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Nearly $1B in school bonds is on the ballot in Lancaster, Chester and York counties

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Nearly B in school bonds is on the ballot in Lancaster, Chester and York counties


Voters in three of South Carolina’s Charlotte metro counties will decide the fate of nearly $1 billion in school bond referendums this election. School districts in Lancaster, Chester, and York counties are looking to expand capacity and enhance security features in campus buildings.

Meanwhile voters in Chesterfield County are being asked to renew the county school district’s penny sales tax to help fund upgrades to athletic facilities, general renovations, and expanded classroom and cafeteria spaces.

Lancaster

The largest of the referendums on the ballot is in Lancaster, where the county school district is seeking $588.15 million, mostly for the construction of four new school buildings. The district serves almost 16,000 students in 22 schools; it is looking to add an elementary school and a high school to fast-growing Indian Land (which would use $315.6 million of the bond funds); a new elementary school in Lancaster ($113.45 million); and a new elementary school in Kershaw ($95 million).

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An additional $37.6 million is earmarked for districtwide facilities upgrades, while $26.5 million would pay for security, safety, and facilities upgrades in the Buford community.

The tax impact on voters, should the referendum pass, would be about $65 per year for every $100,000 of assessed property value of an owner-occupied home, and per every $10,000 of assessed vehicle value. That tax would bump to $92 per year $100,000 of assessed value of non-owner-occupied residential properties.

Chester

In Chester, voters will decide on $227 million that would fund a pair of new high schools and upgrades to another.

The new high schools would replace the current buildings in Chester and Lewisville. The upgrades would be made at Great Falls High School.

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The money raised by the referendum would cover most of the costs of the projects. According to information published by the district, the referendum would pay $99.1 million towards the new high school in Chester and $100.15 million towards the new high school in Lewisville. The remaining $16.8 million to complete both projects would be paid for by the district’s capital funds – which would pay for a theater and a gym at each location.

The tax impact, according to the district, would be $230 annually per $100,000 of assessed home value, plus $34.50 for every $10,000 of assessed vehicle value. The owner of a home valued at $100,000 and a vehicle valued at $10,000, therefore, would pay an additional $264.50 per year in taxes, if the bond referendum passes.

That is a big if, however. Chester voters have denied three successive bond referendums, in 2018, 2020, and 2022.

District spokesman Chris Christoff said that following the 2022 referendum, voters stated that they had felt the district was trying “to do a little too much at one time.” In response, the district launched a series of listening sessions this past spring.

“We asked, if we were to pursue a fourth referendum, what would you want to see,” Christoff said.

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A follow-up survey asked whether voters understood the capacity, security, and facilities conditions issues in the district. According to the district, about 80% of the roughly 1,000 respondents said they better understood what they would be voting on, which is a scaled-down slate of projects that no longer include athletics expansions or work to the district career center.

If the referendum fails this round, Christoff said, the district will spent about $20 million of its own capital funds to replace the roofs at Great Falls and Chester high schools, plus other funds to buy additional modular classrooms in Lewisville – the fastest-growing area of the school district, he said.

Chester County School District serves about 5,500 students, which is up from about 5,100 students in 2018-19.

York

The smallest referendum on the ballot for Pee Dee voters this election is a $90 million bond that would pay for a new middle school and expansion and renovations to a learning center in York County School District 1, in York.

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According to the district, four elementary schools and one middle school are between 80% and 90% capacity in a district that continues to grow along with the Charlotte metro. As of March, almost 2,400 new homes in the City of York are on tap from development plans in place, according to the district

Therefore, the district maintains, a new middle school is needed to meet that growth as elementary students age up.

The district also wants to renovate its Pinckney Street Learning Center/York One Academy to become an early childhood center.

The tax impact on voters would be $36 additional per year for every $100,000 of assessed home value; $54 per year for every $100,000 of assessed value on second or rental properties; and $945 per year for every $1 million of assessed business property value.

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Gamecock uniform report for South Carolina-Wofford

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Gamecock uniform report for South Carolina-Wofford


Saturday marks the final home game of the 2024 season for South Carolina. The in-state and 5-6 Wofford Terriers will drive down I-26 from Spartanburg to Columbia to take on the 7-3 Gamecocks. Williams-Brice Stadium is sold out again, completing the program goal of filling the stands for all seven home games this fall.

Through the first ten games of the season, Shane Beamer’s South Carolina football team has not repeated a uniform combination. Alternating garnet, black, and white helmets, jerseys, and pants, the Gamecocks also have mixed in some additional looks with throwbacks, alternate face masks, and updated helmet stickers and stripes.

On Saturday, the trend will end as South Carolina will repeat a uniform combination for the first time this season.

[GamecockCentral: $1 for 7 days and 50% off first year]

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Around lunchtime, the Gamecock Football account on Twitter/X hinted at the gameday uniform combination. The post showed a picture of what looked like the team’s throwback white helmets in front of an American flag.

Then, a little while later, the social media team revealed the rest of the gameday combination.

South Carolina has once again will rock its 1980 throwback uniforms. The Gamecocks also wore the look during the team’s blowout win over Akron earlier this season.

Saturday is Salute the Troops Day at Williams-Brice Stadium and also Senior Day.

The full list of Senior Day participants can be found here.

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Staff Picks: Week 13

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Staff Picks: Week 13


Around the GamecockScoop headquarters, we’re still all chasing publisher Caleb Alexander. Caleb leads all in the straight up picks and against the spread. Against the spread, Caleb is beating a lot of the experts. (Still need to remind everyone this for fun and not meant to be gambling advice).

Nationally, its a pretty quiet week before college football enters what conference realignment has left intact of rivalry week. There are still three top-25 matchups this weekend with a handful of other games that could impact the playoffs. It should be a good week for Gamecock fans too enjoy some college football with their feet up, assuming the Terriers play along.

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This week’s guest picker is another specialist, former walk-on Thomas Hooper. Hooper was a member of the Garnet and Black from 2004-2007. He was 3-for-3 in his career on extra points, adding PATs after some memorable Gamecock touchdowns. In 2004, he converted the point after following a 65-yard Troy Williamson touchdown and a 57-yard Ko Simpson pick-6, both against UGA. Hooper then connected on an EXP after an 88-yard Bobby Wallace TD run against Middle Tennessee State in 2006. Hooper and his family live in greater Montgomery, AL area today.

#5 Indiana (10-0) +13.5 @ #2 Ohio State (9-1): 12:00 on FOX

The Buckeyes will be playing in their fifth-of-six straight noon kickoffs to end the 2024 regular season. Why is this game not in primetime? What happens to Indiana if Ohio State win this game by 24+ points? Do the Hoosiers still make the playoff with a paper-thin resume? They can’t play for the Big Ten title if they lose in the Shoe on Saturday. If Indiana wins they are in the Big Ten title game even if they somehow stumble to lowly Purdue. Ohio State gets in the Big Ten title game by winning out by beating Indiana and Michigan or by beating Indiana and having Penn State lose one of their final two games. Ohio State is 79-12-5 against Indiana all-time. Ronald Reagan was president the last time the Hoosiers beat Ohio State. (1988). OSU has won 29-in-a-row in this series.

#9 Ole Miss (8-2) -10.5 @ Florida (5-5): 12:00 on ABC

This is game the Rebels need to take seriously. Florida is playing much better football over the last month. They aren’t as good as Ole Miss but playing in the Swamp is always difficult. The Rebels are in a great spot at #9 in playoff rankings. If they take care of business against the Gators and next week verses rival Mississippi State, they are likely missing the SEC Championship Game and sitting at 10-2 waiting to see what Big Ten location they are traveling to play. Ole Miss path to Atlanta is unlikely: the Rebs needs to win out plus have Alabama lose one more game, Vanderbilt beat Tennessee, and Texas A&M lose out. That would give Texas the No. 1 seed and create only a two-way tie for second place between Georgia and Ole Miss in which the Rebels would get the No. 2 seed as a result of their head-to-head victory. If it’s a three-way tie for second with Georgia, Tennessee and Ole Miss, Georgia would get the nod.

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In case you were wondering: former Gamecock Pup Howard currently has 37 total tackles with one sack, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries for Florida.

#13 SMU (9-1) -9.5 @ Virginia (5-5): 12:00 on ESPN2

Let’s take a peak at the ACC Championship scenarios for SMU:

Clemson, Miami and SMU are the only three teams still remaining.

Clemson finished its ACC schedule at 7-1 in league play, while both Miami (vs. Wake Forest, at Syracuse) and SMU (at Virginia, vs. California) each have two remaining conference games. If both the Hurricanes and Mustangs win out, they will face off in the ACC Championship. That’s also the case if SMU only drops one of its final two games. Clemson will be on the outside looking in with one exception if the following happens:

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Virginia beats SMU and Virginia Tech and Pitt beat Louisville. Due to the record of conference opponents: Clemson would get nod. I think.

Sam Houston (8-2) +6 @ Jacksonville State (7-3): 12:00 on CBSSN

The Conference USA schedule makers need to placed in charge of all college football scheduling. Why? There are four schools still left in the hunt for the CUSA title game and they all play each the final two weeks of the season. Western Kentucky and Liberty meet in VA this weekend and Sam Houston heads to Jacksonville State. Next weekend Jax St plays at WKU and Liberty goes to SHSU. Will it matter in terms of the playoff? No. Every team in the CUSA has at least two losses overall. Boise State, Tulane, Memphis, Army and Louisiana are all ahead of the winner of this game.

Charleston Southern (1-10) +33.5 @ Florida State (1-9): 1:30 streaming on ESPN+

No one on the planet imagined FSU vs CSU would be the Week 14 Toilet Bowl, but here we are.

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Mike Norvell has gone from King of the Hill to….whatever is at the bottom of the hill. The Seminoles have had an epic meltdown. At the end of 2023, FSU was huffing and puffing at the ACC and demanding a higher payout for the schools that won more games. That chatter has quickly quieted down, leaving only Clemson debating if they should still push for more than they deserve.

CSU is one of the worst programs in the FCS and doesn’t stand much of a chance to win this game. However, they have the opportunity to make one lasting impression during a televised matchup. This will be four straight seasons with a losing record for the Buccaneers.

#4 Penn State (9-1) -12 @ Minnesota (6-4): 3:30 on CBS

Penn State is in a great position right now despite their best win being over 7-3 Illinois. All they have to do is beat Minnesota and Maryland and they are not only in the playoff, but they get to host a first-round game. They aren’t going to the Big Ten title game unless Ohio State beats Indiana and loses to Michigan and the Nittany Lions win out. Penn State might be in the best position of any at-large team with a strength of schedule at #32. If Penn State loses to either Minnesota or Maryland – they shouldn’t receive a bid.

#14 BYU (9-1) +3.5 @ #21 Arizona State (8-2): 3:30 on ESPN

The Big XII still has nine schools mathematically alive for their conference title game but BYU and Arizona State, along with Colorado, all control their own destiny. (Upset alert -part II, Colorado is only a -2.5 road favorite against Kansas. Remember the Jayhawks just knocked off BYU last week). Iowa State can advance to the Big XII game if they win out and BYU and Colorado both lose another game. BYU secures their spot with a win plus a Utah win (Utah hosts Iowa State). Colorado secures their spot with a win and wins by both Utah and BYU. The Sun Devils have won three-in-a-row. BYU has looked sluggish in their last two games.

Wofford (5-6) +42.5 @ #18 South Carolina (7-3): 4:00 streaming on SEC+

Gone are the days of the dreaded Wofford triple-option and chop blocks the week before the Clemson game. South Carolina has played Wofford twice before the Palmetto Bowl, in 2012 and 2017. The Gamecocks are 1-1 against Clemson after playing the Terriers the week before. Basketball is heating up and the football regular season is winding down, check back at GamecockScoop daily for the best Gamecock coverage on Al Gore’s internet.

#19 Army (9-0) +14 vs. #6 Notre Dame (9-1) (Yankee Stadium): 7:00 on NBC

Notre Dame has played on two opponents home field this season. The last such occasion was September 14 at one-win Purdue. To be fair, Georgia Tech wanted to move their game to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to capitalize on a larger gate. As it stands now, the Irish are in the playoff as long as they don’t stumble to either Army or Southern Cal on the road. With a win in the Bronx, Army will leapfrog Boise State as the highest ranked Group of Five conference champion. Army is also already locked into the American title game and will play Tulane. The location of that game will be determined after Army hosts UTSA next weekend.

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#7 Alabama (8-2) -14 @ Oklahoma (5-5): 7:30 on ESPN

Alabama is probably going to the SEC Championship yet again if they win. They will be a multi-score favorite at home against Auburn next week. If the Tide win out they are 99% going to Atlanta. That number goes to 100% if Missouri beats Mississippi State this weekend and the Tide win their last two. Bama would win all multi-team tiebreakers due to conference opponent strength of record. Opposing the Tide is likely to be either Texas or Texas A&M, although watch out this weekend as the Aggies are only a -2.5 favorite against 4-6 Auburn. Vegas smells an upset. Brent Venables is going to get an early look at the portal with Bama and at LSU left on the Sooners schedule.

Staff Picks Week 13

*favorite will win but not cover.



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Croskey scores 20 as South Carolina State defeats Alabama A&M 82-70

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Croskey scores 20 as South Carolina State defeats Alabama A&M 82-70


Associated Press

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Omar Croskey scored 20 points as South Carolina State beat Alabama A&M 82-70 on Friday night.

Croskey went 7 of 12 from the field (6 for 9 from 3-point range) for the Bulldogs (3-3). Davion Everett scored 12 points while finishing 5 of 6 from the floor and added five rebounds.

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The Bulldogs (3-3) were led in scoring by Anthony Bryant and Chad Moodie with 16 points apiece. Lorenzo Downey had 14 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.




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