Record High Temperature Set in South Carolina in 2012

If it felt hotter than normal in South Carolina this summer, officials have the number to prove that it was. State climatologist Hope Mizzell said that South Carolina set a high temperature record on June 29 with 113 degrees measured at the University of South Carolina.
Weather experts reached that conclusion after doing detailed studies on several sites where temperatures were measured at 113 on that date. Forecasters have been keeping records in Columbia since 1887, but never in 126 years of record keeping has the temperature been that high in the Palmetto State.
 

Prior to June 2012 the hottest temperature ever recorded in South Carolina was 111 degrees in June 1954 in Camden.

Registration Underway for the 24th Annual Joint Commodities Conference
 

The program and registration packet is now available for the 24th annual Joint Commodity Conference coming up January 17 and 18th at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Conference Center in Durham. The conference is free, with the exception of the awards banquet on Thursday night which is $20. For registration information and a look at the agenda, visit www.ncgrainsconference dot org. Reservations for accommodations at the Sheraton must be received no later than December 28th for the best room rate.

Poplars Going Into Biofuel Research
 

Clemson University researchers are joining with a commercial forestry company to try to figure out what variety of poplars are best to make biofuels.
ArborGen planted four species of poplars last year at Clemson's Pee Dee Research and Education Center. Scientists from the company and the university plan to monitor the 3,000 trees during the next several years.
 

The goal is to find a tree that can grow fast, regenerate itself after being cut down, and produce clean and efficient biofuel. Researchers say these poplars will likely grow up to 50 feet tall and will sprout again from their own stumps after being cut down.
 

Another Step in the Right Direction for Fiscal Cliff Deal

There are still some hurdles to clear – but President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner are reportedly closer to an agreement on a plan to avert the fiscal cliff. The President had a counter-offer to that proposed by Boehner. It included a reduction in the amount of new revenue sought to 1.2-trillion dollars over the next decade and limiting the tax rate hikes to households earning more than 400-thousand a year. President Obama also increased his overall offer on spending cuts and let go of a demand to extend the payroll tax holiday. He still wants to increase the federal government’s borrowing limit enough to avert any new fight for two years.

Humane Society Fundraising proves deceptive. 

Humanewatch.org, a project for the center for consumer freedom, is warning Americans of thee deceptive fund raising practices of the humane society of the US. In an ad airing nationally on FOX news, the ad highlights how 85% of the animals in HSUS fund raising commercials are dogs and cats while less than 1% of the money raised goes to local hands on pet shelters. Americans are encouraged to give directly to their local pet shelters to make the greatest impact on their community.