Comments from our readers:

THE SOUTH CAROLINA Department of This and That "has rules for burning storm debris." Big Brother continues on the march. Where does the state get the authority to demand that things like busted-up wood must be "salvaged as fuel" and fires must be "at least 1,000 feet apart?" In fact, how many people own enough land to even set up fires 1,000 feet apart? Why not let common sense rule rather than government?

THIS IS A HUGE rant to North Augusta High School for putting on a school play about the devil. I guess that's the reason prayer was taken out of school -- so the devil could be brought in.

SO, SOUTH CAROLINA Highway Patrol stops whites twice as often as it stops blacks. Yet the blacks, after being signaled to stop, are twice as likely to run from a police siren. I can understand the natural tendency to run, but if they do choose to run, they did the choosing, and then they have committed a crime for real.

RAVES FOR MIDLAND Valley High School. Congratulations on being the only school in Aiken County to make adequate yearly progress this year.

I HAVE A RANT for Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt. He declared a state of emergency and enacted a curfew on a Saturday, which he had no legal authority to do. Only the governor can do that. He illegally restricted our freedom. Please, somebody investigate this.

IN REFERENCE TO RACE: No government can control or correct race. Racism starts at home. You're not born a racist or a bigot; you are taught it. Leave the government out of it.

THIS IS A RAVE to the Aiken County (sheriff's office) for a job well done after the storm that we had, and a pat on the back to Sheriff Mike Hunt.

THIS IS A BIG RAVE for the South Carolina patrolman who bumped into the thugs that were being chased at over 100 mph. People who don't stop when a officer of the law tells you to stop, in my opinion, should be stopped by any means available to the officer. "Stop" does not mean "run."