Convicted For Threats

Suspect Convicted For Threatening
The Life Of A Public Official

  Jeffrey James Williams, age 49 of Saluda, was convicted of Threatening the Life of a Public Official by a Saluda County jury this week and was sentenced to the maximum sentence of five (5) years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. The sentence was imposed by Chief Administrative Judge Frank R. Addy, Jr., following the jury trial. 
  On August 10, 2018, Williams called the Saluda County Magistrate’s Office and asked to leave a message for the Chief Magistrate Judge. Williams exclaimed that he wanted to “bury her, dig her back up, paint her toenails, and have sex with her.” During the phone call, Williams did not identify himself as the caller.
 Captain Josh Price and Lieutenant Stephen Byrd with the Saluda County Sherriff’s Office handled the investigation of this case and determined that Williams was possibly associated with the phone number used to make the threats by using a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s (SLED) database. Investigators then apprehended Williams at his residence just hours after the call was made and located the phone in his pocket. During the trial, phone records belonging to Williams were also presented to the jury that confirmed Williams made the threatening call.
  During sentencing, the Chief Magistrate Judge addressed the Court describing the problems Williams has caused in the local community and the impact of his actions.
  Williams is currently a registered sex offender and has prior convictions for Criminal Sexual Conduct, Burglary, and Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature. 
  The case was prosecuted by Assistant Solicitor Doug Fender of the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

NEW COUNTY COUNCILMAN - Wayne Grice was sworn in as the new County Councilman from District 2 on Fri., Aug. 30, in the Council Chambers. Holding the Bible was Sheriff John Perry, and County Attorney Chris Spradley conducted the swearing in. (Standard-Sentinel photo)

Clemson University junior Plant and Environmental Sciences major Texanna Miller won third place in the undergraduate poster competition at the 2019 American Society of Horticultural Science Conference. (Clemson University photo)

Clemson student wins 3rd place at
national horticulture conference

  Texanna Miller, a junior Clemson University Plant and Environmental Sciences major from Saluda, won third place in the undergraduate poster competition at the 2019 American Society of Horticultural Science Conference.
  The conference was held in Las Vegas and brought together hundreds of horticulture researchers, scientists and students to cultivate ideas and share new techniques. The five-day event featured technical sessions, poster presentations and keynote speakers.
  Miller’s award-winning poster is entitled “A DNA Test for Routine Prediction in Breeding of Peach Bacterial Spot Fruit Resistance.” This particular poster had previously won 1st place in the 2019 CAFLS Undergraduate Research Poster Competition at Clemson, and its recognition inspired Miller to present it on a national stage at the conference.
  The poster highlights a groundbreaking peach genetic testing process that Miller developed under the mentorship of Clemson professor Ksenija Gasic. Her findings present a management option for disease control and meeting consumer demand for chemical-free, environmentally friendly fruit production.
  Miller’s research uncovers a method of distinguishing, while still in the greenhouse, which genetic characteristics of peach seedlings result in extra resistance to disease in the field. This knowledge allows peach farmers to maximize resources by planting only the seeds with the best chance of survival.
  “Knowing that a seed is resistant to bacterial spot is a big step in peach production because it is a very, very predominant disease in the Southeast region. It alone can be responsible for millions of dollars in damage and can wipe out entire orchards because it’s very easily transmitted,” Miller explained. “So, this testing process can be a big cost saver for farmers and groups who want to plant resistant trees. They can focus less on chemical controls since the disease is less likely to get introduced.”
  Miller’s testing method enables her to make predictions about peach disease resistance with 80% accuracy. These results demonstrate that Miller’s method is a time and cost-efficient alternative to traditional geno-typing, which takes years and can be very pricey. Miller was able to test 96 samples in just a few hours, where each sample only cost about 10 cents.
  Miller’s attendance at the 2019 American Society of Horticulture Conference was made possible through funding she received from the CAFLS Century Club, which fully covered her travel expenses and admission. Her experience there is a direct result of the CAFLS Advantage program, which funds learning experiences beyond the classroom, develops a student’s critical thinking skills, prepares graduates to meet their career goals, and fuels the inspiration to tackle the grand challenges facing our state, nation and the world.
  Texanna is the daughter of Russell and Candice Miller.

Districts Meet

Dr. Harvey Livingston, Mrs. Angie Rye, Mr. Michael Bonner, Dr. Abbey Duggins, and Dr. Stephen Hefner. (Picture by Mackenzie Taylor)

Lexington Three, Saluda County School Districts
Partner For Back-to-School Convocation

by Mackenzie Taylor

  Staff members from Lexington County School District Three and Saluda County Schools came together on Thursday, August 15th with one mission in mind — to prepare themselves to make a profound impact on students each and every day of the 2019-2020 school year. 
  This common goal was the overarching theme of the school districts’ collaborative Back-to-School Convocation that was held at the Lexington Three Fine Arts Center.  The event was attended by teachers, administrators and other staff members who heard remarks from Lexington Three Interim Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hefner and Saluda County School District Superintendent Dr. Harvey Livingston.
  In addition, the crowd was wowed by featured guest speaker Michael Bonner.  Mr. Bonner is a nationally-known teacher and visionary leader who has received praise and recognition for his positive, unique and innovative educational strategies for students who may be coping with adverse childhood experiences.
   Mr. Bonner previously taught second grade at South Greenville Elementary School, a Title I school in North Carolina where a large majority of the students endure poverty, challenging familial dynamics and in some cases, even face homeless-ness. 
  In 2016, Mr. Bonner began to realize that in order to break through the barriers that were preventing his students from learning, he had to figure out a different way to engage them.  So, he turned to music, allowing students to create lyrics and beats from the content they were studying.  His novel idea worked, as students began engaging on a higher level and achieving greater academic success. 
  As a reward for their efforts, Mr. Bonner’s second grade class created an educational music video together and uploaded it to social media, catching the attention of news organizations nationwide. 
  In early 2017, Mr. Bonner was recognized for his efforts by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who not only presented Mr. Bonner and his school with educational equipment, but also flew him and his entire class to Los Angeles to visit her studios.  Wal-Mart also presented South Greenville Elementary School with nearly $50 thousand dollars to help enhance the school’s learning environment. 
  In addition, Mr. Bonner was honored by NBC Nightly News, the Ashton Kutcher Foundation, Flocabulary, and Front Row, just to name a few organizations.  Since 2017, Mr. Bonner has continued his work of promoting unique teaching strategies in the field of education.  He’s conducted more than 100 keynote speeches and workshop sessions to educators around the world and has written several books, all while continuing to make a huge impact on the lives of generations to come through his work as a teacher. 
  “It’s a privilege and honor to welcome Mr. Bonner to Batesburg-Leesville and to be able to kick off the new school year collaboratively with Saluda County Schools.  This is just one more example of how our districts continue to work together for the greater good of our students,” said Angie Rye, Chief Academic Officer for Lexington Three.
  Last school year, Lexington Three and Saluda County School Districts partnered to provide welding and firefighting courses to students in both districts through the Innovation Collaboration Pilot Project.  The classes, which are being funded by the State Department of Education and through grants obtained by the Town of Batesburg-Leesville, are housed at B-L High School.  Students from Saluda County Schools attend the classes with their B-L counterparts.  As part of the collaboration, transportation is provided for students to be able to participate. 
  Students who complete the firefighting course and pass the state skills test are able to obtain their Firefighter Certification, thus giving them an opportunity to help fill the growing need for volunteer firefighters in the Town of B-L and Town of Saluda.  Welding students are also able to obtain a certification if they finish a certain level of the program. 
  This year, students at B-L High School will have the opportunity to participate in a Health Sciences class at Saluda High School as part of the collaboration project.

Support swells for Saluda pastor’s
September 7 gun buy-back program

  SALUDA – In less than one week, the Rev. Hillary Taylor raised more than $5,000 to purchase Walmart gift cards for the gun buy-back program she and her churches are sponsoring Sept. 7 near Saluda Town Hall.
  “It’s been an incredible experience,” says Rev. Taylor, pastor of Bethany UMC and Zoar UMC in Saluda. “A lot of individuals and churches have supported this ministry with generous donations. A few people – including some whose families have been impacted by suicide – have even stopped me in town to tell me they are impressed with our program.
  “I don’t know how many people will respond to our buy-back offer, but we have plenty of gift cards to give anyone who wants to turn over a gun for any reason. We are planning to have mental health first aid professionals on site who can share resources about firearm safety, preventing suicide, and other related issues.”
  The buy-back event will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, beside the picnic shelter near Saluda Town Hall, 100 South Jefferson Street. Gun owners will receive Walmart gift cards valued at $100-$200, depending on the type of gun (Examples: shotgun/rifle = $100, handgun = $150, assault weapon = $200). This is a “no-questions-asked” event.
  Pastors from several local churches also will be on site to give communion and pray with anyone who would like to share a few minutes.
  Following most gun buy-back events, the purchased weapons are destroyed. In this effort, however, the guns will be disabled and repurposed in the Saluda community as gardening tools or artwork – almost literally playing out Isaiah 2:4: “...they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
  Suicide has been a topic of conversation and concern across the Midlands, sparked in part by the news that Shaw Air Force Base and the Sumter community are grieving the recent deaths of three airmen who took their own lives in as many months.
  In South Carolina, more than 90 percent of suicides are gun-related,3 and the state ranks 50th in the nation when it comes to the availability of mental health care.4

1 Noah Feit, “Fifth airman dies at SC base this year — and the third of suicide, coroner says,” The State,  August 15th, 2019.
2 “Suicide Rate Increases Nationally, Soars in South Carolina,” Greenville News, accessed August 5, 2019.
3 “The State of Mental Health In America 2018,” Mental Health America, accessed August 5, 2019.

August 2019 Council Meeting

County Council Holds
Long Executive Session

  Saluda County Council’s August meeting featured almost as much  action coming out of executive session as was in the regular meeting.
  The meeting was the last for District 2 Councilman D.J. Miller, who had to resign when he moved to a residence in the county outside of District 2. The newly elected District 2 councilman will be seated for the next meeting. Miller thanked the citizens of District 2 for their support
  A public hearing was held at the beginning of the meeting and final reading approval was given to an ordinance to renew the contract for Saluda Sky Aviation, LLC, as the fixed base operator at the Saluda County Airport.
  Emergency Management Director Josh Morton recommended the interior and exterior security cameras be replaced at the Courthouse at a total cost of $11,325.  This was approved by a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Justin Anderson voting against.
  Fire Board Chairman Chuck Adams asked for Council’s approval in allowing the Fire Departments to fill swimming pools.
  The Fire Board unanimously approved the proposal, saying with would allow the trucks to be operated on a more regular basis, members of the fire departments to interact with the community more, and the fees would be used as a fundraiser.
  Adams said the departments would pay for the cost of the water and the fuel used.
  Council approved the request, as long as homeowners sign a waiver releasing the fire departments from any liability in the event of damage to their property by the tankers.
  Judge Joyce Shults asked permission to fill a vacancy in her office. The criminal clerk position is included in the current budget, she said. Council approved her request by a 3-2 vote. Voting against were Miller and Anderson.
  Morton asked permission to attend the International Association of Emergency Managers - USA Council Conference in Savannah. Morton said he had attended the conference since 2013, and had learned much through the work sessions and had made many contacts. He said his trip would be paid by a grant and would not involve county funds. The motion to allow Morton to attend the conference died for the lack of a second.
  Council approved the nomination of Tim Taylor as an alternate on the fire board, representing the Saluda Department.
  Council then went into executive session, and the following came out of the session:
   1. Council approved first reading by title only on Ordinance No. 06-19, “an ordinance to establish a uniform service charge for public safety in Saluda County, South Carolina.”
  2. Council approved first reading by title only on Ordinance No. 07-19, “an ordinance to establish a uniform service charge for motorized vehicle users of the county roads of Saluda County, South Carolina.”
  3. Council approved to close the part-time heavy equipment operator position in the Roads and Bridges Department.
  4. Council approved to open a Mechanic position in the Roads and Bridges department and additional funds needed to be funded from contingency, and to advertise according to county policy.
  5. On July 8, 2019, County Council approved for a temporary vacant SRO position in the Sheriff’s office due to the deployment of the full-time SRO. Council approved to amend that vote to a temporary deputy position to be placed at the school for the same purpose.
  6. Council approved an addendum to the SRO agreement to allow a deputy to the assigned school district until the return of the deployed SRO.

Allie Trotter winner the
SC 4-H Presidential Tray

  During this year’s State 4-H Congress, Allie Trotter was named the SC 4-H Presidential Tray Winner.  Along with the announcement, Allie received a $2000 scholarship from the South Carolina State Fair. 
  In 2007, Allie Trotter joined the Lucky Charms 4-H Club, and has been involved in 4-H ever since.  In just her second year as a 4-H member, she decided to enroll in the poultry project to learn more about raising chickens. She admits those tiny baby chicks were so cute she couldn’t leave them alone. Taking care of the chicks taught her about responsibility and commitment at a young age as she realized she had to do her part to keep the pullets healthy.
  The next project she became involved in was the Healthy Lifestyles competition. Her team won at the regional level twice and at the state level in 2017, advancing them to the 2018 Great American Seafood Cook-off 4-H edition in New Orleans. Where they were named National Winners. 
  As winners of the state Healthy Lifestyles contest, her team was also asked to represent South Carolina at the National Youth Summit on Healthy Living at the National 4-H Center in the Washington, D.C. area.
  Recently, Allie expanded her interests into new project areas such as dairy and Livestock judging and the barrow project. 
 At her first dairy judging competition, she and her team received several awards including second place individual overall and first place team overall. The team then represented South Carolina 4-H at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Kentucky where they placed in the top 20. The team will now compete in Wisconsin at the World Dairy Expo in October, 2019
  In the barrow project, she learned about raising market hogs and training them for show. In her first year, she was presented with a first-place prize in showmanship.
  Allie leadership skills have been put to task through experiences as a Healthy Lifestyles ambassador and a regional representative on State Teen Council. This spring she made a presentation on agricultural challenges to USDA’s National Institute on Food and Agriculture while a delegate at National 4-H Conference. She also attended National 4-H Congress in Atlanta where she was exposed to projects and skills she hopes to bring back to her community.
  This inspirational young woman is confident that 4-H has already prepared her more than she can imagine to take the next steps in her life.  Her plans are to study pre-vet at a land grant university.

SPECIAL ELECTION
AUGUST 27

  The special election for the County Council District 2 seat will be held Tuesday, August 27.
  Wayne Grice won the Republican Primary in June, and even though he has no Democratic op-positon, the election must still be held.
  Any voter in District 2 can vote in the election.