5K Run‐Walk10K Mayor’s Run‐Walk10‐Mile Swamp Fox Challenge1‐Mile Church Challenge & a Tot Trot

HISTORICMARIONRUNFESTMarion, South Carolina

2011

Best Small Town Race Ever

Plan now to join the fun in February,

When Marion plays host to Gen. Francis Marion Days

To register in the RUNFEST, call Pam Jones

@ 843-423-5961,Ext. 11.

Francis Marion University,Coastal Carolina University,

Florence-Darlington Technical Col-lege and City of Marion officialssigned a memorandum of under-standing Nov. 30 announcing a part-nership that forms the Swamp FoxHigher Education Center in Marion.

Operating out of the C.D. JoynerFine Arts Center, beginning thismonth, the Swamp Fox Higher Edu-cation Center is an opportunity forstudents to continue their educationwithout having to travel too far fromhome. The partnership is a fine ex-ample of several entities coming to-gether to help better the educationalopportunities for those in the area,City of Marion Mayor Rodney Berrysaid.

Coastal Carolina University has acohort in its Educational Leadershipmaster’s degree program underwayin Marion, with students from Dillonand Marion County enrolled.

This program has moved itsclasses into the Center and thegroup’s next class, offered throughthe Center, begins this month. Theprogram and the cohort in Marionhave been highly successful, Dr.Linda May, program director said.

“It’s a great bunch of teacherspursuing their master’s degrees. An-other cohort will begin in the Fall2011 and we’ll begin recruiting forthat soon.”

A cohort is a group of studentswho go through the three-year pro-gram together, creating a profes-sional learning community, Maysaid. The program has two years of

class work and a one-year intern-ship, May added. For those inter-ested in the master’s program thathelps transition teachers into admin-istrators, visit CCU online atwww.coastal.edu.

Francis Marion University willbegin recruiting for its RN to BN pro-gram and officials say they hope tooffer classes in January, if the inter-est is there for it.

University officials conducted aninformation and interest meeting inthe Marion County Medical Center inDecember. For information aboutthe RN to BN program, where reg-istered nurses earn their bache-lor’s degree, contact ReginaSmeltzer at (843) 661-1689 orrsmeltzer@fmarion.edu.

FMU’s Coordinator of ContinuingEducation, Suzan Orrico, said othernon-degree earning programs will beoffered at the Higher Ed Center,such as Business 150, Fundamen-tals of Business, and Entrepreneur-ship Training for UnemployedAdults. Call Orrico at (843) 661-1283 or by e-mail her atsorrico@fmarion.edu.

Vice President for Academic Af-fairs at FDTC, Dr. Dale Doty, saidonce the school has gauged studentinterest, it will begin to offer classesin the Center.

To show interest, he said, poten-tial students can go online atwww.fdtc.edu and begin the registra-tion process. Also, he said, contactMarie Ferguson, Director of theMullins site of FDTC, at (843) 676-8550 for more information.

The City of Marion, South Carolina

A FREE monthly newspaper for the citizens and visitors

of the Swamp Fox City

Volume 1, Issue 8 January 2011

The Swamp Fox Higher Education Center will begin serving students in Marion thismonth. The Center is in the C.D. Joyner Fine Arts Center on Elizabeth Street and is apartnership between Francis Marion University, Coastal Carolina University and Flo­rence­Darlington Technical College. Above are Sen. Kent Williams, CCU President DavidDeCenzo, FMU President Fred Carter and FDTC President Charles Gould, all of whomattended the signing of the memorandum of understanding at the Center in November.

Swamp Fox Higher Ed CenterSwamp Fox Higher Ed Centerready to serve area studentsready to serve area students

CelebratingGen. Francis MarionHistoriHistoric Marion, South Carolinac Marion, South Carolina

February 25, 26, 27February 25, 26, 27

Patriot and Loyalist Reenactorsset up camps in McIntyre Park

Join us in remembering our American hero!

Wreath-laying ceremony, Living History Camp,Skirmish, Historic Marion Runfest

with a 10-mile run, 10K run-walk, 5K run-walk,1-mile challenge, Tot Trot 50-yard dash,

Swamp Fox Chili Cook-off & more!For more details, call

Marion Chamber of Commerce, 843-423-3561City of Marion, 843-423-5961, Ext. 11

Celebrating Gen. Francis Marion Days

is sure to be a fun, educational experience

for the entire family!

Visit www.marionsc.gov for updates & details!

Swamp F o Scene

x

New for 2011: The City of Marion isproud to feature a city retiree in eachmonthly edition of the Swamp Fox Scene.Our list of retirees is long and distin-guished, and we have chosen to startwith a friendly face that many residentswill remember from our Water Depart-ment: Mrs. Judy Cooper.

Judy Cooper came to work for theCity of Marion in August 1973 as

a cashier at City Hall. At that time, shewas responsible for collecting paymentson water bills, taxes and other over-the-counter payments to the City.

Several years later, Judy was pro-moted to the position of Billing Clerk forthe Water Department. She became re-sponsible for billing every water accountin the City of Marion, both residentialand commercial, posting water pay-ments, keeping up with industrialusage, making cut-off lists, filingmonthly reports and many other admin-istrative duties.

She frequently stayed late at the of-fice at the time of monthly cut-offs forthe Water Department in order to givedelinquent customers the opportunity tocome and pay bills so their service couldbe reconnected. She also often filled inwhen one of the cashiers in the front of-fice or dispatchers in the Police Depart-ment was out for any reason.

Judy Cooper was named Employeeof the Year in 1990 and she retired

from her city service in May 2003. “I loved my job with the City, and en-

joyed helping our customers,” Judysaid, fondlyrememberingher workingdays. “I al-ways tried todo my best inwhat I did.”

Judy hasbeen a resi-dent of Mar-ion for thepast 40 yearsand is mar-ried toGeorgeCooper, a retired electrician. They havethree children, Greg, Randy and Debra;eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Judy is President ofLodge 122 Woodmen of the World and amember of Grace Community Church,where she serves as Music Director.Even in retirement, Judy remains busy.She is employed part-time with FlorenceSchool District 1 as a proctor for GEDtesting. When she is not working, Judysaid she likes to spend time with hergrandchildren and great-grandchildren,volunteering with her church, visitingold friends and shopping.

Thank you, Mrs. Judy Cooper, foryour exceptional dedication and out-standing service to the City of Marion.

Page 2 Visit the City of Marion online at www.marionsc.gov January 2011

CITY NEWS ......................................Coming upComing upJanuary 1stHappy New Year!

January 9th Sunday, 3-5 p.m.: Reception, MarionCounty Museum on Wilcox Street, forstudents who participated in theMarion County Schools Art Contest,The Heritage of Our Lives.

January 10th Monday, 5:30 p.m.: Citizens AdvisoryCommittee meeting (Second Mondayof the Month), Fire Station, BondStreet.

January 11th Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.: City Council(Second Tuesday of the Month),Council Chambers, City Hall, 107 S.Main Street.

January 17th Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Me-morial Day, City Offices Closed.

January 17th Monday, 6:30 p.m.: Marion’s FoxWatch meeting, 332, N. Main Street.

Throughout the month, YogaClasses are offered in the MarionCounty Medical Center, U.S. Highway76, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.Call 431-2630 for details.

The Swamp Fox Scene is the City of

Marion’s free monthly news magazine forthe citizens and visitors of the Swamp FoxCity, Marion, South Carolina.

The staff consists of City of Marion em-ployees Cheryl Askins, Elizabeth Ficik, PamJones and Dianne Owens. Call Pam Jones ifyou are interested in sponsoring an issue.

The newspaper is distributed by city em-ployee Dennis Brown and may be found inCity Hall, in the Marion Chamber of Com-merce’s office in the Historic Train Depot,in the Main Street Marion office on MainStreet and in other spots around town.Many photos are taken by city employeeWinky Fore.

Additionally, the Marion Chamber ofCommerce and Main Street Marion helpthe city to offset printing costs. Call MayorRodney Berry or the City Administrator at843-423-5961 with questions, concerns andcomments.

Visit the City of Marion online at www.marionsc.gov

& on Facebook under City of Marion, South Carolina,

for the latest in news and things to do.

Questions about your Water or Sewer Bill?

Call Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority

at (843) 765­4539or visit them in City Hall on Main Street.

RETIREE NEWS ...

Catching up with Judy Cooper

The City of Marionselected Police Sgt.

Keith McNeil, at right, asits November 2010 Em-ployee of the Month.

McNeil graduated fromthe South Carolina Crimi-nal Justice Academy in2007 and was the recipi-ent of the Chief’s Award for2009. Assigned to DeltaShift, Sgt. McNeil is one ofthe Police Department’sfriendliest and most de-pendable officers. He is well respectedby his peers and in the community.

McNeil has a positive attitude, nevercomplains, and when needed is willing

to go above and beyondwhat is asked of him.

“Through his workethic you can tell that hebelieves his job is impor-tant and enjoyable,” Mar-ion Police Capt. andInterim Chief Jim Graysaid of McNeil.

“He has a warm steadysmile on his face that re-minds you to have a goodday too, even if you weren’tbefore you saw him.”

The Mayor and Council recognizedSgt. McNeil at the Dec. 14 Councilmeeting for his dedication and signifi-cant contributions to the City of Marion.

McNeil is Employee of the Month

Many give money for food and help to spreadChristmas cheer to others in the City of Marion

Thanks to the generosity of the people ofMarion, at least 70 families enjoyed all thefixings of a Christmas meal! At last count,$2,100 had been collected for the foodand some $400 had been donated to theFire Department to be used to purchasetoys to distribute at Christmas. Firefight­ers and Police officers went door to door,distributing the food over two days. Thanks to all who gave and blessed othersduring the Christmas season.

BE SAFE THIS WINTER:

Follow these precautions to prevent home fires

Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths each year. The City of Marion Fire Department personnel offer the fol-lowing safety tips and precautions to help prevent heating fires from happening this winter.

Be Warm & Safe this Wintera Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, such as a furnace, fireplace, wood stove

or portable space heater.

a Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” aroundopen fires and space heaters.

a Never use your oven to heat your home.

a Have heating equipment and chimneyscleaned and inspected every year.

a Remember to turn portable heaters offwhen leaving the room or going to bed.

a Always use the right kind of fuel, specifiedby the manufacturer, for fuel burning spaceheaters.

a Make sure a fireplace has a sturdy screento stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashesshould be cool before putting them in a metalcontainer. Keep the container a safe distanceaway from your home.

a Test smoke alarms monthly.

For more safety tips, visit the NationalFire Prevention Association web site atwww.nfpa.org/education .

Page 3 Visit the City of Marion online at www.marionsc.gov January 2011

New sign to helpcity communicatewith citizensThe City of Marion has invested in anew sign at the intersection of U.S.Highway 76, Liberty Street, andGodbold Street and Jones AvenueExtension. The sign, like the one onMain Street, will feature city events,and items of interest.

Fire Department substation nears completionFirst the land was cleared, then the concrete slab was poured and electrical andplumbing conduits laid. Then the frame was put in place and the interior com­pleted, or nearly so. The new City of Marion Fire Department Station II should becompleted before the end of the month and a dedication ceremony is planned.

FLASHPOINT ...News from and about the City Fire Department

Years ago I heard a pastor preachabout the importance of staying in

the present, looking to the future andnot dwelling too often in the past. Heused the illustration of a car, explainingthere is a reason why the front wind-shield is so big. If the driver focuses toooften on the little rear view mirrors, andnot the big front windshield, then thedriver is going to run into problems, lit-erally!

I believe in the pastor’s message butwant to take the opportunity for a briefmoment to look in the rear view mirror.Because of the support of the MarionCity Council and the support of our citi-zens, our city has taken some giantsteps in 2010. Despite a challengingeconomy recognized by our entire coun-try, the City of Marion has managed topull off some major feats.

First was our (by way of referendum)transfer of the water and sewer system.This was a long drawn out process bydesign. It was a major decision where nostone could be left unturned. The end re-

sult was Grand Strand Water & SewerAuthority paying off the more than $11million city debt, with a payout of $2.6million. The city also receives a monthlyfranchise fee. Furthermore, citizens got arate reduction and a guarantee that aftertwo years our rates can not go up anymore than the Authority’s other serviceareas. Finally, I think everyone has rec-ognized the amount of effort and moneyGrand Strand has invested in elevatingour systems to first class.

Secondly, we changed our trash serv-ice. Though our former sanitation com-pany did a good job, American WasteSystems offered our city a significantsavings that allowed us to prevent an in-crease in rates. The company alsoopened an office in Marion and hiredlocal folks. Through their creativity withthe pink roll carts, citizens contribute tocancer research at no extra cost.

And I saved the best for last! In De-cember we announced and signed amemorandum of understanding withFrancis Marion University, Coastal Car-

olina University, and Florence Darling-ton Technical College. This equates toclasses being offered by all three institu-tions right here in Marion in our CDJoyner Facility. This is an initiative thatI believe will evolve into something bigfor our entire region. We will be forth-coming with all developments as theyhappen.

Now that we’ve glanced briefly in therear view mirror , I’m very excited to turnto our front windshield. I’m looking for-ward to exploring with Council and ourcitizens the opportunities of 2011. Manymunicipalities and organizations will reston their laurels and say now is not thetime to make moves. Often, statementslike this are due to unwillingness to putforth the effort to find the right opportu-nities. There are always opportunities forthose who diligently pursue them.

I trust that each one of you will phys-ically, mentally and prayerfully prepareyourself for the blessings that await youin this New Year.

Yours truly, Rodney Berry

FROM THE MAYOR TO YOU .......................................

Check us out online!The City of Marion Recreation De-

partment now has a Facebook Pageand is on the Internet, on thewww.Marionsc.gov web site.

Find us under “Residents” andthen click on “Recreation.” To find uson Facebook, search Marion Recre-ation Department! There are gametimes, photos and much more!

Centers offer greatplaces for gathering

Parents: Remember that the Wat-sonia and Grice Recreation centersare open in the afternoons as a placefor students to gather. Hours are 2:30– 4 p.m. Children will be under adultsupervision and are expected to followrules. There are plenty of games, suchas pool, air hockey, board games andmore, for them to enjoy. For more in-formation call the Recreation Depart-ment at 423-5410.

Same day, new timefor Bingo at Watsonia

The time to play Bingo in WatsoniaRecreation Center has changed to8:15 – 9:15 a.m. Bingo is played onthe first and third Thursday of eachmonth and there are plenty of seatsfor newcomers to join the fun.

We have refreshments for you toenjoy while you play. So come on overand bring some friends! We look for-ward to seeing you here.

Bingo is free of charge and open tothe public and prizes are awarded towinners.

Get moving, keep moving:Join others for aerobics

Senior Aerobics is offered at theWatsonia Recreation Center Mondayand Thursdays from 9:30 – 10:30a.m. The class is offered by MarionCounty Council on Aging and isFREE, however, donations are appre-ciated. For information about theclass, call 423-4391.

Page 4 Visit the City of Marion online at www.marionsc.gov January 2011

Coming Up

SPORTS & RECREATION .............................................

The Recreation Department had a great turnout for basketball sign-ups; thecoaches and players have practiced all the way to Christmas break and now it’stime to play some ball!

Everyone looks forward to seeing the children having a great time while learn-ing the fundamentals of basketball. The public is invited to come and support thecommunity, your child, your neighbor’s child and the coaches.

Below are 17 tips to help you be a better spectator. a I will not force my child to participate. a I will remember that children play to have fun.a I will learn the rules of the game and the league policies.a I and my guests will be positive role models and encourage sportsmanship.a I and my guests will not engage in any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct.a I will not encourage anything that would endanger the athletes.a I will teach my child to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts peacefully.a I will demand that my child treat others with respect.a I will teach my child that doing one’s best is more important that winning.a I will offer praise for competing fairly and trying hard.a I will never ridicule or yell at my child or others for a mistake or losing.a I will emphasize skill development and practice and de-emphasize games

and competition, especially in the younger age groups.a I will promote the emotional and physical well-being of the athletes.a I will respect the officials and coaches and their authority and decisions.a I will demand a sports environment free from drugs, tobacco and alcohol.a I will refrain from coaching, unless I am one, my child or others during

games and practices.a I will inform the coach of any physical disability or ailment that could affect

the safety of my child or others.For more information about game times and schedules, call the Watsonia

Recreation Center at 423-5410 and check with us on Facebook.

Basketball sign-up is over and the season is just ahead

City employees to train for, take part in HISTORIC MARION RUNFESTAll citizens are encouraged to move ‘From Couch to 5K’ with the city employees

To encourage participation in theupcoming Historic Marion Runfest inFebruary, and to promote better healthof its employees, the City of MarionWellness Program has created a way foremployees to get involved in the special

event. Employees will train to partici-pate in the 5K Run-Walk in February.

Preparing for any run can be adaunting task, so Personnel DirectorElizabeth Ficik chose a program to helpmove employees from walking to run-

ning. The program,“From Couch to 5K,”is designed to easeparticipants into arunning program. Ittakes a few minuteseach week and partici-pants can run for timeor for distance.

Each session willtake about 20 to 30minutes, three times aweek. EmployeeTraining will be onMondays, Wednes-days and Fridays at4:30 p.m. The City’sRecreation Depart-ment will also conducttraining on Mondays,Wednesdays and Fri-days at 8:30 a.m.

Anyone interestedin participating withthe employees shouldcontact ElizabethFicik at City Hall, efi-cik@marionsc.gov or423-8614 or CherylAskins at Watsonia,caskins@marionsc.govor 423-5410.

5K Run‐Walk10K Mayor’s Run‐Walk10‐Mile Swamp Fox Challenge

1‐Mile Church Challenge & a Tot Trot

HISTORICMARIONRUNFEST

Marion, South Carolina2011

Best Small Town Race Ever

Visit www.rmssports.com& register today!

Also, visit www.racesonline.com ... HISTORIC MARION RUNFEST directed by Danny & Lesa White

February 26, 2011 9 a.m.

THIS INAUGURAL EVENT WILL FEATURE RUNNING & WALKING ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT. POST RACE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE 2ND ANNUAL SWAMP FOX CHILI COOKOFFAND MANY OTHER FAMILY ACTIVITIES.

Experience True Southern Hospitality

In the Swamp Fox City!

RACE SITE: MARION OPERA HOUSE, GODBOLD STREET

9 a.m. events include 5K RUN-WALK10K MAYORS RUN-WALK10-MILE SWAMP FOX CHALLENGE

11 a.m. event features TOT TROT, a 50-yard dash

11:30 a.m. event features 1-MILE CHURCH CHALLENGE

ALL COURSES ARE USATF CERTIFIED. VERY FLAT & FAST. ALL RUNNERS WILL RUN CONCURRENTLY THROUGH THE HISTORIC DISTRICT,

DOWNTOWN AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS.VERY BEAUTIFUL SOUTHERN SCENERY THROUGHOUT.

STICK AROUND FOR FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS AND THE AWARDS CEREMONY.

The HISTORIC MARION RUNFEST is a component of Celebrating Francis Marion Days, February 24-27, 2011