Boating Safety on Lake Murray

3 Charged in Lake Murray Boating Deaths
Just over a week ago, three men were charged with criminal acts that contributed to a pair of May 1st boat collisions in which four people died on Lake Murray.   All were boating while intoxicted.
Click Here to Read More
Don't Drink and Drive  |  Don't Drink and Operate a Boat!

Read the Handbook!

I live on the lake in the Chapin area and I have seen countless occasions just in my cove where boaters zoom within 50 feet of docks with large wakes.  Also, in my cove, I've seen a boater numerous times go across the cove in a small boat with no lights.    Both of these kinds of irresponsible acts are illegal.

South Carolina Boating Laws and Responsibilities
Boating Safety in South Carolina

Join The Lake Murray Association

Lake Murray Association
Live on Lake Murray?  Boat on Lake Murray?  Love Lake Murray?
YOU need to be a member of the Lake Murray Association (LMA).  Click for LMA website.

Membership dues are very reasonable - only $15 per year.   Or, do like I did on my last renewal and join for 3 years, pay only $45 and get 6 free months added to your membership.   JOIN TODAY before you forget - you will be proud to be a member.
CLICK HERE FOR A MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

The Lake Murray Association through its active membership and board of directors works to maintain and preserve Lake Murray as one of the most beautiful recreational lakes in the South.  The Association’s key issues for the future include:
Lake level
Re-licensing
Safety
Weed control
Pollution monitoring and
Shoreline management

The Lake Murray Association was very instrumental (after many years of hard work) in getting South  Carolina Electric and Gas Company to agree to higher winter water levels at Lake Murray.  Remember just a few years ago when water levels sank to 350-351 feet elevation during the winter and early spring?  Now, water levels during the winter are typically in the 354-355 feet elevation range.  This is a success story for the LMA and the number of members in the organization.  The LMA NEEDS YOU!

The Lake Murray Association does more:
Spring and Fall Membership Meeting
Sponsors Ladies Day at the Lake
Sponsors Pontoon Tour of Homes
Conducts a Water Quality Monitoring Program
Publishes a Quarterly Newsletter - Spring 2010 edition

Please join me... JOIN THE LAKE MURRAY ASSOCIATION!
http://www.lakemurrayassociation.com/

Mel Coker

Lake Murray Realtor
Lake Murray website  Lake Murray/Columbia Real Estate

Kids Having Fun: Barefooting on Lake Murray

A few weeks ago, I caught Cole and Trent Hodges doing some barefooting on Lake Murray:

Cole

Trent

More Lake Murray information: http://www.lakemurray-sc.com/

Boiled P-Nuts at Lake Murray's Dreher Shoals Dam

Buy Some P-Nuts Today over at Lake Murray's Dam
Want some excellent BOILED PEANUTS in the Greater Columbia area?

BOILED PEANUTS ARE THE OFFICIAL SOUTH CAROLINA STATE SNACK FOOD

Want to get some of the best boiled peanuts in all of South Carolina? Stop in to see the P-Nut Man at Lake Murray's Dreher Shoals Dam. Wade Baughman has been selling boiled peanuts around the Dreher Shoals Dam at Lake Murray for over 20 years.

The Dam P-Nut Man is typcially at the Irmo side of Lake Murray's dam on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays.
P-Nut Man Boiled Peanuts Location:
Kwik Way Store (Exxon Mobil Gas Station)
6230 Bush River Road
Columbia, SC 29212

CLICK HERE: Dam P-Nut Man Website

Be sure to tell Wade that you saw his Boiled Peanut Stand on the World Wide Web!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July from Mel & Barbara Coker
at Lake Murray, SC!

We wish you a happy and safe July 4th Celebration today.  We also want to thank all military personnel serving around the world in service to the United States of America.   The United States of America is 234 years old today!

(from Wikipedia):
During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.[4][5] After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4th, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence.

July 4th Links:
Independence Day - USA.gov
Declaration of Independence
Patriotic Melodies
4th of July Facts - National Geographic
Wikipedia

July 4, 2010

at Lake Murray

Mel Coker
http://www.melcoker.com/
Columbia, SC Real Estate

July 4th at Lake Murray

July 4th Celebrations on Lake Murray

Most of the organized celebrations take place this year on Saturday, July 3rd.  The following are annual Lake Murray Independence Day events:

Boat Parade: Saturday, July 3rd app. Noon
Enjoy the patriotic display as locals & visitors decorate their boats in ways that will leave you amazed! Viewable from the park sites at the Lake Murray Dam or by boat!

Patriotic Concert: Saturday, July 3rd at 8:00 p.m.
Dreher Island State Park (between Chapin & Prosperity)
Patriotic music featuring the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra. Bring a chair or blanket! Picnics are welcome--No Alcohol Permitted! Admission: $2/adults; $1.25/SC Seniors; ages 15 and younger/Free!

GATES WILL CLOSE AT 8PM

Fireworks Display: Saturday, July 3rd at 9:15 p.m.

South Carolina's Largest Fireworks Display from TWO locations on Lake Murray - Spence Island and Dreher Island.  The show is choreographed to a patriotic concert that will air simultaneously on the Citadel Broadcasting Stations: B106.7FM & 98.5FM. Both Park Sites at the Dam will be open until they reach capacity. The walking path on the Dam will also be open. PARKING IS LIMITED, EXPECT TRAFFIC DELAYS! (Park Admission: $3/car or truck; $2/motorcycles).  Best Viewing For the Fireworks: Either Park Site at the Lake Murray Dam, the walking path on the Dam, from Dreher Island State Park and from the water.  Please exercise caution while boating on this busiest day of the year on Lake Murray!

Frequently Asked Questions - 4th of July Celebration

Lake Murray Images: Mel's Animoto Music Video

Mel's Lake Murray Video:


I have put some of my Lake Murray pictures in an Animoto Music Video.  CLICK HERE or view the video below: