Volunteer firefighters face risk and gaps in survivor benefits
Beech Island crews rescued a 14 year old's fate in a house blaze while volunteers across Aiken County celebrate lifesaving saves. Nationally about 130 firefighters die yearly in the line of duty with SC averaging four deaths annually. Despite federal safety nets, SC lacks a one time line of duty death payout or pension for survivors, though the Firemen’s Association provides a $25 000 accidental death payment and departments pay $25 per firefighter annually. See FIREFIGHTERS, Page 14A
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Beech Island
Aiken County
South Carolina
Fireman’s Association
Palmetto
Firemen’s Association
Mary Sassano
State Firefighters Association
Sassano
Christmas in Hopelands lights delight visitors in Aiken
Residents John and Connie Treadwell join families for the annual Christmas in Hopelands display. With more than 75 000 lights, the event features music refreshments and a new Victorian Village. City official Andrew Parker notes past glitches fixed and strong attendance with over 13 000 visitors last year.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John
Connie Treadwell
Hopelands
Kathy Cook
Cameron
Lauren Cook
Andrew Parker
City of Aiken
Thurmond's biracial daughter fronts memoir release
Essie Mae Washington Williams, daughter of U S Senator Strom Thurmond and a 16 year old Black maid, tells her side. The memoir Dear Senator co authored with William Stadiem, debuts January 27 through Regan Books HarperCollins.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Columbia
Essie Mae Washington Williams
U.S
Strom Thurmond
Edgefield
Williams
Thurmond
William Stadiem
Regan Books
Harper- Collins Publishers
Essie Mae Washington-Williams
Bush Faces Obstacles in Push for Private Social Security Accounts
President Bush confronts stiff Congress resistance and opposition from the senior advocacy lobby as he presses an overhaul of Social Security. Budget deficits intensify the fight with Republicans seeking gains before the 2006 midterms.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bush
Congress
Washington, D.C
Bush Faces Challenges Over Social Security Costs
The pay as you go Social Security system relies on payroll taxes to fund current benefits. The baby boom bulge will strain the system as 2018 marks a crossing point where spending exceeds tax intake. Bush vows no benefit cuts or tax increases for retirees but must find about $2 trillion, depending on investment accounts, to sustain payments.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bush
MP3 players and iPODs top music lovers lists
A Target electronics specialist notes MP3 players offer portable storage and no skipping as CD collections shrink. Apple iPOD models from 20 to 40 GB hold 1 000 to over 10 000 songs, with prices around 500 dollars. Other MP3 players start near 80 dollars and range to 512 MB, storing 30 to a few hundred songs. Cards for expansion run 30 to 99.99 dollars.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
David Stegall
Target
Sony
Memorex
Audiovox
RCA
Rio
Apple
Philips
Stegall
Also Mentioned on This Page
Kathy
Ginny Southwors
Hopelands Gardens
Lee
Leigh Strope
Associated Press
Ipods
Abby
Kenneth L. Cork
Sugar Valley
Garonnie
Martin Stallings
Graniteville
Annette Green Williams
Bath
John Moore
Will Jackson
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