In anticipation of Tuesday’s midterm elections, we have all received an extra dose of politics over the past few weeks. Having graduated with a degree in political science, I am both fascinated and appalled by today’s political landscape. But focusing on a local election in Fairfield County over the past month or so reignited my civic pride and enthusiasm for democracy. For the past decade, Mike Kelly Law Group has maintained an office in Winnsboro, and we do not believe in generating profits in Fairfield without being part of the fabric of the community. One of the ways I stay involved is by following local politics and supporting candidates who are established community leaders and genuinely dedicated to public service. So naturally, when my great friend Clarence Gilbert announced that he was running for Fairfield County Council, I was thrilled!

Clarence Gilbert is a lifelong Fairfield County resident and a family man if ever there was one. He made his living in the corporate world before launching his own small business about 15 years ago. Among his other numerous contributions to his community, Clarence is a deacon at his church, St. Mark Baptist, and Vice Chair of the Fairfield Memorial Board of Trustees, and he served on the Fairfield Behavioral Health Service Board for six years. And now, commencing January 1, 2019, he will be the newly elected Fairfield County Council representative from District 7! I had the privilege of moderating a candidate forum in Winnsboro several weeks ago, and I’m excited to see Clarence’s common-sense approach implemented as he works to address the pressing issues in his county. Working with Clarence on his campaign—and celebrating his victory on election night at Mike Kelly Law Group’s East Washington Street office in Winnsboro—has reinvigorated my confidence in the power of public service and our political process. Congratulations, Clarence!

Early this week, my friend Ron Hagell of the Col. Jack Van Loan Chapter 303 of the Vietnam Veterans of America shared with me an upcoming event, sponsored by his local Chapter, that is not to be missed. On November 12th at 6:00 pm, the Nickelodeon Theatre in downtown Columbia will be hosting a free screening of the film A Solemn Promise: America’s Missing in Action in observation of Veterans Day. Following North Korea’s recent release of the remains of 55 American service members previously listed as Missing in Action, this film is sure to deliver a timely and poignant message about what the promise of “we will leave no one behind” truly means to our troops, their families, and our nation.

 

Though I never enlisted, I have the utmost respect and gratitude for those individuals who have served and who continue to serve, defend, and protect the liberties upon which America was built. We, as a nation, need to rally behind our troops and understand the sacrifices our veterans and their families have made on our behalves. With that goal in mind, I intend to seize this opportunity to view A Solemn Promise and encourage you all to join by booking your free tickets here!

We are finally in the fall season, and it is one of my favorite times of the year! Not only is there Gamecock football every Saturday, but fall also tends to bring with it delicious seasonal menus, exciting festivals across the Midlands and, oh? Did I mention football? LOL! Plus, in just 20 days Frank Martin’s and Dawn Staley’s b-ballers will be hitting the courts. What can I say? I love the excitement of the season!

 

And, of course, beautiful weather rolls in with the season. Folks in Columbia are finally able to endure the outdoors for more than five minutes, and there’s even an invigorating briskness in the air. I’m looking forward to spending some time in the North Carolina mountains to leaf peep and absorb and enjoy Mother Nature’s tranquility and magnificence. The Smoky Mountains are humbling and grounding, and serve to perfectly balance out the adrenaline that comes with my favorite college sports!

Happy Fall, Y’all!

As many of you know, I have strong connections to Florence both personally and professionally. The Mike Kelly Law Group regularly represents clients from the Florence and Darlington area, and geographically speaking, it is a logical midpoint between the firm’s Columbia home office and its Myrtle Beach operation. What’s more, my wife is a Florentine and an employee of the city. Needless to say, I feel very much at home in Florence, SC. 

Recently, “Florence” has come to be associated with devastation. Mere weeks after Hurricane Florence wreaked havoc on the Carolinas, we turned on the news and watched in horror as a tragic scene unfolded in a covetable Florence, SC neighborhood. On October 3, 2018, a gunman opened fire from a home on deputies of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office as they attempted to serve a warrant on a resident of the household. Florence City police officers came to the assistance of the Sheriff’s deputies in what would become a two-hour standoff. The gunman killed one responder, Sergeant Terrence Carraway, and wounded six more law enforcement officers before being taken into custody. Sgt. Carraway had recently received a pin from the Florence Police Department commemorating his 30 years of public service.

My wife, Beverly, had the honor of knowing Sgt. Carraway, though I regretfully did not. What I do know of him, though, is that he was an outstanding public servant who gave back to his community, and that he was a man of faith and a true servant leader. Sgt. Carraway profoundly impacted the lives of innumerable members of the Florence community, and thousands of those individuals gathered this week at the Florence Civic Center to pay their respects. The funeral service held there in honor and remembrance of Sgt. Terrence Carraway was beautiful and moving, and ended with a powerful yet heartbreaking delivery—the last call.

The injuries and death sustained by the men and women in blue is a sad and momentous commentary on the times in which we live. Here’s hoping that the Terrence Carraways of this world will continue to bravely and honorably to serve in the police and first responder realm, and may his memory never be forgotten.

Just like most of you, I’ve been glued to the media this week tracking Hurricane Florence, and despite the various courses she is predicted to take, one thing is for certain—this is a massive and dangerous storm, and everyone in the Carolinas needs to treat it as such. Three years ago, Hurricane Matthew taught us a devastating lesson—these tumultuous storms can cause unforeseeable loss, and we must be prepared to face the worst. For those of us along the coast, it is likely too late to make preparations. Mike Kelly Law Group has an office in Myrtle Beach, and my second home is located there, and I’m braced for impact. To the inland residents, assuming it is still safe to do so, please stock up on necessary provisions and be prepared for what may come.

 

Myrtle Beach, SC on the morning of September 13, 2018 (Image from The New York Times)

Those of us at Mike Kelly Law Group are praying first and foremost for no loss of life, and secondly for the safety of our first responders and emergency personnel as they carry out their duties. Finally, we pray for those who will inevitably face the loss of or damage to their homes as Florence wreaks havoc. We may not know to what extent, but we do know that the Carolinas will be profoundly impacted by Florence, and we must face what’s to come together.

Since it’s been a LONG time since I had grandparents, National Grandparents Day had little meaning to me until March 13, 2018! In the last months before my first grandchild was born, people were frequently asking questions like, “Are you excited to be a grandparent?” Truthfully, though, I really didn’t think much about being a granddad UNTIL I walked into the maternity ward at Baptist Medical Center, where both of my children were born, and laid eyes on Helena Mink Kelly! To say it was love at first sight is an understatement, and when Martha and Patrick told me they decided to name her after my mother, I was moved and overjoyed.

Now, Helena and her parents live with me, and it is truly a gift. I am blessed that I get to see my granddaughter almost every day, and Beverly and I get to hold her every now and then. In fact, the highlight of my summer of 2018 was the night Beverly and I got to babysit Helena. Since she slept the entire time, it wasn’t a lot of heavy lifting, but we felt very important in watching over her and staring intently at her video monitor! I love Helena tremendously, and I know that as she continues to grow and develop a personality, it’s only going to get better and better. So I am now on the bandwagon of National Grandparents Day!

P.S. – This year I also get to celebrate having a precious granddog, Copper!

 

It’s that time of year again! That’s right—Gamecock football begins this Saturday! I refuse to reveal just how many seasons I have looked forward to the Gamecocks’ first kickoff, but it’s a big number! But even with my Medicare card in tow, I’m as excited as ever for not just the football itself, but the whole atmosphere in South Carolina that accompanies college sports. Nothing beats the reunion of friends and fans, the tailgating, and that hint of fall in the air. Not to mention the rush of adrenaline that hits the stands of Williams-Brice Stadium when we hear the first note of 2001!

As always, I hope Coach Muschamp, his excellent staff, and the Gamecock players will give us an exciting season with lots of victories. But win or lose, I intend to enjoy every second of this year’s football season!

 

School is back in session, and the dog days of summer are nearing an end. Nonetheless, South Carolina’s beautiful beaches and its college football will continue to draw tourists, from both in and out of state, for months to come. In this week’s KellyGram, I want to shed some light on a growing risk that travelers face but often do not see—bedbugs.

Bedbug attacks are on the rise in the United States, a fact largely attributed to the growing rates of international and domestic travel by its residents as airfare becomes increasingly affordable. Bedbug professionals rank hotels and motels as the third most common place to encounter bedbugs, and against popular belief, bedbug infestations are not a problem exclusive to cheap, roadside motels. The CDC reports that, just like everybody else, bedbugs also enjoy the occasional stay at five-star hotels and resorts. Thus, it is important for all travelers to brush up on how to avoid bedbugs. For starters, the EPA has issued a list of preventative measures, found here, and www.bedbugregistry.com offers a public database of user-submitted bedbug reports in the US and Canada.

Unfortunately, although adult bedbugs are visible, they often remain hidden and only make themselves known when they bite their unsuspecting victims. These bites can be extremely painful, especially to those with bedbug allergies, and often last for thirty days or more. The bite symptoms vary from person to person, but generally appear as small, unsightly red bumps or welts. Bedbug attacks are also very emotionally traumatic, as they occur when one is most vulnerable and disrupt the sanctuary of the bedroom and sleep. The pests will even hide in travelers’ luggage and infiltrate their homes, leaving them with the extremely difficult feat of bedbug eradication.

 

Those who have the misfortune of suffering a bedbug attack in a hotel, resort, etc. may, at the very least, have a legal remedy available. A bedbug victim may be entitled to compensation for any medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering for bite injuries, and for furniture replacement and extermination costs should the bugs follow that person home. Currently, Mike Kelly Law Group is working on a considerable number of bedbug injury cases, most of which I personally handle from our Myrtle Beach office. If you or your loved one has suffered an injury from a bedbug attack, please do not hesitate to call us at (866) 692-0123.