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Sports

Barnwell 8U All-Stars team headed to State Tournament

Any post-season win is a good win, but when it comes against your traditional rivals, that win is even sweeter.  The Barnwell 8U All-Star team defeated the All-Star team from Bamberg 13-4 …
Kipper was awarded the MVP ticket at the conclusion of Sunday’s final Championship game.
Kipper Polk shines in TopGun World Series
Kipper Polk and Maddox Ashby of Barnwell were invited to play with the 803 Elephants the weekend of June 28 in Charlotte, N.C. for a TopGun World Series Tournament. Overall, the team did great! …
Players (left to right): Deklin Grubbs, Connor Hutto, Axel Myers, Cole Williams, Konnor Carter, Hutson Folk, Alex Nguyen, Breed Folk, Davis Thrasher, Malachi Altman, Hagan Pickelsimer, Brogan Gunnells.
Coaches: (left to right) Josh Grubbs (assistant), Wayne Hutto (assistant) and Justin Folk (head coach)
Barnwell Ozone All-Stars runners-up in district
The Barnwell Ozone All-Star team finished second in the district tournament. They played their hearts out and came just two runs short from going to state!
The 6u Barnwell All Stars
6U Barnwell All-Stars place second in Rookies District 6 Tournament
The 6u Barnwell All Stars forced a championship game by winning game one on June 10 but fell short in game two of the Rookies District 6 Tournament. “These boys fought hard and played hard. …
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. 
Obituaries
Dottie Amburgey Hays
Dottie Amburgey Hays
BARNWELL - Dottie Amburgey Hays, 91, passed away at her home on July 2nd, 2025. She was born on February 12th, 1934, in Mallie, Kentucky to the late Verda Hammonds Amburgey and Wiley Amburgey. …
Daniel Jackson Ligon
Daniel Jackson Ligon
BLACKVILLE - Daniel Jackson Ligon, 68, of Blackville, S.C. passed away peacefully on June 26, 2025 after a lengthy battle with Parkinsons Disease. Mr. Ligon was born on September 30, 1946, in …
Evon Still Diamond
Evon Still Diamond
BLACKVILLE - Evon Still Diamond, 79, of Blackville, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on June 28,2025.  Born in Blackville, she was the daughter of the late Beulah Elkins Still and …
Douglas “Doug” Hamilton Kinard Sr.
Douglas “Doug” Hamilton Kinard Sr.
SPRINGFIELD - Douglas “Doug” Hamilton Kinard Sr., 82, passed away at home on Monday, June 23, 2025 in Springfield, S.C. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date. …
Kathryn Rebecca “Kitty” Boyd
Kathryn Rebecca “Kitty” Boyd
BARNWELL - Kathryn Rebecca “Kitty” Boyd, 94, of Barnwell, S.C. passed away on Thursday, July 3, 2025. A graveside funeral service will be held at 10 o’clock a.m., Wednesday, July 9, …
Education

Superintendent’s Corner: Supporting multilingual learners in Barnwell County schools

The vision of the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) is for all students to graduate ready for success in college, careers, and citizenship. To make this vision a reality, school districts …
These aerial photos show the beginning and ending of the process to inflate a giant balloon on June 11 that will be used to build the domed roof of the new FEMA gym/safe room.

Barnwell County School Board approves $45 million budget

At its regularly scheduled board meeting Tuesday, June 24, the Barnwell County School District tackled a full agenda—finalizing the general fund budget for the 2025–26 school year, …

Poll: Do you like the new BCSD mascot and colors, yes or no?

Mascot, school colors selected for future Barnwell County High School

Barnwell County Bulls chosen as mascot for new consolidated high school The Barnwell County School District has completed a major step in the process of creating a new countywide high school and …

Lavender Festival attracts 1,300+ people to Barnwell

King George Lavender Farm in Barnwell hosted its annual Lavender Festival on June 7. Organizers estimate the festival attracted at least 1,300 attendees from all over South Carolina, North …

Kelly Edwards High School Class of 1965 celebrates 60 years

The Kelly Edwards High School Class of 1965 celebrated their 60th reunion on Saturday, May 24, 2025 at Houndslake Country Club in Aiken. Everyone enjoyed the reunion as they celebrated another …

Superintendent's Corner: A new symbol of strength for Barnwell County

A New Symbol of Strength for Barnwell County  Over the past several months, something truly special has been unfolding in Barnwell County School District. As we prepare to open a new, …

Appreciation shown for students on mascot committee

To the students who were on the mascot committee that I know personally, I think y'all did a great job. The district wanted something completely new that didn't involve the old schools, which was …

Student voices heard on mascot committee

I’ve struggled long and hard with this consolidation myself. I’ve weighed the pros and the cons. I’ve not been happy about some of the things I’ve heard, witnessed, and …

New mascot is symbol of strength for Barnwell County

Over the past several months, something truly special has been unfolding in Barnwell County School District. As we prepare to open a new, unified high school and career center to serve students from …
2025 Wedding Guide

Opinion
Letters to the Editor

Letter: Thank you Circle Theatre volunteers

Congrats to the Moana campers.  Circle Theatre’s youth camp started some 30 years ago by Dennis Knapp, who has produced every camp since then, writing all grants and seeking additional …
Phil Hudgins

To Jeff Bezos: You could’ve spent just $42.88 on wedding

Our invitation to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s lavish wedding  obviously got lost in the mail. My wife and I used to get personal letters from Mr. Bezos’s  former company, …
Kelvin Collins

Online shopping scams still have an impact

Online purchase scams are the fourth riskiest scam type targeting consumers, according to the  2024 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report.  July is military consumer month, so BBB shares some tips …
BBB offers tips to deal with social media hacks If you think hackers are only after the social media accounts of large companies, think again. Small businesses are  three times more likely …
As we enjoy the momen- tum of summer programs and prepare for the year ahead, I thought it would be the perfect time to highlight one of our district’s valued community partners …
Entertainment
Barnwell resident Mary Beth Gibson, who publishes under the name M.B. Gibson, unveiled her new novel, “Pryor Knowledge" at the April signing.

Barnwell author M.B. Gibson unveils new book

Despite a heavy rainstorm, there was a great turnout for the Meet the Author event on April 24 at the Barnwell County Public Library. Barnwell resident Mary Beth Gibson, who publishes under the name …

Event brings “4th” patriotic fun

The City of Barnwell’s Independence Day Bash was held Friday, June 27 at Lions Club Park in Barnwell. The event included food trucks, vendors, live music by Rylan James, music by Gary Brantley, …

Women's empowerment event uplifts and inspires in Allendale

Women from across Allendale County came together Saturday, June 14, for a day of empowerment, inspiration and connection at the “Spill the Tea” women’s event held at the USC …
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Former Navy SEALs are diving to save the ocean
Reasons to be Cheerful reports on Force Blue, where veterans use their skills for marine conservation, healing both ocean and themselves.
How to power the AI economy while supporting local communities
Bloom Energy reports on how onsite power, like fuel cells, can support AI's energy needs while minimizing costs and pollution for local communities.
Variety is the sauce of life.
3 basic ingredients, a million possibilities: How small pizzerias succeed with uniqueness in an age of chain restaurants
While economic forces have streamlined many global dishes into uniform, predictable formats, pizza continues to thrive in all its messy and delicious variety.
5 ways to help make more affordable (and sustainable) choices at the pharmacy
(BPT) - Health care essentials like over-the-counter (OTC) products can quickly add up and eat into your budget. Whether you're buying pain medication to manage headaches or antibiotic ointment for …
'I'll have a coke – no, not Coca-Cola, Sprite.' Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via The Conversation
Pop, soda or coke? The fizzy history behind America’s favorite linguistic debate
An expert in American dialects explains how a ‘health drink’ from the early 1800s spawned so many names and variations.