J.D. Miller family

 The J. D. Miller family and I are humbled and grateful for the many condolences conveyed to us by this wonderful community of family and friends.

 Your thoughts and prayers are uplifting and have sustained us during our loss.

 We are deeply touched by each of your cards, calls, visits and the kind words spoken to us.

This is a special place because of the special people who live here and we are honored by your thoughtfulness and acts of kindness.

With our sincere gratitude and appreciation,

Rep. Vida Miller

and Family

Limited government

A few weeks a go I wrote a letter to the Georgetown Times in which I stated that Harry Reid’s actions were similar to Hitler.

 I was taken to task by a reader in another area for comparing Reid to Hitler, and rightly so.

No one in my lifetime has come close to being as wicked as Adolph Hitler, who murdered thousands whom he deemed not perfect in mind and body.

Although not an excuse I was very angry over the way that this administration disregarded the wishes of the American people and resorted to bribery, coercion and lies to get health reform passed.

There has never been in the history of America, an administration that had the audacity to seize this much power and control from the American people.

I believe the people have now come to realize the danger that this administration poses to our liberty

After seeing the Democrats popularity plummet, a string of House members have announced retirements and one congressman defected to the GOP.

Government, Democrats and Republicans alike, must return sovereignty to the American people and stop trying to force on us the failing governments of other countries.

It would behoove us to keep in mind these words of John Wallace (Online Radio) and to vote accordingly in future elections  "We cannot fully enjoy our freedoms and liberties in America unless our government is limited. As our government grows and becomes more intrusive, it is our freedoms and liberties that become limited!"

Bonnie Wheeler

Andrews

Tidelands thank you

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire staff of Tidelands Community Hospice, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the generous support we received from the community during 2009.

 We are very proud that your generous financial assistance enabled us to open our in-patient facility, The Ruby and N.E. Green Hospice House, which remains the only such facility in Georgetown, Williamsburg and Horry counties.

The support that we have received for our new resale shop has been simply amazing.

 During 2010, Tidelands Community Hospice will celebrate its 25th year of providing compassionate care to the citizens of Georgetown, Williamsburg and Horry counties.

 We look forward to all the special challenges the New Year will bring, and we are confident that, with the continued support of our community, our loyal staff and our dedicated volunteers, our 25th year will be the greatest year ever for Tidelands Community Hospice.

A.T. Quantz

President, Board of Directors

Tideland Community Hospice

Growth in lacrosse

Just ten years ago, at the turn of the century, the ink was still drying on the incorporation papers of the South Carolina Chapter of US Lacrosse.

 Hilton Head High School had just completed it’s first year of boys and girls lacrosse as the only high school lacrosse teams in the state, and Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, in Columbia, was forming a boys team to compete in 2000.

The Myrtle Beach Lacrosse Club (later to become the Socastee High School boys team) was incorporated in Dec 1999 and was to begin play in 2000.

 The last ten years have flown by, as all time seems to do, and we find ourselves entering upon the first year of high school lacrosse competition as a sanctioned high school interscholastic sport.

Today, as we enter the 2010 year we feel proud of the fact that we have over 25 youth and recreation lacrosse programs; over 25 college and club lacrosse programs; 25 girls high school lacrosse teams and 31 boys high school lacrosse teams.

 Our chapter membership in US Lacrosse has gone from a couple of hundred to over 1100. There are over 700 men and women playing lacrosse in South Carolina’s Colleges and there are over 2600 kids participating in the youth and high school programs.

 All in all we think that is pretty good growth in a state where lacrosse was virtually unknown 10 years ago and one in which we had to confront some negative attitudes.

 We feel it particularly interesting to note that more than 50 kids in the high school programs, in the last 5 years have received lacrosse scholarships to college and numerous others have received increased consideration  because they have played lacrosse.

An old cliché goes: “Great Oaks from Little Acorns Grow” Well, the little “Acorn” of a few people, in 2000, grew into a cadre of hundreds who volunteered with enthusiasm and dedication to provide the opportunity for kids of all ages to enjoy the exciting and fun filled game of lacrosse.

 Although we are grateful to all who have been part of our “crusade” we must give special thanks to all of our coaches, both past and present, who are on the front lines with our kids.

 They are the ones who are responsible for installing the principles of good sportsmanship along with the X’s and O’s as all of us strive to “HONOR THE GAME”.

We are excited to contemplate the next decade of growth as we continue to work to provide the lacrosse opportunity to all of the kids in South Carolina.

Hal Ness, for the South Carolina Chapter of US Lacrosse