Election years can, by their very nature, be combative, ugly affairs, a rough 12-month stretch of bad road that gets more brutal and unforgiving as we near our final destination, that fateful Tuesday in November. In Fairfield County, on the other hand, campaigns are generally cordial affairs. In a largely rural community where everyone knows […]
What’s wrong with Richland County’s Penny Tax promise?
October 11, 2012 By
Three weeks ago I attended Richland County’s educational meeting on the “Penny Sales Tax,” and I just this week heard the pitch again at the Blythewood Chamber of Commerce breakfast. I hope that some time before the election the Chamber will have a speaker share the opposing view. For those who have not attended one […]
To Look Good is to Feel Good
October 5, 2012 By
Legislating civic pride is a tall order, and while it may ultimately prove true that it simply cannot be done, a virtual conveyor belt of civil penalties and fines can be meted out until citizens at least give the appearance that they care. Fairfield County is bound to have their hands full for some time […]
Cartoon too Blue
September 28, 2012 By
I take great exception, and was offended by the subject matter in Thursday’s (Sept. 20) political cartoon. Fact is that the “majority” race using what was identified as Welfare cards in said cartoon is Caucasian, nationally. So Romney was plying which race in those cards? In a very recent fundraising event for the current administration, […]
Would You Like One Lump or Two?
September 28, 2012 By
Criticism comes with the job – any job, really; whether you’re a replacement referee in the NFL, the editor of a local newspaper or a member of a governing body, such as the Fairfield County School Board. And let’s face it: No one wakes up in the morning and sets out to do a bad […]
Against the Variance
September 27, 2012 By
The owners of a 10-acre plot at the entrance to LongCreek Plantation have requested a zoning change from a Planned Development District (PDD) reserved for church only to a Residential, Single Family, Medium Density district. The request designates the 10 acres as a Rural district but the county map defines it as a PDD. The […]
Grab Gets Bigger
September 21, 2012 By
The Big Grab was a tremendous success and the committee would like to thank everyone who participated in it. The positive response from the community has truly been overwhelming. As we move forward, the committee has determined to make this an annual event between these great towns of Blythewood, Ridgeway and Winnsboro. It will always […]
Zoning Out
September 21, 2012 By
Rezoning property is a delicate affair; a high-wire act balancing economic interests with the needs of the community. And once property is rezoned from residential to business, the likelihood of it ever being ‘un-zoned’ is virtually nil. It is what it’s going to be, quite likely for all time. Rezoning, then, is a process that […]
The Pesky ACLU
September 14, 2012 By
The ACLU can be a frustrating bunch, confounding both sides of the political aisle in its quest for constitutional equality; and it is quite likely our Founding Fathers would be pleased. After all, who liked a good rhubarb – intellectual or otherwise – better than Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, and company? The American Civil Liberties Union […]
Mum’s the Word
September 7, 2012 By
Sometimes saying nothing is the best policy. But if you have been bestowed with the public trust, elected to represent the citizenry of a nation, state, county or particular district, silence is the worst policy. There is no law or ethical code mandating that any elected official must speak to the press, but dealing with […]
