Three arrested

Three Charged with Involuntary
Manslaughter after Body Found

  Three individuals have been charged with involuntary manslaughter after Sheriff’s Office discovery of a body early Sunday morning, April 5.
  Deputies responded along with Saluda EMS to the area of Oakdale Drive near the Edgefield County line. Upon arrival deputies found Joseph Glenn Grubbs Jr. of Greenville deceased on the shoulder of the roadway.
  Sheriff Perry requested the assistance of SLED Crime Scene Unit to respond to the scene. Investigators were able to quickly identify Grubbs through fingerprints.
  Investigators were able to make the first arrest Monday morning arresting Grubbs’s girlfriend Con-stance Leigh Jackson of Trenton. On Wednesday morning investigators arrested James Alex Welch of Edgefield. The third and final suspect Kaide Howell of Windsor was arrested April 9 based on the evidence that was obtained by investigators.
  Sheriff Perry stated he was pleased with the swift actions of the investigators in getting the first arrest within 24 hours.
  “Many cases like this take longer amounts of time in developing a suspect, but identification of the deceased as rapidly as investigators did saved us valuable time.”
  All three individuals have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and are in the Saluda County Detention Center. Sheriff Perry would like to thank the Saluda County Coroner’s Office, SCDPS IEU, and SLED for their assistance in this case.

Truck Driver Dies In Accident

  The driver of a tractor-trailer died in a Saluda County crash Tues., April 7.
  According to Master Trooper Brandon Bolt of the S.C. Highway Patrol, the crash occurred around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday on U.S. 178 near Brown Road, three miles west of Batesburg-Leesville.
  The 2020 Frieghtliner was traveling west on the highway when it crossed the center line, left the roadway, went into a ditch and overturned.
  The driver died at the scene.
  Saluda County Coroner Keith Turner identified the victim as Charles Timothy Jones, 74, a white male from Batesburg. He was employed by Amick Farms.

STORM DAMAGE - This tree fell across a portion of Dibbie Shealy’s home in The Heights section in the Town of Saluda during Monday’s early morning storm. (Standard-Sentinel photo)

Storm Batters County

  An early morning storm Mon., April 13, left few sections of Saluda County damage free.
  Reports kept law enforcement, DOT personnel, fire departments, power companies and EMS busy in the darkness.
  Falling trees blocked roads, with the major impassable thoroughfare being the busy Batesburg Hwy. near the Hwy. 39 intersection. This blockage involved power poles and trees.
  There were at least four reports of trees falling on houses. In one instance, a family was safe, but entrapped in their home.
  Vehicles hitting fallen trees sent two drivers to the hospital.
  In another bizarre event, the generator of a cell tower caught fire in the rain.
  Power outages were widespread.

Candidates File for Primaries

Candidates File

  Despite the coronavirus pandemic, candidates filed to run for office in S.C. Mar. 14-30.
  The primaries are still scheduled for June 9, but that is subject to change.
  Saluda County voters will see several contested races.
  Sheriff John Perry will be challenged in the Democratic Primary by his former Chief Deputy Chris Cockrell. The winner of that race will meet another former deputy and current Saluda police officer Josh Price, a Republican, in the Nov. General Election.
  District 2 County Councilman Wayne Grice will face opposition from current Elections & Registration Board Chairman Jack Atkinson in the Republican Primary.
  District 4 Councilman Jones Butler will have two opponents, former county employee Gary Therrell, and Carey Bedenbaugh, who has run for the office before, including 2012 as an independent because of the Republican party filing fiasco.
  All of the senators representing the county face opposition.
  District 10 Sen. Floyd Nicholson will face the winner of the Republican Primary race between Billy Garrett and Bryan Hope in the fall.
  Susan J. Swanson has filed to run against District 25 Sen. Shane Massey in the Republican Primary. The winner will meet Democrat Shirley A. Green in November.
  Democratic District 26 Sen. Nikki Setzler will face the Republican Primary winner, either Perry Finch or Chris Smith.
  Third District U.S. Congressman Jeff Duncan, a Republican will face the winner for the Democratic Primary race, Mark D. Welch or Hosea Cleveland, in the General Election.
  Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has a slew of candidates seeking his office, including Republicans Duke Buckner and Joe Reynolds, who Graham will meet on the primary. Also running are Bill Bledsoe - Constitution, Jamie Harrison - Democrat, and two Libertarians who will meeting in a primary, Keenan W. Dunham and David Weikle.
  Escaping opposition were District 39 House Rep. Cal Forrest, District 82 House Rep. Bill Clyburn, 11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard, Probate Judge Brenda Griffith, Clerk of Court Sheri Coleman, and Coroner Keith Turner.

Body Found In County

  The body of a Bamberg County man was discovered along a rural Saluda County road Sun., April 5.
  The call came into dispatch at 9:30 a.m. about a body  on Oakdale Drive, near the Edgefield County line.
  The man was identified as Joseph Glenn Grubbs, Jr., 28, of Bamberg.
  The death is under investigation by the Coroner’s office, Saluda County Sheriff’s Office and SLED. An autopsy will be performed Thursday.
  Coroner Keith Turner would like to thank dispatch, EMS, Sheriff’s Office, SLED and DPS for their assistance.

Saluda County Has
Four COVID-19 Cases

  According to DHEC, Saluda County now has four COVID-19 cases,
  The zip code chart shows there were two cases in the 29129 zip code, one in 29138 and one on 29832.
  The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Sun., Apr. 5,  announced 132 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, including four additional deaths.
  This brings the total number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 in South Carolina to 2,049, and those who have died to 44.

Tough Times Don't Last

Tough Times Don’t Last, Tough
People (And Communities) Do

Westview Behavioral Health Services
Contact: Hugh Gray, (803) 276-5690
*Saluda Behavorial Health is now affiliated with Westview

  The outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) may be, and probably is, stressful for most people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Appropriately coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and our community stronger.
  Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations.  How you respond to the outbreak can depend on the experiences you have endured in the past, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in. Here are some insights by the U.S. Center for Disease Control.
  Many different population segments of our community may have a greater sense of anxiety and stress during this crisis. These include:
  •Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for COVID-19
  •Children and teens
  •People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers, or first responders
  •People who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use
  Signs of stress during this outbreak can include:
  •Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
  •Changes in sleep or eating patterns
  •Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
  •Worsening of chronic health problems
  •Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
  Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with this stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make our community stronger.
  Reduce stress in yourself and others.
  Sharing the facts about COVID-19 and understanding the actual risk to yourself and people you care about can make an outbreak less stressful. When you share accurate information about COVID-19, you can help make people feel less stressed and allow you to connect with them.
  But don’t overdose on watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting, especially when the message is coming from social media “experts” or people who are experiencing heightened anxiety themselves.
  Also, remember to take care of your body and spirit. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs. Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy, like making safe connections with others. A telephone call with people you trust about your concerns can help alleviate the stress.
  For Parents
  Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.
  Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include
  • Excessive crying or irritation in younger children
  •Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting)
  •Excessive worry or sadness
  •Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits
  •Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens
  •Difficulty with attention and concentration
  •Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past
  •Unexplained headaches or body pain
  •Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
  There are many things you can do to support your child
  •Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts  about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.
  •Reassure your child or teen that they are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.
  •Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
  •Try to keep up with regular routines. With schools closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
  •Be a role model.  Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Make safe connections with your friends and family members.
  For Responders
  Responding to COVID-19 can take an emotional toll on you. There are things you can do to reduce secondary traumatic stress (STS) reactions:
  •Acknowledge that STS can impact anyone helping families after a traumatic event.
  •Learn the symptoms including physical (fatigue, illness) and mental (fear, withdrawal, guilt).
  •Allow time for you and your family to recover from responding to the pandemic.
  •Create a menu of personal self-care activities that you enjoy, such as spending time with friends and family, exercising, or reading a book.
  •Take a break from media coverage of COVID-19.
  •Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for your family and patients as you did before the outbreak.
  We are strong and we shall overcome.

Educator Bill
Whitfield Dies

William (Bill) A. Whitfield, who devoted over 50 years to education in Saluda County, died Fri., Mar. 27, losing his battle with pancreatic cancer.
  Whitfield came to Saluda High School in the mid-60s as the agriculture teacher. In that capacity, he because the advisor of the Young Farmers organization. Under his leadership, the Young Farmers started the Truck and Tractor Pull, which has given thousands of dollars in scholarships to Saluda County students seeking a college degrees in agriculture related majors.
  After teaching agriculture for 16 years, he was promoted to Saluda High School principal, where he served another 16 years.
  In his retirement, he continued to support education, serving as Saluda County’s representative on the Piedmont Technical College Board of Commissioners for  over 20 years. He was instrumental in getting the Saluda County Piedmont Tech satellite campus built.
  See the complete obituary  in the print edition of this week’s newspaper.