Deputies are investing a rash of car break ins at two area churches that occurred within a short period of time on Sunday, Nov. 30, according to a release from the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office.

Many of you will be shopping today, but you won’t find me out there… I don’t go anywhere near stores on “Black Friday!” All those crowds are too much for me, I’d rather take this day to start pulling Christmas decorations down from storage, get the Christmas cards started and hopefully start to catch up on reading.

Carolyn Wilson has been working with children with disabilities and special needs for over 31 years.

West Hartsville Elementary School will be gearing up for a St. Jude Math-A-Thon event on Dec. 1. Miley Cyrus and Chris Brown, two of America’s best known performers, star as hosts in Math-A-Thon videos to encourage students to participate in this program that helps raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the premier center for the research and treatment of childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. The Hartsville community can sponsor students participating in the Math-A-Thon by pledging an amount-per-problem or a one-time donation.

A look back to The Messenger 25 & 50 years ago

The Darlington Lady Falcons’ basketball team finished the 2007-08 season as the Region 6 AAA Champions.

The Lamar High School boys’ basketball team has a new attitude in every sense of the word.

The Coker mens’ basketball team traveled to Virginia for the holiday weekend to face their third and fourth Division I opponents of the 2008-09 season in the Liberty Thanksgiving Classic.

Coker College’s Mason Ambler has been selected as the NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas men’s basketball Player of the Week during week number one in the 2008-09 season.

The Lady Cobras’ basketball team faced two tough opponents recently and fell to both after winning its home opener against Morris College last week.

I cooked my first turkey last year. When I told my older sister that I’d never cooked a turkey, she nearly shrieked over the phone. How could I have been married nearly 30 years and not cooked a turkey? Simple. All my Thanksgivings had been spent with my parents.
Understand that great food is second only to good company during the holidays.
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without turkey. Or would it?
Hannelore Wilson’s been getting along without cooking a turkey longer than I have. A native of Germany, Hannelore didn’t grow up with the Thanksgiving traditions that we all take for granted.
She shares her turkey tale.

Katherine Nelson Whelan and Frederick Millen were married Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, in a private ceremony on a beach in Maui, Hawaii.

Cricket Newman brought lots of holiday decorating ideas with her when she came to speak at an event sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Kalmia Gardens.

The Coker College Music department will present the Coker Chamber Singers fall concert in the Hannah Lide Coker Recital Hall of the Margaret Coker Lawton Music Building on the Coker College campus on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church will host its annual Alternative Christmas Market in the church’s Memorial Fellowship Hall on Saturday, Nov. 22. As in years past, the market will feature items from Ten Thousand Villages, Heifer Project International and a Food Sale with items prepared by church members.