A federal nutrition program that places new restrictions on snacks and beverages sold in schools also provides an opportunity for some fresh thinking about school fundraisers.

As reported by The State newspaper recently, The Smart Snacks in Schools program creates a dilemma: how will schools raise private dollars if they can no longer sell snack foods?

“If we can’t sell a candy bar anymore, what can we sell?” asked one school official. “We are going to have to get creative.”

How creative would it be simply to stop selling?

When was the last time your college asked you to buy a candy bar? Non-profits, colleges and universities don’t sell stuff to raise money; they simply appeal for support based on the organization’s mission. Why don’t our public schools?

I don’t start checking the clock until late afternoon, because keeping up with world news seems important to me at this time. We watch NBC with Brian Williams and Lester Holt because we like a calm, measured and dignified delivery of the news. Also, we used to really enjoy Tom Brokaw, who predated Williams and Holt, so for years our custom was to watch NBC news.

One of the most offensive features of some news coverage, at least to me, is the perky and amusing newscaster. I don’t want to see the reporters and anchor dancing on Friday. Particularly disturbing to me is the too happy, too dramatic, too fakely sympathetic and/or too intense delivery of some.

I don’t like newscasters or reporters with frozen smiles and too white teeth. And I don’t want them to interview any, and I mean any, bystander at a horrific event and ask them how they felt about what happened. What possible difference can it make, and what on earth are people supposed to say to this? It just seems particularly

For a change, let’s have this week’s column with no complaints.

My car is running again, thanks to the efforts of my father. For a couple of weeks, I had to run my route with my great-nephew Nicholas, who could not understand why I insisted on going into the stores, when he thought I should just ride by the stores and throw the papers out.

Explaining accounting to a 5-year-old is difficult.

But my car is running again, and I can only hope I live long enough to pay for it. I have made one payment already, and by the time you read this I should have made another. Only 40 or so more to go.

Then I have my problem with taxes to straighten out. The government is claiming I took too much money with my “retirement” fund when I used to work for that other newspaper. They kind of decided my “retirement” would come much earlier than I had anticipated.

According to the government, I got an extra $10,000 or so. When you are suddenly unemployed after 25 years or so, you are not good with details.

Either way, the government is next in my list of folks to pay back.

They’re not going anywhere, so I’m sure I can find them when I have the money.

After that I want to use my money for selfish things. I plan to go on a mission trip to Kentucky next year, even I have to go by myself. I love those kids up there, and as has been my experience on the trip for 20 years, I know that whatever new kids I meet on my next trip will also earn a spot in my heart.

I probably need to work on developing that special relationship that I am supposed to have.

I really don’t want my tombstone to read, “Here lies Ben Robinson. Most people never cared for him. Others are glad he is gone.”

For the second time in a month, the S.C. Supreme Court has ruled against openness and punted important issues back to the Legislature for change.

Last week, the court ruled that autopsy records are exempt from release under the FOIA because they are medical records.

Why does this matter to the public?

It matters because the next time police shoot an innocent man, don’t expect the public to have access to the autopsy report giving the details of the death.

That is what this case was about… the shooting of an innocent suspect. Supposedly in self-defense. Problem is, the autopsy showed the suspect in Sumter County was shot in the back.

Can you see now why autopsy records should be public?

This is a terrible ruling that will allow coroners to withhold information the public has a need to know.

With age comes perspective, that most valuable quality and one poor Chicken Little did not possess. After all, he was a very young chicken.

In comparing my life to that of Chicken Little, I do feel that in this one example I have come out ahead. Yes, friends, I feel superior to Chicken Little. What an accomplishment. This should not be considered a trivial achievement either, because I come from a long line of champion worry warts. These people believed in being prepared for the worst. And yes, to give credit where credit is due, I know they had experienced the worst.

Most of our ancestors lived through war, pestilence, disease and poverty.

So yes, they had reason to worry about the future. On their behalf, I must say they never quit and when each crisis occurred they found a way to meet the challenge. Chicken Little did not share their experiences. Far from it. He spent most of his time and energy focused on responding to something that didn’t happen.

His motives were pure. No question. He lacked perspective and common sense. Chicken Little would have benefited greatly if he had reflected a little more wisely. If he had paused to explore the facts, analyze the situation and act appropriately, everyone would have been spared and we would never have had to

Explaining accreditation

Dear Editor,

By law, the South Carolina Department of Education accredits all public education units — school boards, school district operations and schools, and certifies the diplomas issued by school districts in the state. The School District of Pickens County is accredited by the state, which in its 2012-13 report gave our district a 3.93 (out of 4.0) score. The state gave our school board the highest score of 4.0 or “All Clear,” showing it was and is compliant with state education laws, regulations and standards.

AdvancEd is a private organization our school district pays a fee to to accredit its schools, board and district. This is separate from the accreditation process of the Department of Education; it is voluntary and not required by law. Colleges look at this AdvancED accreditation, so our district chooses to participate in its accreditation process.

In December, AdvancED recommended renewal of our accreditation. Like most all audits or review processes,

Wake up, SC residents

Dear Editor,

The article about the fish in South Carolina lakes being unsafe for human consumption is appalling.

Our lakes are still polluted, and our rivers still have contamination from waste. We have a toxic mess to clean up, and what is our governor doing about the problem? Nothing.

Before Nikki Haley became governor, she attended a conference hosted by ALEC. At this conference there were workshops on how to write legislation to bypass the EPA regulations so industries can dump more waste into our environment.

We can expect nothing from her, and our two senators were endorsed by the American chemical industries, so

What comes to mind when one thinks of Pickens County? Is it the beauty of the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains on our horizon? Is it the many natural breathtaking landscapes — waterfalls, lakes, acres of trees and the countless hidden treasures? Is it the stunning Azaleas? Is it the hometown, great-place-to-raise-a-family appeal? It would have to be all of this and more, as it seems, because more and more major corporations — retail chains, restaurant chains, major manufacturers — are flocking to Pickens County. Even though this county is continuing to spread its wings and fly farther, it maintains the small-town, friendly neighbor appeal that we all hold dear.

It all started when Cedarwood Development completed the construction of the massive Easley Town Center, which holds more than 500,000 square feet of retail space. After Walmart

After a few difficult weeks, I am finally getting back to normal, or at least my definition of the word.

It started a few weeks ago when my father was admitted to the hospital. There were some mistakes with his tests, so he needed to have more tests made before he could go home. A few days in the hospital turned into one week, which my father did not like.

He began to complain about whatever he could think of — the food, the nurses, etc. He swore he would never go to that particular hospital again. He was ready to go sing with his friends and the hospital had not better keep him too long.

Meanwhile, my mother passed out while she was getting together thing for my father at the hospital.

Both are better now. We’re still not sure why my mother passed out, but she’s trying to be more careful now.

So then the engine in my car gave out. It turns out that the oil

Once more a lesson has been learned, but I’m not exactly sure what the lesson is. Riding the river is one of my favorite summer activities. This doesn’t mean it’s something I excel at. It just means it’s something I love to do.

However, it isn’t something I’m allowed to do alone, as Fowler has put his foot down about that because for some reason he thinks it might not be the safest thing to do. And he is probably right. Take a recent Thursday.

Iva and I had previously planned a river run in the kayaks and chose the 12 Mile, as it’s conveniently located and seemed to be high enough to give us a pretty smooth trip.

Since the 12 Mile is shallow anyway, when the water is low you can