The Maker’s Mark I can’t remember who I signed the first book for but I’ll hazard a guess it was a woman. Not many men turn out for book signings. For sure I remember where I was. At Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina. Thus began signings for thirty-six yearsContinue Reading

July 4, 2025, marked the 249th anniversary of our nation. I have always celebrated Independence Day with fireworks, cookouts, and time with family. As an educator, I try to find a teaching moment in every interaction, so this Independence Day, I quizzed my children about the Declaration of Independence. TheyContinue Reading

By Sarah Ostergaard More school districts across South Carolina are changing to year-round modified school calendars. This summer, start dates range across the state from July 21 to August 18, with ending dates May 21 through June 4.  The name “year-round modified school schedule” is sort of a misnomer –Continue Reading

By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net A blade-like katydid poses by a bison cuff of bronze. Nature blessed my boyhood summers with music. Cicadas’ rising-falling singsong gave days rhythm. Katydids chimed in evenings with a nightshift song backed by cricket twitter. The call of a whip-poor-will drifted through the night.Continue Reading

By Eileen Renders Can Stress Cause Cancer? According to City of Hope, and their medical and editorial guidelines, and I quote, “Studies suggest that chemical changes within the body due to stress increase the risk of conditions like heart disease and diabetes and the growth and spread of cancer.” ForContinue Reading

By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net There was a time carriers arrived like clockwork, were friendly, and lost mail was never a problem. Today’s USPS is unionized, bloated, arrogant, and inefficient. It even steals your checks. U.S. law, specifically the Private Express Statutes, grants the USPS a legal monopoly overContinue Reading

By Dee Anne Griffin With the recent South Carolina scorching summer, there is an increased risk of heat related injuries such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. As our temperatures soar past 95 and the humidity levels rise above 80%, safety becomes a priority. Heat exhaustion symptoms include heavy sweating, coolContinue Reading