Index-Journal. August 12, 2022.
Editorial: About 130 stellar years, candidates, ballots and voters
That’s a long time, but it’s worth it.
Reference is made here to how long Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries has been in operation here in Greenwood and throughout the state with its satellite campuses that were once primarily geared toward rescuing orphaned children. Last week, he celebrated 130 years of service.
Applause for its longevity and applause even more for the impact its facilities have had on countless children, young adults, and families. Connie Maxwell has turned out to be some of the most successful people who could very well have had a more difficult life.
Midterms are a few months away, but they’ll be here very soon. Election day also has a hyper-local flavor with a number of grassroots positions open at the municipal and school board levels. And that’s where our thumbs up comes in.
We have expressed dismay and disappointment more than once when a local office stands for election to fill a vacancy, but no one shows up to seek the position. More than once, a near-last-minute written announcement has been needed to fill the seat.
Here, however, we see an election season looming in which not only incumbents want to continue serving the public in one position or another, but also new faces, people who also look fit for the job or, perhaps, fitter. for the position that the holder.
That’s what our system is all about, folks. People run for office, voters give them a yes or no, and then voters can choose to return them to office, should the office holders seek re-election, or voters can replace them with another candidate they see fit. top rated.
While we’re on the subject of elections, we must also extend a thumbs down to the many, many people who did not participate in the Greenwood City Council District 2 special election.
Yes, we know that voter turnout in the special election is largely doomed in the first place, but it should concern city residents and residents of District 2 in particular when less than 1% of eligible voters voted in a race to fill the unexpired term of Patricia Partlow, who died in May.
There were about 1,800 voters who had a 12-hour window to go to the polls on Tuesday, but only 101 showed up. James Jones and Robert Dean Jr. at least showed enough interest in serving District 2 residents who ran for office, so far more than 101 residents should have taken the time to vote for one or the other. Congratulations to the candidates for running and congratulations to Jones on his victory.
But again, thumbs up to voters who didn’t cast their ballots. Don’t complain about anything Jones or the rest of the city council does regarding District 2. He lost that privilege by not voting. Oh, and for a little more perspective, know this: the special choice came with a price tag. Poll workers and paid election office staff do not work for free and voting machines have an associated cost. That choice exceeded a price of $4,000.
Times and Democrat. August 16, 2022.
Editorial: Deer Season Means Special Focus on Safety
The story is from over 20 years ago in Mankato, Minnesota. We have cited it before as a tragic example. The weather hasn’t made it any less relevant, particularly as deer hunting season begins in South Carolina.
Sadly, what happened could have been another in the series of tragedies that has surrounded hunting seasons in South Carolina over the years.
Here is the Associated Press account:
“John Leif remembers regaining consciousness in the woods after his 16-year-old son accidentally shot him in the head while they were squirrel hunting.
“’Chris was lying next to me, he was so limp,’ said Leif, 50. ‘I grabbed him and hugged him and sobbed and cried. I rested my head on his chest. He wanted to die.
Investigators said Chris shot himself in the head in grief, believing he had killed his father.
“’I’m sure he thought he was dead,’ his father said. “It breaks my heart, the mental anguish that must have… happened.”
“The father and son had gone to the family property about 100 miles southeast of Minneapolis to put the finishing touches on a new deer stand in preparation for the opening of the deer season. They decided to hunt squirrels.
“’The last thing I remember is seeing a large gray squirrel up ahead,’” Leif said. “I ran up and said, ‘Chris, there’s one! Let’s go!” And the more I think about it now, I was probably aiming at him, getting ready to shoot, and I ran right in front of him. … We were right next to each other. It was so fast.
“After Leif regained consciousness, he tied a jacket around a tree as a landmark and started walking for help. He was disoriented, but managed to get into his truck and drive to a neighbor’s house.”
The athletes will be in effect from now until the end of the deer season on January 1, 2023. South Carolina continues to have the longest deer season in the country.
A tragedy can happen. As harrowing as Minnesota’s history is, any hunting accident can leave someone hurt and grieving. And they happen in South Carolina. The worst year was 1994, when 57 people were injured and eight died.
Some safety reminders are in order:
• Make sure your firearm is unloaded when transporting it in your vehicle or walking to your booth. Keep the insurance on as an extra measure.
• Leave the gun safety on until you are ready to shoot. (If you drop your weapon, security will offer you some protection.)
• It is advisable to wear a visible international orange hat, coat or vest while deer hunting. Even wildlife photographers and other nature enthusiasts should use common sense and opt to wear a hunter orange hat, coat, or vest.
• Do not shoot in the direction of rustling bushes or rattling leaves. Shoot only when you see a deer within range. Be sure of your goal.
• When hunting with a club or group, stay at your post until a pre-arranged time. Do not lose your patience and wander, you may be mistaken for a deer.
• Remember, rifle bullets, buckshot and arrows travel long distances across a field or in the woods. Therefore, you must know the territory and know if there are homes, schools or businesses that could possibly be hit by munitions that miss their target.
The next few weeks and months will be busy for hunters, who should be aware that there will be other outdoor enthusiasts sharing space. Use common sense in any situation. Please.
Post and Messaging. August 16, 2022.
Editorial: As the pandemic subsides, child hunger remains with us
As school begins again, SC parents and administrators need to be aware that they will need to be more proactive in ensuring children receive the proper meals so they can learn.
The federal government did not extend a waiver that provided free meals to all public school students, so only those determined eligible will receive free meals.
If they do not attend a school that is part of the Community Eligibility Program, they will need to complete a meal application form. It’s a significant change from the last two years, and the state Department of Education has released a video to provide guidance.
We urge parents and school officials to pay attention and do everything possible to ensure that students get the nutrition they need to be successful in the classroom and beyond. Lack of healthy eating is linked to various physical and mental health problems and poorer school performance.
Across the country, school breakfast and lunch rules were lifted in 2020 to help ensure children received food amid disruptions from the pandemic. But that policy ended in June and the old rules were back in place. Families will qualify for nutrition assistance based on their income and family size; students from families with incomes below 130% of poverty qualify for free lunch.
While the COVID pandemic has evolved significantly in the past two and a half years, the challenges it poses in relation to hunger and food insecurity have not. Surveys show that more than 10% of all residents along the South Carolina coast have had their eating habits disrupted due to lack of money or other resources, but the figure is 15% for children. In real numbers, that reflects about 161,000 people in the state’s 10 coastal counties, including 45,540 children.
“The need is higher than ever,” Lowcountry Food Bank President Nick Osborn tells us. “Inflation, the impact of rising fuel costs, continues to have an effect on people’s ability to buy food, but also on the decisions they make, around rent, utilities and fuel.” Of course, the picture here is a bit different from other communities across the country.
While COVID is not as dangerous as it once was, persistent inflation has kept the budgets of families and food banks strained, as they continue to have to buy more food instead of receiving donations and continue to pay for shipping.
While young Americans are not at risk of starvation, their food insecurity is often manifested by poorer-quality diets that affect their health and quality of life. “It leads to health problems, with diabetes and obesity or being overweight,” says Mr. Osborn. “There are health implications, and those who are food insecure are less productive and less economically viable.”
The Lowcountry Food Bank has programs to help students: Backpack Buddies, which sends schoolchildren home with food on Fridays so they have something to eat over the weekend; Kids Cafe, an after-school feeding program in schools and daycare centers; and Popup Produce, which distributes fresh produce to schools and other locations. The Food Bank’s efforts are made possible in part by our donations, so those interested should consider participating in their 2nd Annual Walk to Fight Hunger, a family-oriented event scheduled for September 18 at Wannamaker Park. . For more information, visit lowcountryfoodbank.org.
One of the biggest jobs of government is to provide a high-quality education for all students, something that should be considered more of an investment in our future than a present expense. As a new school year begins, let us recommit to ensuring that as many students as possible are ready to learn and are not held back by what they did or did not eat over the last few days.