Smoking Ban

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Writer

The City of Bamberg Smoke Free City Committee voted unanimously to recommend to Bamberg City Council that the city proceed with an ordinance to ban all smoking in public buildings based on the results of petitions signed.

“We have two sets of petitions, one for Bamberg becoming smoke free and one against Bamberg becoming smoke free,” said Councilmember Janeth Walker.

Walker said that on April 23, Bamberg County Health Official Beulah Hand turned in a petition with 193 signatures supporting a smoking ban. The following morning Walker went to Betty’s Quick Stop where she collected a petition that had 192 names opposed to a smoking ban.

Spring Break Festival

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

For the 14th year, Tony Duncan is hosting his 14th Tony Marsharel Duncan Spring Break Festival for Youth Saturday, May 16.

“I realize,” Tony explained, “that the economic downturn has effected most of us in Bamberg County, but donations this year are coming in to help support this annual event for our youth. I love this community,” Tony said.

Bamberg School District 1

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Writer

Bamberg School Superintendent Phyllis Schwarting presented Richard Carroll Elementary School Principal Skipper Smith with a flag and certificate for his school being named a Palmetto Silver Award winner and Bamberg Ehrhardt High School Principal Randy Maxwell with a flag and certificate for his school being named a Palmetto Gold Award winner. Each school will receive approximately $4,000 for the award.

Bamberg School District Two

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Writer

Bamberg School District Two held Installation Ceremonies for reelected board members Larry D. Bias (Seat 1) and Ann Causby (Seat 2) on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 12 noon in the district administrative offices in Denmark.

“City must have a vision”

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Writer

The city of Bamberg was recently honored as one of only four cities in the state of South Carolina to be invited to attend the South Carolina Mayors Institute, a program of Clemson University and the South Carolina Arts Commission, and the Urban Land Institute, which held a three day Colloquium in Charleston, and a two day meeting in the city of Pacolet in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

“We had some good expertise there and people to advise us and study our situation,” Mayor Alton McCollum said. “They come look at your city and make recommendations as to what they think needs to be done,” Bamberg City Administrator Bruce Watson said of the group that includes architects, engineers, land use planners, professors that teach architecture, real estate agents, county administrators, and more.

H1N1 Swine Flu Virus

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Writer

“Now is the planning stage, people need to start planning,” Bamberg County Disaster Preparedness Director Sharon Hammond stated Thursday in a phone interview.

Hammond stated that she is not trying to sound an alarm bell at this point she just wants citizens to be prepared.

Hammond stated that the disaster preparedness office has been having conference calls with DHEC Region-5, meeting with BCMH staff, Bamberg County EMS, County Fire Coordinator, College Nursing Staff, and dispersing information to the schools on the importance of washing hands, no shaking hands, no kissing, staying your distance, “it’s very important to adhere to those things, they’re small things, but they can help contain the virus, if it should surface or if they have symptoms,” Hammond said.