The Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging has been awarded a $750,000 federal grant to help veterans age with independence. This two- year grant from the Administration on Aging is to improve access to information and services for non-Medicaid eligible veterans and seniors who need nursing home level of care but who choose to remain in the community.  The Office on Aging says in the past decade the number of veterans over 85 has tripled with more than 56,000 South Carolina veterans receiving monthly disability compensation. Under the grant, veterans would decide the mix of goods and services to their needs by managing a flexible, individual budget to hire their own workers, including family or friends. Services include personal care for assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, transferring, as well as assistance with cleaning, laundry, and meals, adult day care, and assistive technology.

The pilot for the grant will be in the Trident Area which includes Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties.  The Trident Aging and Disability Resource Center and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston will be the lead agencies.

The Veteran’s Administration is asking Americans honor veterans by recording their stories.” The Veterans History Project collects and preserves the remembrances of American wartime veterans through recordings and personal interviews that will end up in the Library of Congress.

Janet Kaufmann, Voluntary Service Specialist at the Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia says high school and college students have been getting the stories from the veterans.

She says, “The information is wonderful, because they really haven’t had anyone do this before. And presently we have two volunteers of college students who are actually studying history at the University of South Carolina,and another volunteer who is actually a retired Marine officer, doing this together.”

The recordings are vetted for facts.  ”Eventually this stuff is all put on tape, and then the volunteers and myself, we transcribe it and put it all on computer, we go over it and then we print it up. We meet with the actual veteran, his or her family, as well as the social worker and head nurse of the ward, and we discuss all this,” she says.

The volunteers register with the Library of Congress, says Kaufman.”It’s documented. It’s something that’s permanently in the Library of Congress. It’s something anyone go in and read about. Like if you were to go the the Library of Congress and you wanted to find out about a veteran of WWII. Or if you have a person’s name, you can look it up either way.”

Approximately 65,000 individual stories now comprise the collection of the Veterans History project.

A federal court ruled Tuesday that a Christian license plate is unconstitutional. The “I Believe” specialty plate features a yellow cross and stained-glass window.

U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie said in her ruling that the license plate was unconstitutional because it violates a constitutional ban on establishment of religion.

The measure was brought up in the South Carolina statehouse after similar legislation failed to pass Florida lawmakers.

Groups including Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee challenged the plate. Judge Currie ordered the state to cover the legal expenses of those groups.

Americans United Executive Director Rev. Barry Lynn says that some South Carolina officials appeared to want to use religion as a political football.

But there are a number of specialty license plates which have been approved in South Carolina. Lynn explains why this one was different.

“Unlike other specialty plates that go through a process in the Department of Motor Vehicles, this was approved directly by the legislature,” said Lynn.  “There are many so-call ‘vanity plates’ but those plates do not allow symbols or statements like ‘I Believe.’  The legislature made the decision to push only for these Christian plates.”

Lynn says many supporters of the Christian plate said that they would not vote to support other similar plates for minority faiths.

Now a private group says it will issue its own version of the license plate. The Palmetto Family Council says a state law allows private groups to issue license tags on their own.

Rev. Lynn explains why he feels that his organization’s position on the issue of separation of church and state is important.  He says it’s dangerous for a government to play favorites in a country where there are 2000 separate religious faiths.  Lynn says Christianity may be the majority religion in the state but everyone deserves the same support by state lawmakers. 

Lynn says he doesn’t want his position misunderstood. He is not only a long-time activist and lawyer in the civil liberties field and leader of Americans United since 1992, he is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.

“No one is saying that a car can’t contain other emblems of the faith of the driver,” says Lynn.  “There are bumper stickers, Christian flags and those little fish magnets–many ways to show that you’re a Christian and proud of it.  But the state shouldn’t be adding its vote to your religious preference.” 

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, DC and was founded in 1947.   A press release states that the organization safeguards religious freedom.

Judge Currie wrote that whether state officials were motivated by sincere Christian beliefs or by an effort to purchase political capital, that the state law was clearly unconstitutional and defense of the case led to expensive litigation for the state.

Read the full decision at www.scd.uscourts.gov

It was not a pretty picture painted by the South Carolina Board of Economic Advisors Tuesday. State government faces yet another drop in revenue this year, according to projections. This fiscal year ends June 30th, 2010. The Board is now projecting a two percent revenue drop, $5.75 billion to $5.619 billion.

Board Chair John Rainey says a meeting with leading economists a couple of weeks ago revealed that none of them were optomistic about the current state of the economy.  “There was not one who was optimistic,” said Rainey.  “Most years we have some that are optimistic, some pessimistic, and some who fall in the middle.  At that meeting there were all pessimistic and their numbers were pretty much the same.”

Rainey says there is a general concensus that the real unemployment rate is around 20 percent–meaning the posted rate of 11.6 percent, with the addition of those residents who have given up, and those who are underemployed. Rainey says that “real unemployment” figure on the national level is 17.5 percent.

Rainey says employment picture will likely worsten:  “At least one economist felt that the real unemployment rate will grow to 24 percent by June and that the Unemployment Security Commission’s posted figure will be about 13 percent by then.”

Rainey says unemployment in South Carolina is definetly growing, not standing still.  And he says the drop in funds which the state has available is major.

“We’re down from $7 billion plus, down to $5.6 billion, which, unless things change, will be the figure for the next fiscal year,” said Rainey.  “That’s almost $1.4 billion, a hugh decrease.” 

Rainey says even though there has been a loss of productivity throughout the workplace, corporate earnings continue to improve.

“So you’ve seen companies where there were four people working in a department now getting along with three people,” said Rainey.  “That has caused productivity to go up, because you have fewer people producing the same amount of goods and services.  There’s not much incentive for corporations to hire those people back as long as the people they kept are producing as much or more as before they made the layoffs.”

AARP South Carolina says that health care reform must include closing what is known as the Medicare “donut hole.”The Medicare drug benefit, known as Medicare Part D, created an awkward gap in benefits, explains Teresa Arnold of AARP South Carolina.

“You would pay a premium, pay for your insurance, but the coverage would only go up to a certain amount and that amount changes every year. I think right now it will pay up through $2,700.  But then for $2000 or $3000 you are stuck in what they call the donut hole,” says Arnold.  That is where coverage resumes.

Arnold says this gap in coverage is a top issue for the AARP, which has endorsed the Affordable Health Care for America Act.  “We want the coverage to be all the way through,” she says, “and in H.3962, they do eliminate the donut hole by 2019.”

Arnold says too many senior are having to choose between medication and groceries.

“I just talked to an AARP member who’s been calling me and we’ve been trying to figure out how to help her get coverage when she’s in that donut hole. She really doesn’t have a lot of income; she’s just on social security. She has a drug that’s over $200 a month and so she’s paying a premium but she’s not getting the coverage at this point,” says Arnold.

SC Sixth District Congressman Jim Clyburn says that 6,200 seniors in his district will immediately get Medicare gap drug coverage if the bill passes.

An activity described as “mailboxin’” has landed three defendants in jail. Described as stealing checks and personal identification information to open bank accounts, obtain checks on the new accounts and cash them at area merchants, “mailboxin’” is a federal offense.

Holly Sturkey, age 32, of North Myrtle Beach, Brandon Ramon Ledesma, age 24, or Gallivants Ferry, and Wayne Michael Scupp, age 41, of Pelion, were sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to possess stolen mail matter and to commit bank fraud. The defendants were sentenced to 12 months, 15 months and 18 months respectively, and were also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,463.

The nation’s next census count is in 2010 and a number of minority groups and communities have expressed a concern about a possible undercount. The federal government doles out over $400 billion dollars a year for schools, health care services, scholarships, and other services to various communities and groups based on population. An undercount could cost a community or group their fair share of government allocations. The concern of an undercount was discussed at the recent state wide Native American Conference at USC in Columbia. Chief of the Catawba Nation Donald Rogers, whose Catawba name is Red Cloud,  says his tribe has an advantage in that it is the only federally recognized tribe in the state. 

“We kind of have a heads up on some things becuse of all the national and regional meetings I attend with other tribal chiefs across the Southeast. There is continual awareness of the census and opportunities for us.”     South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs Native American Coordinator Marcy Hayden says there are currently 30 Native American entities in the state which includes 15 state recognized tribes, as well as various groups, and special interest organizations.   

Rogers says in order for a tribe to receive a proper count not only does “Native American” need to be listed under ethnicity, but the respondent should also note the tribe of which he or she belongs. Rogers says as a federally-recognized tribe the Catawba Nation takes advantage of various programs and meetings concerning accurate population counts. “We have a liaison that’s dedicated to the tribe from the Census Bureau that we have been meeting with on a regular basis. The liaison has been getting information to us and helping us to get that information prepared to forward on to members of our tribe. When they get their census packets in the mail they will be mindful that they need to write down that they are Catawba in the Census survey.                

The U.S. Census Bureau packets will be mailed out in March.

Rogers notes that the Catawba Nation also keeps its own count for its records. “We have out own tribal roll and we keep that information. In fact, the federal government has a copy of our roll as well, our initial roll of 2000. However we continue to have children and our roll continues to increase. We have deaths and the roll is deceased by those. With the information we have  and the liaison we have to work with, and the opportunities we have to get information to our people through various means, and the regional and national meetings, it gives us a great opportunity to make people aware.”  
  
 Just as important as government allocations are concerned, the proper population count also has  governmental and constitutional implications for federally recognized tribes. “Sometimes with the census, they collaborate that information particularly with the government. Our (tribal) constitution is unique. We have to have a certain number of people to attend our general council meetings. The number of 18 year olds, we have to keep up with those, because as the number of 18 year olds  increase our voting population increases and  some of our percentages within the government change concerning the amount of people we need to ratify laws      
 
Rogers says a committee has been working on an updated tribal constitution that he hopes will be ready for the Catawba Nation to vote on in March or April.

State-owned utility Santee Cooper and state and local law enforcement officials conducted a drill this week that simulated terrorists attacks at a Lowcountry dam. Although Santee Cooper’s Law Enforcement Division conducted the drill, several other responding agencies assisted.

Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Dan Moon says the mock drill near the Santee Cooper Regional Water Treatment Plant was meant to evaluate response and communication if a major incident happened at the Pinopolis dam.

“We had a scenario that had a truck, like an old Ryder rental truck that managed to bust through a gate and make its way out onto the west dyke out to the west hydro-plant over here,” says Moon.

Moon explains what the scenario contained: “The truck was found to be loaded with some kind of explosive device. The driver of the truck jumped out. The truck did not make it all the way to the actual hydro-plant itself because in the effort to burst through the fenced in area they damaged the truck and it did not run anymore. So, the driver as he was approached jumped out and runs, we set up surveillance and managed to eventually capture the driver of the truck,” says Moon.

And the outcome: “We eventually were able to bring crews in and diffuse that bomb situation. The scenario called for an evacuation of some community surrounding this are up here. We physically did not go in and evacuate the people, but the make-believe scenario was to go through and knock on doors and drive through neighborhoods announcing this mandatory evacuation,” says Moon.

Santee Cooper spokesperson Mollie Gore says the drill was an overall success for what they set out to achieve.

“The goal of the exercise was to demonstrate that Santee Cooper, our law enforcement division, communicates effectively with local, state and federal law enforcement divisions and that we have a disaster readiness plan that we can execute effectively,” says Gore.

Moon explains the reason for the drill: “Periodically they have to go through these drills to show that we are prepared. That Santee Cooper is prepared along with law enforcement personnel are prepared to get in here an diffuse or take care of whatever situation may arise. And this particular case the scenario being a truck loaded with explosives,” says Moon.

As some may wonder if the drill had anything to do with Guantanamo Bay closing and the possibility of bringing detainees to Charleston, but Moon says that had nothing to do with the drill.

“No connection whatsoever. This drill had been planned well in advance,” says Moon.

Gore says the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission monitored the tests and overall it was successful.

“The drill was a success. Obviously there’s always going to be an opportunity to learn from these exercises, that’s why we do them. But, by and large it was a very solid success,” says Gore.

The State Law Enforcement Division, Joint Terrorism Task Force, Monks Corner Police Department, SC Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Highway Patrol, Berkeley County Emergency Management, Monks Corner Rural Fire Department and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also participated in the drill.

Two Lowcountry schools are reopened after a nearby business was robbed earlier Tuesday morning.Around 8 a.m. the City of Goose Creek Police Department says the Dollar General was robbed at gunpoint. Police are now searching for the two suspects involved in the robbery that led to locking down two nearby schools. One of the suspects had a rifle in the robbery.

College Park Middle and College Park Elementary schools were both on lockdown but later reopened, while officials continue to search for the suspects. Charleston and Berkeley County Police Departments are both assisting the City of Goose Creek in the investigation. Law enforcement officials believe this morning’s robbery to be connected with a weekend robbery at a restaurant next door to the Dollar General that also involved a man with a rifle.

A late-night shooting in Walterboro leaves three dead and at least five more people injured. Around 10 p.m. on Monday a shooting devastated a family in Walterboro. According to some family members, the victims were playing cards in their front yard when a car pulled up and opened fire. Ella Adams of Walterboro told the Post and Courier “they killed the whole family.”

Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey says the victims were from Walterboro and were related, although it was unclear of the relationships. Charles “Bubba” Kitrell, 45, died on scene, Shaniyah Burden, a 20-month-old girl, was later pronounced dead at the Colleton Medical Center, and Christopher Powell, 21, died at MUSC after being transported.

The Walterboro Police Department and SLED are investigating and were initially looking for a black BMW with one headlight out.

U.S. House members Gresham Barrett and Henry Brown have come out against the proposed closing of Guantanamo Bay facility and the relocation of prisoners to a Navy brig in the Charleston area.

Barrett says the Obama Administration plans to transfer up to ten suspected terrorists to the brig. Low Country Congressman Henry Brown is an original co-sponsor of the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act. Together Brown and Barrett have co-sponsored legislation to restrict funding on moving any detainees to South Carolina.

Barrett has put up legislation that would require the prior approval of the governor and legislature of a state before detainees are relocated to that state.

Barrett says the port city could already be on the terrorist hit list.  “I think Charleston is a tremendous target already,” says the Republican, “and to put another nail in the coffin, so to speak, is totally unacceptable.” 

Barrett says housing terrorist suspects is serious business, not like the incarceration of dime store thieves.

Barrett is running for Governor. He wrote letters to other gubernatorial candidates, asking them to sign a letter to the President asking him to stop the transfer. Democratic candidate Mullins McLeod wrote him back, and told him that he could “take his letter and shove it.”   But Barrett says he’s not going to support something just because the President says so.

“The way  I read the constitution, it’s three equal branches of government,” says Barrett.  “I’m in the legislative branch and I represent South Carolina along with other interests and I will fight the President hand and tooth on this issue.”

Lt. Governor André Bauer is asking that Governor Mark Sanford, State Adjutant General Stan Spears, and Attorney General Henry McMaster meet with him so the state’s top executive, legal, and military leaders can determine that civilian security is not threatened by the potential transfer of detainees to Charleston. Bauer says Charleston is one of the top tourist destinations in the US and he says state leaders can’t let the issue jeopardize the state’s economic interests concentrated around the port city, including shipping and aeronautics industries.

Fellow gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley, a state representative, says Barrett’s letter to candidates asking them to write the President in opposition strikes her as grandstanding.

“Well, you know, if keeping my state safe and secure is grandstanding, then I’m guilty,” says Barrett.  “If not allowing a known terrorist to come to my state and make it a bigger target is grandstanding, then guilty.  If continuing to do my job as US  Congressman and being forward thinking is grandstanding, guilty.  I think this is getting out in front and letting the Obama Administration know exactly where South Carolina stands.”

A Chesterfield County man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for counterfeiting.

Federal authorities say that 34-year-old Shane Lee Keams of Jefferson, along with co-defendants Phillip Lee Laney, David Lee Williams, and Lance Larenta Outen were involved in making bogus bucks and trading them for drugs. In April 2008 officers with the Hartsville Police Department arrested Williams on unrelated charges and allegedly found some counterfeit $20 bills on him. Officials in the US Attorney’s office say Laney and Keams were purchasing cocaine from Outen.

The case was investigated by the US Secret Service.