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Pages from the Past: Feb. 2, 2011

Originally published Feb. 2, 2011 Formal Dining Etiquette – Junior Leadership Kershaw County students received a course in formal dining etiquette from cotillion facilitator Sara Fakoury during a recent session hosted by the Millpond Steakhouse in Boykin. Fakoury guided the class of high school juniors and seniors through a session of dos and don’ts as they enjoyed a five-course meal prepared by Mark Price and Jamie Hecker of the Millpond Steakhouse. Servers included Kershaw County school superintendent Dr. Frank Morgan and several other local business men and women. Students from Camden, Lugoff-Elgin, North Central and Camden Military Academy were asked to dress up for the occasion. Here, Fakoury shows them the proper way to hold a soup spoon. As a follow up to this session, students will receive instruction in job interviewing and personal marketing skills in February This feature offers a look back at stories and photos from the

LEHS honors Samantha Gladden and Maryann Large before school board and county council

Kershaw County leaders and Lugoff-Elgin High School students recently came together to honor the lives of Samantha Gladden and Maryann Large, two students whose friendships, presence and impact left a lasting impression on their school and the wider community. At its March 10 meeting, Kershaw County Council paused to recognize their memory and officially proclaimed March 10, 2026, as Samantha Gladden and Maryann Large Day in Kershaw County. The proclamation followed an earlier moment of remembrance at the March 3 meeting of the Kershaw County Board of School Trustees. There, Lugoff-Elgin High School 2026 Class President Abigail Shoemake gave a special presentation about the pending installation of two memorial benches to honor Samantha and Maryann, who died in 2023 and 2025. The presentation set a solemn tone and reflected the care taken by students and school leaders to remember their classmates in a meaningful and lasting way. Together, the school

Arledge Announces Re-Election Campaign for Kershaw County Auditor

Kershaw County Auditor Dennis G. Arledge Sr. has announced his campaign for re-election, seeking to continue serving residents in the role he has held since first being elected in 2018. Arledge, a longtime Kershaw County resident with more than four decades of experience in financial services and public service, said he is running to continue providing responsible stewardship and transparency in the county’s financial processes. “There is no better place to live, work and raise a family than Kershaw County,” Arledge said. “I am honored to serve the citizens of this county and look forward to continuing the work of maintaining strong financial accountability while supporting the citizens and prosperity of our community.” Currently serving his second term as county auditor, Arledge oversees the office responsible for maintaining accurate property tax records, calculating tax bills and ensuring compliance with South Carolina Department of Revenue regulations. Before entering public office, Arledge spent 19

Lugoff Fire Department Honors Willie Bennett for 40 Years of Volunteer Service

Willie Bennett was recognized Tuesday night for 40 years of volunteer service with the Lugoff Fire Department, where leaders and fellow volunteers honored a man Chief Chris Jones said has served the community continuously for four decades. “Today, Mr. Willie Bennett has been a volunteer here at Lugoff Fire continuously that whole time,” Jones said during the department’s monthly meeting. “We’re pleased to honor him for 40 years of volunteer service and hope he continues on.” Jones presented Bennett with a plaque marking the milestone. For Bennett, a Lugoff native, the path into volunteer service started simply. He saw firefighters responding to calls and wanted to be part of it. “I just love it. Always did,” Bennett said. That sense of purpose has kept him connected to the department through eight chiefs, major emergencies and changing seasons of life. Among the incidents he said he will always remember are Hurricane

One of Bethune’s most recognizable landmarks back in operation

After months of renovation work, the town’s historic water tower has officially returned to service and now features Bethune’s new town logo, a symbol town leaders say reflects both the community’s heritage and its future. The rehabilitation project addressed significant rust and maintenance issues on the aging structure. According to the official inspection report completed in early March, the tank renovation was finished in December 2025 and interior blasting and coating work followed in January. Engineers confirmed the work met all specifications, allowing the tower to return to service last week. For residents and visitors, the most visible change is the new design painted on the tower. The updated town logo was developed as part of a broader community branding initiative designed to help tell the town’s story more clearly and consistently, town officials said. “The symbol incorporates several elements meant to represent Bethune’s identity,” Bethune Mayor LaDonna Brown said.

LEHS jazz band earns Superior Rating in first assessment since 1999

Lugoff-Elgin High School’s Blue Note Demons Jazz Band, under the direction of William Melven and Kevin Flowers, recently performed at the South Carolina Band Directors Association Jazz Performance Assessment, held at Newberry College, for the first time since 1999 and earned a Superior Rating. LEHS senior Walker Little also delivered an outstanding performance with the All-State Jazz Band at Charleston Southern University. “I’m so proud of these kids!” said LEHS band director Travis Kelly following their performances.

LEHS journalism students earn top honors at SIPA convention

Lugoff-Elgin High School (LEHS) journalism students recently attended the Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA) convention. Though SIPA is based at the University of South Carolina, it serves high school journalism programs throughout the southeast, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and others. While at the convention, students attended various breakout sessions to deepen their knowledge of scholastic journalism and also competed to showcase their current skills. The weekend concluded with an awards ceremony in which LEHS had plenty of opportunities to celebrate. LEHS’s Kaleidoscope yearbook received an All-Southern rating, which is the highest possible and placed 2nd overall for Best in Show. Several individuals also won awards: Seniors Tori Potter & Zoei O’Quinn Nichols won third place for theme writing; junior Baya Hardee won third place for people feature writing; Juniors Hannah Flake and Haley Starcher won third place for academic spread

Laurie’s “Current” March Watch List

By Laurie Parks So here we are rolling into March. For us that live in Camden, and the bigger picture Kershaw County, that means gearing up for the Carolina Cup. This is a South Carolina tradition that has achieved premier social event status; an annual “rite of spring” that draws fans from all over the world to enjoy an afternoon of steeplechase horse racing. While there are plenty of parties to partake in and spring fashions dazzle, some of us really want to see the horses in all THEIR glory. Now realistically I don’t expect you to watch all these movies before our Carolina Cup, but you should be able to accomplish this before the Kentucky Derby on May 2nd. You also might be able to see a secondary theme in my list, to celebrate National Women’s History Month by remembering the courageous women and girls that broke the gender

Pages from the Past: March 2, 2011

Originally published March 2, 2011 The North Central High School Marching Knights were invited by Walt Disney World of Orlando, Florida to perform in the EPCOT Center Disney Theme Park on February 20th. NCHS Band Director Michael Rooker said, “The kids had a great time and did a great job. Lots of compliments from the Disney people.” Also doing a great job recently was Dylan Sims, NCHS Drum Major. He made 1st chair at the Limestone Band Clinic and won their Scholarship Contest. This feature offers a look back at stories and photos from the Kershaw County Current archives. Each month we highlight past coverage, preserving the people, places and events that have shaped our community.

From Kershaw County Classrooms to the State Board: Ginger Catoe’s Lifelong Commitment to Students

For more than three decades, generations of Kershaw County students, teachers, and families have known the name Ginger Catoe — not just as an educator, but as a mentor, advocate, and steady champion for public education. Now, after a 36-year career serving local schools, Catoe has been appointed to the South Carolina State Board of Education by Senator Jeffery Graham. While the appointment places her on a statewide stage, those who know her say the heart of her work will always remain rooted in the classrooms and communities of Kershaw County. For Catoe, the path to education began long before she stepped into her first classroom. “As the daughter of a career educator, it’s not hard to understand why I do what I do each day,” she said. “Standing on the shoulders of giants — one of whom is my sweet daddy — I witnessed firsthand the power of servant

Come cook with Melissa

Brought to you by Every Day Gourmet, Camden’s local lunch spot since 1985. Bailey’s Irish Cream White Chocolate Cheesecake Hi! My name is Melissa Saavedra and I love everything there is about food! Join me as I share some of my favorite recipes. Top of the day to you, we are in March! It’s one of my favorite months, not only because it’s my birth month, but also because it’s the beginning of spring, flowers, a little bit of warmth to tame that chilly air and that day where all is welcome to wear green and talk blarney. Being a bit Irish myself, I’m obliged to share a recipe that involves Bailey’s and cheesecake. I’m also obliged to inform you that EveryDay Gourmet will be offering this cheesecake as a dessert option for the latter part of March. I love wearing green, love talking blarney, and have a wee affection

From a Parking Garage to Nashville: Lugoff’s Elliot Poston Chases a Dream

When thunderstorms forced the evacuation of last year’s Carolina Country Music Fest, most performers packed up and waited for instructions. Elliot Poston walked into a nearby parking garage, opened the back of his SUV, pulled out his guitar and started playing. Within minutes, hundreds of people gathered. Poston said he felt prompted in that moment to keep performing despite the cancelled set. “I felt like I heard the voice of God say, open your guitar and start playing,” he said. Whether audible or internal, he said, the message was clear. If there was a crowd, he would play. Local television crews later captured the impromptu concert, where Poston performed for roughly two hours while attendees waited out the storm. For the Lugoff resident and father of two, the moment was less about the stage he lost and more about the opportunity to perform. That instinct did not develop overnight. Poston,

English Meadows in Camden Offers Free Chair Yoga and Dementia Support Group

English Meadows Camden Campus is opening its doors to the community with two free programs designed to promote wellness and provide support for families navigating dementia. The Broad Street senior living community now offers weekly chair yoga classes and a monthly dementia caregiver support group, both free and open to the public. Scott Freiberg, director of food and beverage at English Meadows, recently began leading the chair yoga classes on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. The class lasts about 30 minutes and focuses on gentle stretching, breathing and mindfulness. “It is free and all you have to do is show up,” Freiberg said. “You don’t need a yoga mat or equipment. Just sit in the chair and that’s it.” The class is designed to be accessible, especially for seniors or anyone who may have difficulty with traditional yoga poses. Participants remain seated in a chair while practicing simple movements and breathing

Kershaw County plant powers defense, technology after rescue from shutdown

Did you know that the only U.S. producer of a material critical to smartphones, defense systems and artificial intelligence is located in Kershaw County? Camden Copper is the only U.S. producer of electrodeposited copper foil, an ultra-thin, high-purity copper sheet used to manufacture printed circuit boards, the foundational component inside many modern electronic devices. Inside the Kershaw County facility, thin sheets of copper foil are produced for boards that power technologies ranging from personal cell phones to aerospace systems, forming the conductive layer that allows electronics to function. Just one year ago, that production line nearly shut down. The plant, originally established in 1992 and formerly operated under Japanese ownership as Denkai America and previously, Oak-Mitsui Inc., faced closure in 2024 after its parent company filed for bankruptcy. Investment slowed, uncertainty spread among employees and equipment was at risk of being scrapped. “When we arrived here in February of last

Pine Tree Hill fourth-graders prepare school garden for spring

Fourth-grade students at Pine Tree Hill Elementary spent part of the week preparing the school garden for the warmer months with the help of Mrs. Loretta Maricle. Students planted red lettuce and collards while learning about gardening, teamwork and the care required to grow plants. They helped prepare the soil and placed the plants in the garden beds as part of the hands-on activity. School staff said the project gives students an opportunity to take responsibility for the garden while learning more about how plants grow.