Year in Review: Lake City area’s top stories of 2008

While businesses from a photography studio to a fast-food restaurant closed in 2008 in Lake City, the city started the New Year with one new business.

Businesses

A new Aaron’s sales and lease company, opened at 231 Kelley St. on Dec. 20. Corporate General Manager Derrick Cattenhead said he recommended opening one of the nationwide chain stores in his hometown because he feels citizens can benefit from the store. He said the store allows customers the option of shopping locally without having to drive long distances. The store is home to such name brand merchandise as Phillips, Simmons, Mitsubishi, Compaq, RCA, Maytag, Sony and Magnavox.

Mercy Medicine Clinic

Mercy Medicine Clinic, a free clinic established in 1994 to help the working poor gain access to health care, opened a new location at 124 Epps St. in Lake City in January, thanks to a grant from the United Way of Florence County. The $10,000 Community Impact Grant made it possible for Mercy Medicine to add a much-needed satellite location in lower Florence County. This latest grant is and addition to the $60,000 the United Way of Florence County gave the clinic earlier in 2007. Nurse Administrator Latrell Fowler, who has a Ph.D. in Nursing, said the clinic’s goal is to ensure the health and needs of an often-forgotten group of people are being met. Archie Kennedy, office manager of the Lake City Free Clinic, said he is looking forward to working with the people of Lake City and surrounding areas. Dr. Albert Mims, a family medicine physician in Lake City, signed on to be the medical director of the Lake City Free Clinic.

Carolina Funeral Home

Carolina Funeral Home LLC, a modern 9,100-square-foot facility with a chapel, seating more than 150 guests was under construction in January. Services include family visitations, chapel and church services, graveside or memorial services, immediate cremations, immediate burial or any combination thereof. Carolina Funeral Home is a full service facility operated by friendly and caring personnel who will assist families during their time of loss. Pre-need and after care will be provided as well as filing of all necessary forms and insurance claims.

The Freedom to Dream

Local students celebrated their freedom to dream. Parents, students, teachers, faculty and staff gathered in Olanta Elementary School’s multi-purpose room for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Black History program Jan. 18. The theme for the celebration was “The Freedom to Dream.” Classes sang songs, including “Let’s Sing About Martin,” “Happy Birthday Dr. MLK” and “I am Free.”

Students read poems and speeches. At the end of the program, the entire audience joined in to sing “Lift Every Voice.” Faculty and staff members Cheryl Hanna, Cheryl Strother and Dianne McKenzie organized the program.

McNair Candlelight Vigil

Dr. Ronald E. McNair was remembered 22 years after his tragic death. Lela Montgomery Austin, McNair’s aunt said on Jan. 28, 1986, she was in a state of shock and disbelief. “We prayed and didn’t believe it was true,” Austin said explaining the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, which took the life of her nephew, astronaut and physicist Dr. Ronald McNair.

Austin remembers standing with her sister, Pearl, Ronald’s mother, and listening to her say, “Ronald is a survivor and he survives everything. I know he is going to make it.”

Austin said family members stood in the cold air and watched the black smoke and heard the loud thunder when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. Twenty-two years later, area citizens still remember that tragic and day by having the Annual Candlelight Vigil at the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Memorial Park on Jan. 28, the anniversary of the explosion.

Therapeutic puppy

A therapeutic puppy brought joy to local nursing facility residents. Residents from the Lake City/Scranton Health Care Center received a special addition to their family that they have been wanting for awhile in February. On. Feb. 1, Melissa McKee an Animal Control Officers from Dorchester, donated a black and white cocker spaniel to the residents. Activity Coordinator Wendy Lynch said many residents had dogs they left behind at home and wanted a dog with them at the facility. Physical Therapy Assistant Sandy Moreau said pet therapy is using an animal to promote well-being and gives patients a sense of being at home.

Gang awareness forum

As images of wounds resulting from gang violence flashed on the screen, those gathered for a Gang Awareness Community Forum at Lake City High School in February gasped in astonishment. As the im-ages got increasingly worse, some of the nearly 200 people in attendance even turned their heads unable to face what, Florence County School District 3 Superintendent Beth Wright says some don’t think is a local problem. Florence County Sherriff’s Office, Gang Investigator Jody Lynch, a speaker the forum, said children join gangs to get a sense of belonging. Lake City Police Department, Narcotics/Gang Investigator Joseph Cooper, another speaker at the forum, said it was shocking to return to his hometown of Lake City and see gang activity after working in law enforcement in Columbia for a few years.

Energy efficient light bulbs

Local senior citizens received free energy efficient light bulbs in February. Representative from Progress Energy gave 120 15-watt compact fluorescent light bulbs to senior citizens at the Lake City Hous-ing Authority complex on Ron McNair Boulevard. Each senior citizen also received an information sheet containing 100 energy saving tips.

Business After Hours

The city of Lake City means business, or at least that was the theme of the Greater Lake City Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours in February. The city sponsored the event, which took place at the Lake City Senor Citizen Center on Acline Street in Lake City on Feb. 11, as part of the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s “Cities Mean Business” initiative celebrating the importance of relationships between cities and local businesses.

Electrical shortage

Disaster was avoided as responders reacted quickly. A potential disaster was avoided Feb. 19 when local law enforcement, Florence County Emergency Medical Services and South Lynches Fire Department converged on Lake City/Scranton Health Care Center in Scranton when en electrical shortage caused a fire that was contained to one room. According to South Lynches Fire Chief, Sam Brockington, three patients were sent to local hospitals to be checked but no one was seriously injured. The facility, located at 1940 Boyd St., houses 84 patients with 48 staff members, who all had to be evacuated, Brockington said. He credited the facility staff; first responders and all who assisted in the evacuation with helping avert disaster.

Locks of Love

An elementary student puts others before herself. It isn’t everyday a young girl cuts her hair to help someone else who is battling a life threatening disease and suffering from hair loss. Nine-year-old Brianna VanHoose, cut her hair and donated it to Locks of Love in February. According to their Web site, Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that provides hair pieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 suffering from longterm medical hair loss.

Artist in Residence

Artist in Residence comes to Florence School District Three in March. Dancers from the Kinetic Dance Company were at three elementary schools in Florence School District Three under an artist in residence program in March. Former Main Street Elementary School Music Director Betty Frances Stone said the artist in residence program was funded by a special projects grant from Lake City Elementary School and a district wide $50,000 Distinguish Arts Program grant. Both grants are from the South Carolina State Department of Education.

Heart association

Local dancers raise money for the American Heart Association. Kelley’s Fine Arts has a long-standing tradition of raising money for charity. Owner Burnadene Kelley said she teaches her dancers more than just dance. She tries to instill a sense of public service, teamwork, honesty and perseverance in them. In March, the dancers braved 51 mph gusts of wind to perform their annual Sneak Peek, raising $4,000 for the American Heart Association.

Olanta’s future

Olanta residents and students decided on the town’s future. Fifth-grade students at Olanta Elementary School answered questions with excitement concerning the future of their town March 6 during the Mayor’s Design Day presented by the South Carolina Mayor’s Design Institute. South Carolina Design Arts Partnership Executive Director Lindsey Moore interviewed fifth-grade students about things such as favorite buildings and ugliest buildings in town and businesses they would like to see come to the community.

Dance team contest

Dancin’ On Main makes a statement on the dance floor. On Feb. 23 and 24, the Main Attraction Dance Team under the direction of owner Paige Strickland, competed at the 2008 State Championships in Myrtle Beach bringing home numerous prestigious awards and six out of eight State Championships.

Main Street park

A new park on Main Street provided a historical look. A new park on the corner of Main and Church Streets was under construction in March. Florence County Administrator Richard Starks said the county received $200,000 in funding for the project from the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the county has contributed $101,035.54 in matching funds. Starks also said the City of Lake City has provided about $45,000 of in-kind work for the project.

Lake City Lions Club

James Vernon Epps lead a prayer for the rebirth of the Lions Club in April. Epps expressed his concern for the future of the Lake City Lions Club. There was a time when the Lake City Lions Club had 55 members in attendance at the meetings. That was when the meetings were held at the Mayflower Restaurant.

Drug bust

A tip leads to a local drug bust. A Lake City man was caught after fleeing police in April. Jason Washington, 23, 320 Rae St., Lot 10, Lake City, was charged with possession of marijuana with the attempt to distribute within a close proximity of a school. Officers confiscated a plastic bag with nearly 28 grams of marijuana and a large quantity of cash.

Studio apartments

An historical building in Lake City turned into luxury studio apartments in April. The old imperial tobacco warehouse is now the home of Lake City Imperial Apartments on Acline Street. Owner/Manager Gene West, a native o Charleston said he was looking for a new project and saw a brochure of the historical 30,00 square foot warehouse. Local history teacher and operator of The History Store, Kent Daniels said the imperial building was built in the early 1900s and was called The Imperial Tobacco Co. of Great Britain and Ireland.

Jamboree/Fun Day

Jamboree/Fun Day marked the opening day for the baseball season at Lions Park. The Lake City Parks and Recreation Department sponsored the Jamboree and fun day for the opening of the city’s baseball season April 12 at Lions Park.

Coward officials

Coward elected officials were sworn into office on April 14. Mayor Lewis Pate served tow terms on council from 1983 to 1987 and has served two terms as mayor, the first term from 1992 to 1996 and the second from 1996 to 2000. Dianne Thomas is in her second term on council, and Charles Langston is in his third term as council member.

Eugene T. Moore

A Lake City native was honored for life of service to the community. Educator, school administrator, athlete and community activist, Eugene T. Moore of Lake City was honored in April with a party like none other at the National Bean Market Museum of South Carolina. Before Moore’s work at the museum, before becoming Clemson University’s first mascot and playing football and baseball for the school and before spending years as a science teacher, school principal and coach in Florence County School District 3, Moore accompanied his father to the bean market.

Women’s luncheon

Local businesswomen were honored for their dedication to the community.
On April 23, the Greater Lake City Chamber of Commerce celebrated women with its annual Professional Women’s Luncheon. The luncheon took place at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church Family Life Center with retired public school teacher and administrator, Dr. Patricia M. Chandler as the guest speaker.
Chandler spoke on the dangers of spreading yourself too thin as many “Southern Multitasking Queens,” tend to do.

Arts Day

Students at J.C. Lynch Elementary School participated in their third annual Arts Day in April. The theme was “The Mystery of the Missing Master Piece.” Art Teacher, Jennifer Maples, who coordinated the event, said it is a blessing to have members of the community come out to support the school. Students also participated in other activities as sidewalk chalk art, line dancing, Mexican hat dancing and making balloon animals. Students ended the activities by singing for the student body and the community in the school’s multi purpose room. Karl Singletary, a local dance instructor, assisted students in the performance.

Free medical clinic

On April 21, the Lake City Free Medical Clinic received a $70,000 grant from BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina for startup funds. “To come together in a community, like Lake City and celebrate a free clinic is a great thing,” said Executive Director of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation Harvey L. Galloway.

Master plan

A master plan for Lake City’s future was unveiled at the National Bean Market Museum of South Carolina. Greater Lake City Chamber of Commerce members and city officials gathered at the museum for the unveiling of plans to revitalize Lake City. “Revitalization is the key to small towns,” said Lake City Mayor Lovith Anderson Jr. In the fall, Lake City retained Arnett-Muldrow to identify untapped potential for growth in and around Lake City. Eight months ago, the Lake City Community Foundation hired Key Architecture to perform similar tasks. These firms were brought together to coordinate their findings and the results were contained in the plans.

March for Babies

Also in May, Greater Lake City area citizens united to March for Babies. The goal for the Lake City area was $38,000 and the total amount raised was $44,200. Ambassador babies for 2008 were Matthew and Luke Eaddy.

District 3

• A former Florence School District 3 principal made teaching a priority. Former Main Street Elementary School Principal Melesia Walden left her post at the school at the end of May to become an instructional coordinator with Charleston County Schools. Walden returned to FCSD3 on Nov. 1 as the district’s new director of Human Resources.
• Citizens of Florence County School District 3 voted to pass the proposed $22 million budget and elected board of trustees members in May. In the first race, seat 4A, incumbent David L. Eaddy held his seat with 30 votes to his challenger, Kralick G. Cooper’s 10. In the race for seat 5, newcomer Gracie S. Hannah pushed out incumbent Amos Majors with 17 votes to Majors’ 11. In seat 7A, newcomers Mark L. Hancock and Kimberly Sims battled it out for Dr. John Coleman’s seat on the board, as he didn’t seek re-election. Sims edged out Hancock with 32 votes to Hancock’s 29.
• Students prepared for the future with their first graduation. The Carolina Academy celebrated the accomplishments of young students on May 14 with kindergarten graduation ceremonies. Forty-nine students graduated and the gym was packed with parents and other invited family members.
• In June, Barbara Woodbury left her position as principal of Lake City Elementary School to become FCSD3 senior director of curriculum and Instruction. Woodbury replaced Donna Goodwin, who is now principal of Flowertown Elementary School in Dorchester School District 2. Woodbury earned a Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education from Framingham, Mass., and a master’s degree in elementary education from Francis Marion University. She completed certification in elementary school administration and supervision from The Citadel.
• Scranton Elementary School students received hands-on lesson in investigations from Florence County Sherriff’s Office, Criminal Investigations Division, and Investigator Jody Lynch. Students investigated a mock crime scene to determine who committed the crime. “This is allowing them to use problem solving and reasoning skills,” said former Principal Angelia Scott.

S.C. Farmer’s Festival

The South Carolina Farmer’s Festival attracted a huge crowd at the National Bean Market Museum of South Carolina in June. The weekend began with performances by the Blue Birds, a blue grass gospel group and folk rock Hercules Farms. The festivities also included a parade down Main Street, with South Carolina Department of Agriculture Hugh Weathers as the parade marshal.