The State from Columbia, South Carolina • 8

A En or THE STATE, COLUMBIA, S.C. MILLENNIUM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1999 B3 MILLENNIUM COUNTDOWN THE CLOCK TICKS TOWARD 2000, The A State you the will new mark one. the devote old Every this century day, space and daily Carolina to prepare Century helping for will offer historical snapshots of the past 100 2000 for years. dealing And in with Are You possible Y2K we'll problems. offer advice CAROLINA CENTURY: 1980-1999 What will the future hold? Some predictions for 2000 What's next? Here are some predictions, from various sources, for the first half of the 21st century: In 1990, 394,049 people 65 and older lived in South Carolina.

For the year 2005, the projected number is 508,000. By 2010, 55- to 74-year-olds in the United States will outnumber 25- to 34-year-olds by 18 million. Lexington County, which had 167,611 residents in 1990, is projected to grow more than 50 percent by 2010, according to the S.C. Division of Research and Statistical Service. Richland County's population is expected to reach 322,100 by 2005, a 6 percent increase from 1997, according to the Central Midlands Council of Governments.

Almost 48,000 blacks will move to South Carolina before 2025. The combined population of Horry and Georgetown counties, now around 230,000, is projected to swell to 285,500 by 2010. Myrtle Beach swells to more than 500,000 people on a single peak day. Projections put that figure at close to 900,000 by 2005. Traffic planners predict the average of 15,800 vehicles crossing the Lake Murray dam today will double by 2015.

A The $420 million, 2.5-mile Ravenel Bridge spanning the Cooper River at Charleston will be up to eight lanes and it will be finished around 2005. By 2020, 1-26 in Charleston will need 12 lanes. Travel on the stretch of road between Ballentine and Red Bank is expected to reach 23,000 vehicles daily in the year 2015, nearly double what it is today. The price tag for growth in South Carolina: $57 billion for infrastructure, 1995-2015, according to a State Budget and Control Board study. The bulk of that cost is for new roads.

1 The Employment Security Commission predicts auto manufacturing and related industries will employ as many as 40,000 workers by 2005. By 2005, the Harvest Hope food bank will need the capability of distributing 11 million pounds of food. State lawmakers and pregnancy prevention advocates want a 30 percent reduction in pregnancy rates among South Carolina teen-agers. The state health department THE LAST CENTURY OF THE 1950-1969 www.thestate.com ON THE WEB: TIME MARCHES ON Let's Celebrate the Millennium! What's a millennium? It's a period of 1,000 years. Let's take a sneak peek at the next millennium, and learn about what happened in the previous millennium.

Millennium icon: Hair People have fussed with their hair since the beginning of time. Find out what it meant in the ol' days to have a really bad hair day. And see what's in development for hair in the next millennium. Check out our online Millenium package. Millennium icon: Art Whether finger painting or clicking a mouse, creative minds have always been driven to make art.

See how art has developed over the centuries and become more accessible to a wider audience. And take a look at how we'll define art in the future. Check out our online Millennium package. THE LAST CENTURY OF THE MILL 1950-1969 www.thestate.com expects all students in kindergarten through 12th grade to be protected from hepatitis by 2004. The University of South Carolina's new arena, which will be home to the school's men's basketball team and a Columbia-based East Coast Hockey League team, is on schedule to open in 2002.

I S.C.'s Education Oversight Committee has set two goals for public schools: to be the fastest-improving by 2002 and to be in the top half by 2010. There is a 40 percent to 60 percent chance that a magnitude 6 earthquake will occur in the eastern United States by 2020. ARE YOU READY? South Carolina state government is ready for Y2K, but officials have prepared for emergencies or possible disruptions in service. Here's the status of key state services: Day till I Y2K Traffic signals: The state Department of Transportation, which is responsible for about 2.000 of the state's 3,000 traffic signals, expects to have no problems. Extensive contingency plans are in place in case of malfunction.

Unemployment checks: No disruptions anticipated. a Food stamps: The Department of Social Services reports the system has been Y2K compliant since July 1. Child support: DSS rolled out a Y2K compliant system last month to manage child-support payments. Law enforcement: State and local officers will be able to check vehicle registration, criminal history data and a national crime database. State employee paychecks: Will be available on schedule Tuesday.

Agency representatives may pick up checks earlier for later distribution. Pension checks will be mailed on schedule by the S.C. Retirement System at the end of December. vouchers: Computers that issue vouchers and checks are Y2K compliant. a Tax records: No taxpayer records are at risk.

All records will be backed up by the Department of Revenue by Saturday. Medicaid: The Department of Health and Human Services' Medicaid computer will be backed up twice, then go off-line temporarily today. The system will resume operation on Saturday and will be fully operational when business resumes Monday. Source: S.C. Coalition for Year 2000 Readiness ON THE WEB: WHAT ABOUT Y2K? Y2K Impact Home: If you plan to buy supplies, get them well in advance.

This is not so much to beat the rush that might come at year's end, but to help prevent shortages that could come if such preparations become a mainstream notion. Find out more about Y2K and your home on our online Millennium package. LI www.thestate.com JOIN TWO FOR ONE! Join Membership Is Less Than A Dollar A Day No Long Term Contract Required Our Most Popular Membership Plan You've Waited A Whole So Get Those Extra Pounds Off And Get In Shape Now! GOLDS GYM. 508 Evelyn Drive 275 Harbison Boulevard 9940 Two Notch Road Brickyard Tan Nosen Shopping Re Center Now Just Off Fernandina Rd. In Harbison Centre Brickyard Shopping Cntr.

Spring Behind Raintree Apts. Beside Books A Million som Near Spring Valley High 798-1000 120 behind Reinerse veiye A be 749-9700 Sets a 419-0222 Price based on 1 year affiliate membership. Payment conditions apply. 35718-63 State Report over the holiday weekend, the state Forestry Commission warned Thursday. Fireworks, such as rockets and Roman candles, pose the greatest threat, said fire management chief Miles Knight.

State firefighters plan to be on full alert throughout the holiday weekend. Wildfires can be reported to 911 or to the Forestry Commission Dispatch Center at (800) 777- FIRE. NEWS FROM AROUND SOUTH CAROLINA Fireworks fire warning issued for weekend Fireworks could spark wildfires METRO Woman struck, killed by truck near Blythewood is identified A woman struck and killed by a truck near Blythewood has been identified as Teresa Smith of Columbia. Smith, 33, was hit Wednesday night while walking along U.S. 21.

She suffered a broken back and pelvis as well as internal injuries, said Richland County Coroner Frank Barron. Man charged in family shooting released on bail A Columbia man who turned himself in Wednesday in connection with a deadly family argument was released from jail Thursday after posting $25,000 bail. Hulga "Michael" Condon, 30, is charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Condon's mother, Margaret Condon, 51, and his brother-in-law, Alexander Glover, 33, died Tuesday morning in a shooting off Lincoln Street in the Elmwood Park neighborhood. Authorities said Glover shot and killed his mother-in-law, and later was shot to death himself after a short car chase.

Fifth Circuit Assistant Solicitor Don Sorenson said Thursday his office has not decided yet whether any additional charges will be filed against Condon. Cayce gets new I-77 access with opening of road section The 12th Street Extension in Cayce opened to traffic Thursday afternoon. The three-mile opening stretch of the 4.1-mile road is Cayce's second Interstate 77 exit. The $20 million connector extends from the Saxe Gotha exit at I-77 west, ending at Godley Street. City officials expect the extension to open up new commercial development, particularly near the interstate.

The next section of the project is a $12 million, bridge from Godley Street over the CSX rail lines near SMI Owens Steel plant, to Frink Street. Lexington County DSS to distribute food Jan. 4 The Lexington County Department of Social Services will distribute food Jan. 4 to qualifying Lexington County residents. Those receiving food must show a food stamp approval letter from Lexington County or verbally declare their income.

That income must be below the state-established poverty line for the recipient's household size. All food recipients must show two forms of identification and must live in the county. Those unable to come to the distribution may send a representative with their two identifications and food stamp approval letter or income and household size information. The U.S. Department of Agriculture donated the food.

Food will be distributed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Spires Recreation Center, 1500 Dunbar Road, Cayce; Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, 5503 Sunset Lexington; Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, 505 S. Church Swansea; and Olive Branch Baptist Church, 122 S.

Oak Batesburg. Gandy returns to weather airwaves tonight Jim Gandy says he's ready to face his old team. A year ago, Gandy was the chief meteorologist at NBC affiliate WISTV. Tonight at 6 he'll make his debut as chief meteorologist at rival CBS affiliate WLTX-TV. He'll also do the 11 p.m.

newscast. "I've never done this before, go from one station to another in the same market," Gandy said this week. "It's going to be interesting." Although the situation is unique for Columbia, Gandy pointed out that i it has become common elsewhere. He likened it to what is happening in sports these days. "You think of a football player.

One day he's playing for one team, and then the next day he's playing for another competing against his old team." After more than 14 years at WIS, Gandy switched jerseys last Decem- By DOUG NYE Staff Writer ber when Gannett Broadcasting lured him away as a consultant. Speculation immediately began that eventually he would show up at WLTX, which Gannett purchased in spring 1998. A clause in Gandy's WIS contract prohibited him from appearing on a competing station for 12 months. Gandy, who never ruled out returning to the air, said he's excited about the new challenge. "I've had a chance to work with some equipment here at WLTX," Gandy said.

"We're redoing all of our graphics. We've got some big things planned during the coming months." No one knows better than Gandy what WLTX is facing as the battle for ratings heats up. "WIS rightly is very proud of its newscasts," Gandy said. "I know they're not going to fold up just because I'm here. The really impressive thing about WIS is that even in the days when they had no competi- tion, they always tried to get better." While Gandy has respect for his former employer, he won't spend much time thinking about WIS.

"The only thing I'm worried about is the job I do and we do at WLTX. I can tell you that we're going to compete. Competition can be tough, but whenever you have it, the winners are always the viewers." A graduate of Florida State University, Gandy originally aimed to work for the National Weather Service. But it had a hiring freeze at the time, and he never got a job there. Gandy eventually returned to his native Memphis to do graduate work at Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis).

In 1975, a local TV station approached him about doing the weather. Two years later, Gandy moved to the Oklahoma City market where he stayed until 1982 before going to Wichita, Kan. In 1984, Gandy came to WIS. The State ways to get into the Nissan Frontier South Carolina Shilharmonie Day Spa For the next 37 days, between Thanksgiving Day and News Year's Finally, on Saturday, January 8 each of our daily winners Eve, we are counting down to the new millennium. With our 2000 will be invited to Dick Smith Nissan to see who won the key that news feature in the Metro section on page B3, we' will start the Nissan Frontier.

One lucky person will ride off count down to the Year 2000 and celebrate the past century with into the new millennium in a 2000 Nissan Frontier. a special column. Read The State and look for your contest ballot every day. We have also gathered some of our favorite advertisers to offer Ballots will also be available at The State, 1401 Shop Road and you a millennium prize package. Every day we will choose one win- Dick Smith Automotive, 3670 Fernandina Road.

Please refer to the ner to receive a basket filled with goodies and gift certificates. We official contest rules for more information. are giving away food, movies, gifts, services and that could Nissan Frontier. 37 winners for 37 days. ENTER OFTEN FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN! start the a new 2000 Countdown the millennium and win DICK SMITH GARNERS SNAPPY FERRY SANDY'S FACTORY RECREATIONAL WAREHOUSE THE WAREHOUSE "When CAR WASH Pools Spas Billiards Tanning Beds Taste AUTOMOTIVE Columbiana Grande HARDWARE GYM.

for the Arts MONKEY Dutch Square Blowers GOLD'S Koger Center GREASE HOUSE Center Glenda's The A State name address city day phone email address state zip evening phone www.thestate.com MAIL TO: Millennium Countdown Contest P.O. Box 1333 Columbia, SC 29202 DROP OFF: 1401 Shop Road Columbia, SC 3670 Fernandina Road Columbia, SC DICK SMITH AUTOMOTIVE Contest rules: No Purchase necessary. Enter as often as you like. Limit mailed entries to one ballot per envelope. Entry forms will be available to the public.

Official entry forms available on a one-per-person-per-visit at both The State newspaper, 1401 Shop Road, Columbia, C. 29201 and Dick Smith Nissan, 3670 Fernandina Road, Columbia, S.C, Prizes consist of one (1) grand prize of a 2000 Nissan Frontier valued at $20,000 and thirty-seven (37) daily prize packages of gift certificates for goods and services. There will be no substitute prizes. Winners need to be present to win the grand prize. To be eligible you need to be a U.S.

resident and at least 18 years old. Hand-drawn or machine-duplicated entries are not valid, nor are damaged, illegible, incomplete, forged or altered entries. Not responsible for lost. late misdirected or non-delivered entries. Upon receipt entries become the property of The State newspaper.

Daily winners will be selected by random draw and announced in December 5, 1999: December 12, 1999; December 19, 1999. December 26, 1999 and January 2, 2000 editions of The State newspaper. Winners will also be contacted by phone and will receive the daily prizo package on Saturday January 8, 2000 at Dick Smith Nissan Please do not call, no winner information will be given out by phone. The grand prize winner's photograph will be published on January 9, 2000. Winners will be required to sign a statement of eligibility and a liability release prior to receiving their prizes Entrants agree that The State, its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents are not liable for, and will be held harmless against, any and all claims for injury, loss or damage of any kind resulting directly or indirectly from participation in this contest from acceptance or use of any prize.

Taxes are solely the responsibility of the winner(s). Employees of The State and Dick Smith Nissan and their immediate family members are not eligible. The State's decision regarding contest entries and winners are final and binding. Void where prohibited. The a a a a State 31569-85M Connecting You To Your Community www.thestate.com.