http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/springfield/ Springfield, SC News http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/springfield/content/a5a356b78531c0c09693b36b8d6881dc.html South Carolina native Tommy Ellison gained international fame as the leader of one of gospel music's premier quartet groups but he was equally respected by his colleagues for his ability to keep in touch with the common man http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/springfield/content/e9a487c3f835864b1253f03abe6c33a3.html Like James Brown Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke Tommy Ellison got his start as a singer in church But unlike them he stayed therepThe Salley native was lead vocalist of the gospel quartet Tommy Ellison amp; The Singing Stars for decades He died Saturday in Baltimore at age 75pPart singer part preacher and a fulltime evangelist the spiritual word would come out of Ellison8217;s mouth in pleading tones harmonic vocal runs and when the spirit really hit him screechesp8220;All of his performances were energetic and stimulating8221; said IS Leevy Johnson Ellison8217;s local attorney and close friend 8220;He had a distinct style that blended good music and a good message8221;pA public viewing and musical tribute will be held Saturday at Brookland Baptist Church 1066 Sunset Blvd in West Columbia and there will be plenty of gospel music sung with soul http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/springfield/content/79281179157d448624a6363fb9f4384c.html Contributors give to Empty Stocking FundThe Empty Stocking Fund organized by The Herald is an annual holiday assistance effort to help needy families in the newspaper's readership area http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/springfield/content/cb4f57156f309adcdf97ace038af7f4b.html COLUMBIA Like James Brown Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke Tommy Ellison got his start as a singer in church But unlike them he stayed thereThe Salley native was lead vocalist of the gospel quartet Tommy Ellison amp; The Singing Stars for decades He died Saturday in Baltimore at age 75 http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/springfield/content/2234a4cb68bf20d04364ca2cbccfb5b7.html MURRELS INLET TEC Dowling superintendent of the Fort Mill school district from 1997 to 2005 died Saturday after a long battle with cancer He was 61Thomas Edward Calhoun Dowling whose funeral will be today at Surfside United Methodist Church helped lead the Fort Mill district through a period of growing pains http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/springfield/content/df7bdbf558203e3e56d566b29a3b6b94.html MURRELS INLET TEC Dowling superintendent of the Fort Mill school district from 1997 to 2005 and a former interim superintendent in LexingtonRichland 5 died Saturday after a long battle with cancer He was 61pThomas Edward Calhoun Dowling whose funeral will be today at Surfside United Methodist Church helped lead the Fort Mill district through a period of growing painspTEC is a longtime friend and colleague and he will be greatly missedsaid Fort Mill Superintendent Keith Callicutt who succeeded Dowling in 2005pDowling is acknowledged as the person most responsible for helping to offset the cost of growth in the booming Fort Mill district He was instrumental in convincing the school board to adopt a 2500perrooftop impact fee on new constructionpAlthough the state Legislature later outlawed the impact fees Fort Mill was already grandfatheredin and the fees have accounted for 24 million in revenue since 1997 The money can only be used for school construction related to growth http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/springfield/content/f6956533b4ea76450f9177a6a82237f6.html Its not too late to recycle your Christmas tree http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/springfield/content/eb990f14fed3323608349b49afbe7540.html The Orangeburg County Council on Aging kicked off 2009 on the right foot left foot two step and a hop