People & Events

Sonoco names Keese
division vice president
and general manager – Nestlé

Sonoco, one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, announced on June 23, that Patrick B. Keese has been named division vice president and general manager – Nestlé, according to Vicki B. Arthur, vice president and general manager, global corporate accounts.
In this new position, Keese will have global responsibility for Sonoco’s business relationship with Nestlé, reporting to Arthur. Prior to this appointment, Keese was division vice president and general manager of Sonoco’s Rigid Paper and Plastics Packaging business in Europe since 2003. Keese has been with Sonoco for 22 years and has held several sales, business development and marketing roles including director of marketing for Sonoco’s global Consumer Products division. He holds a B.S. degree in industrial management from Clemson University.
“As a key member of Sonoco’s One Face strategy, Patrick will lead the Sonoco team in providing integrated customer solutions across multiple business units to Nestlé, the largest food company in the world,” said Arthur. “Patrick brings a unique set of skills to this new role that will be highly beneficial in growing Sonoco’s relationship with Nestlé. His experience and contacts in Europe, coupled with a broad background in sales, marketing and general knowledge of Sonoco’s consumer businesses make him a valuable asset to our expanding Corporate Customer Program.”
Keese and his family will repatriate from the U.K. and will be based at the company’s headquarters in Hartsville, S.C.

Sonoco declares quarterly dividend
Sonoco’s board of directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.27 per common share. This 333rd consecutive quarterly dividend will be payable Sept. 10 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 15.
Founded in 1899 and headquartered in Hartsville, Sonoco is a $4.0 billion global manufacturer of industrial and consumer products and provider of packaging services, with more than 330 operations in 35 countries, serving customers in some 85 nations. For more information, visit its Web site at www.sonoco.com.

Raceway memorabilia wanted
South Carolina ETV is planning to produce a documentary on the Darlington Raceway as part of their “Carolina Stories” series. They are currently in pre-production with a tentative release date of sometime in 2009.
SCETV is interested in seeing any historic memorabilia for possible use in the documentary. If you have, or know someone who has, anything of an historic nature, please contact Darlington County Tourism at 888-427-8720.

McLeod Medical Center Darlington sponsors blood drive

McLeod Medical Center Darlington will host its third American Red Cross Blood Drive for 2008 on Wednesday, July 23, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., in the hospital lobby.
All donors will be entered in a drawing for a big screen TV. All first time donors and those donors who bring a first time donor will be entered in a drawing for an iPod.
On a national and state level there is a critical need for blood.
To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call McLeod Medical Center Darlington at (843) 777-4214. The hospital is located at 701 Cashua Ferry Road in Darlington.
In Wednesday’s edition of The Messenger, the article titled “Poole to join faculty, coaching staff at Darlington,” stated the Silver Foxes played in the state title game. However, Lamar played in the Class A Lower State Championship game against Carver’s Bay.

Also, the Hartsville Chamber News column stated Jerry Tyner was the owner and operator of Factory Mill Cloth Shop. Tyner is the operator, however, Doris Johnson is the owner.