Rain blew in sideways and fog obscured the valley below as summer drew to a close along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but Don Hagan could clearly see potential for a brilliant fall color season ahead. The forest ecologist has been making fall foliage predictions for Clemson University for nine yearsContinue Reading

Congaree National Park is seeking entries for the Annual SwampFest Student Art Competition. Co-sponsored by the Southeast Rural Community Outreach (SERCO) and the Friends of Congaree Swamp, this year’s competition is an opportunity for young artists (grades K-8) from the Midlands to showcase their talent while celebrating the outdoors. ThisContinue Reading

By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Palmetto Pride, South Carolina’s anti-litter task force, announced its clean-up numbers for trash pick-up during the statewide South Carolina Seven (SC7) expedition in July. According to Palmetto Pride Executive Director Sarah Lyles, Palmetto Pride volunteers – most of whom were hikers participating in the SC7Continue Reading

Experts seeking solutions to help mitigate disastrous flooding like that experienced in Columbia and central S.C. in 2015 By W. Thomas Smith Jr. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, S.C. Floodwater Commission Chairman Tom Mullikin, S.C. Sen. George “Chip” Campsen, S.C. Sen. Ronnie Sabb, and others traveled Aug. 3 to Andrews,Continue Reading

South Carolina Seven to wind through the Midlands in mid-July By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Members of the SOUTH CAROLINA SEVEN (SC7) expedition logistics-and-planning team gathered for a final event-launch planning session at the Mullikin Law Office complex in Camden, Wed., June 23. The team, most of whom will participateContinue Reading

Five Questions for S.C. Floodwater Commission Chairman Tom Mullikin By Alex Junes-Ward Less than two weeks after the statewide tree-planting effort, POWERPLANTSC, in which some 3.4-million loblolly pine tree seeds (and some saplings) were distributed to sites and organizations in all of South Carolina’s 46 counties, and planted on EarthContinue Reading