Serving Barnwell County and its neighbors since 1852
Sports

Former Hawk Andre Simmons celebrates UFL Championship as a coach

Andre Simmons played wide receiver for the Blackville-Hilda Hawks and later returned to Blackville as an assistant coach under Hawks Hall of Fame coach David Berry. Coach Simmons can now add UFL …
Blackville-Hilda's Breyanna Williams (pictured with her parents, Kenyatta and Maurice Williams) accepts her 2025 SCCAWS Track Player of the Year Award at the SCCAWS Player of the Year Banquet held at The Cotton Press in Little Mountain, S.C. on June 11.
Breyanna Williams receives SCCAWS Track Player of Year award
Breyanna Williams earned the Track Player of the Year Award after winning three State Championships and collecting a second-place finish in a fourth event. 
Robert Young
Young to guide Denmark Tech men’s soccer into next chapter
DENMARK - Denmark Technical College has named Robert Young as the new head men’s soccer coach, bringing a fresh perspective and a player-focused coaching style to one of the …
Williston-Elko’s I’yana Robinson was named to the SCCAWS A All-State Team.
3 Barnwell County softball players named All-State
Barnwell County softball was well represented at the SCCAWS All-State presentation at the North-South All-Star Game Thursday, June 5 at Lexington High School.  At the North-South All-Star …
Lane Evans and his parents, Hollie and Blair at the WJBF All Sports Awards Show.
Lane Evans named CSRA Soccer Player of the Year
Barnwell Warhorse star football and soccer player, Lane Evans, was honored as the CSRA Soccer Player of the Year by WJBF TV.  The WJBF CSRA All Sports Awards Show was filmed at WJBF in …
Obituaries
James Phillip Still
James Phillip Still
WILLISTON - James Phillip “Phil” Still, 50, of Williston, S.C. passed away on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12 o’clock noon on Friday, …
Stephen Lemasters
Stephen Lemasters
MARTIN - Stephen Ray Lemasters, 65, of Martin, S.C. passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025. A Celebration of Life Service was held at 1 o’clock p.m., on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in the Folk …
Linda Joyce Pickett
Linda Joyce Pickett
OLAR - Linda Joyce Smith Pickett, 78, of Olar, S.C. passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at her home. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at Folk Funeral …
Leighton Gunnells
Leighton Gunnells
BARNWELL - Leighton Arthur Gunnells, 85, of Barnwell, S.C. passed away on Monday, June 16, 2025. Funeral services will be held at 11 o’clock a.m., Thursday, June 19, 2025 at Green Branch …
Patricia Gail Balchin McDonald
WILLISTON - Patricia Gail Balchin McDonald, 57, of Williston, S.C. passed away at home on Saturday, June 14, 2025. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12 o’clock noon on …
Education
Dr. Crissie Stapleton

What happens in schools over the summer? More than you might think

As summer break begins and our students step away from the classroom, it’s natural for people to wonder what happens in our schools during the quieter months. While it may seem like the …

College Notes

Sudha Rani Alamanda from Barnwell graduates from The Citadel CHARLESTON— Sudha Rani Alamanda of Barnwell was among almost 400 students from The Citadel Graduate College accepted their …

CNTA seeks 2024 SRMC science scholarship applicants

Citizens for Nuclear Tech- nology Awareness (CNTA) is seeking applicants for the Savannah River Misson Completion (SRMC) Science Scholarship. The $10,000 scholarship is sponsored by SRMC. SRMC …

Denmark Technical College commencement marks milestone for Class of 2025

DENMARK - The Denmark Technical College campus was filled with pride and inspiration as graduates crossed the stage at the college’s 76th annual commencement ceremony, held in the McDuffie …

Allendale young farmers and ranchers grow as leaders

M e m b e r s o f t h e Salkehatchie YF&R Cluster recently joined more than 350 young farmers, ranchers and ag enthusiasts, ages 18- 35 years old, for the annual South Carolina Farm Bureau …
Sunil Kumar TCH hugs his wife, Dr. Supreethi Mukthipudi, after she won BCSD Teacher of the Year.

District Teacher & Support Staff of the Year awarded

It was a clean sweep for Williston-Elko High School (WEHS) at the Barnwell County School District’s (BCSD) Teacher & Support Staff of the Year Banquet.  During the June 2 banquet …

'Dessert with a Deputy' creates lasting relationships

The Barnwell County Sheriff's Office hosted Dessert with a Deputy on May 29 at McDonald's of Barnwell. Various deputies joined members of the community for ice cream and conversation. Children …

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions awards surpass $1 million in Mini Grants for local STEM education

AIKEN, S.C. – (May, 29 2025) – In an exciting step toward empowering educators and enriching  student learning experiences, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions’ (SRNS) Education …

Macedonia Elementary-Middle School celebrates end of school year with STEM balloon project

Students in Wanda Jones’ class held an end-of-the- year STEM balloon project. They did a “Gas Balloon Project” and a “Rocket Ballon Project."

BCSD board discusses FEMA gym, Earth Day efforts, policy updates

At its May 20 meeting, the Barnwell County School District board heard updates on several key initiatives, including construction progress, student activities and policy changes. Superintendent …
2025 Wedding Guide

Opinion
Community Care Corner

Community Care Corner: Need or have medical supplies? We’re here to help!

The Barnwell County Helpline and the Barnwell County Office on Aging (Generations Unlimited) are teaming up to support our neighbors in need — and we need your help! We are collecting new …
Phil Hudgins

If we have plenty of clean water, we should feel blessed

  Have you ever thought about the importance, attraction, and power of water? That thought came to mind the other day as we watched our great-nephew, David Thomas, being baptized in a …
Kelvin Collins

BBB Scam Alert: Online orders delayed by “tariffs”? It could be a scam

Ordering online has never been easier — and scammers know it. If you’ve shopped from a  sponsored ad  or  unfamiliar website  and were later told your package is stuck …
As we prepare to celebrate Father’s Day this weekend, I find myself reflecting on the powerful presence of fathers and father figures in the lives of our children—and in the life of our …
What if just one dollar could change a life?  That’s the question behind  A Dollar & Change , a community-driven initiative launched by  Bethany Baptist Church  and …
Entertainment
Circle Theatre summer campers pose for photos at the end of their performance of "Moana".

Circle Theatre’s kids camp brings Moana to life, builds confidence and community

Each summer, children from across the area gather at Circle Theatre for the beloved four-day program, which teaches students of all ages the fundamentals of stage performance, teamwork and …

Blackville Music & Arts Festival 2025: A celebration of community and creativity

The town of Blackville came alive over the weekend of May 16–17 as residents and visitors gathered for the 13th annual Blackville Music and Arts Festival. The event once again showcased the …

Barnwell mother and son publish children’s book inspired by faith, family and flamingos

Barnwell residents Tammy Croft Morris and her son, Jackie Blake Collins, recently celebrated the publication of their first children’s book, The Fantastic Adventures of a Fabulous Flamingo …
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Web extras
10 cool cars you can't buy in the US yet
CheapInsurance.com reports on 10 exciting cars unavailable in the U.S. due to regulations, costs, and brand strategies.
Dog breeds losing popularity
Stacker pulled data from the AKC to compare dog popularity rankings from 2004 and 2024; the 2024 popularity rankings were released in March 2025.
How to understand your home energy use — and cut costs
(BPT) - Heating and cooling systems account for around 55% of the average home's energy use, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). And during the warmer summer months, HVAC systems are …
4 ways to celebrate National Mac and Cheese Day
(BPT) - Macaroni and cheese is a quintessential comfort food everyone loves. It's homey, cheesy and tasty, evoking comfort like no other dish. National Mac and Cheese Day is the perfect excuse to …
On the Golf Course, You Really Have Skin in the Game
On the Golf Course, You Really Have Skin in the Game
(NewsUSA) - Mark Twain famously said that golf is a good walk spoiled. For most golfers, the sport is also fraught with a very high risk of getting skin cancer. On the course, golfers are exposed to …