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LAKESIDE is your OFFICIAL GUIDE to the Striped Bass Festival and the Puddin’ Swamp Festival.
LAKESIDE L I F E O U T D O O R S F R O M WAT E R E E T O S A N T E E
NOVEMBER 2018 - JANUARY 2019
The Holiday Issue Stocking stuffer ideas. Turkey fryer safety. Real or fake tree? All that and more about the fall/winter holidays.
Dinner with Jane Inside the April/May edition of Lakeside magazine, we’ll feature many of the A fantasy in lights Swan Lake to shine with one million lights during Christmas display
"Entertain With Jane" TV cooking show host shares decorating tips and recipes any beginner can use
great spring events around our area. To learn more about promoting your business to the region’s largest local media audience, contact marketing@theitem.com or your Sumter Item sales representative. BERKELEY • CLARENDON • KERSHAW • ORANGEBURG • SUMTER
LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 3
about from the lake us PUBLISHER Vince Johnson EDITOR Kayla Robins COPY EDITORS Rhonda Barrick Melanie Smith WRITERS Sharron Haley Danny Kelly Bruce Mills Ivy Moore Kayla Robins Adrienne Sarvis COLUMNISTS Dan Geddings PHOTOGRAPHY Micah Green
Cary Howard ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Karen Cave karen@theitem.com Rose Jarrett rose@theitem.com Mark Pekuri mark@theitem.com
L A KESIDE on the LIFE OUT DOOR
cover
Heather Gauthier practices pulling the hose at the Sumter Fire Department's training grounds in January. Photo by Micah Green
S FROM W AT E R E E
TO SANTE E
FEBRUARY -
MARCH 2019
Carrying concealed, fashionably
The Well-A and her pu rmed Woman rses
Bicycle business
BCA is leading the way in U.S. production right here in Clarendon
One of a kind BERKELE
4 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
KAYLA ROBINS EDITOR OF LAKESIDE
Y •
There are fem the Sumter ale firefighters at She's the onlyFire Department. one wh burning build o runs into ings. CLARE NDON • KERSHAW
• ORANG E
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98
Behind the lens
Micah Green
else at the Sumter Fire Department. The rest of the stories this issue coming from our writers are just as unique. Did you know little ol’ Manning is home to the nation’s largest bike assembly factory? BCA is the only company whose bicycles are sold in Walmart’s 4,000 stores countrywide that are U.S.-produced. And, they’re about to expand. And, if you think your decision to use your concealed-carry permit means you can’t accessorize fashionably and have options in style of purse, type of strap and measures of safety and security for your firearm, read about Debbie Brown. She leads Sumter’s chapter of The Well-Armed Woman, and, without spoilers, she likes purple. That’s just the start of this issue. The Palmetto Sportsman’s Classic is coming back to Columbia in March. A worthy drive. Any equine, dog or animal-rescue fan should check out the Camden Film Week. Outdoorsman Dan Geddings lays out a detailed route through the Sparkleberry “the swamp” swamp. Plus, more. So, don’t procrastinate on this one. Like me. Take it all in. And maybe make a copy of your important Word documents.
Get a glimpse into the Sumter Digital Camera Club
PUBLICATION DESIGNERS Ryan Galloway
I
’ll admit it, I procrastinate. It’s been a long couple of weeks. January is always like that here. The holidays are over, our (and everyone else’s) staff is back at full capacity after vacations and food comas, and, while it’s still cold, there’s just more going on. We can hunt, we can hike, and we can do anything to try to continue those resolutions that we’re definitely going to keep. Right? I’m more excited about the overall content you’re about to read in this Lakeside than I have been since taking the lead on this magazine almost a year ago now (well, that was fast). Not that I haven’t been happy with our previous issues. And, I don’t think it has anything to do with the fact that I somehow lost all 1,300-ish words I wrote for the cover story, Sumter’s only female firefighter who works suppression (the ones who actually fight fires and run into burning buildings), the night before we had to send the magazine to the printer. Should I have finished earlier? Yes. Do I owe a co-worker lunch for finding the secret compartment in the magician’s hat of random computer folders where the 1,300ish words were hiding? Absolutely. It’s been a long couple of weeks. Before and after that 20-minute breakdown the night before sending this magazine to the printer, I was and am so excited to tell you Heather Gauthier’s story. She’s both one of a kind and like everyone
46 42 34 27 19 14
Jewel of the Santee
Your map to boating through the Sparkleberry swamp
Wading in a sea of orange
How it felt to watch Clemson's historic season — from a USC grad
She's the only one
A spotlight on the only woman who fights fires in Sumter County
Well-armed women and their concealed-carry purses
Carrying in style
The Palmetto Sportsman's Classic is returning to Columbia
Calling all sportsmen
The bicycle assembly facility is leading the way in U.S. production
BCA brings jobs to Clarendon
what’s inside
FEATURE STORIES
LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 5
What to do & Where to go BERKELEY • CLARENDON KERSHAW ORANGEBURG • SUMTER
ORANGEBURG COUNTY
1968 Movie Nights will present “The Love Bug” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14, at Roquemore Auditorium, Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, 3250 St. Matthews Road, Orangeburg. Enjoy a free movie, free popcorn and free bottled water at this family friendly event. A St. Patrick’s Day Festival will be held in Downtown Orangeburg on the Square on Friday, March 15. Call (803) 531-6186 for details. The Orangeburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. will present its annual Red and White Ball, “An Evening of Elegance with Violets and Pearls” scholarship and fundraising event from 8 to 11:30 p.m. on Friday, March 22, at South Carolina State University Smith Hammond Middleton Center. Tickets are $50 each. Visit https://orbgalumnaedst. org/. Call Jackie Fulton at (803) 707-7412, Joyce McDaniel-Felder at (803) 837-0745 or Evelyn Disher at (803) 757-0725. Enjoy a great day of tailgating and horse racing at the Elloree Trials on Saturday, March 23, at Elloree Training Center, 1 Racetrack Road, Elloree. Gates open at 8 a.m. Call (803) 897-2616 or (803) 897-2821. The Orangeburg Civic Ballet will present “The Wizard of Oz” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 31, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium, 300 College St. NE, Orangeburg, on the South Carolina State University campus. Call (803) 533-0017 or email orangeburgcivicballet@ gmail.com.
BERKELEY COUNTY The Give Me Shelter Color 5K benefit for Callen-Lacey Center for Children will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 2, at the Town of Moncks Corner Regional Recreation Complex, Moncks Corner. Open to all ages. Visit www.raceroster.com/color2019. Cost is $30 per individual. The 20th-Annual Shuckin’ in the Park will be held from 1 6 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, at Old Santee Canal Park, 900 Stony Landing Road, Moncks Corner. Enjoy great food, games and live music. There will be a jump castle for the kids. Admission tickets are $5 per person. Food tickets can be purchased inside the gate for $10 each, which will be good for one gallon-sized bucket of steamed single select oysters. Contact Brad Sale at (843) 899-5200.
KERSHAW COUNTY The 2nd-Annual Soul-icious: A Celebration of life, laughter, love and heritage will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the grounds of the Historic Price House, 822 S. Broad St., Camden, at the corner of Broad and York streets. This Black History Month event will feature food, dancing, games and fellowship. Contact Vernon Tucker at vernon.tucker@att.net. Camden Film Week, held Feb. 18-24, will feature a series of film screenings, art exhibits, panel discussions and other film-related events. Activities will take place around town throughout the week and will culminate with the annual EQUUS Film Festival Camden Tour Stop at The Little Theatre Feb. 2224. This year's tour stop will introduce The Bow Wow Fest, so dog and horse lovers alike will find something exciting to see at the cinema. Special activities will include Marley's Round Up on The Town Green, a weekend local Barn Tour and a special welcome reception screening of the hometown film “Life In the Doghouse,” an inspiring look at the work of Camden horsemen and rescue advocates Ron Danta and Danny Robertshaw. Contact Julianne Neal at (803) 351-0223 or julianneneal@me.com. Visit www.equusfilmfestivalcamden.com. The 3rd-Annual Irish Fest Camden will be held Feb. 28-March 2 as follows: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, Irish authors reading and open mic night featuring Irish poet Adrian Rice and Irish-American author Dr. Ed Madden at Books on Broad, 944 Broad St., Camden, (803) 713-7323; 7-10 p.m. Friday, March 1, Pub Crawl, 1000 block of Broad Street, live Irish pub music, food and drink specials; 8 a.m. Saturday, March 2, Lucky Leprechaun 5K, Town Green, 1010 Market St., Camden; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 2, Irish Fest Camden Main Event, 222 Broad St., family friendly festival featuring live Irish music, dancing, the children’s leprechaun parade, the IFC Highland Games, arts and crafts, food trucks and more. Tickets are $10 or $5 for children 2-12. Email irishfestcamden@gmail.com or visit www.irishfest-
camden.com. The Camden Community Concert Band Spring Concert will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, at Camden High School, 1022 Ehrenclou Drive, Camden. The concert is free and open to the public. The 2nd-Annual Revel, presented by OceanaGold-Haile Operation, featuring décor, craft cocktails and artisanal heavy hors d’oeuvres inspired by the 18th century, will be held 7-10 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at the Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, 222 Broad St., Camden. Event will also feature live music, a full open bar, a curated silent auction, games and more. Purchase tickets at www.historiccamden.org/revel. Contact Halie Brazier at (803) 432-9841 or halie@historiccamden.org. The Carolina Cup will celebrate its 85th anniversary on Saturday, March 30, at Springdale Race Course, 200 Knights Hill Road, Camden. This Southern tradition will feature tailgating, horse racing, contests, fancy hats and more. Tickets are $30. Contact Maggie Davis at (803) 432-6513 or maggie@carolina-cup.org. Visit www.carolina-cup.org.
CLARENDON COUNTY The John C. Land III Boat Landing, Greenall Road, Summerton, will host several fishing tournaments during February and March as follows: Feb. 16, TBF/SAF High School Tournament and CATT Tournament; Feb. 23, CATT Tournament and Kayak Bass Fishing Tournament; March 2, Carolina Bass Challenge Tournament; March 9, FLW BFL Tournament; March 16, CATT Tournament; March 23, Fishers of Men Tournament and CATT Tournament; and March 30, CATT Tournament. Call (803) 435-4405. The force will be with the Town of Summerton 4 MAIN from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, when Clarendon County "Star Wars" fans of all ages will welcome the 501st Legion. Since 1997, this fan-based costuming organization has spread the magic of the Star Wars genre worldwide through its authentic-looking costumes and has become a leading force in fan-based charity events. In partnership with Harvin Clarendon County Library, this free event will include Star Wars arts and crafts, creative activities, door prizes, face painting, refreshments, and visitors can also take selfies with a Stormtrooper. Costumes are optional. For more details, call (803) 485-2525 or email courtclerk@townofsummerton.com. Visit www.501st. com for more information about the organization. A Second Chance Animal Shelter Annual Lasagna Dinner and Silent Auction will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, in the fellowship hall of Manning United Methodist Church. Tickets are $15. Call Anne at (803) 460-5535 or Donna at (8033) 460-0887.
Sight fundraiser on Saturday, March 9. The evening includes social hour at 5 p.m., a spaghetti dinner held at Wyboo Plantation Community Center followed by an alternate shot 9-hole golf tournament played at The Players Course, Wyboo Plantation. Entry fee is $40 per two-person team. Call or email Joe McNeil at (803) 478-9811 or jrmcneil@sc.rr.com.
SUMTER COUNTY “Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery” will be presented Fe b. 14-17 and Feb. 21-24 at the Sumter Little Theatre, 14 Mood Ave. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sundays. If you think you know the story of “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” think again. Ludwig transforms Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic into a murderously funny adventure. Tickets: $20 for adults and $15 for students/seniors/military. Call (803) 775-2150 or visit www.sumterlittletheatre. com to reserve tickets. As part of its Main Stage Series, the Sumter Opera House has an impressive lineup of national acts scheduled for February and March as follows: Feb. 15, The Platters; Feb. 21, Blindside with Performing Artist Stephanie Morin-Robert; March 1, country singer Gene Watson; March 9, The Queen’s Cartoonists; March 14, Kenny Cetero’s Chicago Experience; and March 22, Next Generation Leahy. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. For details or to purchase tickets to the shows, visit www.sumtersc.gov/operahouse/ events/mainstage. The 2nd-Annual Hot Pursuit BBQ Cookoff and Car Show will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, at American Legion Post 15, 30 S. Artillery Drive. Admission is free. Wristbands can be purchased for $10 to taste two-ounce cups of barbecue. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/2120515291305007. Columbia City Ballet will present “The Sleeping Beauty” at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, at Patriot Hall, 135 Haynsworth St. This beautiful production will delight the entire family. Visit http://columbiacityballet.com/production/sleeping-beauty/ for details. The Young Professionals of Sumter’s 10th-Annual Chili Cookoff and Beer Tasting will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22, at the Sumter County Museum. Enjoy all-you-can-eat chili from Sumter’s best cooks and a variety of craft beers available to sample. Tickets: $25 advance or $35 at the door; or $25 for military/police/fire/ EMT. Visit https://www.facebook.com/ypsumter/ or http://www. sumterchamber.com/2019-chili-cook-off-3142.
The Manning Lions Club is hosting its annual Night Golf for LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 7
The Doug Mathis Memorial Car and Truck Show, a fundraiser for the Sumter SPCA, will be held 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at Sumter Cut Rate, 32 S. Main St. Entry fee is $20. A donation bucket will also be at the registration table. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1200079270125601/.
The 5th-Annual Sumter Disabilities Benefit Gala will be held 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, at The O’Donnell House, 120 E. Liberty St. This black tie optional event will feature fine food, beer and wine, live music and a silent auction. Call Sumter County Disabilities and Special Needs Board at (803) 778-1669.
One of Columbia City Ballet’s premiere performances, “Off the Wall & Onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at Patriot Hall, 135 Haynsworth St. Conceived and choreographed by William Starrett, the ballet was created in 2005 as a tribute to award-winning artist Jonathan Green, who is known for his vibrantly colorful art depicting Gullah life in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Visit https://www.facebook.com/ events/2203291056619451/.
The 7th-Annual Car and Bike Show, presented by the Evening Optimist Club of Sumter, will be held 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, at USC Sumter, 200 Miller Road. Call William McCoy at (803) 445-8000 or visit https://www.facebook.com/ events/583101068794481/.
The Sumter County Museum will present "When the Rainbow Breaks," a Holocaust lecture with Dr. Henry Knight, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, at Temple Sinai Jewish History Center. For more information, contact Annie Rivers at (803) 7750908 or email information@sumtercountymuseum.org. Dust off those golf clubs and get ready to participate in the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce’s annual golf tournament, The Rub O’ the Green, on Friday, March 15. For details, visit www. sumterchamber.com. The 6th-Annual Farm to Table, Sumter Rotary Club’s annual event to celebrate local farmers and restaurateurs, will be held 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, at the Sumter County Civic Center, 700 W. Liberty St. Tickets are $30 in advance or $40 at the door and include food and beverages. Tickets available at The Sumter Item, Galloway & Moseley, Southern States, The Farm Store, Frasier Tire or from any Rotary Club member. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/365219494260947/. SwanCon: Sumter’s Comic Book Festival will be held Friday-Saturday, March 22-23. This free event, hosted by USC Sumter and the Sumter County Cultural Commission, celebrates all things comic book and science fiction. Friday’s events will include artist panels and lectures at USC Sumter. Saturday’s events will be held at the Sumter County Cultural Center, 135 Haynsworth St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will include artist panels, vendors and more. Visit https://www.facebook.com/ events/247143002566383/.
8 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
RICHLAND COUNTY
The Craftsmen’s Classics Spring Art & Craft Festival, featuring original work from more than 300 talented artists and crafts people, will be held Friday-Sunday, March 1-3, at the S.C. State Fairgrounds, Goodman and Cantey buildings, 1200 Rosewood Ave., Columbia. Admission: $8 for adults; $1 for children ages 6-12. Visit www.gilmoreshows.com. One of the largest green and Gaelic celebrations in the Southeast, St. Pat’s in Five Points will be held on Saturday, March 16. Event highlights include more than 20 bands on five stages (national, regional and local bands), children’s area, parade, Craft Alley (variety of regional, distinctive specialty craft brews on Santee Avenue), food courts and food truck rodeo, arts and crafts vendors and more. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the gate on the day of the event. Visit www.stpatscolumbia.com or call (803) 748-7373. The largest family oriented wildlife show in the Carolinas, the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic will be held Friday-Sunday, March 22-24, at the S.C. State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia. Features include presentations on archery, animal displays, fishing, hunting and conservation. Hours: noon8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Call (803) 734-4008 or email psc@dnr.sc.gov. Visit www. psclassic.com.
S.C. GUN AND KNIFE SHOWS Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 16-17, The Greenville Convention Center, 1 Exposition Drive, Greenville. Show hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 per person or $6 with military identification, children ages 12 and under admitted free with an adult. Call (803) 463-9377 or email showdirector@scgunshows.com. Saturday-Sunday, March 16-17, S.C. State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia. Shows hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 per person, children under age 12 admitted free. Parking is $5 per car. Call (770) 630-7296 or email mike@mkshows.com.
Behind the lens
The Sumter Digital Camera Club creates a community for hobbyists to hone their craft while exploring the area’s nature and life outdoors.
V
Words by Kayla Robins
isitors to Swan Lake-Iris Gardens can likely observe others any day taking pictures of swans, ducks and occasionally even a bald eagle. Nature-goers at Santee National Wildlife Refuge, Poinsett State Park or any other shoreline along Lake Marion, Moultrie or Wateree can likely observe others any day capturing foggy landscapes, reflections in still-as-glass water and kaleidoscope sunsets. Usually, hikers, explorers and
photo hobbyists observe the beauty of the Midlands in small groups, alone or with family. I see them. Usually with iPhones, but I’m not surprised when I see an actual camera with an actual lens that can zoom. I was covering a historical backcountry event at the Sumter County Museum for the paper a recent fall weekend when I saw something I had not before. A group of about 15 people, all with digital SLR
"It just helps you to just enjoy the art of it and enjoy the art of photography and just how people look at the same thing, yet they see something different." - Chris Moore, helped start the SDCC LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 9
Clockwise from top left: Swan Lake (Jeff Byer); Lake Marion (Carol Mintz); Swan Lake (Nancy Byer); and Swan Lake (Nancy Byer). Photos on page 9: The group at Jodi's farm, March 2017; sunrise at Goodale State Park (Nancy Byer).
cameras, shooting the event together. They were members of the Sumter Digital Camera Club, a group of photography hobbyists from Sumter and the surrounding area who “love to shoot, share photos and enjoy being in the company of like-minded folks.” Club members split their shared time between a classroom setting, where they meet quarterly at the Central Carolina Technical College’s main campus library to watch videos focused on a chosen theme before an open discussion, and the world within walking distance to frequent daytrips and occasional weekend excursions. Their walkabouts have been anywhere from documenting downtown scenes in black and white to capturing color and shadows in wildlife and nature. 10 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
“We try to get together as often as we can,” said Nancy Byer, a club member and one of three administrators of the group’s Facebook page, where they post photo themes and challenges, host a yearly contest, share informative articles and hold a platform to – if wanted – ask for constructive criticism. They have practiced long exposures during night shoots. They’ve gotten together to capture Christmas lights, learn the macro settings, frame for black and white photos. Through the club, they’ve witnessed waterfalls, meteors, the moon and stars, themed shoots on rust, abandoned buildings, state parks, historic sights, light trails, the Milky Way and cemeteries. I can’t imagine many better ways to learn about the world around you.
‘A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW’ The group was spearheaded in 2005 by Chris Moore, a former photographer for The Sumter Item who is now the interactive media coordinator at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. He was an adjunct instructor for a basic photography class at CCTC when his students “really wanted to learn more.” “They wanted to go out and take pictures and just to be exposed to different things outside the classroom,” he said. Moore is not affiliated with the club anymore, but he said one of the most interesting aspects of getting a group of people together to shoot the same scene or
Clockwise from top: Poinsett State Park (Jeff Byer); Female wood duck at Swan Lake (Nancy Byer); Lock Tour (Jeff Byer); Swan Lake (Daniel Riddle); and Swan Lake (Jeff Byer).
LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 11
Left: The club sits for a Q&A session at Central Carolina Technical College's main campus library in September 2018. Right: Sumter Opera House clock tower (Glen Clinch). event or place is that it can produce as many different photos as photographers. Take, for example, a walkabout at Swan Lake with that group of 15 I saw at the museum. One will focus on the birds and ducks. Another will notice how the light hits the trees and water. Someone else will
capture how the color pops from a certain angle. “It just helps you to just enjoy the art of it and enjoy the art of photography and just how people look at the same thing, yet they see something different,” Moore said. Sherry Lawrence, a club member, said it is
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a “good community and a good way to better your craft.” It’s not, Byer said, simply about photo sharing. It’s about a passion for the hobby of photography and for learning from and with others. “You can look at someone’s photo and
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say, ‘How did you shoot that? What settings? What were you thinking?’” club member George Davidson said. For Pete Lawrence, the club has been a friendly way to learn the mechanics of digital photography after starting with film in 1974. Some members have been in the club for years, some for three weeks.
“It gives you a different point of view,” club member Glen Clinch said. A point of view changing with each camera’s settings, each photographer’s experience, passion, eye. I could keep talking about the club, but who wants to read 1,000 words when there are photos that tell it all?
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Carrying in style Well-armed women and their concealed-carry purses
Words by Adrienne Sarvis | Photos by Micah Green
14 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
S
o, you’ve got your handgun and your concealed weapon permit. The next step, if you’re a woman who likes to accessorize with a purse, is to find the right handbag to keep your firearm at
your side. Throwing your pistol in a normal handbag is going to cause a number of problems, according to Debbie Brown, leader of The WellArmed Woman Shooting Sumter Chapter. The least of which is damaging your purse, she said, and the worst is making the gun difficult to access when you need it. TWAW is an organization that helps women develop the skills to use firearms for selfdefense and sport.
PICKING THE RIGHT PURSE “If you’ve made the conscientious decision to carry a firearm off your body,” Brown said, “you’ll want the best bag you can afford.” With a range of sizes and materials, concealed-carry purses can range from $75 to $300. Consider how you wear your purse — over the shoulder or across the body — and how you
will be drawing out your firearm, Brown said. Look at how the concealed-carry compartment zips, and pay attention to how many zippers the compartment has and whether those zippers have locks, she said. Finally, she said, you want to consider the strap of the purse. The last scenario you want is for your purse to be snatched with your firearm inside, she said. A holster will be included in the bag attached inside with Velcro, Brown said, but a sticky holster, which sticks to many fabrics, is easier to remove and insert into another purse. Each bag will also have information stating the caliber that it can carry, she said. For herself, Brown prefers to carry a purse with a side compartment because there is a lesser chance of her accidentally pulling the trigger while getting something out. With quite the bag collection, Brown recommends the brand Gun Tote'n Mamas. “I love the quality of their bags,” she said. Brown said this brand can be purchased at many places, but www.thewellarmedwoman. com and www.gtmoriginal.com are her favorite sites to order Gun Tote'n Mamas purses. Simpson Hardware and Sports on Wesmark Boulevard in Sumter also carries concealedcarry purses, she said.
LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 15
HOW SECURE IS IT? You always have to unzip something to get to the firearm, Brown said. Bags with locks on the zippers can be secured when you’re at home when there are children around, and many concealed-carry purses come with reinforced straps with a cord that runs down the center to prevent the strap from being cut.
ALWAYS PRACTICE WITH AN EMPTY GUN Choosing the right bag isn’t the end all be all. You can be separated from your purse, Brown said, so you should always keep a hand on your purse. After buying your purse, be sure to practice your draw regularly at home and make sure you are comfortable with the bag on your body. “Anytime you get a new purse, you should practice with it,” she said.
A proclamation to The Well-Armed Woman Sumter Chapter from former Gov. Nikki Haley hangs on a wall above a leadership award presented to Brown.
Always practice with an unloaded gun, she said, otherwise, you might shoot your TV. “I like to carry on my weak side,” Brown said. That way, she can grab the firearm with her dominant hand. You should pull the bag across the front of your body when
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SUMTER COUNTY CHAPTER TWAW EMAIL: twawsumter@outlook.com PHONE: (803) 340-0025 ATTEND YOUR FIRST MEETING FOR FREE: The Sumter County chapter meets from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every third Saturday at 1510 Greeleyville Highway in Sumter. The local chapter also promotes child safety and explores topics related to firearm safety such as first aid and hand-to-hand self-defense. Annual dues are $50. Join online at www.twawshootingchapters.org.
Debbie Brown poses for a portrait in the dining room of her home in early January.
Ready To Go When You Are. Just Keep Bank Of Clarendon In Your Pocket. Manage your accounts anytime, from anywhere. Bank online or use your mobile device. It’s like carrying your bank in your pocket… 24/7. With BOC Online and BOC Mobile Banking, your bank is always ready when you are. Check balances, review transactions, transfer funds, pay bills, make remote deposits… all on your time. It’s easy. It’s convenient. It’s FREE. And now we’re
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removing the firearm in an emergency so you pull out the gun and point it straight ahead instead of sweeping the gun across your body and possibly pointing it at someone other than the bad guy, she said. This will also prevent the bad guy from seeing what you’re grabbing. If an assailant gets close to you before you can remove your handgun, Brown said, you can shoot through the bag or let the attacker take the purse. You may not want to give the person your firearm, but you don’t want to cause more confrontation. “You can replace your purse, but you can’t replace your body,” she said. While your handgun may be your most powerful method of protection, Brown said it would also be helpful to carry other defense items such as pepper spray, a panic button, a stun gun, a Kubaton — a close-range striking weapon — or a knife.
holsters, Kydex — a plastic element — holsters, belly bands, bra holsters, corsets, in-thewaistband holsters, outside-the-waistband holsters, thigh holsters, under-the-arm holsters, ankle holsters, sticky holsters that can attach to other fabrics and materials and concealed clothing such at jackets and shirts.
OTHER OPTIONS
THE WELL-ARMED WOMAN
Since she started carrying a concealed-carry purse, Brown said she has not had to change her daily routine other than to practice safety. “My gun is part of me,” she said. “It’s just an extension of my body whether in my purse or on my body.” But, if purses are not your thing, don’t worry. The options are seemingly endless for concealed-carry with handcrafted leather
18 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
TIPS FOR CARRYING Always keep a hand on your purse, and always keep the bag on your body when outside. Position the bag correctly on your body. Do not carry your firearm into restricted areas. Know the gun laws because they are always changing. Keep your purse locked or secured when it is not on your body.
With more than 300 chapters across the United States, TWAW is an organization focused on introducing women to the world of firearms by educating, equipping and empowering female shooters. TWAW is about women helping women discover passion, develop skills and build new relationships within their communities.
Calling all sportsmen
I
Words by Adrienne Sarvis
f you love the outdoors and enjoy sharing that interest with others, save some time in your schedule for the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic in March: one of the most popular hunting, fishing and conservation events in South Carolina. The Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic is the second-largest event held at the fairgrounds in Columbia, said Dan DuPre, director of the event. The largest is the state fair. “We are the largest hunting and fishing show in South Carolina,” he said. DuPre said the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic, a partner with South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Hampton Wildlife Fund, started 36 years ago to raise money for projects that will influence people to be more conscious of the environment. There is an educational component to the event, he said, as well as many opportunities for people to enjoy elements of the outdoors. Mainly, he said, the classic raises money for the Harry
Hampton Wildlife Fund, a private, nonprofit corporation that promotes education, research and management of game and fish laws in the state. The sportsmen’s classic is the biggest outreach event for the wildlife fund, DuPre said. DuPre said the classic has become an anticipated annual event because it is something fun to do in Columbia with the family. Back in the day, it was only geared toward men to showcase new fishing and hunting products. It started out small but grew to be a family event with outdoor activities for kids, such as animal shows and a large fish tank for catching live catfish. This year’s attractions will include a wildlife presentation by Nature Nick’s Animal Adventures, demonstrations from the Hawg Trough mobile 5,000-gallon fish tank and the chance to meet the star of The Walk TV’s “Outdoors with Joey Mines.” Hunters can also bring in their deer antler racks to be LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 19
scored by Department of Natural Resources representatives, he said. “Expect to spend about six hours with us,” DuPre said about the extent of activities that will be offered. There will also be vendors selling products you can’t find anywhere else, he said. DuPre, a sportsman himself, said he and his family also look forward to the event every year. “I just really enjoy seeing the people come and enjoy their time as a family,” he said. For ticket information, go to www.dnr.sc.gov/ psc. Prices will be different for each day and attraction.
ATTRACTIONS
Hawg Trough Mobile Fish Tank This 5,000-gallon fish tank is transported to boat shows, sportsman expos, fairs and festivals across the country. After arriving, the tanks are filled with water and stocked with fish. Once the tanks are set up, a Hawg Trough Fish Tank operator will provide periodic seminars and fishing demonstrations that will be both educational and entertaining. Nature Nick’s Animal Adventures All the way from New York, Nature Nick will present a fast-paced educational wildlife show. Guests could see a 10-foot-long python or watch a Eurasian Eagle owl stretch its wings out to 6 feet. Nature Nick’s shows feature five to six trained exotic animals including, but
not limited to, owls, falcons, snakes, alligators, foxes, armadillos, turtles and even a Chilean flamingo. Outdoors with Joey Mines In its 32nd year, the Outdoors with Joey Mines show that airs on The Walk TV is one of the longest-running outdoor shows of all time. Joey brings a sense of humor and country charm to which audiences everywhere can relate. Airing weekly, more than 93 million households tune in to watch Joey as he interviews local sportsmen and takes his audience on adventures. You can meet Joey Mines in the Cantey Building at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia.
DATES AND LOCATIONS Friday, March 22 – noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 23 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 24 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. South Carolina State Fairgrounds 1200 Rosewood Drive Columbia, SC 29201 Call: (803) 734-4008
Santee Quick Lube Wash & Tire
Triple R RV Repair Dudley Osteen, Owner RV Coach Repairs & Local RV Relocation
MOBILE SERVICE AVAILABLE Call or Text me at 803-795-6217 to schedule an appointment.
803-795-6217
Santee Dental Care
9083-B Old Hwy 6 • Santee, SC 29142 • (803) 854-2600 • Fax: (803) 854-2660 www.stgeorgedentalc.com • Location also at St. George Dental Care
W. Scott Garris, D.M.D. • Ryan R. Phillips, D.M.D. • Jessie S. Robinson, D.M.D.
• New Patients Welcome, Children to Adults! • All Computerized & Digital Dentistry • Digital Crowns made in 1 visit. 20 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
MEMBER OF
AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION
Photo provided
Dee's Rentals
TREE TRIMMING & REMOVAL Professional & Dependable Licensed & Insured
Lake Marion Area Monthly & Long Term Rentals
Town, Lake Area, Waterfront Homes and Condos TREE CARE DIVISION
www.deelakerentals.com 803-433-7355
2.56 ac Waterfront lot and beautiful home on Lake Marion. Lots of privacy, new extra long pier, 3brs, 2ba, 2000sf, screened porch, 2 new decks, granite countertops, gas fireplace. 24'x24' garage/workshop, fish cleaning sink, fenced dog area, circular paved driveway, Beautiful landscaped lot. Split floorplan, cathedral ceilings family room, sunroom/bar room. READY TO MOVE INTO! call today to view. $392,900
BEST OF SUMTER
2018
803.481.3156
1830 Greeleyville Hwy. • Manning, SC Over 20 Years Property Manager Experience
BEST OF SUMTER
DEE OSTEEN
www.lawnsolutionsofsumter.com Lake Marion within walking distance!If you are looking for an affordable home close to fishing, boating,and casual living on 1 acre of your own land, this is it! This Horton 14' wide w/3br, 2ba, age 2001. Enjoy morning coffee on your screened front porch. Then take a walk around the block and enjoy the lake view and breezes. A great permanent home or weekend retreat. Ready to move into today! $63,000
Upscale finishing, hardwood floors, dream kitchen with large island, open floor plan into great room with vaulted ceilings and fireplace, dinning room with hardwood floors, screen porch over looks inviting salt water pool.and lake..large pier with electric power, water, fish cleaning station shower, and boat lift. Landscaped yard with irrigation system. Neighborhood adjoins Foxboro Golf Course. $410,000
LAKE MARION REALTY (803) 433-7355 • 1830 Greeleyville Hwy • Manning, SC • www.LakeMarionRealty.net
LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 21
22 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
& Leisure Life
in Manning
WWW.MANNINGQUALITYBUILDINGS.COM FINANCING AVAILABLE
Terry Truluck 803-473-9912
Want your business showcased here? Mark Pekuri
(803) 464-8917
3217 Sumter Hwy. Manning, SC 29102
Rent to Own Storage Buildings, Custom Built Playhouses & Decks
SUMTER & MANNING
803-460-0840 www.OutDoorUpGrades.com ALSO SEE OUR BUILDINGS AT
ACE PARKER TIRES | J&J TOWING
Jimmy’s
Heating and Air, LLC LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED
Serving Clarendon County For Over 35 years!
Jimmy Mathis
803-478-5957 Authorized Dealer
SALES & SERVICE ON ALL BRANDS
TO LIST YOUR BUSINESS ON THIS PAGE CALL 803.435.4716 OR 803.464.8917 LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 23
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COTTINGHAM INSURANCE AGENCY AUTO-HOME-MOBILE HOME COMMERCIAL-MOTORCYCLE-BOAT WE CAN FINANCE FOR YOU!
Main Street Manning
AMY BRIGGS • JUNE BRIGGS • ROBBIE BRIGGS 10 WEST RIGBY STREET MANNING, SOUTH CAROLINA 29102
803-435-2368 OFFICE 803-435-8292 FAX
Serving your needs with compassion, understanding and trust.
Every Auto-Owners policy comes with a local agent! Call or visit us today for all your insurance needs.
Pam Stephens Shayne Stephens
(803) 435-2179 304 N. Church Street Manning, SC 29102
www.stephensfuneralhome.org
Established 1969
520 West Boyce Street • Manning, SC 29102 022
(803) 435-8094
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm 26 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
John Mathis, Agent 803-473-6205 mobile
Alfreda Pearson, Agent 803-374-9655 mobile
40 N. Mill St., Manning
803-433-0060
'Changing lives, one bicycle at a time'
Manning is home to the largest bike assembly factory in the U.S., and it’s expanding this year in Clarendon County Words by Bruce Mills Photos by Micah Green
LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 27
M
anning and Clarendon County’s claim to fame for the longest time has been fishing for the large striped bass in Lake Marion. Now, those stripers may have a competitor roll into town. Bicycles. Yes, bicycles. First, a little history. … Given the global economy, by 1997, all major U.S. bicycling companies had moved bike production overseas to lower-cost providers in China and Asia and were solely buying and importing models for sales here in the 50 states. That business model still exists today – with one exception. In 2014, Kent International Chairman and CEO Arnold Kamler decided to move 10 percent of his company’s business back to the U.S. and set up operations in an abandoned warehouse in, of all places, Manning – which has long been considered a small industrial town. Kamler created Bicycle Corporation of America as a division of Kent. His reasoning: The growing cost of labor in China and a long-term outlook on production costs in the industry. Also, Walmart had established a Made in U.S.A. initiative that encouraged U.S.
KAMLER manufacturing and sales to its stores. “It’s a long-term play,” Kamler said. “Even without talk on tariffs, the cost of doing business in China and Asia is going up at a really high rate. It’s growing at a much higher rate than it’s growing in the United
THE AMERICAN PONTOON COMPANY Make your Pontoon a Tri-toon. We manufacture custom center tubes. Installation Available. 11141 Hwy. 260 Manning, SC (½ mile before the Dam)
Call us at 803-478-BOAT 2628
28 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
States.” BCA in Manning isn’t a back-to-thebasics, full manual labor assembly line operation. That would be too costly, Kamler said. Instead, it’s better described as “man and machine.” Automated machines now handle the traditionally tedious task of putting the spokes on the wheels in a matter of seconds. With generally 36 spokes per wheel, that’s 72 on a typical bicycle. At another station, a programmable machine also tightens the spokes on the wheel so it’s ready to ride. BCA has also invested in the most highly automated painting system for bikes in the world at the Manning facility, according to Kamler. The system can produce an unlimited number of color options. To save employees’ backs, an advanced magnetic lift has also been introduced on the line to hoist up the finished bike (which is generally about 33 pounds) before an assembly worker helps position it into a shipping box. After 4 1/2 years in operation, BCA now produces about 320,000 bicycles per year for sale in the U.S., mostly via Walmart’s 4,000 stores across the country. In fact, BCA is the only U.S.-assembled brand you can find in any Walmart store nationwide.
BONANZA Flea Market
1048 Bonanza Crossing Rd. • Manning, SC Hours: Th-F 10-5 • Sat 8-4 • Sun 12-5
803-460-0014 • bonanzafleamarket@aol.com Vendors Welcome Inside and Out Daily, Weekly, or Monthly
Like Us on
“Every time I drive by somebody riding on a bicycle, I think of them being happy because of the product we produce here.” - John Davis, BCA business manager
Santee Associates Realty Great team of Real Estate professionals ready to help you buy/sell your Lake Marion (North & South Shore) property.
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All other bikes at any Walmart from a U.S.based company, such as Huffy or Pacific Cycle, are all imports. “That’s right,” Kamler said, “and produced right here in Manning, South Carolina.”
ADDING 65 JOBS As 2019 begins, BCA has 145 employees and is growing. It has outgrown its current Manning warehouse and will expand with two new product lines into an existing 30 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
facility just down the road in Summerton, adding 65 jobs. Kamler said his company has been satisfied with the local workforce. Employees also seem to enjoy the atmosphere and environment. Chrystal Martinez, a 2005 graduate of Manning High School, has been with BCA since its start here in October 2014. She worked in manufacturing previously in Clarendon, but not quite with the level of technology and automation of BCA. She admits it was a little scary at first, but she said she loves a challenge and that it was
exciting at the same time. Martinez said BCA’s assembly lines are getting more fast-paced all the time, and she is currently backup lead on the line, ensuring operations run correctly. According to Kamler, BCA’s goal is to reach 500,000 bicycles produced a year. Martinez said she never imagined she would be making bicycles for a living in Manning, but she says her children love it. “They tell all their friends at school that ‘My mom builds bikes, and it’s awesome,’” she said. BCA Business Manager John Davis
BCA production in Manning in 2018
320,000 total bicycles made 1,200 per day 50 minutes – current assembly time for one bicycle LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 31
has been with BCA for 1 1/2 years and said the workplace is a fun and friendly environment, in part because the people from the local area are so nice. Coming from a career as a U.S. Army officer, he also thinks bicycles provide people with fun and happiness. “Every time I drive by somebody riding on a bicycle, I think of them being happy because of the product we produce here,”
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Davis said. “So, sort of my internal motto is: ‘We’re changing lives one bicycle at a time.’” Kamler said he’s enjoyed his working relationship with Clarendon County development officials and leaders, and Manning is tickled pink to have BCA. “We’ve actually been talking with the town,” he said, “and they’re thinking about putting up a sign: ‘Home of the largest bicycle factory in the United States.’”
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34 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
This is a story about the only woman who runs into burning buildings in Sumter
Words by Kayla Robins Photos by Micah Green
LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 35
O
ne call still stands out from back when Firefighter Gauthier (their uniforms designate them by last name) was newer to the Sumter Fire Department. Gauthier did not grow up wanting to be a firefighter. After working as a veterinary technician for five years and wanting something more and going to nursing school and getting bored by “the science of it,” the endless education that came with firefighting – and the variety of niches and topics, from Hazmat to bomb training to FEMA to water rescues, rope rescues, trench rescues – was appealing. “Somebody in Columbia suggested the fire department, and I was like, ‘No way.
36 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
Not doing that.’ Then, I went home and read up on it, and you’ll never ever take all the classes you can take. There’s so many classes; it keeps you interested in the job,” the New Zion native but Sumterite since fourth grade said. There are a lot of roles a member of a fire department can play. There are EMT first responders. Those roles are not certified firefighters. There are inspectors to enforce codes, investigators who handle arson cases, prevention specialists who lead education and community outreach. Those roles are all considered certified career firefighters, but certified suppression firefighters are the ones on the truck. The ones who run into burning buildings.
Women at the Sumter Fire Department 3 career firefighters – 1 suppression, 1 prevention specialist, 1 inspector 12 volunteer firefighters 10 support – encompasses EMTs and first responders (not certified firefighters)
Two of Gauthier's fellow firefighters work a massive warehouse fire in Sumter in early 2018.
There are women in all those roles in Sumter. Heather Gauthier is the only female firefighter on suppression. One call still stands out to her from back when she was newer to the department. She didn’t grow up wanting to be a firefighter. She even scoffed at the idea at first. “We had a fire one night, and we had somebody that was hurt,” she said, her blond hair in a high pony tail tied loose enough so it could still be pushed down under a helmet. “When we got off the truck, I saw one of our guys with that person running because EMS had not gotten there yet, and he was running to meet them in the road. I thought, ‘Wow.’ I’ll always
remember that. When I got off the truck, I was right there, and he was just running with that person. And I was like, ‘God, he’s awesome.’”
‘It’s important to do it right’ It took someone pointing out to Gauthier that she is only the third female who has been on suppression in Sumter for her to realize. Compared to Clarendon County, where Chief Frances Richbourg made her way up the ranks to become the county’s first head of the department after being the only woman on the arson control team at
the State Fire Marshal’s Office, it stands out when Gauthier picks up a hose in training that’s 12-fold longer than her and marches into a crumbling structure. Richbourg, who has a handful of female firefighters on her staff, said she thinks women are encouraged to join the Clarendon department because she is proof a woman has been successful all the way to the top. Not that they're discouraged in Sumter. It's just not as common. Her gender is not something that’s talked about openly. “I’ve had people say later that they thought one way about me before, but then they saw me do my job,” the Summerton native and resident said. “But they’ve never said anything until after they saw what I
LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 37
could do.” It’s not about male or female, she said. It’s about whether you can do your job. Her mentors and bosses in Clarendon – all men – always knew that. Gauthier knows that. Being a female and going into the fire service is different than a female going into any other historically male-dominated profession, she said. It’s not like engineering. That’s hard, and females are in the minority. The differences are the lives depending on intense manual labor being correctly and efficiently executed. “If you’re getting fussed at and corrected and corrected and corrected, it’s not because you’re a girl. It’s because you’re not doing it right,” Gauthier said. “And it’s important to do it right because everybody wants to go home to their family.” That difference has not meant for Gauthier a difference in treatment because of her gender. She's treated the same. Do your job. “You have to have a backbone to be able to take criticism and then be able to be willing to work to fix it. That’s not such a big deal here because everybody is going to make sure you fix it.” When we met up with Gauthier at the department’s training grounds for an interview, they were learning a new way to fold the truck’s hose and pull it up to a structure. The narration of instructions, once Gauthier rejoined the group after our chat, came rapidfire. “He’s gonna put it on his shoulder. The nozzle is going to be the last one. Hang onto the nozzle. Grab the center stack on here, which is going to be the yellow line,” Jordan Duggan explained to her. “Uh huh.” “So, you’re gonna grab the red and yellow, and throw it off, walk to the front door and flick your nozzle.” Just like the endless array of classes a firefighter can take, their training is constant and ever-evolving. After every fire, every car wreck, they talk. Here’s what you did right. Here’s what went wrong. Here’s something to try next time.
Male vs. female? Firefighter. Bottom line. Gauthier said she has not felt unwelcome or uncomfortable in the two years she has been with the department. She knows other departments, other groups, other businesses have “problems” but that “everyone here is good. They’ve treated me like everybody else.” She got water dumped on her head. She found her bed in the shower. They’ve “played all the tricks they played with everybody else.” “Gosh, I remember one night – at the old headquarters, your bed could fit down the pole. The whole thing. And, I went to get to bed and nothing was there, and I’m like, what? And they kept throwing it down the hole, so every time I’d go up and bring a piece up in the stairwell, they’d throw it back down there,” 38 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
"It was probably more uncomfortable for everybody else. The only thing I noticed was everybody who didn't know my name, they just called me Girl."
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she said. “They did not treat me any different. They might have been a little easier. Maybe a little bit. I didn’t get the flour.” You have to be able to take a joke. Banter is almost as stereotypical of firefighters as them being men. And, Gauthier said, you have to be able to get people back. “It makes it fun. When you’re stuck 24 hours with these people, you’ve got to get along. You’ve got to take a joke. It makes you closer when you’re on scene because you get along better,” she said. Back at training, we finish the interview. All that talk about male, female, was it weird, was it not weird, is it different? It almost got weird talking about it so much. “It was probably more uncomfortable for everybody else,” she said about joining the fire service. “The only thing I noticed was everybody who didn’t know my name, they just called me Girl. But, I knew who they were talking to.” Through the training, the hose pulling, pulling, pulling, through the classes, the mistakes, more training, through the soaked suits in finger-numbing cold and sticky Southern summers, through the family meals at the station, the fender benders, medical calls, tragedies and even more training,
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Gauthier gets the potential every time she interacts with someone at a call to be the one who stands out in someone else’s memory. “We had a fire out in Mayesville. There was this woman. Everything was under control, but she couldn’t go in the house. There was no way,” she said. The woman was upset about a doll she had bought for her granddaughter. “So, I went in and found it. Oddly enough, when I opened the box, there was nothing wrong with it. The whole house was burnt. It was just in its little white dress. And that lady was so happy. It was all I had to go was just do on inside and get something for her.” Not all she had to do. She did help put the fire out. “And she stands out to me,” Gauthier said, pausing, remembering, “because she cried and cried.”
LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 41
Wading in an orange sea Our very own Carolina alumnus lets us know just how it felt to watch Clemson's historic season from the other side. Words by Danny Kelly
H
ello darkness, my old friend. That’s probably what many South Carolina football fans thought when Clemson hoisted a national championship trophy for the second time in three years after defeating Alabama in dominating fashion 44-16 at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California, back on Jan. 7. This was Clemson’s third national title overall, while the Gamecocks’ trophy case remains barren as far as national championship trophies are concerned. Frustrating is an understatement for the Gamecock faithful. Not only did archrival Clemson prove it was the best team this year, but the Gamecocks also ended the season 42 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
on a sour note when they put up a goose egg against Virginia, a team that didn’t even win the mostly weak Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division. The Gamecocks fell 28-0 in what was a pitiful performance on both sides of the ball in the 2018 Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Dec. 29. What is also unsettling for Gamecock fans is the fact that Clemson doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. Standout freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who won ACC Rookie of the Year and the national championship’s offensive MVP award, will be there for at least two more years due to NCAA rules, and so will a host of other future NFL players.
Clemson has become a machine, cranking out great team after great team and always in the hunt, if not competing, for a national championship. Meanwhile, South Carolina is looking down the barrel of what will be a tough 2019 campaign. The Gamecocks have to play Alabama at home for their random SEC cross-division game (what a lucky draw) and have to travel to Athens to take on Georgia, who just narrowly missed making the four-team College Football Playoff after blowing its lead in the SEC Championship against the Crimson Tide. The Gamecocks will have a crack at Clemson at the end of the season like they always do, and this year it's at home at Williams-Brice Stadium. So, at least they have
that going for them. Other notable games next season include Texas A&M on the road, Kentucky at home and Appalachian State, who almost beat Penn State in overtime this past season, at home. All tough tests, to say the least. However, on the bright side, the Gamecocks did something this season that no one else was able to do: put up 35 points and 600 total yards on Clemson’s elite defense. In Death Valley, no less. South Carolina still lost the game 56-35 due to an injury-depleted defense that couldn’t stop Clemson whatsoever, but it was a small victory for the offense. An “L” for the team, still. It’s puzzling that, after that performance, the Gamecocks failed to score in their last
six quarters of the season, dating back to the second half of the Akron game and the aforementioned blunder of a contest against Virginia. While it looks like Clemson might extend their winning streak over USC to six games in a row this season and will be a heavy favorite to return to the CFP for the fifth year in a row, Gamecock fans are probably thinking of one thing above all others: What goes up, must come down. However, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has the Tigers looking like a welloiled machine that won’t stop running for some time, so it remains to be seen when that “down” will be.
Danny Kelly, right, and his younger brother, Ben, who currently attends Clemson, are a house divided. LAKESIDE | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 43
Horsing around
Photo provided
Any animal lover will want to make his or her way up to Kershaw County for the inaugural Camden Film Week. Between a fourth-annual visit from the Equus Film Festival and a week of panels, art and educational classes on animal rescue and other canine-centric films, the event is an experience for the whole family.
I
Words by Bruce Mills
f you’re a lover of horses, dogs, animal rescue in general, art or even film making, mark your calendar for late February and the inaugural Camden Film Week in Kershaw County. Camden’s fourth-annual tour stop for the international Equus Film Festival serves as the catalyst for the week of activities, according to Julianne Neal, event organizer and executive director of The Marley Project Inc., a nonprofit that serves as the host and sponsor for the equine film festival’s tour stop. She spoke in late January on this year’s expanded week filled of activities, set for Feb. 18-24. With its rich horse tradition, Camden is a perfect stop for the New York-based Equus Film Festival, the world’s premier showcase for U.S. and international equestrian-content feature films, documentaries, music videos, training and educational materials, art and literature, Neal said. More than 20 equine film-makers, artists and authors will descend on Camden during the week for film screenings, art exhibits and classes on filmmaking – even with your phone. Panel discussions and
44 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
Q&A sessions will also be a part of film week. Friday, Feb. 22, and Saturday, Feb. 23, will be the big days for the film festival at the Little Theater in downtown Camden. Recently released short- and full-length documentaries will be shown, including “A Pony and His Boy: The Story of Berry and Josh,” “Their Last Ride” and “The Great Flip-Off.” The 20-minute “A Pony and His Boy” was partially filmed in South Carolina and premiered in Chicago last year. The film tells the story of a young boy, Josh, with Down Syndrome, who is initially terrified of animals but later falls in love with horses in his own display of courage. Neal said filmmakers take great pride in their work and often travel with their movies to the various festivals. In the Q&A sessions, filmmakers will discuss with attendees why particular storylines appealed to them. “The Great Flip-Off” – 95 minutes – follows extreme circus bareback riding families as they face the potential loss of their livelihood with the cutting of many circus acts in a new era of animal rights.
Neal said this year’s festival will also be ideal for dog lovers with the addition of the “Bow Wow Film Fest” and the Camden premiere of “Life in the Doghouse” – 84 minutes long. The documentary tells the story of two Camden men, Ron Danta and Danny Robertshaw, and their efforts to rescue more than 11,000 dogs during the last decade. The film week’s theme will be a spotlight on animal rescue efforts with proceeds to assist local organizations. Camden horseman Bruce Anderson is also an event organizer, Neal said. The beginning of the week will feature educational classes for students during the day centered on arts activities. In the evenings, classes will be available for the public at the Kershaw County Fine Arts Center in Camden. Saturday is the marquee day on the Town Green in downtown Camden with Marley’s Round Up, which will feature carriage horses, performances, the opportunity to meet visiting authors, filmmakers and artists, a petting zoo, food trucks and more. Want more info?
www.equusfilmfestivalcamden.com
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Jewel of the Santee Words by Dan Geddings
H
unters and fishermen refer to the area simply as “the swamp.” It is the headwaters of Lake Marion and is more widely known as “Sparkleberry.” This vast area covers more than 16,000 acres of shallow flooded swampland, with miles of winding creeks, oxbow lakes and brush-filled flats. Heavily forested islands and seasonally flooded ridges are found throughout this natural wonderland. The swamp is anchored by the Santee River, and it is the river’s flow that gives this place life. Water levels in the swamp rise and fall with the river. Those levels, and even weather such as fog, can affect travel through the swamp. Many outdoorsmen have lost their way and spent a night in the swamp. This sportsman’s paradise is owned by Santee Cooper and is open to the public. Fishing, hunting, camping and boating are the main pursuits here. There are no official trails or routes but also no restricted or closed areas and no permit requirements. Sparkleberry offers a freedom to do what you like when you like that is seldom found on public ground. The swamp offers good fishing for catfish, bass, bream and crappie. Deer, turkey and other small game is abundant here. Camping is popular on the islands and the river bank. Pack’s Landing in Sumter County and Low Falls Landing in Calhoun County offer good access points. Sparkleberry Landing in Sumter County is more primitive but puts you right into the watery world. From Sparkleberry Landing, a boat ride will take you through a narrow channel flanked by moss-draped trees to a wide-open flatwater known as Jones’ Flat. Cut across the flat and through a winding creek to a forest of submerged ash, tupelo 46 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 | LAKESIDE
and cypress trees. Mill Creek winds through this enchanted place. Sparkleberry Lake lies just ahead. Through another flooded forest lies Otter Flat. It is a long, wide stream and is the main boat trail through the heart of the swamp. In low-water conditions, old pilings from a timber railroad trestle can be seen here. Flooded swampland and thick stands of cypress trees line this creek. Snake Creek and York Creek veer off to the right. A boat trail to McGirth’s Lake turns off to the left. Pine Island Creek is just ahead. At the upper end of Otter Flat is the turn-off to Dead River. A narrow, twisting, watery trail past wooded ridges and through willow thickets opens unexpectedly into a wide-open lake. Dead River is a huge, wide, crescent-shaped oxbow lake. It is a surprise to see something like this in the middle of such a heavily wooded swamp. Backtrack to the turn-off and take Little Otter Flat upstream to Broadwater Lake. The lake is long and narrow, and toward the end, Broadwater Creek
turns off to the right. It is a winding creek lined with willows and hardwood ridges. Little Creek turns off near Broughton’s mound. The old Indian mound predates the rice and indigo culture that flourished here long ago. At the end of Broadwater Creek is Indigo Flats, a crescent-shaped oxbow lake with moss-draped cypress trees standing in deep water. Here, Tavern Creek and Fuller’s Earth Creek bring black water in from the hill to mix with the muddy water that flows in from the river. Turn around here and follow Broadwater downstream, back past Little Otter Flat, Photo provided through a narrow boat trail to the Santee River. The current in the river is usually slow, and the water is muddy or at least dingy. The riverbanks are high and narrow and heavily wooded with hardwoods and the occasional pine. In winter, the sycamore trees stand out like skeletons with their pure white bark against the dark gray hardwoods along the riverbank. The river will take wide turns and loops on its way downstream toward the lake that spreads its waters. A couple of turns down the river reveals a cut in the bank that is the entrance to Moore’s Lake. Pushing on, another cut leads to the Bog Hole. The steel railroad trestle is just ahead. A left turn will take you to Pack’s. Just beyond the trestle is the entrance to Low Falls on the right. Sparkleberry swamp is a big place and has changed through the years, as any natural place will do. But it remains a wonder, a treasure and an outdoorsman’s paradise. It is the Jewel of the Santee.
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