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John F. Kennedy – Remembering That Day

In some ways it doesn’t seem like 50 years since President John F. Kennedy was murdered in Dallas.

I was a senior in high school, home early that day because of a need to have stitches removed.

I was listening to the radio when a news flash came across the air saying shots had been fired at President Kennedy’s motorcade. Shortly thereafter we heard he was shot and about an hour later, we heard President Kennedy was dead.

It seemed unreal. This was 1963, we didn’t shoot presidents anymore. That was something we read about in history books.

Two days later, we watched on live television as Kennedy’s alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, was murdered at Dallas police headquarters.

What was happening in America?

Was this really the country that was called the leader of the free world and the model for all democratic nations? (A question that remains very timely today)

Those questions were asked by many who were virtually glued to their televisions through Kennedy’s funeral on Monday November 25th.

To many around the world, America seemed stuck in the wild west. It still does for that matter.

Kennedy was a president who was admired and respected throughout much of the world. He inspired optimism, hope and confidence, something we haven’t seen since, in my opinion.

America lost its remaining innocence on November 22, 1963. It’s optimism and hope have been reduced in the intervening 53 years.

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Celebrating Life

Allow me a point of personal privilege. Tuesday July 26th  my daughter Ashley and her husband Guy added to our family with another grandson. Nathaniel Almosnino was born this morning. In these times of difficulty throughout the nation, a birth reminds us that there is a lot to be celebrated […]

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Obituary for Common Sense

Below is an obituary for Common Sense that first appeared in the London Times.

It has been shared around the internet since. If you have seen it before, it deserves a reread.

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London Times Obituary of the late Mr. Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn’t always fair and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student, but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense suffered further as the churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

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Finally, Fireworks in 7th Congressional District

Declaration of Independence – America’s Birthday

On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution to the Continental Congress that Congress should declare the United Colonies free and independent states.

Congress adjourned on June 11, 1776, after voting to postpone consideration of Lee’s resolution until it reconvened in three weeks. A Committee of Five was appointed to draft a statement to the world, in the three week interim, presenting the colonies’ case for independence.

On July 2, 1776, the Congress adopted Lee’s resolution by a vote of 12-0 with New York abstaining. Two days later, Congress adopted an edited version of the statement, which became known as the Declaration of Independence.

John Adams considered July 2, 1776 as the birthday of America. It became July 4th because that was the day the adopted Declaration was read out to the public.

Below is a text of the Declaration of Independence:

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,..

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Select Committee on Benghazi Releases Damning Report

Washington, D.C. – Select Committee on Benghazi Chairman Trey Gowdy (SC-04) released the following statement after the committee’s Majority released a mark of its investigative report:

“Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods were heroes who gave their lives in service to our country. Their bravery and the courageous actions of so many others on the ground that night should be honored.

“When the Select Committee was formed, I promised to conduct this investigation in a manner worthy of the American people’s respect, and worthy of the memory of those who died. That is exactly what my colleagues and I have done.

“Now, I simply ask the American people to read this report for themselves, look at the evidence we have collected, and reach their own conclusions. You can read this report in less time than our fellow citizens were taking fire and fighting for their lives on the rooftops and in the streets of Benghazi.”

The committee’s proposed report is just over 800 pages long and is comprised of five primary sections and 12 appendices. It details relevant events in 2011 and 2012.

Rep. Mike Pompeo (KS-04) released the following statement regarding these findings:

“We expect our government to make every effort to save the lives of Americans who serve in harm’s way. That did not happen in Benghazi. Politics were put ahead of the lives of Americans, and while the administration had made excuses and blamed the challenges posed by time and distance, the truth is that they did not try.”

Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02) released the following statement regarding these findings:

“Our committee’s insistence on additional information about the military’s response to the Benghazi attacks was met with strong opposition from the Defense Department, and now we know why. Instead of attempting to hide deficiencies in our posture and performance, it’s my hope our report will help ensure we fix what went wrong so that a tragedy like this never happens again

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New Filings Coming in Southern Holdings Case

New court filings in the Southern Holdings case next week are expected to fully reveal a wide ranging conspiracy to keep details of the case from ever being heard in open court.

According to sources familiar with the new information, it will detail why the Federal Bureau of Investigation provided experts to testify in depositions about key pieces of evidence in the case.

The FBI is specifically prohibited by federal law from becoming involved in civil lawsuits where the federal government is not a party. The federal government is not a party in Southern Holdings yet the FBI became involved.

The original Southern Holdings case began with the attempt of former Myrtle Beach resident Ancil Garvin, III and several co-conspirators attempting to take over the shares and contracts of Southern Holdings Inc.

The name Ancil Garvin III may be familiar to some readers with the fraudulent financing and ultimate failure of the Bahama Island and Crystal Palace projects in North Myrtle Beach.

A company called Atlewa Trust, of which Garvin was a co-founder in 2004 with Rufus Paul Harris and DuWayne Woods, was supposed to provide the financing for the projects. Instead, approximately $6 million of down payments went missing from escrow accounts.

Harris and Woods are currently serving time in federal prison for this and other scams they were involved with. Garvin remains free and allegedly living on Mindanao in the southern Philippines.

The real asset of Southern Holdings that Garvin wanted was exclusive contracts to import cigarettes into Venezuela, worth approximately $20 million. However, the company Southern Holdings took over to obtain the contracts, Ivestra, was also involved in the cigarette black market operating over the Venezuela/Columbia border.

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Community Violence Subcommittee Update

The Community Violence Subcommittee was given specific goals and objectives earlier this week by Al Allen, Chairman of the Horry County Public Safety Committee.

Allen told the committee that he had been too vague when he first appointed the subcommittee and he wanted to clarify its mission.

Allen named the following six persons as committee members: council member Jimmy Washington, chairman, school board member Holly Heniford, vice chairman, Rev. George Payton, spokesperson, HCPD Chief Saundra Rhodes or designee, HC Sheriff Chief Deputy Tom Fox or designee and Van Washington, community leader.

These six members are charged with meeting once a month at the county council conference room where meetings will be broadcast, livestreamed and taped.

In addition, Allen requested subcommittee members to identify the causes and influences that lead to violence in the community as well as visit with all public, private and church groups presently operating to reduce violence and crime in Horry County to rank their effectiveness.

Allen tasked the subcommittee with making a progress report to the Public Safety Committee in September 2016 and to be prepared to present a final report with findings and recommendations to full council in early 2017.

The subcommittee evolved from a request by community activist Benny Swans to the Public Safety Committee.

Swans asked the committee to help in establishing a series of community forums open to all citizens where problems, concerns, and eyewitness accounts of violence could be heard as well as discussions about possible solutions to the growing problem of violent personal and property crimes throughout the county.

Swans stressed the high murder rates, especially among young people, that have occurred in the last several years. Swans stressed that this effort was important to help save the lives of our children.

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Jonathan Hyman Announces Candidacy for Horry County Treasurer

(Above Jonathan Hyman with wife Nicole and children Jay and Carly)

Jonathan Mark Hyman, native of Horry County and Conway resident, recently announced his candidacy for Horry County Treasurer.

Hyman is a 1994 graduate of Conway High School. In 1998 he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a focus on business management and finance from the Wall School of Business at Coastal Carolina University. Following graduation, he pursued a career in Real Estate Appraisal and has been appraising residential and commercial real estate for nearly 17 years.

Hyman is a certified real estate appraiser and has partnered in appraisal firms and managed apprentice appraisers. He is currently a candidate for the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute. He manages his own appraisal firm and is also a real estate consultant for Valbridge Property Advisors where he provides comprehensive valuation & advisory services.

Hyman has also been employed with Horry County Government since 2000. He was first hired in the Code Enforcement Department to enforce building code laws. Shortly thereafter, he was recruited by long-time Horry County Treasurer, Mr. Johnny C. Allen, as a Revenue Collector in the Treasurer’s Office.

Hyman has served in the Horry County Treasurer’s office for approximately 15 years under the leadership and guidance of current Treasurer, Roddy Dickinson, and his predecessor, Johnny C. Allen. With the full endorsement and support of both Dickinson and Allen, Hyman is excited to announce his decision to file the necessary paperwork to serve as your next Treasurer of Horry County.

Hyman is a member of the Coastal Carolina Association of Realtors, the Appraisal Institute, the Horry County Republican Club and the South Strand Republican Club.

Hyman and his wife, Nicole, have been married for nearly 16 years and have two children Jay (10) and Carly (7). They are faithful members of Juniper Bay Baptist Church where Jonathan actively serves as a sound system technician and Royal Ambassador Leader.

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Down at the Barbershop Debuts

My good friend and former television partner on “Big Talk”, Jack Murphy, has a new show on his WLSC AM 1240 radio station airing today called Down at the Barbershop.

Murphy has been a fixture in Horry County as a prime time DJ, host on River Talk and many other radio and television productions through many years.

I think this show is going to be a lot of fun.

Below is the press release for the show.

Loris, SC – Loris Barber Shop and WLSC Tiger Radio have teamed up to produce a weekly two hour live broadcast called, “Down at the Barbershop”. The first broadcast will happen this Friday, April 1st at Loris Barber Shop located at 4011 Meeting Street in downtown Loris. The show starts at 10 am. Even though, it’s April Fools Day, organizers promise this is no joke.

“How can this be a joke? When you come see us, we’re gonna give you an RC Cola and a Moon Pie. It’s southern hospitality at its best.”, says Banana Jack Murphy, emcee for the broadcast. He adds, “We’re even going to have the Loris Chamber of Commerce here for an official ribbon cutting. To be honest, I think they’re coming for the Moon Pies. It’s just gonna be big small town fun.”

Local musician, Big Bam Boom is scheduled to perform live music for the inaugural broadcast. There will be lots of laughs with Jason Porter, the friendly owner of Loris Barber Shop and a local character knows as The Ragin’ Cajun will be on hand, too. So, come on down and get a haircut, play a game or two of checkers and have a good old time with the gang at Loris Barber Shop.

If you can’t make it, listen to 1240 AM or online at TigerRadio.com. You can even watch the action as it happens. WLSC Tiger Radio is going to stream live video of every broadcast.

“Down at the Barbershop” will live every Friday 10 am until Noon. If you can play an instrument or know any good jokes, then you’re invited to be part of future broadcasts.

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Donald Trump Bandwagon Gains Momentum

The Donald Trump bandwagon keeps gaining momentum while those who consider themselves Republican Party traditionalists keep wringing their hands.

Maybe the best part is Ted Cruz, the original outsider in this race until Trump stole his thunder, is now trying to get party officials to coalesce behind his campaign in a ‘Stop Trump’ movement.

But stopping Trump is going to be very hard. Statistics out today predict Trump has to win 54% of the remaining delegates to secure the nomination, Cruz needs 69% and John Kasich can win 100% of the remaining delegates and still not have enough for a first ballot nomination.

Trump could get the needed 54% although Republican Party regulars, or those who think they are, will do everything they can to stop him short. Cruz can’t get the needed 69%. Forget Kasich unless the convention becomes open and probably even then.

Look at the big states left to vote – New York, California, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Indiana, not very fertile Cruz country.

And if Trump arrives at the Republican Convention in Cleveland with 1100 or more pledged delegates for the first ballot (I would call that scenario a virtual lock at this point) and the party denies him the nomination, look out.

For the Republican Party to deny Trump the nomination after millions of voters turned out for him in the primaries, more than for any other candidate by far, would demonstrate just how little regard the party has for the American public.

When Trump announced in June, I was of the opinion he would be fun to watch for a little while, then he would fade away.

Boy, was I wrong!

What I failed to understand is just how much the American public is fed up with the Republican and Democratic parties and government in general.

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