UPDATED: Prayers needed - Jerry Fowler
May 14, 2008 | 1 Comment
We’ve alll followed his story over the past year in The New Irmo News. We all know the numerous ways he gives back to the community.
Rather than write all about those things, I simply ask you to pray for Jerry and Judy - right now.
UPDATE (1:59 pm, Thursday) I received a call that Jerry passed away around 11:15 this morning.
From The State
Radio Realtor loses battle with cancer
Jerry Fowler of Chapin, a self-employed real estate broker who pioneered the use of radio in the Columbia area to educate the public about buying and selling property, died today, a spokesman for the Lexington-Richland 5 school system said.
Fowler, 61, conducted a public battle with lung cancer and kept a diary of the ups and downs of his treatment. Until being hospitalized recently, the weekly installments were published in an Irmo weekly newspaper and posted on his company’s web site.
“My thoughts are always positive and I know by my prayers and yours, faith and belief that I will be totally healed and better than new after this is over,” he wrote in his last posting in mid-April.
Fowler’s death creates a vacancy on the District 5 school board, the second time in less than a decade the panel has lost an incumbent to cancer. Former board chairman David Eckstrom died from complications of brain cancer in 2000.
A political newcomer, Fowler enlisted the help of political consultant Rod Shealy in 2004 to wage a winning campaign for an at-large seat representing Lexington County on the District 5 board. He cast a key vote in a controversial June 2005 decision ousting former superintendent Dennis McMahon.
Fowler said he voted to fire McMahon because a majority of the board had lost confidence in McMahon’s ability to lead a district where skepticism about how public money is spent on education continues to linger. Fellow board members elected Fowler in late 2007 to serve as vice chair. His term on the District 5 board was set to expire this November.
In early 2007, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and won the admiration of many for persevering with a busy schedule of 14-hour work days in spite of debilitating treatments. Fowler even posted a set of “before and after” photographs of himself with and without hair.
Fowler sold real estate in the Columbia area for nearly two decades and in 1998 coined the slogan “the Results Team” to describe his newly formed company and its employees.
He was a regular on WVOC radio, offering real estate and related advice weekdays. He also was the host of a talk show on Saturday mornings that focused almost exclusively on the subject.
After graduating from high school in 1964, he attended what is now the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, majoring in marketing and psychology.
In addition to his many credentials and memberships in local, state and national real estate organizations, Fowler was a founding member of a local Business Development Club.
The South Carolina chapter of the Leukemia Society of America named him its “man of the year and he served on the organization’s board of trustees.
He also was active in the Better Business Bureau for 15 S.C. counties and was its board chairman from 2005 until 2007. He also was a past member of the Lexington Toastmasters.
— Bill Robinson, brobinson@thestate.com
2008 Ballentine Scholarship Winners
May 14, 2008 | 1 Comment
May 13, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Representative Nathan Ballentine
(803) 734-2969
REPRESENTATIVE NATHAN BALLENTINE AWARDS 2008 EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Since his election in 2004, Representative Nathan Ballentine has continued to honor his pledge to return his legislative salary to worthy causes in the community.
For the past three years, he has also dedicated funds to providing scholarships to worthy high-school seniors from House District 71. The scholarships are named in memory of his family members and their respective colleges or universities.
Serving on this year’s scholarship committee were: Susan Mazur - Chariman, Ann Ballentine - Past Chairman, Louise Burkholder, Nancy Epting, Melba Hawkins and Sherri Murdock.
This year’s winners are:
Chris Campbell (Irmo High School)
Bernard Carroll (B.C.) Ballentine Scholarship
$1,000 Univeristy of South Carolina
Ashlyn Ruczko (Chapin High School)
John Dewey (J.D.) Winburn, Jr. Scholarship
$1,000 Clemson University
Michael Hicks (Dutch Fork High School)
Theodore Nanney Scholarship
$ 500 Midlands Technical College
Past winners include:
Logan Ross (Chapin High School) 2007 - Bernard Carroll (B.C.) Ballentine Scholarship
Zach Brunson (Home School Student) 2006 - Bernard Carroll (B.C.) Ballentine Scholarship
Kristin Lekoske (Dutch Fork High School) 2007 - John Dewey (J.D.) Winburn Scholarship
Jessica Corley (Dutch Fork High School) 2006 - John Dewey (J.D.) Winburn Scholarship
Chelsey Moses (Dutch Fork High School) 2006- Margaret Jane Winburn Clarke Scholarship
For more information on the scholarship program, please visit www.nathansnews.com.
UPDATED: Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em (on the cheap, too)
May 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Tommorow the House is set to vote on “the cigarette tax” (again).
Remember that last year, for the first time in more than a decade, the House passed a plan and sent it to the Senate.
The House plan was (roughly) 30 cents a pack increase with money going to reduce the tax on groceries. Since that time, the grocery tax has gone away (Property Tax Relief Act). So now what?
The Senate plan(passed just last week) raises it by 50 cents with money going to Medicaid.
So the question is: what will our elected officials do this year?
I expect some version will pass again in the House and (as with most bills) a compromise will be reached in Conference Committee but there’ll be a battle over (a) increasing the tax period (b) how much and (c) where the money will go.
As a fiscal conservative, my vote to approve the tax last year probably surprised a few folks. I felt it was the right thing to do then and I still feel it’s the right thing to do now.
Some things I will continue to keep in mind during upcoming votes:
* Our tax is the lowest in the nation (7 cents)
* Our tax hasn’t been increased since I was 7 years old
* Our border states tax cigarettes at 35 cents (NC) and 37 cents (GA)
* For every 10% increase in price, data shows a 7% decrease in teen smoking and 3% decrease overall
* The governor will veto any increase that is not revenue neutral
* George Glassmeyer (perhaps one of my most staunch pro-cigarette tax increase voters since Day One when I knocked on his door four years ago)
If you have an opinion, please share it.
UPDATE (11:30 a.m., Wednesday): The bill was “24 hour ruled” today and will appear on the calendar again in the morning for debate.
UPDATE (9:28 a.m., Thursday): Hmm…..here’s what The State wrote in the Metro section today. Funny thing is….the UPDATE above is accurate. Maybe The State is foreshadowing what a “plan” may be today??
CIGARETTE TAX
House leaders are working on a cigarette tax plan that would spend all the revenue raised on tax cuts for small businesses to buy health insurance. The House has sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee (we did? No we didn’t) to work out the details, but House Speaker Bobby Harrell said he opposes using the money for Medicaid. Harrell said any program funded — including smoking cessation — should be a tax credit, and he favored allowing all businesses to apply for the tax credits regardless of how much the employee earns. A Senate bill limited the health insurance premium assistance to those earning less than twice the rate of poverty, or about $21,000.
House leaders also are uncertain on the size of the tax increase. The Senate approved a 50-cent-per-pack increase. Last year, the House approved a 30-cent-per-pack increase.
UPDATE (12:00 Thursday): No action taken today on the “cigarette tax”. What happened was alot of procedural moves in order to avoid debate today. First, there was a motion to adjourn for the day (failed 57-61). About 30 minutes later, the bill was up for debate when a motion was made to adjourn debate (until Tuesday supposedly). That motion ultimately passed 63-57. What does this mean? Supposedly we’ll take the bill back up Tuesday. Stay tuned…
UPDATED (2:45 pm Tuesday, May 20th): No action taken today. Debate adjourned tomorrow. I do believe tomorrow we may see passage. 30 cents? 50 cents? Not sure until the votes are counted.
Do blondes have more fun?
May 13, 2008 | 5 Comments
On the Irmo High School Boys Soccer Team they apparently do.
While not the only team to sport blonde hair during the season, they certainly are some of the most recognizable ones in the area.
Tonight, the Yellowjackets play Northwestern for the Upper State Title and should then win, they’ll move on to face the Spring Valley / Wando winner for the AAAA State Championship.
Irmo’s coachCoach Phil Savitz has several State and National Coach of the Year honors to his name and is looking for a 16th State Championship this year.
The Yellowjackets are led on the field by Daniel Lynch, who has signed to play with USC next year (along with Dutch Fork’s Danny Cates).
Last year when Representative Chip Huggins and I presented Coach Savitz with a resolution honoring his 500th win, we made the comment that we would dye our hair blonde if they bring home a State Championiship this year.
We’re two games away from another State Championship! How would I look?
UPDATE (9:23 pm): Unfortunately, the home team lost tonight. Northwestern defeated Irmo 2-1.
FRIARSGATE PARK : Advisory Panel - get involved!
May 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Here’s an email I wanted to share from Andy Hastings, Director - Friarsgate Park
Email: ANDY@rcrc.state.sc.us
Friarsgate Park Patrons:
I had the chance to attend a very informative meeting this past week for all the advisory councils across Richland County that provide input at RCRC managed facilities. Unfortunately, while I was at the above mentioned meeting, we had a gang related incident at the park which raised some safety concerns.
At Friarsgate Park, we have not had an active advisory committee for over 5 years. This is a need that needs to be addressed at our facility for two main reasons. First, an active advisory council leads to more community involvement and a safer park. Second, an advisory council could provide input to the park staff as far as what programs the community would like to see offered at the park.
Our next community advisory meeting at Friarsgate Park is scheduled for 5/19/08 at 6:30. We are looking for volunteers who are willing to serve on our advisory council. If you plan to attend this meeting or are interested in helping organize the advisory council for FGP, please call the park at 732-3220 or respond to this email so we may plan accordingly. Feel free to forward this email to any park patrons that may be interested in volunteering their time. Thanks
Andy Hastings
Director
Friarsgate Park
We ain’t dumb all the time
May 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Didn’t we settle the Presidential Nomination debate months ago here in lil o’ South Carolina?
As much grief as we get about our rankings compared to the rest of the country (in everything, I might add), we at least got this “right” months ago.
Looks like a doozy of a battle is in store for the White House.
While I certainly don’t agree with Senator Obama (on pretty much anything), I will give him and his campaign credit for turning out voters. Many who have never voted before. And although I’ve never been a McCain guy (Bush 2000, Romney 2008), I certainly know who I’ll be supporting come November.
Who will win? No clue. How “The Obama Factor” will play out in other races (national, local) is also the million dollar question. We’ve got primaries in less than a month here in SC and the general in November.
Turnout will be key - as it usually is in any election.
Let me ask…..if you didn’t originally vote for McCain and Obama, will you support your party nominee in November?
Live blogging from the floor…
May 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment
It’s 4:15 pm and we’re in “cloture” debating Immigration Reform.
“Cloture” limits debate to 3 minutes for each amendment and 3 minutes against. (There are presently 16 amendments on the desk). “Cloture” also limits debate for the final bill and against the final bill to one hour each but since this bill was in House and went through Senate…we can only debate the ammendments and then concur on the bill or not.
We’re in cloture because, quite honestly, we have debated and debated the issue enough.
Presently, the Democrats are saying they are pro-business and Republicans are not.
For quick background, we are not debating the bill that the House and Senate both approved. That bill somehow never made it out of Conference Committee.
We’re now debating the “new bill” the Senate sent over.
The debate focuses on whether to keep the “SC-Verify (a version of I9)” still in the bill or remove that and use the Federal “E-verify“ system.
Stay tuned….
It’s 4:45pm, we just had a brief conversation about the word ALIEN v. IMMIGRANT and then we finally sent the bill back to the Senate and REMOVED SC-VERIFY.
Now…we’re on the budget (again).
It’s 5:00pm and we just adjourned. Thank goodness because we just got a chance to look at this first ammendment below. Take a quick read and see if you would be prepared to vote in a moment’s notice. Read more
To everything there is a season…
May 6, 2008 | 4 Comments
The Byrd’s wrote “for everything there is a season.” Well, King Solomon wrote it. The Byrd’s sang about it. Anyway, such is the case in politics, especially for the next twelve months.
In the House, there are roughly 20 incubments not seeking re-election. There are also a handful of contested races (R versus R, D versus D, R versus D) and many of those races have challengers ripe to pull the upset.
Mix those ingredients together and 2009 is sure to see significant changes in state government - at least in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
While a new crop of statesmen will come to Columbia with new ideas and true motives (please, send more!), there are also going to be some MAJOR changes in leadership roles inside the body.
Most folks will be watching the returns this November, but I suggest you keep an eye on the following potential races during 2009 and beyond.
(1) Labor, Commerce, and Industry Chairmanship
Current Chairman Harry Cato has basically locked up Speaker Pro-Tempore now that Doug Smith is retiring. But the real question is how long does Chairman Cato plan to stay “Pro-Tempore”? (More on that later)
South Carolina could see history in the making with the (strong) possibility that Rep. Nikki Haley could replace Cato as Chairman of the Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee. I’m not on LCI but I’m hearing that there are at least three members lining up for a bid to replace Chairman Cato. Nikki Haley, Bill Sandifer, and Wallace Scarborough have been seeking votes. Each has either primary or general opposition before we return so nothing’s guaranteed but the significance here is that no female has ever held a committee charimanship. With our state ranking last in female elected representation, this would truly be an example of breaking the glass-ceiling. Can we be so “progressive”?
(2) Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Chairmanship
With the retirement of Rep. Billy Witherspoon at the end of this session, there are already three vying to replace him: Jeff Duncan, Dwight Loftis, and Nelson Hardwick.
COMMUNITY UPDATE: May 2008
May 1, 2008 | 9 Comments
Here’s this month’s regular update to keep you informed of what’s going on in the State House and in our community!
If you have events you’d like me to share on the site, please email me at BallentineN@scstatehouse.net and be sure to put the word CONSTITUENT in the subject line so that I can reply to your email before the hundreds of others I receive daily.
STATEHOUSE
This week saw longer hours in the chamber for the House (and Senate) as bills needed to pass one chamber and be sent to the other by today (May 1st) in order to have any chance of becoming law this year.
What I’d like to briefly share are two items of interest here locally and statewide. One is the Cost-of-Living-Adjustment bill(s) for State Retirees and the other is Immigration Reform.
You may have read earlier on this site about what transpired on the COLA bill(s). Nothing has changed since then. There have been repeated tries to get the new COLA bill (without legislators’ retirement included) to the floor but those have been stopped. The Ways and Means committee did at least debate the bill we sent back (so they could remove legislators’ retirement) but they voted not to send the bill to the floor. Remember, this bill has recommendations from a State Treasurer’s Task Force for ways to stabililze our current retirement system. (Of course, those recommendations did NOT include putting us legislators in there. Go figure.)
On the Immigration front, stories vary depending on who you talk to about the situation. I’ll simply say this: The Senate and House both passed a bill earlier this year and that bill was sent to a conference committee (to iron out the differences so that we both have the same bill; a requirement for ratification and ultimate passage). For one reason or another (primarily the difference of opinion on keeping the “I9” verification in the bill), the conference report has not been signed and therefore no vote taken by both bodies. Today, the Senate gave final reading on a NEW immigration bill (the “I9” is out…but a new SC-Verify system is in). I believe this bill (and possibly the state budget) will consume most of the discussions over the final weeks of this two-year session that is scheduled to come to an end on June 5, 2008.
YOUR MONEY
QUESTION: Should elected officials be required to take a roll-call vote on any legislation that spends tax dollars?
I’d like to hear from you. Seems OBVIOUS to me. This bill was introduced by Representative Nikki Haley (R-Lexington) after (in response to?) the COLA situation a few weeks ago.
Oftentimes, bills are passed on a “voice-vote”. This means no one really knows how individual members voted. In what I have called the “year of transparency” (earmarks, financial disclosures) it seems this is another step we need for more accountability in government and elected officials. Read more