Wedding & Event Venue near Kingstree, SC

Former Kingstree resident Dr. Calvin M. Snipes Jr. has retired after a 41-year career in internal medicine, ending decades of service to patients and the Easley community.

Snipes officially retired June 19 after seeing his final patient, another former Kingstree resident, Bill Gee. Following the appointment, Gee presented Snipes with a pen-sized thermometer as a retirement gift during a small celebration marking the occasion.

Before retiring, Snipes worked to see each of his longtime patients one final time, an undertaking made even more significant by the fact that more than 2,000 patients once listed him as their primary care physician.

The son of Milton and Mary Snipes, he moved to Kingstree in 1965 when his father became administrator of Williamsburg Memorial Hospital. The family later settled in Salters. His mother also worked at the hospital as a nurse.

A 1971 graduate of Kingstree High School, Snipes earned a bachelor's degree in zoology from Clemson University in 1975. While at Clemson, he served as president of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

After graduation, Snipes spent a year teaching advanced biology, science and physical education at Williamsburg Academy before returning to Clemson to earn a master's degree in science and nutrition. During that time, he married Carol Henry.

Following family tradition, Snipes attended the Medical University of South Carolina, where he earned his medical degree. He completed a three-year internal medicine residency through the Greenville Hospital System.

In 1985, Snipes and his wife moved to Easley, where he opened Foothills Internal Medicine with Dr. Barry Swiger, a physician he met during his residency. The two established the practice in a new facility between Easley and Pickens.

Throughout his career, Snipes remained active in both medicine and the community. He served as chief of staff at Cannon Memorial Hospital and Palmetto Baptist Hospital, chaired the board at Cannon Memorial Hospital and Community Health Partners, and earned fellowship in the American College of Physicians.

Beyond his medical career, Snipes has been active at Grace United Methodist Church in Pickens, where he and his wife remain members. He has served as chair of the church board and on numerous other boards and committees. The couple raised their two daughters in the church.

Although retired from private practice, Snipes plans to remain active by volunteering at a free medical clinic in Easley. He also intends to maintain his medical license and continue serving patients on a PRN basis through the Bon Secours health system.

Reflecting on his career, Snipes said the relationships he built with his patients were the most rewarding part of practicing medicine.

In retirement, he looks forward to spending more time with his four grandchildren, playing golf with friends and enjoying time with family.

Friends say Snipes' career reflects a lifetime of service to his patients, his profession, his church and his community.

GREENVILLE — Applications are now open for the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities’ 2027-28 residential high school and summer programs.

South Carolina students in grades 6-11 can apply for programs in creative writing, dance, drama, film, music and visual arts.

The priority application deadline for all programs is Jan. 15, 2027. Students interested in Early Decision Dance must apply by Oct. 23. Applications will continue to be accepted as space is available.

The Governor’s School, located in downtown Greenville, offers a tuition-free residential high school program for students in grades 10-12. Students apply in ninth or 10th grade, depending on their area of artistic interest.

Students live on campus and receive daily instruction and mentorship from professional artists while completing academic studies that meet or exceed requirements for a South Carolina high school diploma.

According to the school, students have a 100% graduation and college acceptance rate and are regularly recognized in regional and national arts competitions, including YoungArts, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and Youth America Grand Prix.

The school also offers residential summer programs for students across South Carolina. About 500 students participate each year in programs ranging from one to five weeks.

Summer programs provide students with opportunities to explore their creative interests, develop foundational skills and refine their talents while working with professional artists and other students with similar interests.

“My summer experience was great. It really pushed me to places I didn’t think I could go,” said Halen Lopez-Lopez, a ninth-grade student from Aiken who attended the drama summer program. “I learned a lot here and got to meet a bunch of new people. The instructors are phenomenal.”

School President Dr. Cedric Adderley said the programs are designed to serve young artists with varying backgrounds and levels of experience.

“The Governor’s School gives young artists from all backgrounds and skill levels the opportunity to immerse themselves in their craft while discovering who they are as artists and individuals,” Adderley said. “Whether students join us for the residential high school experience or a summer program, they become part of a community that encourages creative exploration, artistic growth and the pursuit of excellence.”

Because the residential high school is a state-funded public school, tuition is free. Families are responsible for a room deposit and meal plan. Costs for summer programs vary.

Financial assistance for both high school and summer programs is available through the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Foundation.

The school will also host its annual Go Govie! Days on Saturdays, Nov. 7, 2026, and Jan. 9, 2027. Prospective students and their families can tour the campus, attend arts demonstrations and learn about available programs.

Application requirements, audition information, program costs, financial assistance details and registration for Go Govie! Days are available at SCGSAH.org.

A new butterfly sculpture installed at Kellahan Park is intended to make people think twice about littering.

A dedication ceremony was held Sept. 1 for the sculpture, created by environmental artist Jim Swaim. The piece is designed with openings that allow it to be filled with collected litter, turning the trash into a visible reminder of the impact litter has on communities and the environment.

The sculpture was made possible through a PalmettoPride grant pursued by Kingstree’s Beautification Committee. The effort began about two years ago when former committee member Kayla Hodge submitted an application seeking funding for three sculptures. The town ultimately received funding for one.

Hodge attended the dedication to see the project come to fruition.

Swaim said the butterfly is part of an environmental art initiative he has pursued for about 14 years. Before creating the litter sculptures, he worked in the entertainment industry building props and sets.

The idea for the project developed after Swaim’s business partner, Paul Quirk, survived leukemia and expressed an interest in creating public art. Swaim later heard wildlife expert Jack Hanna speak about the effects of litter and showed Hanna a prototype of his concept.

The idea received encouragement, and Swaim subsequently connected with Sarah Lyles of PalmettoPride, helping launch an effort to place the sculptures throughout South Carolina.

Since then, Swaim estimates he has created about 85 to 90 sculptures, with his work reaching well beyond the state.

His sculptures have been sent to locations including Hawaii, Malta, New York, Indiana and Ohio. Projects have also involved the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Dell Technologies.

Swain said his interest in the project is rooted in a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and concern about the amount of trash that ends up along roads, in waterways and throughout natural areas.

Each sculpture generally takes weeks to create. Designs and sizes vary depending on available funding, and communities can request pieces reflecting their local identity.

Kingstree’s butterfly joins a number of similar installations across South Carolina. They include a dolphin in Georgetown, a large fish in Sumter and a deer in Laurens County. A sculpture is also located along Greenville’s Swamp Rabbit Trail. Other projects include a heron planned for Jasper County, a swan in York County and an otter in Fort Mill.

The sculpture program is one of several environmental efforts supported by PalmettoPride. For Swaim, the sculptures provide another way of confronting the same problem — putting the litter people discard directly on display rather than allowing it to fade into the landscape.

More information about his work is available at environmentsculptors.com.