http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/st-matthews/ St. Matthews, SC News http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/st-matthews/content/3b8a8d2bbb6de4c8aa94f6f6019b0277.html South Carolina Education Superintendent Jim Rex says public schools need flexibility to handle spending cuts http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/st-matthews/content/deffc793902d8f40ab46df114ff1888f.html South Carolina Education Superintendent Jim Rex says public schools need flexibility to handle spending cutspState lawmakers asked Rex on Tuesday why highly paid agency employees are not taking pay cutspSt Matthews Rep Harry Ott questioned Rex about agency plans to cut 66 bus mechanics and cut bus driver pay School spending has been cut by 334 million since JulypThe department backed off plans to cut the mechanic jobs Rex said that would create too many problemspBut Rex said bus drivers would lose pay unless schools get more flexibility to handle their spending http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/st-matthews/content/5d9d5a7a2171572e622d25dd1676a78f.html The Orangeburg County Council on Aging is encouraging everyone to kick off 2009 on the right foot by contributing to the organization's Meals on Wheels program A good way to do that is through the OCCOA's sixth annual Elder Hop on New Year's Day http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/st-matthews/content/04d4fe19050a6d13d43e8e49ac076be0.html Lawrence Brady cannot get around as easily as he once could http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/st-matthews/content/b029b5b72dc92ca5baf6e8bca6fd4c8a.html Authorities say a man was shot outside his girlfriend39;s house in lower Richland County Sunday night http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/st-matthews/content/081280e39dd15274ca56b4d2b4ae522b.html pRichland County authorities are investigating two unrelated shootings reported Sunday nightpDetails in both incidents were sketchy this morning said Lt Chris Cowan of the Richland County Sheriff's DepartmentpIn one incident a 19yearold was shot in the Broad River Road area after he saw two people arguing One of the people pulled out a gun a fired several shots one of which hit the 19yearold He was taken by a family member to an area hospital and is expected to recover from his injury Cowan saidpIn the other incident a 36yearold man told authorities he arrived at his girlfriend's house on St Matthews Church Road at about 11 pm when he heard a car approach Several shots were fired from the vehicle The man was struck in the upper body but is expected to recoverp From Staff Reports http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/st-matthews/content/1f0744bd3b7c9798cf17bd8c6f8c9e01.html strongGAFFNEYstrong8212; South Carolina Rep Olin Phillips who was getting ready for his 16th term in the House and celebrated his 74th birthday Christmas Day died Saturday after having a heart attack in his Gaffney homepThe Democrat8217;s wife found him unconscious around 12:45 am and he died less than an hour later at Upstate Carolina Medical Center Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler saidpPhillips was a businessman and had served District 30 in Cherokee County since 1979pHouse Democratic leader Harry Ott remembered Phillips as a quiet man who knew the rules of the House wellp8220;I don8217;t remember Olin ever having a cross word with anybody in the 10 years I served with him8221; said Ott DSt Matthews 8220;He wasn8217;t one to go to the podium and make an emotional speech but he was always working to get things done8221; http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/south-carolina/st-matthews/content/a3eff3524374c6bfaedd31ccac8a9eca.html ST MATTHEWS The Calhoun County Library Teen Advisory Board sponsored a Christmas Party for the community's children Saturday