Longtime Lamar coach, athletics director Poole announces retirement
Alan Poole, longtime teacher, coach and athletics director at Lamar High School (LHS), announced his retirement last week. Carlos Burgess, currently the LHS assistant principal, has been appointed to be the new athletics director. The search for a new assistant principal will begin before the end of the current school year. Poole served the past 37 years in education. He taught Social Studies, coached multiple sports and served as...
Valerie Blackwell Middleton
Valerie Strickland Blackwell Middleton went home to be with God on Wednesday, May 13, 2020. A graveside service was held Friday, May 15, at Grove Hill Cemetery, directed by Belk Funeral Home. Born Sept. 25, 1944, in Darlington County, she was the daughter of the late Hilton and Geneva Dixon Strickland. She was a member of Temple Free Will Baptist Church. Mrs. Middleton’s favorite pastime was watching TV or being on her tablet, while...
Pee Dee Electric Cooperative volunteers help seniors
Donna Perkins knows the importance of drive-up service. The member services representative often assists Pee Dee Electric Cooperative (PDEC) members through the window of the cooperative’s Darlington office. That service has been especially crucial recently, as the cooperative closed its lobby to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The first Tuesday and Wednesday of May were days off for Perkins, but she was still providing service with a...
A belated Mother’s Day (1930s)
By Bill Shepard “Only One Mother” Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn, Hundreds of bees in the purple clover, Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn, But only one mother the wide world over. – George Cooper Only one Mother! Only one and I suppose that every boy and girl believes his or hers is the best! That is the way it should be. Good mothers leave beautiful memories that keep on speaking, long after their departure. I had a good...
Hartsville hires new city manager
Hartsville City Council has hired Daniel Moore as Hartsville’s newest city manager. Moore will assume the position of city manager from Natalie Zeigler, who announced in March that she would be leaving Hartsville to accept the role of city administrator of Goose Creek beginning in June. “Our city is filled with amazing people that have a true passion for Hartsville,” says Hartsville Mayor Mel Pennington. “It was important to City...