Haley remembers Bamberg roots

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

“I am reminded daily of growing up in Bamberg,” Bamberg native and South Carolina Governor Nikki R. Haley told a group of approximately 300 people gathered at Bamberg Job Corps Center in Bamberg Thursday evening at the 45th Bamberg County Chamber of Commerce Banquet.

Haley said it was her roots in Bamberg that inspired the grassroots campaign that helped her get elected as governor of South Carolina.

“Whatever this town needs I will be there for you because this town was there for me and my family,” Haley said. In being elected the first female and Indian-American Governor in South Carolina, Haley noted the progress the state has made. “Fifteen years ago this state never would have elected a 38 year old Indian-American Governor. How far have we come?”

Haley emphasized the importance of bringing jobs to the small communities such as Bamberg County and other rural areas of the state. She also noted the importance of tax reform, changes in education funding, ways to enhance tourism to bring more revenue and state agency changes.

The highlight of the evening was the naming of the Waddy Thompson Citizen of the Year, Janis Steedley; The Evelyn McMillan Chamber Volunteer, The Advertizer-Herald; and the Emma Ruth Dowling Unity Award, Mikki Ehrhardt Murden.

Platinum sponsors of the banquet had someone in their business give individual speeches on their businesses and on what it means to do business in Bamberg County. Several of the businesses that were represented were family-owned businesses with fourth generations serving the community.

Renowned Artist Jim Harrison presented Governor Haley with a beautiful painting of a palmetto tree for the Governor's Mansion.

The food was catered by the Bamberg Job Corps Culinary Department and entertainment was provided by Denmark Technical Choir and the Bamberg Job Corps Choir.

Loss of Inpatient service affects hospital’s bottom line

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

After accounting for yearend adjustments, the Bamberg County Memorial Hospital saw a loss of $333,000 last month compared to a previous month loss of $280,000 new hospital interim CFO Sally Border informed trustees at their October meeting. “It has to do with inpatient volume being down compared to where it was a year ago,” Border said. “We’re making payroll, we’re paying our bills,” hospital administrator John Hales added.

Also during the meeting:

In his administrator’s report Hales reported the hospital has acquired the Physical Therapy unit from the Low Country Health Care Network that has closed. Hales noted the PT unit transitioned over to the BCMH on October 24 and would be housed in the former Women’s Clinic. The administrator said an agreement has been made that the compensation will remain the same and the hospital does not expect to lose any money. “I will not lose money and do not expect to make a lot of money,” Hales said. Adding “We’re going with the understanding that if money is lost we will have to revisit some things.” Hales commented that the PT unit at the Low Country Health Care Network had been “well received, with a good following and it was a “benefit to the community” to keep the program.

Also during his administrator’s report Hales noted he had met with officials of the Barnwell County Hospital in what he termed a “productive meeting.” Hales said areas where the two hospitals could operate which could “help both hospitals financially” were looked at.

With the advent of colder weather the question was asked where will be people with respiratory illness be sent. It was noted that if situations arose that could not be handled in Bamberg patients would have a choice of going to Barnwell, Orangeburg or given a choice of where they may want to go for services.

Sheriff Ed Darnell

Warning of fraudulent phone solicitation using the S.C. Sheriff’s Association’s Name.

The S.C. Sheriff’s Association never uses telemarketing to raise funds. Sheriff Ed Darnell wants to warn the citizens of Bamberg County that someone using the S.C. Sheriff’s Association’s name is making phone calls in an attempt to solicit contributions from individuals.

If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to call on behalf of the S.C. Sheriff’s Association, understand it is a fraudulent call and hang up immediately, then report the call to the Sheriff’s Office.

Art Honors

Accolades go to several students from Bamberg- Ehrhardt Middle School for winning prestigious awards at this year’s South Carolina State Fair in Columbia. Students who received this recognition studied under BEMS art instructor Teresa Alsing during the 2010- 2011 school year. At the 2011 S.C. State Fair, Anna Lucas an Award of Merit for her acrylic portrait in the 7th grade division, and Lindsey Darnell received an Award of Merit for her mixed media translation tessellations.

Additionally, the middle school had four award winners from the Orangeburg County Fair. In the 8th grade division, Jennifer Stanley received 2nd Place for her reflection tessellations, and Marlin Morrill was awarded an Honorable Mention for his acrylic portrait. The 6th grade division award went to Blaze Bunch with an Honorable Mention for his mixed medium abstract and Milo Dickerson with 2nd Place for his mixed medium abstract in the 6th grade division.

Red Raiders clinch top seed in lower state playoffs

Jerry E. Halmon, Sports Editor

The back-to-back Region 5-A Champions and defending Lower State Champions Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School Red Raider football team will again have home field advantage throughout the 2011 Division 1 Lower State Playoffs. The Red Raiders (9- 1, 7-0) clinched the region championship outright Friday night with a 49-18 win over Whale Branch on Seabrook Island. Whale Branch (7-3, 4- 3) will enter the playoffs as a number three seed in the lower state Division II Playoffs.

The Red Raider victory was a sweet one, complete with a Gatorade shower for the coaching staff, following a tumultuous week which saw the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) rule that the Allendale-Fairfax Tigers would have to forfeit last week’s game to the Red Raiders for allegedly using an ineligible player. B-E head football coach Kevin “Butch” Crosby was pleased that his team was able to come out and play well and put the week behind them.

“I thought we came out and played well despite all that adversity that was going on all week,” Coach Crosby said. “I felt like our kids put that behind them. They came out and executed getting ready to go into the playoffs.”

And, the Red Raider football team did execute well on offense pounding out 396 yards on the ground. On offense the team was led by junior Demetrius Odom, who rushed for 133 yards on 16 carries and three touchdowns. Odom was followed by sophomore quarterback Sumner Cooler who rushed for two touchdowns and threw for a touchdown and sophomore Chip Wannamaker, who pounded the Whale Branch defense for 159 yards, on 21 carries and one touchdown.

On defense, the Red Raiders were led by junior Lan Hiers with 11 tackles, including four tackles for loss and was able to contain Whale Branch’s spread offense that featured several talented athletes. “They have some good athletes down here and some good speed. We knew it was going to be an uphill battle.”

Now with the preseason over, the regular season over, the Red Raiders now turn their sites to the most important season, the playoffs. “It’s time to get our mind set and focused on the issue at hand,” Crosby said. Noting the playoffs “was another season and the team knows they must continue to win to stay in the playoffs.”

AJA Falls

Jackson Price

AJA falls to JDA in season finale 36-8

On offensive the Confederates were lead by Mark Corder with 25 rushes, 118 yards and one touchdown. Corder also completed 7 passes for 84 yards. Matthew Avant had 15 rushes for 50 yards and an additional 50 yards from receptions. Eddie Ricks tacked on another 79 yards in 14 rushes. Jack Price had two receptions for 34 yards and another for a two-point conversion. On the defensive side , AJA was lead by Dustin Brock and Eddie Ricks with 7 tackles each and Senior Jake Sease added five tackles. Hunter Waltz, an eighth grader had a good game on offense and defense. Congratulations to the Confederates for putting up a great effort during a tough season.

Denmark-Olar

Jerry E. Halmon, Sports Editor

For the second consecutive season the Denmark-Olar Vikings (4-6, 3-5) under head coach Michael Jordan have clinched a playoff berth in the 2011 Class A Division II Playoffs. The Vikings an eight (8) seed with travel to Cross Friday night in the first round of the playoffs. The team made it to the playoffs after a 62-8 win over the North Eagles Friday night in North. The Vikings were led on offense by Darin Washington, who rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown. Shaquille Odom and Xavier Reid added two scores each in the win and Lavonte Deloach added a score.