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Walking Blood Bank -- Two hundred sixteen donations, averaging four times a year for 52 years, for a total of 27 gallons. That is how much blood Tom Downes of Winnsboro has donated to the American Red Cross since the fall of 1959, beginning at the age of 22. My dad was a beat cop in Chicago, and one time he needed 13 pints of blood,” Downes said. “That got my attention. I started giving blood shortly after that.” Downes, 74, received pin number 27 on Thursday, and he explained that each pin represents 8 pints (1 gallon). Each pin is numbered on the front. He says his blood type is O-positive and he goes to the Red Cross Headquarters in Columbia. Asked if he is going to stop now that he has given so many gallons, Downes didn’t stop to think before he answered. “Oh, no,” he said with conviction. “I’ll keep going!”
Walking Blood Bank -- Two hundred sixteen donations, averaging four times a year for 52 years, for a total of 27 gallons. That is how much blood Tom Downes of Winnsboro has donated to the American Red Cross since the fall of 1959, beginning at the age of 22. My dad was a beat cop in Chicago, and one time he needed 13 pints of blood,” Downes said. “That got my attention. I started giving blood shortly after that.” Downes, 74, received pin number 27 on Thursday, and he explained that each pin represents 8 pints (1 gallon). Each pin is numbered on the front. He says his blood type is O-positive and he goes to the Red Cross Headquarters in Columbia. Asked if he is going to stop now that he has given so many gallons, Downes didn’t stop to think before he answered. “Oh, no,” he said with conviction. “I’ll keep going!”
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Rotary Ready for Relay -- It has been quite a while since the county has had a full-blown “Relay For Life” but there will be one for sure this year! Recently, Rotarian Frankie O’Neal had Mandy Ashley for her speaker at the Rotary meeting. Ms. Ashley is a Health Science teacher at the Fairfield Career and Technology School and has graciously taken on the job of chairing the American Cancer Society’s “Relay For Life” for the county. Ms. Ashley has a personal reason for accepting to spearhead the Relay. She has experienced the loss of three close family members dying with cancer and believes this is her motivation to get involved with the Relay. She explained what the Relay is, its history, when it will be and how to get involved. The Relay will be on Friday night, April 20th, from 7:00 PM - 7:00 AM Saturday morning and it will be held on the Fairfield Central High School’s track field. There will be many fund raisers for the Relay and the first one was a BBQ dinner held on Thursday, January 19th; the guest speaker was Tyler Thigpen who played high school football at Fairfield Central High School and is now a quarterback with the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills. Thigpen talked about his experience with his mother’s death after a bout with breast cancer and how it affected his family. He offered to match the Relay’s first $10,000 in their effort to reach their $50,000 goal! Pictured above are: Robert Sharpe (Rotarian and Principal at the Career Center), Frankie O’Neal, Mandy Ashley, and Arthur Lathan (Rotary President).
Rotary Ready for Relay -- It has been quite a while since the county has had a full-blown “Relay For Life” but there will be one for sure this year! Recently, Rotarian Frankie O’Neal had Mandy Ashley for her speaker at the Rotary meeting. Ms. Ashley is a Health Science teacher at the Fairfield Career and Technology School and has graciously taken on the job of chairing the American Cancer Society’s “Relay For Life” for the county. Ms. Ashley has a personal reason for accepting to spearhead the Relay. She has experienced the loss of three close family members dying with cancer and believes this is her motivation to get involved with the Relay. She explained what the Relay is, its history, when it will be and how to get involved. The Relay will be on Friday night, April 20th, from 7:00 PM - 7:00 AM Saturday morning and it will be held on the Fairfield Central High School’s track field. There will be many fund raisers for the Relay and the first one was a BBQ dinner held on Thursday, January 19th; the guest speaker was Tyler Thigpen who played high school football at Fairfield Central High School and is now a quarterback with the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills. Thigpen talked about his experience with his mother’s death after a bout with breast cancer and how it affected his family. He offered to match the Relay’s first $10,000 in their effort to reach their $50,000 goal! Pictured above are: Robert Sharpe (Rotarian and Principal at the Career Center), Frankie O’Neal, Mandy Ashley, and Arthur Lathan (Rotary President).
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I Do -- The Fairfield County School District Board of Trustees is now complete with the swearing in of newly elected member Beth Reid (left). She was sworn in at the County Court House on Friday by Fairfield County Clerk of Court Betty Jo Beckham. Reid’s husband, Herb Rentz, held the Bible during the brief ceremony.
I Do -- The Fairfield County School District Board of Trustees is now complete with the swearing in of newly elected member Beth Reid (left). She was sworn in at the County Court House on Friday by Fairfield County Clerk of Court Betty Jo Beckham. Reid’s husband, Herb Rentz, held the Bible during the brief ceremony.
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You Are Invited -- You are invited to join The Bethlehem Baptist Church Family and Friends during our morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 5 to celebrate the fourth anniversary our Pastor, Chris Keesee. Pastor Keesee is not only a Servant to God at Bethlehem, he is a community servant as well. During his second year he started the Martin Luther King “Unity Walk.” “Bringing people together in unity will bring communities together in fellowship and much can be accomplished for the good of all people,” Keesee said.
You Are Invited -- You are invited to join The Bethlehem Baptist Church Family and Friends during our morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 5 to celebrate the fourth anniversary our Pastor, Chris Keesee. Pastor Keesee is not only a Servant to God at Bethlehem, he is a community servant as well. During his second year he started the Martin Luther King “Unity Walk.” “Bringing people together in unity will bring communities together in fellowship and much can be accomplished for the good of all people,” Keesee said.
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23 Years -- On Sunday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m., the Youth Choir held their 23rd anniversary. Ms. Taneshia Hill served as the mistress of ceremony. Visiting choirs gave great selections. The members of the choir are: Kadelia Pete, Octavia Robinson, Shawana Peoples, Tatyanna Alston, Asia Pete, Precious Hill, Stanley Pete Jr., James Hall Jr., Rodney Gibson, Maya Wilmore, Sierra Robinson, Amazing Hall, Alexis Smith, Shirlethia Trapp, Rojae Burns and Jamiyah Alston. Directress: Mrs. Connie Davis Pete. The Rev. Norris Turner and the Gethsemane Baptist Church Family would like to thank everyone for their attendance.
23 Years -- On Sunday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m., the Youth Choir held their 23rd anniversary. Ms. Taneshia Hill served as the mistress of ceremony. Visiting choirs gave great selections. The members of the choir are: Kadelia Pete, Octavia Robinson, Shawana Peoples, Tatyanna Alston, Asia Pete, Precious Hill, Stanley Pete Jr., James Hall Jr., Rodney Gibson, Maya Wilmore, Sierra Robinson, Amazing Hall, Alexis Smith, Shirlethia Trapp, Rojae Burns and Jamiyah Alston. Directress: Mrs. Connie Davis Pete. The Rev. Norris Turner and the Gethsemane Baptist Church Family would like to thank everyone for their attendance.
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