County considering healthcare options

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

Since the deal with Tennessee based - Dobbs Equity Partners fell through on June 30th, Bamberg County officials have been presented with several options for healthcare in the county. Some of the options would involve Bamberg and Barnwell County working together and some of the options would involve the counties separately, Bamberg County Council Chairman Chris Wilson said at a joint meeting of Bamberg County Council and the County Hospital Board Monday night in the Bamberg County Courthouse.

Wilson stated that he was unable to release any specific details of the healthcare options at Monday night’s meeting, but “hopefully” by next week more details will be made available in the form of a press release. Wilson’s comments came after County Council members and Hospital Board members emerged from a closed meeting, where no action was taken.

“Bamberg and Barnwell Counties have worked over the last several years to try to form a regional healthcare system and do what is best for the citizens of each county and the region as a whole. During that time, we have stood with and supported each other.”

Wilson noted that the county felt like the Dobbs deal was an opportunity for both counties to provide healthcare for the region as a whole. He stated that both counties performed their obligations, but Dobbs did not perform its obligation.

‘Cornerstone Cares’ for the County

Mallory D. Biering, Staff Reporter

When Michael Reid, Pastor of Cornerstone Church in Bamberg first came to the area, he knew Cornerstone needed to be a church body that did something for the community. After waiting on God to show them how to really help, the Department of Social Services (DSS) gave them a reason to create, 'Cornerstone Cares.'

Reid said, "The cause is a simple one--it's a clothing and food drive for children going into foster care and for the sick and elderly."

According to Reid, DSS suggested helping these people, so Cornerstone "took the idea and [ran] with it." Reid, along with fellow church members, have been receiving clothing and food since the middle of July.

Reid stated that in order to bring God's word to people, His love first must be demonstrated. In order to make this happen, the church is giving people what they need, "with no strings attached." As of now, storage facilities are currently full of clothes, toiletries, and nonperishable food items, but more is welcome to be stored. Once DSS has given the church a list of people needing the items, church members will deliver the donations themselves.

“It's important for people who are helping to actually see who they are helping," stated Reid and continued, "There isn't a better way to see it for themselves, than to actually give to whom they are donating. Of course, due to privacy issues, some of the donations will be handled differently."

Cornerstone is open to any and all churches and people helping this cause. Reid said, "This isn't a church thing, it's a people thing," adding, "Anyone who is willing to help can." It doesn't matter if you're a member of a church or not--if you want to help you can. This would include making donations or helping to deliver donations.

If any person would like to join the cause, 'Cornerstone Cares,' or if further information is needed, please call Pastor Michael Reid at (803) 539-3952 extension 120, or stop by the church.

Mobile phone giveaway sponsored by U Lifeline Alltel

Mallory Biering, Staff Reporter

Over the past month, Alltel Wireless, a mobile service provider, has been involved with a phone giveaway in the City of Bamberg, sponsored by U Lifeline. According to the U Lifeline website, the program is authorizing discounted wireless services in the states of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Idaho. In order to receive a phone, a person must participate in one or more government affiliated programs.

When U Lifeline first came to Bamberg, citizens lined up in the sizzling heat to find out if they would qualify for the $10 month prepaid plan. The plan includes 500 anytime minutes, 500 text messages and unlimited mobile to mobile. U Lifeline Representative, Tim Maxie stated that the phones are not smart phones, and change models/styles for every giveaway.

The money to run this program comes from the Federal Universal Service Fund Low-Income program, which "provides discounts on telephone installation and monthly telephone service to qualifying consumers."

In order for a person to receive a mobile phone from U Lifeline a person must "currently participate in one or more of the following programs: Medicaid (e.g. Title XIX/Medical State Supplemental Assistance), Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance Program, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program (TANF), or senior citizen low-income discount plan offered by the local gas or power company."

It may seem having a phone giveaway sponsored by Alltel, which is also located at Vaughn Electronics, is taking away business from the local community. Lee Vaughn, an employee of Vaughn Electronics, stated that they also participate in the government assisted phone programs, even though there are a few differences in the plans offered, people may still apply for the program at their local Alltel retailer.

For more information about U Lifeline visit http://ulifeline.com/index.html.

Red Raiders skin Gators at homecoming

Jerry E. Halmon, Sports Editor

Most football teams schedule cupcakes on homecoming. The Class 2-A, third ranked Red Raiders of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School (5-0) proved an exception to that rule Friday night coming away with a hard-fought 42-8 win on homecoming over a good Estill Gator football team (3-1) that came into the game undefeated and ranked ninth in Class 1-A.

"That's one thing we wanted, we wanted a test before we went into this bye week before the region starts in two weeks," Red Raider head football coach Kevin "Butch" Crosby said, adding "we knew they were going to give us a good game."

After the Red Raiders took a 7-0 lead at 6:59 of the first quarter on a four- yard run by senior running back Devondree Williams and junior Matt Maxwell’s first of six PATs, the Gators would take a brief 8-7 lead early in the second on a halfback pass.

Williams’ second touchdown, a 20- yard run at 7:55 of the second made the score 14-8 B-E. On the their next possession, the Gators would move the ball to the B-E 29, before a sack by Larry Cann, a tackle for loss by K.C. Crosby and a fourth down pass breakup by Nick Halmon (who also had an interception in the game) would thwart a possible Gator scoring drive.

A 15 yard run for a touchdown by D. J. Odom with 1:25 left in the second made the score 21-8 after another Maxwell PAT. B-Es K.C. Crosby’s 55- yard return of an interception with 11.7 seconds in the half gave the Red Raiders a 28-8 cushion at halftime.

In the third quarter behind excellent blocking in the offensive line and the running of Williams and Odom the Red Raiders moved the ball to the Gators seven where Williams would record his third TD of the night at 3:52 making the score 34-8 B-E.

On Matt Maxwell’s perfect kicking performance on the night, "he’s getting confidence in himself" to the point the team may be able to call on him in field goal situations, Coach Crosby noted.

With 40 seconds left in the third quarterback Sumner Cooler’s 40 yard touchdown pass to Landon Sandifer in the right corner of the end zone with the team working out of the spread offense ended the B-E scoring on the night.

"Overall I thought we played well," Crosby said after the game. "We still have some areas to improve on."

Crosby noted that he thought his defense played well and the offense was able to work on their spread offense, that no doubt will be needed down the road come playoff time.

Tough Losses

The Andrew Jackson Confederate football team put up a tough fight; but in the end the Knights of W.W. King Academy proved to be too much, as the visitors would come away with a 60-12 win at Hallman Sease Field in Ehrhardt. Joseph Stanfield, Michael Mathais and Todd Folk led the Confederates on offense, with each player recording a touchdown. Dalton Bell led the Raider offense and Trent Garvin led the defense as the Raiders of Jefferson Davis came up short this week to Wardlaw Academy by a score of 40-12.

Denmark-Olar wins

Anna Martin, Contributing Writer

Rigorous year-round training and hard work finally paid off for the Denmark-Olar Viking football team. After a string of losses early in the season, the Vikings prevailed in their first Region 5-A conference game Friday night. The Vikings defeated Whale Branch by a score of 27 - 6 An early interception and 30+ yard gain by fullback Xavier Reed set the stage for a strong Viking performance. A solid defensive game and excellent team-work all around contributed to the win.

As the jubilant Viking players left the field, their coaches expressed relief.

“At last!” exclaimed Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Michael Jordan. “They are finally playing the way we know they can play,” said Defensive Coach Mitchell McDaniel.

B-E JV & B-Team 2-0

The Bamberg-Ehrhardt JV and B-Team kept pace with their varsity brethren last week by remaining undefeated on the season. The BEMS-B-Team moved to 2-0 on the season with a 22-8 win over the Branchville Yellow Jacket B-Team on Thursday at Leon Maxwell Stadium. In the second game of the evening, the B-E, JV football remained undefeated on the season with a 38-0 win over the Barnwell JV team.

County FEMA Board

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

Bamberg County FEMA Board proposes distribution of FEMA 2012 awards during the quarterly meeting of the Bamberg County FEMA Board. The Board proposed a distribution of FEMA food and shelter allocations of $9,472. The allocations included $4,531 to the Bamberg County Office on Aging to help fill client’s needs including food, utilities, and sometimes rent, $600 to Golden Harvest Food Bank for food distributions to Bamberg County, and $4,341 to Bamberg County DSS for social service assistance to county residents. $189 of the allocated funds will be set aside for administrative costs.

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program is a unique grant program FEMA has outside of its traditional preparedness and disaster recovery programs. Each year, Congress provides FEMA with the funding to support voluntary and governmental agencies that provide essential services to help hungry and homeless individuals and families.

Through FEMA funding, Golden Harvest provides two food packed trucks to the county each year. The next distribution is scheduled for October 13 at the Bamberg Civic Center in Bamberg. Distributions usually begin before 9 a.m.