People & Events

Parent-teacher conferences
this week
Schools in the Darlington County School District will hold parent-teacher conferences on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008, from 4 to 7 p.m., and again on Friday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
Students will follow a regular class schedule on Thursday, Sept. 18, and will not have class on Friday, Sept. 19.
Parents are encouraged to schedule a visit with their child’s teachers through the child’s school.
Studies show that when parents become involved in their child’s education, the child is more likely to succeed. Many parents prefer to write down their questions ahead of time. Some questions parents may want to ask are:
• What is my child learning?
• What are my child’s strengths and weaknesses in major subjects such as reading, math and science?
• In what area does my child need improvement?
• How are you helping my child improve?
• How can I help my child improve?
• What are your expectations for my child? Does s/he meet your expectations?
• What are the homework requirements? How much time should my child be spending on homework?
• Does my child complete classwork and other tasks on time and regularly? Does my child come to class prepared?
For more information about the parent-teacher conferences, parents are asked to contact the individual schools.

USC scientist to discuss
climate change at Coker
Marine biologist Dr.Brian Helmuth will lead a discussion on global warming at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18, in Coker College’s Drawing Room. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.
Helmuth, an associate professor of biology at the University of South Carolina, will discuss the evidence for climate change and what scientists and society can do to plan for a warmer world. His research is funded by NOAA, NASA and the National Science Foundation. Helmuth will also present a more technical seminar at 2 p.m. on September 18 in the C. W. Coker Auditorium in Davidson Hall.

Part of Railroad Avenue
to close Sept. 29

Railroad Avenue (S-16-135) from Leesburg Street (S-16-130) to First Street (S-16-96) will be closed Monday, Sept. 29, at 8 a.m. for about three days, according to the S.C. Department of Transportation.
Railroad Avenue should reopen to the public by Oct. 1.
For more information, call Edward L. Parnell Jr. at (843) 393-6171.

Lamar project offering assistance
LAMAR — In cooperation with the Santee Lynches Community Development Corporation and Community Assistance Provider the town of Lamar has announced that the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority has awarded Community Assistance Provider Inc. (CAP) the sum of $449,740 under the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME).
The HOME Program is an Equal Housing Opportunities Program and is subject to requirements of the Fair Housing Act of 1988, as amended. Women and minority businesses are encouraged to participate. Anyone with questions concerning the program should contact: Jamie Devine, with Community Assistance Provider, Inc. at (803) 699-5324.
The town of Lamar has seven new homes under construction in the Starlight Village Subdivision located on Davis Street in the southern portion of the town limits. The entire subdivision will consist of 24 lots that will be a welcome addition to Lamar’s growing population base. There are additional lots available, and if interested parties would like to participate in the housing programs please call (803) 436-0020 and ask for Herman Voigt to schedule a visit.
There will be an open forum meeting on Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall located on Main Street to inform the local residents of the programs that are available.

McLeod lab receives accreditation from American College of Pathologists

The Laboratory of McLeod Regional Medical Center has been awarded an Accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), based on the results of a recent on-site inspection.
Dr. Dennison Robey, medical director of the McLeod Laboratory, and Sandra Bridgers, administrative director of the lab, were notified of this national recognition and congratulated for the “excellence of the services being provided.”  The McLeod Lab is one of the more than 6,000 CAP-accredited laboratories nationwide.
The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, begun in the early 1960s, is recognized by the federal government as being equal to or more stringent than the government’s own inspection program.
During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examine the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine the entire staff’s qualifications, the laboratory’s equipment, facilities, safety program and record, as well as the overall management of the laboratory. This stringent inspection program is designed to specifically ensure the highest standard of care for the laboratory’s patients.
The College of American Pathologists is a medical society serving nearly 16,000 physician members and the laboratory community throughout the world. It is the world’s largest association composed exclusively of pathologists and is widely considered the leader in laboratory quality assurance. The CAP is an advocate for high-quality and cost-effective medical care.