To Councilman Brock, Councilwoman Page, and the citizens of Blythewood, I sincerely apologize for an error made during a recent vote regarding reimbursement at Monday night’s council meeting. Regrettably, amidst grappling with a severe migraine during roll call, I mistakenly voted against what I intended to support. I wish to clarify my stance and express […]
Letter: From Comprehensive Plan to Results
March 21, 2024 By
The 10-year revision of the county’s Comprehensive Plan has been released for review and it contains a ton of information and statistics regarding Fairfield County. Each of the 10 sections at the end has a list of “strategies” which are much closer to action items than strategies. Regardless, it is a long list of things […]
Guest Editorial: Newspapers Ensure Your Right to Know
March 14, 2024 By
The closing of newspapers across the country presents a very real and present danger to our most basic freedoms. That’s why communities should support their local newspaper, now more than ever before. Most of us in the media take our role as the Fourth Estate seriously and work hard to protect your right to know, […]
Guest Editorial: Review of Fairfield County Council Workshop
March 7, 2024 By
County Council’s annual workshop was held Feb. 28 at the Midlands Tech Campus in Northeast Columbia. Here are our general perspectives on the meeting. The Good The meeting was held without the interference of a high-priced outside moderator. Interim Administrator Killian proved to be a well-spring of quality experience and reason, including a comment that […]
Letter: Thanks for the Updates
March 7, 2024 By
At the regular council meeting on Feb. 12, Chairman Pauley invited citizens to email Clerk to Council Kim Roberts with any items they’d like included on a future agenda. I want to thank Chairman Pauley for including several of those requested items in the Feb. 26 agenda. I heard more updates on several key issues […]
Guest Editorial: Be the Best You Can Be
February 29, 2024 By
A few weeks ago, I got a call from one of my white brothers who wanted to share with me a story that he had read in a history book. It was a story involving former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The story goes that in 1943, Roosevelt was putting together a group of Naval officer […]
Letter: Speak Up, Council Members
February 22, 2024 By
After viewing the Fairfield County council meeting of Feb. 12, 2024, it appears that Chairman Pauley does not know the difference between a chairperson and a dictator. There are six other voices on the council and it’s very sad that only two were bold enough to speak up against the bully-type antics of the chairman. […]
Letter: Happy 107th Birthday to Geneva Bell
February 15, 2024 By
Geneva Butler Bell, of Ridgeway, will celebrate her 107th Birthday on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at home with her family and friends. While Mrs. Bell is my grandmother, she is like my mother because she raised me and has always been in my heart. A native of Fairfield County, Mrs. Bell was born the fifth […]
Letter: Where’s the Light Switch?
February 15, 2024 By
Our county council leadership continues to deny and deflect the reality of its mounting leadership failures and unprofessional behavior. It only compounds and exacerbates the myriad problems. Sadly, that leadership buries its head even deeper into the sand with each meeting. Perhaps, the new Interim Administrator will find the light switch. Pray for him. Pray […]
Letter: Mr. Pauley has Earned This
February 15, 2024 By
It is becoming more and more obvious to me why Fairfield County is not moving forward. Why we still haven’t broken ground on a new wastewater treatment facility. Why we wasted $1.4 million of our taxpayer money on IRS fines. Why we don’t have adequate emergency services. Why nearly 40% of our residents do not […]
