This is Thanksgiving week, and frankly, it is one of my favorite times of the year. As you get older, they say you get wiser (at least in theory). This has been a challenging year for many of us (myself included) to say the least, but I cannot be more thankful for all the blessings that have also come my way!

 

My blessings always start with my children, my faith, my family, my church, my legal career and the people I serve who have made my ability to make a living possible, my clients. The Mike Kelly Law Group recently started its eleventh year of operation (hard to believe!) and I am filled with gratitude for the clients who have come back to us for their legal needs over and over again and refer their friends.

 

I have asked my work family members, who are so faithful and loyal, to think of one thing they are thankful for and the response was overwhelming. Here are a few of their responses (they will post more on our Mike Kelly Law Group Facebook page):

 

“I’m thankful for my Immediate and extended family.”

 

“I am thankful for the blessing the Lord has bestowed upon me this entire year, keeping me in good health to be able to enjoy my family and friends, especially my eight precious grandchildren.”

 

“I am thankful to live in a State and be a part of a community that responds positively to the misfortunes of life, whether they are manmade—as the shooting in Charleston a few months ago—or natural—as the devastating flood last month.”

 

“I am most appreciative for each day that my family is healthy, safe and secure. Our lives are busy, especially at this time of year, and I have to remind myself daily to cherish the time that I can spend with my wife, 2 daughters, parents, and siblings.”

 

“I am thankful for my family’s health and well-being.”

 

“I am thankful for God’s Grace.”

 

“I am thankful that I learned the importance of true selflessness. There is a lesson to be learned when you completely give of yourself to someone who can’t do anything for you.”

 

“I am thankful to be a part of the Mike Kelly Law Group and the ability to serve the people of South Carolina.”

 

We would like to hear from you too. Please go to our Facebook page and let us know what you are thankful for during this holiday season.

 

I, like billions of other people on this planet, was shocked and horrified at the senseless loss of life in Paris. I have tried to read everything I could find on the subject and why this merciless act happened. The Paris attacks were also the subject of this past Sunday’s sermon of Reverend Charles D. Petit at my home church, St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Forest Acres, SC.

 

Now the furor is rising in our own country about whether we should accept any Syrian refugees for resettlement. I can certainly understand both sides of the argument. I do feel that if Syrian refugees are properly cleared by an extensive security clearance procedure that we should consider taking them, because that is why/how this great country was founded, and virtually all of us have ancestors (including mine, who came from Ireland) that came here for a better life. I also respect my friends who have the opposite view, i.e. that we should not take any refugees for fear that they will turn on us.

 

Massacres in the name of religious extremism/fanaticism were occurring before Jesus was even born, and my overarching prayer is that people will learn to get along, respect each other’s views and respect the Rule of Law. The actual Rule of Law movement and its connection to our very own University of South Carolina will be the subject of a future KellyGram.

 

I have been blessed to live on this earth for 63 years. I have been through blizzards, droughts, and have seen a good part of this world. My heart however lies in the great state of South Carolina, and I frankly have never been through a six week time period where the weather has been more dreary, depressing and dangerous than what we have just recently experienced.

 

This past Tuesday afternoon, I walked out of my office at the Mike Kelly Law Group in the Congaree Vista and saw the most beautiful sunshine! It truly warmed my heart, brightened my spirit, and made me thankful for something that I have taken for granted for so long: THE SUN! Like in the beginning of this year, when I lost my wife, I have learned many lessons (even though I did not want to learn them in this way). I have learned that the simple things like a smile, a gentle touch, a kind word and even the sun coming up are so very important.

 

One of my favorite poems is “Crossing the Bar” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. This past Friday, our newest attorney Stephen Vicari, passed the Bar, meaning he will be sworn in officially as an attorney in several weeks and become an official member of the legal community here in South Carolina. We are very proud of Stephen!

 

Everyone who has ever taken a Bar exam in the nation knows how stressful it is. Even though I passed the Bar 38 years ago last week, I still vividly remember the grueling process of preparing for the Bar examination, taking the Bar examination (three days of hell on earth!) and then painfully awaiting the results. I remember calling the Supreme Court as a 25 year old lawyer after waiting for an agonizing period of time before I was informed by the Clerk that I had in fact passed. What a celebration we had that evening!

 

The consequences of not passing the Bar (besides being humiliated) is that you cannot practice the craft that you spent not only all your time on, but tens and now hundreds of thousands of dollars for your education.

 

As most of you know, the Mike Kelly Law Group has offices in Columbia, Myrtle Beach and Winnsboro, SC. I must confess, as a small town guy, I really love our practice in Winnsboro! We have one full-time paralegal, Altina Johnson, one full-time attorney, Paul Swearingen, and I travel to this office at least once a week.

 

I do not believe that the Mike Kelly Law Group should go to Fairfield County, make money, and run back to Columbia without giving something back to the community. We try to stay very active with the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, the Ad Hoc Downtown Redevelopment Committee, the Winnsboro Rotary Club, and many other special events. Other than a few select holidays, my favorite weekend is Rock Around the Clock, which is happening this weekend in beautiful downtown Winnsboro.

 

Festivities will kick-off Friday evening with special Halloween activities for the kids from 5-8pm, followed by the Street Dance starting at 8pm with live music by FlashBack the Party Band. There is also a Shag Contest at 9:30pm.

 

On Saturday, the festival begins at 10am with a wonderful Car Show put on by Winnsboro’s native Sam Edenfield, owner of Independent Body Shop. The Car Show DJ will be DJ Fitz McGill. There will be lots of food vendors, arts & crafts vendors and exhibitors, main stage music all day, local group and school performances and then fun for the kids with a petting zoo, face painting, inflatables and Thomas the Train. There will be many booths with giveaways and other items of interest.

 

Happy Friday to all who get the KellyGram!

 

I have been tempted to discuss the coaching change at the University of South Carolina, but thought the floods and the heroic stories that came from our recent flooding took priority! There is still much to be done to recover, but we are COLUMBI – YEAH Strong!

 

On a lighter note, I did want to share my thoughts on the HBC and how he stepped down. I have met Coach Spurrier several times, but do not know him well. Before he came to South Carolina, I was not a fan, but really came to respect and admire him for what he was able to do for the entire University of South Carolina, especially the football program. He quite simply took it as far as he could, and realized it was time for him to step down. I also believe he was correct to step down in mid-season to have a better chance of holding onto our key recruits, as well as giving his staff more time to evaluate their future employment options.

 

I salute Athletic Director Ray Tanner on his selection of Shawn Elliott as Interim Head Coach. I do know Shawn, his wife, Summer, and his parents fairly well. Shawn Elliott’s parents happen to tailgate very near to me at the University House and they are a wonderful South Carolina family.

 

Being local, Shawn grew up working concessions in the stands and is a dyed in the wool Gamecock fan. He and his lovely wife, Summer, are full of energy, passion and enthusiasm and I already see the difference in what he brings to the table for the program. I don’t know if he will be seriously considered for the permanent job, but I for one really hope he is. If he can win several more games, I would say give him the keys to the car and let him go with it! I do not know of anyone in the country who would have more drive, determination, passion and enthusiasm than Shawn will have for the program! It was infectious watching him during the Vandy football game last Saturday, and I am proud to call the Elliotts my friends.

 

As much as I am tempted to talk about the college football news here in my hometown, I feel it is much more important to focus on the plight of our fellow citizens who are suffering mightily in the aftermath of the Great Flood! Although my home was not affected in any meaningful way, there are many of my neighbors to the east who continue to deal with the devastating blow dealt to them and their families by this storm. Many people have lost their homes and possessions, many roadways are blocked (I have to take several detours to get from my home to my office), and roads are continuing to collapse having been worn out by water. Most of the City of Columbia and several other cities were without drinkable water which caused numerous issues such as washing dishes, washing clothes, brushing your teeth, etcetera. Businesses also suffered in terms of traffic congestion and restaurants with the lack of drinkable water. These economic losses are mounting and are expected to continue. What should we do?

 

We all have a duty to assist our fellow man. For those of you who can contribute financially make sure the charitable arm you are using is reliable and trustworthy, also give of your time, talent, and treasure to those who are less fortunate.

 

I have read numerous stories in the media about how people have almost lost their lives in the flood and unfortunately many did during this devastation. In Sunday’s State Newspaper, outstanding reporter Jeff Wilkinson told of the near death story of himself and his girlfriend. The article entitled, “The State reporter escapes Columbia flooding through car’s sunroof”, is a somber and compelling reminder of just how ruthless this storm was. Here is a link to the article:

 

http://www.thestate.com/news/local/article38712528.html

 

This has been an incredible week here in my hometown of Columbia, SC as well as other areas of our state. As everyone knows, we had enormous devastation, loss of life, and horrendous damage to property. I am heartbroken for my neighbors to the east of my residence who have suffered the most in the Gills Creek Watershed area. I happen to serve on the Board of the Gills Creek Watershed Association and maybe out of this tragedy our voices will be heard that we must develop commercially and residentially in an environmentally responsible manner around Gills Creek. We also need governmental and private focus on reviving one of the most impaired waterway systems in the United States!

 

I have been most impressed by the coordinated efforts of the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD), the local law enforcement agencies, the firemen, the EMS workers, the National Guard, etcetera, etcetera.

 

The volunteer spirit of my fellow citizens has been perhaps the most incredible! My son Mac deviated from his normal exercise bike route yesterday and went through the vicinity of Lake Katherine and the Kilbourne Road area and saw literally hundreds of volunteers out on the street assisting those who have lost everything.

The spirit of Columbia is alive and well.
COLUMBI –YEAH!

 

Today’s KellyGram is on the devastating loss of Forest Acres Police Officer Greg Alia. I was in the gym when the fatal shooting occurred, but I live very close by (I can hit a golf ball from my front yard into Forest Acres, although I live in the City of Columbia). We at the Mike Kelly Law Group are profoundly saddened by Wednesday’s tragic event. He was the perfect American story. A young man who grew up, was a Boy Scout, attended college, got married and had started a family. He was pursuing his passion to be a police officer and was serving the people of Forest Acres with distinction.

Last summer, my son, Mac, and I were returning from the golf course in my Mustang convertible when we were stopped by Officer Alia. I had an out-of-date decal on my license plate and he gave me a ticket. It was the most courteous traffic stop that I ever participated in. He told me that if I would show up at court with proof that I had a renewed tag then he would drop the ticket (which he did). He was an asset to his family, the City of Forest Acres and mankind. Please consider assisting his family by going to the Greg Alia Memorial gofundme page that has been set up for them.
https://www.gofundme.com/rw5b9wbc