Lack of national newspapers to read at local libraries creates void, saddens patron | Opinion

Where are the newspapers?

I went to the Horry County Public library this morning to kill an hour or two because the gym next door was so busy.

I walked back to my favorite spot, a cozy stuffed chair next to the national and local newspaper rack.

I stood there, overwhelmed and discombobulated. A feeling washed over me, similar to the one in the Twilight Zone episode where the guy runs into the museum, expecting to escape into his favorite painting, but it’s not there. No chair. No newspapers.

I walked everywhere. Each floor, each and every corner. Nothing.

So I finally approached the librarian.

To my horror of horrors, like something from Wes Craven rather than Rod Serling, all national newspaper subscriptions have been canceled.

No more reading through the surprisingly good narratives in the WSJ, or the NYT book review section, Jennifer Rubin, Catherine Rampell, other columnists … inspiring, fun headline writing. Not to mention complete facts versus sound bites.

Breaking news I can get in my feeds, but this loss is too much. Too much for me, too much for the community, too much for the whole truth accessible to all.

Susan Hardin, Little River

Smart investments

New investments in building, repairing and modernizing South Carolina’s core infrastructure are helping create jobs, power a stronger economy, and improve the quality of life for South Carolinians in West Columbia (WeCo) and throughout the state.

As we continue to put these federal dollars to work, local residents and businesses alike can thank Sen. Lindsey Graham for working across the aisle to secure these much-needed investments through the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) he helped craft and pass.

South Carolina will receive at least $4.9 billion for our highways, roads and bridges.

These funds will help repair, rebuild and upgrade our aging transportation infrastructure in the Midlands, including building and improving interstate entries to WeCo along the I-20 and I-26 corridors.

These new investments will also help us resurface and reimagine WeCo’s Meeting Street – the central vein of the Columbia Vista-adjacent River District – making badly needed economic, safety and traffic improvements, including turning lanes, increased parking capacity, electric vehicle modernizations and beautiful landscaping to reduce rainwater impact on our system.

Graham should keep up the good work in Washington and bring more common sense policies to invest in South Carolina cities, towns and rural communities.

David B. Moye, West Columbia

A friendship revered

Who is Israel? For Moncks Corner, Israel in the 1960s was the Bakers.

The Bakers were salt-of-the-earth people, meaning they loved openly and earnestly.

Benny courageously invested capital in a trampoline center on Main Street near where the Changed Lives Mission store is now. He supported enthusiastically many worthwhile causes by the local Chamber of Commerce. He and Pearl attended and cheered and loved their children’s sports activities.

Once at a summer Dixie Youth Baseball practice, Neal Baker was pitching, David Page was batting, and I was catching.

Neal zinged a curve ball. David swung late and tipped it.

Said ball’s trajectory thus deflected, colliding not with my catcher’s mitt, but with my free hand’s little finger, dislocating it.

Pearl Baker took me in her car to Dr. Pete Meyer’s house where he was home for midday dinner.

Mrs. Baker explained the situation. Dr. Pete took my hand in his, pressed squarely down on my disjointed little finger, and presto, it was straightened out normally.

I cherish Pearl Baker’s loving care for me as a little boy then.

This, friends, is Israel to me today.

Joseph Wofford, Pawleys Island