Editor’s note: This is the second installment of our annual series which looks back at the headlines and top stories of the previous year.

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“I feel it is vitally important people realize we are in a serious era in life. And to get a shot that will protect us from catching this virus or even succumbing to it is important.”

-Rev. James Smith, pastor at Greater St. James Missionary Baptist Church, on why he got the COVID-19 vaccination during a Facebook Live in early April.

“We know up to 48% of survivors will stay in abusive situations because they can’t bring their pets with them.”

-Devon Krusko, field services and outreach coordinator at RedRover. The Humane Society of Marlboro County was the first animal shelter in the area to provide a safe haven for pets of domestic violence survivors.

April

-The Midgley Insurance and Real Estate Agency was selected as the April Chamber Business of the Month.

-Judge Edward B. Cottingham, 91, died on Mar. 24 in Columbia. Cottingham spent 32 years as an attorney in Bennettsville. He was involved in numerous activities on the local and state level.

-Marlboro County had the third-highest unemployment rate in the state at 9.1 percent in February.

-Marlboro County had nine new cases of COVID-19 and 51 deaths. There were 3,142 confirmed cases.

-As of Apr. 2, the Marlboro County High School softball team remained undefeated in Region 6-AAA.

-The Pee Dee Indian Tribe held a grand opening for the Education Cultural Center on Apr. 10. The center was the first of three phases planned by the tribe.

-Marlboro County will receive almost $6 million from the American Rescue Act Plan.

-The Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault in Marlboro County held a “Know More” March on Apr. 24. -The Bennettsville Police Department started a ride-along program for citizens to see what officers do but in a safe environment.

-S.C. Department of Corrections and S.C. Law Enforcement Division investigated a bomb threat at Evans Correctional Institution.

-Marlboro County had 24 new cases of COVID-19 and 52 deaths. There were 3,184 confirmed cases.

-MCSD announced two hires and three administration changes for the 2021-22 school year. Pam Johnson was hired as the new executive director of secondary education. Dr. Kimberly Walsh was hired as the executive director of elementary education. Administrative changes included Mahilda Douglas being named the principal at Clio Elementary School. Ashley Taylor was named the principal at Bennettsville Intermediate School. Crystal Halma will be the principal at Wallace Elementary School.

-Amber Goings was appointed as the Marlboro County Veteran Affairs officer. She worked in the office for six years and ran the office when previous Veteran Affairs officers left.

-Bennettsville City Council approved the 2021-22 budget. The overall budget is $24,299,042, which was $67,542 less than the current year’s budget.

-Sandhill Connextion held a ribbon-cutting at the company’s new office at 221 15-401 Bypass East in Bennettsville. The business relocated from their Cheraw Street office.

-Marian Wright Edelman Public Library resumed regular hours on May 3.

-Various vaccine opportunities were available locally. At the time, the state had administered 2,795,300 doses. Almost 27.2 percent of South Carolinians were fully vaccinated. Marlboro County had 34 new cases of COVID-19 and 51 deaths. There were 3,242 confirmed cases.

-The Marlboro County High School JROTC presented the colors at the Darlington Raceway for the Xfinity Race on May 8. The pace car for the race was displayed at MCHS on Apr. 23.

-MCHS Softball team remained undefeated in Region 6-AAA on Apr. 22.

-Three people were arrested after an Apr. 25 shooting on Glen Street in Bennettsville. Raekquan Stanton was charged with three counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, aggravated disorderly conduct, and malicious injury to personal property. Jaquan Rogers and Ra’sson Williams were charged with two counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, aggravated disorderly conduct, and malicious injury to personal property.

-The class of 2021 graduation ceremony was scheduled for Saturday, Jun. 12, in the gymnasium of MCHS. The change was made because the new field turf being installed at McAlpine stadium, and the district was unable to have the ceremony there.

-John D. Fink III of Dorchester County was charged with a count of kidnapping and a count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after kidnapping a Wallace teen. He also faced charges in Summerville.

-Marlboro County High baseball and softball teams had action paused due to COVID-19.

-The University of South Carolina President Bob Caslen visited MCHS on Apr. 26. He shared his mentoring initiative, Gamecock Connections.

-Seven-year-old Niah Joye made her dream of having a lemonade stand come true on Apr. 22. Joye gave away lemonade and accepted donations for the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault.

May

-MCHS defeated Lake City in 10 innings on May 5 to keep their playoff hopes alive.

-As of May 4, MCSD had 27 active cases of the coronavirus and 204 students in quarantine.

-A storm on May 4 left trees and power lines down throughout the county.

-The Bennettsville Fire Department received a Fire Safe SC designation for the second year.

-The town of Tatum now has its own Little Free Library. It is the 13th Little Free Library in the county.

-The first Downtown Market Day was held on May 1.

-Kevin Treadaway was sworn in as the municipal judge for the town of Clio on Apr. 29.

-Fact Forward, the former S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, awarded the Coalition for Family Enrichment in Marlboro County Inc, a community grant to work with girls ages 13-15 years old and their families.

-Sharon Hubbard, chief officer of finance and operations for MCSD, proposed a $35,518,930 draft budget with $35,341,654 in expenses. It included a recommendation for a five percent raise for certified and non-certified staff.

-A memorial balloon release was held for the late Iyana and Ella Lowery on Apr. 29 at New Beginnings Transitional Shelter.

-A ribbon-cutting was held for Nomad Café and Coffee Company on Marlboro Street in Bennettsville on May 5. The Nomad offers, coffee, espresso and other coffee-based drinks, frozen drinks and frappes. They also serve European-inspired pastries and savories made daily, paninis, soups, takeaway meals and catering.

-The football field at McAlpine Stadium was vandalized.

– A total of 6,302 county residents had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Almost 32.2 percent of South Carolinians were fully vaccinated. Marlboro County had 20 new cases of COVID-19 and 54 deaths. There were 3,312 confirmed cases.

-The Bennettsville Fire Department held its Prom Promise event on Apr. 30 across from the MCHS.

-Northeastern Technical College graduated 27 from an their associate’s degree of nursing program.

-Gov. Henry McMaster issued executive order 2021-23 on May 11 to allow parents to decide whether or not their children wore masks in public schools. It also prohibited local or county governments from issuing mask mandates.

-As of May 13, a total of 6,449 county residents had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Almost 34.8 percent of South Carolinians were fully vaccinated. Marlboro County had 19 new cases of COVID-19 and 54 deaths. There were 3,354 confirmed cases.

-After a ransomware attack targeting the Colonial Pipeline, gas shortages happened locally and nationally at filling stations.

-Marlboro County native Iris Griffin was named the first female to oversee power generation for Dominion Energy.

-Harry James Roller and Heather Renne Lynn Schmidt were arrested in McColl on May 10 after an undercover drug investigation in the Iceman neighborhood. -MCHS Baseball team won all three of their remaining region games to earn a playoff bid.

-Lady Bulldogs claimed their first region title since 2011 by defeating Camden 13-8.

-The Marlboro FoodShare Hub opened at the Marlboro School Community Center. The grand opening was May 7.

-Bennettsville Primary School was recognized as an Imagine Learning 2020-21 Imagine Nation Beacon School. This was the second time the school received the honor.

-The City of Bennettsville received up to $2.89 million from the American Rescue Plan.

-Bennettsville City Council voted unanimously on May 18 to accept the proposal of Dr. Bill McCoy to lead the council in a strategic planning project.

-Marlboro Board of Education voted 6-0 on May 17 to move forward with a recommendation to give all district employees a two percent raise with a $1,000 one-time bonus.

-The fourth annual Community Clean-up Day was held with more than 300 volunteers collecting an estimated 4.2 tons of trash.

-Steven Walters, 33, died on May 19 after a motorcycle crash on Delta Heights Road.

-The Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division and Bennettsville Police Department Narcotics Division arrested Danielle Michelle Edwards, 27, of Clio; Stefon Alarick McCall, 26, of Clio; Demarcus Tyron Williams, 29, of Bennettsville; and Travis Daquan Campbell, 27, of Bennettsville.

-A memorial dedicated to Tate I. Allen and Easton Curtiss Brueger at Marlboro Academy on May 19.

-James Creech Jr., 78, of McColl died in a mobile home fire on May 19 on Hwy 381 North McColl.

-The Centers for Disease Control announced fully vaccinated people could stop wearing masks and observing social distancing in most indoor and outdoor setting.

-As of May 20, a total of 6,589 county residents had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly 34.8 percent of South Carolinians were fully vaccinated. Marlboro County had 23 new cases of COVID-19 and 56 deaths. There were 3,408 confirmed cases.

-MCHS Baseball team wrapped up their season with 13-6 overall record. They were 8-2 in Region 6-AAA and were co-champions with Lakewood.

-MCHS Softball team ended their season with a perfect 9-0 record in Region 6-AAA games.

-Making A Difference! Program had kickoff celebration on May 22.

-Registration started for the Marian Wright Edelman Public Library 2021 summer reading program, which was held virtually.

-Marlboro County School District held its annual Memorial Day Tribute on May 31.

-City of Bennettsville officials hosted state officials on May 21, who visited to gain information about flooding issues along Crooked Creek.

-Marlboro School Community Center held its 2021 Grand Reunion during May 21-23.

-As of May 27, a total of 6,785 county residents had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly 36.1 percent of South Carolinians were fully vaccinated.

-The Humane Society of Marlboro County was the recipient of $80,000 in grants from Greater Good Charities and RedRover to be the first animal shelter in the area to provide a safe haven for pets of domestic violence survivors.

-The kick-off for Books, Barbers and Beauticians initiative was held at Marlboro County High School. Marlboro native Dr. Gary Bethea helped to kick off the event.