Biering joins newspaper staff 'Ink in my blood'

The Advertizer-Herald would like to introduce Mallory D. Biering as their newest Advertising Representative and Reporter. Biering is a true native to Bamberg, being born and raised in the area, until she moved to Laurens County, where she graduated from Clinton High School in 2006. Her career in writing began when she was in high school as the senior editor of the school newspaper for two consecutive years. Biering also interned at the Clinton Chronicle— Clinton’s hometown newspaper. During her time at the University of South Carolina Upstate she held a position as an assistant editor for the Writers INC Literary Magazine.

She moved back to Bamberg over a year ago, where she began working as a bookkeeper and scanning coordinator at the Bamberg Piggly Wiggly. However, due to Biering’s passion for writing, the newspaper business called out to her once again. She feels that once a person is in the newspaper business, they are in for life. “I look forward to waking up every day knowing I get to do what I love—write and sell." Biering said the opportunity to work for her hometown newspaper made it even more special.

“I welcome her to the newspaper and look forward to working with her. As I told her during the interview, ‘You’ve got ink in your blood,’" said Publisher Joyce Searson.

Hutto retires from Post Office

Jonathan Hutto retired from the Cope Post Office on July 31st. Hutto began his career at the Bamberg Post Office in April 1979, as a Part- Time Clerk and worked with Marion Davis, Gene Meek, Mac Hightower, Buddy Rentz, PeeWee Gunnells, Frank Frye, Wilbur Hightower and Fred Hiers. He gives special thanks to his mother Everette Hutto for making him take the Civil Service Exam and giving him the push to get started (which she gave him $5 for lunch his first day).

In January of 1986, he became a Full-Time Clerk in the Bamberg office. On March 24, 1990, he was promoted to Postmaster and accepted the office of Cope. During his career he also held the position of OIC (Office in Charge) in the Norway, Denmark, and Bamberg offices, but the Cope Post Office was his home.

Jonathan attributes his successful career to good friends and mentors Marion Davis, Willie Linder, Jack Izlar, Jeannie Priester, Lorraine Chassereau, Randy Sandifer, and Dianne Spires. He also would like to thank all of his dedicated and wonderful employees of the Cope Post Office and the town of Cope for making his job there a wonderful part of his life that he looked forward to doing every day.

Jonathan gives God the glory and praise for his 33 years of successful service in the Postal Service and is ready and looking forward to what God has lined up for the next chapter in his life. “I thoroughly enjoyed working for the post office for thirty-three and a half years. I loved working with everyone and serving the public,” stated Hutto when he was asked about his experience in the Postal Service. Since July 31st, Hutto has been scoping out the next chapter in his life-staying retired will not be his plan for very long.

County Emergency Services

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

Bamberg County Emergency Services was awarded a Homeland Security Grant of $39,751.00, to assist “Law Enforcement, Fire Service, EMS and Emergency Services to meet the FCC Narrow banding mandate. The process included more than two hundred pieces of radio equipment narrowband to 12.5 kHz and 37 radios replaced, because they could not be reprogrammed. The new radio equipment can be reprogrammed for the next FCC mandate narrow banding at 6.2 kHz.

On January 1, 2013, all public safety and business industrial land mobile radio systems operating in the 150- 512 MHz radio bands must cease operating using 25 kHz efficiency technology, and begin operating using at least 12.5 kHz efficiency technology. This deadline is the result of an FCC effort that began almost two decades ago to ensure more efficient use of the spectrum and greater spectrum access for public safety and non-public safety users. Migration to 12.5 kHz efficiency technology (narrow banding) will allow the creation of additional channel capacity within the same radio spectrum, and support more users.

After January 1, 2013, licensees not operating at 12.5 KHz efficiency will be in violation of the Commission's rules and could be subject to FCC enforcement action, which may include admonishment, monetary fines, or loss of license.

S.C. Education Lottery

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

Though still highly controversial in many aspects, officials of the South Carolina Education Lottery are touting what they call a 10-year success story. And, the facts speak for themselves. Since the start of the SC Education Lottery in January of 2002-2011, in Bamberg County: K-12 Education has received $4,320,375.70 million; Student going to college has been awarded 4,570 in scholarships amounting to $4,880,762.84 million. Scholarships and Grants funded by the lottery include: Palmetto Fellows, Life, Enhancements and S.C. Hope. Grants awarded include; Need- Based, Lottery Tuition Assistance and National Guard College Assistance Program. The County library system has received $216,956.03 in lottery funds since its implementation.

According to information obtained in a promotion packet, the SC Education Lottery has helped in a number of other ways including: providing $63.6 million in appropriations for community education programs since 2002; More than 450 school buses have been purchased with lottery proceeds and public school grades K-5 have received $432.3 million in appropriations for enhanced programs in the subjects of reading, math, science and social studies.

On November 7, 2000, the state’s voters approved a referendum by a vote of 54 percent in support of the implementation of a state-run lottery in South Carolina. On June 7, 2001, the South Carolina General Assembly ratified the South Carolina Education Lottery Act.

The Governor signed the Act into law, and the South Carolina Education Lottery was established.

The opponents of a state ran lottery often sighted addiction to gambling as a reason to oppose the lottery. According to literature in the program’s promotion packet, the South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) encourages South Carolinians to “play responsibly.” SCEL proceeds assist in funding gambling addiction services in South Carolina.