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Sumter’s Iris Festival, a 70-year tradition

May 27, 2010 By

Swan Lake Iris Gardens in bloom for festival

Sumter’s Iris Festival is South Carolina’s oldest continuous festival and is ranked among the top festivals in the Southeast. Swan Lake Iris Gardens, with its 120 acres of Iris and many floral attractions, is the main staging area for the event going on Friday through Sunday, May 30.

Events Coordinator for the City of Sumter, Lynn Kennedy, is proud of the event.

Everyone wishes they had a jewel like Swan Lake Iris Gardens in their town. We’re fortunate enough that we’re the only place in the United States that has all eight species of swans. We have a large variety of plants. We have something growing year round. It’s not only in May that we have the beautiful Iris Gardens, we actually have something year round.

As the festival has gained popularity, now a stopping place for bus tours from all over the U.S. and Canada and has been featured in “Southern Living”  magazine. The festival has become a Sumter tradition after 70 years, making it one of the oldest festivals in the state.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Recreation & Entertainment

SC tech college system tabs new leader

May 27, 2010 By

Darrel Staat, President of Central Virginia Community College has agreed to accept the post of President of the South Carolina Technical College System. The system is comprised of the state’s 16 technical colleges and various programs designed to train workers across the state.

Staat replaces Barry Russell who is retiring at the end of the month. Staat earned his Doctorate of Arts degree in English from the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. He has been President of Central Virginia Community College for the past 11 years. Earlier, Staat served in the Maine Community College System as president of York County Community College and Eastern Maine Community College. Staat will officially move into his new post August 1.

Filed Under: Education, News

New military security contract brings work to SC

May 27, 2010 By

A multinational defense and security company has received a multi-million dollar contract from the U.S. military, with the bulk of the work coming to the Palmetto state. BAE Systems has been awarded a $95 million contract from the U.S. Army.

The work associated with the contract will be done primarily in South Carolina. The work to be done in the North Charleston area will be the installation and maintenance of automated security systems at the Army’s bases and installations. According to company officials the automated security systems will use software and hardware to verify information on individuals and match that information to data on registered vehicles. BAE Systems will install the systems at multiple bases and installations in the U.S.  The parent company of BAE Systems is located in England. The U.S. headquarters of BAE systems, Inc. is located in Arlington, Virginia.

Filed Under: Business, Military, News

Bauer: I heard that rumor for over a year, but we did not have a thing to do with it

May 27, 2010 By

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, candidate for governor

Gubernatorial candidate Representative Nikki Haley denies allegations that she had an affair with political blogger and ex-Sanford staffer Will Folks.  One of her opponents, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer says the timing of the Haley-Folks allegations may be similar to his speeding ticket and video incidents.

Keep in mind when my driving came out, it didn’t come out when it happened. It happened the week of filing when the Campbell’s tried to push me out of the election. They had gotten the tape from the Highway Patrol, they held it, and then it was released the week that I filed, and they tried to talk me out of running. So, yeah I understand, I’ve seen it happened within my own race. [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Politics & Government

Campsen clears up Voter ID Bill confusion

May 27, 2010 By

The Voter ID Bill may not be in full effect in South Carolina by the time the June 8 primary rolls around, but Charleston Senator Chip Campsen gives the rundown of which ID’s would be sufficient: “South Carolina’s Drivers License, an ID card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, a passport, a military ID containing a photograph, a South Carolina Voter Registration Card containing a photograph of the voter, that actually you’ll get a voter registration card with photo ID’s embedded in the Voter Registration Card, which is ultimately where we want to head. Lastly, an employee identification card containing a photograph of the voter, which is issued by the federal government, the state, or a political subdivision,” says Campsen.

Campsen says the employee ID by the federal government, the state, or political subdivision portion of the Voter ID Bill has caused some confusion. He says some have taken this portion of the bill and made it seem like student ID’s are acceptable. Campsen says that’s not true. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Legislature, News, Politics & Government
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