28th Annual Dogwood Festival and Prayer Brunch

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted a large number of onlookers and festival goers on Saturday morning as the City of Denmark held its annual Dogwood Festival parade.

This year over 50 units participated in the parade that featured long-time Bamberg County educator Willie B. Owens, Sr. as the grand marshal.

After the parade, festival goers made their way over to the area around the gazebo to listen to gospel music, to enjoy a wide selection of food as the children rode several rides on the midway.

Dogwood Festival Committee Chairperson Reba Lofton now in her fourth year as chair, stated the festival has gone really well this year and she was very pleased with the large crowd in attendance and grateful for the wonderful weather.

As the Dogwood tree, which was once admired in the Middle East as a symbol of strength, even to the extent that by legend it was used in the crucifixion of Christ has changed; we too must change, the Reverend Anthony D. Mansfield, Pastor of Honeyford Baptist Church of Denmark, told those in attendance at the 28th Annual Community Prayer Brunch on the campus of Denmark Technical College.

Rev. Mansfield told those in attendance Thursday morning at the annual prayer brunch- that kicks off the annual Denmark Dogwood Festival, that they should not let their fears control their destiny. The one thing in life he said we feared was change and change he said was inevitable.

“Fear not, fret not, be all that you can be,” he said. Adding, “We need to liberate ourselves from fear, don’t be over- come by your fears, never let the best you’ve been, be the best that you will be.” Rev. Mansfield also used the example of the rose bush as an example of strength.

“In life, like the rose bush, stand still and be strong.”

One of the highlights of this year’s prayer brunch was the music of the nationally acclaimed Denmark Technical College Choir that recently returned from a trip to Washington, D.C. where they performed for Representative James Clyburn and leaders of Congress. The group received several standing ovations during their performance.

Car crashes into Jeff’s IGA

Pansy Clayton, Ehrhardt Correspondent

Many Ehrhardt residents and others were shopping in the Ehrhardt IGA Thursday afternoon, when a loud crash was heard. Everyone rushed to the front of the building. A car driven by a young man crashed through the entire front window of the building. Bricks, glass and debris were scattered everywhere and it was difficult for shoppers to even get their groceries and get outside. Jeff Lewis, owner of the IGA, was called and came in a few moments later from an Easter Egg Hunt he had been attending at the time of the accident. He was amazed at the damage to his building and the Ehrhardt Police had been called immediately and were on the scene when Lewis arrived.

It was a very close call as many people often sit on the window seat where the car crashed through. Thankfully no one seemed to be hurt but it was a close call. The broken glass and debris was all the way up to the check out machines. Emory Hiers IGA employee, immediately got a broom and was trying to sweep away broken glass so no one could get cut.

Lewis said, “I am just thankful that no one was hurt. This could have turned out allot worse.”

Appreciation Dinner

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

Hosted by Buddy and Claudia Sandifer, the 14th Coaches Appreciation Dinner was held March 26th at the Clear Pond home of the Sandifers.

Following a steak and potato dinner prepared by Buzzy, Buddy Sandifer displayed a photo of the 1996 Dixie Youth Baseball team given to him by Bubba Davis. “The program has come a long way,” Sandifer said, “and it has been successful for the past sixteen years because of what you (volunteers) do each year.

Senate recognizes Hodge

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

“Whenever a citizen of our city receives a commendation for more than forty years of contribution to the State of South Carolina,” Denmark Mayor Gerald Wright said, “we want the world to know about it. This is a very great honor that Camille Hodge has received.”

After receiving a letter of congratulations on his 78th birthday from State Representative Bakari Sellers and to then to receive a Senate Resolution from Senator Robert Ford, he was “absolutely thrilled. This was the first time, I think, that I’ve actually been thanked for what I’ve done over the years,” Hodges said.