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Haier bringing 410 jobs to Kershaw BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CAMDEN — Appliance manufacturer Haier America announced plans Thursday to expand its Kershaw County refrigerator manufacturing operations with a project expected to create 410 new jobs during the next five years. The New Jersey-based Haier America, a subsidiary of the Haier Group, will contribute $72 million more to its existing $40-million Camden facility. Hiring for the new jobs is ex-
pected to begin next summer. Haier broke ground on the Kershaw County Haier Industrial Park in April 1999 and opened its doors in March 2000, making it the first Chinese company to establish manufacturing operations in the U.S. As part of the expansion, Haier will invest heavily in state-of-the-art equipment and tooling, as well as construct a 250,000-square-foot addition to the existing 365,000-square-foot facility, al-
WANT TO APPLY? Those interested in joining the Haier America team should visit the company’s careers page online. For more information on Haier Group, visit www.haier. com.
lowing the company to increase its annual refrigeration production up to 500,000 units. “Foreign direct investment continues to be a critical component of our economic devel-
opment success,” said S.C. Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. “With more than 100,000 South Carolinians employed by international companies, it’s clear that the reputation we’ve earned for our workforce and businessfriendly environment has made its way around the world. Today, we celebrate Haier’s decision to expand its already robust South Carolina operations and look forward to continuing this extraordinary partnership for many
years to come.” Gov. Nikki Haley, who joined company officials and local leaders Thursday to break ground, agreed with Hitt. “It’s a great day in South Carolina as we celebrate Haier’s latest decision to expand in Kershaw County. We couldn’t be prouder of the partnership our state has with Haier, and this $72 million investment and the 410 jobs it will create is a huge win for the company and for the citizens of South Carolina.”
Pilot, MP are 1st women to pass Ranger School BY RUSS BYNUM The Associated Press FORT BENNING, Ga. — One of the first women to graduate from the Army’s notoriously grueling Ranger School says she hopes her success will go toward proving that women in the military are capable of doing what men do. Capt. Kristen Griest of Orange, Connecticut, said her successful completion of the elite, two-month program show that women “can deal with the same stresses and training that men can.” Griest and First Lt. Shaye Haver of Copperas Cove, Texas, will graduate at Fort Benning, Georgia, along with 94 men today. Out of 19 women who began the program, Haver and Griest are the only two to finish so far. Completing the course lets the two women wear the coveted Ranger black-and-gold tab. But for now they’re still unable to join the elite 75th Ranger Regiment based at Fort Benning. The military’s toughest jobs — including positions in infantry, armor and special operations units such as the Ranger Regiment — remain closed to women. Haver and Griest — both graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point — not only finished the course they started in April. They both also had to start from scratch, having failed two previous attempts. “These two soldiers have absolutely earned the respect of every Ranger instructor,” Cmd. Sgt. Major Curtis Arnold told reporters. “They do not
1st Lt. Shaye Haver, above, one of the 20 female soldiers among the 400 who qualified to start Ranger School, tackles the Darby Queen obstacle course, one of the toughest obstacle courses in U.S. Army training, at Fort Benning, in Georgia. Haver and Capt. Kristen Griest are the first women to complete the U.S. Army’s grueling Ranger School and are scheduled to graduate today alongside 94 male soldiers, families of the soldiers confirmed Wednesday. Haver crosses the Yellow River on a rope bridge during Ranger School at Camp Rudder on Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. PHOTOS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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CCTC surgical technology program graduates 100 percent for 4th straight year ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com For the fourth year in a row, 100 percent of Central Carolina Technical College’s surgical technology program graduates passed the National Certification for Surgical Technologist exam. The students tested well above the national average of 69.8 percent for 2014, the most recent data available, according to a news release from the college. Brie Weber, surgical technology and academic program manager, said she thinks all of her students are in the pro-
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2015 Central Carolina Technical College Surgical Technology program graduates Allison Burrows, left, and Alexandria Martinez, right, stand with Brie Weber, surgical technology and academic program manager, in one of the mock operating rooms in the college’s Health Sciences Center. The entire 2015 class passed the National Certification for Surgical Technologist exam, the fourth consecutive year the program has accomplished that feat.
gram for a reason. Weber said no matter the outcome, she teaches her students to the best of their abilities, and this year the students especially gave their best as the exam scores are higher than those of any previous class. She said seeing her students pass the certification exam is evidence of a strong curriculum and faculty. “We have to set a very high standard for health care because we are dealing with people’s lives,” she said. Surgical technologists are
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SEE CCTC, PAGE A6
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A NICE SUMMER DAY
2 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 259
Mostly sunny today with slight chance of rain; warm and humid tonight. HIGH 91, LOW 73
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