Deputy Coroner

Former Sheriff Named
Chief Deputy Coroner

  Former Saluda County Sheriff Dudley Rushton has been named Saluda County’s Chief Deputy Coroner.
  County Council approved Coroner Keith Turner’s request for the position at the Sept. 10 meeting.
  “I am very happy Dudley agreed to accept the job,” Turner said. “He is respected throughout the county. We worked well together the 12 years he was sheriff, and I know he’ll do an excellent job in this position.”
  Turner has been without any paid assistants for some time, and he thanks County Council for approving his request. He also appreciates the work Rodney Minick has done as a volunteer deputy coroner.
  Pictured above is Rushton, left, being sworn in by Judge William Keesley, right, as Turner looks on.

Daughter Of Former Saludan
Becomes Hurricane’s SixthVictim

  The daughter of a former Saludan became Hurricane Florence’s sixth victim in S.C. when she died in a weather related vehicle accident.
  The Lexington County Coroner identified the victim as 30-year-old Rhonda Rebecca Hartley of Leesville, a daughter of Saluda High School graduate Joan Gaylord Singleton. Hartley was pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries she received in a collision. 
  Officials say at 6 a.m. Sunday morning, a pickup truck was traveling east on Pond Brand Road when it drove into standing water on the roadway. The vehicle lost control, went off the side of the road, and struck a tree.

SALUDA COUNTY ESCAPES MAJOR DAMAGE

  Saluda County Emergency Management Director Josh Morton said downed trees were the only damage reported in Saluda County.
  “We were definitely spared the brunt of the storm,” Morton said.

Saluda Theater Open House

The public is invited to an Open House at the Saluda Theater  Sun., Sept. 23rd, 2-4 p.m.
  Tour the newly renovated Saluda Theater. We hope you will be as pleased as we are with what has been done. We are anticipating the installation of a modern screen, projector, and sound system. With the improvements the theater will much more useful to the community.
  The Saluda County Museum will be open and refreshments will be served.

Increased Need for
Volunteers

  If you’ve considered delivering a Meals on Wheels route before, NOW is a great time to step forward.    Contact us today to get started!  Volunteering is easy.     Meals are picked up at your local Meals on Wheels office.  Each route takes about 45 minutes – an hour to deliver and includes up to 8-10 stops.     Detailed directions are available for each route.
  Call your local Meals on Wheels office today!
  Saluda: 864-554-5499   

Win Wedding

(USC photo by Allen Wallace)

Saluda Native, Fiance
Win Free USC Wedding 

  Saluda native CJ Lake and her finance Jon Tamasco found out Thur., Sept. 6, they had one a free wedding given away by the USC College of Hospitality.
  Accoridng to the press release, Lake and Tamasco were one of many couples who submitted their story to be considered for USC’s Love Story wedding.
  Twice a year, professor Annette Hoover’s wedding planning class gives students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in planning a real wedding. The project covers all costs of the chosen couple’s wedding, at the sacrifice of allowing every decision – from the venue to the dress – to be chosen by the students.
  The University of South Carolina is a big part of Lake and Tamasco’s story, according to the couple. The two met at Cool Beans, a coffee shop across from USC’s campus.
  Lake wrote in her submission letter about the night they met: “He stalled by asking me if I wanted to take a walk around campus. He swears my eyes lit up as I accepted his offer because he didn’t know it yet, but during my time at Carolina, I was a university ambassasdor – and he had just signed up for my signature campus tour. I hate how cliché it sounds, but after that night, the rest was truly history between us.”
  Tamasco later brought Lake back to the horseshoe for his proposal. “He often joked that he knew I wouldn’t accept his proposal unless it was on the Horseshoe,” wrote Lake. Tamasco said, at Thursday’s announcement, that it caught Lake a little off guard when he proposed to her on a week day, but he knew it had to be there, at that spot.
  Lake said the decision to have the committee choose them means just as much to her family as it does to them. “We’re just so thankful for this gift. USC has been a huge part of my life, so having it be part of my biggest day of my life makes so much sense.”
  The announcement was made at Spirit Communications Park, where the wedding itself will soon be held, October 29.
  Lake is a daughter of Mike and Marcy Lake and a graduate of Saluda High School.

Council Approves Millage

  Saluda County Council approved the proposed county and School District One millage for FY 2018.
  The actual millage, which is set by the auditor and treasurer, is as follows:
  Saluda County - County Operating, 142.97 ; Piedmont Tech Bond, 2.10;  Law Enforcement, 1.00; Public Bldg. Maint., .50; Economic Development, 1.00; Piedmont Tech. College, 3.00;  Fire Board Service, 1.00. Total County Millage, 151.57.
  Saluda School District One - Operating, 145.87; GB #1,  27.30; GB #2, 5.30;  GB #3, 4.80; GB #4, 9.60. Total School District One 192.87,
‘The total county millage for FY 17-18 was 147.60, and the total Saluda School District One millage was 182.50.
  Council held a public hearing on two ordinance amendments at the beginning of the meeting. One added permit fees to the building ordinance, and another added permit fees to the manufactured home ordinance. No one spoke on either ordinance.
  Before passing the building permit ordinance, Council approved the following fees:
  Building Permit fee schedule applies to - A. Residential - new construction or renovations, including modular homes; B. Commercial - new construction or renovations; C. Pools - Residential or Commercial; D. Signs; E. Accessory Structures
Total Valuation, Building Permit Fee
  $5,000.00 and less, $50.00
  $5,001.00 to $50,000 for the first $5,000.00 plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof up to and including $50,000.00
  $50,001.00 to $100.000, $365.00 for the first $50,000.00 plus $6.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or  fraction thereof up to and including $100,000.00
  $100,001.00 to $500, 000.00, $665.00 for the first $100, 000, 00 plus $5.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or  fraction thereof up to and including $500,000.00
  500,001.00 and up, $2,665.00 for the first $500,000.00, plus $4.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof.
  Demolition - $100; Moving permit- $150; Re-inspection fee - $50, must be paid prior to any rescheduling; Failure to cancel a scheduled inspection or give notice of cancellation - $50; Plan review fee, when required - 1/2 of the permit fee. This fee is paid when plans are submitted.
  The mobile home ordinance amendment adds an administrative issuance fee of $25,00.
  Both readings passed unanimously.
  Second reading was given to an ordinance granting an easement on property owned by the county to the Water and Sewer Authority.
  Council awarded the contract for demolition of the old Road and Bridges Building, and three other small structures was awarded to F.D. Riley and Son who submitted the low bid of $28,500.
  A request by EMS Director Jacob Starnes to apply for a $53,705.30 grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield foundation, which would buy five automated chest compression devices. This is a non-matching grant.
  Council approved upping the salary of the Chief Deputy Coroner from $10,900 to $15,000 at the request of Coroner Keith Turner. Turner said he currently does not have any paid assistants, but has a qualified person in mind who would take the job.

MEMORIAL FLAGS PRESENTED - An impressive American flag dedication ceremony was held during the September meeting of the Saluda American Legion Post 65.  Sisters presented flags.  Ann Hancock Coker presented a flag in memory of their father, a veteran of World War II. Mr. Charlie Ernest Hancock served as Staff Sargent in the U.S. Army in European Theater. He saw combat action in several campaigns including Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, Central Europe, and Germany. His personal decorations include the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was wounded in France in July 1944, and was captured by Nazi forces in December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge. Her sister, Charlyn Hancock Staubes, presented a flag in memory of their brother, Marine Colonel (Retired) Don Hancock. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Colonel Hancock deployed to Iraq in January 2005, the Iraq War which was known as Operation Iraqi Freedom. These flags memorialize the sacrifice and service of these two heroes to our great nation and will take their place to be flown on the Saluda County Courthouse Square during appropriate times. The American Flag is a symbol of our freedom, and our liberty.  Pictured left to right: Past Post Commander Al Butler, Ann Hancock Coker, Charlyn Hancock Staubes and Post Commander John Hood.
 

Officers Remembered

SHS Remembers Fallen Officers

  Saluda High School and SaludaNOW remembered two fallen law enforcement officers, Eric Chapman and Dale Hallman, at the halftime of Friday’s Saluda-Mid-Carolina game.
  James Eric Chapman, 30, died on Friday, December 8, 2017, when his vehicle wrecked  while he was responding to a call with the Johnston Police Department.
  A native of Saluda, and the son of the late, James “Poogie” and Brenda Diane Burnett Chapman, he was the husband of Tonya Lynn Powell Chapman. Eric was a 2006 graduate of Saluda High School and was a Corporal in the US Marine Corps and was deployed in Afghanistan.
  He was Corporal with the Johnston Police Department and attended Saluda Church of God
  Representing Eric are the game were: Tonya Chapman, Claire Bartley, Autumn Chapman, Evelyn Powell, Brenda Chapman, Ann Miller, Ashley Miller, Jamie Perry, John Perry, Chris Perry, Calvin Perry, Heather Padgett
  Dale Shannon Hallman, 29, passed away on Friday, April 6, 2018 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood after  being involved in a vehicle accident  responding to a call with the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office.
  Born in Columbia, Dale was  the son of Winfred and Naomi Strickland Hallman. He was the husband of Brandi Perry Hallman. Dale was a Saluda County Deputy Sheriff for over five years and served as a K-9 handler. Dale was a dedicated husband and father and he loved the outdoors and was an avid sportsman. He served as a volunteer fireman with the Circle Fire Department and Saluda Fire Department..
  Representing Dale were: Brandi Perry Hallman, Jase,  Jonathan, & Laney-Grace, Pam & John Oscar Perry, Naomi & Winfred Hallman.

Saluda County 4-H Livestock Show

  The 2018 Saluda County 4-H Livestock Show will be September 11, 12 & 13 at the Central Milk Producers Show and Sale Arena (125 Webb Road, Saluda, SC). The entry forms can be found at our Saluda County Livestock website at https://dschuel.wixsite.com/saludalivestockshow. The show schedule is as follows:
  Dog Show – Tuesday, September 11, 2018, 5:00pm
  Dairy Heifer Show – Tuesday, September 11, 2018, 5:30pm
  Beef Heifer and Steer Show – Wednesday, September, 12, 2018, 5:00pm
  Poultry Show – Thursday, September 13, 2018, 4:00pm
  Rabbit Show – Thursday, September 13, 2018, 4:00pm
  Pullet Sale – Thursday, September 13, 2018, 5:00pm
  Goat Show – Thursday, September 13, 2018, 5:30pm
 
  Our annual Pullet Sale will be Thursday, September 13th at 4pm. Twenty-week-old pullets will be sold in lots of 3 to 5. All pullets have been properly raised and cared for by our Saluda County 4-H members, vaccinated for Marek’s Disease, and have started to lay beautiful brown eggs. You will need to bring your own box to take your new chickens home. All proceeds will go towards buying new chicks for the 2018-19 4-H Pullet Project. The pullet sale allows our county 4-H Pullet Project members to receive their flocks for free each year. Please bring your own box to take home your own backyard flock.
  For more information please contact the Saluda County Extension Office at (864) 445-8117.

Rainfall Down
In August

  After good rainfall in July, the August total fell by over an inch, totalling 3.16 inches.
  So far in 2018, 28.5 inches of rain has fallen. This compares to 29.99 inches during the same time in 2017.
  Like July, the  month featured 10 days with highs in the 80. The highest daily temperature, 96, was recorded on Aug. 28 & 29. The lowest daytime high, 82, was on Aug. 25. The lowest morning temp Aug. 24.
  This information was reported by NWS observer Edwin Riley at the Saluda CPW.

SAFEbuilt
OPEN HOUSE

Saluda County Building Codes Department and SAFEbuilt would cordially like to invite all contractors, homeowners and any other interested parties to an open house to answer any questions related to the adopted codes & ordinances enforced by the Saluda County Building Codes Department. The open house will be held on September 12, 2018 from 5-6 pm. The meeting location will be held at 400 W. Highland St. in the Saluda County Council Chambers.