They're easy to spot. Real easy.

Kids in tow. Large bags of clothes in hand. Computer systems in buggies.

Thousands of tax-free shoppers have hit the stores in droves this weekend, eager to cash in on the state's annual no-tax buying bonanza.

But the burning question is does the average bargain hunter know how much she's saving?

Monica King does.

"At least $40 or so," King said, pointing to the computer she had bought early Friday afternoon from Best Buy on Two Notch Road.

King, a freshman at Winthrop University, and her twin sister, Cecilia King, who is headed to USC, were part of Friday's early crowd of shoppers in search of the tax-free bargain. The two sisters are loading up on school supplies with money they earned from summer jobs.

"When I started working, I really started to appreciate my money," Monica King said.

Angie Winterstein wasn't as precise about her savings on the way out of Staples with her sons, Tommy, 10; Danny, 8; and Nicky, 5.

But the Blythewood resident, who has two more children, said by the end of the day the overall savings would be substantial.

"This is our third stop, and we've got at least two more places to go," Winterstein said.

Tops on the family's shopping list are clothes and school supplies.

"When I get home, I'm going to total it (the tax savings) up," Winterstein said. "But you pay a couple of hundred dollars and it adds up."

Ameka Williams figures her savings at Marshall's added up to only about $4. But that was only one of several stops the Columbia resident was planning with her sister-in-law, Marlo Lyles.

"It's not a whole lot, but it's a little bit, and every little bit counts," Williams said.

??? Carolina Scholarships Inc. will give a special hats off to several Midlands residents during its 15th Anniversary Celebration this weekend in Columbia.

Five people will be presented the organization's Lifetime Achievement Award for extraordinary accomplishments. They are LaVerne Lebby Davis, J.M. Wynn, the Rev. Charles B. Jackson, the Rev. Blakeley N. Scott and the Rev. Ronnie Brailsford.

Six others will receive the Loyal Support Award for their assistance in providing scholarships. They are Willie A. Tompkins, Curtis Wilson, Kecia Wilson, Tracy Gregg, Bernard Kelly and Linda Thomas.

Sen. Kay Patterson will be presented a Lifetime Service Award.

Since 1988, Carolina Scholarships Inc. has awarded some 50 college scholarships at $2,000 each to S.C. students on the basis of academic achievement, community involvement, financial need and a written essay.

??? Belated birthday wishes go out to Columbia's Annie Bell Deas Thorne, who turned 100 years old July 20.

Family members and friends gave her nearly as many reasons to smile, beginning with a special service at Jerusalem Baptist Church and ending with a two-hour boat ride on Lake Murray.

The Rev. Joe Watson and the Rev. Lewis Gunter led a long list of people offering their reflections and good wishes to Thorne.

To theirs, we'd like to add ours.