Stories for August 2008
Sunday, August 31
S.C. labor force aging: Baby boomers and quasi-retired boost older worker population
Experts point to aging baby boomers, lifestyle choices and cyclical economic factors as reasons for the swell of older workers.
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TriCounty Link expanding routes to Dorchester, Berkeley; All rides for free for next three months
The promotion is in conjunction with the rural bus system's unveiling of expanded commuter express routes to and from Ridgeville, Summerville, Moncks Corner and Goose Creek that also begin Tuesday.
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Thrill rides don't make ruckus
Five months after loud concern was raised downtown over a plan to open a power ski rental business and the arrival of a high-speed tourist boat ride, it's turned out to be largely white noise.
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Proposal to increase fines for tampering with livestock fences, gates
Rep. Chip Limehouse is drafting a bill that could increase the fines from $1,000 to $10,000 for maliciously tampering with fences or gates on a corral.
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More than $800,000 and a plan to stop violence
Three nursing professionals from Medical University of South Carolina have embarked upon an ambitious project to tackle violence. And their multi-pronged solution is about as complex as the problem.
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It will take more than cookies to fix up this house
Camp Low Country is one of the few scout camps with a whimsical mansion at its center, but the grand 1927 hunting lodge built by E.F. Hutton co-founder George Ellis has proven to be both a blessing and a curse.
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S.C. Republicans eagerly await their turn
Lowcountry delegates say this week's Republican National Convention is crucial to getting out GOP hopeful Sen. John McCain's message and to offset the momentum that the Democrats built after they wrapped up their convention in Denver last week.
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Tigers' ground game grinds to halt as Alabama swamps Clemson
ATLANTA - Clemson will take home a cool $2 million for playing Saturday's highly anticipated showdown against Alabama.
The No. 9 Tigers would probably give it all back to purge the memory of a positively devastating 34-10 defeat at the hands of the No. 24 Crimson Tide in front of a packed Georgia Dome - not to mention a national television audience that tuned in to see if this Clemson team was indeed for real.
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Wofford 38, Presbyterian 21
Liberty 49, North Greenville 10
Valdosta State 14, Newberry 9
NEWBERRY - A late comeback for Division II No. 20 Newberry College fell just short, as No. 1 Valdosta State left Setzler Field with a win in front of a crowd of 4,589.
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Spurrier waits on decision
Quarterback Beecher's status still uncertain
COLUMBIA - While most of the country was playing Saturday, South Carolina's football team was busy making news without a game.
Quarterback Tommy Beecher, who struggled mightily Thursday in his first career start, has a banged-up left shoulder and sat out practice. Steve Spurrier said he might not practice today, but should be available Thursday against Vanderbilt (8:30 p.m., ESPN).
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Are you thinking more about your 401(k) plan?
Many workers may see recent drops in the value of their employer-sponsored, mostly self-funded retirement programs and are asking whether they should be making changes. Here are some answers.
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Crumbling roads, bridges become big money-making gambits
Sophisticated investment firms have amassed an estimated $250 billion war chest to finance a tidal wave of infrastructure projects in the United States and overseas. Their strategy is gaining steam in the U.S. as federal, state and local governments previously wary of private funds struggle under mounting deficits.
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Why some recording companies avoid iTunes
With few exceptions, Apple's online music store requires songs be made available separately because consumers strongly prefer that. But a chorus of label executives, managers and artists, like the Eagles, want to sell an entire album only. Yet shunning iTunes carries risks.
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Disenchanted man seeks 'real' wife
ATMOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES. By Rivka Galchen. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 240 pages. $24. Rivka Galchen's first novel, "Atmospheric Disturbances," is a brainy, convoluted tale, just the thing for sharpening up summer-slack minds. With a repertoire that includes quantum theory...
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Watching over the waters
The man who wants to be a watchdog wears blue tint shades, rubber waders and a ballcap that says "Riverkeeper."
Cyrus Buffum picks through debris on the waterline in Charleston Harbor - twisted fishing lines, broken beer bottles. He grunts to himself and kicks at the sharp edge of an old pipe sticking up. He's spent 20-30 hours per week for the past eight months singlehandedly laying the groundwork to become a Charleston Waterkeeper, the estuary's equivalent of a protector roaming in a boat looking for polluters, dumpers and anybody else who's dirtying the water.
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Novel worth a read for human element
THE CREATOR'S MAP. By Emilio Calderon. Penguin. 260 pages. $24.95. This atmospheric, well-paced espionage novel throws an everyday human being into an intriguing world of superstition and fascist politics. It's the tale of Jose Maria, a Spanish architect in 1930s Ro...
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Powerful playwright passes
A powerful light went out on Broadway on Aug. 11 when playwright George Furth, who won a Tony Award for the book of the musical "Company," died at 75 in a Santa Monica, Calif., hospital.
Although often overshadowed by his musical partner, Stephen Sondheim, George was viewed by many as changing the concept of the musical comedy. With his acerbic wit and sharp observations, he dared to point out that things don't always turn out for the best, but that you still can have one hell of a time anyway.
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St. Francis biography has errors
A MENDED AND BROKEN HEART: The Life and Love of Francis of Assisi. By Wendy Murray. Basic Books. 189 pages. $25.95. St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most popular of saints, and legions of writers have attempted his biography; a large number of their books also f...
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Deaths Summary
Learn about building with salvage
Marble tile, granite countertops, wood flooring and kitchen appliances at half the cost of retail. Reusing items that would otherwise end up in a landfill. That's the premise behind auction houses and centers that peddle donated and salvaged home materials, such as Murco Recycling Enterprises, an Illinois-based company that auctions off home parts just before a property is demolished.
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Found kittens purrfect pets
About a year ago, I found six tiny kittens in our garage. A neighborhood momma cat had left them there while the garage door was open. I put the little critters inside an old pet carrier and put the carrier in our backyard near the house. Then I waited for the momma to return and get her babies.
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Saving money in a bathroom
HGTV offers these tips for saving money in a bathroom:
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The Gloved One turns 50
Here's something really off the wall: Michael Jackson turned 50 Friday. To celebrate, we take a look back. Shom-on!
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Good avian reference books out there
Choosing a birding field guide is a little like choosing a spouse. You have to find it attractive, of course, but that's just not enough for the long haul. You need something smart, reliable. Something that won't fail you when you need it most. Something compact enough to carry on a long hike but comprehensive enough to help you identify an unfamiliar bird when you're 10 miles out on a trail with nobody to ask for help.
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Johnson hoping for a repeat of last year
One year ago Jimmie Johnson roared into the championship chase on the heels of a pair of victories at California and Richmond - a run that helped propel him to his second consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship.
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Bulldogs christen stadium makeover by grilling Webber
The "new" Johnson Hagood Stadium was ready for its debut Saturday night, and so was The Citadel's 2008 football team.
Bulldog fans reveled in new luxury suites and a fancy club-level lounge, while the Bulldogs themselves reveled in a 54-7 whipping of NAIA squad Webber International before 11,247 spectators.
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Muslims to observe Ramadan
This week, Muslims enter the ninth and holiest month of the lunar calendar: Ramadan.
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Both story, original a bit bland
THE BOOK OF LOVE: The Story of the Kama Sutra. By James McConnachie. Henry Holt. 272 pages. $27.50. The ancient Indian "Kama Sutra" is synonymous with exotic lovemaking. Over the course of its 1,700-year history, it has represented everything from forbidden pornography to...
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SUNDAY CALENDAR
Murder tale will grab readers from outset
STILL WATERS. By Nigel McCrery. Pantheon. 275 pages. $23.95. Every writer needs a hook, and Nigel McCrery provides just that in the prologue of "Still Waters." He throws out the line and snags the reader right away. This shocking opening is one tantalizing lead-in.
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
Baseball iron clock hits homer as a rarity
Cast-iron and other molded metal clock cases were used in the 19th century. Because the case could be molded, the clock could have very elaborate raised designs.
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'Shrek' on Broadway; Radcliffe in 'Equus'
NEW YORK - "Shrek" sings. So does "Billy Elliot." Daniel Radcliffe strips, and Katie Holmes likely will dodge paparazzi. Here's a peek at five stage attractions this fall on Broadway:
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FAITH Q and A
TRAVEL Q and A
We are considering a vacation in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Is this a safe place to travel? Are there any dietary restrictions?
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Clever cover-ups
Newer fabrics and styles can help breathe new life into room
In search of a fresh fall look for your home? You may want to consider using slipcovers. The covers, once strictly utilitarian, are more likely these days to be seen as an attractive, economical way to infuse new life into a room.
That's because of the significant increase in the range of ready-made slipcover styles over the past several years. It's not hard to find ones designed for chairs and sofas with cushions or that have buttons and pleats.
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Officials enlist public to help catch firebug
String of blazes has police and fire departments baffled, neighborhoods on edge
Is the arsonist preying on Charleston's West Side a firebug bent on urban renewal? Or perhaps an angry opponent to gentrification? Or is he simply someone who gets his jollies watching fires burn? - if indeed it is just one person behind the blazes.
A task force of fire officials and law enforcement investigators is trying to answer such questions in its quest to solve the baffling string of suspicious fires that have bedeviled authorities for years.
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Maltin forges his own persona as film critic
Call them the Seven Wonders of the (Film) World.
There is a set of indispensable books that should be on the shelves or end tables of film critics and film buffs everywhere. The first five are James Agee's terse, classic "On Film"; Pauline Kael's brash, emotional "I Lost It at the Movies"; David Thomson's erudite and provocative The Biographical Dictionary of Film; and the two periodically updated guides popularized by the late British movie critic and historian Leslie Halliwell, Halliwell's Filmgoer's Companion and Halliwell's Film Guide.
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Hard Times at Hard Rock
Grand Strand's first major theme park singing the blues over low attendance
MYRTLE BEACH — For once, the Eagles are playing to an empty house. A concert runs on TVs for folks waiting to ride a roller coaster based on the band's hardest-rocking song. But the wait these days is less than a minute — no time to check out the Hotel Californ...
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TNA on verge of getting Foley from WWE
TNA landed one of its biggest coups in the five-year history of the company with the imminent acquisition of Mick Foley.
According to sources, Foley has agreed to contractual terms, but it's not clear when he can legally begin working for TNA.
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Prostitution persists despite police efforts
Some call them ladies of the evening, but they often can be found strolling the upper stretches of King Street well past dawn. And they're not all ladies.
As children trudged to three nearby schools one morning last week, a woman who admitted to working the streets chatted with a Charleston County schools crossing guard. A city councilman who lives nearby said he's had to chase male and female prostitutes off his porch.
"They used to be right in front of my door," said Charleston Councilman Robert Mitchell, who lives on King near Huger Street. "You see cars picking them up at night. Nice cars - you'd be surprised."
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Bulldogs shut out
ORLANDO, Fla. - Freshman Latavius Murray scored two touchdowns to help Central Florida defeat South Carolina State, 17-0, on Saturday.
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Reception to honor women
South Carolina may rank last in terms of the percentage of women serving in its Legislature, but women politicians who have made a difference here will be honored Sept. 10 at a reception in Columbia.
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CITADEL - HOW THEY SCORED
Burke's prose still beautiful
SWAN PEAK. By James Lee Burke. Simon & Schuster. 402 pages. $25.95. "You have trouble with rich people, Streak," the sheriff says to deputy/detective Dave Robicheaux about halfway through "Swan Peak," the new mystery from James Lee Burke. Truer words wer...
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'Festival for the soul' to stop here
Franklin Graham, famous son of the famous evangelist Billy Graham, will come to North Charleston in September for the fifth leg of a six-city 2008 festival tour.
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Home sellers learn tough lessons
HACKENSACK, N.J. - In October 2005, David Raimondi put his 100-year-old Allendale, N.J., house and barn on the market, asking $525,000. It's been almost three years, and the property still has not sold.
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Faculty exhibit in the party mood
Glitter, balloons, party hats. Is there a party going on at the College of Charleston's Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art?
In fact, no. It's "Diving Dunce," an exhibition by faculty member Loul Samater, whose work is derived from memories of growing up in such places as Saudi Arabia, where she was born, and learning the customs of this country. She has arranged party decor in a setting that she hopes creates a tension for viewers, leaving them to question whether the party is over, or whether it has yet to begin, thus challenging viewers to consider whether they are participants or observers.
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2 dead in motorcycle, car collision
A collision in Ladson between a motorcycle and a car instantly took the lives of the drivers of both vehicles, authorities said.
The 1 p.m. accident on Ladson Road shut down a section of the road for several hours while investigators worked the scene.
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Politicians reach out on Internet
COLUMBIA — Political strategists are predicting that this year's presidential election will revolutionize South Carolina politics when it comes to using the Internet to stay connected to the public. Phil Noble, president of S.C. New Democrats, said many legislators are communicating ...
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GARDEN CALENDAR
NOTES & EVENTS
Furman 62, Mars Hill 14
GREENVILLE - Jordan Sorrells passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another to lead Furman past Mars Hill.
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Final picks ahead for the Ryder Cup
Although the Ryder Cup Matches won't be played until Sept. 19-21 at Valhalla, near Louisville, Ky., this will be a big week for the Ryder Cup. European captain Nick Faldo will announce his two at-large selections today after the completion of the Johnnie Walker Championship; U.S. captain Paul Azinger will make his picks known Tuesday in New York.
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Jordan shines in emergency start
Citadel freshman Asheton Jordan found out just a couple of hours before The Citadel's season opener Saturday night that he would get his first college start.
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PET CALENDAR
ACES
Pick a sofa for comfort, lifestyle and decor
Soon, the ever-shortening days will be cooler, signaling one of my favorite times of the year: couch-potato season. On a cool fall night, I like nothing better than to curl up on the sofa to watch a favorite show or bury my nose in a good book.
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Fort falls victim to late comeback
Greenville scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to hand Fort Dorchester a 28-21 loss on Saturday night.
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Tile options
Here's a quiz to help you determine what type of tile is best for your house:
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Dawgs collar Eagles
ATHENS, Ga. - The collar fit, and for at least one game, so did the crown.
Matthew Stafford threw for a career-high 275 yards with two touchdowns and Georgia, ranked No. 1 to start a season for the first time, beat Georgia Southern, 45-21, on Saturday to give new mascot Uga VII a win in his debut.
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Stall renames football field for longtime staffer Davis
Lynda Davis showed up at Stall High School Friday night thinking she was there to flip the coin to determine which team would kick off when the Warriors battled Baptist Hill. But she was in for a surprise. The school decided to rename its football field after her as a reward for her hard work and dedication.
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This standby in the landscape hard to kill
We went to Hooters.
Let me back up. This past weekend we saw two great horned owls in our backyard. They were perched 29 feet up a dead tree, staring down at us. They were magnificent. I know it's a bit of a stretch, but isn't it odd we ended up at Hooters this weekend, too? I've never been to Hooters.
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Local reader provides unidentified tall herb
I'm pleased to introduce you to young Herrick Brown, a former undergraduate student of mine, now with a master's degree, and my assistant curator here at the University of South Carolina Herbarium.
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Yes, we can celebrate racial progress
Barack Obama might not be elected president. If he is, he might not be a good president. But his election would send one extremely good message: A black person can win the White House.
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PET BRIEFS
To our readers
The Post and Courier will publish as usual on Labor Day, but curtailed schedules will be observed in order to give a holiday to as many employees as possible.
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Author expects more in series
T. Lynn Ocean came ashore in unconventional fashion.
The traditional trajectory in genre book publishing is to prove one's self in paperback before earning the reward and prestige of a hardcover release. But prestige does not always translate into increased book sales, nor does it guarantee an author an expanded audience.
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Red Cross volunteers step up
John Flinn didn't need to see the horrors of Hurricane Katrina to convince him to volunteer with the American Red Cross; he's helped nonprofits for years.
But the threat of storms brewing off the coast didn't hurt.
"We need all the help we can get," Flinn said. "We need to help each other out. We're on the earthquake fault line and we've got hurricanes."
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Some brides make cuts, others splurge
FRESNO, Calif. - A tight economy has some brides using homemade wedding cakes instead of bakery cakes and iPods instead of DJs. Yet others spare no expense for a once-in-a-lifetime blowout with limousines, top-of-the-line photography and romantic ceremonies at wineries.
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Leaving positive trace on trek through nature
RIVER OF NO RETURN WILDERNESS, IDAHO - The three words - leave no trace - sum up the outdoor ethic of the Boy Scouts of America and of many other outdoor enthusiasts.
They mean we should pick up our own trash, douse and scatter our campfire embers and not even think about carving our initials into a tree trunk, even a dead one.
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Firm designs HALOs charm
South Carolina-based jewelry company HandPicked is launching a social awareness initiative with HALOS, the nonprofit providing support for abused and neglected children in Charleston County. The partnership will result in a piece of jewelry designed with HALOS in mind and sold at HandPicked's 13 stores in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. The initiative is called HeartPicked. Profits from the sale of the HALOS charm will be donated to the agency.
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Deaths and Funerals
Hydrox cookie's comeback a big deal for fans
Food news that flew under the radar last week:
Hydrox cookies are making a comeback. Big deal, you may say. Oh, but it is to a large number of people.
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Hurt feelings are hard to heal
The proverb "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," has traditionally provided comfort and a form of defense against name-calling. But, according to an article in the journal of the Association for Psychological Science, memories of emotional pain remain in the mind long after the effects of physical pain have worn off.
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Better late than never
The Citadel swept a doubleheader Saturday night. The Bulldogs clobbered Webber International and rust, not necessarily in that order.
Fans got a 54-7 season-opening win and, what's more, a bulldog the size of an SUV. A rout was expected, considering The Citadel a year ago pummeled the Warriors, 76-0.
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Sisters closer to showdown
NEW YORK - Less than two months ago, the Williams sisters played each other in the Wimbledon final.
Because of the quirks of rankings and the vagaries of tournament draws, they are on track to meet in the U.S. Open quarterfinals.
Is that disappointing?
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Boaters push for kill-switch
Seth Cantley found what he was looking for on his third frantic dive into the murky waters of the Wappoo Cut. About 10 feet down, he felt an arm and pulled the unconscious man to the surface.
Rescue workers immediately started CPR. They turned the man on his side and pushed hard to force the water from his lungs. Then Cantley heard one of them say, "I've got a heartbeat!"
On July 29, the man's boat struck a dock, and he was thrown to the rear of the vessel and knocked out. For 35 minutes, Cantley and other onlookers watched as the 22-foot boat ran full throttle in circles, striking everything in its path.
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John'sIsland woman hit, killed by car
A John's Island woman was fatally injured Saturday when struck by a car while walking near her home.
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Decorating bedroom all about mood
Decorating a bedroom is a personal pursuit. This is a private room where you spend important hours resting and relaxing, and the mood you create should always enhance your feeling of well-being. Ask yourself: Is this a room I want to relax in, or do I want a bit of drama? Do I want it to be cheerful or have a nostalgic feel? These four moods will help you choose the colors and furnishings.
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No easy fix for expensive problem
Melinda Ballard felt so bad that she wondered if she had cancer. Eventually, she learned her illness was related to mold in the leaky Dripping Springs, Texas, home where she lived before moving to Charleston.
"You almost feel like you're dying because it's such chronic fatigue," Ballard said.
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Twin Cities' political past unveiledIf you go
MINNEAPOLIS - Hosting a Republican National Convention is old hat to Minnesota.
Across the Mississippi River from present-day Minneapolis skyscrapers once stood an exhibition hall where Republicans nominated Benjamin Harrison for a second term as president in 1892. Harrison met defeat to Democrat Grover Cleveland, and the Industrial Exposition Building met the wrecking ball a half-century later.
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Beloved former bad guy Kowalski dies at 81
Legendary pro wrestler Walter "Killer" Kowalski passed away late Friday night at a Massachesetts hospital at the age of 81.
Kowalski had spent several months at a nursing home earlier this year due to knee problems.
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One-on-One with Nelson Akwari
What's it going to be like to play against D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday?
"It's going to be awesome. There are a lot of guys playing in the MLS that don't get this chance, so I'm really looking forward to it. It would so huge for this club to win a Cup championship. The ownership group, the coaching staff, the fans all deserve it. It would be a great accomplishment. It would be great for the USL as well."
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No. 22 Penn State 66, Coastal Carolina 10
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Evan Royster ran for three touchdowns and Derrick Williams had an 89-yard kickoff return for another score as Joe Paterno tied Florida State's Bobby Bowden atop the career wins list (373) for major college coaches in the 22nd-ranked Nittany Lions' rout of Coastal Carolina.
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Magnolia's new volunteer project
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens on Ashley River Road has been selected as a site for a new "Volunteer Days" program being launched by the Cultural Landscape Foundation and Garden Design magazine. Volunteers, including families, are invited to work in the gardens Sept. 6 and 7 to learn abou...
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Faith leaders offer words of wisdom
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Financial analysts, advisers and observers are trying to help worried consumers as they face bad economic news in jobs, housing, food and gasoline prices and other areas.
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When less isn't always more
'Less is more!" Robert Browning said it first in "Andrea del Sarto." A century later, the architect Mies van der Rohe made the aphorism famous. It's a great rule for writers, but it is one of those rules of thumb that could use an extra finger.
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Targeted cuts best answer to state's budget shortfall
My dad always taught me that if you're going to offer "constructive criticism," try and say something nice up front - and in that vein I want to compliment the General Assembly for its work this year on a number of fronts.
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Funding support needed to eliminate early releases
The state of South Carolina shouldn't put law-abiding citizens at reckless and potentially fatal risk by releasing violent criminals who have served only a small percentage of their prison terms. Yet it still does in some cases, as documented in thorough, heartbreaking and occasionally infuriating detail by a five-day Post and Courier series that ended Thursday. And though abolishing parole for violent offenders sounds inviting, it wouldn't be a simple task - or necessarily the best way to solve this problem.
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Author provides beautiful literary experience
OFF SEASON. By Anne Rivers Siddons. Grand Central. 358 pages. $24.99. In her latest literary foray, "Off Season," Anne Rivers Siddons leads her readers to a rocky and remote Maine coast, stuns them with the beauty of her descriptive passages and, ultimately, with h...
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Get cooking with solar oven
I want to use solar energy to cook some foods, such as steaming rice, veggies, etc., because my kitchen gets very hot. Is this feasible? Can I buy a solar cooker or do I have to try to build one myself?
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Another win for Ed Sloan, S.C.'s top citizen watchdog
It can be safely said that there is no other private citizen who has personally invested as much as Greenville's Edward Sloan in trying to make officials at all levels of S.C. government follow the law.
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New film raises disability issues
The new comedy movie "Tropic Thunder" has ignited more than just thunder due to its use of the word "retard."
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Letters to the Editor
Public survey on toll road reveals split views
The idea of building a toll road across Johns Island still fires up controversy despite the results of a public survey designed to bring some clarity to a contentious proposal.
Charleston County officials have posted on the county's Web site a summary of 1,274 comments they received about the proposed road known as the Sea Islands Parkway.
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Foundation working to preserve black church
HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. - Centennial Baptist Church sits silently on a downtown street, its doors locked and window panes so clouded light has trouble getting in. The roof is sagging and some shingles are missing. The foundation has started to crack.
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Saturday, August 30
Motorcycle and car collision takes two lives
Engine kill switch could have helped injured boater
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources has other safety tips for boaters who are taking to the waterways this Labor Day weekend.
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SLED to study auditor's office report
SLED will take a closer look at an investigation of the Dorchester County auditor's office to see if criminal charges are warranted. The audit from accounting firm Dixon Hughes showed four clerks lowering car tax bills by giving multiple discounts, downgrading the condition of vehicles without documentation, and apparently falsifying mileage.
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State politics branching out on the Web
Statehouse politics are moving more and more to the Web as legislators increasingly use new media to communicate with constituents, and some like Sen. Kevin Bryant have become proficient bloggers. Candidates must utilize the Web to stay competitive in this new marketplace of ideas, according political Internet consultant Wesley Donehue.
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Fighting mold in the Lowcountry
Problems with mold in houses here are not unusual, experts say.
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Myrtle Beach writer took unconventional publishing path
The traditional trajectory in genre book publishing is to prove one's self in paperback before earning the reward and prestige of a hardcover release.
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Gadfly in the estuary
Cyrus Buffum has spent 20-30 hours per week for the past eight months singlehandedly laying the groundwork to become a Charleston Waterkeeper, the estuary's equivalent of a vigilante roaming in a boat looking for polluters, dumpers and anybody else who's dirtying the water.
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Maltin's latest movie guide out
Leonard Maltin is back with the 2009 edition - his 39th - of the bestselling, annually updated movie guide, and with more than 17,000 films it remains one of the most reliable ready references for movie pros and fans.
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Officials turn up the heat on arson investigation
A task force of fire officials and law enforcement investigators is working to solve a baffling string of suspicious fires in Charleston's downtown area that have bedeviled authorities for years.
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Upper King prostitution a problem, residents say, but situation improving
The odd mix of streetwalkers and school children has become part of the morning landscape on Upper King. As obvious as the prostitution is now, residents, civic leaders and school officials said things have gotten better.
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Lawyer wants man tried as juvenile
BEAUFORT -The lawyer for a man whom authorities say ran a scam with his girlfriend where they claimed she was pregnant with quintuplets says his client was 16 when he was arrested and shouldn't be tried as an adult.
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Deadline set for Farm Bill programs
The Natural Resources Conservation Service set a Sept. 30 deadline for two of its Farm Bill assistance programs. The service provides financial and technical assistance to help South Carolina landowners address natural resource concerns, promote environmental quality and protect wildlife habitat.
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Columbia patient who shot self dies
COLUMBIA - The patient at a Columbia hospital who shot herself in the head after grabbing a prison officer's gun has died.
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Walker lifts Lakewood over Colleton County
WALTERBORO - John Walker carried 32 times for 204 yards on his way to three touchdowns, and the Lakewood Gators edged Colleton County, 28-25.
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Man reports being beaten, robbed
A man reported being hit on the head with a gun and robbed while he was opening the trunk of his car in downtown Charleston early Friday, police said.
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5 of 11 stolen dogs back with owners
SUMMERVILLE - Five of 11 beagles stolen from a hunting club in Hanahan were returned to their owners after one of the dogs was seen running loose on Candle Drive this week, the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office said.
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Tigers edge Wave
SUMMERVILLE - Conway came through with several big plays to win a slugfest in Summerville Friday.
The Green Wave looked to be an even match for the Tigers and finished the game with 264 offensive yards compared to Conway's 248. However, with crafty tailback Seth Moreland leading the way, the Tigers broke big plays to earn a 21-20 win over the Green Wave.
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Cohen leads Wildcats past Dolphins
West Ashley claimed just the second season-opening win in school history Friday night, dealing visiting Battery Creek a 28-0 defeat.
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R'Dogs pound Rome
Rome, Ga. - The Charleston RiverDogs banged out a season-high 20 hits in a 15-7 South Atlantic League win over the Rome Braves at State Mutual Stadium on Friday night.
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Bruins deny Knights
ORANGEBURG - With fans lining the fence around the field and buzzing in the bleachers, Orangeburg-Wilkinson stopped Stratford on a two-point conversion in overtime to secure a 21-19 victory Friday night.
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Stags stage rally
MONCKS CORNER - In typical first-game fashion, the Berkeley Stags opened the 2008 season with an ugly win over Dutch Fork on Friday night.
The Stags squandered a seemingly commanding 13-point halftime lead, allowing 27 third quarter points, only to rally in the fourth quarter for a thrilling 39-34 victory.
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Trojans top Gators
ROCK HILL - Northwestern quarterback Justin Worley made his first varsity start running Northwestern's "Air Raid" offense in a 42-21 win over Goose Creek on Friday night. He threw for 377 yards and six touchdowns.
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Bearcats pin shutout on Wando
MOUNT PLEASANT - Jamal Tyler rushed for 171 yards on just 22 carries and Rock Hill used a smothering defense en route to a 26-0 win over Wando in the season opener for both schools at steamy Wando Stadium on Friday night.
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McDaniel won't face suspension
CLEMSON - As expected, Clemson's athletic department announced Friday that sophomore linebacker DeAndre McDaniel will not face suspension for his June arrest - provided he fulfills all the requirements of pre-trial intervention.
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PICK 3
Here are three key matchups for Clemson entering tonight's game against Alabama in Atlanta: (8 p.m., WCIV):
Here are three key matchups for Clemson entering tonight's game against Alabama in Atlanta: (8 p.m., WCIV):
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McCain's surprise
Alaska Gov. Palin described as political reformer, wise steward of tax dollars
DAYTON, Ohio - Republican John McCain introduced first-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate Friday, a stunning selection of a little-known conservative newcomer who relishes fighting the establishment.
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Elder elegance
Elms Village sports 230 tidy homes encircling plush clubhouse and pool
Flip through a recent edition of The Elms' Viewpoint monthly newsletter, and you might see a photo of Maxine Smith's "latest guest," which is an alligator, and information about a seminar on "Gator Getters" at the community clubhouse.
While little more than a news brief, the item offers a telling glimpse into The Elms' neighborhood. For an age-55-and-over community, The Elms is hardly retiring. Residents work out at the fitness center, do model crafts, play cards and go swimming. They can take a trip downtown to Charleston Music Hall, listen to a talk on hurricane preparedness or learn about living with gators while being a bit lighthearted in describing the event.
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Dems return home revved up
Local Democrats who made the trip to Denver this week are returning home energized by the historic convention.
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Bronze bulldog on guard at Citadel
Replica of mascot watches over remodeled stadium
It's a lot of dog, and that's no bull.
The Citadel on Friday unveiled a new bulldog monument, a replica of Boo, the school's mascot. It stands outside the newly renovated Johnson Hagood Stadium on the corner of Hagood Avenue and Congress Street and protectively gazes toward The Citadel campus.
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Bus wreck causes minor injuries
WEST COLUMBIA - Authorities say a wreck between two school buses near Airport High School in West Columbia has injured the two drivers and 26 students, none seriously.
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Ask Elsa
It's your wannabe proofreader here: On the front page of Thursday's "Get Out" section, your reporter writes of Quaddy and Lucy Jones and their "tandem bike." Actually, it's not a tandem. The word "tandem" refers to two things in a line, one behind the other, not abreast. Most bicycles that are designed for more than one rider are tandems. However, since the Joneses sit in their vehicle side by side, it certainly is not a tandem. I'll also note that the Jones' vehicle has four wheels, so it isn't a bicycle or a bike. It's a four-wheeled cycle, quadricycle, pedal car, or velocipede. Gary, James Island.
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I-26 road crews to take weekend off
Holiday travelers returning from vacation Monday won't have to worry about nighttime lane closures on Interstate 26 as work continues to widen the freeway to eight lanes.
Work crews will take the weekend off but will return Tuesday to concentrate efforts in the vicinity of Remount Road, where footings for a new bridge will be built and new on- and off-ramps are being added, James Law of the state Department of Transportation, said.
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S.C. voices offer praise, criticism
Palmetto State Republicans who make up John McCain's base here like the idea of a Vice President Sarah Palin.
Other observers say the choice carries some risk.
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Getting 'Closer'
Kyra Sedgwick is learning from her character on "The Closer."
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Change is in the airlines
Get ready for higher prices, fewer flights — and paying for a pillow
ATLANTA - The grip U.S. airlines have on travelers' wallets is about to get tighter as carriers go ahead with plans to trim their domestic schedules due to the high cost of fuel.
Executives acknowledge that fares will rise, discounts currently available will be scarce, and routes and frequencies of flights will be reduced as domestic capacity is cut through the end of the year.
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Deaths and Funerals
Officials trim $30M off proposal
SUMMERVILLE - The cost of a proposed referendum to build new schools around Summerville shrank by more than $30 million this week.
Dorchester District 2 officials are studying ways to make the proposal more palatable to voters hit by rising prices and declining home values.
The latest proposal, hammered out at a school board workshop Wednesday, is to borrow about $165 million, down from $195 million considered about two weeks ago.
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Sheet metal can cover up hole in car
I have a huge rust spot on my car, a '95 Subaru. It is not really a rust "spot," but rather a missing part of my car that has rust around it. I tried to sand it down and put Bondo on it and repaint the car, and it actually looked pretty good for a while! As impressive as my Bondo job was for a first-timer, the Bondo soon fell off, and now the huge rust hole is back. I am wondering if there is any other option besides replacing the whole part of the car. Thanks so much.
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Battery battles to draw against league co-leader
It wasn't exactly the result that the Battery was looking for, but with the biggest match in club history looming less than a week away, Charleston will take it.
In a back-and-forth match that saw both soccer teams create plenty of quality scoring chances, the Battery and Puerto Rico were forced to settle for a scoreless draw Friday night before a crowd of 5,067 at Blackbaud Stadium and a national television audience.
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Racing elegance
Fast cars have proven popular enough in the Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival Oct. 30-Nov. 2 for them to have their own venue: the Quest for Speed and Style.
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Business Briefs
Downturn hasn't slowed loan fraud
You might assume that with home purchases and new mortgage volume off by 30 percent or more in many markets during the past year, loan fraud would be down as well.
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Nice cars don't even hold value
'I get so frustrated when I hear people try to justify buying an expensive car they really can't afford by saying, 'Well, it'll hold its value.' The truth is, no vehicle holds its value unless it's a classic or rare car."
This was the opening paragraph of a column by Michelle Singletary in The Palm Beach Post. The article, sent in by a reader, is undated, but auto-purchasing fundamentals never change.
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Heart honors given
Charleston woman gets grant to fight disease
Charleston resident Barbara Gathers is one of five women nationwide to be honored with a 2008 Cheerios Sisters Saving Hearts grant award for her work to raise awareness for heart disease prevention, particularly among black women.
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College wheels
New styles, heightened safety and loads of choices make back-to-school cars fun and affordable, according to Kelley Blue Book's www.kbb.com.
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Man shot at site of 2006 homicide
It must have felt like deja vu to Dorchester County sheriff's deputies.
For the second time, they were called to an address in the Stratton Capers neighborhood off Ashley Phosphate Road to find a young man shot and bleeding in the roadway.
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High Profile: KENNY KRAWCHECK
Lawyer's life, career run like clockwork
It seems only natural that Kenny Krawcheck just moved his office into an old Broad Street house built by a watchmaker. As the Charleston lawyer himself is the first to admit, you could set your watch by him.
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CAR SHOWS
Cougs capture men's soccer opener
Davidson, N.C. - Jed Cordisco scored in the 41st minute for the game-winner as the College of Charleston men's soccer team opened its season with a 2-0 victory over Marshall (0-1) on Friday.
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Spurrier: It's embarrassing
COLUMBIA - Steve Spurrier wasn't aware that he was already hooked up to his teleconference Friday when he started mumbling not-so-sweet nothings about South Carolina's offensive line.
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Indigo condos planned on Ashley River
Finding a new riverfront residence on the Charleston peninsula is getting harder to do. That's why backers of Indigo, to be near the Ashley Marina off Lockwood Drive, are so excited.
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Uphill battle for Bulldogs
South Carolina State looking to spring an upset of FBS member Central Florida
Since moving up to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 1996, Central Florida has never lost to a team from the Football Championship Subdivision.
South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough is hoping to change that this afternoon when the Bulldogs take on the Knights at Bright House Networks Stadium tonight.
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Fresh Start
Hanahan strolls past Cane Bay and its former coach
SUMMERVILLE - Jeff Cruce knew there would be nights like this.
He just hopes there aren't too many of them.
Cruce is the coach of Cane Bay, the new high school in Berkeley County. The team has only freshmen and sophomores on the roster, so it's going to experience some growing pains. That was evident Friday night when the Cobras made mistakes galore in the first game of their brief history, a 67-0 loss to Hanahan.
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Myers guides Cougars to comeback victory
North Charleston was down, but never out.
The Cougars rallied from a 16-0 deficit with three second-half touchdown passes from Denzel Myers to beat Bishop England, 20-16, on Friday night at Jack Cantey Stadium.
"I'm glad I don't have hair," North Charleston coach Jimmy Brown said. "I would have pulled it all out by the third quarter. We made a lot of mental mistakes, but we never gave up."
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Sanford to speak at convention
COLUMBIA - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has landed a speaking role at the Republican National Convention.
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Federer survives; Kuznetsova out
NEW YORK - Roger Federer flicked a final winner, trotted to the net and started to shake hands. Then, there was one last challenge.
Playfully, Thiago Alves called for a replay review.
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Earnings dip significant
'07 financial reports will be restated
Force Protection Inc. has expanded its re-evaluation of its past financial reports and now believes that when it eventually reports its earnings for 2007, the figure will be "significantly lower" than the profit it reported in 2006. In addition, the company said its accounting problems have not yet been solved.
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Smoking foes decry fund cut
COLUMBIA - Opponents of cigarette smoking fear that more teenagers will begin the habit in South Carolina and fewer adults will quit now that prevention programs are getting no state money.
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Now young and old can Beat Burger
The only thing that would make tonight's game between Clemson and Alabama better would be if Frank Howard and Bear Bryant were stalking the sidelines in the Georgia Dome.
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Holiday Grillin'
Just in time for Labor Day, what's better than grilling? Not the barbecue kind, but the iconic grilles on cars. The distinctive front of a car canhelp make it popular
It's Labor Day. Time to kick back, grab a drink and stoke up the grill. Er, should we say, grille?
Probably both are right. The Monday holiday is a good time to cook out. But it's also a time where car enthusiasts check out their rigs and perusers look for deals. Chances are that at some point, they'll take a close look at the front, which often gives the vehicle its cachet.
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Man in mid-20s claims sexual assault more than decade ago
A man in his mid-20s has alleged that Earl Darrell Linder, 57, sexually assaulted him twice more than a decade ago.
Last weekend, the man told his family about the alleged sexual assault and then contacted the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, Detective Diane Turner, said. "He just couldn't live with it any more," Turner said. Police did not identify the man because he was a juvenile at the time of the alleged assault.
Police charged Linder with second-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor; second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor; and a lewd act on a minor, Turner said. He does not have a prior criminal record. If convicted, he could face more than 25 years in prison, Turner said.
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Car show raises money for Miracle Network
Corvettes are Brandon Peek's favorite. But on Aug. 23, he covetously eyed the orange 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS that Tony Gonzalez of St. George displayed at the third Children's Miracle Network car show at the Goose Creek Wal-Mart on U.S. Highway 176.
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Victim in hit and run improving
A pedestrian injured in an early-morning hit-and-run accident on Folly Beach this month was making a slow recovery at a local hospital Friday, a day after a suspect surrendered to face charges in the case.
George Heath Jr., a 31-year-old construction worker, still had trouble breathing on his own, his older sister, Pamela Robinson, said. Medical University Hospital listed his condition as fair on Friday, up from serious a day earlier.
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AROUND THE STATE
Petty officer faces prison term in N.H.
GEORGETOWN - A Charleston-based Coast Guard petty officer faces a prison sentence in New Hampshire after Georgetown County deputies arrested him on an outstanding warrant Thursday.
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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL - OTHER GAMES
Elevating campaign themes
The Democratic Party presented a solid front behind its presidential ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden this week in Denver. It also presented a challenging vision for America's future. The Republican Party should respond with a compelling counter-vision at its convention in St. Paul, Minn., next week.
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Rivers playing herself in series
First time Joan Rivers has regular role on a sitcom
After more than 40-plus years in show business, Joan Rivers is embarking on a first: a regular role on a weekly sitcom.
So what's taken her so long to do this?
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Edwards can still get by
Jimmy Carter was routed from the White House by Ronald Reagan, losing 44 states. He has repeatedly been accused of being anti-Israeli. Yet the former president was warmly received as a speaker at this week's Democratic convention in Denver.
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Tigers refuse to overlook Crimson Tide
ATLANTA — Will Merritt has heard some Clemson folks attempt to "water down" the meaning of tonight's opener against No. 24 Alabama. This game will have zero bearing on whether the No. 9 Tigers accomplish their ultimate and unmistakable goal of bringing home the school's first ACC ti...
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South Carolina NIMBYists, unite
From the newspaper and other sources, I've seen the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) future of South Carolina.
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Going for gold
Olympic superstar Michael Phelps will write a book telling the story behind his historic eight gold-medal swims just in time for the holiday season, Free Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, has announced.
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Letters to the Editor
For season opener, it's all about The Citadel
Webber International has 17 starters back from a team that went 3-6 last year. Running back Taylor Atwood ...
Never mind.
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Danger of Russian shift on Iran
One sobering potential cost of Russia's new confrontational approach to Europe and the United States could be the end of the international drive to deny Iran nuclear weapons. The world could become a much more dangerous place if this happens.
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Choosing right new sources of energy for S.C.'s future
The Earth is close to passing climate "tipping points." Greenhouse gases released in burning fossil fuels are nearing a level that will set in motion dangerous effects, many irreversible, including extermination of countless species, ice sheet disintegration and sea-level rise and intensified regional climate extremes.
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Rare Emmy history revealed
'TELEVISION HAS proved that people will look at anything rather than each other," said the late Ann Landers.
The Emmy Awards take place Sept. 21 at the Nokia Theater, downtown Los Angeles. This year, it's ABC's turn to host the event. (The four networks take turns at this chore.)
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North Charleston's bond rating upgraded
Solid budget surpluses and a diversified economy boosted North Charleston's rating for borrowing money, city officials announced Friday.
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Family sues city, police
Officers burst into home in manhunt
HANAHAN - A local family is suing city and police officials for wrongfully searching their apartment, claiming that authorities should have known it was the wrong place.
Tina Williams' suit was filed in response to a December 2007 search where police entered her apartment looking for an Hispanic man sought in a murder investigation.
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Deaths Summary
$16.6M allocated for city projects
New fire station among several planned ventures
Money from North Charleston's sale of property on the former Navy base soon will pay for $15.2 million in projects across the city, including a new mural in the Olde Village and extensive exterior work at the old Power House.
In addition, the city will borrow $1.4 million to build a new fire station on Palmetto Commerce Parkway.
City Council's Finance Committee approved the $16.6 million spending plan earlier this week.
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Appointments offered to residents seeking aid
Berkeley and Dorchester county residents who need help with medicine, food or utility bills can begin calling two agencies next week for help.
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Friday, August 29
Man alleges sex assault decade later
Family sues Hanahan police
A local family is suing city and police officials in connection to a search of their apartment they say authorities should have known was the wrong place.
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$16.6 million plan targets numerous N. Charleston projects
Money from North Charleston's sale of property on the old Navy base will soon pay for $15.2 million in different projects across the city. The Finance Committee approved the $16.6 million spending plan earlier this week.
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Appointments necessary for Berkeley, Dorchester residents seeking aid
The Charleston County Human Services Commission took over assistance programs at the request of the Governor's Office of Economic Development until the end of the year after the Berkeley-Dorchester Counties Economic Development Corp. relinquished control of the programs earlier this month because of a $1.2 million deficit.
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Citadel unveils bulldog monument
The bulldog, which stands 5 feet 5 inches tall but hits 10 feet standing on its pedestal, is likely the biggest one around.
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North Charleston's bond rating upgraded
The improved rating was based on the city's significant economic diversification and expansion and continued maintenance of a very strong financial profile, Standard & Poor said.
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Man cut in early-morning robbery; police arrest suspects
The 24-year-old was at Hassell and Washington streets around 12:35 a.m. when two men with bandanas on their faces walked up and asked him for a light, a police report says. Officers arrested two men after pulling over a Cadillac on East Bay and Hassell streets soon afterward. A report says that officers found a semi-automatic pistol and bandanas in the glove box.
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District 2 board pares down referendum
The latest proposal is to borrow about $165 million, down from $195 million considered about two weeks ago. The board cut the cost of the referendum by eliminating a $12.8 million community auditorium planned for somewhere in Summerville and a $3 million public library at Fort Dorchester High School.
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Interstate work crews to take holiday weekend off, resume Tuesday
Workers will return Tuesday to concentrate efforts in the vicinity of Remount Road, where footings for a new bridge will be built and new on- and off-ramps are being added.
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Krawcheck: fortunate and grateful
28 injured in West Columbia bus crash, none seriously
WEST COLUMBIA - Authorities say a wreck between two school buses near Airport High School in West Columbia has injured the two drivers and 26 students, none of them seriously.
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Police: Aerosol chemicals caused Anderson explosion
ANDERSON - Two men are being treated for first- and second-degree burns after Anderson police say a lit cigarette caused the car where they were huffing aerosol chemicals to explode.
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Palin gets thumbs up from S.C. Republicans
Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell, one of McCain's South Carolina co-chairs, called Palin an outstanding pick.
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Force Protection says 2007 earnings will be lower than 2006
Force Protection Inc. has expanded its re-evaluation of its past financial reports and now believes that when it eventually reports its earnings for 2007, the figure will be significantly lower than the profit it reported in 2006. In addition, the company said its accounting problems have not yet been solved.
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Arrest made in Folly Beach hit-and-run; victim's condition improving
A pedestrian injured in an early-morning hit-and-run accident on Folly Beach this month was making a slow recovery at a local hospital today, a day after the Charleston County Sheriff's Office made an arrest in the case.
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McCain chooses Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for V.P.
DENVER - John McCain tapped little-known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate, two senior campaign officials told The Associated Press on Friday.
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No more money for erosion problem at Hunting Island
BEAUFORT - Tropical Storm Fay eroded a road and damaged three buildings at Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort, but a state official says there is no extra money to put sand on the beach to prevent further erosion.
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Man shot in head in Stratton Capers is in critical condition
A man was found in the road with an apparent gunshot to the head in the Stratton Capers neighborhood near Ashley Phosphate Road early today, the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office said.
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Coast Guardsman awaiting extradition to New Hampshire
A Charleston-based Coast Guard petty officer faces a prison sentence in New Hampshire after Georgetown County sheriff's deputies arrested him on an outstanding warrant on Thursday.
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Freightliner cuts 225 more jobs at Gaffney plant
GAFFNEY - A heavy truck subsidiary of German automaker Daimler AG says it cutting 225 more jobs at its Gaffney plant.
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Woman who shot herself in head at Columbia hospital dies
COLUMBIA - The patient at a Columbia hospital who shot herself in the head after grabbing a prison officer's gun has died.
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Aiken firefighter charged with starting fires
AIKEN - A South Carolina firefighter has been arrested after authorities say he set a series of suspicious fires in the Aiken County area.
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Air-conditioning units theft targets
MOUNT PLEASANT - More than 30 air-conditioning units have been stolen or dismantled in commercial areas of the town in the last two months, and police are asking for help in solving the crimes.
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Deputies seeking St. Stephen man
GOOSE CREEK - Berkeley County sheriff's deputies are looking for a St. Stephen man who is wanted in connection with a shooting Wednesday night at Carnes Crossing Mobile Home Park.
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Driver killed when car strikes tree
RAVENEL - A 27-year-old man died Wednesday night in a single-car wreck on S.C. Highway 165 near Hyde Park Road.
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Obama outlines his vision for America
Prepared remarks of Sen. Barack Obama for his address to the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night in Denver, as released by the campaign:
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Transient vendors face new law today
City puts pressure on property owners where food wagons and roadside stands carry out commerce
Crane operator Stafford Higgins tries to make ends meet by hawking shark meat at a roadside stand on Dorchester Road on his days off. Mauricio Sanchez supports his wife and two children selling tacos and other Mexican favorites from a mobile food wagon on Ashley Phosphate Road.
Both will be affected by a law that North Charleston City Council passed 8-1 on Thursday to regulate transient vendors.
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Word 5
The latest installment in our quest to keep track of our rapidly morphing culture and language.
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Kiawah sand spit bill gets ax
Rep. Brown says he hears his constituents
Amid a chorus of criticism, U.S. Rep. Henry Brown said Thursday he killed his bill to make a large undeveloped spit on Kiawah Island eligible for cheaper government-subsidized flood insurance.
In recent days, voters flooded Brown's office with e-mails and phone calls saying the government shouldn't subsidize new development on fragile barrier islands. "Our constituents spoke, and we listened," Brown said.
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Peru fuels fashion fleece
AREQUIPA, Peru - In this Andean nation, some of the most fashionable residents have four legs: vicunas, alpacas and llamas.
Exports of the animals' fleecy coats have nearly doubled to more than $43 million in the past four years, as models strut catwalks wearing fur from the long-necked animals in the form of pricey ponchos, pants and pea coats.
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Speech draws local Dems
West Wings becomes hub for nearly 100 who came to watch historic address
Nearly 100 Charleston Democrats packed into West Wings late Thursday to watch the man they hope will take over the real West Wing early next year.
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FASHION BRIEFS
Tonight's key matchups
Cruce opens against his former team
It's one of the more interesting plots in Week 1 of high school football.
Jeff Cruce, the coach of the brand new Cane Bay Cobras, goes up against his old school when the Hanahan Hawks come to town for a 7:30 p.m. showdown.
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Freezers hot as families combat high food prices
Sales up 7 percent, even as shipments of other appliances slow down
CHICAGO - Once relegated to the dank corners of the basement, the deep freezer is finding new acceptance from shoppers who are stashing bulk-sized purchases of meats, fruits and vegetables there as they work to combat rising food prices.
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Deaths Summary
Sitting on top of the world
Friday 5 suggested five mountain getaways in the summer of 2007, and based on the enthusiastic feedback we received, dozens of you took us up on our cool (and we mean that literally, not figuratively) suggestions. Well, it's that hot and humid time of the year again, and we've got five more spots to satisfy your need for cool air and high country.
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Deaths and Funerals
Letters to the Editor
Tourism group to get bigger slice
Lodging tax money to make up for state funding cut
The Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau will get a bigger slice of Charleston County's lodging tax this year.
And the tourism group has agreed, starting next year, to aid Charleston County Council by making recommendations on applications from other groups hoping for lodging tax money.
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Designer, builder of 2 plants would get $6.4B
Scana Corp. and Santee Cooper would pay $6.4 billion to the companies hired to design and build two new nuclear reactors in the Midlands.
Scana, the parent of South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., had said previously that the value of that contract was confidential. In a filing Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Columbia-based investor-owned utility said it changed its mind.
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Boy, 15, accused of raping girl on school bus
A 15-year-old James Island Middle School student is accused of raping a 12-year-old classmate on a bus after school in December.
Both are special-needs students, according to the Charleston County School District.
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BB&T's CEO stepping down
Allison, with bank since 1971, surprises many with decision
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - BB&T's chief executive and chairman, John A. Allison, says he is stepping down from his positions starting at the end of the year, and observers said the move was a surprise.
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Discount retail site takes off
RedTag banking on cut-rate shipping charges
NEW YORK - With gas prices high and consumers stretching shopping dollars, competition is heating up online for deals, and a discount retail site hopes to fan the flames by shipping orders for $1.95.
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McCain silent on selection
Running mate chosen; Pawlenty a possibility
DENVER - Republican presidential candidate John McCain decided on a running mate early Thursday, and one top prospect, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, abruptly canceled numerous public appearances.
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Home cooking
Battery returns to friendly confines against Islanders
It has been a tale of two seasons for the Charleston Battery this summer.
In the friendly confines of Blackbaud Stadium, the Battery have been nearly unbeatable with a 9-2-2 mark in USL First Division play. But traveling away from the Lowcountry has been an entirely different story as the third-place Battery has just one win in 12 road matches.
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Beating drug addiction
The following information is provided by a third party and has not been edited by The Post and Courier for content or accuracy.
Beating drug addiction is a long, difficult road. But it may be easier for cocaine users than others because of what cocaine does to the user's brain.
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Loring video primer for speed in Sunfish
Charleston sailor David Loring has won two Sunfish world championships plus one Laser North American championship, so when he does an instructional video, smart sailors will watch and learn. He and another local sailor, Dayton Colie, recently produced "Back to Basics for Sunfish World Championship Speed," filmed in Charleston Harbor.
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Pot suspect has history of just saying yes
Police say man charged in major marijuana bust used charitable donations to mask his alleged crimes
Rashad Muhammad advertises himself as a savvy entertainment promoter and a benevolent businessman active in Lowcountry charitable work, but area police say this is a carefully cultivated front designed to mask the illicit activities of a master drug runner. Muhammad, 37, surrendered to Nor...
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Dogs to play host to Iowa
A visit from Iowa and a trip to Cancun for two games highlight The Citadel's 2008-09 schedule released Thursday.
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Now Barbie can move forward
Many misguided feminists have long decried Mattel's charming Barbie doll as an anachronistic, sexist symbol that teaches little girls harmful lessons about beauty, style, weight and gender. Yet the ever-youthful and vivacious Barbie, through evolving versions and despite recent sales declines, has remained a major market force for nearly half a century.
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Take storm veterans' advice
The South Carolina Gamecocks opened their football season Thursday night. So did the Charleston Southern Buccaneers. The Clemson Tigers, Citadel Bulldogs and S.C. State Bulldogs open Saturday night. Those athletic events, along with last week's opening of the school year for most students, are commanding considerable attention from lots of our state's residents.
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To our readers
The Post and Courier will publish as usual on Labor Day, but curtailed schedules will be observed in order to give a holiday to as many employees as possible.
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Williams, RiverDogs belt Braves
ROME, GA. - Dave Williams homered and drove in five runs, leading the Charleston RiverDogs to a 10-4 South Atlantic League win over the Rome Braves at State Mutual Stadium on Thursday night.
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'Frozen River' star a natural
One of faces in the photograph that accompanies this story is Melissa Leo's. She is an actor, and her face, unlike some of her far more famous peers, is naturally aged.
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Sanford, Legislature play he said/they said game
Gov. Mark Sanford told members of the Legislature they had to quit spending state money like drunken sailors because there were budget problems a-coming.
They said he was grand-standing, they were prudent stewards of the budget. They called him Chicken Little.
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