2020-2021 Millage

THE FARMERS TO FAMILIES PROGRAM was a tremendous experience for Saluda County Schools, when over 30,000 pounds of produce were delivered to all students and faculty of the district at no cost for two straight weeks. (District photos)

Council Approves Millage

  Saluda County Council approved the school and county millage Mon., Sept 14.
  The total county millage is 158.9, while Saluda County Schools millage is 194.3.
  The consideration to accept a line of credit letter for American Land Holdings, LLC, in reference to Palmetto Pointe Subdivision and allow American Land Holdings, LLC, to release a $3 million bond died for lack of a second.
  Council members were concerned that pavement in the new development was already cracking, and the roads would eventually be turned over to Saluda County.
  Chairman Jerry Strawbridge’s appointment of Hugh Coates and reappointment of Jill Altman to the Library Board were approved.

Prayers For Our Nation

 40 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION
A Saluda Community Prayer Event
Saturday, September 26, 10:00AM
Mount Pleasant grassed area under the pecan trees
101 N. Calhoun St,. Saluda
Bring your own chair

  For the safety of all, please wear a face mask and maintain 6 feet between yourself and others not living in your household.
  Area pastors will offer prayers for our nation. Others are invited to offer prayers as well.  
  No political speeches please.

669 County COVID
Cases, 18 Deaths

  Saluda County’s COVID-19  cases have risen to 669, with 18  deaths.
  The county is classified as moderately high incidence with a rate of 298 per 100,000, Last week, the figure was 508 cases per 100,000 with a high incidence rating.
  Counties neighboring Saluda had the following case totals: Aiken - 2414;  Edgefield - 526;  Greenwood - 2105; Lexington - 6511; Newberry -1144.
   Sun., Sept. 20, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced 420 new confirmed cases and 30 new probable cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, 13 additional confirmed deaths and no new probable deaths.
  This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 134,494, probable cases to 3,214, confirmed deaths to 3,028, and 171 probable deaths.

Virtual Court

County Holds
Virtual Court

  Saluda County held it first General Sessions Court last week.
  All activities were centered in the Courthouse, but the judge remained in his chambers, the probation personnel in their office, while the defendants came to the courtroom and reacted to proceedings on laptops.
  Clerk of Court Sheri Coleman said the set-up worked, but she doesn’t know how the county can hold a jury trial in the near future, because of social distancing.
  Following are the sentences on guilty pleas:
  Oreakie Rashawn Dukes, drugs, manufacturing meth, Youthful Offender Act (YOA) not to exceed six years, suspended to timed served and three years probation.  Benjamin Arnold Stephen Dorn, adulterate urine or bodily fluid sample to default drug or alcohol test, 1st offense, 45 days.
  Charles Lamount Long, assault & battery 2nd degree, two years, suspended to four days time served, six years probation; resisting arrest, four days. Brandi Shanea Bryson, unlawful carrying of a pistol, three days.
  Willie Dewayne Dublin, use of a vehicle without owner’s permission for temporary purposes only, 69 days. Rebecca Deanne Garrett, possession of other controlled substances, five days.
  Ubaldo Ramirez, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, time served. Seratone Leyoa Jr., use of a vehicle without owner’s permission for temporary purposes only, 84 days.
  Mark Lane Mathias, DUI 1st, 30 days. Oscar Lee Daniels Jr., domestic violence 2nd degreee, three years, upon service of 13 days, suspended to two years probation.
  Joseph Peter Harmon,   domestic violence 1st degree, seven years, credit for 432 days times served. David Lawrence Coleman Jr., trespassing, 30 days. Mary Ann Tyler, possession of a controlled substance, one day.
  Markavies Lintre Bonds, unlawful carrying of a pistol, three days. Phoebe Fayell Norris, possession of over one ounce of marijuana, three days.
  Thomas Junior Tolen, possession of crack cocaine, 1st offense, two days. Shaquille Oneal Goodlett,  contributing to the delinquency of a minor, three years, suspended to two days and three years probation.
  David Deaun Smith, shoplifting $2000 or less, five years, suspended to 129 days time served and five years probation. Artis D’Lante A Jene McGraw Foster, simple possession of marijuana, 30 days, suspended to two days time served.
  Brian Maxie Rhodes possession of controlled substance in Sched. I to V, 1st offense, 90 days, suspended to seven days times served. Albert Nole Mosley, failure to stop for a blue light, 90 days, suspended to one day times served. Taras Michael Parker, DUI 1st, 30 days.

Friends Continue Tradition

  Jasper T. Moon Jr., Leroy Chapman, and Colie Long Jr. enjoying the nice weather on a charter boat in Maryland Chesapeake Bay. The Coronavirus pandemic severely hampered this year’s fishing, including their annual trip to Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, for seabass; however, they were able to get together last week to fellowship and do a litter fishing before the season’s end.
  They all were reared in the Hollywood Community of Saluda, South Carolina, starting their education at Hollywood Elementary/Middle School. Chapman left Saluda in 1961 for Washington, DC, finding employment with the Department of the Navy. Moon went into the military in 1963, traveling to many states and foreign countries while serving in the United States Army, including the Republic of Vietnam, and ending his career in Washington, DC. Long left Saluda in 1964, joining Chapman at the Department of the Navy. Although Moon’s path took him in different directions, the trio stayed in contact with each other before reuniting in the Washington area.
  Chapman and Moon still subscribe to the Saluda Standard Sentinel for hometown information. They all agree that the values they learned while growing up in Saluda propelled them to the pinnacle of life they now enjoy.

Pedestrian Dies

Dog Walking Pedestrian
Dies When Struck By Car

  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.  
  The incident occurred at approximately 6:50 AM on Hwy 178.  A driver in a 2020 Ford Edge was headed east along Hwy. 178 when Ms. Powell was struck by the vehicle.  
  Ms. Powell was transported by Saluda EMS to Self Regional Medical Center, but unfortunately died while in route.  The driver of the vehicle was not injured.
  The collision is still under investigation by the SC Highway Patrol and the Saluda County Coroner’s Office.

589 County COVID
Cases, 12 Deaths

   Saluda County’s COVID-19  cases have risen to 589, with 12  deaths.
  The latest DHEC report says the county has had 3634 tests and 34 hospitalizations. The county is classified as high incidence with a rate of 459.1 cases per 100,000.
 
  Counties neighboring Saluda had the following case totals: Aiken - 2409; Edgefield - 503;  Greenwood - 1907; Lexington - 5906; Newberry - 998.
   Thurs. Sept 3., DHEC announced 1,084 new confirmed cases and 29 new probable cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, 12 additional confirmed deaths and 1 new probable death.
  This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 119,822 probable cases to 1,874, confirmed deaths to 2,667, and 140 probable deaths.
  Thursday, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is clarifying misunderstanding around newly released data from the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention Control (CDC) regarding deaths associated with COVID-19.
  Provisional death data updated by the CDC last week shows that for six percent of COVID-19 deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause of death mentioned. The remaining 94 percent of deaths were among people with other underlying or contributing conditions but COVID-19 was still a factor in the deaths.
  Cause of death, as listed on a death certificate, includes an immediate cause, intermediate causes, underlying cause, and contributing conditions. A common example of cause of death involving COVID-19 would have acute respiratory distress syndrome as the immediate cause of death, which is the ultimate condition that caused the death. The intermediate cause of death would have been pneumonia, with COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death. The underlying cause of death is the condition that leads, via intermediate causes, to the immediate cause of death.
  Contributing factors could have been asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, or any other illness or condition that may have made the condition that was the cause of death worse than it would have been.
Cause of Death Certificate

  In the example above, COVID-19, as the underlying cause of death, is the condition that triggered the cascade of events that eventually lead to death. While certain people such as older adults are more likely to have more contributing factors, if the person doesn’t contract COVID-19, then those factors don’t start the cascade of events that lead to death. Therefore, while COVID-19 infection had a significant role in causing the death in the example, it was not the only cause of death listed. As a result, that death would not count in the six percent from the CDC.
  This is not new information. It’s been understood for quite some time that individuals with certain underlying conditions are at greater risk for severe illness and death, which is why DHEC provides underlying health conditions data, also called comorbidity information, for COVID-19-associated deaths on its county-level dashboard, under the “Deaths” data section.