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Charleston, South Carolina, Fights Back Against the Russian Mob

Yes, we love the Sopranos and root for the Godfather, and for sure the GoodFellas and Departed will never depart from our culture-crazed minds. They’re fun to watch on TV.

Cover of  

Cover of GoodFellas

But we’re talking about law-breaking here; and in Charleston, South Carolina, the mob’s even more fun to watch on TV now thanks to enforcers of the law in the great state. If you were to keep watch on all sites regarding Charleston — such as southcharleston.org — you might hear of this.

It’s about the Russian mafia.

Apparently three men — 41-year-old Sargis Tadevosyan, 21-year-old Igo Shevchuk, and 23-year-old Arsen Bedzanyan — were indicted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charleston for health care fraud. The official charge was Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud. Essentially, they obtained money through false Medicare claims. Naughty, naughty.

They actually set up five ‘phantom clinics’ and sent addresses to Medicare to obtain funds for something that didn’t even involve health care! Using fictitious or stolen identities, they opened bank accounts to receive those funds without even taking a temperature or performing surgery on anyone. Not that they would, because they’re not doctors. They’re crooks.

Apparently, these three men were on their way to other states, setting up more ‘phantom clinics’ to obtain more funds from Medicare. Thankfully, it was all halted. Clever. But not clever enough. This was back in the Fall of 2010 all the way to May 6, 2011. No more, though — their days of health care fraud are over.

 

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Tips for Keeping Up On the News

Broadcasting central 

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Keeping up-to-date on the news is important especially if there are issues that directly affect you or your situation. This could be as simple as looking at the morning traffic to see if there are any problems, seeing what the weather is going to be like, to international problems that can pose a problem. Here are some tips and resources for those who are looking to keep up-to-date on the news.

Look to News Channels

While all day news channels may not give much information about local happenings, they are a good resource for those who need information on what is happening around the world. These channels are good for those who may be following an important story about an event happening overseas or following the world’s finances.  These channels are also a good choice for those who are not able to stay awake for the nightly news or those who work strange hours and cannot watch the morning or noon news.

Sign Up to Receive Updates Via Email

For those who are usually on the go, signing up to receive updates through their email is a good way to keep updated on what is happening in the world. People will get alerts about special events that are taking place or any other type of important news. This is also a good option for those who are wanting to keep up on what is happening with the weather. These updates can easily be read on a computer or even through a cell phone that can be checked regularly throughout the day.

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News Of Murder

Murder is something which most of us are informed of but are not aware that such things can happen to you at any time. There have been different types of murders and different kinds of murderers in the history of mankind. When you read news about a murder, you feel both terror and excitement. It is a feeling which is common to all human beings and so, not something to be ashamed of.

There are many types of murders. Some commit the crime to get some sort of financial gain from the act, while others do it to satisfy their emotions like anger, thrill, etc. There may be people who commit murders for no reason at all, while others do it for politics and similar.

You must have heard about serial killers. These are people who have committed murder on more than about three people, with a gap in between and with similar features. The serial killers always have a modus operandi which is a way to describe the basic features common to all the murders or the events that led to the murder.

Serial killing goes unnoticed most of the time, or people are not aware of the multiple killing some people commit because they are not aware of the concept itself. Serial killing, or mass killing are things which do happen in the world and each and every person ahs a right to know about it. Any sort of crime, be it murder o something else which harms the population, is something which everybody should be aware of. Being ignorant won’t help you to be safe and neither would know everything keep your free from all the trouble.

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Reading Sports News

A few years back, sports news was considered as something which was a part of entertainment news. The entertainment news was something which amuses people and keeps them happy so that they could have some time off their hectic and busy schedule. Later on, sports news was separated from entertainment news and became a different section of news altogether.

Sports news is something which deals with sports. The reason why the sports news has become so popular in the past years is because the number of sports activities themselves have increased to a great extend. This means that there have been many sports activities going on around the world, enough to form a separate news section for them.

Sportsmen are no longer considered as mere athletes or players. They are considered as powerful celebrities who can influence the public. It is not just the movie stars who are basking in all the limelight and attention; sportsmen have their own way of being attractive. It is perhaps because of the fact that they are people who have proved them to be powerful.
The sports column usually contains the news about sports from different parts of the world. They have news regarding the latest matches that had gone between two countries, or about the way one team had defeated the other. The latest news which caused a lot of crazed fans to buy the newspaper and increase its sales is perhaps that of the world cup.

For example you might have read about the divorce of Tiger Woods or about the marriage of Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik. All these are considered to be news connected to the celebrities and are in high demand.

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Cannons Fire in Charleston Harbor

January 9th is actually a memorable time–specifically for South Carolina residents. It marked the time in history when the soldiers of South Carolina took up arms, stood up, and fought the Union–which allegedly began the American Civil War.

The year was 1861 when cannons were fired on a non-military ship attempting to reinforce troops in Fort Sumter. Although most historians wouldn’t agree that this was indeed the start of the War, residents of South Carolina would stick to the proverbial guns (and not REAL guns, although in their reenactment of the event this January 9th, the guns were REAL) and say that this was the beginning of a period in history that would forever be defined in school textbooks.

It was a Saturday on the 9th when Citadel cadets recreated the event with their cannons and fired off a few shots to commemorate the occasion when a state began a war that would shape the nation to what it is today.

However, these students asked to ‘fire off’ the memories of battalions with friends and relatives facing each other on their own soil weren’t doing it as a celebration, nor simply as an experiment to mark a certain ‘holiday’. Make no mistake: these students in South Carolina were not necessarily ‘happy’ to do this. The commemoration was a solemn remembrance of the day the South entered one of the most dismal times ever faced when over 600,000 soldiers died at the point of guns held by the Union.

The school holding this commemorative event is the Citadel in South Carolina, and it’s something very emotionally important to them. Even James Elliott, a Citadel senior from Walterboro who had manned one of the cannons, stated that it “wasn’t just a game for them”, purely confident that the intentions of these historical soldiers were actually to start the war.

It’s not a light matter. And, like Citadel officials would say, it’s a matter that should be remembered.

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South Carolina: The Way It Was

View of the flag-raising over Fort Sumter, Cha...
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Remembering where you came from is important before ever knowing who you are and where you’re heading. That’s history. And every American needs to know about his or her American History–from the Revolution to the Persian Gulf War, without a doubt.

Particularly in South Carolina, history decorates that part of the original American nation with some of the accented events during the Revolution and the Civil War. From the very beginning, this is how it all started….

In 1521, the Spaniard Francisco de Gordillo explored the coast which would later be called “Carolina” to establish (however, failingly) a colony near present-day Georgetown in 1526. Furthermore, the French weren’t lucky to hit the ground either at Parris Island near Fort Royal in 1562. It was only on 1670 that the English settled at Albemarle Point on the Ashley River, but remarkably poor conditions struck them enough to move them toward the future site of Charleston, originally titled “Charles Town”.

After the Revolution, the state of Carolina, which was mostly the center of military action between colonists and British, split into two–”North Carolina” and “South Carolina”, one of three splits, the other two being Virginia (Virginia and West Virginia) and the Dakotas (North and South). That was the year of 1729. Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor was the cornerstone of the Civil War when confederates fired on the stronghold, effectively–at least to some historians, regarded as true–beginning the American Civil War. South Carolina was actually the first state to secede from the Union, creating the great divide in a nation already shadowed by so much history in so little time.

Whenever you walk through the lands deep in South Carolina, remember the history. Remember the lessons learned. Many soldiers in our American history died right under your feet. And that is what shapes your life today, is the history of souls passed on to fight for the movement of a great nation, the United States of America.

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Hit the Off-Road in South Carolina

That’s not something you see everyday–is an amusement park for ATVs and motorbikes. And you’ll find it right in South Carolina, off the 77 highway and west on highway 97 leading a little road called “Brown Rd.”. It’s called the TNT Motorsports Park, Inc. If you like ripping the mud with wheels and wearing the helmets with the visors on them and full-body suits and boots, then definitely check out this veritable testosterone-driven and oozin’ obstacle course of thrills and engines.

Open seven days a week except for Thanksgiving and Christmas, whenever the desire hits you to graze the dirt with your horsepower, go for it. From beginner to advanced levels, they have everything you need to enjoy a day of ATV or motorbike riding–a Kids Track and Tot Lot for the smaller bikes and less-experienced learners, a Flat Oval for practice sessions on your ATV or bike, the Intermediate Track in case you want to up the ante on your skills, the ‘Tween Track where both ATVs and bikes play together (not for beginners), and the last and greatest National MX Track and Supercross Track for riders who’ve done it since they could learn to walk. There’s a place for everyone at TNT.

If tracks are a little too structured for you, TNT even has TRAILS! You really want riding freedom? Try the trails such as the “Pathfinder” and the “Caldwell”. The wilderness is all yours on your speed demon, free and clear.

Even better, it’s not just a day excursion at TNT. They have camping grounds and lodging, too. So bring your tents, trailers, mobile homes, whatever you like. The space is yours. But make sure to hold a spot for your prized ATV or bike.

Right in South Carolina, see it to believe it. It’s the TNT Motorsports Park, Inc., an amusement park for off-roaders!

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A Modern-Day “Jurassic Park”

Everyone loves a good zoo. Even aquariums are fun, if you’re more into the sea life. But raise your hand if you’ve heard of this type of park…. (willing to bet no one will). A Serpentarium. Anyone? Anyone? Can you say “Ferris Beuhler”? Beuhler? Beuhler? Beuhler? No. Many might know particular film, but this article won’t go into detail on the adventures of a rebellious teen and his trip to skip school. No, sir.

However, allow this particular writer the chance to talk about the remarkable “Jurassic Park”, a movie of stunning scientific thought and philosophy. Would you believe that we actually have our own “Jurassic Park”? A crazy thought, indeed. Just know this–

The beasts in this park are maybe slightly different from those lovable dinosaurs of yester-millennium.

A Serpentarium is essentially a park solely dedicated to reptiles. And while dinosaurs aren’t necessarily reptiles (they’re actually related to birds, but that’s beside the point), the idea of specialization of a certain type of animal fits.

Enter: the Edisto Island Serpentarium right in South Carolina. One of only a few reptilian parks in the States today.

Opened to the public in 1999 on the month of July, the Serpentarium carries with it a complete 50-year adventure of snake hunting from founders Ted and Heyward Clamp of Edisto Island, South Carolina. It’s an indoor facility that houses anything and everything reptilian; and trust that none of these beasts will bite you. Hours of operation are 10-3 PM, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; and rates for adults 13 and up are $12.95 followed by seniors at $11.95, children ages 6-12 with a price of $9.95 and youth ages 4 and 5 for $5.95. Children under 3 are FREE!

Be captivated by your very own modern-day Jurassic Park, the Edisto Island Serpentarium in South Carolina.

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South Carolina: Home of the ‘Exotic Park’

This is not to say that South Carolina is the only state carrying the exotic. But this particularly park you’re going to learn about ranks up there, possibly at the top. Hailing from Holly Ridge Lane in Cottageville, South Carolina, a few breaths away from the radiant Edisto River and three miles north of Givhans State Park between Summerville and Walterboro sits the Bee City Honeybee Farm & Petting Zoo with Bee City Cafe. A truly exotic place where you find the world’s wildest creatures–including honeybees!

This isn’t your everyday zoo stuff. Bee City offers a basic class with all the essentials: standard beekeeping gear and learning materials, plus your very own glass observation beehive. After learning about the workers, drones, and queen of the hive, head for Bee City’s Petting Zoo and watch in awe some of the domesticated and exotic creatures they have–such as deer, monkeys, lemurs, wallabies, alpacas, and llamas. Even their nature center houses lizards, turtles, frogs and alligators. And they call it a ‘bee farm’!

The thing is the Bee City Honeybee Farm emphasizes the importance of wildlife; and bees are a direct portion of that cycle. You learn that in the session you purchase, so not only is it for entertainment, but education. As a matter of fact, field trip packages are available for schools on a school-daily basis! Not your everyday trip for a student, and that’s a big reason for scheduling Bee City into the year.

Even their gift shop is stocked to the brim with all kinds of products, such as locally produced honey, bee pollen, and beeswax. One of the best parts about their products is that Bee City actually makes their own cream, lotion, balm, candles and figurines all out of beeswax.

Visit the Bee City Farm and witness one of the greatest parts of nature, the starting cycle of life. That’s the ‘Exotic Park’ Mentality to a tee. South Carolina’s got it.

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A Zoo Unlike the Rest: Waccatee Zoological Farm

The norm is called the ‘concrete jungle’. Typically characterized by paved roads leading to animal enclosures, lovingly decorated gift shops and concession stands, and sometimes entertainment features reminiscent of an amusement park. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Nothing can beat the look of a silverback behind the bars or even that giant python behind the glass as it slinks toward the dead rat to swallow it whole. All in all, your standard zoo in every state accomplishes par with education and enlightenment about wildlife.

HOWEVER…. South Carolina’s very own Waccatee Zoological Farm is NOT par at all. We’re talking 10 under on the 18th hole with a few eagles to boot. That is, what they all say, a ‘top score’ above other scores.

Why is Waccatee so different? How can it be different? The answers are simple. And the easiest way to find out is to actually hop on a plane (or do a road trip if you’re feeling daring, unless you already live in the great Palmetto State) and walk right up to Waccatee. But for convenience’s sake, here’s a brief summary of what you’ll see–

Being only fifteen minutes away from one of the best beaches in the country, Myrtle Beach, Waccatee stands alone in unique quality as a privately owned facility not funded by the government. Therefore you’ve got the best of the best with the best intentions for quality of life regarding the animals. One of the zoo’s most unique traits is its nature theme (hence, NOT a ‘concrete jungle’ like most zoos are). You’re entered into the wildlife straight out. Moreover, you’re dealing with more than 100 species of animals–not too shabby. And over 50 acres of viewing space is impressive for something private and decadent in its style and comfort–that typically means not so many people to shove past! Although the prices are actually still reasonable….

Enjoy a zoo unlike the rest out there: Waccatee won’t disappoint.

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