The Community Times Dispatch

(COLUMBIA - FEBRUARY 2, 2010) The South Carolina Sentencing Reform Commission issued its Final Report on Tuesday to combat the state’s rising recidivism rate, increasing prison population, limited sentencing alternatives and re-entry programs, and mounting correctional costs.

The bipartisan Commission’s Final Report includes evidence-based recommendations that increase public safety by focusing on four areas: reducing recidivism and the revolving door to prison; providing fair and effective sentencing options; using tax dollars wisely; and ensuring prison beds for violent offenders who need to be in prison and remain in prison. Read the rest of this entry »

The Band of Blue Varsity Winter Guard performed this past Saturday at the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association Premier South Contest at West Ashley High School and won the 2nd place award in the 4A Division and 3rd Overall in their class. Read the rest of this entry »

A Varnville man accused of murdering his wife by strangulation in March 2009 was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by 14^th Judicial Circuit Judge Perry Buckner on Monday.

Charles Bradley Croom, 39, of 113 Shady Lane in Varnville plead guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, during Hampton County General Sessions Court. He was first arrested on March 16, 2009 for the murder of his wife, Heather D. Croom, 26, of Varnville whose lifeless body was discovered by hunters near Frampton Cemetery off Old Salkehatchie Road in Hampton County on Sunday, March 15, 2009. An autopsy of Heather Croom’s remains revealed that she died of asphyxiation caused by strangulation. Read the rest of this entry »

On Friday, January 22, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) released the Final School Improvement Ratings for the 2009-2010 school year. This year we are proud to announce that five of Colleton School District’s Title One schools made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP): Cottageville Elementary, Forest Hills Elementary, Hendersonville Elementary, Northside Elementary, and Ruffin Middle Schools. A school is identified as needs improvement based upon the school’s not meeting the state’s definition of adequate yearly progress (AYP) for two years consecutively. These ratings impact the way Title One schools allocate and spend federal dollars to improve student achievement. The following list identifies the AYP ratings Colleton County Title One schools as published by the SC Department of Education January 22, 2010: Read the rest of this entry »

Hello Readers!

Now comes the hard part…listening regularly. Have you had conversations with people who are waiting for you to stop talking so that they can talk? You quickly realize that they have not listened to you, they heard you; they just want to insert their comments in the conversation. Sometimes you want to scream…I know you heard me, but can you listen to me? Does this sound like you and your child? Read the rest of this entry »

There are too many people to name, but we would like to thank everyone who helped out with the barbeque benefit for Robert Wolf’s family. We would also like to thank everyone for any contributions. We especially want to thank Tommie Blocker of Blocker Boyz and Lennie Johnson. We were very impressed at how the community came together to show their support. There were a lot of prayers and love shown during our time of need. We thank everyone for the prayers, support and contributions.

Sincerely,
The Wolf Family
Tammy, Dakota and Austin

Bookkeeping

It is always good to keep good financial records all year long. The record that you keep all year is a good source for having what you need when tax time comes around. The word bookkeeping can be intimidating but all you have to do is take a tablet and a box for a simple record keeping method. List all potential tax deductions in your tablet and tape receipts and documents to individual pages or keep all documents in an old shoe box. Having the ability to reach back for documents will save you money and possible allow you to increase your tax refund. Bookkeeping can be simple and requires little to no time.

On Saturday, January 30, 2010 one of the thirteen (13) Census Road Trip vehicles in the United States was here in Walterboro. It hosted a ‘drop-in’ at the Saints Center Ministries located at Robertson Boulevard and Hampton Street. Terry Seabrook, Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau was pleased with the turnout despite the rain and wind. She thanked Bishop Taylor who signed a partnership agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau, for opening his church to the community to help get the word out. Read the rest of this entry »

Sometimes we are called upon to do the very things in Life that we would rather avoid the most. By saying “yes” to these deep emotional and spiritual impulses, we find that the very things that make us believe we are weak or defective, can become our greatest assets.

Many of us feel a deep call within ourselves to “put ourselves out there” to advocate for a particular issue that resonates within us. For those of us who were previous victims of abuse, whether experienced as an adult or as a child, our advocacy is part of our recovery from that abuse. Read the rest of this entry »

“Condom On Mailbox” A victim met with a deputy in reference to someone vandalizing her mailbox. She stated that the unknown suspect(s) wrapped her mailbox with toilet tissue and they tied the mailbox shut using a liquid fi lled condom. On the ground near the mailbox the deputy found a piece of toilet tissue with the words, “Kenny is a b**** F**”. The complainant stated that her son’s name is Kenny, but he was at school. The victim stated she wanted some assistance removing the condom; she then placed the items in the garbage. She also advised that she took pictures of her mailbox in case it was needed if the person(s) responsible were ever prosecuted in the future. Read the rest of this entry »

Many Colleton students have access to academic tutoring at no cost through Supplemental Educational Services offered through the school district’s Title I program.

According to Title I/Federal Special Projects Coordinator Catherine Turner, twenty-three approved providers offer a range of tutoring services for students at eight of the district’s nine Title I schools. Fifty providers were actually approved to service students within the district. Read the rest of this entry »

Several Band of Blue and Junior Band members made the 2010 South Carolina Band Directors Association Region Band!  They will represent the Colleton County Band program at the Region Band Clinic and Concert on February 26-27 at Charleston Southern University.

Kayce Dew, Brittany Young, Breyanna Smalls, Kiesha Walker, Victoria Grimsley, Chris Cavanaugh, Antuan Gant, Ashley Sanders, Joi Hamilton, Ashley Ferguson, Charity Catterton, Randi Breland, Autumn Cantor, Cameron Mabry, Parker Mauney, Chakieria Allen, Nickolas Crosby, Thomas Finigan, Charles Shark, and Kalip Stevens. Read the rest of this entry »

COLUMBIA, S.C. - January 27, 2010 - Charles Bridges was honored yesterday as an Ambassador for Economic Development by the Department of Commerce and legislative leaders as part of South Carolina’s 19th Annual Industry Appreciation Week.  The ceremony took place in Columbia on Tuesday, January 26 at the Statehouse and highlighted 48 individuals from 46 counties for their exceptional efforts to bolster community and economic development activities in South Carolina. Read the rest of this entry »