City of Denmark Wastewater Treatment Plant gets upgrade

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

City of Denmark officials are optimistic that a $338,197 Community Development Block Grant will bring 20 more years of reliable service to its wastewater and sewer systems.

“This represents a major step in our progress toward serving our citizens well with regards to water and wastewater treatment,” Denmark Mayor Gerald Wright said Friday morning. Mayor Wright noted the city’s “biggest challenges” over the last few years has been to maintain a water service to provide “quality water service” to its citizens and to “properly treat” wastewater.

The upgrade to the city’s wastewater treatment plant which includes the replacement of portions of liners in three lagoons along with the addition of biological chemicals for sludge reduction in all three lagoons started on November 16, 2012, and is projected to be ready on April 15, 2013. The lagoons receiving the upgrades are located on Treatment Plant Road SE off Olar Road and Grapevine Road off West Voorhees Road SW.

Mayor Wright noted that when he took office he outlined a three-point plan to improve the water and wastewater system in the City of Denmark. “And this is a big, big component of the second part of that,” Wright said. The mayor noted the City of Denmark has received two new wells to provide “quality water” for its citizens. And now the replacing of the liners in the lagoons was another step that had to be done. The mayor noted that the third part in the water system improvement process is replacing some pipes that deliver water. “And that’s going to be a major part,” he said.

The City of Denmark has been trying to improve the sewer system for the last few years City Administrator Heyward Robinson noted, “And this is a part of an ongoing effort to improve the water and sewer system. Heyward said the City’s land application system of using its wastewater was an “environmentally sound” way of doing things. He also noted with its lagoons and wastewater system upgrades that are capable of discharging 1,000,000 gallons of water per day the City of Denmark had the capacity for any new industry or hospital.

County Council gives second reading to Multi-County Park Agreements

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

Bamberg County Council members met on Friday morning November 16, at 8:30am and after a brief closed meeting, gave second reading approval to two proposed Ordinances creating a “Multi-County Park “ and “Revenue Sharing Agreements.” The first ordinance would create an agreement between Bamberg, Allendale, Barnwell and Hampton Counties with the host cost receiving 70 percent of tax revenues from any new industry with the other three counties receiving 10 percent each.

It was noted the agreement comes with the exception of any properties located in the South Carolina Advanced Technology Park (SCAT Park) in Barnwell. The second ordinance created by Bamberg County Council creates an agreement between Bamberg, Allendale and Hampton Counties with a 80-10- 10 split of tax revenues between the three counties.

Bamberg County Council Chairman Chris Wilson noted the second proposed Ordinance between the Counties of Bamberg, Allendale and Hampton was necessary because of some issues with Barnwell County. “We’re trying to resolve some issues with Barnwell County for revenue sharing,” Wilson said, adding “if we’re not able to do that, we’ll go forward with the three counties. A third and final reading of the proposed Ordinances and a public hearing will be held in 15 days.

Also during the meeting Chairman Wilson stated that Council had received an update from the Labor, Licensing and Regulation Board (LLR) on a legal matter concerning the Bamberg County Memory Garden. Wilson asked County Administrator Joey Preston and County Attorney Richard Ness to “come involved in any way the County can to assist or resolve that matter or to address that matter.” Wilson noted that the County has “very limited authority or opportunity” since the cemetery is privately owned and operated.

Annual Bamberg Christmas Parade scheduled for December 1st

Mallory D. Biering, Staff Reporter

Be creative, be original and join The Bamberg Christmas Parade! The Bamberg Christmas Parade Committee is asking for interest and prompt responses from individuals, schools, religious organizations, and others wishing to be involved with the parade, themed as 'O Holy Night,' on Saturday, December 1st at 10 AM.

Mr. and Mrs. Bishop will serve as the grand marshals of the parade and will lead the way from the Old USA Enterprise Building, on South Main Street, through Main Street in Bamberg, and finally to the National Guard Armory.

Those wishing to be involved have been asked to remember the following information: (1) Register your entry as quickly as possible. (2) Only school queens will be allowed to ride on convertibles or T-tops. All other queens must be on floats. (3) Religious floats will be eligible for cash prizes - 1st Place: $100, 2nd Place: $50, and 3rd Place - $25. (4) Commercial floats will be awarded 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place trophies. (5) All antique cars will awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies. (6) Parade lineup begins at 9 AM at the Old USA Enterprises Building on South Main Street. (7) If possible, please provide your own float or vehicle signs to be used in the parade. If you are unable to provide these signs personally, please contact the parade committee in advance to allow for these preparations.

Bulldogs squeak by Red Raiders in 3rd Round of Playoffs

Jerry E. Halmon, Sports Editor

The Bamberg-Ehrhardt Red Raiders (10-2) outstanding football season came to an end Friday night in the Semifinals of the Class 2-AA Division 2 Lower State Playoffs as they lost in a squeaker to the Silver Bluff Bulldogs (11-1) by a score of 14-13 in Petticoat Junction.

B-E head football Coach Kevin “Butch” Crosby noted after the game that while he “couldn’t ask for anymore” from his team from an effort standpoint, making the most of a few scoring opportunities and penalties played a big part in his team’s loss.

“We can’t have big penalties on downs when we to have the football,” Coach Crosby said, adding “we don’t give them the football back, they don’t have the opportunity to score,” Crosby noted of a “big penalty” on the final Bulldog scoring drive of the game.

The Red Raiders got on the score board first at 7:25 of the first quarter on a one-yard plunge by Demetrius Odom after the Red Raiders defense recovered a Silver Bluff fumble on the first play of the game at the B-E 25-yard line making the score 7-0 after a Matt Maxwell PAT was good.

The Bulldogs had a scoring opportunity thwarted by the Red Raider defense at the B-E seven yard line at 4:33 of the quarter kicker Pedro Zambrano”s field goal attempt was no good. “The defense played a heck of a game,” Coach Crosby said, noting the defense gave up “a few plays here and there” but otherwise held the Bulldog rushing attack in check most of the night.

The Red Raiders had one more scoring opportunity to elude them, when at 2:26 of the second quarter a promising drive ended at the Silver Bluff 23-yard line making the score 7- 0 B-E at the break.

“We’ve just got to be able to put the ball in the end zone a little bit more than we did tonight,” Coach Crosby said, adding “we had opportunities and we didn’t put it in.

In the third quarter, the Red Raiders would take the opening kickoff and march 66 yards for a score, capped off by a three yard run by quarterback Sumner Cooler at the 7:55 mark, making the score 13-0 B-E after the Red Raiders second field goal attempt was no good. The scoring drive was highlighted by a 38-yard pass play from Cooler to Garrett Zeigler.

Later in the third quarter the B-E defense would make another strong stand, stopping the Bulldogs on fourth down and one on the B-E eight yard line. The Bulldogs would get the ball back and would score on a tipped pass at 46.9 seconds of the third quarter making the score 13-7 at the end of the third quarter.

The Bulldogs would take the lead at 4:29 of the fourth quarter on a pass over the middle making the score 14-13 after a drive that started on their own 32-yard line with 7:46 left in the game. The Red Raiders started their final possession on their own 15-yard line but were unable to advance the ball as the Bulldogs would come up with an interception to end the game.

Coach Crosby took his team’s second loss to the Bulldogs at Petticoat Junction this season in stride. “It’s nothing to harp on and get down on yourself about,” Coach Crosby said. “We’ve got to get better in situations like this playing in big games on the road. “We’ve got to be a little more focused and have little bit more drive to say I got to hunker down right here. We’ve got to get the ball and keep the ball in our hands.”