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| Message from Jim Rex
SC State Superintendent of
Education
Sliding Backwards
Dear Friends of Education:
Last week, the South Carolina House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee put forth a budget that will hurt our schools. They are talking about extraordinarily severe cuts that would mean, among other things:
* Base Student Cost funding levels not seen since 1995
* Furloughs for up to 5 days for many of the state's teachers
* Shutting down the National Board Certified Teacher Program
Together, we have made significant progress to move our schools forward. We are ranked number one in the nation for our improvement on graduation rates. We are ranked number two in the nation in online and virtual learning. We have seen the greatest ten-year gains on the SAT in the nation. We have 60,000 students in choices within the public school system that did not exist three years ago. And we reformed the Education Accountability Act and got rid of the PACT test.
But we are in danger of sliding backwards as a public school system. This will hurt our students, our teachers, and our state.
As State Superintendent of Education, I have called on the State Legislature to pass comprehensive tax and funding reform, including increasing the cigarette tax to the national average, with half of the proceeds going to keep our teachers from having to be furloughed and the other dedicated to health care.
This is the time to be heard. Please contact your State House and Senate members and as them to stand up for these ideas. A full listing of email addresses and contact phone numbers is available online. You can also call one of the following numbers to make your voice heard:
SC Senate Switchboard: (803) 212-6700
SC House Switchboard: (803) 734-3000
Please make your voice heard today!
Sincerely,
Jim Rex
State Superintendent of Education
MOVE OVER LAW
By Navideh Forghani, NBC Augusta 26 News
Story Published: Jun 17, 2009 at 5:34 PM EST
AIKEN, S.C. - When you're driving, you could be breaking the law and don't even know it. It's a law that's been around for more than seven years.
Now South Carolina Highway Patrol wants to make sure you "move over" before you take someone's life.
"The first thing I thought, 'did Jason do something wrong?' He was doing everything right," said Shelley Fulmer, widow.
Shelley Fulmer's husband Sgt. Jason Sheppard is one of 150 law enforcement officers who've died in the line of duty because drivers weren't paying attention.
Now, she and other law enforcement officers are part of a state wide campaign to make sure drivers in South Carolina know about the "Move Over Law".
"Urge motorists to slow down, change lanes when they see flashing lights and workers on the scene," said Harvey Jay, Aiken Fire Department.
The law was enacted in 2002, and it requires drivers to slow down AND switch lanes when they see workers and law enforcement on the side of the road. It's a campaign Fulmer hopes will help save another person's life.
“Just the simple act of paying attention, moving over, can save someone's life,” said Fulmer.
Forty-three states including South Carolina have the Move Over Law.
Click to view the HEALTHCARE BILL:
Little River "Town" Meeting
A link to view the highlights of the recent Little River "Town Meeting", by Jim Hulen @ northmyrtlebeachonline.comJim covers just about all the local interest stories, enhanced with his great photos. We recommend creating a shortcut to his website http://www.northmyrtlebeachonline.com/ on your desktop so that you don't forget to check out the local happenings at least once a week.
Buy a quality shirt and wear it proudly! Proceeds will be used by the Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens Board to enhance our lovely public park @ Vereen Memorial Gardens in Little River (behind the community center).
Available in separate Ladies and Men's sizes. $20.00 each or two for $35.00! Purchase them at the C.B. Berry Community Center the next time you visit and enjoy the park!
BACK
FRONT
HISTORY IS MADE! Among the list of properties approved by Horry County Council on September 15, 2009 to be added to the Horry County Historic Property Register are the very first structures from Little River, highlighted below!
Properties include Brentwood Restaurant, Martin Cemetery, Montgomery-Wilson Cemetery, Tilly Swamp
Baptist Church Cemetery, Smith Cemetery, Singleton Family Cemetery, Dew Cemetery, Woodstock Plantation Cemetery, Old Graham Cemetery, Kenneth Asbury Graham Cemetery, Red Oak Cemetery, Livingston House, Price Cemetery, Watts Cemetery, Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery, United Baptist Church Cemetery, Daniel Edge Cemetery, St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Riverview Like Oak Tree, McNeill Cemetery, Livingston Cemetery, Hammond Farm, Martin Cemetery, Beverly Cemetery, Collins Creeks Baptist Church Cemetery, St. Paul Cemetery, Reaves Cemetery, Edge Cemetery, Vereen Cemetery, Wampee United Methodist Church Cemetery, R.M. Anderson Cemetery, Bug Swamp Cemetery, and Old Stevens Cemetery.
 Privately owned, please view from public sidewalks.
Constructed c. 1848 – 4441 Lakeside Drive – The Robert Livingston house was built circa 1848. It was moved in 1973 to its current location on Lakeside Drive. This house is one of two identical houses constructed in Southport, North Carolina by the same builder. It is distinguished by a steeply pitched roof with an elaborate sunburst pattern tucked under the gable. Gingerbread shakes cover the second story walls, with the lower floor being of wood clapboard siding. In the 1880's Robert Livingston was the Postmaster and census enumerator for Little River. ***
4269 Luck Drive – The Brentwood Restaurant, originally Essie McCorsley's house, was built in 1910. It was moved to its current location on the corner of Luck and Mulberry streets in Little River. The Brentwood Restaurant capitalizes on the elegant proportions of the house. The two-story house exhibits many characteristics of the Queen Anne style, features a wraparound porch distinguished by oar-shaped beams, hipped roof, gables and corbelled chimneys. There are three-sided bays at the front and east sides of the building. ***
Riverview Like Oak Tree, a centuries old live oak tree, is located in the vicinity of Riverview Drive in the waterfront area of Little River. (photo coming soon)
COMMUNITY PUBLIC SAFETY WATCH
Report any situations of concern to Horry County Police by completing the online forms available at http://police.horrycounty.org/Contact/DocumentsForms/CitizenReports/tabid/111/Default.aspx.
If you feel that the situation affects the community at large, CCLR requests that you also notify us by email at co-chair at cclittleriver.org.
SC Highway Patrol Realtime Traffic Information
Listen to 911 Dispatch
From: www.thesunnews.com Saturday, June 27 2009
SOUTH CAROLINA
New license required to fish from shore
Effective July 1, anyone who wants to fish from a South Carolina beach will need a new saltwater-fishing license.
Prices for a yearlong license are $10 for residents and $35 for nonresidents. Temporary 14-day licenses are also available, $5 for residents and $11 for nonresidents. The license is not required to fish from a public fishing pier. Details @ Fishing License
| | | CCL Alert: June 4, 2009
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Restore Protection to All Our Waters Urge Senator Graham to support the Clean Water Restoration Act
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Please contact the Office of US Senator Lindsey Graham and ask him to support the Clean Water Restoration Act, S.787.
The wetlands and streams that help shape the South Carolina landscape play a vital role in our region's ecological health. They filter pollutants from drinking water, provide habitat for a host of wildlife, and absorb floodwaters that are then released slowly to nearby streams. Recent developments have put these resources at risk, resulting in a withdrawal of federal authority over certain types of wetlands, such as Carolina Bays, and streams.
For thirty years the Clean Water Act (CWA) applied to virtually all wetlands and streams, including so-called "isolated" wetlands.
These protections were significantly diminished in 2001 and 2006, when the U.S. Supreme Court issued decisions that created confusion regarding which waters qualify for protection under the CWA. As a result of these recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, it is left to the individual districts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine on a case by case basis whether a stream or wetland falls under federal safeguards. This exposes thousands of wetlands and stream miles to destruction right here in South Carolina. Unfortunately, state legislation to restore wetland protections was thwarted by development interests.
S. 787, the Clean Water Restoration Act, was introduced to restore federal protection to our waterways and wetlands. S. 787 would reaffirm the Clean Water Act's original intent: protecting all waters of the United States. Next step for this bill is a markup in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Though the mark-up has been delayed, we need to keep momentum going to develop the maximum support possible for a strong legislative fix that will permanently protect streams, wetlands, and lakes for the benefit of all South Carolinians.
Please help to keep the pressure on, and support the effort to move S.787 to a committee vote as soon as possible.
What You Can Do Today
Urge Senator Graham to support the Clean Water Restoration Act
By Phone: 202-224-5972
By Letter or E-mail: click here to submit your message today!
CLICK HERE for more information and a list of talking points.
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Thank you for your continued support
of the Coastal Conservation League
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NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Local Contact: Julie Kopnicky
(843) 241-0139 Olivia Garren (843) 340-4867
Horry County Wildfires -United Way 2-1-1 Activated-
Conway, SC (April 25, 2009) – United Way of Horry County has activated 2-1-1 statewide for all donations and referrals regarding the Horry County Wildfires. 2-1-1 offers information accessible to everyone at no cost and available 24/7. All out of state residents can dial 1-877-648-9900 and will be transferred to a SC 2-1-1 representative. Donations for clothing are not needed at this time; all other donations please dial 2-1-1 (food, monetary, etc).
United Way, Horry County Emergency Management, American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Waccamaw Baptist Association appreciate all the help and response from everyone in surrounding counties. ###
The United Way of Horry County has been impacting the community for 36 years. United Way is focusing its efforts on the “unmet” needs in the community. By doing so, the United Way of Horry County has developed four impact areas, which will help solve the problems at the root cause. Each program will make a real impact to ensure successful youth and children, strong, safe and healthy families, that self sufficiency is promoted and a basic needs safety net is provided. The United Way of Horry County supports 38 Community Partner programs that help fill the needs in the community.
| Consumer Alerts |  | Better Business Bureau of Coastal Carolina | Wildfire Scams:
Don't Let Disaster Strike Twice!
Friday, April 24, 2009 Following the devastating wildfires throughout Horry County, the Better Business Bureau of Coastal Carolina is reminding businesses and consumers that tragedies often bring out the best in people as strangers reach out to help others in need. However, disasters - such as wildfires - can also often bring out a flurry of con artists who will take advantage of those who already have been victimized. Fraud can happen to anyone at any time, but an informed consumer poses the greatest threat to the perpetrator of fraud. There is no stronger remedy for fraud than an educated consumer who refuses to be conned. It's up to each one of us to recognize the telltale signs of fraud and know how to protect ourselves. Your BBB expects the following scams may occur throughout the county over the next few weeks:
CROOKED HOME‑IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS: This scam takes advantage of property owners who have suffered fire‑related losses. Consumers should be aware of home‑improvement scams, price gouging and other fraudulent schemes that might surface in the w ake of the devastating wildfires. Your BBB warns that teams of fly‑by‑night, itinerant repairmen will often breeze into devastated neighborhoods in unmarked vans or trucks, even before the smoke is cleared, and promise to rebuild a barn or shed, or repair a singed roof or minor structural damage on a home, or haul away damaged property - on an all‑cash basis ("cash under the table"). After up‑front cash is paid, supposedly to buy repair supplies, the scamsters will walk away without completing the work, leaving residents with a half‑finished mess. Also, unethical contractors will overestimate the cost of repairs, figuring insurance companies are too busy to check bids. They will convince homeowners that their insurance coverage will cover all costs, when it won't. After they clean out as many people as possible, these scamsters will blow back out of town, never to be seen or heard from again. In some older neighborhoods, where seniors can't get up on the roof to see if the chimney or shingles really are damaged, bogus repair workers will say substantial repairs are needed, when they're not. Crooked home‑improvement contractors will swarm to devastated neighborhoods demanding high down payments with no intention of doing the work. Your BBB recommends selecting a reputable, ethical contractor after references are checked, state license and liability insurance are verified from the Contractors State License Board, written estimates are prepared and itemized lists are reviewed. Collect business cards and take your time to get competitive bids. Ask friends, neighbors and co-workers for contractor referrals. Be wary of contractors soliciting business door-to-door. Ask to see the salesperson’s driver’s license and write down the license number and the person’s license plate. Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, tax identification number and business license. Although you may be anxious to get things back to normal, avoid acting in haste. Do not succumb to advanced‑payment, high‑pressure tactics, such as “the price is only good for today.” Always have a contract but don’t be pushed into signing a contract right away. Never sign a blank contract, and always ask for a receipt for any payment. Checks should be made out to the business, not the individual selling the service. Make sure all oral promises are included in writing. Be suspicious if you're asked to pay for the entire job in advance. State law limits a down payment of no more than 10 percent of the repair cost or $1,000, whichever is less. Also, never make a final payment until the work is complete and satisfactory. Take your time, do your research and get a second opinion. Con artists aren't concerned with cooling‑off laws. PHONY CHARITY GIVING: During times of disaster, Carolinians have proven themselves to be very generous. Tragedy often kindles the desire to help. But use your heads as well as your heart when making a monetary contribution to a disaster‑relief agency or charity. Be wary of so‑called charities with unfamiliar names or "sound‑alikes" with names that sound similar to recognizable emergency‑relief organizations. Be sure that at the same time several legitimate charities are asking for donations of money, phony charities are doing the same thing. Your BBB advises caution about appeals that dwell on the disaster but do not specify how donations will be used. Watch out for people coming to your front door, or calling you on the phone, saying they're collecting cash for fire victims. If a solicitor insists on cash ("because the victims need it right now"), think twice. If someone says they're representing a charity that you've never heard of, contact your BBB with questions at www.bbb.org or check with the Wise Giving Alliance at www.give.org . If you feel pressure to give cash on‑the‑spot to a "runner" at your front door, don't do it. Don't be intimidated by hard‑sell tactics. The best advice: ask lots of questions, ask for printed literature and send a check in the mail. The charity that needs your money today will need it just as much tomorrow. INSURANCE SCAMS: You could end up forfeiting a portion of insurance dollars by someone who is swooping into town to make a fast buck. Your BBB cautions consumers to be wary about individuals who go door‑to‑door soliciting business in the aftermath of the fires. Take your time and don't make any rash decisions about hiring someone to handle your claim. Don't let anyone scare you into signing a contract, or promise big returns by padding a claim. Before hiring a third‑party to settle with your insurance company, try to settle your claim yourself. Don't be afraid to ask questions to your insurance company. If your claim is complicated, make sure the attorney you select is qualified to handle your case. Ask friends, relatives and business associates for names of well‑regarded professionals in the community. BOGUS POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS FUND-RAISERS: Most police and fire departments are funded by your tax dollars. But, sometimes, law enforcement‑related professional organizations or labor unions will use paid fund‑raisers to solicit funds on their behalf. However, just because the words "police" or "firefighter" appears in an organization's name does not necessarily mean that local police and firefighters will actually benefit from your contribution. Sometimes, fraudulent fund‑raisers will create a law enforcement‑sounding name to misrepresent as a bogus charity and then keep most of the money. Your BBB suggests if a telemarketer is asking you for money for a law enforcement agency, confirm the fund‑raising campaign by phoning the agency's administrative offices (not 9‑1‑1). If a professional fund‑raiser contacts you, determine how much of your contribution will be kept by the fund‑raiser. Your BBB is here to help with advice you can trust. Visit www.bbb.org for more Consumer Alerts, warnings and tips.
Please forward this Consumer Alert to your co-workers, friends and family so that they may be informed too.
What to do DURING a Wildfire, visit this FEMA website: What to do AFTER a Wildfire, visit this FEMA website: | For more information contact:
Kathy Graham, President/CEO BBB of Coastal Carolina 314 Laurel Street, Suite 203 Conway, SC 29526 (843)488-0238
About the BBB System
BBB is an unbiased, non-profit entity that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses and charities that earn BBB membership contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business Reliability Reports and charity Wise Giving Reports, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 128 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than 3 million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit http://www.bbb.org/ for more information about the BBB System. |
*Please forward this to your friends, family and co-workers.
10, 513 POUNDS
of PB & J DONATED TO HELPING HAND!
ARE WE A GREAT COMMUNITY OR WHAT?!
There is not a listing for PB & J with Guinness - just canned goods. Paperwork is being submitted and hopefully we will get in the book and other charities can try to beat us. Awesome!
Posted on Mon, Feb. 02, 2009 Little River residents aim to get oak tree on historic list Folks aim to get oak tree on historic listBy Mike Cherney
mcherney@thesunnews.com When moving to the Grand Strand, Misty Dustin originally wanted to live in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., to be close to her brother. But something across the street from an apartment in Little River caught her eye. It was a massive live oak tree, probably hundreds of years old, with a thick trunk and wavy branches that weaved their way in and out of the ground. "When I came and looked at this condo and saw this tree, that kind of decided it for me," Dustin, 35, who has pictures of the tree hanging in her apartment, said while walking her dog past the tree. Located on the waterfront in Little River at Oak Street and Riverview Drive, the tree is among the first old trees that Horry County preservationists would like to recognize on the county list of historic places. Another live oak tree on U.S. 17 with an old gravesite underneath was already recognized. "A tree individually can be as important as a structure or a historical site or a cemetery," said Adam Emrick, a county planner. "It's a different aspect of history that can be explored." The local push to honor historic trees also comes as American Forests, a nationwide nonprofit conservation group founded in 1875, prepares to launch a national register for historic trees. Americans across the country will be able to nominate trees beginning in March. "People never miss a tree so much as when it's actually gone," said Deborah Gangloff, the group's executive director. "You can't get it back. Once you've removed a big old historic tree, you're not going to see it again in your lifetime." Local municipalities have taken other steps to protect their trees. It's illegal to remove live oaks and other protected trees without a permit in Conway, Myrtle Beach and unincorporated areas of the county. Conway, Myrtle Beach and Georgetown, as well as the N.C. cities of Southport, Oak Island and Tabor City, are recognized by the Tree City USA program, which is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, a nonprofit group, and the National Forest Service. "The city of Conway has a long history of protecting their trees, building their roads around them and building the boxes to try and protect them on Main Street," said Wanda Lilly, the city arborist. In Little River, many of the old live oak trees were probably used to tie up horses as people did shopping along the waterfront, said Lois Edwards, the urban forester in the Pee Dee region for the S.C. Forestry Commission. History aside, old trees also suck up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help with stormwater runoff by absorbing rain, she said. "It means a lot to cities and towns, instead of spending the money for bigger culverts and treatment plants, planting the trees would really help," she said. Larry Long, who owns the land with the tree in Little River along with his wife, Joyce, maintains that George Washington's horse was stabled under the tree during his famous visit to the Grand Strand in 1791. His wife notes they don't know that for sure. They also don't know the exact age of the tree, though Long, 69, who grew up 150 yards from the tree, says it was just as big when he was a boy. The couple bought the tree about 15 years ago from a bank that foreclosed on the property. Joyce Long, who moved to Little River about 40 years ago because she liked its tree-lined streets, said she thought it was unique how the tree's branches dip into the ground. "I don't know what I was thinking," said Joyce Long, 62, who still resists other people's attempts to buy the site. "I didn't have to own it to enjoy seeing it." Neighbors said they often see cars stop to gaze or take pictures of the tree and that children play in the branches during the summertime festivals that are held nearby. The neighborhood would not be the same without the tree - or without other old trees in the area. "As you see several of them, you get that feel of a throw-back in time," said Ann Carris, a real estate agent who lives nearby. Marcia Lynn Walker, who lives next door to the Longs and serves on an historical preservation committee in Little River, said she is still awed by the tree every morning when she walks past it on her exercise routine. "It frankly reminds you how small we are," she said. "It reminds me that there's a creator somewhere." To officially be placed on the county's historic register, Horry County Council must vote on the tree three times, Emrick said. The county's board of architectural review has already expressed support for the tree's recognition and will have a public hearing in March or April. Historic trees are not always easy to save, Gangloff said. Government agencies are often more willing to change the route of a road for a historic building than for an historic tree. But rallying community support behind saving historic trees is usually not the problem. "Trees give scale to human life," she said. "You can sit under a tree that your grandfather planted, or plant one that your great-grandchildren will sit under, and therefore we have a connection with trees." The Longs said they do not have any specific plans for the tree other than to protect it. They put a fence around the property about four years ago to protect the tree, and Joyce Long said she has thought about turning the area into a place where wedding groups can gather to take their wedding photos. "I've always loved the tree," she said. "I thought it was so beautiful with the limbs coming down." Contact MIKE CHERNEY at 444-1765.© 2009 MyrtleBeachOnline.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. Website: Myrtle Beach Online
FOR THE LATEST NEWS ON LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE HAPPENING IN HORRY COUNTY AND BEYOND: website: Growth Impact Action Committee website: George's Daily Page | |
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