Like a puzzle

Joyce M. Searson, Publisher

The new 30,000 sq. ft. industrial spec building under construction at CrossRhodes Industrial Park, located on US Highway 301 in Bamberg, is going up fast and the pieces are being put together like a puzzle. A lot of progress has been made since the June 18th groundbreaking with representatives from Edisto Electric Cooperative, Santee Cooper, Bamberg Board of Public Works, Bamberg County Council, S.C. Department of Commerce, SouthernCarolina Alliance and other economic development partners.

Kay Maxwell with SouthernCarolina Alliance said Friday, “We are really excited about this. The new industrial building will serve as a marketing tool to create industry here in Bamberg County. There are not many buildings that size here and it is expandable and can be tailored to suit the industry’s needs.”

Jeffcoat claims title

Pansy Clayton, Ehrhardt Correspondent

Hannah Jeffcoat, 17 of Bamberg, was crowned Miss Schuetzenfest Saturday night in Ehrhardt. Jeffcoat is the daughter of Calvin and Melissa Jeffcoat and the granddaughter of Bennie and Wilma Wilson, all of Bamberg.

The winners in the other categories were: Teen Miss Schuetzenfest, Summer Yoakum and First Runner Up, Jordan Alexis Osbourne. Gabrielle Sease was crowned Young Miss Schuetzenfest and First Runner Up was Heather Lee Platt. Little Miss Schuetzenfest was Kallie Sullivan and First Runner Up was Hannah Martin. The Wee Miss Schuetzenfest was Rennie Kathryn Hargett with Morgan Grace Walling winning First Runner Up.

Ehrhardt Police Department

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Writer

The Ehrhardt Police Department has received a United States Department of Justice COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP) Grant Award of $117,898.00.

Ehrhardt Police Chief Jim Preacher said, “The grant is a part of the President’s stimulus package and will be used to hire a full time police officer for three years for the city.”

Maxwell speaks

Submitted by Ted Robertson

Marketing and Special Project Manager for the SouthernCarolina Regional Development Alliance, spoke to members of the Club in its July meeting. She gave a comprehensive report of recent and on going economic development activities in Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell and Hampton Counties, and challenged Lions to take a strong interest and be involved in as many ways as possible in fostering efforts for economic development of the Southern Region of South Carolina.

According to Ed

Bamberg County Sheriff Ed Darnell announces that an extensive six-month narcotics investigation has yielded positive results. A Joint Narcotics Force lead by the Bamberg County Sheriff’s Office along with officers of the Department of Natural Resources, Bamberg Police Department, Ehrhardt Police Department, Denmark Police Department and the Olar Police Department have succeeded in taking approximately $15,000.00 worth of crack, cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana off the streets of our County. They have also seized five handguns. The Task Force targeted mid level drug dealers who had previously been convicted for narcotic violations.

District One approves

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Writer

The Bamberg School District One Board of Trustees gave unanimous approval for the district to remain at the bonded debt capacity level of eight percent this school year at Monday night’s meeting. The money raised from the bonds will be used for maintenance needs.

Schwarting said that depending on the exact amount of the eight percent capacity (estimated to be between $200,000 and $230,000) the district could look at the feasibility of making repairs to the roof of the high school. She said that the district already has a bid of slightly less than $500,000 for the job.