Cracks found in South Carolina atomic station's nuclear reactor head

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Reuters/Progress Energy/NRC/Handout The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has ordered engineers at a power plant in South Carolina to act urgently on cracks that have appeared in a reactor head there that could increase the likelihood of an atomic disaster.
The group that ensures safe and sound nuclear facilities across the US says they don’t believe the public needs to worry as of now about cracks discovered at the SCE&G plant in Jenkinsville, SC, but that could change if action isn’t taken immediately.
According to The South Carolina State newspaper, the SCE&G plant told the commission that they would make repairs in order to satisfy their concerns in an October 30 statement delivered to the NRC. Confirming this week, a spokeswoman for the atomic energy plant said that they have indeed begun fixing the cracks.
Those repairs, say the NRC, will be a good fix for the moment, but might not necessarily relieve them of future concerns.
“The situation … indicates to me that the best and safest fix is for the old, cracked vessel head to be taken out of service and replaced,” anti-nuclear activist Tom Clements tells The State.
“At some point in the not-too-distant future, it seems like the company will want to replace the head with one that is a little more resistant to this kind of cracking,” David Lochbaum of the Union of Concerned Scientists adds to the paper, a move that could set SCE&G back upwards of $60 million.
Only a few miles from the busy city of Columbia, though, the investment might be imperative to ensure that the area stays safe from any potential catastrophes.
“The cracks found in the VC Summer reactor pose a clear safety risk and must be immediately addressed,” Clements explains to the Aiken Leader. “While SCE&G will want to rush to get the reactor back on line and do a quick repair, the NRC must be deliberate in reviewing the causes of the cracking and how it is addressed.Operation of the reactor with a vessel head subject to cracking poses a safety hazard that both SCE&G and the NRC are responsible for.”
In an email to The State this week, company spokeswoman Rhonda O’Banion characterized the cracks as “minor defects” in the steel domes that sit atop the part of the facility where atomic reactions actually occur and that current efforts are “pre-emptive” to assure that are no issues down the road. Once the current round of repairs is complete, the company says the dome should be in satisfactory condition for the next 40 years.
According to a year-long investigation finalized by the Associated Press in 2012, the AP says they believe that the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has regularly lessened restrictions in recent years. In their probe, they found that 82 of America’s operating reactors are more than a quarter-century old, with 66 units having been re-licensed for an additional two decades.

Cracks found in South Carolina atomic station's nuclear reactor head — RT

A Wonderful Story: God's Hand at Work

To contact us Click HERE

Our friends had a successful court appearance, but only today did "mom" get a chance to tell us via blog about the details. Their story makes it abundantly clear that God answers prayer, often in ways far more blessed than we dare to hope. I trust you will take this opportunity to read their story and thank God for what He has done in their family and for the little boy who is now part of their family.

They cannot claim their new son until August 3, according to local law. I assume they will be returning to the USA soon thereafter. Be in prayer for their trip and for the inevitable challenges that their new son will bring to their home.

Our Friends' Adoption: An Update

To contact us Click HERE

This summer friends of ours went to Russia and adopted a little boy, now four years old, with Down's Syndrome. Today "mom" updated her blog with uplifting photos of how well their new son is doing here in America. You can read about it here.

Of course, there are still a lot of challenges (take language, for example, and health), but it is a great blessing to see the willingness they have to cherish and raise up this little boy. Our prayers and encouragement go out to them.

Why I'm Voting for Rick Santorum in the SC Primary

To contact us Click HERE

Tomorrow, in the South Carolina GOP Presidential Preferenceprimary, I will be voting for Rick Santorum. Here’s why.
I need to start out by saying that I haven’t been totallythrilled with any of the four remaining candidates.  All of them have obvious weaknesses ofcharacter and/or policy which will make their race against Obama less of a lockthan it ought to be.  The Republican Partyneeds a leader of the Reagan type, who, like him in 1980, would win 40+ statesand carry a mandate with him to Washington. But since we have four remaining candidates from whom to choose, andsince any of them will be an improvement over the current president, I mustchoose from among them.
Rick Santorum, on the whole, represents my views the mostconsistently.  He has been consistentlyand passionately pro-life, and wrote the bill that ended partial birthabortion.  On social issues, he and I areof one voice.  He is also a firm believerin the Second Amendment (The NRA rates him A+). He opposed TARP, voted against McCain-Feingold and Frank-Dodd, andreceives low ratings from both the ACLU and the AFL-CIO.  While I am concerned about the trouncing hetook in the 2006 Pennsylvania Senate race (and, for that matter, the trouncinghe may get here in SC tomorrow, if the polls are valid), he is moredemonstrably opposed to Obama than either Romney or Gingrich.  His biggest liability in my eyes is that hedoes not come across as a leader.
Newt Gingrich, at the moment, would be my secondchoice.  I agree with him on mostissues—but he occasionally throws one out there that makes me scratch myhead.  His personal character history isa serious problem and, even if he has sincerely repented and stays on the righttrack, will be a detriment in the race. (Obama, for all his flaws, has no hint of marital infidelity.)  I am also concerned that his ego may become aliability.
Mitt Romney seems to be a conservative now, but my gut justdoesn’t like the fact that he wasn’t while he was the governor ofMassachusetts.  I think he can be a greatexecutive, and if he is the GOP nominee, I will vote for him in November.  But for now, I’m going with the most consistentconservative.
Ron Paul is problematic. His voting record is often meritorious and often puzzling.  The ACLU rates him pretty favorably—that's aproblem.  His vicious and untrue attackads concerning Santorum (being shown adnauseam this week on SC TV stations) trouble me.  His foreign policy ideas are dangerous to thefuture of our country. 
Please educate yourself on the candidates and then take theopportunity to vote.

An Update on our Friends' Adoption!

To contact us Click HERE

Friends of ours adopted a 3½-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome from Eastern Europe last summer (see their blog here).  They have now had the boy in their home for six months.  Their story has been featured on a local TV station and I'm sure many have viewed their blog.  In short, their story not only testifies of God's love working through individuals, but also to the value of every individual soul—no matter the limitations of the physical body.

Six months later, there are still trials and struggles, but there has been both remarkable progress and great blessings.  The work that God has allowed them to be a part of has now reached all the way back to Russia, and we are so grateful for it!  I trust you will take the time to read about it here.

Cracks found in South Carolina atomic station's nuclear reactor head

To contact us Click HERE

Reuters/Progress Energy/NRC/Handout The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has ordered engineers at a power plant in South Carolina to act urgently on cracks that have appeared in a reactor head there that could increase the likelihood of an atomic disaster.
The group that ensures safe and sound nuclear facilities across the US says they don’t believe the public needs to worry as of now about cracks discovered at the SCE&G plant in Jenkinsville, SC, but that could change if action isn’t taken immediately.
According to The South Carolina State newspaper, the SCE&G plant told the commission that they would make repairs in order to satisfy their concerns in an October 30 statement delivered to the NRC. Confirming this week, a spokeswoman for the atomic energy plant said that they have indeed begun fixing the cracks.
Those repairs, say the NRC, will be a good fix for the moment, but might not necessarily relieve them of future concerns.
“The situation … indicates to me that the best and safest fix is for the old, cracked vessel head to be taken out of service and replaced,” anti-nuclear activist Tom Clements tells The State.
“At some point in the not-too-distant future, it seems like the company will want to replace the head with one that is a little more resistant to this kind of cracking,” David Lochbaum of the Union of Concerned Scientists adds to the paper, a move that could set SCE&G back upwards of $60 million.
Only a few miles from the busy city of Columbia, though, the investment might be imperative to ensure that the area stays safe from any potential catastrophes.
“The cracks found in the VC Summer reactor pose a clear safety risk and must be immediately addressed,” Clements explains to the Aiken Leader. “While SCE&G will want to rush to get the reactor back on line and do a quick repair, the NRC must be deliberate in reviewing the causes of the cracking and how it is addressed.Operation of the reactor with a vessel head subject to cracking poses a safety hazard that both SCE&G and the NRC are responsible for.”
In an email to The State this week, company spokeswoman Rhonda O’Banion characterized the cracks as “minor defects” in the steel domes that sit atop the part of the facility where atomic reactions actually occur and that current efforts are “pre-emptive” to assure that are no issues down the road. Once the current round of repairs is complete, the company says the dome should be in satisfactory condition for the next 40 years.
According to a year-long investigation finalized by the Associated Press in 2012, the AP says they believe that the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has regularly lessened restrictions in recent years. In their probe, they found that 82 of America’s operating reactors are more than a quarter-century old, with 66 units having been re-licensed for an additional two decades.

Cracks found in South Carolina atomic station's nuclear reactor head — RT

A Wonderful Story: God's Hand at Work

To contact us Click HERE

Our friends had a successful court appearance, but only today did "mom" get a chance to tell us via blog about the details. Their story makes it abundantly clear that God answers prayer, often in ways far more blessed than we dare to hope. I trust you will take this opportunity to read their story and thank God for what He has done in their family and for the little boy who is now part of their family.

They cannot claim their new son until August 3, according to local law. I assume they will be returning to the USA soon thereafter. Be in prayer for their trip and for the inevitable challenges that their new son will bring to their home.

Our Friends' Adoption: An Update

To contact us Click HERE

This summer friends of ours went to Russia and adopted a little boy, now four years old, with Down's Syndrome. Today "mom" updated her blog with uplifting photos of how well their new son is doing here in America. You can read about it here.

Of course, there are still a lot of challenges (take language, for example, and health), but it is a great blessing to see the willingness they have to cherish and raise up this little boy. Our prayers and encouragement go out to them.

Why I'm Voting for Rick Santorum in the SC Primary

To contact us Click HERE

Tomorrow, in the South Carolina GOP Presidential Preferenceprimary, I will be voting for Rick Santorum. Here’s why.
I need to start out by saying that I haven’t been totallythrilled with any of the four remaining candidates.  All of them have obvious weaknesses ofcharacter and/or policy which will make their race against Obama less of a lockthan it ought to be.  The Republican Partyneeds a leader of the Reagan type, who, like him in 1980, would win 40+ statesand carry a mandate with him to Washington. But since we have four remaining candidates from whom to choose, andsince any of them will be an improvement over the current president, I mustchoose from among them.
Rick Santorum, on the whole, represents my views the mostconsistently.  He has been consistentlyand passionately pro-life, and wrote the bill that ended partial birthabortion.  On social issues, he and I areof one voice.  He is also a firm believerin the Second Amendment (The NRA rates him A+). He opposed TARP, voted against McCain-Feingold and Frank-Dodd, andreceives low ratings from both the ACLU and the AFL-CIO.  While I am concerned about the trouncing hetook in the 2006 Pennsylvania Senate race (and, for that matter, the trouncinghe may get here in SC tomorrow, if the polls are valid), he is moredemonstrably opposed to Obama than either Romney or Gingrich.  His biggest liability in my eyes is that hedoes not come across as a leader.
Newt Gingrich, at the moment, would be my secondchoice.  I agree with him on mostissues—but he occasionally throws one out there that makes me scratch myhead.  His personal character history isa serious problem and, even if he has sincerely repented and stays on the righttrack, will be a detriment in the race. (Obama, for all his flaws, has no hint of marital infidelity.)  I am also concerned that his ego may become aliability.
Mitt Romney seems to be a conservative now, but my gut justdoesn’t like the fact that he wasn’t while he was the governor ofMassachusetts.  I think he can be a greatexecutive, and if he is the GOP nominee, I will vote for him in November.  But for now, I’m going with the most consistentconservative.
Ron Paul is problematic. His voting record is often meritorious and often puzzling.  The ACLU rates him pretty favorably—that's aproblem.  His vicious and untrue attackads concerning Santorum (being shown adnauseam this week on SC TV stations) trouble me.  His foreign policy ideas are dangerous to thefuture of our country. 
Please educate yourself on the candidates and then take theopportunity to vote.

An Update on our Friends' Adoption!

To contact us Click HERE

Friends of ours adopted a 3½-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome from Eastern Europe last summer (see their blog here).  They have now had the boy in their home for six months.  Their story has been featured on a local TV station and I'm sure many have viewed their blog.  In short, their story not only testifies of God's love working through individuals, but also to the value of every individual soul—no matter the limitations of the physical body.

Six months later, there are still trials and struggles, but there has been both remarkable progress and great blessings.  The work that God has allowed them to be a part of has now reached all the way back to Russia, and we are so grateful for it!  I trust you will take the time to read about it here.

SC releases 'Scrooges and Angels' charities list

To contact us Click HERE
South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond has released his annual "Scrooges and Angels" list of what charities in the state give the most toward their goals.
Hammond names as "angels" those charities that use at least 80 percent of their donations for their charitable purpose, use volunteers and don't rely heavily on government grants or outside money.
On Thursday, Hammond said the charity that spent the highest percentage of its money on program efforts was Seneca-based Rosa Clark Medical Clinical Association, Inc., at 99.1 percent.

1. Rosa Clark Medical Clinic Association, Inc., Seneca, SC 99.1%
2. Habitat for Humanity of North Augusta, North Augusta, SC 96.7%
3. Humane Society of McCormick County, McCormick, SC 95.1%
4. Deep Well Project, Hilton Head Island, SC 91.6%
5. South Carolina Hunters and Landowners for the Hungry, Spartanburg, SC 91.2%
6. East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO), Mount Pleasant, SC 85.4%
7. Samaritan House of Orangeburg, Inc., Orangeburg, SC 84.3%
8. Nurturing Center, Inc., Columbia, SC 83.0%
9. Early Learning Partnership of York County, Rock Hill, SC 81.4%
10. America's VetDogs - the Veterans's K-9 Corps, Inc., Smithtown, NY 80.2%

Hammond also annually alerts residents to charities whose financial reports show they spend little on their stated purpose and much on professional solicitors. The organization with the lowest expenditure was the Fraternal Order of Police Tri-County Lodge No. 3 in Hanahan, at 4.1 percent.

1. American Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., Baltimore, MD 37.5%
2. Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, Inc., Annandale, VA 36%
3. Veterans Support Foundation, Silver Spring, MD 24.6%
4. Firefighters Support Services, Incorporated, Wyandotte, MI 21%
5. United States Deputy Sheriffs' Association, Inc., Ashburn, VA 14.8%
6. Defeat Diabetes Foundation, Inc., Madeira Beach, FL 11.8%
7. Operation Lookout National Center For Missing Youth, Everett, WA 9.9%
8. Fraternal Order of Police York County Lodge #15, Rock Hill, SC 9.2%
9. Missional Advancement Project, Inc., Aiken, SC 6.4%
10. Fraternal Order of Police Tri-County Lodge #3, Hanahan, SC 4.1%

The following criteria were considered in selecting Scrooges: the charity had devoted 40 percent or less of its total expenditures to charitable programs; the charity had spent a significant amount of revenue on fundraising expenses; and the charity had registered with the Secretary of State to solicit funds in the state of South Carolina."As Secretary of State, I have the duty of enforcing the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act, and of protecting the public against "Scrooge" organizations that want to take advantage of our giving spirit," Secretary Hammond said. "Charitable solicitations across the state have increased in the last four years because more and more people are in need of assistance. Times are still tough in South Carolina, but our residents continue to be some of the most generous people in the nation and always answer the call when it comes to defending and helping the less fortunate.""However, there are those who would take advantage of our generosity," he continued. "So I ask that you check out any organization before you contribute your hard-earned money."Charitable donors may research organizations registered in South Carolina by visiting the Secretary of State's website at www.sos.sc.gov. To review an organization, select the Charity Search button to learn a charity's total revenue, program expenses, total expenses, net assets, and fundraiser costs.

SC releases 'Scrooges and Angels' charities list - WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC

Cracks found in South Carolina atomic station's nuclear reactor head

To contact us Click HERE

Reuters/Progress Energy/NRC/Handout The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has ordered engineers at a power plant in South Carolina to act urgently on cracks that have appeared in a reactor head there that could increase the likelihood of an atomic disaster.
The group that ensures safe and sound nuclear facilities across the US says they don’t believe the public needs to worry as of now about cracks discovered at the SCE&G plant in Jenkinsville, SC, but that could change if action isn’t taken immediately.
According to The South Carolina State newspaper, the SCE&G plant told the commission that they would make repairs in order to satisfy their concerns in an October 30 statement delivered to the NRC. Confirming this week, a spokeswoman for the atomic energy plant said that they have indeed begun fixing the cracks.
Those repairs, say the NRC, will be a good fix for the moment, but might not necessarily relieve them of future concerns.
“The situation … indicates to me that the best and safest fix is for the old, cracked vessel head to be taken out of service and replaced,” anti-nuclear activist Tom Clements tells The State.
“At some point in the not-too-distant future, it seems like the company will want to replace the head with one that is a little more resistant to this kind of cracking,” David Lochbaum of the Union of Concerned Scientists adds to the paper, a move that could set SCE&G back upwards of $60 million.
Only a few miles from the busy city of Columbia, though, the investment might be imperative to ensure that the area stays safe from any potential catastrophes.
“The cracks found in the VC Summer reactor pose a clear safety risk and must be immediately addressed,” Clements explains to the Aiken Leader. “While SCE&G will want to rush to get the reactor back on line and do a quick repair, the NRC must be deliberate in reviewing the causes of the cracking and how it is addressed.Operation of the reactor with a vessel head subject to cracking poses a safety hazard that both SCE&G and the NRC are responsible for.”
In an email to The State this week, company spokeswoman Rhonda O’Banion characterized the cracks as “minor defects” in the steel domes that sit atop the part of the facility where atomic reactions actually occur and that current efforts are “pre-emptive” to assure that are no issues down the road. Once the current round of repairs is complete, the company says the dome should be in satisfactory condition for the next 40 years.
According to a year-long investigation finalized by the Associated Press in 2012, the AP says they believe that the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has regularly lessened restrictions in recent years. In their probe, they found that 82 of America’s operating reactors are more than a quarter-century old, with 66 units having been re-licensed for an additional two decades.

Cracks found in South Carolina atomic station's nuclear reactor head — RT

Penny's Cataracts

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I gave  Penny a bath today. It was not a pleasant experience for either of us. I wouldn't have gotten any more scratches that if I had been in a fight with a dozen rose bushes.  She sure has some claws on her and still acts like a cat after 16 years. She looks so fluffy and smells so nice though.
The sad part came when I was brushing the hair on her face and blowing her dry. I notice that she flinched ( more so than usual) every time I started to touch her face. Upon closer inspection I noticed that she had clouding (cataracts)in both her eyes now. She has had them in her left eye for some time but now they are in both. This explains why she has started to hesitate more when walking and jumping up or down from the couch. I noticed it more in the past two  or three weeks that she seems to be disoriented but now I think she just couldn't see where she was going.
It makes me so sad for her. I know what it's like to have cataracts. I had them removed from my right eye two years ago because I was 98% blind in that eye.Now I need my left eye done but it will have to wait a while due to finances. Medicare will not pay for cataract surgery until you are 65. I guess they figure you can stay blind until then. It is upsetting when you have worked and paid all that money in to a system that doesn't want to give back when you need it.
I guess Penny and I will just have to continue to look out for each other. I will be her eyes for her as long as I can. After all she is my heart.

Penny's Doctor Visit

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I took Penny in for a checkup yesterday. Seems she has a kidney infection so now she is on antibiotics. She did not want to be there for sure. She has lost a few ounces. She now weighs 9.3 lbs. Dr. Carroll said the cataracts were fairly normal for a dog of her age and overall she seemed to be doing okay. Her heart murmur is graded on a scale of 1-6 and hers is now at a 5. Penny's heart was racing so fast while she was there it  took her a while to get a reading on it. She said that when it's that bad a 5 or 6 were about the same. They didn't give her any booster shots because of her age and the fact that she is NEVER boarded. Her Rabies is up to date and that is the most important one since it is required for travel or anything like that.
She is doing good today. She took her antibiotics (liquid of course) like a little trooper and is sleeping soundly on my legs. She starts on heart medication twice a day later this week. The vet had to contract it to a lab that liquefies them for her. You cannot get a pill down her no matter what you do. I was hoping she wouldn't have to take the heart medicine but if it will help her even a little I am willing to do it.
So extra love an hugs for my baby.

Penny's Beauty Salon Day

To contact us Click HERE
Today is the day Penny visits the Beauty Salon. Since losing her eyesight, she doesn't go as often as she used to. We found that the scissors and sounds around her upset her. So we had to do a search  of a place where they would not leave her alone even for a minute. We were fortunate enough to locate a lady named Brenda that works at our local PetSmart that does an "Express Groom." This is the perfect thing for Penny. From start to finish it only takes about an hour. They give complete attention to her and she is never put into a cage. This is so important to us because she gets very upset in unfamiliar surroundings these days and she has never liked cages. Brenda is very gentle with her and so patient. penny is very difficult to groom these days because sudden movements or anything coming close to her face startles her and she jerks away. I appreciate the time she takes in between the grooming to hug her and calm her down. There are still some special people out there that will take the time to help you out.
I will be posting pics of her sweet face when we get back...In the meantime, we have to take a nap in preparation for the trip.

Penny's Beauty Salon Day

To contact us Click HERE
Today is the day Penny visits the Beauty Salon. Since losing her eyesight, she doesn't go as often as she used to. We found that the scissors and sounds around her upset her. So we had to do a search  of a place where they would not leave her alone even for a minute. We were fortunate enough to locate a lady named Brenda that works at our local PetSmart that does an "Express Groom." This is the perfect thing for Penny. From start to finish it only takes about an hour. They give complete attention to her and she is never put into a cage. This is so important to us because she gets very upset in unfamiliar surroundings these days and she has never liked cages. Brenda is very gentle with her and so patient. penny is very difficult to groom these days because sudden movements or anything coming close to her face startles her and she jerks away. I appreciate the time she takes in between the grooming to hug her and calm her down. There are still some special people out there that will take the time to help you out.
I will be posting pics of her sweet face when we get back...In the meantime, we have to take a nap in preparation for the trip.

A Wonderful Story: God's Hand at Work

To contact us Click HERE

Our friends had a successful court appearance, but only today did "mom" get a chance to tell us via blog about the details. Their story makes it abundantly clear that God answers prayer, often in ways far more blessed than we dare to hope. I trust you will take this opportunity to read their story and thank God for what He has done in their family and for the little boy who is now part of their family.

They cannot claim their new son until August 3, according to local law. I assume they will be returning to the USA soon thereafter. Be in prayer for their trip and for the inevitable challenges that their new son will bring to their home.

Our Friends' Adoption: An Update

To contact us Click HERE

This summer friends of ours went to Russia and adopted a little boy, now four years old, with Down's Syndrome. Today "mom" updated her blog with uplifting photos of how well their new son is doing here in America. You can read about it here.

Of course, there are still a lot of challenges (take language, for example, and health), but it is a great blessing to see the willingness they have to cherish and raise up this little boy. Our prayers and encouragement go out to them.

Why I'm Voting for Rick Santorum in the SC Primary

To contact us Click HERE

Tomorrow, in the South Carolina GOP Presidential Preferenceprimary, I will be voting for Rick Santorum. Here’s why.
I need to start out by saying that I haven’t been totallythrilled with any of the four remaining candidates.  All of them have obvious weaknesses ofcharacter and/or policy which will make their race against Obama less of a lockthan it ought to be.  The Republican Partyneeds a leader of the Reagan type, who, like him in 1980, would win 40+ statesand carry a mandate with him to Washington. But since we have four remaining candidates from whom to choose, andsince any of them will be an improvement over the current president, I mustchoose from among them.
Rick Santorum, on the whole, represents my views the mostconsistently.  He has been consistentlyand passionately pro-life, and wrote the bill that ended partial birthabortion.  On social issues, he and I areof one voice.  He is also a firm believerin the Second Amendment (The NRA rates him A+). He opposed TARP, voted against McCain-Feingold and Frank-Dodd, andreceives low ratings from both the ACLU and the AFL-CIO.  While I am concerned about the trouncing hetook in the 2006 Pennsylvania Senate race (and, for that matter, the trouncinghe may get here in SC tomorrow, if the polls are valid), he is moredemonstrably opposed to Obama than either Romney or Gingrich.  His biggest liability in my eyes is that hedoes not come across as a leader.
Newt Gingrich, at the moment, would be my secondchoice.  I agree with him on mostissues—but he occasionally throws one out there that makes me scratch myhead.  His personal character history isa serious problem and, even if he has sincerely repented and stays on the righttrack, will be a detriment in the race. (Obama, for all his flaws, has no hint of marital infidelity.)  I am also concerned that his ego may become aliability.
Mitt Romney seems to be a conservative now, but my gut justdoesn’t like the fact that he wasn’t while he was the governor ofMassachusetts.  I think he can be a greatexecutive, and if he is the GOP nominee, I will vote for him in November.  But for now, I’m going with the most consistentconservative.
Ron Paul is problematic. His voting record is often meritorious and often puzzling.  The ACLU rates him pretty favorably—that's aproblem.  His vicious and untrue attackads concerning Santorum (being shown adnauseam this week on SC TV stations) trouble me.  His foreign policy ideas are dangerous to thefuture of our country. 
Please educate yourself on the candidates and then take theopportunity to vote.

An Update on our Friends' Adoption!

To contact us Click HERE

Friends of ours adopted a 3½-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome from Eastern Europe last summer (see their blog here).  They have now had the boy in their home for six months.  Their story has been featured on a local TV station and I'm sure many have viewed their blog.  In short, their story not only testifies of God's love working through individuals, but also to the value of every individual soul—no matter the limitations of the physical body.

Six months later, there are still trials and struggles, but there has been both remarkable progress and great blessings.  The work that God has allowed them to be a part of has now reached all the way back to Russia, and we are so grateful for it!  I trust you will take the time to read about it here.

Penny's Beauty Salon Day

To contact us Click HERE
Today is the day Penny visits the Beauty Salon. Since losing her eyesight, she doesn't go as often as she used to. We found that the scissors and sounds around her upset her. So we had to do a search  of a place where they would not leave her alone even for a minute. We were fortunate enough to locate a lady named Brenda that works at our local PetSmart that does an "Express Groom." This is the perfect thing for Penny. From start to finish it only takes about an hour. They give complete attention to her and she is never put into a cage. This is so important to us because she gets very upset in unfamiliar surroundings these days and she has never liked cages. Brenda is very gentle with her and so patient. penny is very difficult to groom these days because sudden movements or anything coming close to her face startles her and she jerks away. I appreciate the time she takes in between the grooming to hug her and calm her down. There are still some special people out there that will take the time to help you out.
I will be posting pics of her sweet face when we get back...In the meantime, we have to take a nap in preparation for the trip.

A Wonderful Story: God's Hand at Work

To contact us Click HERE

Our friends had a successful court appearance, but only today did "mom" get a chance to tell us via blog about the details. Their story makes it abundantly clear that God answers prayer, often in ways far more blessed than we dare to hope. I trust you will take this opportunity to read their story and thank God for what He has done in their family and for the little boy who is now part of their family.

They cannot claim their new son until August 3, according to local law. I assume they will be returning to the USA soon thereafter. Be in prayer for their trip and for the inevitable challenges that their new son will bring to their home.

Our Friends' Adoption: An Update

To contact us Click HERE

This summer friends of ours went to Russia and adopted a little boy, now four years old, with Down's Syndrome. Today "mom" updated her blog with uplifting photos of how well their new son is doing here in America. You can read about it here.

Of course, there are still a lot of challenges (take language, for example, and health), but it is a great blessing to see the willingness they have to cherish and raise up this little boy. Our prayers and encouragement go out to them.

Why I'm Voting for Rick Santorum in the SC Primary

To contact us Click HERE

Tomorrow, in the South Carolina GOP Presidential Preferenceprimary, I will be voting for Rick Santorum. Here’s why.
I need to start out by saying that I haven’t been totallythrilled with any of the four remaining candidates.  All of them have obvious weaknesses ofcharacter and/or policy which will make their race against Obama less of a lockthan it ought to be.  The Republican Partyneeds a leader of the Reagan type, who, like him in 1980, would win 40+ statesand carry a mandate with him to Washington. But since we have four remaining candidates from whom to choose, andsince any of them will be an improvement over the current president, I mustchoose from among them.
Rick Santorum, on the whole, represents my views the mostconsistently.  He has been consistentlyand passionately pro-life, and wrote the bill that ended partial birthabortion.  On social issues, he and I areof one voice.  He is also a firm believerin the Second Amendment (The NRA rates him A+). He opposed TARP, voted against McCain-Feingold and Frank-Dodd, andreceives low ratings from both the ACLU and the AFL-CIO.  While I am concerned about the trouncing hetook in the 2006 Pennsylvania Senate race (and, for that matter, the trouncinghe may get here in SC tomorrow, if the polls are valid), he is moredemonstrably opposed to Obama than either Romney or Gingrich.  His biggest liability in my eyes is that hedoes not come across as a leader.
Newt Gingrich, at the moment, would be my secondchoice.  I agree with him on mostissues—but he occasionally throws one out there that makes me scratch myhead.  His personal character history isa serious problem and, even if he has sincerely repented and stays on the righttrack, will be a detriment in the race. (Obama, for all his flaws, has no hint of marital infidelity.)  I am also concerned that his ego may become aliability.
Mitt Romney seems to be a conservative now, but my gut justdoesn’t like the fact that he wasn’t while he was the governor ofMassachusetts.  I think he can be a greatexecutive, and if he is the GOP nominee, I will vote for him in November.  But for now, I’m going with the most consistentconservative.
Ron Paul is problematic. His voting record is often meritorious and often puzzling.  The ACLU rates him pretty favorably—that's aproblem.  His vicious and untrue attackads concerning Santorum (being shown adnauseam this week on SC TV stations) trouble me.  His foreign policy ideas are dangerous to thefuture of our country. 
Please educate yourself on the candidates and then take theopportunity to vote.

An Update on our Friends' Adoption!

To contact us Click HERE

Friends of ours adopted a 3½-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome from Eastern Europe last summer (see their blog here).  They have now had the boy in their home for six months.  Their story has been featured on a local TV station and I'm sure many have viewed their blog.  In short, their story not only testifies of God's love working through individuals, but also to the value of every individual soul—no matter the limitations of the physical body.

Six months later, there are still trials and struggles, but there has been both remarkable progress and great blessings.  The work that God has allowed them to be a part of has now reached all the way back to Russia, and we are so grateful for it!  I trust you will take the time to read about it here.

Why I'm Voting for Rick Santorum in the SC Primary

To contact us Click HERE

Tomorrow, in the South Carolina GOP Presidential Preferenceprimary, I will be voting for Rick Santorum. Here’s why.
I need to start out by saying that I haven’t been totallythrilled with any of the four remaining candidates.  All of them have obvious weaknesses ofcharacter and/or policy which will make their race against Obama less of a lockthan it ought to be.  The Republican Partyneeds a leader of the Reagan type, who, like him in 1980, would win 40+ statesand carry a mandate with him to Washington. But since we have four remaining candidates from whom to choose, andsince any of them will be an improvement over the current president, I mustchoose from among them.
Rick Santorum, on the whole, represents my views the mostconsistently.  He has been consistentlyand passionately pro-life, and wrote the bill that ended partial birthabortion.  On social issues, he and I areof one voice.  He is also a firm believerin the Second Amendment (The NRA rates him A+). He opposed TARP, voted against McCain-Feingold and Frank-Dodd, andreceives low ratings from both the ACLU and the AFL-CIO.  While I am concerned about the trouncing hetook in the 2006 Pennsylvania Senate race (and, for that matter, the trouncinghe may get here in SC tomorrow, if the polls are valid), he is moredemonstrably opposed to Obama than either Romney or Gingrich.  His biggest liability in my eyes is that hedoes not come across as a leader.
Newt Gingrich, at the moment, would be my secondchoice.  I agree with him on mostissues—but he occasionally throws one out there that makes me scratch myhead.  His personal character history isa serious problem and, even if he has sincerely repented and stays on the righttrack, will be a detriment in the race. (Obama, for all his flaws, has no hint of marital infidelity.)  I am also concerned that his ego may become aliability.
Mitt Romney seems to be a conservative now, but my gut justdoesn’t like the fact that he wasn’t while he was the governor ofMassachusetts.  I think he can be a greatexecutive, and if he is the GOP nominee, I will vote for him in November.  But for now, I’m going with the most consistentconservative.
Ron Paul is problematic. His voting record is often meritorious and often puzzling.  The ACLU rates him pretty favorably—that's aproblem.  His vicious and untrue attackads concerning Santorum (being shown adnauseam this week on SC TV stations) trouble me.  His foreign policy ideas are dangerous to thefuture of our country. 
Please educate yourself on the candidates and then take theopportunity to vote.

An Update on our Friends' Adoption!

To contact us Click HERE

Friends of ours adopted a 3½-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome from Eastern Europe last summer (see their blog here).  They have now had the boy in their home for six months.  Their story has been featured on a local TV station and I'm sure many have viewed their blog.  In short, their story not only testifies of God's love working through individuals, but also to the value of every individual soul—no matter the limitations of the physical body.

Six months later, there are still trials and struggles, but there has been both remarkable progress and great blessings.  The work that God has allowed them to be a part of has now reached all the way back to Russia, and we are so grateful for it!  I trust you will take the time to read about it here.

Penny's Cataracts

To contact us Click HERE
I gave  Penny a bath today. It was not a pleasant experience for either of us. I wouldn't have gotten any more scratches that if I had been in a fight with a dozen rose bushes.  She sure has some claws on her and still acts like a cat after 16 years. She looks so fluffy and smells so nice though.
The sad part came when I was brushing the hair on her face and blowing her dry. I notice that she flinched ( more so than usual) every time I started to touch her face. Upon closer inspection I noticed that she had clouding (cataracts)in both her eyes now. She has had them in her left eye for some time but now they are in both. This explains why she has started to hesitate more when walking and jumping up or down from the couch. I noticed it more in the past two  or three weeks that she seems to be disoriented but now I think she just couldn't see where she was going.
It makes me so sad for her. I know what it's like to have cataracts. I had them removed from my right eye two years ago because I was 98% blind in that eye.Now I need my left eye done but it will have to wait a while due to finances. Medicare will not pay for cataract surgery until you are 65. I guess they figure you can stay blind until then. It is upsetting when you have worked and paid all that money in to a system that doesn't want to give back when you need it.
I guess Penny and I will just have to continue to look out for each other. I will be her eyes for her as long as I can. After all she is my heart.

Penny's Doctor Visit

To contact us Click HERE
I took Penny in for a checkup yesterday. Seems she has a kidney infection so now she is on antibiotics. She did not want to be there for sure. She has lost a few ounces. She now weighs 9.3 lbs. Dr. Carroll said the cataracts were fairly normal for a dog of her age and overall she seemed to be doing okay. Her heart murmur is graded on a scale of 1-6 and hers is now at a 5. Penny's heart was racing so fast while she was there it  took her a while to get a reading on it. She said that when it's that bad a 5 or 6 were about the same. They didn't give her any booster shots because of her age and the fact that she is NEVER boarded. Her Rabies is up to date and that is the most important one since it is required for travel or anything like that.
She is doing good today. She took her antibiotics (liquid of course) like a little trooper and is sleeping soundly on my legs. She starts on heart medication twice a day later this week. The vet had to contract it to a lab that liquefies them for her. You cannot get a pill down her no matter what you do. I was hoping she wouldn't have to take the heart medicine but if it will help her even a little I am willing to do it.
So extra love an hugs for my baby.

Penny's Beauty Salon Day

To contact us Click HERE
Today is the day Penny visits the Beauty Salon. Since losing her eyesight, she doesn't go as often as she used to. We found that the scissors and sounds around her upset her. So we had to do a search  of a place where they would not leave her alone even for a minute. We were fortunate enough to locate a lady named Brenda that works at our local PetSmart that does an "Express Groom." This is the perfect thing for Penny. From start to finish it only takes about an hour. They give complete attention to her and she is never put into a cage. This is so important to us because she gets very upset in unfamiliar surroundings these days and she has never liked cages. Brenda is very gentle with her and so patient. penny is very difficult to groom these days because sudden movements or anything coming close to her face startles her and she jerks away. I appreciate the time she takes in between the grooming to hug her and calm her down. There are still some special people out there that will take the time to help you out.
I will be posting pics of her sweet face when we get back...In the meantime, we have to take a nap in preparation for the trip.

Why I'm Voting for Rick Santorum in the SC Primary

To contact us Click HERE

Tomorrow, in the South Carolina GOP Presidential Preferenceprimary, I will be voting for Rick Santorum. Here’s why.
I need to start out by saying that I haven’t been totallythrilled with any of the four remaining candidates.  All of them have obvious weaknesses ofcharacter and/or policy which will make their race against Obama less of a lockthan it ought to be.  The Republican Partyneeds a leader of the Reagan type, who, like him in 1980, would win 40+ statesand carry a mandate with him to Washington. But since we have four remaining candidates from whom to choose, andsince any of them will be an improvement over the current president, I mustchoose from among them.
Rick Santorum, on the whole, represents my views the mostconsistently.  He has been consistentlyand passionately pro-life, and wrote the bill that ended partial birthabortion.  On social issues, he and I areof one voice.  He is also a firm believerin the Second Amendment (The NRA rates him A+). He opposed TARP, voted against McCain-Feingold and Frank-Dodd, andreceives low ratings from both the ACLU and the AFL-CIO.  While I am concerned about the trouncing hetook in the 2006 Pennsylvania Senate race (and, for that matter, the trouncinghe may get here in SC tomorrow, if the polls are valid), he is moredemonstrably opposed to Obama than either Romney or Gingrich.  His biggest liability in my eyes is that hedoes not come across as a leader.
Newt Gingrich, at the moment, would be my secondchoice.  I agree with him on mostissues—but he occasionally throws one out there that makes me scratch myhead.  His personal character history isa serious problem and, even if he has sincerely repented and stays on the righttrack, will be a detriment in the race. (Obama, for all his flaws, has no hint of marital infidelity.)  I am also concerned that his ego may become aliability.
Mitt Romney seems to be a conservative now, but my gut justdoesn’t like the fact that he wasn’t while he was the governor ofMassachusetts.  I think he can be a greatexecutive, and if he is the GOP nominee, I will vote for him in November.  But for now, I’m going with the most consistentconservative.
Ron Paul is problematic. His voting record is often meritorious and often puzzling.  The ACLU rates him pretty favorably—that's aproblem.  His vicious and untrue attackads concerning Santorum (being shown adnauseam this week on SC TV stations) trouble me.  His foreign policy ideas are dangerous to thefuture of our country. 
Please educate yourself on the candidates and then take theopportunity to vote.

An Update on our Friends' Adoption!

To contact us Click HERE

Friends of ours adopted a 3½-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome from Eastern Europe last summer (see their blog here).  They have now had the boy in their home for six months.  Their story has been featured on a local TV station and I'm sure many have viewed their blog.  In short, their story not only testifies of God's love working through individuals, but also to the value of every individual soul—no matter the limitations of the physical body.

Six months later, there are still trials and struggles, but there has been both remarkable progress and great blessings.  The work that God has allowed them to be a part of has now reached all the way back to Russia, and we are so grateful for it!  I trust you will take the time to read about it here.

Penny's Cataracts

To contact us Click HERE
I gave  Penny a bath today. It was not a pleasant experience for either of us. I wouldn't have gotten any more scratches that if I had been in a fight with a dozen rose bushes.  She sure has some claws on her and still acts like a cat after 16 years. She looks so fluffy and smells so nice though.
The sad part came when I was brushing the hair on her face and blowing her dry. I notice that she flinched ( more so than usual) every time I started to touch her face. Upon closer inspection I noticed that she had clouding (cataracts)in both her eyes now. She has had them in her left eye for some time but now they are in both. This explains why she has started to hesitate more when walking and jumping up or down from the couch. I noticed it more in the past two  or three weeks that she seems to be disoriented but now I think she just couldn't see where she was going.
It makes me so sad for her. I know what it's like to have cataracts. I had them removed from my right eye two years ago because I was 98% blind in that eye.Now I need my left eye done but it will have to wait a while due to finances. Medicare will not pay for cataract surgery until you are 65. I guess they figure you can stay blind until then. It is upsetting when you have worked and paid all that money in to a system that doesn't want to give back when you need it.
I guess Penny and I will just have to continue to look out for each other. I will be her eyes for her as long as I can. After all she is my heart.

Penny's Doctor Visit

To contact us Click HERE
I took Penny in for a checkup yesterday. Seems she has a kidney infection so now she is on antibiotics. She did not want to be there for sure. She has lost a few ounces. She now weighs 9.3 lbs. Dr. Carroll said the cataracts were fairly normal for a dog of her age and overall she seemed to be doing okay. Her heart murmur is graded on a scale of 1-6 and hers is now at a 5. Penny's heart was racing so fast while she was there it  took her a while to get a reading on it. She said that when it's that bad a 5 or 6 were about the same. They didn't give her any booster shots because of her age and the fact that she is NEVER boarded. Her Rabies is up to date and that is the most important one since it is required for travel or anything like that.
She is doing good today. She took her antibiotics (liquid of course) like a little trooper and is sleeping soundly on my legs. She starts on heart medication twice a day later this week. The vet had to contract it to a lab that liquefies them for her. You cannot get a pill down her no matter what you do. I was hoping she wouldn't have to take the heart medicine but if it will help her even a little I am willing to do it.
So extra love an hugs for my baby.

Penny's Beauty Salon Day

To contact us Click HERE
Today is the day Penny visits the Beauty Salon. Since losing her eyesight, she doesn't go as often as she used to. We found that the scissors and sounds around her upset her. So we had to do a search  of a place where they would not leave her alone even for a minute. We were fortunate enough to locate a lady named Brenda that works at our local PetSmart that does an "Express Groom." This is the perfect thing for Penny. From start to finish it only takes about an hour. They give complete attention to her and she is never put into a cage. This is so important to us because she gets very upset in unfamiliar surroundings these days and she has never liked cages. Brenda is very gentle with her and so patient. penny is very difficult to groom these days because sudden movements or anything coming close to her face startles her and she jerks away. I appreciate the time she takes in between the grooming to hug her and calm her down. There are still some special people out there that will take the time to help you out.
I will be posting pics of her sweet face when we get back...In the meantime, we have to take a nap in preparation for the trip.

SC mother charged with breaking infant son's arm

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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. A South Carolina mother of five is under arrest after her infant son's arm was broken.
The Post and Courier of Charleston reported (http://bitly.com/TgfMj7) that Deanna L. Brown of North Charleston is charged with ill treatment of a child. She is being held at the Charleston County jail.
The case stems from a May 26 injury to Brown's 14-month-old boy discovered when the mother took the child to a hospital for treatment. According to a police report, Brown told authorities her son was having trouble holding his bottle when she brought him home after staying with a caretaker.
X-rays showed the boy had multiple fractures doctors determined was likely the result of an adult twisting his arm. A social worker notified police who arrested the mother following an investigation.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/10/27/3625831/sc-mother-charged-with-breaking.html#storylink=cpy

SC mother charged with breaking infant son's arm | CharlotteObserver.com

Daughter accused of stealing elderly dad's money, land

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A Spartanburg County woman is accused of stealing thousands of dollars and more than 35 acres of land from her father, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Spartanburg County deputies said a retired magistrate judge, who is a friend of the victim, brought the case to their attention.
Investigators said they determined that after Tammie Price’s mother died in 2007, she began to exploit her father.  They said from April 2008 to June 2012, Price took more than $60,000 of her father’s money without his knowledge.   Investigators said they also found that in January 2012, Price had her father sign over 35.5 acres of land he owned in Pauline to her.
Price is charged with exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

Daughter accused of stealing elderly dad's money, land - Local News - Greenville, SC | NBC News

Suspect rides on hood of victim's car after assault

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A man was arrested after police said he assaulted a woman, jumped on the hood of her car and held on while she drove to get help. Spartanburg police said they were called to the Crescent Hill apartments on Sunday at 5:47 a.m. about an assault and battery incident.
Officers said when they arrived, witnesses told them the suspect had jumped on the victim’s hood in the parking lot and the car was driven to a convenience store.
According to police, the man, later identified as 20-year-old Broughton Nesbitt, was still holding on to the hood of the car when police arrived.
Officers said Nesbitt resisted arrest and it took four officers to control him.
He was eventually taken into custody and charged with assault and battery, police said.
The victim told police Nesbitt was upset because she got home later than expected.
She said Nesbitt reached into her car while they were outside the apartment and put both hands around her neck, choking her.
The woman told police Nesbitt then tried to drag her out of the car.
She said that is when Nesbitt got on the hood of her car and stayed there until she arrived at the convenience store.

Police: Suspect rides on hood of victim's car after assault - Local News - Greenville, SC | NBC News

SC releases 'Scrooges and Angels' charities list

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South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond has released his annual "Scrooges and Angels" list of what charities in the state give the most toward their goals.
Hammond names as "angels" those charities that use at least 80 percent of their donations for their charitable purpose, use volunteers and don't rely heavily on government grants or outside money.
On Thursday, Hammond said the charity that spent the highest percentage of its money on program efforts was Seneca-based Rosa Clark Medical Clinical Association, Inc., at 99.1 percent.

1. Rosa Clark Medical Clinic Association, Inc., Seneca, SC 99.1%
2. Habitat for Humanity of North Augusta, North Augusta, SC 96.7%
3. Humane Society of McCormick County, McCormick, SC 95.1%
4. Deep Well Project, Hilton Head Island, SC 91.6%
5. South Carolina Hunters and Landowners for the Hungry, Spartanburg, SC 91.2%
6. East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO), Mount Pleasant, SC 85.4%
7. Samaritan House of Orangeburg, Inc., Orangeburg, SC 84.3%
8. Nurturing Center, Inc., Columbia, SC 83.0%
9. Early Learning Partnership of York County, Rock Hill, SC 81.4%
10. America's VetDogs - the Veterans's K-9 Corps, Inc., Smithtown, NY 80.2%

Hammond also annually alerts residents to charities whose financial reports show they spend little on their stated purpose and much on professional solicitors. The organization with the lowest expenditure was the Fraternal Order of Police Tri-County Lodge No. 3 in Hanahan, at 4.1 percent.

1. American Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., Baltimore, MD 37.5%
2. Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, Inc., Annandale, VA 36%
3. Veterans Support Foundation, Silver Spring, MD 24.6%
4. Firefighters Support Services, Incorporated, Wyandotte, MI 21%
5. United States Deputy Sheriffs' Association, Inc., Ashburn, VA 14.8%
6. Defeat Diabetes Foundation, Inc., Madeira Beach, FL 11.8%
7. Operation Lookout National Center For Missing Youth, Everett, WA 9.9%
8. Fraternal Order of Police York County Lodge #15, Rock Hill, SC 9.2%
9. Missional Advancement Project, Inc., Aiken, SC 6.4%
10. Fraternal Order of Police Tri-County Lodge #3, Hanahan, SC 4.1%

The following criteria were considered in selecting Scrooges: the charity had devoted 40 percent or less of its total expenditures to charitable programs; the charity had spent a significant amount of revenue on fundraising expenses; and the charity had registered with the Secretary of State to solicit funds in the state of South Carolina."As Secretary of State, I have the duty of enforcing the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act, and of protecting the public against "Scrooge" organizations that want to take advantage of our giving spirit," Secretary Hammond said. "Charitable solicitations across the state have increased in the last four years because more and more people are in need of assistance. Times are still tough in South Carolina, but our residents continue to be some of the most generous people in the nation and always answer the call when it comes to defending and helping the less fortunate.""However, there are those who would take advantage of our generosity," he continued. "So I ask that you check out any organization before you contribute your hard-earned money."Charitable donors may research organizations registered in South Carolina by visiting the Secretary of State's website at www.sos.sc.gov. To review an organization, select the Charity Search button to learn a charity's total revenue, program expenses, total expenses, net assets, and fundraiser costs.

SC releases 'Scrooges and Angels' charities list - WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC

Cracks found in South Carolina atomic station's nuclear reactor head

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Reuters/Progress Energy/NRC/Handout The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has ordered engineers at a power plant in South Carolina to act urgently on cracks that have appeared in a reactor head there that could increase the likelihood of an atomic disaster.
The group that ensures safe and sound nuclear facilities across the US says they don’t believe the public needs to worry as of now about cracks discovered at the SCE&G plant in Jenkinsville, SC, but that could change if action isn’t taken immediately.
According to The South Carolina State newspaper, the SCE&G plant told the commission that they would make repairs in order to satisfy their concerns in an October 30 statement delivered to the NRC. Confirming this week, a spokeswoman for the atomic energy plant said that they have indeed begun fixing the cracks.
Those repairs, say the NRC, will be a good fix for the moment, but might not necessarily relieve them of future concerns.
“The situation … indicates to me that the best and safest fix is for the old, cracked vessel head to be taken out of service and replaced,” anti-nuclear activist Tom Clements tells The State.
“At some point in the not-too-distant future, it seems like the company will want to replace the head with one that is a little more resistant to this kind of cracking,” David Lochbaum of the Union of Concerned Scientists adds to the paper, a move that could set SCE&G back upwards of $60 million.
Only a few miles from the busy city of Columbia, though, the investment might be imperative to ensure that the area stays safe from any potential catastrophes.
“The cracks found in the VC Summer reactor pose a clear safety risk and must be immediately addressed,” Clements explains to the Aiken Leader. “While SCE&G will want to rush to get the reactor back on line and do a quick repair, the NRC must be deliberate in reviewing the causes of the cracking and how it is addressed.Operation of the reactor with a vessel head subject to cracking poses a safety hazard that both SCE&G and the NRC are responsible for.”
In an email to The State this week, company spokeswoman Rhonda O’Banion characterized the cracks as “minor defects” in the steel domes that sit atop the part of the facility where atomic reactions actually occur and that current efforts are “pre-emptive” to assure that are no issues down the road. Once the current round of repairs is complete, the company says the dome should be in satisfactory condition for the next 40 years.
According to a year-long investigation finalized by the Associated Press in 2012, the AP says they believe that the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has regularly lessened restrictions in recent years. In their probe, they found that 82 of America’s operating reactors are more than a quarter-century old, with 66 units having been re-licensed for an additional two decades.

Cracks found in South Carolina atomic station's nuclear reactor head — RT

Cracks found in South Carolina atomic station's nuclear reactor head

To contact us Click HERE

Reuters/Progress Energy/NRC/Handout The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has ordered engineers at a power plant in South Carolina to act urgently on cracks that have appeared in a reactor head there that could increase the likelihood of an atomic disaster.
The group that ensures safe and sound nuclear facilities across the US says they don’t believe the public needs to worry as of now about cracks discovered at the SCE&G plant in Jenkinsville, SC, but that could change if action isn’t taken immediately.
According to The South Carolina State newspaper, the SCE&G plant told the commission that they would make repairs in order to satisfy their concerns in an October 30 statement delivered to the NRC. Confirming this week, a spokeswoman for the atomic energy plant said that they have indeed begun fixing the cracks.
Those repairs, say the NRC, will be a good fix for the moment, but might not necessarily relieve them of future concerns.
“The situation … indicates to me that the best and safest fix is for the old, cracked vessel head to be taken out of service and replaced,” anti-nuclear activist Tom Clements tells The State.
“At some point in the not-too-distant future, it seems like the company will want to replace the head with one that is a little more resistant to this kind of cracking,” David Lochbaum of the Union of Concerned Scientists adds to the paper, a move that could set SCE&G back upwards of $60 million.
Only a few miles from the busy city of Columbia, though, the investment might be imperative to ensure that the area stays safe from any potential catastrophes.
“The cracks found in the VC Summer reactor pose a clear safety risk and must be immediately addressed,” Clements explains to the Aiken Leader. “While SCE&G will want to rush to get the reactor back on line and do a quick repair, the NRC must be deliberate in reviewing the causes of the cracking and how it is addressed.Operation of the reactor with a vessel head subject to cracking poses a safety hazard that both SCE&G and the NRC are responsible for.”
In an email to The State this week, company spokeswoman Rhonda O’Banion characterized the cracks as “minor defects” in the steel domes that sit atop the part of the facility where atomic reactions actually occur and that current efforts are “pre-emptive” to assure that are no issues down the road. Once the current round of repairs is complete, the company says the dome should be in satisfactory condition for the next 40 years.
According to a year-long investigation finalized by the Associated Press in 2012, the AP says they believe that the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has regularly lessened restrictions in recent years. In their probe, they found that 82 of America’s operating reactors are more than a quarter-century old, with 66 units having been re-licensed for an additional two decades.

Cracks found in South Carolina atomic station's nuclear reactor head — RT