Wednesday evening workers from Superior Crane Company were able to remove the steeple from the old Pee Dee Missionary Baptist Church on Highway 38.  The building, one of the oldest churches in the county, has fallen into disrepair and recently the roof collapsed.  Fearful that tropical force winds might finish the structure off, the Marlboro County Historic Preservation Commission with the assistance of County Administrator Ron Munnerlyn,  Director of Museums and Cultural Affairs Lynn McQueen and the officers of the church moved to have the steeple and the bell preserved.  Using a crane and giant forklift, the Superior workers were able to lift the entire steeple from the building.               
 Photo by Dan McNiel

Gina McLaurin arrived early from McColl to attend the Mill Farm Reunion on Aug. 31. 
She wanted to find a nice shaded spot to sit and fellowship. 
Born on Bostic Street, she said the Mill Farm has always been a community that stuck together and thought the reunion was nice.
“I have seen a lot of people I haven’t seen in years,” she said. “People have come home from New York and different places.”
The Mill Farm Reunion was created by a group of 8-10 people who grew up in the area and wanted to give everyone a chance to fellowship and reminisce during  Labor Day weekend and more than 200 people attended.
One thing that stuck out for McLaurin from her childhood was that if the older people saw you doing wrong, they would punish you. 
“Then when you got home, you got another punishment,” she said. “Nowadays, you can’t say anything to people’s kids. Back then, everyone looked out for everybody.”
Asiya Jones, a member of the Mill Farm Committee Reunion, said the goal was to provide the history of the Mill Farm, which is an area in West Bennettsville.

While the Marlboro County offense has been successful moving the ball, coach Bobby Collins thinks some adjustments can make them more efficient.
"We have to clean up the penalties.  Those are drive killers.  Some of it is just focusing more on what we're doing, such as when we had false starts.  Other times it is a technique thing that leads to a penalty," said Collins.
The Bulldogs were plagued by flags last Friday against Cheraw.  Several times penalties cut short promising drives and also called back a punt return that would have given the Bulldogs the ball inside the Braves' 5-yard line.
The penalty bug was one that stung the 2018 Bulldogs frequently and despite all the changes in the program, this problem remains.
As the team prepares to face Scotland County, Collins is also looking to make things more simple for their quarterback.
"Darius Grant has done well so far, especially in running with the football.  In the passing game, we have to cut down the time he is holding the ball in the pocket," said Collins.

After an offseason that included a coaching change and a lot of turnover in players and staff, it was therapeutic to get back to playing football.
The Marlboro County High team took the field Friday and, after an early hiccup, cruised past Ridgeland - Hardeeville, 40-14.  Now, the routine of the regular season can begin.
"It has been a little hectic for all of us," said head coach Bobby Collins, who took over the program in April after the resignation of Dean Boyd.
"Now that we are playing and the season's underway, if feels much more comfortable, more like home," said Collins.
In getting a win in his first game, Collins achieved something neither of his two predecessors accomplished.  It took Boyd seven games to get his first victory as the MCHS coach.  Reed Charpia got a win in the fifth game of the inaugural season.
"I'm sure it is a completely different circumstance.  We're just glad to get off on the right foot," said Collins.

Auditions for the Columbia City Ballet performance of The Nutcracker are scheduled for Friday, Sept. 13 at the Bennettsville Community Center.
The cost to audition is $20. 
Auditions are 4-4:45 p.m. for male and female dancers, ages 4-6; 4:45-5:30 p.m. for male and female dancers, ages 7-10; 5:30-6:15 p.m. for male and female dancers, ages 11-18 (bring pointe shoes for those on pointe over two years; and 6:15-6:45 p.m. for all adult dancers and actors.
Columbia City Ballet Audition dress code is a black leotard, pink tights, hair in a slick bun, lip and cheek color with light eye shadow for females.