There’s no substitute for disclosure. The more the people know about what their government is doing, how they’re doing it and why, the more perfect is our union. After all, let us not forget that the people are, essentially, the government. That was true in the beginning of this great experiment with Democracy, some 230 […]
A Dam Dirty Business
August 15, 2013 By
You think you’ve got problems, Fairfield County? Well, you kind of do. Dirty pictures, property tax snafus, County Council members on the hot seat, water infrastructure struggles – sure. But at least when you go to bed at night you do so with the confidence that Lake Wateree or Lake Monticello will still be there […]
Thank You VFDs
August 9, 2013 By
I am writing to express appreciation to the five Volunteer Fire Departments that responded to the fire destroying our house at Lake Wateree on July 21. When we got there, trucks from the Ridgeway, Mitford, Community, Dutchman Creek and Southeastern VFDs were already there and containing the fire. The Rescue Squad was there to give […]
Un-ESEA Feelings
August 9, 2013 By
It is often difficult to discern through the fog of letters and numbers, percentages and demographic breakdowns swirling above the cauldron of alphabet soup of state school assessments just what those assessments assess. HSAP. PASS. ESEA. Are we measuring whether or not students have mastered the material and are fully armed and equipped to enter […]
ESEA and Richland 2
August 8, 2013 By
The South Carolina Department of Education last week released the 2013 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) rankings of school achievement. Overall, Richland 2 received a letter grade of B. While released by the state, this rating system is a federal accountability measure, formerly called the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), which was part of the […]
Thanks You Stevie
August 8, 2013 By
Thank you for the excellent work done by The Independent Voice and specifically Stevie Johnson on informing the parents and taxpayers of Blythewood about Richland School District 2. She does an excellent job of providing research and insight into an area that impacts all of us. Her role as an independent advocate is appreciated. Doug […]
‘Y’ Not?
August 2, 2013 By
James Denton’s editorial “Fences to Mend” in the The Independent Voice on July 26 was right on! Representative MaryGail Douglas’ letter in the newspapers regarding using the “gift of $500,000 to each council district for recreation” to develop a YMCA in Fairfield County was a breath of fresh air! Please let recreational professionals use those […]
How Was Brochu Deal Handled?
August 1, 2013 By
Now that former Richland 2 Superintendent Katie Brochu has moved on, and the separation agreement between her and the District has been signed, it is reasonable to expect that the community has questions on the handling and terms of the separation negotiations. The generous contract that Brochu received in March of 2010 was negotiated on […]
Your Time is Up
July 26, 2013 By
I won’t be the first time, and certainly not the last time, to ask for our Fairfield County Council Chairman to resign. He is simply out of control. How dare you, Mr. Chairman, raise your voice with intolerance when people applauded the comments of an outraged citizen. The Chairman states that he will have those […]
