Turner Wins Suit

Turner Wins Suit

　　Saluda County Coroner Keith Turner has won his suit against Republican challenger Charles "Chuck" Adams, the Saluda County Elections Commission, S.C. Elections Commission and the Saluda County Republican Party that said Adams did not meet the qualifications to run for Coroner.

　　Turner received word Friday that a circuit judge had ruled in his favor. A similar result was handed down recently when Laurens County Corner Nick Nichols sued over the qualifications of his opponent.

　　The suit sought to have Adams disqualified from running for the office and his named removed from the ballot.

　　More detailed information on this will be published in next week’s paper.

County Council Holds Hearing

On Comprehensive Play　　

County Council held a public hearing on the county’s new comprehensive plan at Monday’s meeting.

　　The plan is required by law and was developed by the county’s Planning Commission. The 54-page plan is available on the county’s website.

　　Jack Atkinson listed eight concerns he had with the proposed plan, including Saluda County’s high millage compared to neighboring counties; population diversity, addressing races growing and declining; land use as it pertains to the timber industry, which makes up 75 percent of the land area; water and sewer infrastructure, including the Town of Saluda’s current problems; fire protection, regarding the difficulty to recruit new fire fighters; road and bridges, suggesting Hwy. 178 as the highway to be four-laned in future plans, as opposed to 378 and 121; animal control, suggesting if the county cannot do it on its own, don’t do it; medical support, praising the local medical professionals, but questioning a proposed alliance with Self Hospital.

　　Melinda Kneece asked how much money the airport generated. Councilwoman Gwen Shealy said all improvements at the Airport came under jurisdiction and requirements of the FAA.

　　Mrs. Kneece also suggested statistics about all the local schools and law enforcement be included in the plan.

　　Planning Commission Chairman Russell Altman said the commission has worked for years on the plan, with assistance of Upper Savannah, and council members Don Hancock and Frank Daniel.

　　Altman said the plan looks to the future. In regards to the highways, he said the state has road improvement plants locked in to 2030, so there is little Saluda County officials can do about widening highways.

　　He said he would take the suggestions Atkinson and Mrs. Kneece back to the commission.

　　Council gave final reading to an ordinance that would give the Saluda County Board of Elections and Registration the authority to conduct the municipal election for Ridge Spring, with the town reimbursing the county for the expense. Atkinson, Elections and Registration chairman, told Council the wording in the ordinance listing the Saluda County Elections and Registration "Commission" needed to be corrected.

　　"We are a board now," he said.

　　Council approved renewing the memorandum of agreement between the county and Saluda School District One for two school resource officers.

　　Toby Horne of the Sheriff’s Office said this is a similar agreement approved each year, only this new one is for two-years rather than one.

　　Council approved a "Social Media Policy" at the suggestion of II Director Mitchell Kneece.

　　Grant Coordinator Jill Warren was given the go-ahead to apply for an $8080 grant from the Weyerhauser Giving Fund for school crisis response.

　　Among the parts of the grant will be putting first aid kits in every classroom in School District One, King Academy and Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary School, EMS Director Jacob Starnes said.

　　At the beginning of the meeting, Councilan Jacob Schumpert reminded the audience the Little River Fest will be held at Big Man’s Marina over the Labor Day Weekend.

Fun Time On

The Square Friday

A large crowd turned out for Saluda’s second "Movie on the Square" Fri., Aug. 5. The main event was the showing of "The Peanut’s Movie" on the big screen, but prior to that attendees enjoyed food vendors, games for the children, business tents, and a car show. (Standard-Sentinel photos)

Daniel-Day Family Reunion Visits

Daniel-Day Family

Reunion Visits

　　Nearly 150 members of the Daniel-Day Family visited Saluda County Fri., July 22, as part of their family reunion.

　　The family members come from throughout the country and hold reunions every two years. Locations since 1994 include Washington, DC, Detroit, Charleston, Williamburg, Va., and two cruises.

　　This year the convention headquarters is in Greenville, and the family rode two buses to Saluda County Friday.

　　Rosalind Daniel-Day, the organizer of Friday’s activities, said the family wanted to visit where their family began.

　　The Homeland Heritage tour included a visit to the Saluda County Historial Society, where family enjoyed presentations at the Saluda Theater, Saluda County Musuem and Saluda County Courthouse.

　　From Saluda, the family travelled to Mt. Calvary Baptist Church on Long Cane Road in Edgefield County, then stopped in Johnston, where they were greeted by Mayor GTeerrence D. Culbreath.

　　After visiting the Daniel family site, they travelled to Mine Creek Baptist Church, where family patriarch Lawrence Daniel is buried.

　　After a catered lunch, the family returned to Greenville.

State 4-H Presidential Tray Winners were honored during State 4-H Congress. Dr. Tom Dobbins and Dr. Brian Callahan were on hand to present the awards.　 Pictures above are (L to R) Dr. Tom Dobbins, Kat Eling (Kershaw), Andrew Owens (Hollywood), Allison Harman (Gilbert), Micah Metts (Saluda) and Dr. Brian Callahan.　 Allison, Andrew and Micah are 4-H members in the Saluda County 4-H program.　

Saluda 4-H Members Win

Three Presidential Trays

　　4-H throughout the county varies and has many interests for every youth. Our three 4-H Presidential Tray Winner that are from Saluda County 4-H are examples of the variety that 4-H has to offer. For the first time in history, Saluda 4-H has three members winning the 4-H Presidential Tray on the same year. Allison Harman, Andrew Owens and Micah Metts received this honor which includes a $1500 scholarship. This award is South Carolina’s top 4-H award.

　　To Allison Harman, 4-H is all about cows as her projects have included showing and judging beef cattle. Her 4-H career took her to many shows across the state and to nearby states. In the fall, her livestock judging team will compete at the nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. She has also excelled in the dairy judging competitions with a state team win in 2015 and competed in the National competition in Wisconsin last fall. Allison writes, "4-H has affected me in more ways than I could’ve ever imagined." She is the daughter of Tammy and Al Harman. Allison is a graduate of Gilbert High School and will be attending Clemson University this fall to pursue a degree in Animal and Veterinary Science. Her scholarship was sponsored by the South Carolina Advocates for Agriculture.

　　Micah Metts was the second 4-H Presidential Tray Winner announced. Healthy Lifestyles was the project that Micah excelled

Saluda Police Make Arrests In Credit Card Skimmer Case

Saluda Police Make Arrests
In Credit Card Skimmer Case

  On July 10th the Saluda Police Department was notified by a citizen of a possible credit card skimmer located on the ATM at the First Citizens Bank at on Main St., Saluda.
  Officers arrived and confirmed the device to be a skimmer and also located a camera attached to the ATM. Thanks to the observant citizen, officers were able to conduct surveillance on the bank and detain three suspects when they returned to retrieve the skimmer and camera.
  The case was turned over to SLED.

GRANT - Accepting a $15,000 check from Senator Nikki Setzler are Barbara Yon, forThe Friends of Ridge Spring, and Pat Asbill, Mayor. The check was a grant from SC Parks, Recreation, and Tourism to support the Peach Tree 23 Yard Sale.

The Peach Tree 23 Yard Sale Receives a Grant

  The Peach Tree 23 Yard Sale received a gigantic boost for next year’s event. Parks, Recreation, and Tourism awarded the Peach Tree a $15,000 check to support the Yard Sale.
  Senator Nikki Setzler awarded the check during a regular Town Council meeting on Monday, June, 11th. The monies will be used to purchase advertising, for social media, and to work with law enforcement in managing traffic flow through the town.
  The Peach Tree 23 Yard Sale is held the first Friday and Saturday in June along highway 23 in South Carolina and includes the towns of Modoc, Edgefield, Johnston, Ward, Ridge Spring, Monetta, and Batesburg-Leesville.
  The Yard Sale is in its 12th year, and with the help of Senator Setzler, and Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, it will continue its growth.

Don Hardie Named Principal
at Saluda Middle School

  Saluda County School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Don Hardie as Principal of Saluda Middle School effective July 1, 2016.
  Mr. Hardie is an experienced and accomplished South Carolina educator of 17 years. He received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1995, a MEd in Secondary Mathematics and a MEd in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina in 2003 and 2005 respectively.
  He began his educational career at Airport High School in Lexington County School District Two, where he coached basketball and baseball. He became Nationally Board Certified in 2003 in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Mathematics and a certified teacher in AP Calculus in 2004. After teaching mathematics for five years, he became an administrative assistant at Airport High School. In 2005, he served as the assistant principal at Busbee Middle School in Lexington County School District Two.  Following the 2007 school year he served as the Mathematics Coordinator for District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties. In 2010, he was named principal at the Academy for Success of District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties.
  During Mr. Hardie’s tenure at the Academy for Success, he led many successful initiatives and programs including, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), one-to-one mobile technology, data team implementation, and early graduation programs. The Academy for Success experienced a decrease in suspension days, expulsions, and drop outs during his tenure. The Academy for Success was considered as one of the top Alternative Schools in the state and Mr. Hardie was named President of the State Alternative Schools Round Table.
  He is married to Suzy Hardie that currently teaches master level administration courses at the University of South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Hardie have an energetic daughter named Joy that enjoys ballet and was recently named a Duke Tip Scholar.
  “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the community of Saluda as principal at the middle school,” Mr. Hardie said. “I am anxious to get started and begin meeting and working with the faculty, staff, students, and parents to continue providing a high quality education in a positive learning environment.”