Wal-Mart progressing Posted - 01-26-2012 Marlboro County’s Wal-Mart Supercenter is taking shape on Highway 9 West, with some of the walls being erected. A company spokesman says the store should open for business in late summer 2012. It will be a 90,000 square foot supercenter with a grocery component, including fresh produce and a deli, as well as a pharmacy and a small garden center. Information about hiring for the new store should be announced in the spring. (Photo by Lynn McQueen) Click here for more

Men convicted in 2008 farm seed, chemical thefts Posted - 01-26-2012 A trial this week in federal court ended with the conviction of a Bennettsville man on charges related to the theft of nearly $200,000 in farm equipment, seed and chemicals a few years ago. The trial took place in federal court in Florence. Daniel David, 49, of 101 Light Street, had been charged with two counts of possession of stolen goods and unlawfully transporting interstate commerce, according to the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office. A co-defendant, 57-year-old W.R. Douglas, of 1288... Click here for more

Kinney Foundation awards $47,500 in grants to 10 organizations Posted - 01-26-2012 The Kinney Foundation presented 10 grants totaling $47,500 at its annual awards luncheon Monday at The Skye. The Kinney Foundation was established in 1972 by the late Dr. P.M. Kinney and his brother, Dr. C.A. Kinney, Bennettsville natives, who had no children. They created The Kinney Foundation to make lasting contributions to the lives of citizens of Marlboro County and established a self-perpetuating board of trustees to determine how the funds from the trust are spent annually. Click here for more

Jobless rate up in December Posted - 01-26-2012 An increase in Marlboro County’s unemployment rate last month was most likely caused by holiday plant closures. The county’s December unemployment rate was 17.3 percent, up from an adjusted rate of 16.6 percent in November, according to statistics released this week by the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. Click here for more

Gingrich wins in county and state Posted - 01-26-2012 Marlboro County voters contributed to Newt Gingrich’s win in South Carolina’s Republican Presidential Preference Primary last weekend. Gingrich was the overall winner of the “First in the South” primary on Saturday, receiving about 40.4 percent of South Carolina’s votes. Mitt Romney came in second with 27.8 percent, followed by Rick Santorum with 17 percent and Ron Paul with 13 percent. Click here for more

Lady Bulldogs stay in title hunt Posted - 01-26-2012 The red hot Marlboro County Lady Bulldogs continued their push to the top of Region 6-AAA, winning two conference games and an important non-region contest in the last week. The Lady Bulldogs hammered Darlington on Tuesday, 60-33, to set up a clash with Crestwood for the region lead this Friday. The Bulldogs were led by the hot shooting of Rasheda Patterson, who scored 27 points. Patterson connected on five three pointers, four coming in the second half, to allow the Lady Bulldogs to... Click here for more

Dragons cruise in homecoming games, fall to Byrnes Posted - 01-26-2012 The Marlboro Academy varsity girls’ basketball team suffered their first defeat of the season Tuesday night at the Byrnes School in Florence. The Lady Trojans came from behind in the final minutes, hitting a tying basket as the buzzer sounded to end regulation. Marlboro jumped out in overtime with a quick basket but Byrnes rallied again. "We were in foul trouble throughout the game and McKayla (Pruitt) fouled out with five minutes left in the fourth quarter. Katie (McLaurin) played... Click here for more