A look back, part II of 2008 in review

July began with the students who had participated in the ArtSummer program hosting their finale to showcase their talents. The first week of July brought about many activities to celebrate Butler Heritage Week, which raises funds to help restore the old Butler High School.
The Little Miss and Teen Miss South Carolina pageants were also held in Hartsville at the Center Theater. Several local queens participating in the Miss South Carolina Pageant distinguished themselves at the state pageant. Miss Hartsville Morgan Dampier and Miss Hartsville Teen Brittany Caldwell both made it in the top ten of their respective pageants. Anna Perry, a former Trinity Collegiate student, was crowned Miss South Carolina.

In July, the 2008 Cotton Harvest Bluegrass Festival committee announced plans for the October event.

Two local youths were recognized at Palmetto Boys State in June and were featured in The Messenger in July. Jacob Godwin was voted in as the 2008 lieutenant governor. He is from Hartsville and a student at Mayo High School for Math, Science and Technology. Donovan Malloy was selected by his fellow students to be a senator at Palmetto Boys State. He is a student at Hartsville High School.

In August, Doug McCormick announced the release of his first CD, and Zach Smith’s quick response helped save a life during a family outing.

The Darlington County Historical Society and the Back Swamp School Trust announced a Fall Tour of Homes as a fund-raiser on Oct. 10.
The Hartsville Community Players and CareFIRST Carolina Foundation Friends and Neighbors Fund announced they would collaborate on a benefit performance to help those in need of medical assistance. The Community Players announced they would be performing “Godspell” on Sept. 21 for the benefit.

In September, The Messenger featured Allan McLeland, who set a personal goal of swimming the English Channel and succeeded.

Black Creek Arts Center held its first Artist Crawl along College and Home avenues in September. Artists’ works were featured at the Black Creek Art Gallery as well as in the homes of some of the artists.

At the 43rd Annual Women in Business celebration, Linda Jordan was named 2008 Woman of Achievement.

Members of the Hartsville Civitan Club honored Frank Hays as Civitan of the Year. Presentation of a special plaque was made at the annual banquet held on Sept. 18, at Hartsville Country Club.

On Sept. 18, the Taste of Society Hill was held on the lawn of Japonica Hall, home of Michal and Dick Baird.

The Second Annual A Day in a Medieval Life was held Sept. 27 at Byerly Park. There were exhibits, demonstrations, contest and competitions.

Two Hartsville natives returned to perform in the 11th Annual Jazz!Carolina festival held on Oct. 4. Wilbur Thompson of Charlotte, N.C., was the headliner for the evening. Thompson is a jazz musician based in the Charlotte area. His quartet included Hartsville native Greg Dampier of Nashville, Tenn.

On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Good Living Marketplace opened in downtown Hartsville at Burry Park on Cargill Way. The Good Living Market featured local produce, flowers, art, specialty craft items, children’s activities and local merchants. The marketplace continued to open on the first Saturday of the month through the end of the year.

The Artisans of the South Carolina Cotton Trail had their first public event at the Black Creek Arts Center on College Avenue the first week in October. The 24 juried artisans had their works on display at the Black Creek Arts Gallery for the months of October and November.

The 26th annual South Carolina Sweet Potato Festival was held Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Darlington Public Square.

On Oct. 21, the Long Lash Cabaret starring Polish-born Ilona Smithkin transformed the Black Creek Arts Center Gallery into a stage for a night of smoking entertainment, all for the benefit of the arts council. The Long Lash Cabaret starred a variety of local talents along with Smithkin, who performed songs originally recorded by Marlene Dietrich. Joining her were Greg Best, Tracy Price, Dustin Moree, Bob and Peggy Trowell, Carolyn Atkinson, Jim Beaumier, Dyana Flax, Jana Longfellow and Al Haynes.

The second annual Cotton Harvest Bluegrass Festival in downtown Hartsville was held on Oct. 24, featuring the winning group of the 2008 RenoFest Bluegrass Festival S.C. State Bluegrass Band Championship in March of 2008 Church Street Blues from Hermitage, Pa. Also performing were Deeper Shade of Blue, Sounds of Grass and Slope Valley.

The annual McLeod Farms Fall Festival was held at the end of October.

November brought a lot of excitement to Hartsville as the Hartsville branch of the NAACP presented its 24th Annual Freedom Fund Celebration on Nov. 8 at the Center Theater. Society Hill also held its annual Catfish Festival on Nov. 8 that was highlighted by a parade led by Grand Marshal and WBTW celebrity Cecil Chandler.

Cricket Newman brought lots of holiday decorating ideas with her when she came to speak at an event sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Kalmia Gardens.

During November, The Messenger featured an article about Janie Campbell and her year as the district governor of the Pilot International.
December brought the usual holiday affairs, including parades in Hartsville and Darlington and neighboring towns, home tours, open houses at the historic home museums in Hartsville and concerts by choirs, churches, and others.

The Second Annual Black Creek Christmas Shoppe opened Dec. 4 with a reception to meet the artists.

The Hartsville Community Players presented “The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever” on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 at the Center Theater to its largest audience in years. The play featured more than 30 local children and was directed by Kendra Woods.

The Barnabus Societies Christmas Home Tour was held in Darlington on Dec. 13 and 14, featuring historic churches and homes.

The Miss Hartsville Pageant committee announced the pageant would be celebrating its 70th anniversary with the Miss Hartsville 2009 on Jan. 3.

Book signings and releases occurred throughout the year. There were books published by doctors, professors, ministers, artists, cooks and musicians.