A little rain didn’t stop Bennettsville Intermediate School students from playing Wednesday.
A playground ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring school and Marlboro County District personnel, along with elected officials, public safety officials and community members was held at BIS.
Other ceremonies were held at Bennettsville Primary, McColl Elementary Middle and Blenheim Middle School of Discovery also on Wednesday.
BIS Principal Crystal Hewitt Halma thanked those in attendance and everyone who voted for the last year’s bond referendum to give them a new playground.
“I appreciate you wanting better for our students just as we do,” she said.
She also shared how excited students were for the new playground.

After the final frustrating seconds ticked off the clock at Myrtle Beach's Doug Shaw Stadium, Marlboro County head coach led his team behind the visitor's stands, looking to get away from the blaring sound system.
His season-ending speech to the team had a different feel than in years past.  Somehow, there was truly a sense of finality to it.  
The "we'll get back to work and beat these guys next year" address didn't have its usual iron-will grit.  The team seemed to perceive it, as did the rest of the coaching staff and fans.
In early February, Boyd announced that he was leaving Marlboro County after 22 years, returning to his hometown of York.
After a two-month search, Lancaster High head coach Bobby Collins was introduced as the new lead Dog.  
With only a couple of weeks to p

CLIO  —  Town officials expect Society Street to be reopened by Thursday after a section of it collapsed on Monday afternoon.
Clio Mayor Joe Kinney said the issue with the road started with Hurricanes Matthew and Florence.
Water underneath the road wasn’t draining properly and a weak spot developed.
Kinney said big trucks had used the road on Monday and eventually the section of the road collapsed after a truck passed over it.
Clio Police Lt. Chad Cheras was behind the truck, saw what happened and was able to direct traffic away from it.

Marlboro County School District teachers, staff and administrators set the tone for the 2019-20 school year at last week’s convocation in the gym at Marlboro County High School.
The annual event is a chance for everyone to gather and kick off the school year.
The MCHS Mighty Marching Bulldogs along with the cheerleaders provided the spirit. Teachers and staff from each school were dressed in their school colors to display their pride.
Breanne Wilbur was named the Teacher of the Year for the district. She teaches fourth and fifth-grade math and science at Clio Elementary Middle School. 
Wilbur is starting her seventh year of teaching.
“Ever since I was a child,  I always wanted to be a teacher,” Wilbur said in her TOY statement. “I was a child who loved the end of the school year because of all the materials the teachers gave away. They were the best for playing school.”

To build the workforce needed for the county, officials from Northeastern Technical College and Marlboro County School District are working together to help business/industry meet this goal.
Superintendent Dr. Gregory McCord asked more than 100 business and community leaders who attended the breakfast meeting Wednesday at NETC Marlboro campus about what was needed to advance students in the county and surrounding areas.
McCord noted it wasn’t just about creating jobs but having a workforce that will remain in the county.