The State from Columbia, South Carolina • 18

WE STATE COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA WWWTHESTATECOM B8 THURSDAY AUGUST 20 2009 REGIONAL REPORT VISIT WWWTHES1A1EX0M FOR UPDATED FORECASTS L0CALAN0 REGIONAL RADARS WEATHER Vii US OUTLOOK A low pressure system wW be respond for stamen thunderstorms md cool temperatures to the Upper Midwest and portions o( the northern Plains today The cold front associated with this system may trigger shonfltp severe norms A moist unstable air mass ahead of the system fuel showers and thunderstorms throughout much of Ihe East and the Sordft 1 TEMPERATURES 40k -201 -101 -01 Oi 10s Ml )0i 40l 50l ttl 70s 10s 100s llflk Upstate Scattered showera andftundoretrems WsaAernom Midlands Chaifceaf mainly late Lbwcountry' and die coast Chance of piunoonioniB Chance of founder-storms In the afternoon Today's Foals Uw 101 Today's UVIadaE 8 Wad: SSW 5-10 niemtal Partly tunny and muggy Scattered shown and -tounderstormc: V- famiisla msmand (Li? a ForacMby imps lew tat 88 72 000 82 75 000 82 74 (LOO 8172000 82 73 000 aaxalaJ ku iBBfiOfflpnaof VMherCantm Inc Shown is today weather Temperatures ate todayB highs and tonightt lows 90-7S Head 54'7T Beaufort i uMflOSSOQ Charlotte Raima Greer Myrtle Beach Rock HI Savannah Partly cloudy chanoe of thunderstorms eariy 88 71000- so 77 400 80 70 412 'S re 88 75 417 MONDAY SUNDAY FRIDAY BONIS a uOl -rr 7T fan SATURDAY KTTQg 1 Non Bpn IMnlgM SAHOTMT 85VMnmboro ulcumt Tdmnn 1 i NATIONAL FORECAST Taday'i taariM: MS an MfyiaaaMfcUSpjn Teton's Moarlsr 730 are ftfayH raeiata: ttO pm ShowharenoonpoiitionsofwealhersysternsiitoprecipitatoLTemperaturebiixIs ire highs far the (toy Forecast high4ow temperatures are given for seleckd Mies WORLD TODAY "9165ft wv nww 91764 92734 Chance of thunderstorms Scattered thunderstorms ur mr -Nnlaaa Chance of thunderstorms A 89 68 Foals 1092 Whirl: NE 5-10 A 88 v72 A 88 69 thunderstorms A9ry74 FatisUkK 100 WMVar5-10 MainMlgrynNr FmJs Uka: 93 5-10 MsIAk96 WMVar5-10 Tim TODAY WEATHER HISTORY On this dale in 1884 Sheridan wyo reported a reoordhot temperature reading of 100 degrees Evening thunderstorms produced go bal size ha8 near Fortune ND 876 91794 88751 88NA 8463M aamt- 86646c 557436c 9073ft 8764ft 90656c 91794 907786c 887476c 90606c' 93775ft 91 Oft Atari Liar in UHga fOUKX ManOWnaNMMBHV ftaklftitalMnm The IMs life Temperature kan indaxof theeffecti of temperature wind and humidity on On human body LOCAL ALMANAC LAKE AND RIVER LEVELS (in feet) Columbia Ihrouiyi 5 pm yesterday Tarepataerae law Yesterday 83 74 Yaaragotoday 80 68 Normal tor today 80 70 RmriMta 106 in 1900 mnl tom 62 in 1943 110785ft 1094156c 85694 80624 80696c 81684 8969ft 83696c 87724 88724 9272pc 91704 764496c 8264ft 9961ft 9762ft 94734 91744 9660ft 9569ft 83624 79616c 6869701 G964fth 897784 91784 MUkaCW 9466ft 9G77M Sretatoata 1007776c 9976pc tar tap 7366ft 73676c Stettaackca 66656c 66666c taJm '81686c- 80696c (Rah 05656c 06666c Uta tarts 70614 6766701-lii 90754 907754 Stedlli '0566ft 73666c 937736c 90664 tahRi 6963701 74626c MM 81624 7667Ah Mm 97765ft 9360ft fyncaes 85714 84684 Taap 88784 91784 Tepeka 79686c 80556 IMP 9(7724 91724 TncMB 10276ft102776c Taka B7634 8861A ta0MiIJL917B4 91754 IMMIV UCK AMI RWlfBi KHllKNy HAW MWW 9VS3h924c B3U63A tOWs 6Wlk 634840 8366t B4681 88772ft 467tVt 9176ipc 8977M 1017Vpc 98770ft 9Q774A 40772ft 8253S 926CW 88734 887584 7W9pc- 79S1A 997687s 99765ft 847734 87724 96781 pc 9V78pc 84714 817534 83704 1 877864 767467s 897527! 85704 817554 907714 88684 85714 86684 81754ft 7258701 857574 817804 857594 797614 797624 85674 86664 9679pc 9776pc 9774pc 94714 847664 7860pC 7560ft 95564 74564: 74564: 83674 79634 62624 667477c 9272pc 91704 HPres 101 71ft 9972pc W-Mtehi njmi arkjwtli Mwafti jMltr AlMtoWI' fiflto- tJgdHlBfir re wreePi pai HMiyi rre IUI NUftf 86664 836Qpc 65740ft 64745ftc 6761fth 7161ftc 8562ft 86646c 9773ft 947060 82644 7569fth real File NT 8364ft 9468ft 90714 68694 8866ft 9668ft 897786c 89776 95754 83644 78694 91744 -91694 89744 907744 6S62fth 6249701 78696c '7968ft 10663ft 10664ft 90704 87646c 7262ft 73636c 85684 81614 9167ft 92666c 91714 86676c 92616c 92604 100696c 94696c 77614 69757fth 6869701 8964701 85704 16644 90754 88754 897764 907764 9479pC 83784 looresrpc 94697pc i B67534 8864ft 75656c 75686c 807764 92754 Vtfuea Indicate the exposure to the aunt itoraviolet ia Vteua is highest tor the day 0-2 low 3-5 moderate 6-7 high S-10 very high 11 extreme Low AM PM- AM PM Charleston 854 849 219 232 Auguda Savannah 832 855 238 253 OyoSA Myrtle Baach 751 811 152 241 ModocSC Bhdstug Ida Ctereat taakaa Calste ataga treat par 664065440 65440 Chappell RJL Russel 475047333 47340 Cherew Thurmond 334032430 32440 Pee Dee Greenwood 1040 949 940 Camden 214 114 140 140 1 1 84 144 340 140 244 110 -140 410 420 140 -430 240 -482 349 118 330 -401 140 400 340 -410 490 414 530 -410 The Weather Channel: Time Warner CteXe channel 32 Charter Communicatione (Camden) channel 27 NCAA Weather Radto in ttM Columbia area WXJ20 am 1624 140 -410 233 -449 340 -431 240 000- WC Bowen 815481357 81459 GMamFeny 140 Through 7 Lmyiteritey GreemNe Khgdree 124 NNafMrCWMiiKiteifnL mk Orangenig 40 I C( Am COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA iraraiTNanaTicfte HhAL JhaMfaiSiHek Laffey towed to shipyard for repairs -ft 1 1 i THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The World War destroyer Laffey is maneuvered out of its berth at Patriots Point on Wednesday as the ship begins its trek up the Cooper River to Detyens Shipyard and Chamber Winds and served as primary teaching assistant for the Sun Devil Marching Band McKeithen also served as director of bands for Seguin High School in Seguin He succeeds George Brazak Foundation UJS facing vital challenges CLEMSON University researchers need to help tackle foe global challenges faring the including reducing its dependency on fossil fuels and addressing climate change foe National Science Foundation's director said Tuesday Arden Bement told his audience at Qemson University that foe United States urgently needs new solutions and that energy has become foe focus of the agenda for foe first time in decades The foundation awards millions of dollars to South Carolina each year to fond research efforts including bioengineering nanotechnology and fori ceils McLeod petition seeks resignation Democratic gubernatorial contender Mullins McLeod has launched a petition demanding Gov Mark Sanford resign from office Sanford has been pressured to resign from some quarters after revealing a yearlong affair with an Argentinian woman Questions also have been raised about use of the state plane for personal and political travel Use of foe plane is limited to state business Ketner endorses Rex if he runs for governor Charleston businesswoman Linda Ketner who lost in her 2008 congressional bid for foe First District has endorsed state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex in his bid for governor Rex has filed paperwork with the state to begin raising money for a gubernatorial run He will make a final decision on his candidacy this month Contributing: Staff writers Adam Beam Leroy Chapman Jr Tim Flach CUfLeBlanc and John Monk The Greenville News and The Associated Press 1 METRO Briefly Austin named a dean at Benedict College Former Columbia city manager Charles Austin is now dean of the School of Humanities Arts and So- rial Sciences at Benedict College Austin earned his degree from South Carolina State University in education and a degree in criminal justice from the University of South Carolina A pastor Austin also holds a master of divinity degree from Erskine Theological Seminary and a doctorate in pastoral ministry from Central Christian University of South Car olina Austin retired from die city in January amid controversy over the finances He remained on die city's payroll until June 30 most recently serving as a consultant am absolutely ecstatic about the opportunity to be a member of the Benedict College Austin said in a release' Benedict also announced that Samir Raydioudhuiy was promoted from professor of biologydirector of research and development to dean of the School of Science Technology and Engineering It took years but city reconciles its accounts While Columbia's July expenses were "on the edfee" of being over budget all the city's bank accounts are now reconciled ending years of uncertainty about the financial position Interim chief financial officer Bill Ellis said some city departments including police fee and parks and recreation were over budget in July because of an extra pay period and several employees who took a voluntary buyout But EUis said the city cannot exceed $6 million in salary and fringe benefits in August or it risks busting the budget Camden to upgrade downtown sewer lines Camden has landed a $337558 grant to upgrade sewer lines in the York Street area "The area that will be repaired Street from York Street 1 to Meeting Street has pipelines that are over 50 years old" Mayor Jeffery Graham said Wednesday The grant is part of the stimulus package Congress passed earlier this year New school is Creek Elementary5 Rocky Creek Elementary is the name of a Lexington 1 school under construction The school board on Tuesday named it after a nearby waterway that flows into Lake Murray The school for 800 pupils on Calks Ferry Road is due to open in fall 2010 It is the first of five new Lexington 1 schools planned South Congaree eases limits for sex offenders Pushed by a new state law foe Lexington County town of South Congaree eased it restrictions on where sex offenders may live A unanimous Town Council Tuesday adopted a new local law that reduces from 2000 feet to 1000 feet the limit on how dose to where children live learn and play a convicted offender may reside town administrator Melisha Shumpert said The new ordinance also overrides an earlier tougher ban on proximity to bus stops schools or churches she said The changes are driven by an updated state law that prohibits local restrictions that differ from statewide standards State law was changed this spring to avoid a patchwoik'of restrictions The whole idea was to have continuity bill sponsor Rep Joan Brady R-Rich-land said McKeithen will strike up bands Steve McKeithen has been named directin' of athletic bands and assistant director of bands foe University of South Carolina School of Music announced Wednesday McKeithen will oversee foe marching band The Mighty Sound of foe Southeast and the University Concert Band McKeithen recently completed doctoral studies at Arizona State Univetsity where he conducted the Wind Ensemble Symphonic Band 1 Famed World War II hull structural beams to be rebuilt BY SCHUYLER KROPF lire Pott and Courier CHARLESTON There was little reason to be concerned At 7:15 am Wednesday in time for the morning high tide the destroyer Laffey waa towed dear of her mooring at Patriots Point and gently eased backward into die Cooper River Tended by a tiny fleet of tugboats the ship paused briefly in the river center turned and began a four-mile tow run north to Detyens Shipyard for four months of repairs and dry dock Fean there might be bursts or leaks below the waterline were overblown In fact the only scare for the skeleton crew on board was the sudden bang of a loose door slamming causing a momentary startle Otherwise it was smooth sailing on flat waters dry Joe Lombardi a marine surveyor and consultant from Ocean Technical Services reported of conditions below rtak Fifteen yean after her last big repair job the Laffey now sits tied up pier side at the former Navy shipyard in North Charleston The veteran World War II vessel probably will move into dry dock early next week with repairs set to begin soon afterward said Dick Trammell interim executive director at Patriots Point after all the lines were secured pumps no leaks no The build-up to move was yean in the making after the Laffey suffered long-term exposure and neglect It sped up this winter when more than 100 leaks appeared in the hull A last-minute state loan of $92 million allowed the Patriots Point Development Authority to get the destroyer its date in the dry dock During the next few months repair crews will rebuild the Laf-fey's structural beams and hull-plating If all goes well and with good maintenance the fix should ABOUT THE LAFFEY On Wednesday morning the Laffey was towed from Patriots Point In Mount Pleasant to Detyens Shipyard In North Charleston for repairs to her hull The repairs should take about four months Mef-ward the ship will return to Patriots Point and be open to visitors 376 feet Bath Iron Works Maine commissioned 1944 keep the Laffey shipshape as a museum piece for another 20 years That was good news for Laffey veterans who watched the journey from a tour boat One of the veterans Dan Easing 85 Queens NY dates his Laffey service to her commissioning in Bath Maine in early 1944 During a brief interview Easing spoke of being assigned to convoy duty in the Atlantic attending the D-Day invasion in Normandy and deadly times chasing the rising sun in the Pacific of memories good ones and bad he said The ones included times when the ship picked up from other (tin) cans that got and seeing soldiers in brown uniforms floating in the English Channel during D-Day Though the Laffcy's Navy service ran for decades the ship is most famous for her endurance surviving repeated kamikaze attacks off Okinawa in 1945 The crew and ship's stamina earned the Laffey recognition as Ship That Would Not Supporters said Wednesday they would miss seeing the ship for the next few months while she is behind the shipyard gate but they put their trust in the much-needed repair work Supported the DDay landings at Normandy during World War II Later rnoved to the Pacific Theater to join the war with Japan Off Okinawa in April 1945 the Laffey survived multiple bomber and kamikaze attacks with heavy losses earning the nickname the Ship That Would Not Die Hum port Added to the Patriots Point fleet in 1981 "We know her heart is beating just as hard as ours are said Sonny Walker Laffey Association president as he watched as the Laffey towed forward i.