H&R Block Hosts Free Shred Day

Spartanburg, SC – In order to increase awareness of the importance of being financially secure, H&R Block is hosting a Shred Day at Cleveland Village, 1564 Asheville Hwy in Spartanburg from 10am – 2pm on Saturday, March 20. The public is invited to attend to safely dispose of sensitive paper materials, learn about how to protect their ID, and find answers to any tax related questions.

Shred 360 will be providing on-site shredding of sensitive and personal information. There is a limit of 5 boxes or bags and only paper materials should be brought.

“Working with Shred 360 in providing this free service is a great way to help raise awareness in the community about identity protection and financial safety,” said Carolyn Jackson, Office Leader at H&R Block

Those attending the shred day will also have an opportunity to talk with H&R Block professionals about tax law changes, tax planning, and other financial issues.

For more information about the H&R Block Shred Day, please call 864-585-7442 to talk with a company representative.

H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is the world’s preeminent tax services provider, having prepared more than 500 million tax returns since 1955. In fiscal 2009, H&R Block had annual revenues of $4.1 billion and prepared more than 24 million tax returns worldwide, utilizing more than 100,000 highly trained tax professionals. The Company provides tax return preparation services in person, through H&R Block At Home™ online and desktop software products, and through other channels. The Company is also one of the leading providers of business services through RSM McGladrey. For more information, visit our Online Press Center at www.hrblock.com

About Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
Spartanburg Regional is one of South Carolina’s largest community-based healthcare providers. Offering the latest in cancer, heart, women’s and orthopedic care, Spartanburg Regional has also been named a “Top 100″ hospital for computer technology and has received awards for patient satisfaction and nursing care. Gibbs Cancer Center is also the exclusive local host affiliate of M. D. Anderson Physicians Network®.

About RelayHealth
RelayHealth, McKesson’s connectivity business, operates as a neutral partner in an open network environment, offering connectivity services and integration among all organizations, systems, and solutions. Its intelligent network is designed to streamline clinical, financial and administrative communication between patients, providers, payors, pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and financial institutions. RelayHealth works to accelerate the delivery of high-quality care and improve financial performance through solutions such as online consultation of physicians by patients, electronic prescribing, point-of-service pharmacy claims resolution by payors, pre-visit patient financial clearance by providers, and post-visit provider bill settlement by payors and patients. RelayHealth securely processes more than 12.8 billion financial and clinical transactions annually. For more information, call (800) 778-6711, or visit our Web site at www.RelayHealth.com.

About TATRC:
The Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) performs medical reconnaissance and special operations to address critical gaps that are underrepresented in DoD medical research programs. TATRC is an office of the headquarters of the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC). TATRC fosters research on health informatics, telemedicine/m-Health, medical training systems, and computational biology, and promotes and manages science and engineering in other key portfolios. Through an extensive network of partners, TATRC is focused at both ends of the research spectrum, exploring models of high risk and innovative research, and putting research findings into the hands of warfighters while looking toward wider civilian utility. TATRC augments core medical research programs through special funding and partnership opportunities.

For more information about TATRC and its’ initiatives, please visit: www.tatrc.org

“GSSM and the GSSM Foundation are grateful to AFL Telecommunications for their ongoing support of our capstone program. It is because of donors like AFL that we are able to deliver unique opportunities in scientific research to some of the smartest high school achievers in our state. Because of AFL’s investment, GSSM continues to raise the bar on quality education in science, math and technology,” said Kim Bowman, Executive Director of the GSSM Foundation.

GSSM is a two-year, public, residential high school located in Hartsville, SC. It is the only public high school in South Carolina dedicated to advanced education in science and math. Founded in 1988, GSSM has graduated nearly 1,200 alumni from every county in South Carolina, many of whom are now leaders in engineering, medicine, education, law, science, technology, research and business.

“Meeting with students enrolled in this program last summer, I was impressed by their eagerness and drive to continue their education at universities state-wide, engaging in scientific research,” said Corie Culp, community relations manager for AFL. “AFL is honored to contribute to our future leaders and to a program that has already demonstrated remarkable success.”

For additional information on AFL Telecommunications and the Fujikura Foundation, visit www.AFLtele.com.

About AFL Telecommunications

AFL Telecommunications is an industry leader in providing fiber optic products, engineering expertise and integrated services to the Electric Utility, Broadband, Telco, OEM, Private Network and Wireless markets. It has operations in the U.S., Mexico and the U.K.  AFL Telecommunications is a division of Fujikura Ltd. of Japan.

About Fujikura Foundation

With a commitment to being an exemplary corporate citizen for the communities in which we operate, America Fujikura Ltd., parent company to AFL Telecommunications and AFL Network Services, has established a Foundation that focuses on four Areas of Opportunity supporting families, education, the environment and community partnerships. In keeping with both our current corporate strategies and principles, Fujikura Foundation is providing monetary contributions and volunteer opportunities so that we can give back to the communities who have made our existence possible. For additional information, visit >www.AFLtele.com.

Carla Damron: South Carolina’s Carla Damron draws on her experiences as a southerner and a social worker in her writings, including short stories and two mystery novels, Keeping Silent (2001, mass market paperback 2002) and Spider Blue (2005, trade paperback 2006).  The State newspaper (Columbia SC) describes Carla’s writing: “Damron’s carefully constructed plot and thoughtfulness about social ills contribute to a noteworthy work…She has the talent to play on a much broader stage.”

Most recently, Damron’s short story “Lady Blue” was published in the mystery collection Mystery on the Wind (2009).
When she is not writing, she continues to work as a Licensed Independent Social Worker in mental health where she says her clients are her best teachers. Damron is also a graduate student pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing.

Lane Filler, 38, has been a reporter, columnist and assistant city editor at the Herald-Journal in Spartanburg, S.C., since 2005. He was previously at the Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) Times-Leader.

In his 10-year career, he has covered numerous topics, including politics, sports, food and government. In 2004, he covered the war in Iraq as an embedded reporter with the 109th Field Artillery unit of the Pennsylvania National Guard. He began his career as a general assignment reporter at the Kingstree News.

Filler was born in New Jersey, raised in South Carolina and attended the University of South Carolina and Simon’s Rock of Bard College, where he earned a degree in theater.
He has been the recipient of several journalistic honors, including a third-place finish in the 2006 National Headliner Award contest.  He currently lives in Spartanburg, S.C., with his wife, Angela, and daughter, Quinn.

Annemarie Struwe Cronin Korchek was born on January 16, 1928 in Berlin. She had a fairly normal childhood, or so she thought. Her memoirs tell the whole story. When the war broke out and her school was bombed, Annemarie had to go to work to get food stamps so that she would have something to eat. With a family of four at home, the rations weren’t enough to feed everybody. During air raids at night, everybody had to sleep in the cellars.

She tried her hand at dancing and singing, but the bombings ended each of these attempts. At the age of 22, she decided to escape to the West. After three attempts and two bullet wounds, she finally reached the sanctuary of the West. She became a singer at an American Officer’s Club in Wiesbaden, from where she was hired to go to Tripoli in North Africa. While over there, she met her husband Tom, a United States Air Force major.

They married in Switzerland in 1954. She moved to the States in October 1955, and because of the military they had to move quite frequently, not only within the US but also back to Europe. In 1963 Tom retired, moving his family back to the US. They made their home in San Diego, California, where Tom finally succumbed to lung cancer in February 1978.

At the age of 50, widowed and with a teenager still living at home, her other three children had already grown up and left the house, Annemarie met and then married Robert Korchek, her husband of now 28 years.

According to reports, the two men were trimming some trees near a set of power lines and the ladder may have come into contact with the lines. An unaffiliated person driving by saw the two men on fire and called police.

The cororner has not officially identified the victims yet due to the extensive nature of the injuries. However, a purported relative believes the victims are his brother and nephew.

Steve Yang says the victims are Toua Yang, 27, and Chang Yang, 50. According to Steve, Toua was a US Marine who had returned from duty in Iraq recently.

He no longer works with the Spartanburg County, SC as a paramedic.

According to the Spartanburg County, SC Sheriffs Department, Daily was being held on a $20,000 bond and was released on February 23.

Lake Thurmond
Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. The Clark’s Hill Herring Hut reports that a lot of fish are making their way down the rivers – the Georgia Little River, Key Creek, and Parksville are good areas to look.  Another group of fish has already arrived at the dam and a few people are catching fish on cut bait off the banks down.  The best pattern for hybrids is fishing 25 feet down over 50-60 feet of water. Perch: Good.  Guide Wendell Wilson reports that below the Lake Russell Dam he is catching good numbers of white and yellow perch with minnows on the bottom in 30 feet.  Crappie: Fair.  Guide Rod Wall reports that both arms of the lake are muddy, and the baitfish have started to make their way into the creeks.  The best bite in recent tournaments has come long-line trolling with plain jigs – the bite has been short and so they are making the bait as short as possible. Black bass: Slow.  The Herring Hut reports that the bass bite continues to be very slow.  The better fish seem to be coming in 30-40 feet of water on Buckeye Lures Mop Jigs, but a few fish will come shallower in the evening. Bream and perch: Slow.  The Herring Hut reports that once the current slows fish in ditches 14-17 feet deep that run parallel to the main channel where there are good numbers of yellow perch (use minnows) and bream (use worms) as well as some crappie.

Lake Wylie
Catfish: Fair.  Captain Rodger Taylor reports that the blue catfish bite along deep channel ledges has slowed considerably.  Anchored or drifted cut bait will both catch fish. White perch and crappie: Slow to fair.  Captain Rodger Taylor reports that the white perch are very hard to locate right now.  Try fishing minnows 18-24 feet deep around offshore structure. Largemouth Bass: Slow.  Guide Matt Arey reports the fishing on Wylie remains really tough. A few bass have been caught around the warm water discharge in the South Fork on shallow running crankbaits and jigs, but it’s tough there with heavily stained conditions.

Lake Greenwood
Crappie: Fair.  Guide Rod Wall reports that fish are being found in the creeks about 15-20 feet deep, and a foot or two off the bottom.  It is a very slow, lethargic bite and darker colored jigs tipped with minnows are most visible in the stained water. Catfish: Fair.  Captain Chris Simpson reports that a few channel catfish are being caught by drifting, but anchoring on the channel ledges is producing more fish right now. Cut herring, gizzard shad and white perch will all work. Largemouth Bass: Slow.  Sportsman’s Friend reports that in the stained water throwing something with good vibration is essential and the few fish being caught are coming on spinnerbaits and crankbaits.  Bright colored lures with some flash may also work.  Look around brush in 6-12 feet of water.  A few fish are also being caught jigging – striper, white perch and largemouth bass will all be together in some places.

Lake Murray
Crappie: Very good.  A Captain Brad Taylor reports that despite the cold water the bite is about as good as it will get in the Little River area.  The best pattern continues to be tight-lining, and until water temperatures hit 50 there won’t be much trolling. Jigs tipped with minnows are most productive right now. Striped Bass: Good.  Dooley’s Sports Shop reports that the striper fishing has improved in the last week or two.  Fish can be found up the Little River from 15 feet on up to the bank around shallow points, and a lot of striper are being picked up by crappie fishermen trolling jigs and minnows. Bream: Good.  Dooley’s reports that shellcracker have moved out a little bit and the fishing has slowed down somewhat.  Look around secondary points with hard shell bottoms in 8-10 feet of water and fish with baby nightcrawlers. Catfish: Fair.  Captain Chris Simpson reports that lots of blue catfish are suspended under baitfish, but there are still some channel catfish that can be caught using traditional bottom fishing methods such as Santee-style drifting.  For blue catfish, fishing suspended bait just under the baitfish is most effective.  Cut and live herring are the best baits. Largemouth Bass: Slow.  Captain Doug Lown reports that a combination of cold temperatures, current from pulling water and muddy conditions is still making for a tough bite.  It’s a good time to cast a Shad Rap in 4-6 feet of water and cover a lot of territory.

Lake Monticello
Catfish:  Good.  Captain Chris Simpson reports that fishing has improved in the last couple of weeks. Anchoring along deep water ledges continues to be the key – the sharper the drop-off, the better the fishing.  A few fish are also being found in the backs of coves filled with baitfish.  Cut gizzard shad is the best bait.

Lake Wateree
Catfish: Good.  Captain Rodger Taylor reports that anchoring has been more productive than drifting on recent trips, and some big fish have been caught by patient anglers.  A variety of cut bait will catch fish.  Crappie: Fair.  Will Hinson of the Southern Crappie Tournament Trail advises that Lake Wateree remains muddy and cold.  With the beginning of a warming trend it’s a good time to start long-line trolling with jigs tipped with minnows; start out fishing in mid-lake creeks. Largemouth Bass: Slow.  CATT Owner Brett Collins reports that Wateree is known for being difficult in the winter, and the last few weeks have been no exception.  He has his best luck with a Shad Rap fished very slowly when it is cold.  2009 FLW Co-Angler of the Year Dearal Rodgers suggests fishing along steep, rocky banks in the lower lake with jigs, shakey head worms or large spinnerbaits.

Santee Cooper System
Catfish: Fair.   Captain Jim Glenn reports that the blue catfish bite remains fairly erratic, especially after the snow.  Baitfish are schooled up in water 25 to 35 ft deep, and catfish are in and around those schools.  Fish near the bottom or with baits suspended in or just below the bait schools. On Lake Marion Li’l N8s Bait and Tackle in Sumter also reports that the bite slowed after the snow. The best bite has been on ledges about 28-30 feet deep beside 40 feet of water.  Most people are using cut blueback herring, available at Li’l N8s, for bait. Largemouth bass: Slow.  Captain Inky Davis reports that the warming trend this weekend should bring the fish shallower and make the fish more active.  Remember that muddy water will warm faster and hold the heat longer than clear water.  As temperatures raise so will the bass. Crappie: Captain Steve English advises that a warming trend should bring the crappie shallower.  The bite should start around Angel’s Cove, Eutaw Springs behind Bell’s Marina, and Crappie Neck just off the canal. Look in 10-12 feet of water around brush, and then try drifting.  Fish will stage on brush piles as they come in to spawn.

Alex Haefele and Britt Blackwell, both Rock Hill residents, have also announced their intention to run for the District 6 seat.

In District 4, William Roddey will challenge incumbent Roy Blake. Curwood Chappell will have to face Marty Taylor to try and keep his seat. District 1 has four candidates so far including incumbent Paul Lindemann. He will try to ward off Tom Audette, David Bowman, and Kyle Boyd for the District 1 seat.

Filing will begin on March 16 and go through March 30. Primaries will take place on June 8 and the general election is scheduled for November 2.