Great time! This year’s Community Cookout
August 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Thanks again to all those who made this year’s cookout another great event for our community!
From the sponsors/hosts/contributors to those that showed up for their first-ever “political event”, thank you!
We had several elected officials attend and give our neighbors a chance to speak with them one-on-one in a casual setting. I was also very pleased that my efforts to personally stuff over 1,000 newspaper boxes with an invitation resulted in folks showing-up for the first-time to meet neighbors and other officials.
Thanks again to the following elected officials who attended:
US Congressman Joe Wilson
State Comptroller Richard Eckstrom
State Senator John Courson
State Representatives Chip Huggins, Ted Pitts, Nikki Haley
Richland County Councilman Bill Malinowski
Chapin Mayor Stan Shealy
Irmo Town Councilmembers Hardy King, Barry Walker
Lexington/Richland District 5 Board Members Robert Gantt, Jan Hammond, Carol Sloop, Ellen Baumgardner, Roberta Ferrell
Also attending were the Presidents/CEO of the Irmo Chamber of Commerce (Meredith Allyn) and Chapin Chamber of Commerce (Laura Howell).
Special thanks again to Bert Pooser for his hospitality at The Rusty Anchor and The Quarterdeck . Also to Sticky Fingers for their food and beverage service, and to Jim LeBlanc for his acoustic music.
Also, thanks to Elizabeth Donehue for coordinating the event with her first-class attention to detail!
District Five High Schools – done good!
August 26, 2009 | 2 Comments
I know, I know….”done good”?? Shoot me. I like it.
While news came out today that the average SAT scores dropped 9 points (1452) for all our high school students in the state (public, parochial, private), there are some bright spots here in our community!
And while SC is ranked 47th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia, our schools are doing their fair share in pulling the numbers up.
Last night when I spoke again at the Dutch Fork High School Student Government Installation program, I heard Principal Gregg Morton share some information that was unveiled today. After trying to read through all the small print in the links below, here’s what I’ve uncovered.
I’m proud to share these statistics with you with the links provided courtesy of The State.
Lexington/Richland School District Five had the highest percentage of SAT takers than any other school district in the ENTIRE STATE ( 71% of our seniors took the test )
How about a school-by-school breakdown:
93% Charleston Academic Magnet High School
88% SC Governors School Arts & Humanities
86% SC Governors School Science & Math
84% Fox Creek High School (Edgefield)
81% Hilton Head High School
79% AC Flora High School
79% Charleston County School of Arts
76% Riverside High School (Greenville) Editor’s note: My alma mater 1988
73% Irmo High School
72% West Florence High School
72% Chapin High School
72% Dreher High School
69% Dutch Fork High School
It’s no wonder with the highest percentage district wide in the state that all three district high schools rank in the TOP 13 in terms of percentage of students at the school that take the SAT!
How about the SAT scores by school throughout the state ?
2025 Governor’s School Science & Math
1869 Academic Magnet High (Charleston)
1785 Governor’s School Arts & Humanities
1633 Riverside High (Greenville)
1620 Crescent High (Anderson) *only 6% students took test
1611 Charleston County School of Arts
1599 Greenville Technical Charter High
1598 Daniel High (Pickens)
1592 Fort Mill High (York 4)
1585 Spring Valley (Richland 2)
1581 Nation Ford High (York 4)
1572 Lexington High
1568 Wando High (Charleston)
1563 Dutch Fork High
1563 South Aiken
1557 AC Flora (Richland 1)
1554 Landrum High (Spartanburg 1)
1551 Mayo High (Darlington)
1544 Chapin High
Two of our three schools are in the TOP 19 in the entire state!
While there’s always controversy out here regarding our school district, there’s no debate on the quality of education our students receive.
Thanks again to those teachers and staff that are preparing our leaders of tomorrow! (Let’s also not forget the parents of these students who do their part at home!)
First Tuesday GOP Club: Richland/Lexington Counties
August 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment
To ALL RICHLAND & LEXINGTON COUNTY REPUBLICANS:
Greetings Everyone! It’s time again to resume First Tuesday Republican Club lunch meetings. So mark your calendars now for our monthly meeting and join us on Tuesday, September 1st at 1 PM at Seawell’s on 1125 Rosewood Dr. in Columbia.
**Our speaker will be 2nd District US Congressman Joe Wilson.** Come help us welcome Congressman Wilson and hear about his recent town hall meetings and efforts to stand up and fight for us in Washington concerning the many massive bills and legislative agendas that are pending.
Please share this announcement with any family and friends to come join us for lunch and discussions on subjects we are all concerned about for SC and our country.
And please note, Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom will be our guest speaker on Tuesday, October 6th, so again, mark your calendar now and plan to attend.
The Luncheon cost is $12.
Annual Dues Membership is $15 for an individual and $25 for a household family. We thank those who have already paid their 2009 dues!! Your dues help sustain this organization!
**RSVP – Please call our Secretary Grace Rentiers at 407-2577 or email her at grentiers@aol.com to RSVP for lunch no later than Monday morning August 31st.
**It is very important to let us know you will be attending so that we will have enough food prepared and tables properly set up so as to not delay or cause problems.
Thank you all!
Officers:
Tom Fort, ChairmanMickey Lindler, Vice Chair
Carla Hardee, Treasurer
Grace Rentiers, Secretary
Bob Wells, Chaplain
Directors:
James “Boo” Alford, Bob Barnwell, Douglas Ford, David James, Lou Nolan, Robert Schaeffer, Taryn Shekitka-West
My message to our teachers and staff
August 20, 2009 | 2 Comments
As I’ve done in previous years, I sent a “beginning of the year email” to our District Office this week and asked it to be shared with the district employees. This year, I was told of a district policy that says they will not forward emails from outside the district. So…I figure I’ll just share my message here so the teachers and staff might see when they visit. Note: oftentimes, the District’s email server rejects even my personal responses/replies to district employee emails sent to me so I never really know if any message gets through or not. Hoping they will get that fixed for me/them soon.
THANK YOU AND BEST WISHES FOR A GREAT YEAR!
I always remember how it seemed my mother never had a real vacation from teaching and I know it’s true for each of you, too.
While school may have been closed the past few months, each of you have been working towards this week where you will soon greet your new students with the same passion, love, and talents you always bring to your profession.
This week is certainly a busy time for you and I just wanted to briefly say “THANK YOU” and wish you the very best this year!
If I can ever help you by speaking with your class or arranging a tour for your students, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Nathan Ballentine
House District 71
Richland, Lexington Counties
www.nathansnews.com
District Five goes Live! WISTV.com
August 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment
I got home early tonight and noticed Dr. Berg and Buddy Price were on Wistv.com Live! Figured I’d shoot them a quick note and also see how it was going. Turns out we had several folks in the area with questions and comments. I appreciate Dr. Berg and Buddy making theirselves available on line and thought if you missed it, you would want to see what’s on everyone’s mind.
4:48 WIS: Good evening and welcome to WIStv.com Live! Tonight, we have Buddy Price and Superintendent Dr. Herb Berg from Lexington/Richland District 5 . They’ll be answering your questions about district issues. We will begin at 5pm!
5:00 [Comment From RSES Parent]
Why do we not have hand sanitizer in the classroom during this flu season?
5:04 [Comment From DFHSparent]
Do you have measures in place to help prevent the spread of swine flu?
5:08 [Comment From DFMS]
Why did you not give the parents an option to purchase agendas? If it was not in the budget, parents would have purchased.
5:11 [Comment From CRMS and DFMS parent]Why do the buses seem to be more overcrowded this year and why are the bus routes longer. It feels like my CRMS child is going to be spending more time on the bus than in class this year.
5:11 [Comment From DFHS PARENT]
Can you explain the computer issues causing some students (my child) to miss the first 2 days of school due to having NO schedule? Read more
Walmart opens doors to community!
August 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
This morning I joined Irmo Mayor John Gibbons and Congressman Joe Wilson in speaking at the Grand Opening of our newest corporate citzen, Walmart. I must say the ceremony was first-class and included an opening invocation as well as the local ROTC presenting the colors and National Anthem. Several community leaders from the Irmo Chamber were in attendance, along with State Representative Chip Huggins and Irmo Council Members Hardy King and Harvey Hoots.
Below is a press release from Walmart:
Walmart brings 300 jobs and sustainable features
IRMO, S.C., Aug. 6, 2009– A new Walmart opens this month in Irmo, bringing 300 new jobs, savings on a full line of groceries and an increase in tax revenue to support the area’s economy. Nonprofit organizations will also benefit from the retailer’s ongoing charitable contributions and support for community projects. The Walmart, located at 1180 Dutch Fork Road, will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Economic Impact Includes 300 New Jobs
The new Irmo Walmart will employ approximately 300 associates, according to store manager JD Hacker. Hacker began his Walmart career in 1983 as a part-time hourly sales associate at a store in Macomb, Illinois.
Store Designed to Improve Customer Experience
In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh its stores, merchandising and customer experience. The improvements have all come together in the company’s newest stores, such as the Irmo Walmart, with fast service, a friendly shopping experience and clean stores.
The new Walmart features wide aisles, enhanced service and a layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers. Walmart aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently. The pharmacy, for example, is adjacent to food making it easier for customers to pick up their prescriptions while shopping for their groceries.
“The layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said Hacker. “By grouping the products that our customers most often purchase including health and beauty and pet supplies, we are making one-stop shopping even easier.”
A bright interior color palette creates an inviting shopping experience and helps define the store’s merchandise areas. Lower shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find what they are looking for quickly. Walmart also combined the customer service desk, site to store pick-up location and photo lab in one area near the entrance. Customers now have easy access to these services, as well as associates on hand to help meet their needs.
Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants
As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $13,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. The organizations receiving grants include:
Sharing God’s Love Food Bank
Chapin We Care Center
Dutch Fork Elementary School
City of Irmo Police Department
City of Irmo Fire Department
Ballentine Elementary School Read more
Congressman Joe Wilson: Twice in One Week
August 17, 2009 | 5 Comments
In addition to attending the Community Cookout Tuesday at the Rusty Anchor (August 18th at 6pm), Congresssman Wilson will be in Caedmon’s Creek this Wednesday evening.
Below is an open invitation to our community.
You are cordially invited to attend a reception honoring
Wednesday, August 19th
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Home of Darla and John Oldham
126 Caedmon’s Creek Drive
Irmo, SC 29063
Levels of Support:
Sponsor: $100.00 per couple
Host: $75.00 per couple
Guest: $50.00 per couple or $25.00 per person to attend
RSVP
Sunny Philips
803.397.3734
sunny@philipsgroup.net
Make checks payable to:
Joe Wilson for Congress
Post Office Box 2145
W. Columbia, SC 29171
Contributions are not deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
Corporate contributions, contributions by minors and by foreign nationals are prohibited by Federal Law.
Paid for by Joe Wilson for Congress Committee
Sponsored by
South Carolina Medical Equipment Services Association
P.O. Box 3284, West Columbia, SC 29171 Phone 803-926-1772
joewilsonforcongress.com
Meet Chip Fallaw: Eagle Scout
August 16, 2009 | 1 Comment
Chapin American Legion Post 193 vice commander Cal Coy presents American Legion Good Citizenship award to new Eagle Scout Chip Fallaw.
Chip is a rising senior at Chapin High School where he participate on the track team.
His father and mother Clyde and Julie Fallaw of Chapin.
Meet Adam Bouknight: Eagle Scout
August 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Adam Bouknight and Chapin American Legion Post 193 Vice Commander Calvin Coy (Photo by William Chick)
Chapin American Legion Post 193 presented new Eagle Scout Adam Gregory Bouknight of Chapin Troop 815 with the American Legion Good Citizenship award and medal.
Adam is a senior at Dutch Fork High School and a member of the school band. He is a active young member of Our Lady of the Lake Cathiolic Church .
He is the son of William and Angela Bouknight.
Maybe State Government should buy a ticket?
August 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment
With news this week that officials overspent last year’s state’s budget and now are staring at an additional $200 million shortfall for this year’s budget, it seems tonight may be as good a time as ever to purchase a Powerball ticket .
From THE STATE
***
Let the budget cutting begin.
Again.
After cutting more than $1 billion from the state’s budget last year, a state panel will meet this morning to decide what to do with a new projected $200 million shortfall.
Last month, state economists cut their estimates of how much revenue the state will bring in this year. They noted revenues have continued to fall short of projections because of the recession.
***
For as much controversy as we heard earlier this decade about the passing of a statewide-education lottery , this week we also heard about two billion reasons why it might not be as bad as people thought it would be.
So, let’s see….a winning ticket tonight could go a long way towards getting our state out of the red (for last year’s budget)…and with tough times still ahead for our state’s economy, should we consider rolling the dice and looking at alternative revenue sources for our state?
That would be a battle most officials wouldn’t want to have…again….during an election year…..but I wonder if we may see proposals for video poker or other forms of gambling in the General Assembly next year?
What are your thoughts?
I’ve often heard that if Myrtle Beach had casinos like Biloxi, MS or Atlantic City, it would do wonders for state revenues, tourism, and jobs.
After all, doesn’t the house always win ?