tutors for the international exchange and Erasmus students at Bamberg University led a hike to the city's Altenburg castle the trail led us through a quiet stretch of meadow ringed by trees with roofs jutting out behind their crowns Schlösser and the crimson red tiles that populate the UNESCO World Heritage-designated city come into full view Behind those landmarks is a mountain range that overlooks the valley in which Bamberg sits but I resolved to watch morning break over the mountains and fill Bamberg with light and I was out of the door and running less than 15 minutes later donning my 2023 Founders’ Day long-sleeve tee I was back at the spot that my sunrise-viewing dream started: a bench overlooking the city the sound of hundreds of birds chirping to each other surrounded me as the pre-dawn light slowly became more prominent there were some interruptions to the serene spot - sirens wailed here and there and a faint hum of traffic came from the autobahn a few kilometers away - but the moment was everything I had hoped for After watching the morning dew develop on blades of grass next to my bench and then heading back to my apartment a friend - a chronic early riser unlike me - generously invited me for tea as rain started to splash on the cobblestoned street and then it was time to move on to the next task of the day ticking off to-do list items and bumping into newfound friends along the way I had been awake for 15 hours and still had things to do but I made sure to watch the sun dip behind the mountain range to the west of Bamberg As the last vestiges of Monday’s sunlight disappeared the day’s activities replayed through my head and slight exhaustion set in I have woken up once more to watch the sun rise in the morning and have seen the sun set nearly every evening as well making a habit of enjoying the semi-daily scene has helped slow life down here in Bamberg It has given me a chance to think of what lies ahead with the start and end of each day which is not quite what I expected to take from my first few weeks abroad but the lesson in reflection as the light refracts through Earth’s atmosphere is valuable nonetheless Gabriel Kopp '26 is majoring in Journalism and Law and Public Policy at Mercer University He has written for The Cluster since he started at Mercer he enjoys going for runs and reading The New York Times or the AJC while sipping coffee Bedford Borough Council has announced the return of the Bamberg Beer Festival It will take place from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 May at the Harpur Suite After a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic this popular festival is back by popular demand continuing the tradition established to honour Bedford’s twinning relationship with Bamberg The three-day event will feature a wide selection of authentic German beers offering attendees a true taste of Bamberg’s renowned beer heritage The festival is a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to come together and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere inspired by one of Bedford’s closest European partners said; “We are delighted to bring back the Bamberg Beer Festival for its 10th anniversary This event not only celebrates our enduring friendship with Bamberg but also provides a fantastic occasion for the community to enjoy great beer “We encourage everyone to join us at the Harpur Suite for what promises to be a memorable festival that highlights the best of German culture right here in Bedford.” The festival’s return reflects the strong enthusiasm from the community and the Council’s commitment to fostering cultural exchange and local celebration For full details, including opening times and ticket information, please visit the Bedford Corn Exchange website at www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk/events/bamberg-beer-festival-2025/  Join us in raising a glass to 10 years of friendship and great beer at the Bamberg Beer Festival Note: image created using Dream Lab on Canva Bedford Borough Council has announced the return of the Bedford Kite and Motoring Festival a biennial celebration of community spirit and family entertainment taking place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June 2025 across Russell Park Bedfordians can kick off the late May bank holiday weekend in style at the Harpur Suite as the return of the Bamberg Beer Festival takes centre stage in the town centre for its 10th anniversary Celebrating the tradition established to honour Bedford’s twinning relationship with Bamberg in Germany the three-day event will feature a wide selection of authentic German beers Beginning on Friday 23 May and lasting for three days the festival is a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to come together and enjoy the unique atmosphere inspired by one of Bedford’s closest European partners Bedford has been formally twinned with Bamberg since 1977; a town that has enjoyed status as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993 and has been a popular tourist site ever since Shortstown) and Portfolio Holder for Customer Experience said; “We are delighted to bring back the Bamberg Beer Festival for its 10th anniversary “This event not only celebrates our enduring friendship with Bamberg but also provides a fantastic occasion for the community to enjoy great beer “We encourage everyone to join us at the Harpur Suite for what promises to be a memorable festival that highlights the best of German culture right here in Bedford.” Entry is free and kicks off at 12pm on Friday 23 May with the same start time for Saturday and Sunday You can find out more information on the festival here BAMBERG – Bamberg County and municipal officials broke ground in May 2024 for a high-speed Internet project designed to connect rural Bamberg County with the world 60 farms and 24 educational facilities in Bamberg County are expected to benefit from the construction of about 210 miles of buried fiber across the central portions of the county The areas benefitting from the project include the communities of Hunter’s Chapel Denmark and portions of the City of Bamberg – basically the U.S Highway 78 corridor from Denmark to Whetstone's Crossing near Branchville Officials believe it will take up to two years to get the majority of the cable in the ground The project is expected to take a total of five years The project began with a 100-gigabit capacity with plans to increase that The capacity is enough to provide needed services to homes “That is a lot of capacity,” Project engineer William Metts of Metts Engineering said The fiber will cross the Edisto River at Whetstone's Crossroads come through Bamberg and Denmark and cross the Edisto a second time at U.S The project will also be constructed to ensure that if a fiber is cut There will be full installation of the fiber to customers at no charge and Wi-Fi routers will be installed in all households The broadband project was made possible thanks to a $12 million U.S It is part of the fourth round of funding for the program which was part of former President Joe Biden's $45 billion “Internet for All” initiative to connect all Americans to high-speed internet by 2030 Bamberg County is one of 12 counties in the state designated as a “persistent poverty county,” which means the residents of the community face specific challenges and will rely on broadband internet services to help grow their local economy and increase their opportunities for the future Bamberg County applied for funding to improve rural internet access about 10 times since 2018 before Congressman James Clyburn’s involvement made it happen another one opens,” Bamberg County Administrator Joey Preston said The original hope was to get a $5 million grant but that fell through and now the county is getting $12 million “It is all those services that those other companies sell for a lot of money That is a good thing for our community,” Preston said The private sector was uninterested in bringing broadband internet to underserved areas “We have a plan to implement what we need in this county,” Bamberg County Council Chairman Evert Comer Jr Comer said the county's size and rural nature helped it get the grant “one day we won't be in that classification.” “We are moving further and further up the ladder,” Comer said but not just homes,” Bamberg County Councilwoman Sharon Hammond said “Bamberg is opening itself up to the entire world,” Hammond said “Broadband is going to give us access to the rest of the world.” Councilman Larry Haynes cited the importance of broadband for education the kids didn't learn anything for a whole year especially the kids who lived in the country,” Haynes said “They had no means of getting their homework That was really sad that a lot of kids had to come to town to the library just to try to do their homework.” every child will be able to do their own work whether they be at school or whether they are at home,” Haynes said Contact the writer: gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5551 Check out Zaleski on Twitter at @ZaleskiTD Email notifications are only sent once a day A West Columbia-based construction and heavy equipment company has decided to invest more than it originally planned in Calhoun County Orangeburg County has been steadily building momentum—attracting new industries The Boeing Company has acquired both of Orangeburg's GKN Aerospace facilities A manufacturing company in the automotive sector announced Tuesday it is investing $1 billion and creating 124 new jobs in Orangeburg County Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account I moved out of my Resident Assistant suite in Plunkett Hall and went home leaving campus and many of my closest friends and connections behind nor did I decide to take a gap semester - not exactly On Monday, I leave for Bamberg to study at the Otto Friedrich University of Bamberg, a semester abroad for which preparations and Duolingo lessons have been ongoing since last summer. There will be mistakes made, however, because speaking the language is not a strength of mine. Perhaps the owl’s return to the land of the living may be the spark needed to master more German in the next few days and in an effort to document the time I spend in Germany and to comment on my experiences abroad biweekly) column in The Mercer Cluster about my exploits under the title “The Bamberg Banner.” tears welled and throats were cleared in a desperate attempt to not give away the fact that bumping into friends on the way to the UC or being able to play spike ball on Black Field as the sun is setting will be an impossibility I predict there will be more of the same over the next 24 hours as the wheels lift off the tarmac in Atlanta and the plane hurtles towards a new challenge but leaves behind everything with which I am familiar in all with whom I spoke about the upcoming trip there was a sense of excitement for what may happen during the semester There is something to be said for having the anticipation of a trip build for months as the days count down everything seems to become more compressed Purchasing power adapters the day before departure is a hassle once the dust has settled and the suitcase is unpacked the pre-trip rush will fade out of memory and the foretold excitement will again kick in language barriers and times when another helping of kartoffeln und bratwurst weigh on me A driver was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Bamberg County on Thursday morning A 2021 Toyota Tundra was traveling north on S.C 70 when it went off the left side of the road and struck a tree The driver was the sole occupant of the SUV and died at the scene according to Bamberg County Coroner Shawn Hanks Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email A 25-year-old North man admitted that he stole gas from a van belonging to a Norway Road church Orangeburg Department of Public SafetyA shopper claims a young male exposed himself to her at the Walmart Neighborhood Market located at 332 S… Since touching down in Munich on Tuesday morning there has not been much rest for the wicked From hiking with my cousin to leisurely walking the streets of Munich and to hustling through the streets of Bamberg only to be late to my appointment this week has felt like the longest of my life When not preoccupied with figuring out where to purchase a WiFi router or how to buy a bus pass on my phone, I walked through my new home. What I realized was that this town would make the late Josh Rogers proud. Rogers was the CEO of NewTown Macon when he died last November at the age of 42 He was also an adjunct professor at Mercer where he taught a course titled Urban Ecology in spring 2024 The course was centered around making cities better spaces for its inhabitants and it often focused on what separated lousy and livable cities His was a very hands-off approach to teaching He loved to hear his students’ input on their assigned readings he would adapt the day’s class so that students could still express their opinions on what Rogers had devoted his life to: urban design and beautification was a lasting interest in the way that cities are set up and developed I have often thought of Rogers’ impact as I walked through Macon The closest grocery store to Mercer is about a two-and-a-half mile walk from campus that crosses below a major highway whose construction has rendered any sidewalks impassible The issue leads people to walk through the construction zone - or on the street - and to their final destination Drivers who spend time at a red light where Interstate 16 crosses over U.S Route 129 will see pedestrians walk over a soil embankment not intended for foot traffic In places that are not active construction zones Drivers can frequently see folks flit across the intersection of College Street and Forsyth Street in electric wheelchairs as they steer away from oncoming traffic would explain to his class just how important pedestrians are to a city’s vibrancy Increases in city foot traffic often coincide with increases in businesses’ sales which encourages more businesses to open that in turn bring out more people to shop Macon’s storefronts are filling up with each passing month If the city would like to move further in its quest to be a destination instead of a pitstop it will have to use the same principles that Rogers preached in class I have never had a room with a kitchen to stock with supplies or dishes I have also never lived in a city set up so that everything is within walking distance of my apartment complex I have shopped for ingredients and have had to construct a rough sketch of my weekly meal plan As I assembled a small but serviceable list of kitchen supplies plate and package of spätzle from the store to my apartment I have yet to break a sweat or the law in doing so because pedestrians are valued here Building new attractions around the city is nice but prioritizing the citizens of Macon and ensuring that everyone can reach everything they need is crucial to their living a dignified and connected life I switched my phone’s temperature gauge to display Celsius instead of the States’ favored Fahrenheit my browser was littered with entries like “14 Celsius to Fahrenheit” and other versions of that search as I struggled to understand what weather to expect for the days ahead Google’s algorithm is trying to figure out why someone in Macon was so curious about temperature conversion rates for such a compressed period of time or maybe it was for a grade school project about weather systems Or it was a 21-year-old who didn’t know the difference between 15 and 20 Celsius it’s roughly the difference between wearing a sweater and a long-sleeve shirt Germany as trees and shrubs don more and more green buds and fledgling leaves with each sunny Standing in the checkout line at a nearby Aldi I saw bees whizzing through the fresh blooms on a tree and was instantly brought back to springtime in Macon there will be blooms and blossoms galore around Bamberg the ubiquitous green film will not last forever It will eventually get washed off in cacophonous but cleansing midafternoon summer storms I can revel in the beauty that typically encompasses Mercer’s well-manicured campus starting in March had a stall with cherry blossom sprigs for sale The sight of the flowering branches was yet another reminder of home in an otherwise long week I may have missed the famed International Cherry Blossom Festival but the tradition of hanging painted eggs on the cherry tree sprigs is a similarly cherished activity around this time of year I am thousands of miles from the uncomfortable humidity that permeates through Middle Georgia for seven months out of the year but I am in an environment whose natural beauty is like Macon’s and whose traditions similarly honor the beauty of the environment millions of tourists flock to Munich for Oktoberfest the true centre of German beer culture lies three hours north in the medieval town of Bamberg The first time I try Rauchbier (smoke beer) I am sitting in the dimly lit Schlenkerla – a 600-year-old tavern in the heart of Bamberg's old town A toasty aroma fills the air as if seeping from the ancient wooden beams supporting the low ceiling I swirl my first sip of the coffee-coloured liquid around in my mouth and my tastebuds explode with notes of slow-roasted ham The flavour is unusual but palatable; it is like blue cheese mushrooms or liquorice – either you set it aside after the first bite or feel compelled to keep going you have to drink three Seidlas (half litre) to get used to the taste," says Matthias Trum whose family has run the tavern for six generations Bamberg is a sophisticated and relaxing alternative for beer enthusiasts who prefer quality and variety over sheer quantity the region lays claim to the unofficial title of "Beer Capital of the World" every beer brewed in Northern Europe was a Rauchbier the result of a malting process that involved drying green malt – barley that has been germinated but not yet dried – in a kiln heated by a beechwood fire It was only after the first smokeless malt kiln was patented by Sir Nicholas Halse in England on 23 July 1635 that smokeless beers became the new standard and Rauchbier faded into obscurity While some craft breweries still produce smoke beer today, there are just two breweries in the world brewing it according to traditional methods with their own malting operations – Schlenkerla and Brauerei Spezial Why this tradition survived in Bamberg is unclear One explanation is economic: the Industrial Revolution started much later in the Germanic states than in England so old brewing methods survived longer The walls of Schlenkerla are adorned with sketched city maps and artwork collected by Trum's great-grandfather who ran the brewery in the early 20th Century and went to great lengths to maintain the tavern's 14th-Century aesthetic speaks to a spirit of preservation that has been passed down through the generations and continues to influence brewing practices to this day "Our modern lifestyle goes hand-in-hand with mass production," Trum explains "This makes our everyday products more affordable but the result is a natural loss of diversity It's really sad when flavour diversity is lost which is why it's important to preserve old flavours." beer tasting and a Rauchbier-inspired menu "Everyone has their favourite beer and brewery We are very patriotic about our beer diversity; that's what sets Bamberg apart." This diversity is the result of an exception to an ancient law beer was historically brewed in monasteries and tied to land ownership Bamberg's surrounding villages were not subjected to a so-called Meilenrecht ("mile right") – a law imposed by the city authorities that restricted brewing rights within a one-mile radius of the town to a privileged group of brewers – as strictly as in other parts of Europe The reason for this is simple: they couldn't enforce it Due to Bamberg's location on busy medieval trade routes beer consumption levels in the region were higher than elsewhere and brewers within the city were unable to cope with demand alone This gave guesthouse owners in the surrounding areas leverage to ignore the Meilenrecht and sell their own beer which explains to some degree the high density of family-owned breweries in the area and subsequent absence of larger many of these breweries stored their beer in the seven hills surrounding Bamberg the narrow-cobbled streets of the old town were not suitable for transporting large quantities of beer and early brewers discovered a network of tunnels in the hills created by sandstone quarrying in the Middle Ages The cool temperatures of the Felsenkeller (rock cellars) were perfect for fermenting and storing beer Some of those breweries opened beer gardens on the hills directly above the rock cellars you go auf den Kellern ("on the cellars") meaning a leisurely afternoon spent drinking beer under the shade of chestnut trees has the added bonus of spectacular city views Want to combine a festival atmosphere with Franconian beer diversity? The Sandkerwa Festival – a five-day folk festival in the streets of Bamberg's old town – is held every year from Thursday to Monday around 24 August It's deep in the chilled cellars of the Hellerbräu brewery on Stephansberg – one of the seven hills – that I get my second taste of Rauchbier The taste is cleaner and more familiar this time a combination of my taste buds adjusting and the fact that the beer has not yet fully matured "This one needs another week or two," says Martin Knab, a retired brewmaster who gives brewery tours in his spare time putting my limited knowledge of the chemical processes and temperatures to the test I feel a new appreciation for the art of brewing "Today we use computers and software to regulate everything according to our knowledge of modern biochemistry; back then it was all intuition and experience," he said Rather than rejecting modernity altogether it's about preserving old traditions using modern methods • The surprising wellness trend based on beer • From Ancient Egypt to Roman Britain, brewers are reviving beers from the past • Europe's under-the-radar region that's home to the 'undisputed tea world champions' But not all breweries can afford this luxury. Many smaller, family-owned breweries are closing due to a declining interest in the craft. "Young people are less interested in continuing the family business; they don't want to help grandma roll dumplings every Saturday morning," says Nina Schipkowski, director of the Franconian Brewing Museum "Another factor is that many brewers have to decide between brewing or gastronomy; they can no longer do both." The museum sits on another of Bamberg's hills, on the grounds of the St Michael's Monastery It was once home to a Benedictine brewery founded in 1122 but in 1979 it was converted into a museum where visitors can learn about Franconian brewing traditions As I take a tour of through the museum's five levels I study a map depicting all the breweries that have closed since the turn of the 20th Century – some due to casualties from two World Wars others due to the effects of modernisation – and I reflect on all the beers and flavours that have been lost That so many have survived against the odds is another testament to the strong brewing tradition that makes this region so unique The museum tour ends with a round of beer tasting starting with a lighter Pils before finishing with a Rauchbier the new taste now as familiar as a Munich Helles I am comforted by the thought that at least this unique flavour will survive If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. 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(WCIV) — One person is dead after a fatal collision in Bamberg County Wednesday afternoon according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol a Ford F-150 travelling north on Thunder Road collided with a Ford F-250 travelling east on Ehrhardt Road One occupant of the F-150 was transported to an area hospital and succumbed to their injuries The two occupants of the F-250 were not injured The Bamberg County Coroner's Office has yet to release the identity of the deceased Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInDENMARK (WRDW/WAGT) - Bamberg County officials say Blackhorse Steel Works is launching operations in Bamberg County Blackhorse works with steel for industrial and commercial projects It’s investing $5.2 million in the 107,000-square-foot facility at 19110 Heritage Highway in Denmark.  which is expected to begin operations in May 2025 will host the fabrication of miscellaneous and structural steel components Interested job applicants should apply through the Indeed job website a $150,000 Rural Infrastructure Fund Grant from the Coordinating Council for Economic Development will assist with building improvement costs Denmark Mayor Harold Johnson said he is appreciative “Job growth is essential for any town to thrive and we look forward to witnessing firsthand how this partnership will positively impact our citizens,” he said Bamberg County Council Chairwoman Sharon Hammond said she welcomes Blackhorse Steel Works and looks forward to providing a pro-business environment where the company can grow County Administrator Joey Preston said the plan “serves as another testament of Bamberg County’s industrial and economic potential.” 9 with Barnwell prevailing 3-0 in that game Bamberg was hampered by giving up 10 walks and four errors during the game.  batting .468 with 26 RBI’s and six home runs “Before I came back to Barnwell last year Coach McCollum said Barnwell has relied on Austin and three other seniors for most of the load this season “We have a sophomore and a freshman starting in the middle and we have two sophomore starters in the outfield and a junior started in center field tonight,” said Coach McCollum “We are kind of young and old at the same time Stokes has 26 innings pitched with   48 K’s Sandifer has worked 22.1 innings on the mound with 38 K’s and Brewer has 14 innings pitched to date with 25 K’s “In terms of our pitching this season but at times it has also been like a roller- coaster,” said Coach  Schwarting We also need to improve on our timely hitting before we start the play-offs also and we just need to do a much better job getting hits with runners on base,” said Coach Schwarting a Bamberg-Ehrhardt graduate now in his 7th season as the Raiders head coach All Rights Reserved | The High School Sports Report 1986-2021 (WRDW/WAGT) - Voters in Bamberg County went to the polls on Tuesday to vote for several races Five school board district races were up for voters to decide Jeni Bunch was called the winner with 58.4% of the votes vs Cindy Hurst was called the winner with 63.6% of the votes vs Tonya Govan and Allison Wade are likely headed to a run-off election after bringing in the top two amount of votes against other candidates Sharron Steedly and Judy Turner David Corder was called the winner with 51.1% of the votes vs Letitia Dowling and Cathy Griffin are also likely headed to a run-off election after bringing in the top two amount of votes against other candidates Shannon GIll and Eugene Anderson Also on the ballot were two Council District races Kenneth Ahlin was called the winner after defeating the incumbent since 2021 Michelle Martin was called the winner with 50.7% of the votes vs A person died following a collision at a Bamberg County intersection Wednesday as a 2006 Ford F-150 was traveling north on Thunder Road A 2003 Ford F-250 was traveling east on Ehrhardt Road The trucks collided at the intersection of the two roads One of the two people in the F-150 was injured and taken to a hospital A North Carolina man is facing charges after he allegedly had about 300 pre-rolled THCA joints two pounds of marijuana and $45,000 in cash in Eutawville Neither of the two people in the F-250 were injured Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter (WACH) - — National Weather Service reports damage in Bamberg County from a tornado Thursday morning RELATED |South Carolina ramps up emergency level to OPCON 2 ahead on Helene making landfall The WACH FOX weather team will have continuing coverage of Hurricane Helene and its impact in the Midlands Fence Gnome ranked 2023's most vulnerable cities for burglaries Pricey areas in the largest cities don't necessarily translate to the greatest risk A 16-year-old girl was shot while she was in her Bamberg home on Thursday night It appears “individuals may have been shooting at each other,” close to the home “There were several children in the home” when the shots were fired A mother was getting ready to make milkshakes for the children “This was an innocent young lady who was spending time with her family.” “We’ve got to get these individuals off the street that do not care about anybody or anything,” Gatling said The teen was transported in an ambulance to a hospital No one else in the home was physically injured The Bamberg Police Department is asking for the public to provide tips about who may be responsible for the shooting Call 1-803-245-3000 to provide information A man was shot to death in Orangeburg on Friday night according to Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Capt The man who was shot and killed on Friday night in Orangeburg has been identified as George C according to Orangeburg County Corone… A driver died Saturday night on North Road A 45-year-old man is serving time in prison for crimes committed in Bamberg and Orangeburg counties Orangeburg County Sheriff’s OfficeA 32-year-old Bowman man allegedly handcuffed a woman in her own driveway in Orangeburg after he spotted her… A 60-year-old Orangeburg woman is undergoing treatment for serious burns after her boyfriend allegedly set her on fire Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMORE | Flooding brings out snakes, other crittersBAMBERG (WRDW/WAGT) - Bamberg County residents in the Edisto River basin were urged to evacuate immediately Friday afternoon as water levels rose The Code Red alert urged many to find shelter elsewhere Seek higher ground or designated shelters now Do not delay — leave the area for your safety,” said an advisory from Bamberg County officials “Please be aware emergency responders may be unable to perform rescue missions but most people are staying with family members The evacuation is not mandatory but strongly encouraged in the area where some yards are already under 2 to 3 feet of water with water from the storm still finding its way into creeks and tributaries that empty into rivers the full impact may not be felt for about another week State law enforcement agencies launched boat teams along parts of the Peedee Edisto and Waccamaw rivers to see if anyone needed help some homes near the river aren’t reachable by normal vehicle They have to be reached be a high-bedded truck or by boat Larry Still’s driveway was completely underwater “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much water at one time,” he said The extreme weather we saw this week from Tropical Storm Debby shows it doesn’t take a catastrophic hurricane to cause significant damage filled with water running through the straight sides Squirrel Road was filled with tea-colored liquid while Embree Road had more of a hot chocolate color – complete with swirls of froth on top Bridge Street on the Orangeburg County line was filled with swampy muck nearly 10 inches deep – with wildlife including spiders surfing through it The gravel on the bottom – where you could see it – resembled a creekbed Identity theft is a frustration no one wants to deal with Thankfully the Federal Trade Commission has some ways to protect your identity You are entitled to see your credit report for free once a year pleaded guilty to breaking into a motor vehicle in Orangeburg County Taylor sentenced him to prison for five years and gave him credit for spending 1,154 days in jail and prison Folk was charged with the following crimes • Financial transaction card fraud valued less than $500 during a six-month period • Assaulting a police officer while resisting arrest • Two counts of financial identification fraud Folk was already in prison after pleading to the following crimes in Bamberg County: • Grand larceny valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000 Circuit Judge Clifton Newman sentenced Folk to 10 years in prison for the Bamberg County crimes Folk is serving his prison terms for both counties’ crimes at the same time Folk’s projected release date from prison is Nov In other recent guilty pleas at the Orangeburg County courthouse: pleaded guilty to third-degree domestic violence and second-degree domestic violence Taylor sentenced him to prison for two years Because Eaddy already spent three days in jail his term was suspended to probation for two years Eaddy is required to complete a domestic violence intervention program He was charged with the following offenses but they were dismissed: second-degree domestic violence third-degree assault and battery and resisting arrest pleaded guilty to shoplifting valued $2,000 or less although he was originally charged with armed robbery Taylor sentenced him to 30 days in jail and gave him credit for already serving that time Felder was charged with first-offense unlawful carrying of a pistol pleaded guilty to first-offense trafficking in more than 28 grams but less than 100 grams of methamphetamine/cocaine base Taylor sentenced him to three years in prison He gave Floyd credit for spending 190 days in jail He also revoked Floyd’s probation and requested that he be housed in the addiction treatment unit in prison pleaded guilty to third-degree domestic violence although he was originally charged with second-degree domestic violence Because Fludd already spent two days in jail his term was suspended to probation for one year Fludd’s probation may end early after he completes a domestic violence intervention program but they were dismissed: malicious injury to real property valued $2,000 or less and petit larceny valued $2,000 or less pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic violence Because Funderburk spent seven days in jail Once Funderburk completes a domestic violence intervention program pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and battery Because Gidron already spent 195 days in jail pleaded guilty to breach of trust with fraudulent intent valued $10,000 or more Taylor sentenced her to prison for five years her term was suspended to probation for five years Glover’s probation term will end early after she pays restitution in full An Orangeburg man is accused of committing a sex act on a 15-year-old An Elloree man pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature by Bryce Jacquot (WCIV) — South Carolina First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe announced his change from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party Thursday evening House 90) called on the solicitor to resign accusing Pascoe of disenfranchising voters Pascoe was accompanied for the announcement Thursday by Republicans Dorchester County Sheriff Sam Richardson “David Pascoe has devoted his entire career to protecting South Carolina families and ensuring criminals stay off our streets He’s proven time and again that he will fight relentlessly for victims and uphold the rule of law no matter the political pressure," Sheriff Richardson said “I’ve worked alongside David Pascoe for years and I’ve seen firsthand just how committed he is to seeking justice for victims He has an unwavering dedication to law enforcement and to keeping our neighborhoods safe which makes him a powerful ally in the fight against crime.” Pascoe cited the Democratic Party's shift "away from core values" as the reason for his 180 He claimed the party no longer aligned with his tough on crime commitment He also cited his pro-life beliefs while expressing frustration in President Biden's commuting federal death row inmates' execution sentences opting to give them life in prison instead “That was the day I decided to leave the Democratic Party be a member of a party that sheds more tears for violent criminals than for innocent victims,” Pascoe said argue that running a campaign representing one party and then switching parties after winning an election Bamberg said it's not honorable and called for Pascoe to immediately resign and vacate office the man can be whatever he wants...I ain't upset about him switching parties and we heard him give this press conference at the Dorchester County GOP with some Republican solicitors and sheriffs and stuff like that is this talk of corruption and integrity and all this other stuff," Bamberg said Bamberg went on to accuse Pascoe of knowing he would do what he did Thursday evening in Dorchester County when he filed to run as a Democrat and campaigned in 2024 and no one's going to convince me he didn't," Bamberg said When asked for a comment regarding Bamberg's accusation took place at the Summerville Country Club The IRS reached a deal with homeland security officials to share sensitive taxpayer data with federal immigration authorities Ramsey was elected mayor of Bamberg in Tuesday’s city election Ramsey defeated Jeff Deibel for mayor with 487 votes to Deibel’s 204 votes Ramsey will take the place held by Mayor Nancy Foster who was first elected in 2017 and is in her second four-year term as mayor In the race for a seat on the Public Works Commission John Hiers defeated James “Toe” McMillan III Hiers narrowly secured the win with 347 votes to McMillan’s 340 votes who holds a seat on the Public Works Commission withdrew his name as a candidate for re-election Bobbi Bunch ran for re-election to the District 4 city council seat She was the lone candidate for the seat and won that position with 51 votes Searson was the lone candidate for the District 5 seat and won that position with 130 votes Geremy Saitz previously dropped out of the running for the seat Stokes were running for the City Council District 6 seat previously held by Ken Ahlin who was recently elected to a seat on the Bamberg County Council Bunch defeated Stokes for the seat with 131 votes to Stokes’ 72 votes Bamberg County Voter Registration and Election Office Director Athena Moorer said votes cast in each election will be certified at 10 a.m Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534 Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter Bamberg City Council hosted a community drop-in on April 1 in honor of Mayor Nancy Foster Kimberly Aiken is living her dream as she works for the sustainable development of the Arctic region including the protection of the environm… The two-week filing period for an at-large seat on Ehrhardt Town Council ended Friday Bamberg – When Spring time approaches it also signals the start of high school baseball season across the country and in South Carolina Spring time is synonymous with 15 times state champion Bamberg Ehrhardt The Red Raiders haven’t reached the championship series since 2015 and each year when the season starts that is always one of the team goals for the season  “We play for state championships here and you see all the state championships he set the standard We hope to keep rolling at the end of the year and stay hot in the District Lower State and then the State,” said coach Schwarting “We have started off slow in the Wyndham turf (Pelion) pre-season tournament earlier this year but hope to get it going once the regular season starts We have a solid team that should get better as the season goes and we get deeper into the schedule.” Amaker sees most of his time behind the plate but also plays first base for the Red Raiders “Our pitching should be our strength this year with most of our pitchers returning from last year so we will be still very young but they will have that experience and familiarity with each other,” coach Schwarting said Singleton at shortstop (when Stokes is on the hill) “We have only two teams to play in our region this year so we had to add several non-region teams to fill the schedule I am Excited for the year and hope to stay healthy play well and make a run in May,” coach said.  A 23-year-old died early Saturday after a crash in Bamberg County 78 when it traveled off the right side of the road and hit a mailbox went off the road to the left and struck a tree The crash remains under investigation by the S.C Highway Patrol and the Bamberg County Coroner’s Office Contact the writer: gcrider@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5570 One person was killed in a fatal collision in Bamberg county early Saturday morning (WCIV) — One person was killed in a fatal collision in Bamberg county early Saturday morning The collision reportedly occurred March 8 at approximately 5 a.m The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was operating a 2010 Hyundai accent travelling west on U.S the vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway travelled back onto the road and off the left side of the roadway before ultimately hitting a tree The driver was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained in the collision Parking your car in certain areas can indeed be risky due to higher rates of crime or natural hazards Here are some examples of dangerous places to park your car A man will spend decades in prison after a Bamberg County jury decided Wednesday that he is guilty of shooting a South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper in the face • Possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime McLeod IV sentenced Gathers to 38 years in prison The jury deliberated for about an hour following the two-day trial according to 2nd Circuit Senior Assistant Solicitor Leigh Staggs She and Senior Assistant Solicitor David Miller prosecuted the case Public defender Wallis April Alves defended Gathers in the case “We are thankful to the South Carolina Highway Patrol and for law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line daily doing their jobs,” Staggs said noting her appreciation for the jury’s work Highway Patrol and Bamberg County Sheriff’s Office stopped a Mazda SUV on U.S Gathers fired a single shot into the side of Frazier’s face Bamberg County Sheriff’s Deputy Dwayne Duckson was behind Frazier Other officers pursued the SUV until it crashed into a home in Branchville Gathers was transported to a hospital and was later booked into the Bamberg County Detention Center Prosecutors charged Gathers with an additional count of attempted murder because Duckson was near Frazier when Gathers fired the single shot Gathers has a criminal record that dates to 2005 in Broome County he was convicted of third-degree rape and second-degree criminal sexual act According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Sex Offender Registry Gathers’ aliases include: “Assassin,” “Tiger” and “Tragedy.” Gathers pleaded not guilty in federal court on the charge of being a felon being in possession of a firearm His federal indictment accuses him of possessing a 9 mm Sig Sauer P320 pistol and 9 mm ammunition during the traffic stop Other law enforcement agencies that assisted with the case include the Bamberg Police Department the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office and the S.C Here are some examples of dangerous pla… WJBF What’s going on at this Downtown Augusta restaurant is starting to eat at some commissioners Hundreds packed the Performing Arts Center to honor fallen Columbia County Deputy Brandon Sikes Deputy Brandon Sikes was on the hearts and minds of thousands in Columbia County Monday That’s why many people decided to spend part of their morning lining the streets leading up to the Columbia County Performing Arts Center---showing support Businesses to honor fallen deputy during funeral procession 2 injured in shooting at Riverfront Marina The festival kickstarts the year for the church but also serves as a way to reach more people in the community a cook and teacher at Childcare Network on Wylds Road in Augusta The City of Augusta and the Greater Augusta Arts Council unveiled 10 new sculptures as part of the latest expansion of the Augusta Sculpture Trail on Friday