Clarendon Sun briefs: March 15, 2019

Repairs force student drop-off change at MJHS

MANNING - Pothole repairs to the driveway in front of Manning Junior High School have made it necessary to reroute car riders. Car riders should be dropped off and picked up in the back of MJHS. Buses will now drop off and pick up in the front. The district asks for patience and cooperation while the repairs are being made.

Vietnam Veterans of America annual drive starts today

MANNING - The Annual Fund Drive held by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 960 starts today at Piggly Wiggly, Walmart and IGA in Manning.

Veterans and members of their families will be standing outside these locations soliciting donations to assist with the chapter's high school scholarship fund. The drive will be held today and Saturday, as well as March 22 and 23 and April 5 and 6.

Clarendon Hall 15th-annual Silent Auction is Saturday

SUMMERTON --The Clarendon Hall 15th-annual Silent Auction will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday in the school's gymnasium, 1140 S. Dukes St. Dinner begins at 5 p.m. for those with pre-sold tickets. Admission tickets are $7. The auction opens at 5:30 p.m. Items for auction include items made by each of the school's homeroom classes in grades K4 through 12.

Church will host Taste of New Covenant on Saturday

MANNING - New Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2833 Alex Harvin Highway, is hosting its annual Taste of New Covenant from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15 per person, and children ages 6 and under can eat free.

Cancer OverComers Walk will be May 4 at park

MANNING - The 1st Clarendon County Cancer OverComers Walk will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at J.C. Britton Park, 3057 Raccoon Road, on May 4.

The event is being presented by the Clarendon County Cancer OverComers and the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office.

The event will feature an OverComers' Walk, a luminary celebration and lots of free food, fun, games and music.

Let's Walk Together T-shirts will be on sale beginning in March featuring sizes youth through XXXXL. Youth sizes through adult size XL will cost $15 with larger sizes costing slightly more.

Sponsorship signs for placement around the track are available for $100 each, and luminaries are available for $10. Corporate sponsorships for the back of the walk and OverComers' T-shirts are available.

For more information on sponsorships or how you can volunteer to help, call CCSO Deputy First Class Annett Smith at (803) 460-3976.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Clarendon County Community Complex, 10 Maple St., behind Weldon Auditorium.

Dancing Monarch Stars benefit is Saturday

MANNING - Support Manning High School athletics and cheer for your favorite star athletes at 2 p.m. Saturday at Weldon Auditorium.

Tickets are $15, and advance ticket sales are available from participating Manning student professional and athlete dancers. All ticket sales will determine the People's Choice Trophy winner.

For additional information, contact Courtney Holladay at Manning Junior High School and Coach Lori Johnson at Manning High School. The event is hosted by the Manning Athletic Club to benefit Manning athletics.

Applications available for Miss Puddin' Swamp Pageant

TURBEVILLE - The Miss Puddin' Swamp Pageant will be held beginning at 5 p.m. March 23 at East Clarendon High School. Younger contestants will compete at 5 p.m. and older contestants at 7 p.m. Applications are still being accepted. Check www.puddinswamp.com for more information.

Summerton Literacy Council presents carnival on April 11

SUMMERTON - Summerton Literacy Council's Literacy Carnival will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. April 11 at the Clarendon One Community Resource Center Gymnasium, 1154 Fourth St. There will be plenty of candy, popcorn, food, games, vendors and lots of fun. For more information, contact Kathleen L. Gibson at (803) 485-2043.

12th-Annual Puddin' Swamp Festival will be April 11-13

TURBEVILLE - The 12th-Annual Puddin' Swamp Festival will kick off on April 11 with the Taste of Puddin' Swamp and amusement rides on the town square. Amusement rides will also be open on Friday evening, and the full day of festivities will begin at 9 a.m. on April 13 with food and craft vendors, dancers, gospel singers, a cornhole tournament and the very popular Miss Swamp Bottom Beauty Contest at 5 p.m. with all proceeds going to the Shriners. A spectacular fireworks show will be held at 9:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.puddinswamp.com.

Striped Bass Festival is April 26, 27 with pageant March 30

MANNING - The 40th-annual Striped Bass Festival will hold its opening ceremonies on April 26 followed by Super Saturday on April 27.

The Miss Striped Bass Festival Pageant will be held on March 30, and the Santee-Cooper Open Team Tournament presented by Santee Automotive is planned for April 20.

For more information on the festival, call Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce at (803) 435-4405.

The new retro Striped Bass Festival T-shirts will be available soon. For more details on T-shirts and events at this year's festival, visit the Chamber's Facebook page.