Quotes

“Education will take you far. It is free. I don’t see anyone trying to pump it out from your head.”

—Thomas Ocean, founder and organizer of Boys Day Out speaking at the 17th annual event on Sept. 18.

“We want to thank everyone who has supported our family and the newspaper for the last 90 years. We feel confident that Champion Media will do a great job and ask the community to assist them during this transition.”

—Dan McNiel, who served as the editor for the last seven years and publisher and editor for the last four years.

“I don’t want anyone who lives here or visits here to feel like they are not safe. We have people who are working here.”

—Larry McNeil, interim sheriff of Marlboro County

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

As 2021 started to wind down, COVID-19 wasn’t the only news in the county. The final quarter brought many changes, reasons to celebrate and losses to grieve.

September

-Marlboro County Board of Education voted on Aug. 31 during a special called meeting to give Superintendent Dr. Gregory McCord an eight percent increase in salary and a one-time two percent bonus.

-The Marlboro Chamber of Commerce named the Douglas Jennings Law Firm LLC as the September Business of the Month.

-Marlboro County had the second worst vaccination rate in the state. As of Sept. 2, a total of 7,440 county residents were fully vaccinated. Marlboro County had 73 new cases of COVID-19. There was a total of 63 deaths. There were 4,096 confirmed cases.

-Marian Wright Edelman Public Library (MWE) had a successful virtual summer reading program.

-The state report card for 2020-21 showed how the pandemic affected learning in Marlboro County School District (MCSD).

-Marlboro County Council voted on Aug. 31 to not purchase the former Carolina Bank building in downtown Bennettsville.

-Filing ended for seats on the Bennettsville City Council and the Town of McColl municipal elections ended. District 3 incumbent Tex Allen Taylor II and District 5 incumbent Tyron Abraham filed for reelection while District One incumbent Sandy Donaldson (missed the deadline due to a family emergency and ran as a write-in candidate). In McColl, Robert Outlaw, George Garner, and Gordon Jones filed for mayor. In the running for the six council seats were incumbents RC Cummings, Lynn Kubas, and Brian Blue along with Ray Grier, Jody C. Stubbs, Willie Goins, David Limbacher, and Brenda Jones.

-MWE Public Library officials wrote and received a grant as part of the Marlboro County Early Literacy Initiative project. They were able to provide literacy kits to every kindergartener in the MCSD and at Marlboro Academy.

– As of Sept. 9, a total of 7,607 county residents were fully vaccinated. Marlboro County had 83 new cases of COVID-19. There was a total of 67 deaths. There were 4,236 confirmed cases.

-The Marlboro County Board of Education voted 5-4 to place Superintendent Dr. Gregory McCord on administrative leave for two weeks after he allowed Omega Psi Phi fraternity to put a building on school grounds.

-The City of Bennettsville amended their 2021-22 budget to allow for three more firefighting positions.

-The University of North Carolina at Pembroke opened the new McKenzie-Elliott School of Nursing, which was named after Marlboro County native Mary McKenzie Edwards, on Sept. 23.

-Marlboro County saw a decrease in its unemployment rate in August. The rate decreased from 8.0 to 7.8%.

-The state reached a milestone with a 50% vaccination rate among eligible residents. As of Sept. 23, only 34% of the qualified population were fully vaccinated. Marlboro County had 57 new cases of COVID-19. There was a total of 70 deaths. There were 4,504 confirmed cases.

-Champion Media purchased the Herald-Advocate newspaper and Pee Dee Life magazine.

-Hugh Douglas Dentler, 56, of Florence robbed the Dollar General on Cottingham Boulevard on Sept. 16. He was arrested and this robbery led to solving a robbery at Anderson Brothers Bank.

-Free COVID-19 testing was held at Bennettsville Community Center. As of Sept. 30, Marlboro County had 23 new cases of COVID-19. There was a total of 74 deaths. There were 4,583 confirmed cases.

October

-Marlboro County Coordinating Council received $125,000 to enact Empower Marlboro County.

-Fowler Pharmacy celebrated its 70th anniversary with a daylong celebration in the store on Oct. 8. Chocolate Chip and Company performed in concert later that evening at the Bennettsville Community Center.

-The Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office and US Marshal Task Force arrested Christopher K. Bradford following an investigation into a drive-by shooting in Bennettsville on Sept. 24.

-The Marlboro County Board of Education voted 5-3 on Oct. 4 to reinstate, to issue a reprimand, and put Superintendent Dr. Gregory McCord on a six-month improvement plan.

-Fowler Pharmacy was named the October Business of the Month by the Marlboro Chamber of Commerce.

-Breeden’s Quality Meats celebrated 95 years on Oct. 9.

-The number of COVID-19 cases were declining in the county and state. As of Oct. 14, Marlboro County had 23 new cases of COVID-19 and one death. There was a total of 77 deaths. There were 4,733 confirmed cases. Only 35% of the eligible population in the county was vaccinated.

-Asbury United Methodist Church in Clio celebrated 150th anniversary.

-Marlboro County Board of Education voted 5-1 to accept the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Gregory McCord and to approve the proposed confidential settlement and mutual release at a special called meeting on Oct. 13.

-Two people were killed after a shooting near Club Amnesia in McColl. Bria Michelle Byrd, 23, and Ronnie Oxendine, 31, both of Rockingham, died on the scene due to a gunshot wound sustained during the shooting.

-Marlboro County Council approved providing premium pay for employees that worked during the pandemic.

-Waitr food delivery service launched Wednesday.

-Community members and county officials voiced their frustrations to state officials on Oct. 18 during a meeting about the continued closure of Old Wire Road.

-Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Jason Bryant was named the acting superintendent for the MCSD.

-Divine Nine of Marlboro County held a vaccination event on Oct. 28. As of Oct. 21, Marlboro County had 11 new cases of COVID-19 and one death. There was a total of 77 deaths. There were 4,789 confirmed cases. Only 35.8% of the eligible population in the county was vaccinated.

-The Marlboro County Branch NAACP held its 43rd annual Freedom Fund Celebration on Oct. 23.

-Bennettsville Primary School third-grader Niah Joye provided free lemonade at the Marlboro site of the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault on Oct. 28. Joye received $510 in donations, which she gave to the Pee Dee Coalition.

-Divine Nine of Marlboro County held a vaccination event on Oct. 28. As of Oct. 28, Marlboro County had nine new cases of COVID-19 and four deaths. There was a total of 81 deaths. There were 4,811 confirmed cases. Only 36.8% of the eligible population in the county was vaccinated.

-Marlboro County had the highest unemployment rate in the state in September at 7.1%.

-A shooting at The Hut Nightclub on Ellison Court left one-person dead on Oct. 24.

-Bennettsville Police Chief Kevin Miller and Marlboro County Veteran Services Officer Amber Goings received commendations by U.S. Senator Tim Scott for their service to the community.

-Jonathan Beggs was sworn in as police chief for the town of Clio at the October meeting.

November

-Several races were decided during the Nov. 2 municipal elections. Newcomer Wanda Weaver won the Bennettsville City Council District 1 seat. District 3 incumbent Allen Taylor and District 5 incumbent Tyron Abraham were also reelected. In McColl, George Garner was elected mayor while the six council seats were filled by Brian Blue, Jody C. Stubbs, RC Cummings, Lynn Kubas, Ray Grier, and David Limbacher.

-The S.C. Highway Patrol sought information on a hit and run collision involving a pedestrian at 7:20 p.m. Oct. 30.

-Marlboro County Board of Education voted unanimously on Nov. 1 to hire Donald E. Andrews as the interim superintendent for MCSD. Joey Footman was approved as the new basketball coach at Marlboro County High School.

-The Marlboro County Planning and Zoning Commission approved the High Rack Estates subdivision in Wallace.

-CareSouth Carolina is participating in Harvard Medical School’s Sprint to Accelerate Vaccination Equitably in Community and Rural Health program with the goal to increase the vaccination rate in the county. As of Nov. 4, Marlboro County had 10 new cases of COVID-19 and one death. There was a total of 82 deaths. There were 4,840 confirmed cases. Only 36% of the eligible population in the county was vaccinated.

-Northeastern Technical College Foundation received $1 million donation from Schaeffler to create the Schaeffler Center for Advanced Manufacturing on the Cheraw campus.

-Marlboro County High School SGA members were inaugurated at a ceremony on Nov. 5.

-Former Marlboro County probate judge Tammy Bullock was arrested on a felony gun charge on Nov. 4.

-Elizabeth Newton Smith was arrested following a shooting in McColl on Nov. 8.

-The Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office arrested Michael Malique McManus following an assault that occurred at Blenheim Middle School of Discovery on Nov. 1.

-The ribbon-cutting, and grand opening were held for Brew and Bake on Nov. 8.

-The Marlboro Players presented the classic tale “Charlotte’s Web” on Nov. 11-13.

-Nomad Café and Coffee Co. was winner of the 2021 Bennettsville Scarecrow Display contest.

-The Marlboro County Coordinating Council received $25,000 grant from the United Way of Chesterfield County.

-Lyndsey Adair Lightsinger, 25, of McColl was charged with assault on an officer while reportedly resisting arrest on Oct. 30.

-William J. Reid was celebrated for being the oldest World War II veteran in Marlboro and Chesterfield counties on Nov. 14 at Grace Temple Fellowship Church.

-Bennettsville City Council unanimously approved changes to the ordinance that governed yard trash at their November meeting.

-AmVet Post 177 had its annual veterans breakfast at Magnolia on Main.

-The Mental Health and Family Wellness Summit took place on Nov. 12.

-MCHS Mighty Marching Bulldog Band participated in the Darlington High School annual Keith DaBreu Battle of the Bands on Nov. 6. The band earned a superior rating.

-Marlboro County Bulldogs Elite 8u won the AAU state championship.

-The City of Bennettsville District 5 Councilman Tyron Abraham and the Marlboro School Community Center had a Thanksgiving parade on Nov. 25.

-Small Business Saturday was held on Nov. 27.

-Former Bennettsville Police officer Jalen C. Hilton was charged with assaulting an individual in custody.

-The Marlboro County Council started the redistricting process on Nov. 22 during a special called meeting.

-Rebecca Brown celebrated her 100th birthday on Nov. 24.

December

-No COVID-19 omicron variant cases had been identified in the state. As of Dec. 2, Marlboro County had eight new cases of COVID-19. There was a total of 83 deaths. There were 4,913 confirmed cases. Only 36% of the eligible population in the county was vaccinated.

-Clio native Dr. Latosha P. Burch held a book signing at the Clio Opera House on Dec. 4.

-The Clio Christmas Parade was held on Dec. 4 with Dr. Latosha P. Burch as the grand marshal.

-Abba’s House Maternity Home held its ribbon cutting and open house on Dec. 5.

-Marlboro County Council approved the purchase of a digital sign to be centrally located in the county so citizens can stay informed.

-The City of Bennettsville celebrated Arbor Day on Dec. 3 by planting a red maple tree at the Bennettsville Community Center.

-At their Dec. 6 meeting, Marlboro County Council took action on several economic development activities.

-Hudgins Heat and Air was named the December Business of the Month for the Marlboro Chamber of Commerce.

-Marlboro Development Team acquired the family-owned Preston Moore Oil Company in Bennettsville.

-MCHS SGA painted several trash cans on Broad Street to help improve the appearance of the area.

– The City of Bennettsville Christmas Parade was held on Dec. 11 with the mayor and city council members as grand marshals.

-Marlboro County Sheriff Charles Lemon and former deputy David Andrew Cook were indicted Dec. 14 by a Marlboro County grand jury on assault and misconduct charges after a Taser incident on a suspect on May 3, 2020.

-Marlboro County Board of Education Chairman Larry McNeil resigned from the seat on Dec. 14 after being appointed interim sheriff for Marlboro County.

-Construction was set to start soon on a 50,000 square foot speculative building for the county.

-The Humane Society of Marlboro County received help from the Charleston Animal Society mobile unit to spay and neuter animals in the shelter.

-A vaccination event was held on Dec. 20 at the Bennettsville Community Center. As of Dec. 16, Marlboro County had 10 new cases of COVID-19 and one death. There was a total of 85 deaths. There were 4,971 confirmed cases. Only 36% of the eligible population in the county was vaccinated.

-Marlboro County Board of Education selected Jackie Branch as the new chairman.

-Suspended Marlboro County Sheriff Charles Lemon and former deputy David Andrew Cook were arraigned Dec. 21 in Florence on charges stemming from a Taser incident in May 2020.

-The Marlboro Civic Center received $500,000 in state funding for repairs, renovations, and upgrades.

-Marlboro Pro Vax Ambassadors continued to work to increase vaccination rate. Only 36.2% of residents were fully vaccinated. As of Dec. 23, Marlboro County had 17 new cases of COVID-19 and one death. There was a total of 85 deaths. There were 4,913 confirmed cases. Only 36% of the eligible population in the county was vaccinated.

-Don Durant Cook was charged with murder after an October altercation that later led to a man’s death.

-The ribbon cutting, and open house were held for PWIC MedSpa on Market on Dec. 17.

-In November, the county still had the highest unemployment rate in the state at 6.8%, despite a slight decrease.

-Matthew Stringer, 27, of Biscoe, N.C. was arrested for burglary of the Dollar General in Wallace.