Two vie for City Council seat

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

Two candidates have tossed their hats into the ring to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of former Councilmember Ella Bamberg. Frances Johnson, who represented District 2 on Bamberg City Council for 16 years will face political newcomer Cynthia Summers in a nonpartisan Special Election to be held on Tuesday, September 14, 2010.

The winner of the special election will occupy the District 2 Seat until May, 2011 before facing re-election. The polls will open on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. The polling places for this district are the Civic Center/Armory Building at 2477 Main Highway and the J. Carl Kearse Agricultural Building at 847 Calhoun Street.

On Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the J. Carl Kearse Agricultural Building the Bamberg Election Commission will hold a hearing to determine the validity of any ballots challenged in this election and to certify the results of this election. Any runoff will be held two weeks after the election on Tuesday, September 28, 2010.

35th Annual Schuetzenfest, August 15-21

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

The small town of Ehrhardt will celebrate its German Heritage with the 35th Annual Hunter’s Festival-Schuetzenfest August 15, through August 21. This year’s event with the theme “Parade of Queens” actually started on July 31, with the Miss Schuetzenfest Pageant at 7:00 P.M. at the Ehrhardt Auditorium.

“This is a lot of hard work,” said Donna Moore one of the Co- Chairs of the event again this year. “We hope everyone comes out and enjoys it,” Moore added.

Schuetzenfest activities will began on August 15, with a Singspiration at 6:00 P.M. at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church. On August 16, A Bingo Night will be held at 7:00 P.M. at the Lion’s Hut. A taste of Ehrhardt will be held at 7:00 P.M. at Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church. On August 19, a live auction will be conducted by Frank Rentz at the auditorium. Moore noted that last year the auction raised between $5,000 and $6,000.

On August 20, Street Dance Night Vision Band will perform from 8-12 P.M. in front of the Old Town Hall and a DJ will also play music in front of Carolina Gin from 8-12.

On Saturday, August 21 a full day of activities are in store for everyone. At 10:30A.M. on Main Street a parade with the theme Past Beauty Queens will be held and all the former Queens will be recognized.

Ehrhardt Mayor Bill Stanley will introduce the Dignitaries and Queens in front of Town Hall immediately following the parade. The presentation of trophies and awards will immediately follow the parade in front of Town Hall. A V. I. P. Luncheon will be held at 12:30 P.M. at the Ehrhardt Baptist Church.

Jimmy Still (Gospel Group) of Bamberg and the Davis Family will perform at 4:00 P.M. anyone interested in performing needs to bring your music and plan to attend in front of the Old Town Hall. A Pony Drop will be held next to the Town Hall at 6:00 P.M.

A DJ will performfrom8-12 P.M. in front of Carolina Gin and Street Dance Party Express Band will perform in front of Old Town Hall. The event organizers remind everyone that T-Shirts are on sale at Dollar Days and Enterprise Bank. Schuetzenfest Books will be on sale at a later date. “Bring your lawn chairs and relax and enjoy the 2010 Schuetzenfest.”

DTC Legislative Luncheon

Because they remembered Denmark Technical College while they were at work, DTC remembered its federal, state and local legislators before the technical school begins another year of learning.

Politicians from U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn to state representatives, county council members and local mayors and municipal officials were invited. About 35 people total attended the luncheon.

James Hayes, the chairman of the DTC Area Commission, gave some opening remarks.

Hayes thanked the state legislators for the veto overrides which helped sustain state funding for the S.C. Technical College System. The state has 16 technical colleges in the system, of which DTC is one.

“We want you to be part of our team. We think our legislators have been part of the team,” Hayes said.

The main purpose of DTC is to serve its students. The students, once educated, feed into the local and state workforce and become sustaining members of the community, he said.

Price Changes

A new Forever Stamp image will be available as part of a pricing package that would add less than 13 cents a month to the average American household’s budget.

The U.S. Postal Service Governors recommended increasing the price of a First-Class stamp 2 cents to 46 cents and authorized the production of a pane of four evergreen tree branches as the newest image for Forever Stamps. The price of a postcard would increase 2 cents to 30 cents.

The Postal Regulatory Commission must approve the recommended price changes. The increases would not go into effect until January 2, 2011. It would be the first stamp price increase in almost two years.