That's That

• Fire department takes care of 'family' in its legendary dog
  Hilton Head Island's long-smoldering love for Spanner the dog was reignited recently in an unusual place -- his grave.

• Trucker passes safety milestone pulling a heavy heart
  Norman Seckinger of Seabrook constantly squints at the horizon, but never reaches it.

• Statehouse tackles 'honest-to-goodness red-blooded battle'
  South Carolina's legislature finally has produced a bill it can understand.

• Lowcountry train still right on time in Yemassee
  Pastor Joseph Austin wants to flag down the talk about a train depot in Hardeeville.

• That's Lauderdale: Lowcountry writer baptizes us in sweet tea
  A blurb on the back cover of Ken Burger's new book says:

• Jasper County reaches milestone inspired for the future
  Jasper County paused Monday to quietly mark the 100th anniversary of the day it was carved from Hampton and Beaufort counties.

• What a day of rejoicing this should be
  James Oglethorpe stopped by Beaufort on his way to establish Georgia and apparently found nourishment for his soul.

• One of the last old-time net-makers leaves his story in our hands
  Arthur Orage's life weaves a Lowcountry story that should never die.

• Birds of a feather flock to a new strategy
  It started with a sense of outrage when millions of waterbirds were being slaughtered for the sake of hat feathers.

• Old, old story the tie that binds 300-year-old church
  Until insurance agents got involved, each newly confirmed child in the Parish Church of St. Helena marked the milestone by climbing the narrow steps to the top of its steeple.

• Organ, tissue donation helps soothe a deep hurt
  This is not an easy subject for Kay Wolf to talk about, but she does because it's important.

• That's Lauderdale: Excavate the soul of the Lowcountry at own risk
  Don't mess with the Lowcountry.

• Volunteers step up so no Marine stands alone
  Jennifer Iddins cried Friday as the bus pulled away from the barracks on Parris Island.

• To the traveling GOP circus: We're not all dead yet
  They're back.

• A strategy for success based on the good side of life
  This may come as a shock, but to win big in corporate America, it pays to not be selfish and greedy.

• Poor folks get rich living high on the hog
  This time next year, I'll be writing to you from the poor house.

• Hunting and pecking my way into the real world
  To launch the new year, I got the next best thing to a brain implant -- a smart phone.

• The hard-charging days of lighting up the Lowcountry
  Bob Bishop has left the building.

• Year In Review: Notable deaths in Beaufort County, 2011
  Those who died in 2011 who left a mark on the community include:
• Martha K. Baumberger, 98, of Hilton Head Island, died Oct. 2. She was elected the third mayor of the Town of Hilton Head Island and was the first female chairman of the Beaufort County Council. She co-founded the island Zonta Club, was president of the Women's Association of Hilton Head Island, wrote a history of The Seabrook, was an elder at First Presbyterian Church, and an expert seamstress, bird watcher and parliamentarian. Before retiring to Hilton Head, she was executive director of Zonta International.

• Year In Review: Notable deaths in Beaufort County, 2011
  Those who died in 2011 who left a mark on the community include:

• Anna Lou Marvin spread the beauty of Lowcountry life
  The Lowcountry lost one of its greatest ambassadors when Anna Lou Marvin passed away this month.

• Reserve officer brings personal 'thank you' from a world away
  U.S. Army Capt. Bill Williams of Utah drove his 2003 Chevy Blazer into Beaufort County twice this month to personally say "thank you" to people who sent goodies to his troops sweeping roadsides for explosives in Afghanistan.

• The gifts of Christmas are rarely under the lopsided tree
  What an unexpected Christmas miracle: At my advanced age, I can remember everything about Christmas through the years -- except the gifts.

• Lowcountry Santa is not necessarily a fat cat
  Santa Claus is not a roly-poly old man.

• Lowcountry's fancy for feathered friends flies on
  Someone from the outside looking in on those of us nested in the Lowcountry might call us bird brains.