2020 In Review 3
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- Category: Archives
- Published on Tuesday, 12 January 2021 22:24
- Written by Ralph Shealy
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2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
(Continued from last week)
AUGUST
•Saluda High’s defending 2-A State Championship football team doesn’t just rest on its laurels. Head Coach Stewart Young posted on social media showing some members of the team taking part in the ServeSaluda project, which renovates homes in the community in need of repair.
•The earthquake that struck Sparta, NC, Sun. morning was felt in parts of Saluda County.
•A recent study by financial technology company Smart Asset finds the places in South Carolina where residents receive the most value for what they pay in property taxes. The study has Saluda ranked ninth.
•For the fist time since Oct. 2019, the Saluda County Council meeting as presided over by a County Council Chairman.
At the Mon. Aug. 10, meeting, newly elected Chairman Jerry Strawbridge assumed his new duties.
Former Chairman Derrick Jones abruptly resigned on Nov. 8, 2019. That led to candidates announcing, a Republican Primary, and a special election, whose date was postponed twice by the pandemic. Finally, in July, Strawbridge, a Republican, won election over Democratic challenger Darren Horne.
Since November, Vice-Chairman Frank Daniel had run the meetings.
•The Saluda County Coroner’s Office held a special burial service early Wednesday morning (August 12, 2020), at Trinity Cemetery in Saluda, where nine individuals were given their final resting place.
•Saluda County has been awarded $9,955.00 Federal Funds made available through the Phase CARES under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board program.
•Dean Bowen retired from the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office Mon., Aug. 17, after over 30 years in Saluda County law enforcement, as a member of the Highway Patrol, Saluda Police and the Sheriff’s Office.
•Saluda County has been awarded $3,000.00 Federal Funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/ Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board program.
•Saluda County’s COVID-19 cases rose to 505, with nine deaths. The latest DHEC report says the county had 2881 estimated cases, and 3381 possible cases. Of the county’s cases, 413 are in the are in the 29138 zip code.
•The Saluda Young Farmers recently awarded six scholarships for 2020. This year’s recipients are: Texanna Miller, Wyatt Doolittle, Makayla Porter, Allie Trotter, Alexis Gunter, and Elissa Rodgers.
•In court cases, Tyrese Dashawn Johnson, 21, was sentenced to fifteen (15) years for two counts of Burglary Second Degree – Violent in Lexington and Saluda counties. Johnson was also sentenced concurrently to thirteen (13) years for his role in an Armed Robbery and ten (10) years on an Escape charge. Robert Lewis Beard, II, 40, was sentenced concurrently to thirty (30) years for Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor in the First Degree and twenty (20) years for two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor in the Second Degree for the sexual abuse of three minors in Edgefield, Saluda, Aiken, and Spartanburg counties.
•Town and county officials met Wed., Aug. 26, to witness the signing of a wasterwater treatment plant agreement at Saluda’s Town Hall.
•Each year the Saluda FFA chapter awards Honorary Chapter Degrees to deserving members of the community. This year’s recipients from the Saluda chapter are Mrs. Jennifer Gunter (mother of past president Alexis Gunter) and Mr. Dave Werts (building construction teacher at Saluda High).
WE SAID GOOD-BYE...
•Carita Kay Johnson Ruff , longtime nurse in the office of Dr. Robert Sawyer, died August 9.
•Former Saluda County Clemson Extension Agent John William “Bill” Riser, 86, died, August 17.
SEPTEMBER
•On the early morning of September 2, 2020, a pedestrian walking her dog, was struck by a vehicle near the intersection of Highway 178 (Greenwood Hwy.) and North Wise Road in Saluda. The victim was identified as Akemi “Reka” Powell, 83, of Saluda.
•Due to Covid-19 the Saluda County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting for 2020 has been cancel except for the business portion. The business meeting scheduled for September 22, 2020 at 6:00pm will be outside at the parking lot of Saluda County Farm Bureau Office.
•Saluda County held it first General Sessions Court. All activities were centered in the Courthouse, but the judge remained in his chambers.
(Continued next week)
1097 County COVID
Cases, 25 Deaths
Saluda County’s COVID-19 cases have risen to 1097 (1028 actual, 69 probable), with 25 deaths.
The county had 562 cases per 100,000, classified as a high incidence. Last week, the figure was 469 cases per 100,000 with a high incidence rating.
Self Regional Healthcare is offering free testing Jan. 27, 12 noon-4 p.m., at Family Healthcare North, 595 Newberry Hwy., Saluda. Call 864 725-8200 to register.
Counties neighboring Saluda had the following case totals: Aiken - 8727, Edgefield - 1594; Greenwood -4633 Lexington - 17,505; Newberry - 2842.
Sat.., Jan. 10, for the first time in three days, less than 4,000 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed Sunday in South Carolina by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Health officials confirmed 3,667 new positive tests and 48 more coronavirus-related deaths. Positive tests are at 34.2 percent.
This state total is 323,855, with probable cases 30,670. Confirmed deaths are 5,315, and 496 probable deaths.