2023 S.C. Press Association Awards Presentation (Part B)

FOOD WRITING

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE Samantha Winn

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

SECOND PLACE Samantha Winn The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

FOOD

FIRST PLACE Samantha Winn

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

FOOD WRITING WEEKLY 3,000-6,500

DIVISION

THIRD PLACE Travis Jenkins

Bond referendum the subject of many citizen comments at CCSD meeting

School board weighs in on referendum vote

BY BRIAN GARNER BGARNER@ONLINECHESTER.COM

After listening to citizen comments on the bond referendum that failed to pass and why, the members of the Chester County School Board had their chance to add their own comments at the May board meeting.

Board member Brenda Fort pointed out that the referendum questions did not address two needs at Great Falls High School, namely, the repair of the theatrical lighting at the School’s Little Theater and the need for a “dump shower” in the science rooms, in case a student was splashed with chemicals.

“Since we are not considering another bond referendum (which was confirmed following the meeting by Superintendent Dr. Antwon Sutton) how are we going to pay for it?”

SECOND PLACE Zach Giroux

BY BRIAN GARNER BGARNER@ONLINECHESTER.COM

The recent failed bond referendum has the Chester County School District asking ‘Where do we go from here?’ Four citizens lined up at the May school board

meeting to tell them. The board members also got the chance to provide their comments on the bond referendum and what they feel are the next steps. (See related story).

Contrary to popular rumor,

though Superintendent Dr. Antwon Sutton has confirmed the school board and district have not made any plans to put a bond referendum on the ballot in November.

Per school board policy,

Anything ‘butt’ ordinary

BY TRAVIS JENKINS TJENKINS@ONLINECHESTER.COM

When it comes to the culinary arts, inspiration can come from interesting places. Inspiration and the art of outdoor cooking were on display two weeks ago at Chester’s annual Hog on the Hill barbecue contest. As per usual, the event (which drew 10 competitive teams) featured an “Anything Butt” contest, a rib cook off and the main event of a barbecue contest.

The “Anything Butt” contest opens the event on Friday and as the name suggests, teams can prepare any food they like aside from pork butts. Ray Dotson’s Rise ‘n’ Swine team was one of the local competitors. His “Anything Butt” entry represented a break from the normal barbecue side item fare of baked beans or an alternate meat offering. His dish wasn’t savory at all; it was a key lime mousse dessert. His inspiration was actually a recent family holiday meal.

“My mother-in-law made

it on Easter Sunday,” he said. “She served it in margarita glasses. I tried it and said, ‘I’m doing this for Anything Butt,’ ” he said.

Chuck Holland, of the Back Alley BBQ team, was inspired to take up competitive cooking after first being a barbeque judge.

“I thought, ‘How hard could it be?’ ” Holland laughed, adding that the answer was “very.” He didn’t grow up with barbecue, since in his original home of Pennsylvania, people’s idea of “barbecue” is just grilling burgers and hot dogs. He was originally on a team with a few other out-of-staters called “Four Damn Yankees” before starting a new team with a new name. He made chicken tacos for the “Anything Butt” contest, which sold out quickly.

Donnie Crawford is the cook for SC Smokey D’s BBQ out of Buffalo. He is slated to compete in 11 contests across the state this year and has already collected some hardware this season. He also went with a

dessert dish for “Anything Butt,” whipping up a key lime dip. It’s not really a family recipe or something he makes very often.

“It was a pretty last-minute thing. I don’t do many Anything Butt contests,” he said. Then there was another local, that being Jim Bennett of Smoke by Day, Fire by Night. He was the only team not to compete in the “Anything Butt” contest at all, but came to Hog on the Hill a bit short-handed.

“We’re a three-member team and we have one guy who specializes in Friday night and he’s not here,” Bennett said.

Once teams turned in their “Anything Butt” entries to the judges and served the public, it was time to turn their attention to the barbecue contests. Most would not put their ribs on until early in the morning, since that is a much quicker cook than pork butts. So they began trimming the butts,

the public comment period is set at 15 minutes, and speakers usually have about three minutes each to express their concerns. Presiding officer board chair Doug Shannon

The News and Reporter

She proposed that the money collected by the school district from Fairfield County for the students in the Mitford area, which is in Fairfield County, who attend the Great Falls schools. The amount is about $650,000

Daniel Island News

Tournament chef a trailblazer in the culinary arena

ZACH GIROUX zach@thedanielislandnews.com

Before cooking progressed from home economics to culinary arts, it was simply an act to feed mouths. Little did Kimberly Brock Brown know that her life would revolve around managing the kitchen and making delicious food for professional athletes, celebrities and the most sophisticated of palates.

Portion of Pinckney Road will be named after

Gen. Gary McCoy Campaign started by McCoy’s teacher, the late David Hagler

BY BRIAN GARNER

BGARNER@ONLINECHESTER.COM

Former Chester County Supervisor Shane Stuart

and Chester County Council were tireless in their efforts to get a portion of Pinckney Road named to honor Chester native and Maj. General Gary T. McCoy. Now

Brown, who is this year’s Executive Chef for the Credit One Charleston Open, comes from more humble beginnings than her fine dining resume shows. Before she gained more than 30 years of experience in the culinary industry, before she became the first Black female chef to be elected to and is and now president of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) - she was a young girl who needed to learn how to cook for her siblings.

Then, she began to love what she cooked.

In a kitchen overlooking the Windy City of Chicago, Brown first honed her cooking skills. She credits her parents for subjecting her to delectable homemade meals.

“Mom could throw down in the kitchen

and dad wasn’t bad either,” Brown said with a smile.

After graduating high school with a fondness for home economics, Brown was poised to make a career out of cooking. She had college offers to culinary schools such as the

University of Tennessee, but Brown elected to take a path less traveled and that made all the difference.

After rejecting an acceptance letter to Tennessee, at just 18 years old, Brown moved to Dallas to live with her sister. Soon, she was waiting tables and making more cash than her college educated sister.

One day Brown picked up a newspaper and read about a person graduating from an ACF apprenticeship at Dallas College.

She knew she didn’t stumble across this by happenstance, it was fate, and she decided to pursue it.

Brown graduated from the program as a certified cook and never looked back.

Later on, after several stints that took her all around the southeast, she ended up in Charleston as a pastry chef at The Omni Hotel, which is now The Belmont Hotel. That is, until the tennis tournament came calling.

Brown worked in the kitchen at last year’s tournament under the hospitality’s general manager Travis Maynard. This year, there’s no “COVID-19 bubble” or strict no contact with players or an experience without fans –and Brown was promoted to executive chef

to oversee the entire operation. From a logistical standpoint, Brown is tasked with feeding approximately 50 media personnel, 250 volunteers and employees and all the players breakfast, lunch and dinner on a daily basis. She summed up how much food she prepares for the tournament succinctly, “It’s a lot.”

As for the food, all of the dishes are labored from scratch. Brown oversees all of the shopping and ordering of ingredients. As for what’s on the menu, honestly, a little bit of everything in order to satisfy everyone’s appetite, especially players’ taste buds on an international scale.

WHAT’S ON THE MENU?

As for the menu, which has both vegan and allergen-free options, for breakfast one can expect choices like quiche or frittatas alongside a myriad of berries. According to last year’s inventory, Brown said that she went through six flats of strawberries per day. A flat contains 12 pints of strawberries. One pint weighs approximately three-quarSee CHEF on PAGE 35

PHOTO BY BRIAN GARNER/THE N&R

Chris McKeown was one of four citizens who addressed the Chester County School Board at their May meeting on issues surrounding the failed $263 million bond referendum.

all of that effort has paid off. The General Assembly passed a Concurrent

FILE PHOTO

The late David Hagler, left, is shown with his student, retired Maj. General Gary T. McCoy and his wife, Emily.

PROVIDED Kimberly Brock Brown is this year’s Executive Chef for the Credit One Charleston Open.

FOOD WRITING

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Marie Rocha-Tygh

Daniel Island News

Great story captures a variety of views on the bartending industry. Cheers!

FOOD WRITING

WEEKLY OVER 6,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE Hannah Wade

The Post and Courier

Columbia/Free Times

SECOND PLACE

John Jeter

Greenville Journal

FOOD WRITING

WEEKLY OVER 6,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Great food writing is like any really good writing. It has to be enjoyable, entertaining and informative. The Charleston City Paper is very tough competition in this category with several excellent entries by various writers. They tell enough about food, the food business and food people to cover this category completely and in an excellent manner. Congratulations!

Michael Pham

Charleston City Paper

FOOD WRITING

DAILY UNDER 7,500 & 7,500-20,000 DIVISIONS COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

Samantha Swann

Herald-Journal

SECOND PLACE

Karl Puckett

The Island Packet

Event returns to Sumter Career and Technology Center after hiatus

The competition was fierce with spinning mixers, flying hot trays and icing swirls for the return of Cupcake Wars.

Sumter County Museum to host city-wide scavenger hunt Saturday with history theme

BY ALAYSHA MAPLE alaysha@theitem.com

Throw on your thinking caps. The Sumter County Museum is offering a chance to participate in scavenger hunt across the city. The museum announced its first historical marker and monument scavenger hunt, “It Happened in Sumter,” on Nov. 5. The hunt is geared toward adults; however, families with older children are encouraged to join.

“While the museum has offered many children’s scavenger hunts on its grounds in the past, this is the first time the museum has expanded off museum property and focused on a hunt for adults,” said Annie Rivers, executive director at the museum. “With a city full of history, the museum is excited to help residents connect with it in this fun manner.”

Those interested in participating should

SEE HUNT, PAGE A6

long-anticipated competition. The last time it was held was in fall 2019, before the pandemic, with only four students taking part.

“2019 was rough because we’re used to having extra hands, so everybody was

kind of on their own,” said Kia Smith, head chef of the culinary program. “And then there was COVID.”

The jump from four to 17 was a big difference, and Kia Smith attributed it to students wanting to get back to the classroom with hands-on, in-person learning. Her goal this year was to get everyone back in the flow of things, including her kitchen.

“I’m ready to get back to normal,” she said, and she got just that. The kitchen was chaos — in the best way. Shouts of “hot tray” and team members’ names being shouted across the kitchen were paired with culinary tools clanking to the table tops. The students were split into four teams. Each team created three cupcakes to be presented to judges and a dozen more to be placed on a homemade display, all of which revolved around the

also asked good questions of the students. I know it’s not part of the this contest, but the layout is also great.

FOOD WRITING

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Kalyn Oyer

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

Lillia Callum-Penso

Greenville News

FOOD WRITING

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Parker Milner The Post and Courier

A very well-written and important story surrounding the past and present of Charleston’s beer industry.

I loved the different perspectives from your sources and historical narrative! Well done!

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WRITING

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Samantha Winn

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

SECOND PLACE

Jordan Lawrence

Lexington County Chronicle

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WRITING WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Samantha Winn

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

Great storytelling here. You really made this piece come alive.

Former sheriff to run for county council

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WRITING

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Travis Jenkins

The News and Reporter

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WRITING

WEEKLY OVER 6,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Margaret Evans Lowcountry Weekly

You have a beautiful way of storytelling! All your entries were wonderful, but this one stood out. A great story and wonderfully told! Well done!

ate there five times. told friend that was addicted to Yum, which made me channel my inner Robert Palmer, “I’m gonna have to face it, I’m addicted to Yum.” With my love for wordplay and parodies, couldn’t stop singing my musical creation. The only thing missing from my moment of imaginative retro ‘80s genius was business suit and bunch of ladies dressed up black dresses and caked-on makeup to dance behind me. For those of you too young have any idea as the song reference or the video, Yum is hiring. In

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WRITING

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Musical connections

St. Claire Donaghy Index-Journal

screening of the Spielberg film at Greenwood’s Premiere Lux Cine 10. Kirk Husser, who played Tony of the Jets in the GCT productions, arranged the screening. Husser planned to surprise his fellow cast members with vintage footage of themselves on the big screen before the new movie’s start, but technical difficulties prevented that.

Still, Husser gave each of his fellow cast members thumb drives with digitized images of what he had hoped to surprise them with on screen.

“Many of the cast from 1984 are still around, and quite few are still in Greenwood,” Husser told the Index-Journal in December. “I thought us having the movie theater to ourselves to see the new movie version would be kinda cool.”

The movie did not disappoint, eliciting applause from the GCT actors following various musical numbers, including: the group number, “America” and the saucy “Gee, Officer Krupke.”

Tuesday’s private screening viewers also applauded Rita Moreno, who played the role of Anita in the 1961 film.

In Spielberg’s 2021 film, Moreno stars as Valentina, the widow of Doc, and Moreno is executive producer for this reboot. She performs tender, moving rendition of the song, “Somewhere,” changing things up from the way the musical has traditionally been done.

There are plenty more fresh twists, to keep audiences entertained and grow a new generation of musical fans. Stewart Cooner, now 50, and standing well over feet tall, was just 12 when he played the Jet Baby John in the GCT show. The new movie, Cooner said, is very enjoyable.

“We never had a gun in any rehearsal we ever did. Opening night, we had the first real gun, with real blanks... come out (in character) yelling for this guy to shoot me, and he does. Flames shot out of the gun for a distance of about three feet and burned the side of my face. didn’t have any trouble (in character) hitting the ground and being dead, because didn’t really know if was shot, or not. ... Everybody on stage, and everybody in the theater, screamed.”

Jeff Smith, who played the leader of the

Sharks, Bernardo, in the GCT productions, said Spielberg’s 2021 film “is really, really good” commenting on how this update is socially aware, bringing realism to gang conflicts, New York neighborhood settings and layers of subtexts that keep it modern and engaging, yet true to its roots.

“I had family in Brooklyn who we would visit when was growing up,” Smith said. “The rooms, with the push button light switches, brought it all back.”

Smith said his own character’s death scene in the GCT production unintentionally drew laughs, when the curtain closed at scene’s end and half of his torso was still visible to the audience.

I like personal stories, and among the submissions this is the one I believe came closest to getting to the personal side of the story with Kirk Husser’s part in the article.

— Kirk Husser

Cast member of the 1984 production

“GCT, back then, leaked light,” Smith said, noting this was decades before major theater renovations and the space was never totally dark, even when lights went dark. “Nobody was backstage pulling me out of view of the audience, so just start scooting myself off stage. As a dead guy.”

Andrea Emerine Shepherd, vocal instructor now, who played Jets girl Minnie in the GCT shows, said Spielberg’s movie “takes you on a whole different ride. was so happy to see different things. ...Dances made their way into scenes more organically.”

In 1984, Husser said he was 25, working in manufacturing, married with one young child at

Husser as Tony of The Jets in Greenwood Community Theatre’s 1984 production of the musical “West Side Story.” Husser arranged for private screening of the new 2021 film version for former GCT cast members, giving them a chance to reconnect.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WRITING

DAILY 7,500-20,000 & OVER 20,000 DIVISIONS COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

Caroline Williamson

The Sun News

SECOND PLACE

Kalyn Oyer

The Post and Courier

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WRITING

DAILY 7,500-20,000 & OVER 20,000 DIVISIONS COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

The Post and Courier

I like the way this story painted a picture of the subject. It brings him to life.

Maura Hogan

ELIZABETH HORTON

news@thedanielislandnews.com

Meet Agua — a former shelter dog turned detective for Berkeley County’s Water and Sanitation Department. She’s a uniquely qualified, highly trained Labrador Retriever-mix equipped to identify water leaks in service lines and water mains.

Agua is the first water leak detection dog in South Carolina and is gainfully employed by the county, but she’s not in it for the paycheck. She works solely for treats.

In 2019, the county’s Water and Sanitation director learned about water leak detection dogs being used in other states and it piqued his curiosity.

Fast forward to October 2020, Berkeley Animal Society donated Agua to Berkeley County Water and Sanitation. Taylor James, assistant public information officer for Berkeley County, remarked that Agua was the right candidate for the job, since the Labrador and Retriever breeds are known for their keen scent work.

For six months, Agua trained extensively with Donna Murray, owner of Lowcountry

SECOND PLACE Don Kausler Jr. The News, Kingstree

Dog Training and now, continues to hone her skills on a weekly basis. She is on the job every day with handler, Tim McKnight, a BCWS service truck operator. During the weekend, Agua enjoys her time off as a typical, well-loved family pet.

According to Murray, the training started with just the basics, covering obedience. Then, she introduced her to “the smell”— water mixed with a little bleach to mimic treated water, and taught her how to locate it. When she finds the scent, Agua stops, marks it with her paw, scratches the area, and looks up at her handler. Then, she’s rewarded.

“We started with just that scent (bleach) and after being successful with that, I added other smells. We worked inside the building and outside finding her scent,” Murray explained.

Challenges do pop up from time to time, and Murray explained that Agua sometimes does “get distracted by squirrels, children and dogs. She doesn’t always warm up to people. However, she is great in the field.”

Agua has already been successful in

detecting several service line leaks in the county, including utilities in neighboring municipalities.

She even paid an official visit to her old stomping grounds — The Berkeley County Animal Center.

Officials noted that during one particular call in October 2021, Agua was able to identify a sewer line leak at a construction site within 30 minutes after a contractor had spent many days trying to locate it. Once the leak is detected, repairs can be made.

“Agua has turned out to be a great asset for Berkeley County Water and Sanitation and the County as a whole, saving us lots of time and money — and she never calls out sick,” stated Doug Tompkins, BCWS director. “Our success with this unique canine is due largely in part to Berkeley Animal Center, Lowcountry Dog Training, and Pet Supplies Plus of Goose Creek. We are confident Agua will continue to be a vital community resource in the future.”

Murray added, “She is a tribute to what amazing dogs can be found in shelters.”

PROVIDED

Agua is happy to be employed by Berkeley County as a water leak detection dog.

STORY WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 &

DIVISIONS COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Charles Swenson Coastal Observer

Books by the bundle

By Charles Swenson COASTAL OBSERVER

Deanna Snyder didn’t need a bag.

“I’ll only get one or two books,” she said before the doors opened at the annual Friends of the Waccamaw Library book sale.

She soon had an armful of books, and she wasn’t ready to stop.

The sale is strictly BYOB, meaning bag or perhaps box. A fellow reader offered Snyder’s husband, Ken, a bag, which they promptly filled.

Louanna Sowa came with four bags.

“I’m buying books for my sister, too,” she explained.

Eli Hornyak, who owns the Bookworm in Murrells Inlet, came with boxes. He filled three with books that he planned to resell at his store. He said the sale always offers a good selection.

John Brophy came from Mount Pleasant with a folding box on wheels. He took his time filling it.

“I do a lot of library sales,” he said, but this was his first at the Waccamaw

Library. He joined the Friends at the door so he could get first dibs with the other members.

Brophy also deals in used books, but sells his on Amazon as a hobby. “Mostly biographies and non-fiction,” he said. His wife planned to join him for a weekend of browsing and matching titles with the demand shown by the online retailer.

n The Waccamaw sale “is not as big, but the books are a lot cheaper” than at sales in the Charleston area, Brophy said.

Hayleigh Owens was another firsttimer. She didn’t bring a bag. Her mother helped her carry some of the classic volumes that caught her eye.

The volunteers were happy to make an exception and find her a box. In went the two-volume “Annotated Sherlock Holmes,” the complete works of William Shakespeare and “Moby Dick,” whose title character could serve as a metaphor for many of the book sale’s patrons.

3,000-6,500

Even for a short piece, the reporter got several viewpoints instead of just one or two, and a fun lead made for a fun read. Liked the use of photos to make an attractive package.

FRIENDS OF THE WACCAMAW LIBRARY

Photos by Charles Swenson/Coastal Observer

Buyers head in search of books on opening night of the Friends of the Waccamaw Library sale.

Louanna Sowa with her bags. Hayleigh Owens fills a box.

THIRD PLACE Bob Sofaly The Island News

SECOND PLACE Joan Yates The Link

Don’t click that link!

JOAN YATES

Editor – The Link

Someone with ill intent tried to scam The Link last week by getting us to click on a different kind of link.

The Link received an email titled “SSN Alert,” followed by a series of six numbers.

The subject line said, “your Social Security Number(SSN) will be suspended within 24 Hrs. Case id,” followed by another series of numbers.

The message said, “we regret to inform you that your

Social Security Number(SSN) will be suspended within 24 Hrs.

“To know more about the case docket please refer to the given attached notice.”

Did we at The Link click on the attached notice? We did not. The email included several giveaways that showed us clearly the email was nothing more than a scam.

First, the sender’s email address had nothing to do with the Social Security Administration.

The typos and grammatical

Bookings

errors in the subject line and message were giveaways, too. Anyone who has ever received information from the SSA knows the grammar is always correct.

Finally, there’s the biggest hint of all: The Link doesn’t have a Social Security number.

What should you do if you receive a similar email?

Don’t click that link!

Delete the email immediately and forever.

Stick with The Link, not that link.

SHORT STORY

WEEKLY OVER 6,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Mike McCombs The Island News

Court clears way for Graham testimony

Club scene

Emerald City Juniors grows volleyball in the Emerald City

By CODY ESTREMERA cestremera@indexjournal.com

Julie McMahon was hired in her first stint as Greenwood’s varsity volleyball coach in 2013. In that season, the Eagles struggled terribly, losing a lot of their matches in blowout fashion.

McMahon, a former college volleyball player and who was an employee at Magnum Volleyball Club at the time, noticed the biggest difference immediately — most of her players weren’t playing club. Instead of complaining about the problem, she found a way to fix it, bringing a branch of Magnum to the Emerald City in 2014.

“When I first started coaching at Greenwood High, we were losing 25-2 to teams. It was awful,” McMahon said. “That was the biggest difference was the girls that we were playing were playing all year, or at least playing more than the season, and we were not. We had maybe one girl at the time that did play outside of the season.”

Two years later, McMahon left Magnum but stayed in the club volleyball world — bringing the Emerald City Juniors program to life.

Emerald City Juniors’ goal is to grow the game of volleyball through developing players, boys and girls, from a young age.

“If you think about it, the high school season is three months, then you go nine months without touching a volleyball,” McMahon said. “That’s not conducive to grow yourself as a volleyball player. At Emerald City Juniors, we say we’re growing the game, because we give opportunities year round to play. It’s not always about the travel.”

ECJ is themed around the “Wizard of Oz,” as Greenwood is the Emerald City. Growing the game starts in the Munchkin Academy, where girls or boys from third to eighth grade learn the fundamentals of volleyball while playing in smaller games ( 2v2 or 3v3).

Greenwood safety Josiah Jeffery was also selected from the Eagles roster. Jeffery is the Eagles leader on defense and has shown his versatility this season, lining up as a linebacker (both inside and outside), safety and even some wide receiver this year.

Abbeville’s selections were linebacker Ty Cade and kicker Addison

McCormick running back A’Chean Durant is the other running back on the North’s roster. Durant has eclipsed 1,000 yards this season and has received several college offers, including Army, Navy, Anderson University and Benedict. The North-South game will be played Dec. 10 at Dough Shaw Memorial Stadium.

By DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press

RIDGELAND — Rory McIlroy has reached the top of the world ranking eight times, and it’s still not enough. Even if the feeling is nothing new, the reward never gets old.

McIlroy defends his title this week in the CJ Cup — which has moved from high above the Las Vegas Strip to the lowlands of South Carolina — with a mathematical chance to reach No. 1 in the world for the ninth time.

“It sort of illustrates you can have your runs and you can stay there, but I think the cool part is the journey getting back there,”

McIlroy said Wednesday. “It’s sort of like a heavyweight boxer losing a world title, and it’s a journey to get that title back.”

A year ago, McIlroy was No. 14 in the world when he raced by the field in Las Vegas to win the CJ Cup at The Summit. He is a two-time winner this year, the FedEx Cup champion and has five straight top-10 finishes coming into this week.

ments left. There is the chance to reach No. 1 again, and he leads the DP World Tour points race in Europe.

Scheffler won the PGA Tour player of the year and was poised to claim the FedEx Cup until McIlroy rallied on the last day. He had the best year in golf, even if it feels like the best stuff was a long time ago.

SECOND PLACE Cam Adams Index-Journal

From there, the emphasis is on the club teams, which are made up of players from the entire Lakelands including Emerald, Greenwood, Greenwood Christian,

He will need some help at Congaree Golf Club. According to “Nosferatu,” the Twitter handle of a world ranking guru, McIlroy can reach No. 1 by winning the CJ Cup as long as top-ranked Scottie Scheffler doesn’t finish in a twoway tie for second or better, or by finishing alone in second provided Scheffler finishes out of the top 34.

Motivation is not lacking for McIlroy, even at the end of a long year and with only two tourna-

Scheffler first reached No. 1 in the world by winning the Dell Match Play in Texas, his third victory in five starts, and then he ended his big run by winning the Masters. The rest of the year wasn’t a dud, by any stretch. He lost in a playoff at Colonial and came within one putt of a playoff at the U.S. Open. Scheffler needed time to relax, even though mind never strays to far from golf. That was particularly true this time.

“I’m very competitive and I was frustrated with how last season ended. really want to win the

Birds of a feather: GCS volleyball rallies around Bertha

By CAM ADAMS cadams@indexjournal.com

Greenwood Christian’s gym

isn’t very big. It has room for all of the essentials, a court and a set of bleachers.

But a small area with a lot of fans can make for a pretty loud environment — especially when a giant rubber chicken is squawking into a traffic cone.

Meet Bertha, the blinged-out, Adidas-wearing, roaring mascot of the Greenwood Christian volleyball team.

CAM ADAMS INDEX-JOURNAL

GCS third-year student Lee Dahlberg, right, purchased Bertha for $50, but according to senior Caroline Reed, the rubber chicken is priceless.

“We call it our lucky mascot,” senior Caroline Reed said. “It’s a big motivator for us. You can always hear the loud squeak whenever

we’re playing or we’re down. It always kind of gives us a little motivation boost.”

Bertha got her start during the middle of last season after GCS third-year student Lee Dahlberg and a group of friends originally had a much smaller rubber chicken. The group brought it to a Greenwood Christian match and decided the typical-sized prop wasn’t big enough.

“We had this crazy idea of buying a big chicken,” Dahlberg said. “We looked it up online and I bought it that night and it was at the next home game.”

Since then, Bertha has attended nearly every GCS volleyball match, helping squawk the Hawks to vic-

tory. Originally bought at $50, Bertha’s value is priceless to the Hawks.

The big blue chicken has rallied Greenwood Christian in many matches with an entourage of students around her. During her time as mascot, the Hawks reached state for the first time in a decade last season and earned another playoff berth this season.

Coincidence? The Hawks don’t think so.

“I think it’s a good distraction for us and the other team because whenever we’re serving, even when it’s making noise, it’s making us smile,” junior Maddie Farmer said. “So if we mess up, it’s still going to make us do good because it’s

just a distraction.”

After her debut, Bertha has been nothing short of a teammate. The mascot has her very own spot on the bench, made an appearance in the juniors’ section of last year’s yearbook and made the trip to state last season.

And Bertha was one busy chicken at state.

The hen took a trip down a Myrtle Beach water slide, was run around with and held by kids and caught the attention of opponents. Bertha even gave teams the impression that Greenwood Christian was the Chickens instead of the Hawks.

McIlroy says he feels like a heavyweight boxer who wants his belt back

DAVID BECKER Rory McIlroy gestures near the tournament trophy after winning the 2021 CJ Cup in Las Vegas. See BELT page 2B

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Kelly Duncan Index-Journal

City brings Greenwood’s fire services closer

By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com

More firefighters on scene when needed — that’s the goal of the automatic fire aid agreement Greenwood City Council passed Monday. At Monday’s special called meeting, city council approved the agreement the county approved last month. The agreement would have county firefighters respond to any fire call within the city, and city firefighters will respond to county calls in the four fire districts adjacent to city limits. Those districts include Northwest, Highway 34, Coronaca and Promised Land.

Float like a butterfly

Inmates let go of past traumas in ceremony

JULIE WILKIE

“Depending on the severity of the scene, they may turn them around,” City Manager Julie Wilkie said. “But essentially, we will be working together to provide the highest quality fire service.”

The agreement is only for fire calls and does not include medical calls. Before the planned kickoff of the agreement on Nov. 1, fire officials are working with dispatch to ensure calls will tone out correctly and that they align their agencies’ policies and procedures.

See FIRE, page 4A

Abbeville County halts talks fire service

By ROBERT JORDAN rjordan@indexjournal.com

ABBEVILLE

INDEX-JOURNAL

FILE

Greenwood’s city and county fire services took another step toward furthering their mutual aid on Monday, as City Council voted to approve an automatic fire aid agreement between the agencies.

By KELLY DUNCAN kduncan@indexjournal.com

Healing comes when you learn to let go and some women incarcerated at Leath Correctional Institution are letting go of past traumas in a different way.

Inside the confines of Leath, on display for all to see in the visitation room, is a butterfly mural that tells the stories of women who have experienced and survived trauma in their lives. The mural was started through a partnership with Just Detention International, an organization seeking to end sexual abuse in all forms of detention.

Through the partnership, JDI worked with Leath and Camille correctional institutions to install the murals and

See BUTTERFLY, page 7A

KELLY DUNCAN INDEX-JOURNAL

One by one, 12 women incarcerated at Leath Correctional Institution let go of their past traumas by releasing butterflies Friday afternoon.

ty Council meetings county resident ion on the fire service Council members they voted 5-1 Monday to suspend proved has

BILLY NORRIS

told a small group cil was in executive raise enough money, should cut back it could hire. Over nearly 16 the fee and what cussion and transparency members on the after the meeting a suspension of was no public discussion cision. During a public said he sent emails legal counsel. After a response. At member Drew Simpson who indicated that point, he said. Sometimes officials participating, he people want to the meetings.

Suspension isn’t Chairperson Billy cil will look into

In other business:

• Work on a new county’s communication way, County Director permitting has been take a couple of ing for delivery

A story doesn’t have to be long to be interesting. This one had multiple sources, painted a visual picture and was well written.

SHORT STORY

DAILY 7,500-20,000 & OVER 20,000 DIVISIONS COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

Shamira McCray

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

Sebastian Lee

The Island Packet

SHORT STORY

DAILY 7,500-20,000 & OVER 20,000 DIVISIONS

COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Avery G. Wilks

The Post and Courier

This article started out with a strong lede and held the reader’s interest throughout. It illustrated the complex human stories behind the often-covered topic of the Jan. 6 prosecutions with a number of memorable details about the two convicted rioters. It also provided South-Carolina-specific context to the national story.

OBITUARY

THIRD PLACE

Hannah Strong Oskin and Charles D. Perry

Myrtle Beach Herald

SECOND PLACE

David Clarey

The Post and Courier

Columbia/Free Times

jail. And it is short 16 percent in its law enforcement staff, about 12 people.

This month, the office lifted restrictions on overtime to make sure its services continued with

A.H.

FIRST PLACE

ENVIRONMENT Turtle monitors prepare to watch over beach project

By Charles Swenson COASTAL OBSERVER

Charles Swenson Coastal Observer

The first wave of summer visitors is expected to arrive on the beach in the next few weeks. When they do, volunteers wearing hard hats, reflective vests and closed-toed shoes will be there to greet them.

A renourishment project at DeBordieu has added about 300 feet to the dry sand beach in front of a sea wall on the southern end of the community. The work is about halfway toward its goal of placing 650,000 cubic yards of offshore sand on the beach and will run into sea turtle nesting season.

The contractor, Marinex Construction, is working with S.C.

United Turtle Enthusiasts to create a monitoring plan to make sure no turtles are affected by the project. The monitoring is a condition of the state and federal permits issued for the work, which includes construction of three groins perpendicular to the beach that will help hold the new sand in place.

Sea turtle nesting season starts May 1, but the loggerhead sea turtles that make up the majority of the local nests don’t begin to arrive until the ocean water temperature is around 75 degrees. It is currently in the upper 60s, said Betsy Brabson, who leads the SCUTE monitoring at DeBordieu, Hobcaw and North Island.

See “Turtles,” Page 3

existing staff, Weaver said.

Raising the tax rate for the law enforcement fund by the maximum allowed by state law

‘DOC’ LACHICOTTE JR. | 1926-2022

of turning right,” Weaver said. “They simply change their uniform and go to work in Horry County.”

County Council held a See “Budget,” Page 4

Hammock maker who built on traditions

By Charles Swenson COASTAL OBSERVER

It started as a challenge.

Some friends told Doc Lachicotte he would never make a living at Pawleys Island; it was too far from Myrtle Beach.

That was in the early 1950s, when he first started selling real estate. Oceanfront lots sold for $1,500. “And they couldn’t sell them,” he recalled.

But over a career that spanned nearly seven decades, he created businesses that came to define Pawleys Island by celebrating its past and making those who bought property from him want to protect it.

Lachicotte died Sunday at his home next door to one of those businesses, The Hammock Shops. He was 95.

Arthur Herbert Lachicotte Jr. was born Sept. 20, 1926, in Manning. His mother, the former Virginia Ingram Wilson, had gone there to be with her family because the ferries that provided the only transport between her home at Waverly Plantation were uncertain. His father, Arthur Herbert Sr., had various jobs, in-

cluding leasing land at Willbrook for hunting parties.

The senior Lachicotte had been nicknamed “Little Doc” for his habit of following Dr. Ward Flagg around Brookgreen as a child. With the birth of his son, he became Big Doc.

Little Doc grew up at Waverly, which his great-grandfather bought in 1871, and Pawleys Is-

Very well written. Made me wish I’d known him.

Another record falls: More groups in line for online giving

land. He went to a two-room school at what is now the corner of Highway 17 and Waverly Road.

His father started making rope hammocks from a pattern learned from his brother-in-law. The Lachicottes sold them at a store under their house on Pawleys Island.

Little Doc and his two sisters, See “Doc,” Page 2

Photo by Charles Swenson/Coastal Observer Drone assistance via Coastal Media Solutions Offshore sand flows onto the beach at DeBordieu.

Charles Swenson/Coastal Observer

Doc Lachicotte in his office at the Hammock Shops in 1988.

OBITUARY

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Martha Rose Brown

The Times and Democrat

SECOND PLACE

Matthew Christian

Aiken Standard

OBITUARY

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Sarah Sheridan Independent Mail

Straight, simple and effective, with good use of quotes. Succinct, but memorable.

OBITUARY

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

David Lauderdale

The Island Packet

SECOND PLACE

Bob Montgomery

Herald-Journal

OBITUARY

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

David Weissman

The Sun News

A great tribute to a person whose story might otherwise never be told. Too many times only people with wealth or fame receive such treatment. Nice piece of storytelling.

OBITUARY

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Maura Hogan

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

Travis Bland

The State

OBITUARY

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

David Slade The Post and Courier

Great quote from the deceased.

COLUMN OR EDITORIAL WRITING

ASSOCIATE & INDIVIDUAL DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Aïda Rogers

SECOND PLACE

Tom Poland

Miss Emily’s Oak

She planted the oak some sixty-eight years ago. Miss Emily was around twenty-six then . The years passed, the tree grew, and today it’s a setting Normal Rockwell would have appreciated. A classic Southern scene, it possesses the requisite charms. A quaint barn sits at the edge of woods. Oak limbs shade a wooden picnic table. A rocker faces a swing hanging from the oak. Somewhere in the oak’s massive limbs I suspect resurrection ferns grow. A fence partitions the pasture from the yard, and cast iron plants prosper next to the fence. And there’s that stretch of pasture, still green despite February’s cold touch

When I look at this setting, “pastoral” comes to mind. Synonyms for pastoral include rural, rustic, sylvan, and a word few utter these days, “Arcadian,” a literary way of saying “idealized country dweller.” And indeed a country dweller does live near this fine oak, Miss Emily.

I know some nice gatherings have taken place beneath this oak. Some great conversations too. It’s inviting, one of those places people gravitate to. I see what appear to be Meadowcraft rockers and an old chair. Winter cold has the chairs and swing empty, but come a summer afternoon six people could gather here with glasses of tea, and even more people if the picnic table comes into play. Or just one person could sit beneath this oak and swing and think. That’s what I’d do. Swing and think.

An interesting history accompanies this peaceful setting. Miss Emily created what would become a fine Southern scene when she brought an oak seedling up from Charleston all those years ago. In talking with her, I surmised the young oak was maybe knee high when she planted it. From little acorns grow mighty oaks goes the saying. Here we see literal proof that mighty things do indeed grow from little acorns. But, what else grew from this acorn that fell from a tree long ago down Charleston way? A place where Miss Emily’s family gathers. In a day when few people sit on a front porch anymore, Miss Emily’s tree

COLUMN OR EDITORIAL WRITING

ASSOCIATE & INDIVIDUAL DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Tom Poland

As I read the four entries by this writer, I was drawn in by the homespun coziness of the stories. They all reminded me of a time that we have lost in all of our modern ways. The story of two childhood friends is so relatable to those of us who grew up when we still had imaginations and filled our days with play and not with technological gizmos.

COLUMN WRITING

outside of the village, nestled into the trees on top of bluff overlooking the channel is Cimetiere Americain de Colleville-sur-Mer. Translated,it means the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.

It is a vast expanse of gravesites, woven intricately into the landscape, and overseenby 22-foot-high bronzestatue of young man, arms outstretched, at the center of the semi-circularlimestonecolonnade which marks the entrance to the memorial.The statue has a name

TheSpirit of AmericanYouthRisingfromtheWaves

The swath of sand that lie between the top of the bluff and the sea below where those waves now gentle lap the shore Omaha Beach. D-Day. Operation Overload. It happened right there.

When arrived at the memorial the weather was raw, rainy, and generally miserable. I, perhaps, had a moment of lamentation in not selecting better day to visit.

But as stepped inside and through the colonnade to take in my first view of the expanse of graves, the immenseness of the place became quickly evident. was here, and so was the weather, so I might as well suck it up an start walking.

So,I walked.

slushed and slodged through the grass, down the seemingly innumerable row of graves, as the rain bore down harder by the minute. Cold and shivering from being woefully underdresse fo the unpredictable Frenchsummerclimate, I made aright turn down another line of stone markers. was by myself now. Or so thought.

As came toward the end of the row, looked up and saw an elderly gentleman standing, head down, looking intently one of the singular headstones silent and with the rain dripping steadily from the brim

We all Need a Hero, let me Tell you About Mine

By: Garrett Mitchell

We all need a hero, on we?

We all need someone to admire, to look up to, whose greatness is something we aspire to achieve. Sometimes, we need our heroes to save us. want to tell you all about my hero.

My hero did not wear a cape. He wore a whistle and held a clipboard at least he did long before knew him.

Most of you know my hero, too. He may be your hero as well. But my hero saved me when many felt was incorrigible and he harnessed my potential when most felt it had been lost to the winds.

Willie Varner was good at redeeming those in the reclamation pile, and at the risk of sounding overzealous, sometimes like to think was one of his greatest triumphs. was, a least to me, because if you knew me 22 years ago you might have thought my life was a football spotted at the two-yard line with one second left on the clock. There wasnot Hail Mary play in the book crafty enough to recover it from the brink.

ButCoach knew he could win. He never thought he was going to lose. And he always believed in me. suppose that is the mantra of true hero; never give up even when the chips are down Many of you who read this know meand would venture to say that a good portion of you know, at least to some extent, my struggles as young man in grade school. don see much need to repeat it.

But many of you also know that have been the basketball statistician at Woodruff High School for 22 seasons now, and have served on the chain gang during Friday night football games for going on 20 years.

Let s just say Coach thought everyone should have a role. When Ihad been pushed aside by everyone else and left to flounder, Coach Varner used Woodruff athletics to harness a burning passion inside of me and turned and me, outward into ayoung man with a vigor to serve his school

Being a part of Woodruff basketball, followed by football, gave me purpose in a time had none, and motivation when needed it most.

In the two decades that have followed, time for reflection has been plentiful. have undoubtedly matured a bit (depending on who you ask), and have adopted the belief that the perfect hero does not save you all by himor herself. The perfect hero simply equip you w th the tools and knowledge required to help ou save yourself.

COLUMN WRITING

I recently had a great conversation with my colleague and friend Tom, but this little chat quickly turned into a contest. This is how it happened. Tom and have worked together in the newspaper business — him pounding the streets for stories and me working behind the computer putting the stories on pages — for several years.

Back when we first met, he was in his 40s and I was in my middle 60s, still believing that 60 was the new 40. At that time, Tom was moonlighting playing a hot set of drums with a country band, and I was having the time of my life after years of raising children.

VOICES

VOICES

A little conversation with an old friend

Little did I know that the 70s would begin bringing me to my knees — literally.

I no longer had the urge to dance all night, and began my permanent relationship with recliners.

Tom had some knee problems also. We had magic shots we had undergone in an attempt to get mobility without pain. His worked. Mine didn’t, but I learned to live with it.

He and I worked together off and on over the years, and then he and his wife took off and traveled the country for a couple of years.

During the past few months, he has been writing stories again and see him about once a week.

He dropped by one day last week when I was waiting for stories to come in and we had a chance to chat a bit.

Mind you, it’s important that you know that I’m way out of my 70s — 86 to be

exact — and I think Tom may be 60. If not, Tom, please forgive me. work mostly with much younger people and try to keep my age from being a divide between us.

Some young people are puzzled by old people.

With Tom didn’t feel the need to keep up the facade.

think I kicked off the conversation when I complained about my desk chair hurting my back.

This caused Tom to tell me that in some recent Xrays, his doctor mentioned an old fracture in his back. told him all about my recent injury to my left shoulder and explained in great detail how I could not reach behind my back

Then I explained l how I was unable to sleep at night because of nervous legs and feet keeping me awake.

Next he flexed his fingers, mentioning he was having pain in his fingers. topped that one by explaining how I have been experiencing extreme numbness in my hands during the nights and especially when driving.

Then Tom brought up the shortness of breath that was perplexing his doctor. can’t remember how many other ailments we each listed, but suddenly we looked at each other and burst into laughter.

“If anyone had told me I’d ever watch a documentary about an octopus, I’d say, ‘Not in 75 years.’”

Then he said his legs and feet were changing shape. told him mine were doing the same thing.

Talk about opening the gate and letting it all fly out. It was exhilarating. don’t know who topped the other, but it was the most refreshing experience I’ve had in a long time. We certainly proved that growing old is heck, but what a fun time doing it.

Can’t count the conversations I’ve had about whether this faith thing is available to everyone or simply a “gift” some folks are endowed with.

Who’s that woman on my front porch?

recently made a new purchase in order to help me in getting a good night’s sleep. bought a Ring doorbell camera and my son Jeff installed it by my front door. Why, you may ask, did feel it necessary to install a security camera? Well, it’s mostly because I’m now a short woman - a very short woman. Let me explain how my

To have or not to have…faith

I can’t play the guitar so I had to have faith. And finally, three quarters of a century into my life, I’ve seriously learned what real faith is.

Now, it’s true, I’ve heard – and repeated –lots of platitudes on the subject. Faith is, Scripture says, the substance of things hoped for.

And there’s the ditty that faith is a verb, it’s what you do and act upon, not necessarily what you feel. (Not acting on feelings is a whole other

height affects my security. A couple of times in the last few weeks since Jeff moved into his own home, I was awakened by a noise at my front door that sounded like someone fumbling with the doorknob. I sat frozen in my recliner until Jeff drove the 15 minutes from his house to mine and then assured me there was no one was around. have a peephole on my front door and a security light on the porch. I should have been able to look through that peephole and see an empty porch, but stretching as much as I could by standing on my tiptoes, could not get my eyes elevated to the little hole.

conversation, though, and not one I know anything about.)

Jeff, foreseeing that he might be called often during the nights ahead, suggested that I buy a Ring camera and he would install it for me.

non-stop fear that life was a meaningless disaster.

every time a car passed, my Ring alarm would beep. So turned it off until I woke up the next morning. I re-activated it before I left for work.

Can’t count the conversations I’ve had about whether this faith thing is available to everyone or simply a “gift” some folks are endowed with.

I sent him to Home Depot with my credit card and that’s what he did.

What, you ask, was my challenge?

My hairdresser got Covid 10 days before got married.

There’s always that flash of faith when a loved one’s sick – faith that they’ll get well.

Then there’s the attempt at faith when they die – faith that they’re going to “a better place” as we euphemistically called the next realm.

By the time I came home from work the next afternoon, he had the camera installed. I downloaded the software and Jeff walked up and down the steps and the porch, showing the range the camera would display.

There’s faith when our dog gets lost or a test is coming up on Tuesday. But I was recently forced to put it all out there – to put my faith on the line. could have had faith to believe good things would happen or give in to the

“Could we double up on masks and social distance?” I panicked over the phone.

“There’s nothing we can do,” my trusty hairdresser said, only suggesting a colleague of hers who was still Covidfree.

I was expecting some Amazon deliveries and I wanted to watch the delivery man on my new toy. was running a little late so dashed out the door. After drove to the office and settled into my cubbyhole, saw that I had a notification on my phone that someone had been on my porch.

“It’s my hair,” I said. OK, “said” was not part of the conversation. I was admittedly screeching.

I turned on the alert sound after Jeff went home, but as it grew dark, found had a problem.

I live on a busy street and

This woman’s been cutting my hair for the last year and she knew her stuff. She understands the difference between ringlets and loopy curls.

I play the radio loudly as drive so I had not heard my phone beep.

I scrolled through the video and there spotted a woman

Being in the spotlight

She understands blunt as opposed to…well, to not blunt. She understands not wanting to look like a gym teacher, but in a good way. She understands “itsy bitsy trim” and not wanting to look like I had a single hair removed.

I had two choices.

1. Have faith.

2. Get a guitar and start singing county and western because that’s where my hair was going six weeks after the previous itsy-bitsy trim.

I had faith. I had no choice because can’t play the guitar or sing.

on my porch. Only the back of her white hair and the top of rounded shoulders were in view. What was an old woman doing on my porch? Had she been on my porch before in the middle of the night? Then I had an epiphanythat was not an old woman. It was me. And it was an old woman. The last time had such an epiphany was trying on clothes in front of a three-way full-length mirror. That’s why never try on clothes before I buy them. And never look to the side when I’m walking in front of a plate glass storefront. No more epiphanies, please.

As gulpingly watched, my hairdresser’s colleague did an amazing job. Hair was perfect. So was the wedding. So glad I don’t need guitar lessons.

A Melancholy Beauty - the last concert of the 2021-22 season

BY WILLIAM HAMILTON INFO@MYHORRYNEWS.COM

Sunday April 24 was the last concert of the Masterworks series for the Long Bay Symphony Orchestra’s ‘21-22 season, and it was an experience of profound, solemn beauty. The combination of the orchestra and the large choral ensemble performed “A Melancholy Beauty,” an oratorio with music by Georgi Andreev and lyrics by Scott Cairns.

When came to work Monday, I found a questionnaire in my email. My normal method of dealing with questionnaires is to hit the delete button. Since this one came from my boss, I printed it out and looked over it carefully. The paper was labeled “Employee Spotlight.”

Program notes by Susan Halpern tell us that “This classical choral-orchestral work celebrates the rescue of 49,000 Bulgarian Jews…Seven colorful movements narrate the events chronologically…The main language of the work is Eng-

Recently, our newspapers have been featuring a different employee each week, introducing the public to those who work behind the scenes to bring the latest news to our publications and online website.

I carefully read down the questionnaire to see the list of questions I would be asked:

lotte.

Name: Betty Moses. That’s simple enough.

Place of birth: I was born in Gastonia, North Carolina, a town noted at that time for its textile mills.

I remember as a child living across the street from one of the mills, and watching the workers parade into work every afternoon. My dad was one of them.

I remember one day a man passed out in front of the mill and my mother carried over a pillow to place under his head. I believe he was dead, but Mama never told me. She didn’t bring the pillow back.

lish, but Bulgarian and Hebrew are also used. The music itself does not adhere to a particular style or technique but rather mixes various methods both modal and tonal.” Halpern’s notes include comments by composer Andreev who has said that “The approach is much more emotionally intuitive than rationally constructed which is dictated on one hand by the emotional charge of the event itself, and on the other hand – by its aim towards a broader audience for which a more accessible music language is more appropriate to understand the content.” And also included in Halpern’s notes are lyricist Scott Cairns telling us that the libretto “…is the story of individuals and a

Today, the mills are gone and Gastonia is a satellite of Char-

nation defending its people and its own moral integrity in the face of evil.”

Years on the job: I joined the staff of the Myrtle Beach Herald in January 1996, making me a 26year employee of the newspaper that is now a part of Waccamaw Publishers. was 61 years old when finally found out what I wanted to be when I grew up.

My first day on the job was production day, and by the time I helped paste strips of copy onto huge sheets of paper and they became a newspaper, I was hooked. It was in my blood.

Conductors Charles Evans of the Long Bay Symphony and Timothy Koch, choral director of the Coastal Carolina University Concert Choir and the Carolina Master Chorale were superb in leading their respective ensembles, and since this was a primarily vocal event, the soloists should be credited: Shannon Kessler Dooley, soprano; Jason Collins, tenor; Adam Holcomb, tenor; Craig Philip Price, bass-baritone and Jeffrey L. Jones, bass-baritone. There were many passages in the movements which required the soloists to speak dramatically, also.

The concert began with the

Job/position: Actually, joined the organization as a business manager, but on production day everyone in the office was caught up in cutting copy and running pages through the hot wax machine. I still have a few scars. gradually worked my way into

the publishing portion of the newspaper, finally leaving behind the numbers aspect and finding great fulfilment in design, content and pouring my soul out each week in a tell-all column.

What I like most about my job:

First, the people I work with are like my second family and love them dearly. At the age of 86, I would no doubt find it difficult to impossible to do the job I do without the aid and support of those with whom I work. Actually, they spoil me, and I’m not above taking advantage of it now and then.

sounding of the shofar, a traditional wind instrument usually made from a ram’s horn. Rabbi Avi Perets then led prayers and the lighting of candles in memory of the Jews who were killed while confined to death camps in World War II. Then the National Anthem of Israel was played, followed by “The Star Spangled Banner.” There were greetings from the founders of Varna International, and the Violins of Hope. Several players from the LBS violin section actually played violins from the Violins of Hope. These treasures have been preserved and restored from the World War II period. They blended in completely with the entire violin section as the full performance got underway.

Second, I consider myself blessed to be able to continue working at my age, and to do it surrounded by such wonderful people is a double blessing indeed.

Hobbie/interest:

In the past, enjoyed painting, singing, playing quitar or making jewelry, and I was an avid reader. Nowadays, you can usually find me on my days off cuddled up in a chair watching some dark British comedy or murder mystery on TV.

Favorite movie:

Mamma Mia and Love Actually

Listeners were transported into the events portrayed by the oratorio. This remarkable concert was more than just music – it was a powerful experience of history and culture. The Myrtle Beach area was fortunate that the Long Bay Symphony Orchestra and everyone connected with it gave this to our area. We all look forward to the next season of our wonderful orchestra and choral ensemble.

Something people may not know about me: I love NASCAR, sometimes football, “Dancing with the Stars” before Tyra and silver jewelry. Looking at what I have written, I realize wasn’t supposed to write a book, so let’s begin again.

William Hamilton taught music at Coastal Carolina University for 28 years. He wrote the music for CCU’s Alma Mater, wrote incidental music for several plays, and occasionally plays jazz with The Jazz Standard.

Name: Betty Moses.

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COLUMN B ETTIE CHAIET

MY SENIOR MOMENT BETTY MOSES

playin golf al weekend? Don’ think abou th fatigu of th moment

Across

wa nd complain and if you listen to the moanin rock and lose sigh of th Veiled Lady you’ cave Resolv to bestrong. An because ch dren have will of thei own, positive result ar not always (pardon th pun) set in stone. You can consistently make grea deci on and you still ma have ch d who neve exhibits th kind of characte traits you’ve fost ed Don’ le this discourage you. Beginning withth en in mind still give youa be er chance to instill worth va ue into your kids than just yielding to your an your child’ mood and convenience. Bu what if your chil is alread in middle and high school an you’ve been loaf withou th meat It’s filling an hearty Nu Roas Makes6 to 8 servings „ tablespoonsbo in water „ tablespoons ground flaxseed „ cups unsalted walnuts, pecans, almond or cashews „ tablespoons oliv oi „ onion, finely chopped „ ounces cremin mushroom (about 6 large) sliced „ clove garlic minced „ ca (about 14 ounces diced tomatoes „ cup old-fashione oats

Bridge:

hacking away at th „ 2 tablespoons allpurpos ou or chickpea flou „ 1 tablespoo chopped fr h sage „ 1 tablespoo chopped fresh parsley „ 1 teaspoon choppe fresh thyme „ Salt an black peppe Instructions 1. Prehea ove to 350 F. Spray 8- 4-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Combin boiling water and flaxseed in smal bowl Le stand un cool 2. Plac nuts in food processor Pulse un il finely chopped allowing some larger piece to remain

al this time making things up as yo go along, an now the resu ar looking grim Don’ worry It neve too late to turn that rock into somethin love er an th beginning of a new school year or new quarter is th perfec time to change Begin withthe end in mind and one day you migh be blessed enough to have chil as beautiful on the inside as th Veiled Lady is on th outside. Jody Stallings ha been an award-winning eacher in Charleston sinc 1992 and is director ofth Charleston Teache Alliance. To subm a question orderhis books, or Transfer to larg bowl 3.Heat oi in medium skillet ove medium heat Add onion, mushroom and ga ic coo and stir 3 minutes or un il softened Transfer mixture to bowl with nuts 4. Stir in flaxseed mixture, tomatoes oats flour, sage parsley thyme, salt and peppe unti combined. Spoon mixture into prepared pan.Bake 45 to 50 minutes or unti firm and browned.Cool slightly before slicing. Le us know your favorit new or trie and true Thanksgiving recipe by emailing ditor@mou trienews.com

Recipe:A vegan dish for holiday di nners

COLUMN WRITING

WEEKLY OVER 6,500 DIVISION

Best of the Best FIRST PLACE

and

Andy Brack

Charleston City Paper

Columnist doesn’t pull any punches as he holds the powerful locally and in the state accountable. Pieces were thoughtfully written with quality context provided. Well done.

COLUMN WRITING ALL DAILY DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Travis Bland The State

Clear compelling writing that spotlights people/issues in the community that may not often get the attention they deserve.

HUMOR COLUMN WRITING

FIRST PLACE

Margaret Evans Lowcountry Weekly

Funny, relatable writing. Great entertainment.

Hometown heroine Rogers eliminated from play early

you get back up.’”

It was good to be home with fans, said Rogers, who was first connected to the tournament 21 years ago when she was an 8-year-old ball girl.

Credit One Charleston Open, formerly known as the Family Circle Cup and then the Volvo Car Open, returned in style to celebrate the historic tournament’s 50 years of play Monday. For the first time since 2019, fans were in attendance as competition in the main draw began. The tournament was canceled in 2020 because of COVID-19 and last year the event was played without fans in attendance.

And if you were a fan on Monday, you had to be impressed with the $50 million renovation of Credit One Stadium, which went from something reminiscent of a giant erector set into a tennis Taj Mahal. The weather was so delightful Monday that you wondered if the tennis gods bribed Mother Nature, or at least the local weatherman. The play was top-notch as well, highlighted by victories from Urkranians Anhelina Kalinina and Katarina Zavatska. But the script was to save the best for last. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new

surroundings kicked off the night session, which featured hometown heroine Shelby Rogers, who faced Kaia Kanepi in the first Monday night session in the new stadium’s history.

Rogers labored early, finally cashing in on one of eight set-point opportunities to claim the first set. She led 5-4 in the second set, but almost went down for the count when she fell hard on the green clay on an attempted return shot.

Rogers took a medical timeout, went to the locker room and returned to rousing applause. But the energy Rogers worked so hard to create didn’t return and the 36-yearold Kanepi grinded out a 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-2 victory in a match that lasted three hours.

“Definitely not the outcome wanted tonight,” said the 28-year-old Rogers, who entered the tournament at World No. 44. “I guess have to say a cliche: ‘It’s not how many times you fall, it’s how many times

“When you walk out on court and hear fans (chanting) my name, it’s really special,” Rogers added. “You can always learn from your losses, even ones like tonight.”

The effervescent Rogers displayed a whole range of emotions during the latenight post-match interview. She smiled, laughed and even talked about her cuts, and bumps and bruises she suffered in her third career meeting against Kanepi.

Rogers wiped away tears when she recounted past tournament experiences in Charleston, whether they were stunning victories or double-bagel losses. She even looked to the future, including one last stop in the U.S. before heading to Europe for the clay-court season, which concludes with The French Open and the red clay of Roland Garros.

Rogers will play for Team USA in the Billie Jean King Cup, which will be contested against Ukraine, April 15-16 in Asheville, N.C.

“It’s not how many times you fall, it’s how many times you get back up.” - Shelby Rogers

PETER FINGER PHOTOGRAPHY Shelby Rogers led 5-4 in the second set, but ended up losing to Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi in the match that lasted three hours Monday night.

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Ian Guerin

Myrtle Beach Herald

Great sports reporting. The writer does a great job of expressing the emotions felt by the players while also hitting the highlights of the game. A winner for sure!

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The Island News

The Island News

Mike McCombs

Mike McCombs

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Ruben Lowman

North Myrtle Beach Times

Nice descriptions of action here. Very easy to form a mental image of what’s happening. Good story flow.

The Grid

Today

Kimberling leads Ninety Six into Upper State tournament

By CODY ESTREMERA cestremera@indexjournal.com

NINETY SIX — The first thing Ninety

Six softball coach John Coster did when he saw Meghan Kimberling was give her a hug and told her he loved her.

The 15-year-old Wildcat pitcher had battled adversity all year, working through a nagging foot injury from the start of the season. But less than four hours before she was going to start in arguably the biggest game of the season, Kimberling found out her house had burned down.

Maybe the game was a necessary distraction for the freshman because Kimberling dominated en route to Ninety Six’s 4-2 AA Upper District 3 Championship win against Chesnee.

Immediately following the win, Coster brought Kimberling’s parents on the field, where he gave them more than $800 that was raised by the Ninety Six families who were in attendance for the championship win.

“I’m glad they could get this win to make them happy,” Coster said. “I’ve always wanted this softball team to bring happiness to the community and bring the community together. Stuff like that means

CODY ESTREMERA INDEX-JOURNAL

Ninety Six freshman Meghan Kimberling throws a warmup pitch in the sixth inning. She scattered five hits across seven innings of work.

a lot, that (the Ninety Six community) would take care of them. They did that really quick. That’s awesome. It’s bigger than the game.”

In the circle, Kimberling dodged trouble early by getting out of a no-outs jam in the first inning thanks to a pair of flyball outs and a fielder’s choice. The only hiccup was in the third inning where two errors and a

double plated both Eagle runs.

“Meg battled tonight. I thought she pitched great,” Coster said. “Meg has pitched the past two games all seven innings. think she’s coming on at the right time. Hopefully, we’ll do well in the Upper State. We have a plan.”

Offensively, the Wildcats rattled off four runs in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage of a pair of Eagle errors and hit by pitches to get runners on. Ninety Six batted around in the first inning, finishing with just one hit in the inning, a single by Brooke Coster.

The rest of the game, Ninety Six reached base just four times, coming off an error, a pair of walks and Brooke Coster’s second hit of the day.

“We just have to put the ball in play,” Coster said. “If we put the ball in play, we score runs. If we don’t, it is what it is. Can’t be having those fly balls. I told them there are going to be close games from here on out. … We need games like this to prepare us.”

Brooke Coster led the Wildcats on the day, going 2-for-4.

Contact sports writer Cody Estremera at 864-943-2530.

By JAMES

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FIRST PLACE Cody Estremera Index-Journal

The concise description of the final drive helped me visualize how the game ended and the detail, including player quotes and game summary tells the story for those that were not in attendance.

Tigers face high expectations as season starts

has talked about — last year was great, but now it’s time to get ready for this season.” Rittman isn’t as worried about his team’s ability on the field.

we snuck up on some

but this year we’ll have a target on our back. So that’s something we’re going to have to deal with as the season goes on.

“It’s always something as coach that you’re a little concerned about.

It’s something that our team has talked about and our coaching staff

“We have lot of depth this year, which is a luxury that a lot of teams don’t have,” he said.

“I think we’re a better defensive team than we were last year. We’ve hit the ball well, and that’s something this team has always done. And we really have some speed

SPOT SPORTS STORY

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Scott Chancey Morning News

Sudden deaths of young athletes are hard to cover. That’s why it's the definition of spot stories. Chancey did a good job getting great quotes in a tight spot. Got the police information. Because of the newsy nature, it rises above a pair of real-good game stories.

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Jon Blau

The Post and Courier

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Michael Lananna

The State

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David Cloninger

The Post and Courier

Fantastic lede. Well-written gamer on a tight deadline – great job weaving context of the season throughout.

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Ian Guerin

Myrtle Beach Herald

Ian Guerin

Myrtle Beach Herald

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It must be tough to compete in the same division as Ian. His content is above and beyond the competition. Each entry is a thoughtful enterprise piece written out of a genuine place of passion and curiosity. He is committed to his craft and it shows. Well done, Ian.

Ian Guerin

Myrtle Beach Herald

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Alex Zietlow

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Mary Dimitrov

The Island Packet

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High price to pay

FIRST PLACE Cody Estremera Index-Journal

Emerald girls sweep Clinton

By JAMES BENEDETTO jbenedetto@indexjournal.com

CLINTON — It’s not often that a top 10 matchup in 3A girls basketball ends in a blowout.

On Friday that’s exactly what happened, as 13-2 run to open the game allowed the No. 6 Vikings to blow out the No. 10 Red Devils, 55-36.

Emerald coach Merv Rollinson said the key for the Vikings was to limit Clinton’s front court duo of Tinique Austin and Payton Price-walker. The senior duo combined for just 16 points, with Austin mustering 10 points in the loss.

“We had to make sure we were stiff on defense,” Rollinson said. “We had to be aggressive and prevent them from getting the ball in the inside. (Austin) is a pretty good post player and (Price-walker) is also a good post player, but hurt us more from the outside.”

Clinton’s inability to get its post players in rhythm

Coaches: Transfer portal takes toll on high school football recruiting

By CODY ESTREMERA cestremera@indexjournal.com

Nine days after helping Georgia win its first national championship in 41 years, Jermaine Burton shocked college football fans by announcing he was entering the transfer portal. Four days later, he became a member of his most recent opponent: Alabama.

Burton, who started in 15 games in his two years at Georgia and was the Bulldogs second leading receiver in 2021, was the latest college starter to announce he was going to change programs once his team finished its season.

The transfer portal started in October 2018 in an effort to help college athletes change schools without fear of missing a year because of NCAA regulations that forced players to sit out a year of games before playing for their new team. Before that October, players wanting to transfer would have to talk to their coaches, get permission and sit out a year. Because of this rule, players usually weren’t able to transfer to an in-conference or even a different in-state school.

There were some cases in which players could appeal to the NCAA to be granted immediate eligibility, but more often than not appeals were denied.

In the three years since it launched, the transfer portal has taken over college football, helping coaches fill needed positions quicker and giving newer coaches a faster kickstart to their program. But the portal has its drawbacks, specifically to high school and Division II schools such as Erskine College.

“Basically, it has provided Division schools a farm system for their recruitment,” Erskine football coach Shap Boyd said. “The reason a Division school would want to take a kid from college is because of

the one-time transfer. Once a kid transfers one time, it’s not as likely that he will transfer again, as long as we’re talking NCAA. The bottom line is if they take the transfer, they know the kid probably isn’t going anywhere. If they take a high school kid and they develop them two years in, there’s a pretty good chance that kid is looking to go somewhere else.”

Grass is greener

Burton was one of three players Alabama picked up in the transfer portal from the class of 2022, earning the Crimson Tide the No. 11 spot in the 247Sports transfer portal team rankings.

For all three players Alabama picked up, their decision makes sense.

For Burton, Alabama lost its top three receivers from its SEC Championship roster, returning a group of mostly unproven upcoming sophomores.

Along with Burton, the Crimson Tide picked up running back Jahmyr Gibbs, a four-star transfer from Georgia Tech. Since 2009, only 22 Georgia Tech players drafted. Alabama has placed 11 running backs in the NFL in those same 13 years. LSU standout corner Eli Ricks is the third player

to join the Crimson Tide, choosing to leave LSU when the school fired head coach Ed Orgeron. Alabama is just one example of almost any Division team that is quickly filling needs with proven college players. According to Rivals, 1,409 Division I football players have entered their name in the transfer portal since Aug. 1. Since then, 764 players (54%) have transferred to a new school. Only 55 of those 1,409 athletes decided to remove their name from the transfer portal, meaning 590 players are still in the portal, nearly 59% of which are trying to leave a Group of 5 team.

“We’re about competition and the more we can create competition at certain positions, the better,” South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer said at his National Signing Day press conference. “We did that with the running back position. We love the running backs we’re bringing back... but that’s a position you need more than three (players). We’ve been able to go out and add some impact guys at that position. Wide receiver, continuing to add competition there.”

USC added seven transfers to this class, ranking it as the No. 7 team in the 247Sports transfer portal team rankings.

Using the portal makes sense for teams that are trying to win immediately, such as Alabama, or trying to kickstart a program, like Beamer as he enters his second year at USC, but not every coach likes the changes the portal brings to game.

The other side

While colleges and universities have used the portal to their advantage, there are notable pitfalls, the biggest being the change in recruiting at the high school level.

Next College Student Athlete, an organization consisting of former college coaches and athletes, said Division I college football teams are given 85 full-ride scholarships for an entire team. That number falls to 63 for FCS teams and 36 at Division II. Transfer players are awarded a scholarship when they enroll in their next university, which in

See PORTAL page 3B

Emerald boys fall short to Clinton

By CODY ESTREMERA cestremera@indexjournal.com

CLINTON — With less than 1:43 left in the game, Emerald had a chance.

The Vikings had trailed Clinton the entire game, but when Nate Parks drilled a contested 3 to give Emerald a two-point lead, its only lead of the game, quieting the Clinton crowd and igniting Emerald’s section.

For the final 95 seconds of play, Emerald and Clinton traded leads, which never got higher than two points, until the end of the game, when the Red Devils made just enough plays to down the Vikings 56-52.

“We talked how we had to get it done on the defensive end and just see what happens, which is what we did,” Scruggs said. “We started to pick the pace up. We got a couple loose balls and some turnovers. The game started going rim to rim. In a game situation like that, we were behind, but we did pretty good job of taking a lead. If we make some free throws, it wouldn’t be a ball game.”

For the entire game, Emerald’s offense was stagnant, scoring just 30 points in the first three quarters.

The offense wasn’t flowing, passes weren’t crisp and the ball was sticking around the top of the key. That changed once the Vikings started to push the ball in transition.

Led by Bradlee Jones and KJ Morton, the Vikings exploded for 22 points in the quarter, as the pair combined for 15 of the 22 points.

Emboldened China opens Olympics, with lockdown and boycotts

By SARAH DILORENZO Associated Press

BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the Winter Olympics open Friday night, inviting the world back — sort of — for the pandemic era’s second Games, this time as an emboldened and more powerful nation whose government’s authoritarian turn provoked some

countries’ leaders to stay home.

China used its first Olympics in 2008 to amplify its international aspirations.

This time, in a ceremony held in the same lattice-encased Bird’s Nest stadium that hosted the inaugural event of that year’s summer Games, it presented a more confident, and defiant, face to the world.

Athletes Zhao Jiawen and Dinigeer Yilamujiang delivered the Olympic flame.

The choice of Yilamujiang, a member of the country’s Uyghur Muslim minority, was steeped in symbolism: Western governments and human rights groups say the Beijing government has oppressed Uyghurs on a massive scale.

With the flame lit, Beijing became the first city to host both winter and summer

See OLYMPICS page 3B

FurnaceProblems

Performers dance as part of the preshow during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Localized a nationally debated topic in a clear, concise manner. I enjoyed the local coaches perspective and having written something similar in my market, I was could relate to what the coaches were saying. The author packaged it will and made a somewhat complicated topic easy to understand.

JAMIE NICKLES

CHRIS LINER

JAMES BENEDETTO INDEX-JOURNAL Emerald’s Kendahl Spearman shoots a jump shot against Clinton on Friday.

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Augusta Stone The State

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Gene Sapakoff

The Post and Courier

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Michael Lananna

The State

Exhaustive research into the life and playing career of Stanley Roberts... his friendship with Shaq and his struggle with the end of his career.

SPORTS FEATURE STORY

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Garrett Mitchell

The Woodruff Times

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Samantha Winn

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

SPORTS FEATURE STORY

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Garrett Mitchell

The Woodruff Times

Strong lede draws the reader in quickly, and the solid writing keeps the readers attention throughout the story. Love the short one-line sentences that keep the story flowing.

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Good one sentence lede that gets the reader’s attention. While reading the story, you begin to know this family, and appreciate the struggles this young man has faced and overcome. Good work!

Charles D. Perry

Myrtle Beach Herald

SPORTS

STORY

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Kyle Dawson Aiken Standard

Really like the digging into why the T-breds can run the ball effectively and its history in doing that.

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Sarah Claire McDonald

The Island Packet

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Justin Driggers

Morning News

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Justin Driggers

Morning News

Great recognition of an amazing accomplishment. The addition of supporting stats makes it easier to understand how this guy went from walk-on to FOY.

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Gene Sapakoff

The Post and Courier

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Jeff Hartsell

The Post and Courier

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Best of the Best FIRST PLACE

and

David Cloninger The Post and Courier

Interesting take on a scene about the stadium at Carolina in Columbia. The sky has become something of itself for Gamecock fans.

SPORTS COLUMN WRITING

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Justin Jarrett

The Island News

Writer focused on a subject and explored it. Showed insight in schools’ classification success and struggles.

SPORTS COLUMN WRITING

THIRD PLACE John Boyette Aiken Standard

SECOND PLACE Ben Portnoy The State

SPORTS COLUMN WRITING

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FIRST PLACE Scott Chancey Morning News

I especially enjoyed the column about McFadden-Presley. Great job of bringing out emotion and keeping it through her son’s perspective.

PAGE DESIGN

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Beautiful use of color, fonts and photography.

I’d definitely pick up and read this publication!

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much that he branched off and created his own.

“It’s a very family-oriented place,” he said. “We really encourage families, friends, couples, anyone to really come out and have a good evening and enjoy something that you really don’t get to see every day. You know, take some people out there [and] enjoy some foul things.”

Stutman Hollow is the only fully outdoor haunt in the county, and like Terror Falls, creating it takes all year. Throughout the intervening months, the team plans upgrades and builds the attraction for the fall.

“Every new year is new favorite because you never know what’s going to happen,” Sanders said. “And then at the end of the year, it’s like, ‘Well look what we did and we really accomplished something as a team and as a family.”

Sanders said the number of workers and actors for the attraction varies, and the process of finding new actors also happens year-round.

Cary Howard Lexington County Chronicle

olina’s Hope Camp for adults and children with intellectual difficulties.

The Jaycees gather lot of their inspiration from pop culture and what scary things people are liking at the moment. They also gathered inspiration visiting Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights.

This year’s theme, “Blood Reign,” is one members have wanted to do, but it didn’t feel right until now.

Once theme has been decided, all members helping with the haunt are on the lookout for objects that can be used to decorate. Thrifting plays a major role.

“There’s a room in there that is themed as a restroom,” the Jaycees’ immediate past president Jimmy Wall said. “You start speaking into the universe, ‘I am looking for broken toilets.’ And sure enough, it was within the last week drove down the road on the way here, a broken toilet [was] on the side of the road.”

Deceased Farms

KAILEE KOKES CHRONICLE

MeeMaw’s Bed and Breakfast is house guest can walk through; Terror Trail is a scary outdoor trek; Carnival of Souls is a maze in a field of grass and corn that you try to escape; and Terror Falls Hospital is where the most deranged residents are kept.

The haunt bills itself as family-friendly – actors can’t touch any guests, alcohol is prohibited, and local law enforcement is on hand to maintain a safe and fun environment.

“We want people to get out here and make sure they feel like they had a really good time and they get scared,”

Shelton said.

Terror Falls has an average of 42-45 paid workers each night, he said, more than half of which have been there since the beginning.

The creation of the attractions takes all year. Immediately after the Halloween season, the workers meet up and recap how the season went and the feedback received by guests.

Then they brainstorm ideas for the upcoming season, building elements of the attraction throughout the year.

Shelton told the Chronicle that to gather inspiration, his family attends an annual haunt convention along with other haunts in the area.

Terror Falls is open Oct. 1-29 (Fridays, Saturdays and Thursday, Oct. 27). $20 buys access to all four areas.

370 Mack St., Gaston. terrorfalls.com.

Stutman Hollow

Open four years, Sutman Hollow is the newest addition to Lexington County’s haunted attractions. Owner Randy Sanders started at different haunted attraction and loved it so

Great example of going all in with a concept for the front instead of just going with the ho hum standard. Really eye-catching front page as a result.

Inspiration for the attraction comes from looking at other haunts, but Stuntman Hollow also relies on customer feedback.

What are they looking for next year? What do they want to see more of or less of? Does the trail need to be longer or shorter? These are questions that Sanders said he and his team ask each other when planning.

“So we really go and show and we go look at other haunts. We do not copy other haunts but also there’s never been an original idea because you always have to put your own spin on it.” Sanders said.

Stuntman Hollow is open Sept. 23Oct. 29 (Fridays and Saturdays). 215 Stutman Rd., Leesville. stutmanhollow.com.

Hall of Horrors

Hall of Horrors has been scaring guests for more than 35 years, making it the longest-running attraction in the Midlands, according to a press release.

The haunt is run by the Cayce-West Columbia Junior Chamber, or Jaycees, a nonprofit that offers leadership training through community service. According to Joseph Berry, president of the S.C. Jaycees, this haunt is very much a passion project for members.

“They’ve developed this project. It’s kind of like their legacy project,” Berry said. “They kind of pull all hands on deck but have this huge show.”

All the money made from the attraction is given back to the community, including efforts like South Car-

The Jaycees hope to host three haunts in the coming year one for Valentine’s Day, one for Halloween and one for Christmas.

Hall of Horrors is open Sept. 30-Oct.

29 (open Fridays and Saturdays plus Oct. 20, 27, 30 and 31). $15-$30. 1153

Walter Price Rd., Cayce. hallofhorrors. org.

Deceased Farms

Clinton Sease farms has been doing corn maze since 2004, but about 11 years ago, people started asking for something scary.

Deceased Farms is a self-guided tour through three buildings full of props and live characters along with paths through two-acres worth of corn stalks.

Inspiration for the attraction comes from the haunted house community.

“The haunted house industry is [a] sharing family all over the country,” owner Carrie Sease said. “You just kind of share ideas all over with friends, and we work together … as a united haunted house.”

The waiting area at Deceased Farms includes additional activities, including paintball, the dart game Pop Goes the Weasel and four themed escape rooms.. Many of the attraction’s 40-90 workers – the “farm family” as they’ve dubbed themselves – have been there since the beginning.

Prep for Deceased Farms, like the other haunts, is a year-round effort, with 18-20 helping ready the attraction and instituting changes.

Deceased Farms is open Sept. 16-Oct. 31 (Fridays and Saturdays plus Oct. 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30 and 31). 382 Olde Farm Rd. deceasedfarm.com.

Terror Trails

PROVIDED

Stuntman Hollow

PROVIDED

Hall of Horrors

KAILEE KOKES CHRONICLE

School board bans pair of books

Hiring Heroes

Where are we headed?

PAGE ONE DESIGN

Excellent usage of art and graphic design. Headline is fantastic, and usage of tennis ball as an “O” is nice touch. Color scheme is inviting. A front page that pops.

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GREENVILLEJOURNAL

FIRST PLACE Laura Allshouse Greenville Journal

This was so clever and eye-catching; the fact you managed to even shape the “e” for rewind and go backwards is a total testament to your graphic design talent.

2021 R WIND

YEAR IN REVIEW

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‘There’s No Place Like Home’

A GROWING PROBLEM

Nation battles childhood obesity as one in five kids struggle with the epidemic

Sherry Fogle The Times and Democrat

marks National Childhood Obesity Month, our country continues to grapple with an issue exacerbated by the aftere ects of overeating during pandemic isolation.

The most recently available data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that about 19.7% of adolescents aged 2-19 years in 2017-2021 were classified as obese. In all, about 14.7 million children throughout the nation su ered from obesity during that time period, the CDC concludes. In a separate sampling, the CDC estimates that in 2019, 15.5% of U.S. children in grades 9-12 struggled with obesity.

Despite

DIONNE GLEATON T&D Sta Writer Everything from community gardens and cooking classes to new physical education standards in public schools is being implemented in South Carolina in the ght against childhood obesity.

In the latest data from 2019, the U.S.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 16.6% of the state’s students in grades 9-12 were obese, just above the national average of 15.5%.

Neighboring states either fell slightly below or hovered above the national average, with North Carolina and Georgia having 15.4% and 18.3% of its ninth through 12th graders having body mass index of 30 or more, respectively.

Body mass index is a formula of height and weight that health care providers use to determine obesity.

The 2020 numbers weren’t much better in the percentage of children ages to 4 who participated in the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and who were also obese. In the data from 2020, the CDC reports 13.1% of WIC program participants ages 2 to 4 in South Carolina were obese, compared to 12.9% and

Clever usage of color and graphics. A lot to take in for the reader, but well organized, and every bit of space has a purpose.

In that same sampling, childhood obesity was most prevalent in Mississippi, where 23.4% of children in grades 9-12 were categorized as obese. The ramifications of the issue could be dire, particularly if the problem isn’t stemmed among youth and is allowed to continue into adulthood.

Obesity is a chronic and progressive disease. ... There should not be any shaming or bullying due to someone’s size. We know that this is a complicated disease and not just due to consuming too many calories and not exercising enough. — Dr. Christine San Giovanni, Medical director, Heart Health, MUSC

14.1% in Georgia and North Carolina, respectively.

‘A lot of work to still do’

Dr. Christine San Giovanni is the medical director of Heart Health, the pediatric weight-management clinic at the Medical University of South Carolina, as well as the pediatric medical adviser for MUSC’s adolescent bariatric surgery program. She said the state is slowly making progress in the battle against childhood obesity, but work remains.

“Over the past couple of years, it seems to be improving, although COVID probably set us back in making progress. In 2015, South Caro-

lina ranked second in the country for childhood obesity, and currently we are ninth. So we’re slowly making progress but, obviously, we have lot of work to still do,” she said. In 2019-20, 20.1% of youth ages 10 to 17 were obese in South Carolina, according to the latest National Survey of Children’s Health as outlined in The State of Childhood Obesity. The study, conducted through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, gave the state ranking of among the nation’s 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The foundation is the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health.

“The pandemic definitely contributed to a rise in obesity in children. The estimated proportion of 2- to 19-yearolds with obesity was 19.3% in the U.S. in August 2019. In August 2020, it was 22.4%. The monthly rate of increase in body mass index nearly doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with a pre-pandemic period,” she said.

San Giovanni said the pandemic also worsened many factors that contribute

‘We have a lot of work to still do’

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BUSINESS: Slump for Boeing’s SC-made 787 ends, B1

Good for the soul

Lowcountry staple Bertha’s Kitchen to keep churning out comfort food, treating customers ‘just like family’ as building is taken off market

PHOTOGRAPHS BY GAVIN MCINTYRE/STAFF

The bright-blue facade and purple awning of Bertha’s Kitchen has been staple in Union Heights and can be seen coming off Meeting Street in North Charleston.

BY PARKER MILNER pmilner@postandcourier.com

For over 40 years, Bertha’s Kitchen has epitomized the family-owned and -operated restaurant model. Walking inside the North Charleston soul food institution during crowded lunch service, it’s easy to see the immense impact this hands-on approach has had on the community.

Julia Grant and Linda Pinckney’s devotion to Bertha’s Kitchen — first opened by their mother Albertha Grant in the Neck Area of the peninsula in 1981 — has meant long days and late nights. Most of the time, it’s just Grant, Pinckney and Pinckney’s daughter Elesaa Boone working inside the restaurant, alongside a dishwasher, fry cook and cashier. The sisters considered retirement, news that became public following March 10 report revealing the Bertha’s building was for sale. When the story broke, some panicked, according to Grant and Pinckney; every day at least one person would inquire about a closing date. “A lot of people (would) say, ‘Where are we going to go? There’s no place.’ There’s other places, but they’re just so used to Bertha’s,” Grant said. “A lot of (the customers) are just like family. We know them by name, we know them by face because they’ve been coming for so long.” Both in their 60s, Grant and Pinckney were tempted by the thought of relaxing with their children and grandchildren, but in the end, they decided they couldn’t leave Bertha’s behind. Not yet, anyway. They have more customers to serve.

Lisa Bell places fried chicken in a tray at Bertha’s Kitchen

Rush hour

The well-known Bertha’s lunch rush has been well chronicled by national media outlets.

Customers still line up outside the

quakes have been recorded near the small Midlands town of Elgin, 20 miles northeast of Columbia, since Christmas, according to U.S. Geological Survey data. The tremors, the strongest registering just above 3 magnitude, have caused no major known damage nor

restaurant each day, said Rodney Gadsden, son of soul food icon Martha Lou Gadsden of Martha Lou’s Kitchen, which closed in September 2020.

led to any significant disruptions.

The seven quakes — five May 9 and at least two May 10 — however, stirred questions about the cause and raised safety worries for many across the Capital City region.

Why does this keep happening?

According to Scott White, director of the South Carolina Seismic Network, the earthquakes are response to a buildup of stress in the earth’s crust.

“They will stop when that stress

drops to level that cannot trigger ruptures,” he said.

White said the quakes are occurring along an ancient fault system called the Eastern Piedmont Fault Zone, which extends from Georgia through the Carolinas and into Virginia.

Is something man-made behind this?

“There is no evidence that these

Popping Question the

Adam Miller and Kelli Kimball’s love spans from coast to coast — literally. The couple is originally from Washington state and lived in Seattle their entire lives before moving to Daniel Island last December.

Adam works for Amazon and Kelli works remotely for a chemical distribution company. After dating for just two years at the time, they decided to uproot their lives in the Pacific

Northwest.

Last February, the couple agreed that it was time for a change of scenery and packed up their belongings and hit the road for six-monthlong cross-country excursion. The adventuresome lovebirds have been to nearly every state in the United States, with the exception of five in the Northeast.

While on the open road, Adam gave Kelli bottle with daily messages inside. She was instructed to open one every day and read aloud the reason why he loved her.

Six months later, at the end of the road trip, the couple hosted going away party with 40 of their closest friends.

It was a day that would change both of their lives forever for two very different reasons.

Adam asked Kelli to go for walk down to their favorite beach. He told her that she still had one more message left to open. It read: “Will you marry me?”

The surprise wasn’t over yet. There was still quite bit of shock value left.

Kelli had gift in the form of a card for Adam to open. He was utterly bewildered.

Adam opened the card and soon found out that he was going to be father. Kelli discovered that she was pregnant the day before the proposal. The timing was serendipitous.

After getting settled on Daniel Island just two months ago, the couple had a private gender reveal on the lawn at Waterfront Park. Adam hit a golf ball that was filled with pink powder.

Their baby girl is due this July. The couple decided to postpone their wedding until 2023 so their little girl can be their flower girl. They’re still not sure what coast they want to have it on.

face. Dave informed her that it was for tomorrow night’s dinner — in New York City. The bags were packed, the tickets were booked and the flight was leaving in just few short hours.

Fortunately, the couple got engaged on a Friday, so no sick days from work needed to be taken for the spontaneous trip. The dinner was at Le Bernardin, swanky French seafood restaurant in the heart of The Big Apple. The following March, the couple got married at the Daniel Island Club. The honeymoon was tropical destination to the Riviera Maya in Mexico. The couple has lived on Daniel Island for seven years. The Florezes got engaged in 2008 and are getting ready to celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary.

two moved to Daniel Island six years ago, but their love story started in the Windy City back when they were young professionals.

the time, Angela was teaching and attending

school in downtown Chicago. She was also

Local matchmaker Buffie Bell Lilly, who owns Charleston Wine Pairings, a dating agency that offers personalized approach or those who are ready for a serious relationship, has successfull paired 34 couples that have gone on to get married. The following bullet points are her advice on love whether you’re newly married or have been hitched for many moons: Never stop dating: Never stop planning date nights and going out on the town. Keep it fresh and fun: Never stop being silly with your significant other. There is difference between love at first sight and lust at first sight. Soulmates do exist, but all successful relationships require equal work from each partner. There is difference between loving your significant other and being in love with them.

FEATURE PAGE DESIGN

WEEKLY OVER 6,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

GREENVILLE ZOO WITH NEW EXHIBITS, RENEWED FOCUS

ROARS AHEAD

Alex Davis Greenville Journal

After two years of pandemic disruptions, the Greenville Zoo will greet anticipated record crowds this year with new animals, new exhibits and big plans for the future.

Zoo leaders say that with the lessons of the pandemic impressing into people’s minds the interconnectedness and increasing fragility of the world, the zoo’s mission to educate visitors and preserve species is more important than ever.

SPECIES SURVIVAL

Long gone are the days when zoos were little more than menageries of caged animals and exhibits, zoo administrator Bill Cooper says. Instead, zoos are now integral in the ongoing battle to keep endangered species from extinction. Nowhere is this more evident than with two of the zoo’s newest additions, Jasper and Anastasia, two Amur leopards born in February 2020 to their mother, 12-year-old Jade. Amur leopards are native to southeastern Russia and northwestern China and are critically endangered — only about 100 are in the wild and fewer than 300 remain, so the three at Greenville Zoo represent a vital link in the species’ survival, Cooper says.

For an up-close look at a giraffe feeding and more behind-the-scenes views of the zoo, visit GREENVILLEJOURNAL.COM

Truly amazing work! The photography and font choice are both excellent. The font incorporates that nostalgic feeling you get when you see the word “zoo” and then the animal’s look is just daring you to read and visit.

n story by JAY KING | photos by JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

FEATURE PAGE DESIGN

ALL DAILY DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Lauren Haley Aiken Standard

Woofstock 2022

Doxie derby, family fun return to raise money for county shelter

SUBMITTED ARTICLE mystory@aikenstandard.com

Now that the worst of COVID pandemic finally appears to be over, and things are returning to normal it’s time again to hold fun family events like Woofstock.

“It feels good to bring back our Woofstock festival to the community,” said FOTAS President Jennifer Miller. “After two years of postponing our biggest family event due to the pandemic, we are focused on making the return of Woofstock a special and memorable experience.”

The 2022 Woofstock Festival & Doggie Derby Days is scheduled for Saturday, April 16. Festivities will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Citizens Park and will offer variety of dog contests, including a best trick competition, best kisser, best costume and best dog/owner lookalikes. There also will be races for kids, pet-related business vendors and exhibitors, balloon creations, face painting, food, music and other activities for the whole family. This year’s master of ceremonies will be Meredith Anderson of WRDW. She is strong advocate for animals and owns three rescue dogs, two of which were adopted from the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

“FOTAS volunteers are also going to give their first public demonstration of the special training we do with our shelter dogs to make them more adoptable,” Miller said. “Each volunteer in the class has partnered with an adoptable dog, working closely with them to improve their leash manners and teach them simple commands.”

Woofstock will culminate in the afternoon with the Doxie Derby, where wiener dogs will race for prizes. Basset hounds will also race in their own category.

Aiken County Shelter dogs will be available for adoption on-site and admission is free. Attendees are encouraged to bring their canine family members (must be on a leash). All proceeds benefit the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

A leadership team is working to bring Woofstock 2022 together and includes Ellie Joos, Melanie Oldham, Judy Sauer, Jenny Spiro, Carole Stamm and Carolyn Todd. More than 35 businesses have signed on as sponsors for the event. For more information, visit fotasaiken.org or call the Aiken County Animal Shelter at 803-642-1537.

You can’t look at these pups racing and not smile. Love the big photo and the doggy headline – it is Paw-some.

SPORTS

PAGE DESIGN ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

Best of the Best FIRST PLACE

and

A very creative way to incorporate the various area schools onto the cover. It’s always a challenge to cover many school teams into one page neutrally but this page does it very well. The graphics, photos and heading make this entry tops in this category. Congratulations!

SPORTS PAGE DESIGN

DAILY UNDER 7,500 & 7,500-20,000

— Message from Josiah Jeffery to his mom that he had tattooed on his arm

‘It’s

all for her’

Josiah Jeffery uses family loss as motivation

we got the call,” Josiah said. “(I) just broke down in tears and held my little brother and told him everything was going to be all right. My grandmother was on the passenger side, she was crying and my grandfather, who was driving, was crying, too, so we pulled over, and everybody was just crying.”

The suddenness of Delenthia’s death was something David and Mildred Jeffery tried to prepare for, but the loss of their daughter was still shocking.

David Jeffery said was a difficult few weeks for the family, as they couldn’t visit Delenthia in the hospital because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Masterfully presented, every bit of space has a function. Photos superbly arranged on the page, and tell a story themselves. Great layout, A-plus.

all for her.”

‘Even though won’t see you again …’ Jeffery remembers Aug. 18, 2020. He got out of practice at about 10 a.m. that day and, like most days, his grandparents David and Mildred picked him up. Josiah slid into the

back seat next to his brother, Tristen.

The plan was to get some food at Aldi before going to visit his mother, Delenthia “Lenny” Jeffery, at Self Regional Hospital. At

that time, Delenthia had been in the hospital for about two weeks after brain aneurysm ruptured.

“We were driving down the road and then

“We just didn’t know when we were going to get the call, but at p.m. they did,” David said. “Even knowing what was inevitable had now come to pass, that was hard. You always have that little claim of hope but … we are faith-built people. If that was God’s will, not

See HER page 3B

‘We had amazing memories. Even though I won’t see you again, I’ll never forget you.’

Summer glovin’

just has knack.”

Connecticut, like everyone else on South Carolina’s carefully designed bear of schedule, never quite figured it out April 3. The Gamecocks’

Aliyah Boston Team has its national championship, a decisive 64-49

BY DAVID CLONINGER dcloninger@postandcourier.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Destiny?

Destanni.

South Carolina’s Destanni

clearer and clearer. As the clock wound down, the smiles got bigger. And then the zeroes were up and the glass turned red and the journey was complete. The Gamecocks are national champions. “Our path was divinely ordered. And the order was to be national champions on this day. The fight, our team had the fight of champions all season long,” USC coach Dawn Staley said. “We weren’t going to be denied. We were going to play every possession like it was our last possession.” NCAA WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT

Please see USC Page C2 ERIC GAY/AP South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston cuts part of the net after the Gamecocks beat UConn 64-49 in the Women’s NCAA Tournament on April 3 in Minneapolis.

USC (35-2) was eager from the tip, overwhelming and outmus

cling UConn for every rebound and loose ball. The cleanups kept

INSIDE PAGE DESIGN ALL

Matt Zabierek Daniel Island News

BACK TO SCHOOL

As summer break draws to a close and local schools open classroom doors and textbooks for the 2022 23 school year, area principals are addressing students’ and parents’ queries on what the new school year has in store. Leaders in academia from the following learning institutions talk about updates to the curriculum and shed perspective on what the new school year will bring.

homework, review your classes daily, and get involved in the school community. Look for opportunities to meet new people and to help others.

Q: What advice do you have for parents as their children return to school?

A: Stay involved but allow your child to experience difficulties Challenge brings growth and learning. Allow your child to advocate for their own needs and support them when needed.

Q: Can you share any special events planned for the first month of school?

A: Parent Visitation Night is Wednesday, Aug. 31.

Q: In light of school shootings, what have you done to alleviate parent/student concerns about safety on campus?

A: Bishop England High School continually reviews their safety plan with the assistance of the Charleston City Police Department and other professionals. The school will have safety training for all faculty and staff and look to add more afety features to the campus.

Q: Describe your student body in three words.

have for students as they return to school?

A: My advice is always to start strong. Take the time to participate in class, complete

A: Talented Faithful Family

Q: What’s new for the 2022-23 school year? Are there any specific changes from last year – start/dismissal time, extra-curricular activities, curriculum, new hires, other?

A: Our new school theme this year is DIS: Where Everyone Belongs. We want all students to feel connected to our Ospreys family. Student leaders will have opportunities to support new students at DIS. We will focus on appreciating differences and showing kindness to others. Our school counselors will lead this to provide a structure in which students make real connections with each other thus increasing school safety and reducing incidence of con

flict. We want students to learn that people at school care about them and their success.

We are planning to open our doors five minutes earlier this year at 7:20 a.m. in order to accommodate the number of students entering the building. School hours are 7:45 a.m.2:45 p.m. We have an increase in student enrollment this year with 1,215 students.

We will implement the Project Lead the Way curriculum this year in kindergarten through fifth grade in computer technology classes and Gateway to Technology. PLTW Computer Science empowers students to become creators, instead of merely consumers, of the technology all around them. The program engages students in collaborative projects that help them develop in-demand computer science knowledge as well as transportable skills like creative thinking and communication.

Q: What advice do you have for students as they return to school?

A: Embrace opportunities to meet new friends and set goals for what you want to achieve each quarter.

Q: What advice do you have for parents as their children return to school?

A: Communicate with teachers and staff to support your student. Parent portal and parent conferences can be key to successful year. A Schoology program will be used this year in place of Google classroom. Teachers will be sending home details on how to view grades and information on the platform. In addition, keeping students on structured schedule for meals and bedtime is helpful to their school readiness.

Q: Can you share any special events planned for the first month of school?

A: Our back to school “Meet and Greet” is scheduled for Aug. 11 from 5:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m. Kindergarten, first- and second-grade parents will meet with teachers by appointment only. We will hold an additional Open House on Sept. for parents and students.

Q: In light of school shootings, what have you done to alleviate parent/student concerns about safety on campus?

A: We are implementing additional lockdown drills and reviewing specialized training for all staff members. We are holding a parent safety informational session with our SRO Al Cammarata, Charleston City Police Department and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department at the end of September.

Q: Describe your student body in three words.

A: Intelligent, creative, and enthusiastic!

Q: What’s new for the 2022-23 school year? Are there any specific changes from last year – start/dismissal time, extra-curricular activities, curriculum, new hires, other?

A:We will have the same bell schedule as before. We have added boys volleyball as a sanctioned high school league sport. After adding girls golf, swimming and varsity lacrosse the previous year we now have more athletic opportunities than any school in Berkeley County. We continue to grow and have added five new teaching allocations as well as two new administrators and one school counselor to accommodate this growth. We will have social media release listing all new hires and their bios.

Q: What advice do you have for students as they return to school?

A: My advice to students is to start on a strong note, especially for our ninth grade students. Take the time to settle in with academics and athletics and avoid the distractions of social media. also encourage all students to get involved in an extracurricular activity as this is highly correlated with student success. We have many opportunities from athletics, to fine arts to clubs.

Q: What advice do you have for parents as their children return to school?

A: I encourage all parents to download our school app if they have not already to help them stay informed. We have worked hard the last two years to streamline communication in the community and this is the major platform.

would also advise parents to not be afraid to reach out if they have any questions or concerns, we also pride ourselves on accessibility.

Q: Can you share any special events planned for the first month of school?

A: Our student leadership team has special first day of school planned for students to start the year. In addition we have a new student orientation planned for the 12th grade. We will host an open house within the first month of school (date TBD). We also will have events scheduled around our home opener for varsity football. We will also host class meetings and IGP nights by grade level.

Q: In light of school shootings, what have you done to alleviate parent/student concerns about safety on campus?

A: Student safety is our top priority and we routinely perform safety inspections, training and update procedures to enhance campus safety. This year we will be adding an elec

tronic hall pass system to help aid in student accountability if there was an emergency situation, we also have added window coverings in key areas to enhance security.

Q: Describe your student body in three words.

A: “Win the Day.” This has become our school motto – this school certainly embraces a championship mindset and our students work to be the best whether that is in academics, athletics or the arts. Our theme for back to school is “On Top.” We want to recognize all of our successes from the previous year yet be motivated and accept the challenge of the hard work and dedication that it will take to stay “On Top.”

See PRINCIPALS (PSMS, PSES, AND CAINHOY ELEMENTARY) on PAGES 18 & 19

educational planning

Very crafty look with excellent use of graphics, especially the chalk board and crayons. Lets reader know what the page is about without reading a word. The Q&A with local school officials is well organized with good use of text wrapping. Nice job.

Staff report

Area principals address what’s in store for new school year ahead

PATRICK FINNERAN PRINCIPAL, BISHOP ENGLAND HIGH SCHOOL

NANCY LEIGH PRINCIPAL, DANIEL ISLAND SCHOOL

CHRIS BUCHHOLZ PRINCIPAL, PHILIP SIMMONS HIGH SCHOOL

Lauren Haley Aiken Standard

Aiken symphony announces upcoming season

artist Aisha de Haas collaborating with the orchestra in an electrifying showcase of some of America’s Golden-Age greats. Filling out the season will be two Chamber performances of selected music, including works by Franz Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Messiah by George Frideric Handel, and the Pops-concert favorite “Home for the Holidays” in December 2022.

Schedule of performances

sure to delight audiences.

The new season will feature a renamed MasterWorks concert series (formerly known as the Classical series) of four concerts, two Chamber concert series performances and two Pops concert series performances. Opening on Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m., the season begins with MasterWorks concert titled “Pictures at an Exhibition.” The ASO under Weiss’ lead will direct audiences on tour of some of classical music’s best. Pianist Albert Cano Smit will be featured as the evening’s guest artist. Smit, known for his “captivating performances and nuanced musicality,” brings an impressive and young career to the stage. This season, the ASO also will welcome SooBeen Lee, Jonathan Swensen and Phillip Bush as guest artists on violin, cello and piano, respectively. The Pops concert ending the season in May 2023 will feature the versatile Broadway and jazz

MasterWorks: Pictures at an Exhibition Saturday, Sept. 10, Etherredge Center, 7:30 p.m. Featured guest soloist: Nathan Lee, piano. Rossini, La Gazza Ladra Overture Gershwin, Piano Concerto in F Mussorgsky/Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition Italian composer Gioachino Rossini is celebrated as one of the leading opera composers of the 19th century and the Western musical tradition itself. George Gershwin is recognized as one of many towering figures in American classical and popular music, with many songs and works for the stage and film to his credit.

MasterWorks: Mendelssohn’s Scottish Saturday, Oct. 15, Etherredge Center, 7:30 p.m. Featured guest soloist: SooBeen Lee, violin. Mendelssohn, Hebrides Overture; Saint-Saëns, Violin Concerto No. 3; Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 3 (Scottish) Felix Mendelssohn remains

Want to go?

What:

one of the most popular Western composers whose travels around Europe inspired not only his composition, but also his creativity as pianist, organist and conductor, including reviving interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Another noted 19th-century musical artist, French composer, organist, conductor and pianist Camille Saint-Saëns shares with Mendelssohn a more conventional classical style in his works despite having enthusiasm for the more modern works emerging by composers in the latter part of the time.

Chamber: Handel’s Messiah Tuesday, Nov. 29, St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, 7:30 p.m. Join the Aiken Symphony Chamber Orchestra and the best vocal talents in their annual holiday tradition of the presentation of Baroque-era composer Handel’s colossal work for voice and orchestra.

Pops: Home for the Holidays

Sunday, Dec. 11, Etherredge Center, 3 p.m. Featuring the fabulous tenor Jonathan Kaufman performing many holiday favorites and the Aiken Civic Ballet dancing to se-

lections from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.”

Chamber: Winter in Vienna Sunday, Jan. 15, Amentum Center for the Performing Arts, 3 p.m. Haydn, Symphony No. 92 (Oxford); Mozart, Symphony No. 41 (Jupiter) Vienna, Austria, remains the musical city of dreams where many of the best composers lived and worked delivering their immensely powerful works in sound. Two of these legends include Franz Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, both from the Classical period of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

MasterWorks:

Romantic Masterpieces

Sunday, Feb. 12, Etherredge Center, 3 p.m. Featured guest soloist: Jonathan Swensen, cello. Weber, Oberon Overture; Lalo, Cello Concerto; Brahms, Symphony No. The spirit of Romanticism certainly is all about feeling every note, and the works of Carl Maria von Weber, Édouard Lalo and Johannes Brahms represent that intention in this MasterWorks concert.

MasterWorks: Heroic Beethoven

Saturday, April 22, Etherredge Center, 7:30 p.m. Featured guest soloist: Phillip Bush, piano. Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 4 Beethoven, Symphony No. (Eroica) Of all of the classical composers to invite audiences to “feel every note,” Beethoven contin-

ues to reign unopposed for his unequalled mastery of music.

Pops: How High the Moon Sunday, May 14, Etherredge Center, p.m. Featured guest soloist: Aisha de Haas. Music from “The Great American Song Book” including the works of George Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington, Richard Rogers and Lerner & Loewe.

Preceding each MasterWorks concert, Weiss will present “Illuminations” as pre-concert presentation. For start times, call the Aiken Symphony Orchestra office at 803-220-7251 or email admin @aikensymphonyorchestra. com. All MasterWorks and Pops concerts will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Etherredge Center on the campus of the USC Aiken unless otherwise noted below. Chamber-series concerts will take place at different times and locations.

Subscriptions for the 2022-2023 concert season are available online at aikensymphonyorchestra.com. To request as season brochure, email admin@aikensymphony orchestra.com. To purchase single tickets, visit aikensymphony orchestra.com or call the office at 803-220-7251.

If the concert is not sold out, single tickets can also be purchased at the venue beginning 90 minutes prior to performance start time. If requested, will-call tickets will be available for pickup at the box office on the day of the concert beginning 90 minutes prior to the concert. Pricing of tickets are dependent on desired and available seating.

Nice simple design. I love the playful headline at the top, the layout of the featured artists and the box in the story with information on tickets. Great job!

PHOTO PAGE DESIGN ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Charles Swenson Coastal Observer

I love the uniqueness of it. How you bound the shape around the flower and took ordinary photos, but in a way that made them extraordinary.

PHOTO PAGE DESIGN

FIRST PLACE

Jamboree brings out the young ball players

Kristin Coker The

Times and Democrat

The City of Orangeburg Parks and Recreation Department hosted its annual Baseball and Softball Jamboree on Saturday, March 26, at Orangeburg Recreation Park. The baseball and softball league has 415 participants for a total of 32 teams ranging from T-ball (3-4) to Ozone (11-12) and softball Dixie Darlings (5-8) and Dixie Ponytails (9-12). All teams participated by taking individual and team photos and then playing a game to finish up the day’s activities. Residents and spectators came out to support the kids in the Opening Day Jamboree. Games continue Monday through Thursday nights through May 19. Look for a gallery of photos online at TheTandD.com

Just looking at the photo package, you can feel their excitement.

NEWS PHOTO

ASSOCIATE & INDIVIDUAL DIVISION

SECOND PLACE

Gwinn Davis

NEWS PHOTO

ASSOCIATE & INDIVIDUAL DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Cool photo. Jump member pops against scoreboard and field.

Gwinn Davis

SPOT NEWS PHOTO

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

SECOND PLACE (TIE)

Jonathan Vickery

The People-Sentinel

Richard Kelly

News-Chronicle

Photo

SPOT NEWS PHOTO

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 & OVER 6,500 DIVISIONS COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

Bob Sofaly

The Island News

SECOND PLACE

Janet Morgan

Myrtle Beach Herald

SPOT NEWS PHOTO

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 & OVER 6,500 DIVISIONS COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Charles Swenson, Coastal Observer

Who doesn’t love a rainbow? Such an inspiring shot when contrasted with the broken pier.

SPOT NEWS PHOTO

DAILY UNDER 7,500 & 7,500-20,000 DIVISIONS COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

Ken Ruinard

Independent Mail

SECOND PLACE

Jason Lee

The Sun News

SPOT NEWS PHOTO

DAILY UNDER 7,500 & 7,500-20,000 DIVISIONS COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Tim Kimzey

Herald-Journal

Great photo and often a tough one to take. Well done. Very sharp, crisp and clear.

SPOT NEWS PHOTO

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Grace Beahm Alford

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

Jessica Gallagher

Greenville News

SPOT NEWS PHOTO

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Andrew J. Whitaker

The Post and Courier

The reflection gives tremendous visual interest to what could have been a routine flood photo. The composition works perfectly to tell the story, while the reflections draw you into the scene.

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Samantha Winn

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

SECOND PLACE

Elizabeth Hustad

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Samantha Winn

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

Far and away first place. This photo has news value and represents photo journalism.

A cutline is not needed to understand the importance of the moment. Great eye.

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

WEEKLY

3,000-6,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

David Yeazell

The News, Kingstree

SECOND PLACE

Barbara Ball

The Voice of Fairfield County

FIRST PLACE

Probably my favorite photo of the year. The colors, the framing, the emotion, all fantastic.

Janet Morgan

Myrtle Beach Herald

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

WEEKLY OVER 6,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Nathan Clinebelle

The Fort Jackson Leader

SECOND PLACE

Bob Sofaly

The Island News

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

WEEKLY OVER 6,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Jeff Evans

The Island News

There’s a lot of symbolism packed into this one photo. I’m glad the photographer saw this and documented it.

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Damian Dominguez

Index-Journal

SECOND PLACE

Larry Hardy

The Times and Democrat

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

By far the strongest of all the entries. A very powerful photo! Great job!

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Drew Martin The Island Packet

Tim Kimzey Herald-Journal

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Nich Pitts The Sumter Item

Captures the joy of the moment with technology of today – the joyous young man is recording a life moment on his cellphone. Great composition, and tells the story with no caption needed.

GENERAL NEWS PHOTO

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Gavin

The Post and Courier

The Post and Courier

Andrew J. Whitaker

McIntyre

and

Best of the Best FIRST PLACE

Henry Taylor

The Post and Courier

Perfect exposure of a difficult scene – the brightness of the colors contrasts with the sky and foreground to make the details pop.

FEATURE PHOTO ASSOCIATE

& INDIVIDUAL DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Gwinn Davis

Gwinn Davis

FEATURE PHOTO ASSOCIATE & INDIVIDUAL DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Gwinn Davis

Good job capturing the faces as the bull goes wild! Love it.

FEATURE PHOTO WEEKLY

UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Samantha Winn

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

SECOND PLACE

Michael Lollis

The Journal, Williamston

FEATURE PHOTO

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Alexandra Whitbeck The People-Sentinel

This captures the moment, both the beginning of a time and the end. Both sorrow and joy, plus the lighting was perfect.

FEATURE PHOTO WEEKLY

3,000-6,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

David Yeazell

Daniel Island News

The News, Kingstree

Doug Pinkerton

FEATURE PHOTO

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Fine shot capturing genuine interest and expression of a boy’s rite of passage event.

Chris Sokoloski

Coastal Observer

FEATURE PHOTO

WEEKLY OVER 6,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Bob Sofaly

The Island News

SECOND PLACE

Bob Sofaly

The Island News

FEATURE PHOTO

WEEKLY OVER 6,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Tony Kukulich

The Island News

This photo has so many things going for it: action, focus, composition and great personalities!

FEATURE PHOTO

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Stephanie Hill Aiken Standard

Lindsey Hodges Index-Journal

FEATURE PHOTO

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

Best of the Best FIRST PLACE

and

Ken Ruinard Independent Mail

Don’t really know what my feelings were about this photo. They ranged from very cool photo to nauseous feelings! In any event, the photo made me feel something, and ended up being tops in my book!

FEATURE PHOTO

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Micah Green

The Sumter Item

SECOND PLACE

Jason Lee

The Sun News

FEATURE PHOTO

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

David Yeazell

Morning News

How can a reader pass this photo by without taking a closer look, reading the cutline and appreciating the innovation and initiative this photographer showed? Good work!

FEATURE PHOTO

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Josh Morgan Greenville News

Gavin McIntyre The Post and Courier

FEATURE PHOTO

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Henry Taylor The Post and Courier

The photographer captured a moment of raw emotion. Thomas’ anguish is clear, and the fact that she is gripping the bars and looking skyward emphasizes the depths of her grief.

SPORTS PHOTO

ASSOCIATE & INDIVIDUAL DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Gwinn Davis

Tom Priddy

SPORTS PHOTO

ASSOCIATE & INDIVIDUAL DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Gwinn Davis

By far the best photo of all the entries. Captures just the right moment of the play and great expression by the baseball player. Very good job!

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Michael Lollis

The Journal, Williamston

SECOND PLACE

Michael Lollis

The Journal, Williamston

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Michael Lollis

The Journal, Williamston

What a great action shot! Compelling composition. The timing of the photographer was perfect. Crisp photography that makes the reader feels like they are actually at the game. Great work!

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Bill Marion

The News and Reporter

Janet Morgan

Myrtle Beach Herald

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

What a beautifully framed shot. The emotion on all the players’ faces, the contrast. Fantastic job.

Charles Swenson

Coastal Observer

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

WEEKLY OVER 6,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

William Gathings

The Link

SECOND PLACE

Bob Sofaly

The Island News

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

WEEKLY OVER 6,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Alexandra Shea

The Fort Jackson Leader

Great photo of an unusual sports competition. It’s nice to see coverage of more than your usual high school sports. Keep up the diversity!

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Kyle Dawson Aiken Standard

Ken Ruinard Independent Mail

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Donny Knight

The Times and Democrat

The stopped motion is fantastic and really captures the jockeying for position around the turn. The addition of the dirt kicked up really enhances the image.

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Tim Kimzey Herald-Journal

SECOND PLACE

David Yeazell

Morning News

SPORTS ACTION

7,500-20,000

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Gavin McIntyre

The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

Andrew J. Whitaker

The Post and Courier

SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Gavin McIntyre

The Post and Courier

The detail and clarity in this photo sets it apart. The ability to clearly see the specks of dirt and mud on the face of the jockeys gives it a gritty feel – makes me feel like the action is coming right at me.

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

WEEKLY

UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Vic MacDonald

The Clinton Chronicle

SECOND PLACE

Samantha Winn

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

News-Chronicle

This has all the traits of a great pictures – display of emotion, storytelling, and unique moment. The minute I saw this picture, I felt excitement for this young batter and realized I was probably witnessing his first hit.

Deborah Tucker

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Janet Morgan Myrtle Beach Herald

Charles Swenson Coastal Observer

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Awesome, awesome, AWESOME! This is a once in a lifetime shot that combines the perfect set of elements for a first place award.

Janet Morgan

Myrtle Beach Herald

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Kyle Dawson

Aiken Standard

SECOND PLACE

Donny Knight

The Times and Democrat

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

Best of the Best FIRST PLACE Ken Ruinard Independent Mail

and

When do we ever get the coach dumping the bucket?!

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Tim Kimzey Herald-Journal

SECOND PLACE

Nich Pitts

The Sumter Item

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Caleb Gilbert The Journal, Seneca

Great sports feature photo. Love the creativity. Lighting and color are perfect. Congrats!

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Tracy Glantz The State

Jessica Gallagher

Greenville News

SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Andrew J. Whitaker

The Post and Courier

The exhaustion and emotion following a hard-fought tennis match tells a great story that can only be captured by an alert photographer who understands the game and has the patience to wait for the perfect moment. Excellent work!

PERSONALITY PHOTOGRAPH OR PORTRAIT

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Alexandra Whitbeck

The People-Sentinel

SECOND PLACE

Samantha Winn

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

PERSONALITY PHOTOGRAPH OR PORTRAIT

WEEKLY UNDER

3,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Alexandra Whitbeck The People-Sentinel

Nice capture of the event, warm photo.

PERSONALITY PHOTOGRAPH OR PORTRAIT

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 & OVER 6,500 DIVISIONS COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Rūta Smith

Charleston City Paper

Janet Morgan

Myrtle Beach Herald

PERSONALITY PHOTOGRAPH OR PORTRAIT

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 & OVER 6,500 DIVISIONS COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Rūta Smith

Charleston City Paper

Nice, clean. The composition is great and the portrait gives a good feeling of the subject’s personality.

PERSONALITY PHOTOGRAPH OR PORTRAIT

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Larry Hardy

The Times and Democrat

SECOND PLACE

Donny Knight

The Times and Democrat

PERSONALITY PHOTOGRAPH OR PORTRAIT

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Ken Ruinard Independent Mail

Wonderful use of color, composition and subject. It’s fantastic when all three come together for a unique shot the photographer can be proud of.

PERSONALITY PHOTOGRAPH OR PORTRAIT

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Karl Puckett

The Island Packet

SECOND PLACE

Alex C. Hicks

Herald-Journal

PERSONALITY PHOTOGRAPH OR PORTRAIT

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Tim Kimzey

Herald-Journal

Photographer captures the emotion in this one beautifully.

PERSONALITY PHOTOGRAPH OR PORTRAIT

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Henry Taylor The Post and Courier

SECOND PLACE

Tracy Glantz The State

PERSONALITY PHOTOGRAPH OR PORTRAIT

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Gavin McIntyre

The Post and Courier

The dinosaur skull and teeth in the foreground with the professor peering from the background is highly creative composition.

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Andrew Wigger

The Newberry Observer

SECOND PLACE

Jordan Lawrence

Lexington County Chronicle

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Vic MacDonald

The Clinton Chronicle

This series gave me a sense of place and time, just what good photographs should do. Loved the black and white.

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 & OVER 6,500 DIVISIONS COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Janet Morgan

Myrtle Beach Herald

Janet Morgan

Myrtle Beach Herald

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 & OVER 6,500 DIVISIONS COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Rūta Smith

Charleston City Paper

Fantastic idea and fantastic shots.

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Stephanie Hill Aiken Standard

Ken Ruinard Independent Mail

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Ken Ruinard Independent Mail

The photographer was fortunate to get me as a judge. Love nature photos as well as close up photos. Like the idea of seeing a more artsy view of something ordinary. Great job!

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Jason Lee

The Sun News

SECOND PLACE

Jason Lee

The Sun News

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Jason Lee

The Sun News

Wow these Hurricane Ian photos are terrific. It took a risk to get out in this and get these kinds of outstanding photos. Exactly the kind of community journalism newspapers should be doing.

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Jessica Gallagher Greenville News

Andrew J. Whitaker The Post and Courier

PHOTO SERIES OR PHOTO STORY

DAILY OVER 20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Andrew J. Whitaker

The Post and Courier

Really good range of powerful photos and a tough subject to shoot. Well done!

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Charles Swenson

Coastal Observer

Cody Sossamon

The Gaffney Ledger

FIRST PLACE

Just a serene, beautiful photo. Very, very good job!

Janet Morgan

Myrtle Beach Herald

PICTORIAL

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE Donny Knight The Times and Democrat

SECOND PLACE

Ken Ruinard

Independent Mail

PICTORIAL

DAILY 7,500-20,000 & OVER 20,000 DIVISIONS COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

Alex C. Hicks

Herald-Journal

SECOND PLACE

Jason Lee

The Sun News

PICTORIAL

DAILY 7,500-20,000 & OVER 20,000 DIVISIONS COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

The Post and Courier

Beautiful composition. Moody tone matches swamp setting.

Henry Taylor

HUMOROUS PHOTO

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000

DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Samantha Winn

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

SECOND PLACE

Samantha Winn

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

HUMOROUS PHOTO

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Alexandra Whitbeck The People-Sentinel

Great expression, great capture.

HUMOROUS PHOTO

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 & OVER 6,500 DIVISIONS COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

Charles Swenson

Coastal Observer

SECOND PLACE

Robert Timmons

The Fort Jackson Leader

HUMOROUS PHOTO

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 & OVER 6,500 DIVISIONS COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

I’m a sucker for dog photos but the puppy’s expression paired with the childrens’ sign makes this entry stand out!

Charles Swenson

Coastal Observer

HUMOROUS PHOTO

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

PLACE

PLACE

HUMOROUS PHOTO

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Ken Ruinard Independent Mail

This was the clear winner. Such a funny shot. Great job!

HUMOROUS PHOTO

DAILY 7,500-20,000 & OVER 20,000 DIVISIONS COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

Cal Cary

The Sumter Item

SECOND PLACE

Micah Green

The Sumter Item

HUMOROUS PHOTO

DAILY 7,500-20,000 & OVER 20,000 DIVISIONS

COMBINED

FIRST PLACE

Alex C. Hicks

Herald-Journal

Small children are often prime targets for great photos but it still takes an alert photographer with significant skills to capture the image! Excellent work here!

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Charleston City Paper

Myrtle Beach Herald

WEBSITE

ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

The Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star

The perfect blend of quality content and great page design/layout. Plenty of engaging content presented in a clean, orderly way that doesn’t seem overwhelming or clunky.

THIRD PLACE The State

SECOND PLACE

The Post and Courier

FIRST PLACE Index-Journal

Simple and clean. Ads aren’t distracting. As a reader, this is a fantastic website for browsing.

NEWSPAPER’S USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Betsy Finklea

The Dillon Herald

Jonathan Vickery and Alexandra Whitbeck

The People-Sentinel

NEWSPAPER’S USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Top notch use of several social media platforms. Really love the use of Twitter to get public officials to answer tough questions and the use of Spotify to give readers another way to connect with the Best of Charleston party.

Charleston City Paper

NEWSPAPER’S USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

ALL DAILY DIVISION

THIRD PLACE Aiken Standard

SECOND PLACE The State

NEWSPAPER’S USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

ALL DAILY DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

The Post and Courier

Great use of multiple platforms with impressive engagement. Good mix of content and approaches. Clearly much thought, creativity and planning goes into your newspaper’s social strategy.

INDIVIDUAL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

OPEN DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Stephanie Hill Aiken Standard

Chris Trainor The State

INDIVIDUAL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

OPEN DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Samantha Winn

The Post and Courier

North Augusta/The Star

Winn brings her vibrant personality to every social media platform where she engages with readers. Her Instagram is the standout, though, taking followers on her assignments and giving us a peek at Winn’s burgeoning photography skills.

NEWS VIDEO

ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Janet Morgan

Myrtle Beach Herald

Travis Jenkins & James McBee

The News and Reporter

NEWS VIDEO

ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Charleston City Paper

Above and beyond the competition. News organizations have to find new ways to connect with their community and this is a great example of promoting your publication to an audience that might not read the newspaper. Production values are top notch and the flow is perfect for highlighting the big stories of this weekly publication.

NEWS VIDEO

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Drew Martin

The Island Packet

Loumay

Alesali, Tracy Glantz and Kata Stevens

The State

NEWS VIDEO ALL DAILY

DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Sohail Al-Jamea, Tracy Glantz and Joshua Boucher

The Sun News

Excellent story that reminds the viewer there are real people who are directly affected by the companies behind the catchy jingles.

FEATURE VIDEO

ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Janet Morgan

Myrtle Beach Herald

Travis Jenkins & James McBee

The News and Reporter

FEATURE VIDEO

ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Delayna Earley

The Island News

It’s an unconventional piece that demonstrates to a T what the video medium can successfully convey that traditional print media cannot. The lack of narration really helps establish a good opening, and the kid’s wraparound takes it to the next level. An excellent clip that does more in less than two minutes than some 2,000 word articles.

FEATURE VIDEO

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Ken Ruinard Independent Mail

Patrick Bush

Aiken Standard

FEATURE VIDEO

FIRST PLACE Ken Ruinard Independent Mail

Tells a full story with great active visuals.

FEATURE VIDEO

DAILY 7,500-20,000 & OVER 20,000 DIVISIONS COMBINED

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

The State

Tracy Glantz

Jason Lee

The Sun News

FEATURE VIDEO

DAILY 7,500-20,000 & OVER 20,000 DIVISIONS COMBINED

FIRST PLACE Richie Weber The Sumter Item

What an interesting story of a person doing what they love and teaching others to do the same.

SPORTS VIDEO

ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Thomas Grant Jr.

Lexington County Chronicle

Travis Jenkins & James McBee

The News and Reporter

SPORTS VIDEO ALL WEEKLY DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Delayna Earley The Island News

A quick look at how a sport can address the whole child and their growth.

SPORTS VIDEO

THIRD PLACE Ken Ruinard Independent Mail

SECOND PLACE

Scott Chancey

Morning News

SPORTS VIDEO ALL DAILY DIVISION

FIRST PLACE Gavin McIntyre

The Post and Courier

Videography effects and storytelling are stellar and packs a great punch in a relatively short video. Great work!

NEWSLETTER

ASSOCIATE & INDIVIDUAL DIVISION

SECOND PLACE Municipal Association of South Carolina

NEWSLETTER

ASSOCIATE & INDIVIDUAL DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Hanna Raskin

Engaging, fun to read with great writing and photography!

DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

The Post and Courier

The Sumter Item

Maura Turcotte

Shelbie Goulding

FIRST PLACE The State

A great use of visuals and links to not only the current stories but past stories as well. The recaps help readers to hit the highlights while the links provide them the opportunity to view the whole story. Well done!

NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE PUBLICATION

ASSOCIATE & INDIVIDUAL DIVISION

THIRD PLACE Communications Staff S.C. Department of Transportation

SECOND PLACE Susan Bromfield, Kathy Widenhouse, Steve McDaniel and Madeshwar Nagaraja

Lake Wylie Today

NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE PUBLICATION

ASSOCIATE & INDIVIDUAL DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Columbia Regional Business Report

Outstanding publication is winner in a group of very strong newspapers and magazines. Compelling articles on a variety of topics that pairs well with beautiful photography and design. Well done.

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

The Newberry Observer

SECOND PLACE

Lexington County Chronicle

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

WEEKLY UNDER 3,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

The People-Sentinel

Abundant local coverage on a variety of topics. Newspaper is packed with news, sports, opinion and community features.

Great photos and design. Enjoyed reading every newspaper in this class... all are doing excellent work!

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

Myrtle Beach Herald

SECOND PLACE

The Lancaster News

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

WEEKLY 3,000-6,500 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

Carolina Gateway

Quality overall coverage presented in a well thought out and laid out newspaper. I felt like I knew the pulse of this community after reading these entries. Great job.

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

WEEKLY OVER 6,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

The Post and Courier

Columbia/Free Times

SECOND PLACE

Greenville Journal

GENERAL

Kenna Coe and Anna Sharpe

Moultrie News

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

DAILY UNDER 7,500 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

The Times and Democrat

SECOND PLACE Aiken Standard

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

THIRD PLACE

The Island Packet

SECOND PLACE

The Journal, Seneca

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

DAILY 7,500-20,000 DIVISION

FIRST PLACE

The Sumter Item

Local, newsy feel. Something for almost everyone. Proud of itself but not vain.

JIM DAVENPORT AWARD

for Excellence in Government Reporting

Joe Bustos The State

Honorable Mention

WEEKLY AWARD FOR ASSERTIVE JOURNALISM

Christian Boschult

Myrtle Beach Herald

First Place

WEEKLY AWARD FOR ASSERTIVE JOURNALISM

Barbara Ball

The Voice of Blythewood and Fairfield County

Honorable Mention

DAILY AWARD FOR ASSERTIVE JOURNALISM

David Weissman The Sun News

First Place

DAILY AWARD FOR ASSERTIVE JOURNALISM

Tony Bartelme The Post and Courier

WEEKLY MONTGOMERY/SHURR

Freedom of Information Award

Travis Jenkins The News and Reporter

DAILY MONTGOMERY/SHURR Freedom of Information Award

WEEKLY PHOTOJOURNALIST OF THE YEAR Janet Morgan

Myrtle Beach Herald

DAILY PHOTOJOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Andrew J. Whitaker

The Post and Courier

Weekly

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Abbie Sossamon

The Gaffney Ledger

Daily

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Avery Wilks The Post and Courier

PRESIDENT’S AWARD For Excellence

THE POST AND COURIER

NORTH AUGUSTA/THE STAR

PRESIDENT’S AWARD For Excellence

MYRTLE BEACH HERALD

PRESIDENT’S AWARD For Excellence

THE ISLAND NEWS

PRESIDENT’S AWARD For Excellence

INDEX-JOURNAL

PRESIDENT’S AWARD For Excellence

THE ISLAND PACKET

PRESIDENT’S AWARD For Excellence

THE POST AND COURIER

Thanks for attending!

AWARDS CELEBRATION BANQUET