Suspects sought for attempted murder

Mallory D. Biering, Staff Reporter

On Monday, February 25th, around 6:48 pm, Officer Green and Officer Sandifer of the Bamberg Police Department were called to 444 Elm Street in Bamberg. One of the victims stated that, "two black males shot four times at his residence." Once officers were on scene they found a two-year-old female who was suffering from, "a head wound due to the shooting." Emergency Medical Services were notified and took the young victim to the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg.

Officer Green was told by the victim the subjects who came to the home were there to buy drugs. Once the subjects were told, "they [victims] didn't sell drugs," the two subjects, "became very angry with them." Another victim in the case chased the subjects out of the home, "with a chair in hand." The authorities were told that once the subjects were outside of the home, "one of them pulled out a gun and started shooting at the house." The subjects fled away in a white Chevy Cavalier.

According to the incident report, Bamberg Officers, "were able to recover 4 of the shell casings that were involved in the incident." One victim stated that, "the subjects had been to his house before and that he along with others could identify the subjects."

Officers plan to conduct a photo line-up and warrants will be issued for attempted murder. According to Bamberg Police Chief George Morris, the 2 year-old female is back home and doing okay. Officers are still in the process of investigating the incident and plan to make an arrest, "in the next day or so."

Bamberg-Ehrhardt wrestlers dominate state

Vickie Stewart, Contributing Writer

The Red Raider wrestling team added another accomplishment to an already stellar season by winning the Traditional State 1A-2A State Individual Wrestling Tournament this past weekend in Anderson, South Carolina. The Red Raiders placed six wrestlers on the All-State team and had three individual weight class champions in Malcolm Jones, Player Long, and Mark Moody.

Bamberg-Ehrhardt totaled 103 points and had the team championship locked up before the medal rounds. Newberry High School finished in the runner-up spot with 60 points and Indian Land finished in third with 54.5 points. The Red Raiders placed four wrestlers in the championship finals and two in the consolation finals. Malcolm Jones wrestling in the 120 lbs. weight class pinned his Bishop England opponent in the finals with his characteristic lateral drop throw, winning his first state championship and making the all-state team for the fourth year in a row. His pin in the finals was also his 200th career victory.

Lan Hiers, wrestling in his third career state final, dropped a tight 2-1 decision to Josh McDermott of Academic Magnet High School of Charleston. Hiers wrestled aggressively throughout the match with his opponent successfully slowing down the speed of the match to secure the victory. Hiers finished his high school career with 215 wins and made the all-state team three times.

The 152 lbs. 1A-2A final was never in doubt as Player Long secured a quick takedown and pinned his Columbia High School opponent at the 1:51 mark of the first period. Long was wrestling in his third state final match, winning his second state individual title while finishing fourth on the state’s all-time wins list. “We really thought Player had a solid chance at the Most Outstanding Wrestler Award for the tournament, however, the upper state coaches saw it differently,” BEHS wrestling coach Jake Stewart said after the tournament. In the seven matches of the state championship series, Long had five pins and two forfeits in an accumulated time of minutes and 36 seconds. “If that doesn’t qualify as most outstanding, I don’t know what possible could,” Stewart added.

In the 182 lbs. final, Mark Moody pinned Leonard Brown of Baptist Hill High School to secure his second state title in three finals appearances. Moody, just coming back from shoulder surgery, also pinned or technical pinned all of his seven state championship series opponents. “It will be tough to replace these four wrestlers, as well as fellow seniors Casey Jones, Sean Paul Morais, and Billy Williams,” stated Coach Stewart. “Between the seven of them (wrestlers) there are over 1000 individual victories over the past four years. Player Long, Lan Hiers and Malcolm Jones each won over 200 victories a piece with Mark Moody totaling 150 career wins. That’s a lot of experience walking across the stage at graduation time.”

Crosby to coach in North-South All-Star Game

Jerry E. Halmon, Sports Editor

The coaching staff for the 2013 annual North- South All Star Game in December in Myrtle Beach has been announced by the South Carolina High School Football Coaches Association. Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School head football coach Kevin “Butch” Crosby has been selected as a member of the South coaching staff for the South squad that competes against a select group of players from the northern part of South Carolina. Now entering his fifth season at the helm of the Red Raiders program, Crosby’s teams have compiled over 52 wins, two region championships, a lower state championship and have made the playoffs each season he has been head coach.

Crosby stated over the weekend that he was “surprised” by his selection to the prestigious staff, but he was “proud” to be selected by the members of the South Carolina Coaches Association as member of the staff for the 2013 All- Star Game. “It was a surprise, but I’m appreciative of it and blessed that I have this chance to go out and work with some of our better kids and some of the top kids in the state.”

BSD1 Superintendent gets 2% Salary Increase

Mallory D. Biering, Staff Reporter

At the Monday, February 22nd, Bamberg School District One (BSD1) Board Meeting, Board member Chris Wallace, informed those in attendance of BSD1 Superintendent Phyllis Schwarting's evaluation. Wallace read the public statement written by Board Chair, Rita M. Sease and agreed upon by the other board members. The statement summarized the evaluation, which was discussed on Wednesday, February 13th in an executive session. "The evaluation, which is required by Board policy and the District's employment contract with the Superintendent, focused on Schwarting's major accomplishments as the educational leader of this school system." Wallace also said, "the Board focused its discussion on her achievements in such varied and important areas as improving student achievement, finalizing capital improvements associated with the bond referendum, and managing the finances and hiring needs of the schools." Due to, "Schwarting's favorable performance evaluation," the Board decided her contract would be extended for one additional year. Wallace read, "Additionally, in acknowledgement of her continued service and dedication to our students and community, the Board provided Schwarting with a two percent salary increase." "We appreciate what you do. Thank you," said Wallace.

Board member Tony Duncan asked, "Why so many over spent," during the financial report of the meeting. The answer to the question dealt with never having to budget for a school like RCES. Items that were considered over spent included: equipment (additional items were purchased to finish the new RCES), technology equipment (additional items were purchased for RCES and a new camera system at Bamberg- Ehrhardt High School), property insurance (during the budget process the school did not know what the increase would be with adding a new school), temporary salaries (additional long-term substitute custodians were put in place at the new school, along with some employees being out for extended periods of time), supplies (this area was cut during the budget, but the budget was not enough), and school level instruction (encumbrance purchase order, which was the EMMA system used to clock district employees in and out of work).

In other business, Schwarting mentioned several students and teachers who were to be recognized for their efforts in programs or events at the different schools.

The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) attended the annual District II FBLA Competitive Events on Saturday, February 2nd. Robert Steedley placed fourth in impromptu speaking, Elijah Williams placed fourth in personal finance, and Ann Yip placed fourth in the business math category. Tymia Exum placed third in the introduction to technology concepts. In team events of emerging issues in business, Sade' Sprinkle and Desiree McMillan placed third, followed by A. J. McDonald and Darius Downing who placed first.

On February 20th the Junior Red Cross Blood Drive collected 23 units of blood. Schwarting stated, "the Junior Red Cross sponsors four blood drives each year at BEHS."

Students, with the help of their teachers, participated in The Salkehatchie Stew writing experience, "which [helps to] prepare [them] for scholarship applications, job applications," and a variety of standardized tests. Winning teachers for each school included: Carolyn Davis, 8th Grade teacher won The Golden Pen Award and $50; Heather Kirby, 6th Grade teacher at RCES won $50 for following the guidelines of the contest; and Jennifer Bannister 12th Grade, won first place and $50 in the Storytelling Contest. Students winning first place included: 2nd Grade - Tanner Brewer, 3rd Grade - David Hiers and Tyniah Spellman (tie), 4th Grade - Bailey Ashe and Jackson Stembridge (tie), 5th Grade - Dutch Boykin, 6th Grade - Trenton Luginbill, 7th Grade - Rion Dwight, 8th Grade - Gabriel Bishop, 9th Grade - Kiana Thomas, 10th Grade - Jaisha Ransom, 11th Grade - Bianca Gibson, and 12th Grade - Ta'Kwan Lewis.

The construction and renovation update consisted of Schwarting reminding board members the contractors would be coming back on spring break to fix the sewage problems at BEHS, and the district was currently accepting bids to fix a sewage problem at Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School (BEMS). The sewage problem at BEMS is not due to the recent construction or renovations at the school. The lowest bid they have received ranges from $5,000 to $6,000. The pipe causing the problem outside the gym will have to be completely replaced according to what Schwarting has been told.

There being no public comments, the board moved into executive session to discuss resignation's. The next board of trustees meeting for BSD1 will be held on Monday, March 25th, at 7pm at BEHS.

4th Julius Daniels Memorial Blues Festival

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

A cold and rainy Saturday evening was the perfect backdrop as the 4th Julius Daniels Memorial Blues Festival sponsored by The Historic Society of Bamberg County was held on Saturday, February 23, from 6:00 – 9:00 P.M. in the Dane Theater in Denmark. With the savory smell of hamburgers and hotdogs cooked up by members of the Govan Volunteer Fire Department greeting local blues patrons outside, the music was hot and heavy on the inside of the Dane Theatre.

The year’s opening act was Jeff Liberty, whose bio says he earned his blues chops on the sidewalks of the French Quarter in New Orleans, the back streets of St. Louis and Beale Street in Memphis. He moved to Columbia in 2000 and immediately blew the doors off of the local music scene. Liberty entertained those in attendance Saturday night by performing a number of down-home blues selections like “I’m going to repossess my love”, “Old bad habits”, “ girl next door”, “she can cook good salad, she can cook good collard greens” and many more.

Midway through the events, patrons dinning on hotdogs and hamburgers were serenaded by two talented members of the Denmark Technical College Choir (Ashley-Marie Jordan and Markus McCutcheon) under the direction of Dr. Yvette McDaniel.

The closing act for this year’s JDMBF was Columbia, South Carolina’s own “Fatback and the Groove Band.” Band leader (Barry Walker) may be known best by local citizens as the operator of “Mac’s On Main” in downtown Columbia. Chef Fatback as he is also known served up a heaping- helping of “blues, one part jazz, one part rock, with a pinch of 70’s jam thrown in for those in attendance who love the guitar sound. All in all it was another successful Julius B. Daniels Memorial Blues Festival sponsored by the Historical Society of Bamberg County. Note: The artwork for this year’s festival was again done by the art students at Denmark-Olar High School, under the instruction of Dr. Anna Martin.