,” said Merle Norman owner Jennie Lee, one of nearly 20 merchants who will be back for the second edition. The market will start 10 a.m. Nov. 20, continuing through 5 p.m. that day and reopening from 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Two weeks earlier, holiday shopping will begin at merchants downtown during the Christmas Open Houses in both Summerton and Manning. Shoppers can visit participating stores during the afternoon hours of Nov. 6 in Manning and from 1 to
12 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
6 p.m. in Summerton. Stores that have participated in the past include Ginger’s Flowers and Wen-Lily’s for Summerton and Flowers de Linda’s, Southern Flair, Cissy’s, Jessica’s Boutique and Donna’s House Gift Shop. The open houses feature refreshments and a time for customers to see the new holiday gift items offered by local merchants. For more information on the Christmas Open Houses, call Flowers de Linda’s at (803) 435-8700 or Ginger’s Flowers at (803) 485-2595.“This sounded like a lot more fun than a bake sale,” she said. During the market, shoppers can buy everything from ceramic plates to quilts and tutus for the perfect holiday gift, with all proceeds going toward the construction of the playground at the park. Last year, Lee said merchants from Manning, Sumter, Turbeville, Florence and even Charleston presented their wares. Clarendon Chamber of Commerce executive assistant Ericka Sexton said many of the same merchants will return this year. “It will be the same as last year mostly,” Sexton said. “We hope the only change is more people and an even bigger success than last year’s.” For more information, call the chamber at (803) 435-4405.
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SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 13
Doe tournament ain’t about the fowl Story and photos by Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com
T
hrills. Fellowship. Nature. Wildlife. All are good reasons, Mac Bagnal believes, to hold a hunting tournament. But the primary reason of the recent South Carolina Waterfowl Association’s 3rd annual Doe Hunting Tournament was raising money for the organization’s youth education program at Camp Woodie. “This is all to
14 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
raise money for our youth education,” Bagnal said. “The money helps to make our programs better for our kids, and they come out and participate as well.” More that 100 avid hunters and youth came out Sept. 17 to hunt the lands around the camp near Rimini and Pinewood for doe. While not the association’s namesake prey, doe and deer by extension are a part of the camp’s curriculum. “Deer season began Sept. 15, and we try to have our tournament early in the season,” Bagnal said. “The primary reason is for herd maintenance, but we go early because the doe are at a point where they’re not still caring for the babies.” Doe hunting, Bagnal said, is also undertaken in the opening days of the season so hunters avoid killing pregnant deer. “Here shortly they’re going to rut in October,” Bagnal said at the tournament.
“So, you’d run into doe in November and December that are pregnant. This is a way to avoid that.” The lake area’s first tournament for the 2011-12 deer season added an interesting twist from the association’s previous efforts: While a hunter would be lauded for snagging the heaviest doe, the main contest was between hunters trying to bag the animal closest to 100 pounds. “It doesn’t matter over or under,” said Camp Woodie Education Programs Director Ed Paul. “It’s whoever’s the closest to 100.” Bagnal said the curveball was added after a neighboring hunter won the tournament two-years running. “He won the first year and last year,” Bagnal said of Kenny Cogdill. “He has land out here, a few thousand acres, so he can scope out the largest doe and maybe
FAR LEFT and TOP: Jonathan Patrick of the S.C. Waterfowl Association reads a deer scale during the association tournament held Sept. 17. ABOVE: SCWA Controller Tom Ratkovsky eyes the weight of one of the does taken during the organization’s tournament. BELOW: A child at Camp Woodie takes part in one of the camp’s many hunting exercises during the past summer months.
have an idea of where it might be. He’s familiar with his land. This was done as a way to make it fair across the board.” Kids who have attended the association’s camp also had a shot for the prize, with a winner-takes-all pot made from entry fees for each youth participating in the hunt. “We did a $50 fee, and it’s just winner-takes-all for the kids,” Bagnal said. “A lot of the kids come out here with their parents, who are also hunting in the tournament. At the end of the day, we’re about passing on knowledge and appreciation of the outdoors and conservation efforts, so that kind of family involvement is important to us.” The association works toward the mission of passing on the legacy of wildlife heritage through its camp, which was founded in 1995 and previously operated during the summer months as campers from across the United States came for one-week increments of the organization’s Level 1 and 2 programs. Starting next year, the association will launch a new natural resource conservation program for the 2012-13 school year to operate at the 410-acre wildlife education center. “Camp Leopold is named after the father of wildlife management, Aldo Leopold,” according to the association’s website. “(The mission) is to create an ecologically literate citizenry by heightening student awareness of the natural world, fine-tuning the skills necessary to read the landscape and instilling a love, respect and admiration for the land so that each individual might develop a personal land ethic.” Operating with up to 30 weeks of roughly two-and-a-half day camps on school days, the program will use a curriculum developed by Jim Koenig of Kingfish Environmental that meets the state Department of Education’s academic standards for fourth through seventh grades. Koenig will oversee the camp as the chairman of the SCWA Conservation Education Advisory Board, and Paul will serve as camp director. “We think this is going to be exciting for our youth and our teachers,” Paul said. About 160 educators from the area will participate in a teacher workshop led by Koenig, who will introduce them to his curriculum and the wildlife education center at Camp Woodie. The association will begin announcing particular sessions with a new website this month. For more information, call Paul at (803) 452-6001, ext. 106.
TOURNAMENT WINNERS TOP FIVE CLOSEST TO 100 POUNDS: 1st – Carey Durant of Beaufort at 102 pounds; 2nd – Kenny Cogdill of Summerton at 102.4 pounds; 3rd – Daniel Mock of Beaufort at 97.2 pounds; 4th – Will Martin of Charleston at 97.2 pounds; 5th – Andy Pack of Pinewood at 93.6 pounds. William Fogle was named the Landowner Winner for having the winning doe come from his land. The heaviest doe was taken by Shane Logsdan, who shot a 121.2-pounder right at Camp Woodie. In the youth division, Walker Ard, 14, of Sumter was the closest to 100 pounds, bagging a 84.2-pound doe.
SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 15
Safety in your sights: Avoiding orthopaedic injury during the hunt By Dr. David M. Woodbury
D
edicated hunters know the feeling – When you first see the game, sometimes you forget everything else. The off-season planning, the meticulous care for a trusted rifle, the hard slog to the tree stand – all of that preparation can crystallize in the defining moment of a hunt. Each year we hear of needless accidents from the careless use of firearms. The causes of most hunting injuries involving firearms are failure to identify a target properly and accidental discharge. The most common wounds are to the torso and extremities. Another source of firearmrelated orthopaedic injury is recoil, affecting most often the head and neck or the hand, arm and shoulder.
TREE STAND FALLS
Similar injuries can occur when bow hunting, where again, the most frequent error is failure to identify the target properly. Although we most often hear about projectile injuries during hunting season, they are not the only causes of serious, and sometimes fatal, hunting accidents. Falls from tree stands are a significant cause of huntingrelated orthopaedic injuries, as is the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Falling off tree stands I more common than you might
16 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
think, and it can be very serious. Depending on the height of the fall, the injury can range from a minor sprain to serious injury, paralysis and death. Many of these accidents cause spinal injuries. Burst or compression fractures in the small of the back (upper lumbar and lower thoracic vertebrae) are the most common. When the fragments bruise the spinal cord, paralysis or partial neurologic injury can result. For these more severe falls, hospitalization can range from three days to two or more months. The more seriously injured patients are often discharged to inpatient rehabilitation facilities. In a recent study of 90 hunters with injuries from tree stand falls, seven hunters were killed. Survivors had multiple injuries that included extremity fracture (47 percent), spine fracture (36 percent), head injury (20 percent), pelvic fracture (10 percent), rib/clavicle fracture (11 percent), solid organ injury (6 percent), pneumothorax (3 percent) and other minor injuries (21 percent). Most accidents were associated with home-built stands, and most hunters were not using safety straps. Blood alcohol content was elevated in 7 percent of injured victims. Tree stand injuries are almost entirely preventable with careful
stand maintenance and the proper use of safety belts. Despite warnings, safety belt use is inconsistent. One study showed that of 51 tree stand-related injuries, only two hunters used safety belts. In both these studies, a small but significant number (7 to 18 percent) of the falls involved alcohol use. The height of the falls ranged from 10 to 35 feet. The primary reason for these falls were errors in stand placement that resulted in structural failure and errors made while climbing into or out of the stand. This suggests a continuing need to educate hunters about safe tree stand hunting practices, including safety harnesses, proper stand placement, avoidance of fatigue and alcohol, anticipation of firearm recoil and safet stand entrance and exit.
ATV ROLLOVERS
Another source of hunting injuries is ATV accidents, which are increasing each year. From 2001 to 2004, ATV-related injuries requiring hospital admission increased 2.5 times. Rollover was the most common accident, while alcohol use and lack of a helmet played a part in most of them as well. Injuries can include fractures or dislocation of the spine, ribs, clavicle, radius-ulna, ankle and tibia-fibula. The acromioclavicular shoulder joint is the most frequent site of dislocation in ATV
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accidents. South Carolina hunters should also apprise themselves of the new laws in 2011 regarding the safe operation of ATVs. Ligament injuries to the knees and swollen muscles in the lower leg (compartment syndrome) represent the most common orthopaedic soft-tissue injuries. A high number of patients admitted to a hospital after an ATV accident sustained one fracture or dislocation. The spine was the most common site of these injuries. Motor vehicle crashes (including ATVs) and falls from heighs are also associated with calcaneal fractures. As the largest tarsal bone in the foot, the calcaneus is important for walking and running. Although not life-threatening, such foot injuries can result in permanent disability. Nobody expects to get injured when hunting, but it happens, and not always to the other guy. Keep these safety ideas in mind to avoid firearm, tree stand and ATV accidents. You’ll improve your chances of being able to bag your game and return to the field to hunt another day. Dr. David M. Woodbury founded Manning’s Lakeside Orthopaedic Center LLC in August 2005 after six years in the U.S. Navy. He can be reached at (803) 433-KNEE (5633).
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See ya later, alligator By Martha Neal Harvell Scarborough’s Landing, Lake Marion
I
was enjoying my last few days of summer vacation at my lake house on Scarborough’s Landing near Wyboo on Friday, Sept. 9. Most every day, I would take my float out and relax in front of the pier between two of the “No Wake” buoys. I would also get off the float and swim to get a little exercise. This particular day, I had already gotten off my float and swam some, but needed to blow my float up since it was somewhat flat. As I was treading water to blow up the float, I thought that I saw two big eyes staring at me from just yards away. I thought to myself, “That cannot be an alligator.” So, I closed my eyes and shook my head and looked again. That
had to be the biggest alligator that I have ever seen! Thoughts were running through my head. “Do I let loose of this flat float with the pillow still blown up and swim like crazy? “Maybe the blue float and all my splashing will scare the alligator away?” I took the latter choice and held on to the float, swimming as fast as I could without looking back. As I was swimming, I saw Scarborough’s owner Joey Baxley running out of his store and into the restaurant to grab his pistol. Then, I saw Joey running out to the end of the pier with his employees running behind him.
SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 19
I was getting really tired and was beginning to slow down thinking that all the commotion had scared the alligator away. However, I heard everyone screaming, “Swim faster! Swim faster!” I knew then that the alligator was still following me, so I took off again until I knew that I could touch the bottom of the lake. As I got off the float and stood up, I turned around and saw the alligator staring at me. He had stopped suddenly and just stared at me! I ran to shore and ran to the end of the pier where everyone had been watching. The alligator was still in that same spot just looking at us. It never even went underwater. I don’t know why that alligator stopped. Maybe it was because I stood up and the alligator saw that I was bigger than he thought, or all the commotion out on the pier had stopped him. All I know is that alligator was after me, and Joey said that the alligator was moving so fast that it looked like a jet ski with waves behind it. Joey made sure that DNR (the Department of Natural Resources) was called and word got out to alligator hunters that a large, aggressive alligator had been at Scarborough’s Landing. In just 24 hours, alligator hunting season began Sept. 10. That night, when I closed my eyes, all I could see were those huge eyes looking into mine. I thought that for sure I had that alligator magnified in my mind, since I had been so scared. I had always been told that alligators were more scared of you than you are of them. I have always enjoyed all of the wildlife around the lake and respected it at the same time. Never in my lifetime had I ever thought that an alligator would come after me. The following afternoon, DNR had killed the alligator which was still near Scarborough’s. They dragged the alligator up to the ramp. When I saw it, I realized that I had not magnified the size of it. It was the same size that I had pictured in my mind the night before as I was trying to sleep. The alligator was estimated to be about 70 years old, and it was 13-feet long and 700 pounds. Like I said earlier, I love and respect the wildlife on the lake. However, I am seeing more and more alligators on Lake Marion. I am a 53-year-old woman that has been on this lake since I was a little girl. I come down every summer from Laurinburg, N.C., to relax and enjoy the lake. Actually, my parents, Paul and Maggie Harris, owned Scarborough’s before Hurricane Hugo, from the 1960s through the 1980s. My two nephews, 9 and 12, spent the summer with me, and we observed alligators several times. I have also taught them to respect and love wildlife and not to be afraid as they are swimming. But are these alligators becoming a threat? Do I have those boys to worry about next summer as they are playing in the water? I hope to be a grandmother in the near future and know that I will want fond memories of teaching them to swim and enjoy the lake like I did with my two children. Well, for now, I am back home in Laurinburg and don’t have to worry about swimming in the lake. I do know that I am lucky that the alligator did not attack me. Next summer, I know that I will get back in that water, but in the back of my mind, I will be thinking, “Are there any alligators close by?” 20 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
Livin’ Lakeside
The saga continues ... Selling used mobile homes By Yana Mathis
R
emember our last issue? I was telling you about the difficulty of getting a closing that involved a used mobile home that was being sold to a guy with great credit, who needed financing from the bank and the difficulties that presented themselves as the process headed to the final closing date. Well, first of all, it did not close on the day we had hoped, but it did happen a week later. Interestingly, we all got to the closing table and the attorney explained that he still didn’t have the title to the mobile home. He instructed my buyer to sign some documents that acknowledged that he was purchasing a mobile home without a title. The seller’s bank had refused to release the title until they had received the entire balance from her. They also said that it would be at least 30 days before the attorney could expect to receive it. So the attorney turns to the seller and says, “In about thirty days, I will call you and you’ll need to come in and sign this title over to the buyer.” He then tells my buyer, “I will call you after it’s signed and you will need to come in for us to sign paperwork to de-title the home.” In other words, the buyer would surrender the title to the Highway Department to change it from personal property status to real property. This will facilitate getting the opportunity to apply the shear wall to the pillars or have footers poured underneath the home to have it qualify for permanent, long term financing. This process is totally optional, but if you are the owner of a mobile home that you either have on the market or are planning to place on the market for sale, I would advise you to have a structural engineer who’s familiar with the Federal Housing Authority lending requirements to come to your property and give you advice. Not only is it safer to live in one that has permanent foundation, but if you want to receive a fair price on your property, this is your best chance to do so. With FHA approval, buyers can get a loan for as little as 5 percent down! If you don’t have the funds to do the foundation, your choices are to owner-finance, rent the home or sell it to the best “cash offer” buyer that you can get.”
I represented a buyer recently that I would put in the category of “investor”. I called him up and told him of a really nice foreclosure mobile home that had already been taken back by the bank and was on the market with a real estate company that only sells bank owned/ foreclosed properties. It was listed for $33,700 and was in a good location. It had brick underpinning, a paved driveway, four bedrooms, two baths, a fireplace and a lot of heated square feet inside. The seller (bank) had already instructed the real estate company to have the yard cut and the home cleaned. The home was missing the air conditioning compressor, and some kitchen appliances. Because of the missing items that my investor buyer would have to replace and the fact that he could walk away from this offer without consequence, he decided to offer $15,000. Just the thought that he could buy a nice home so cheap made him happy! I submitted the “pile” of paperwork that the listing agent required including addendums that ask you to waive the fact that there might be defective Chinese drywall in the SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 21
house, etc. I submitted his offer and waited for an answer. It only took a couple of days for the agent to contact me and inform me that our offer had been beaten by two other higher offers. The highest offer was for full price, but most importantly, by someone that wants to make it their primary residence. The home next to this one is on the market for $68,000 and is worth the asking price but will come under the same scrutiny at the bank if there’s no buyer with cash. Since I wrote my last article, I was called to list a mobile home for sale that also had no permanent underpinning and was missing a refrigerator and stove. I explained the current difficulties of selling mobile homes these days and my sellers have agreed to owner finance and put appliances in if a well qualified buyer comes along that can’t get financing at the bank or doesn’t have the required 2025 percent down payment for a non-FHA loan. I have been stopped by several people who mentioned that this information was helpful to them. I hope it has been to you as well. As a Realtor, my job is to get you the most money I can for your home. That always happens when a seller can contribute to fixing the home up, put it in its most presentable shape and be patient. If you can’t or won’t do these things, then you need to price it sell and “cut it loose!” I hope everyone is enjoying this fall weather. Don’t forget to consult your real estate agent so you’re not leaving any money behind on the closing table! Yana Mathis is a certified Realtor working for AgentOwned Realty of Manning.
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3
MANCHESTER STATE FOREST WMA
SUMTER SUMTER 15 SUMTER SUMTER 15 15 15
3838 38 38
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Pack's Pack's Pack's Pack's landing landing landing landing
CALHOUN CALHOUN CALHOUN CALHOUN
1
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6666
HICKORY TOP WMA
rIMInI rIMInI rIMInI rIMInI
Summerton Summerton Summerton Summerton
3636 36 36
lonestar lonestar lonestar lonestar 33 33 33 33
3737 37 37
3535 35 35 elliott's elliott's elliott's elliott's landing landing Carolina Carolina king landing Carolina king landing king Carolina king retreat retreat &Marina Marina retreat &&Marina retreat &Marina
267 267 267 267
Cameron Cameron Cameron Cameron
3434 34 34
stump Hole stump Hole stump Hole stump Hole landing landing landing landing
2222
Elloree Elloree Elloree Elloree
3232 32 32
santee santee santee santee state Park state Park state Park state Park
2727 27 27
Goat Island Goat Island Goat Island Goat Island resort resort resort Polly's Polly's resort Polly's Polly's landing landing landing landing
2525 25 25
2929 29 29
Lak La Lak La Mar Mar Mari Mar
lake Marion lake Marion lake Marion lake Marion resort Marina resort &Marina Marina resort &&Marina resort &
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elloree elloree elloree elloree 36 36 36 36
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Vance Vance Vance Vance
210 210 210 210
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210 210 210 210
Reevesville Reevesville Reevesville Reevesville
24 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
SANTEE COOPER WMA
453 453 453 453
36 36 36 36
Bowman Bowman Bowman Bowman Orangeburg miles Orangeburg---25 -25 25miles miles Orangeburg Orangeburg 25 miles Florence miles Florence---56 -56 56miles miles Florence Florence 56 miles 178 178 178 Sumter miles Sumter---30 -30 30miles miles178 Sumter Sumter 30 miles Summerton miles Summerton---5-555miles miles Summerton Summerton miles Manning miles Manning---8-888miles miles Manning Manning miles
Mill Creek Mill Creek Mill Creek Mill Creek
Marina Marina Marina 6666 Marina
lakeside Marina lakeside Marina lakeside Marina lakeside Marina resort &resort resort &&resort &
7777
176 176 176 176
2626 26 26
taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw Campground Campground Campground &&&& Campground Marina Marina Marina Marina
john john C.land land john C.C.land IIIIIIIIIIII john C.land Boating Facility Boating Facility Boating Facility Boating Facility
3030 30 30
Santee Santee Santee Santee ORANGEBURG ORANGEBURG ORANGEBURG ORANGEBURG 267 267 267 267 301 301 301 301 6666
Creek Creek Creek Creek landing landing landing landing
santee lakes santee lakes lakes santee lakes 3131 31santee 31 Campground Campground Campground Campground
4444
267 267 267 267
2828 28 28 taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw taw Caw
Cooper's landing Cooper's landing Cooper's landing Cooper's landing and Guide service and Guide service and Guide service and Guide service
3333 33 33
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Park Park Park Park
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176 176 176 176
CLARENDO CLAREND CLAREND 2 CLARENDO
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111 11
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176 176 176 176
Holly Hill HollyHill Hill Holly Holly Hill 453 453 453 453
176 176 176 176 311 311 311 311
Harleyville Harleyville Harleyville Harleyville
27 27 27 27
WILLIAMSBURG WILLIAMSBURG Kingstree WILLIAMSBURG WILLIAMSBURG Kingstree Kingstree Kingstree
Manning Manning Manning Manning
521 521 521 521 2323 23 23
NDON NDON DON NDON
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2121 21 21
scarborough scarborough scarborough scarborough Marina Marina Marina Marina
52 52 52 52
Lil N8’s
2222 22 22
2424 24 24
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Lane Lane Lane Lane
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SANTEE DAM WMA
BERKELEY BERKELEY BERKELEY BERKELEY
Wilson’s Wilson’s
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8 Pineville Pineville52 Pineville Pineville 52 52 52 Palmetto Palmetto Palmetto Palmetto Trail Trail Trail Trail St. Stephen St.Stephen Stephen St. 35 35 St. Stephen 35 35 WEE TEE WMA
Quattlebaum’s Quattlebaum’s Quattlebaum’s Quattlebaum’s
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45 45 45 45
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1414 14 14 Big oak landing Big oak landing Big oak landing Big oak landing
rocks Pond rocks Pond rocks Pond rocks Pond Campground Campground Campground Campground
45 45 45 45
7
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52 52 52 52
MOULTRIE WMA
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41 41 41 41 Bonneau Beach Bonneau Beach Bonneau Beach Bonneau Beach resort resort resort resort
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17 17 17 52 52 17 52 52
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9
FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST WMA
SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 25
Lake Marion Map Information
33 8 14 11 15 35 32 7 36 29 18 10 16 34 23 25 5 9 21
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 Cypress Shores Marina............................... 843-351-4561 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
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Ron Cunningham works on a checklist provided by the Coast Guard Auxiliary during a free vessel safety examination.
28 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
Guarding safety Coast Guard Auxiliary offers free boat inspections Story and photos by Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com
R
on Cunningham never planned to be a vessel safety inspector. Thirty years later, the Pennsylvania native who now calls Wyboo home is serving as the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-1 vessel examination officer. His proudly accepted duties take him throughout the Lake Marion area, and he even ventures into Lake Moultrie to help out boaters that request the auxiliary’s free safety inspections. “Last year was my third season here,” Cunningham said. “My wife knows some people with property in the area; we came to like the place.” Cunningham joined the auxiliary 29 years ago, he said. He had learned about vessel examinations after a friend coaxed him to attend the course. “He was into it, but I was just going along for support, I guess,” Cunningham joked. “Here we are all these years later and I’m still doing it.” The inspections Cunningham and the auxiliary offer in the lake area differ greatly from the ones he performed in his native state. While inspecting Wyboo resident
Carl Schnepf ’s pontoon boat, a 22-foot-long vessel emblazoned with caricatures of Schnepf ’s young grandchildren. “This is probably about one of the longest ones we’d see here,” Cunningham said. “I mean, it’s about one of the longest we’d inspect. People living around this area mostly use their boats for fishing or other activities, so they don’t have these huge vessels you see in some places.” And in some places, Cunningham saw boats nearly three times the size of Schnepf ’s, and nearly every additional foot added more points to the man’s checklist. “A lot of the boats in Pennsylvania that I’d look at were 50 to 65 feet,” Cunningham said. “A boat that large requires a large plan.” The plan, Cunningham said, will encompass what a boat must have on board to be legally operable and, most importantly to Cunningham and the auxiliary, what she must have to make her passengers and crew safe. “For a smaller boat like Carl’s, you check for the basics,” Cunningham said, listing items like life jackets, safety flares, anchors, registration and license. “If anything is out of SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 29
Robert J. Baker Wyboo resident Carl Schnepf recently took advantage of the free vessel safety checks profided by Flotilla 12-1 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, whose safety officer Ron Cunningham inspected
place or out of date, you let them know so they can correct it. We don’t ticket people. That’s not our job. DNR (the Department of Natural Resources) or the Sheriff ’s Department, that’s what they do. We try to keep them legal, but our main purpose in giving these free checks is to keep them safe.” While Cunningham may not write expensive tickets himself, he and other auxiliary members and personnel assist law enforcement agencies throughout the year, particularly during the 100 Deadly Days of Summer, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day that law enforcement notes are the deadliest of the year. “When I go out, a lot of times I just find that people have forgot something, a little thing,” Cunningham said. “The checks just provide one more level of safety when you’re heading out on the water. Schnepf said an inspection shortly before July 4th weekend actually saved him a ticket in an unexpected way. “I didn’t have what he was looking for on board, right?” Schnepf said. “We were on Lake Lanier (near Atlanta, Ga.) and the inspector never said a word about a throw cushion.” Days later, Schnepf was stopped on another lake on the holiday weekend and asked about the cushion, a safety device similar to a life jacket that can be thrown overboard to aid swimmers or someone in danger of drowning. “The cop wanted to know where it was; we didn’t have one,” Schnepf said. “We told him the inspector said nothing about it and I showed him the paperwork that I kept in the boat.” Schnepf also had a sticker confirming he’d passed the check, an
Robert J. Baker The Vessel Safety Check form used by Flotilla 12-1 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary during boat inspections includes checks for everything from life jackets, flares and anchors to registration and other legal information.
30 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
emblem which only a few agencies – the auxiliary included – can provide. “He didn’t give us the ticket, but he did ask us to get one,” Schnepf said. Cunningham said that little things can be forgotten, but that the local auxiliary works hard to ensure the safety of anyone boating on the lake. He said after 30 years of vessel examinations that he is still surprised at how equally surprised boat owners are when they realize they need more on board than registration. “Around here, believe it or not, we do have boat owners who get the registration from the previous owner or the dealer and that’s all they need, they think,” Cunningham said. “They’re not aware that everyone has to have a life jacket and that children under 12 need to wear it all the time.” Cunningham said that adults should wear the jackets all the time, too. Adult boaters are not required to wear life jackets at all time by state law. “It’s a safety factor, though,” he said. “They should. Going overboard happens so quick. And you could be knocked unconscious. The life jacket will, at the very least, right you in the water and most of the time keep you from taking water in your nose and mouth until you drown. If you’re unconscious and can’t swim yourself, or you can’t swim at all anyway, that life jacket is all you’ve got.” He said he’s even more amazed when the auxiliary holds blitzes, random unannounced inspections of boats at various landings around Lake Marion. “You go in and inspect the boats, you find kids 8 and 9 splashing in the water, no life jackets,” Cunningham said. “The parents have put the boat in and don’t have the jackets on the kids. And then they don’t believe you when you tell them they have to have them.” The novice boaters tell Cunningham in most of these cases that they and their children have had swimming lessons. “They’re just having fun,” Cunningham said. “Let kids be kids, they’ve had the lessons, they say. But like I said, you get knocked overboard and you’re unconscious, or you’re in the water already and something happens, that life jacket will keep you afloat.” Cunningham takes his own advice, wearing his life jacket while inspecting boats, even those vessels firmly tethered to their docks. “You lead by example,” he said. The Auxiliary’s checks are free for all boat owners around the Lake Marion area for any time of the year. For more information, call Flotilla Interim Media Officer Sue Carty at (803) 478-7022.
Robert J. Baker The Lake Marion Coast Guard Auxiliary is one of the agencies authorized to provide Vessel Safety Check stickers, which must be displayed for the current year on all boats in South Carolina waterways.
First chartered for their own Lake Marion area in April 2009, the Flotilla 12-1 chapter of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary began as a detachment of the Lake Murray Flotilla in 2007. The Lake Marion chapter is one of seven flotillas working hard to promote safetyconscious water activities, particularly boating, and are providing free vessel safety examinations to all lake residents. All you have to do is bring the boat. “They’re free and priceless,” said Flotilla Interim Media Officer Sue Carty. “They’re free because they don’t cost anything, but they’re priceless because they ensure the safety of you and your family.” Flotilla past commander Perry Moses of Sumter said in 2010 that if the flotilla’s 20 members can curb just one boat fatality, they’ll be doing a good service to their waterfaring neighbors. He said the auxiliary conducted more than 500 such safety checks on Lake Marion in 2009 and about the same number in 2010. Flotilla Vessel Examination Officer Ron Cunningham said he has performed about 60 inspections thus far in 2011. “I’m always ready to do more,” he said. “That’s what I’m here for. That’s what we’re here for.” The safety check is a voluntary, free examination available to any recreational boater and is designed to help boaters ensure their vessel is in compliance with all federal and state safety regulations. Violations found during the safety checks include lack of fire extinguishers, failure of navigation lights to operate properly and insufficient number of personal flotation devices. No citations are issued, nor are results reported to law enforcement. Decals are awarded for those who pass inspection, however. Moses said the auxiliary trains members to carry out inspections and even prepare them for possible search and rescue missions. Founded in 1939, the auxiliary is maintained by civilian members, some of whom have no prior military experience. Carty said the flotilla is always looking for new members to help with the mission. “A lot of our members do have prior military experience, but you don’t have to,” she said. “All you need is a concern for the welfare of your fellow boaters and the will to get out there and make the lake safe for everyone.” SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 31
Tricks and treats Halloween events light up Clarendon and Sumter nightlife for October
I
Story and photos by Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com
f you’re too old to trick-or-treat and too young to pass up a good time, communities throughout the lake area have a variety of fall festivals and Halloween carnivals ready for you. Clarendon County residents know that the end of October is all about Clarendon Hall’s Boo Mania and Laurence Manning’s Cat Fest, both of which have been held for decades as fundraisers for the private schools. A friendly rivalry that exists in sporting and academic events also extends to the schools’ immensely popular Halloween festivals. This year, both events will be held Oct. 29 at 6p.m. Until last year, Boo Mania had been held two consecutive Saturdays, but the economy led organizers to scale the event back. Former Principal Kim Fleming said in 2010 that the change allowed the school to make the one night even better. “Planning just the one night is a lot of work, so with just the one we’re able to just focus on that one event and make it even better,” she said. Boo Mania’s format remains the same for its 22nd year, with the always popular Forest of Horrors returning to scare young and old alike while offering a less-scary alternative for younger ghouls and goblins. “The Forest of Hor-
32 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
rors is better than ever with new, exciting skits along with some familiar favorites,” said L. Travis McIntosh. The only real change for the event is the offer of group rates. While the hayride will cost $6 per person and admission will be $4 for adults, $2 for students and free for senior citizens 65 and older and toddlers 3 and younger, larger groups can pay for separate packages. The first, Package A, provides admission for 25 students, five adult chaperones, 30 hayride tickets and 30 game tickets for $200; Package B allows admission for 10 students, two adult chaperones, 12 hayride tickets and 10 game tickets for $89. They must be requested by Oct. 17 and paid in full by that date as well. Otherwise, prices will be similar to 2010, McIntosh said. Most games will remain 50 cents each. On the other side of the county, Catfest will be jumping in Laurence Manning Academy’s football field. For more than 30 years, the festival has served as the school’s main fundraiser. Coordinator Wendy Davis said the event will be mostly the same as in previous years. Kids, she said, can expect to jump in inflatables, one of which resembles a giant, orange, cat, in keeping with LMA’s
mascot, the Swampcat. “That’s the biggest slide inflatable for the young kids,” Davis said. Live music, as always, will be available throughout the night. Admission will be $5 for adults, $3 for students and free for children 2 and younger. The school’s hayride will be $5 in addition to admission. “We will also have the good food, the barbecue, chicken and dumplings, perleau, catfish stew, shrimp and grits,” Davis said. Sumter residents searching for Halloween on Main this year won’t find it, but Oktoberfest on Main will be the next best bet for Halloween fun. “Halloween on Main has unfortunately been canceled due to
the continuing work downtown,” said Sumter Communications, Tourism and Recreations Director Susan H. Wild. Wild said downtown Sumter will instead transform Oct. 14 to the feel of an old German town for the second Oktoberfest to be held on Main Street hosted by Hamptons restaurant. “(There will be) German beer, wine, music and delicious food that is good for the soul and fun for all ages,” Wild said. Live music will be provided by the Little German Band and Deas-Guys. For more information on Oktoberfest, call (803) 436-2640. For information on Boo Mania, call (803) 485-3550. For information on Catfest, call (803) 435-2114.
SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 33
On the Lake... Right: Robert J. Baker Sumter resident Wardell Stevenson takes a swing on the 17th hole at Foxboro Golf Club on Goat Island during the Scott’s Branch High School Alumni Golf Tournament held Sept. 10.
Photo submitted by Claudia Duncan This beautiful sunset on Lake Marion was taken sometime in fall 2010.
Right: Photo submitted by Tiffany Barwick, Alcolu; Ethan Lowder, 2, and Gavin Barwick, 1, have fun at Myrtle Beach.
34 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
hy Above: Photo provided by Kat Cramer t in A butterfly rests on a Penta plan Sumter Master Gardener Joanne Crowson’s garden. ner Left: Photo provided by April Spig s hold lu, Alco of 3, ner, Mattie Spig the up a fish she caught recently at lake.
Robert J. Baker Wood storks rout for food in the muddy waters at Taw Caw Park near Summerton recently.
SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 35
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haunted hideaway Pick your
Lake area has abundance of spirits, tall tales and myths By Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com
38 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
I
t’s one of the oldest churches in South Carolina, possibly the southeastern United States. Congregations began meeting at Salem Black River Presbyterian Church in what is now the eastern part of Sumter County roughly 17 years before the American colonists declared independence from England. New buildings have come and gone, but the church’s current two-story, red brick structure is an imposing reminder of the site where Presbyterians held church services for 250 years. With such a long past, it’s natural the church and its surrounding cemetery are rife with stories of haunting and paranormal activity. The current building itself is 163 years old; it was built before the Civil War. Its two stories are a reminder of a time where slaves sat in the top story above their masters during church services. For our October LakeSide, we’ve put together some of the lake area’s haunted hideaways, some of which are well known. We hope there are a few you haven’t heard, but we think there are a few that might make you think twice about another nightly visit. Several books from the early 1930s talk about the Presbyterian church that was old even then, a place haunted by a minister whose family died from a plague. It is said the man cursed God and gave himself to Satanic mischief. Late at night, it is said you can sometimes see a light coming from the old shack near the church that used to be his. One of Sumter’s most famous ghost stories, one I heard as a child even, is tied to our state’s Capital City, although www.snopes. com cites the story as an urban legend. The tale typically begins with a driver, a friend’s cousin’s friend no doubt, crossing the Wateree Bridge on U.S. 378 toward Columbia. The night is foggy, rainy or both. The driver spots a hitchhiker, who tells him she is en route to Columbia to visit her mother. She gives a Pickens Street address. In some versions, the pair chat for a while; in others, the woman disappears immediately. But all reveal the woman to be nothing but an apparition, a harrowing idea later confirmed by relating the final truth that a young woman was killed in that exact spot on the bridge in the 1940s. She was on the way to see her mother. Told countless times for decades while referring to every locale imaginable, the Vanishing Hitchhiker can be male or female, young or old, fat or skinny or any other shape or size. Such stories have been turned into movies and even referred to as far back as 1824, the year Washington Irving wrote about such an occurrence “The Lady with the Velvet Collar.” K-Mart even used the trope in 1998 for an advertising campaign. While Sumter has far too many to be printed in one sitting, Clarendon County has a few well-known stories itself. And one of its most popular tales comes from one of its smallest communities. More than 150 years ago, Dr. James B. Kelly inherited family land on the outskirts of Paxville – then named Packsville before confusion with similarly named towns in the state necessitated the name change. The property hosted the family’s colonial home and a sizeable plantation given to Kelly’s own grandfather by King George III of England. Kelly sold his birthright to sisters Mary and Saphronia for payments from the farm to put him through medical school. Mary, noted as the stronger of the two in an account written by Bessie Corbett Holladay held at the Clarendon County Archives and History Center, hired “an itinerant” ditcher to drain her bottom lands and “the poor fellow died of sunstroke out on the ditch bank.”
Mary did not know the man’s name, and the family decided to bury the man under a flowering dogwood tree growing a half-mile from the family home. The late Portia Myers, a columnist for The Item, wrote the following in 1987: “Here the unknown fellow rested in peace until the young medical student came home on a visit and heard the story. He needed a cadaver for his studies and was elated to find one so easily. So, he set about rave robbing, taking the skeleton back to the medical college. After graduation, he returned home to practice his trade. This neighborhood practice took him out all hours of the day and night, and every time he came near Kelley Branch after the sun had set, he was joined by a most unwelcome companion. No matter the mode of travel – horseback or buggy, he was accompanied by this unseen fellow traveler. Upon arriving back home this ‘spirit’ would enter the house, stamnp angrily on the stairs and being to stalk about rattling dry bones. A loud thump would announce that he had dropped the skull and soon all would quiet down, indicating that he had departed until the next time the young doctor rode near the dogwood tree at Kelly Branch.” The angry, unnamed fellow was passed from family member to family member. Mary planned trips to ensure she was home by sundown. It is said she even scared away a possible suitor, a man from Santee seeking a wealthy marriage, by making him cross the branch at sundown. By 1955, the plantation had been sold and several generations of the family lived on lands once owned by Mary and John’s grandfather. Myers and Holladay both wrote that individual members of each generation continued to experience the weird happenings. “However, when the old home was replaced by a modern structure, the ghostly creature evidently elected not to move into such a modern dwelling, as he was never heard from again,” Myers wrote. Clarendon’s other prominent haunting occur at the Indian Mound where colonial forces led by Gens. Thomas Sumter and Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion routed Fort Watson during the Revolutionary War, taking a key supply base between Camden and Charleston from the British. Now located inside the Santee National Wildlife Refuge in North Santee, the mound was reported as haunted as late as the 1970s to the Francis Marion Trails Commission. People reported seeing a white object near the mound’s base, and travelers avoided the seemingly eerie site at night. Some years after the Civil War, a man living about two miles from Wright’s Bluff was riding home when his gentle horse snorted and leaped, almost throwing him from the animal. As the man attempted to calm the animal, he noticed he was near Fort Watson and spotted a ghostly white object near the mound. The former Confederate soldier, described by “The State” in 1912 as “fearless” and “unflinching,” approached the object in terror, tying his horse to a small tree when the animal refused to press forward. Ahead, only feet away, the man saw the ghostly white outline of a bewildered, meek cow. Information gathered from Item archives and microfilm with help from Clarendon County Archives Director Nancy Cave and Francis Marion Trails Commission Director Bob Barrett. SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 39
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Chris Heinning shows off a Largemouth Bass he caught Sept. 20 on Lake Marion. Heinning runs a guided fishing business out of his Sumter home.
Office with a lake view Air Force veteran ventures into boat tour business Story and Photos by R. Darren Price dprice@theitem.com
C
hris Heinning has two offices. The first, tucked in the back of his home, is pretty similar to most home offices. There’s a computer where he does most of his work, a phone and a chair in the far corner for someone to sit during appointments. A plaque shows his membership in the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce; the first dollar he ever earned sits framed just below it. His second office – one of his two fishing boats – is much more peaceful. Water laps the motor-blade side as he backs the smaller of his two into Lake Marion near Pack’s Landing. It’s armed with all
42 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
the things that would make an avid angler dangerous – fish-finding GPS, dozens of different style rods and boxes upon boxes of various types of tackle. For most men, Heinning’s second office would be a perfect Saturday out of the house. But for Heinning, it really is a job – he’s one of South Carolina’s newest fishing guides. “My goal is to help fishermen of all ages have the outdoor time of their lives,” he said. Heinning, a 27-year Air Force veteran who recently retired from Shaw Air Force base, has been guiding fishermen in South Carolina’s ponds and lakes for just under a year now. Though he’s new to the business, he’s not by any means new to fishing. His grandfather
and father both taught him to fish when he was a child, and he’s been at it ever since. And, he said, the transient nature of life in the military has given him the chance to fish some world-class lakes–from Lake Erie in New York to great cat fishing lakes in the Southeast. When he was finishing his Air Force career at Shaw Air Force Base, he got familiar with the Santee-Cooper lakes and even fished some of the small mill ponds around Sumter. His 25 years of experience, he said, have taught him to find the sweet spots in any freshwater body. Heinning said he could have stayed a fishing hobbyist when he retired from the military. Retiring with the rank of major, he’s SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 43
Chris Heinning works with a piece of bait.
Chris Heinning gets a hook ready to fish.
earned it. But he wanted to share the experience with other people. So he went to some of the fishing guides he had met since he moved to Sumter and got their blessings. Then, he said, it was time to start sharing his experience with others. “Fishing is my passion, so I had to give guiding a shot,” he said. “One of the best parts is getting to know all the new people.” Guided fishing, he said, is just like any other business. He had to get various certifications to take people out on the water. Background checks and emergency medical training are also par for the course. Every time he schedules a trip, he said, he’ll try to get out on the water in advance to get everything ready to go. “There’s a lot more that goes into a trip than you might think,” he said. “It’s not just going out on the water.” He adds a bit of his personal touch to the trips as well. Trekking the waterway in advance helps to ensure that his clients get to hit the spots with the highest chance of catching something. He also dresses more professionally than one might expect – he wears freshly-cleaned fishing garb adorned with “Captain Chris’ Fishing Guide Service.” And he keeps an up-to-date website with a blog, a Twitter account and Facebook page. “In the old days, you would just pick up a guide at a marina,” he said. “Now, we’ve got apps and blogs just like everybody else.” Heinning said his clients have ranged from beginners to fishermen looking for a leg up at competition at B.A.S.S. series competitions in the state. He said he’s game for any type of customer, but he really wants to get beginners out on the water. “I love seeing their faces light up when they catch that first fish,” he said. “It’s priceless.”
44 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
Chris Heinning started guiding fishing tours after retiring from the U.S. Air Force last year.
Chris Heinning’s GPS and Fish Finder system. Heining, a local fishing guide, likes to keep the most up-to-date technology in his boat for his clients.
He might just be the best person to teach a beginner, too He guides the boat out to a spot on the northern part of Lake Marion, near a train bridge. He grabs the box of tackle and pulls out a piece of artificial bait – a green, rubbery looking worm that screws into the top of a slightly weighted hook. “It’s a shaky-head,” he said, explaining how the body of the bait shakes as the line is jerked around and reeled in, alluring largemouth bass looking for an afternoon snack. That particular bait, he said, is particularly good for the area, where the slightly-deeper water needed to build the bridge can pull in more fish looking for something springy. On an afternoon day, he said, he would spray the bait with fish juice and dip it in fluorescent paint to make it look more attractive. “It’s all about the presentation,” he said. “If you’re not that hungry and you see a chip or something that looks good, you’re still probably going to eat it.” Another big part of guiding a fishing trip is patience, Heinning said. At the train bridge, for example, he said, a beginner might get their line hung up several times. As a guide, he said, he can’t get upset when he untangles a line for the twelfth time. And he can’t just ignore kids who might get bored when the fish aren’t biting as well. “I have to be aware of their moods,” he said. “Sometimes, I’ll find things that might interest people, like some of the birds on the lake or other things.” But, he said, even with stresses, it’s still a great way to spend a day at the office. And if he gets the chance to drop a line of his own, he might get a reward for all the work he’s put in. “Fishing is my job,” he said. “But it’s also my hobby.” For more information, email Heinning at CaptChrisFishing@aol.com or visit his website, captchrisfishing.com. SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 45
From left, Ro and Al Benish and Martha and Pete Coates have traveled the country for more than a decade, staying in RVs or other lodging in places where they trade that lodging for volunteer work. Most recently, the couples have been aiding the Santee National Wildlife Refuge near Summerton.
A road rarely traveled Retired couples travel the country seeking volunteer opportunities
A
Story and photos by Robert J. Baker bbaker@theitem.com
l Benish’s life on the road working at various public parks with wife Ro is far removed from his career days with the CIA. The couple is one of a thousand that travel the United States in RVs or campers, stopping and volunteering at any place that has work for them to do. “We’ve been going now for about 14 years, I’d say,” Benish said Sept. 17 during the Beach/River Sweep at the Santee National Wildlife Refuge. “We began staying at the refuge earlier (in
46 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
September).” But the couple doesn’t use refuge lodging; they stay in their motor-home in a designated area provided by the refuge. The setup is the same most anywhere the couple travels. “We have everything we need,” Ro Benish said. “There’s a grocery store nearby if we need something. We volunteer at the refuge during the day, and we help whatever way we can to repay the generosity of allowing us to stay at this beautiful place.” The Benishes were one of three couples helping with the sweep
that Saturday, and one of two living the RV volunteer lifestyle. John and Martha Coates hit the Alaska Highway in March 1999, leaving their home near Jacksonville, Fla., to take their first volunteer jobs with state parks in the remote state. “We had always traveled a lot,” Martha said. “This was something we talked about and knew it was what we wanted to do. We’ve been volunteering and traveling ever since.” As many Americans debated the possibility of Y2K computer issues causing a shutdown of electricity and other necessities, the Coateses were debating where to go first. “That was probably the easiest decision, though,” John said. After roughly two months on the road while visiting family and friends along the way, the couple arrived in Alaska in time for Memorial Day weekend. “The jobs that we had taken as volunteers required us to be there by Memorial Day weekend,” John said. The couple’s only guide is a website listing volunteer opportunities throughout the country; they browse options before signing up and committing to the job. “We make all of our decisions through the site,” Martha said. “We just look for something interesting, something we might like to do and where we can help, and we sign-up. For a lot of the jobs, it will tell you when you have to be there, like for a Fourth of July weekend, or with Memorial Day weekend like our first trip to Alaska.” The work has taken the couple through remote parts of Canada and nearly every U.S. state, though they admit they haven’t seen much of the northeast. “We just haven’t been up that way,” John said. “One part of this life is also being able to visit family and friends along the way. We don’t really have any ties to that area.” “But I would love to go up to Maine,” Martha interjected. She said while Alaska is remote in its separation from the contiguous United States, California’s Big Sur was likely the trip that took them the farthest from society. “Big Sur is extremely remote; there’s not much around for hundreds of miles, no stores, no stops, nothing,” Martha said. “It’s not the type of placed you just come upon.” The beautiful California park serves as a refuge for myriad wildlife, including dolphins, who can be eyed from a distance from the stunning, yellow California poppy fields.
“It’s just a beautiful place,” Martha said. “We try to look for the beauty in the places we visit. That’s what brought us to the refuge.” The couple said in mid-September that they would be leaving the refuge in two to three weeks, having arrived earlier in the summer. Park Ranger Susan Heisey said the couple have helped with everything from the river sweep to showing visitors around the park. Aside from the refuge’s beauty, Martha said, the couple chose the area because of prior work with Heisey. “We had worked with her in North Carolina before, and we were trying to go back there but saw she had moved on,” Martha said. “When we discovered she was here, we decided to come down.” Heisey said the Coateses and Benishes have been committed during their time at the refuge. “I was so pleased when (Martha and John) contacted me and were interested in coming to Santee National Wildlife Refuge; they are great folks to work with and it was great to reconnect with old friends,” Heisey said. “Al and Ro … are always reading and learning about the plans and animals here on the refuge. They have been a great help to us here at Santee National Wildlife Refuge.” Both couples said their time at the refuge has been unforgettable; their only regret is that more local residents don’t visit the wildlife sanctuary. “People don’t know what they have here,” John said. “It’s a beautiful place, and the refuge would be the envy of some of the other public parks we’ve been to,” Al interjected. “You have so much here, and it doesn’t seem like folks around here value what they have here. Or they don’t know about it.” John surmised that the refuge’s semi-remote location makes it a less appealing recreation destination for locals. “We are in a rural area to start with, so perhaps people believe it’s just like visiting their back yard,” he said. “I don’t know. If they’d come out here and see what they have, I think they’d be really proud of it. We may’ve had more people out here to help with the sweep.” The couples joined Robert and Jeanette Beatson during that sweep. The Sumter residents were the only locals to help with the sweep. “You’ve got a real jewel here,” Ro said. “It’s a shame more people don’t realize it.” SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 47
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Making the Transition from Renting to Buying
N
o doubt you’ve thought of how nice it would be not to write a rent check every month, but have you done the math? Nothing can make you feel more secure than owning your own house, unless buying a home will create financial problems of its own. Here’s a discussion of the most important financial costs associated with home buying to stack up against your monthly rent check. Instead of the standard deduction on your income tax return, most homeowners itemize their deductions, allowing them to deduct the following (and save on taxes): home mortgage interest, property real estate taxes, state income taxes, gifts to charity, medical and dental expenses over 7.5% of your income, personal property taxes, and most moving expenses. Figure your monthly payments if you were to buy. Compare your monthly rent to a calculation of the following: purchase price and down payment of your home, your annual income (and debt!), property tax rate, home insurance rate, interest rate and length of loan. For best results, contact a home-buying specialist. OTHER COSTS Expect other costs to homeowning. Along with your monthly mortgage and down payment, there’s property tax and homeowners insurance premiums, and fees known as “closing costs.” These include everything from a credit check to “points”- interest paid up-front in return for a lower interest rate. Others: title insurance fee, survey charge, attorney/escrow fees, and loan origination. So do your research! LONG-TERM EQUITY No discussion of home ownership is complete without considering the long-term benefits of owning. What your house will be
Why pay more for your new system?
LIFESTYLE AND MOBILITY Mobility is part of renting. Freedom to take the next job or move for a relationship is easy to come by when you rent a home. And when you do move, there’s often more choice of specific location, and price, when you seek rental housing. Want an apartment near a park in western Philadelphia? You may find an easier time looking to rent than buy. Many renters say they love knowing they’re not tied down - and don’t have to assume financial responsibility for their living space. This is of course a big difference from home ownership: who does the work. WHO DOES THE WORK While you don’t receive the joys of making a place truly “your own,” you do have limited costs in renting. Landlords are responsible for general upkeep and safety, allowing you to focus on the fine points. Homeowning, in contrast, puts you in the driver’s seat. You shoulder the expenses and reap the rewards of home improvement - both great and small. Think about whether you want to put in additional time and money. CHOICES, CHOICES Whether you decide to take the step of home ownership is a personal choice with its own ups and downs. Hopefully we’ve helped dust off the magic ball a bit; what you see in your future is up to you!
DEE'S RENTALS
Lake Marion Area Monthly and Long Term Rentals
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worth when you sell depends on the state of your mortgage and the housing market, in particular. Consult with real estate professionals, read up, and do your math to get a realistic sense of your future home value.
Jimmy Mathis
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www.deelakerentals.com 322 South Mill St. • Manning, SC
803-433-7355
20 Years Property Manager Experience
Dee Osteen SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 49
THE AREA’S BEST LISTINGSLakeside or In Town! Susan Stroman
803-505-2674 thestromanteam@gmail.com
Lake Marion waterfront dream home in Wyboo Plantation! 4BR, 5BA, 3400SF home with beautiful walnut flooring downstairs, gorgeous master bedroom & bath. Lakeside entertaining area features heated pool & spa. Pier is complete with boat & jet ski lift. Priced to sell at $549,000.
Gated retirement community in Santee! 2BR, 2BA duplex, totally renovated in 2010. Excellent Buy at $82,500.
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803-505-2674 Plug into the power of print and online newspaper advertising today. Newspaper advertising gets attention, and it gets results. In fact, newspaper websites are the number-one local site in 22 of the top 25 markets. * Statistics published by the Newspaper Association of America from independent researchers.
call 803-435-8511 to advertise, in print and online.
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50 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
LAKESIDEClassifieds
Robert J. Baker Roark Ferguson of Reptile Adventures shows a young alligator recently at Camp Woodie.
Davis Painting & Pressure Washing
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Ding Dong AVON calling! $10 to start. Let’s talk! Call Vi Milliard 803-934-6292 vi.avon@yahoo.com
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THE AREA’S BEST LISTINGS
Lakeside or In Town!
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1517 Scott Lake Road, $342,900 Owner financing available on this waterfront home located on a beautiful . .75 acre lot overlooking Lake Marion. Huge oak trees on the property for shade while watching sunsets. Sunroom on back is 14X38.
Reduced! 1580 Lakeview Drive, $540,000 Lovely 3BR, 3BA custom built on Lake Marion in White Oak Pointe. One must see it to take it all in. Bonus room has a full bath and can be used as a 4th BR. Sandy beach, pier, panoramic view, hottub on screened porch.
We've got a home for you!
6880 Bloomville Road, $109,900 47.72 acres located on Bloomville Rd. Beautiful home site in back of property. Great home site!
by the lake! To promote your listings contact Gail or Ashley at (803) 435-8511 SANTEELAKESIDE.COM 51
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Cash, Check, Credit Cards and Financing are available 52 OCTOBER • NOVEMBER 2011 | LAKESIDE
Open: Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm • Sat: 10am-5pm • Closed Sunday Layaway Available - See store for details