Happy New Year 2023

SALUDA COUNTY FORESTRY ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS - Pictured, L to R, Baron Buzhardt (President), Drew Proctor, Makayla Porter, and Layne Crouch

Saluda County Forestry

Association Christmas Banquet

By: Stephen Pohlman,
      Clemson Extension Forestry Agent

  The Saluda County Forestry Association held its annual Christmas Banquet at the Saluda High School cafeteria this December and hosted 220 landowners and guests.  This was their first Christmas banquet in 3 years due to the COVID pandemic.  Senator Shane Massey, Representative Cal Forrest, county council members, and Troop 21 Boy Scouts were in attendance.  A most delicious meal was prepared by Parklane Seafood and enjoyed by all.  Musician Luke Moore provided this year’s special guest entertainment.  
  Historically the Association has presented a scholarship to Saluda County youth looking to continue their education in forestry and forestry-related topics at higher learning institutions.  This year’s recipients were Layne Crouch, Makayla Porter, and Drew Proctor.  A special Thank You to our Saluda County Forestry Association members, local businesses, and organizations who help make these scholarships possible each year through their generous donations.
  Mr. Brad Forrest received the 2022 Saluda County Forestry Association Landowner of the Year Award.  Brad graduated from Saluda High School and Newberry College and is a third-generation landowner in Saluda County.  His family business has been in Saluda since 1922 and provides clothing and shoes to our area.   The company has since grown to a second store now covering the Cayce area.  Brad also finds time to attend educational opportunities to learn more about managing livestock for his cattle operation and forestry/wildlife for his timberlands.  His timberland management strategies help support his cattle operation and other diversification opportunities.   
  During the three-year absence of Saluda County Forestry Association’s Christmas Banquet, the group lost its Vice President, Mr. Harvey Sauls.  As many in Saluda County know, Harvey Sauls was a tremendously kind individual.  He was a hard worker who never looked at obstacles with a can’t attitude but rather as an opportunity to succeed.  The Saluda County Forestry Association took a moment to thank Harvey’s wife, Sally, and two daughters (Rebecca and Elizabeth) for everything Harvey meant to us.  Sally was presented with a wooden tray that read in memory and appreciation of Harvey’s service to the organization.  In Sally’s speech of appreciation, it is obvious that Harvey’s light will continue to shine in his family.
  The Saluda County Forestry Association and Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.  

Merry Christmas 2022

Saluda High  Art Students Designed Ornaments
For The 2022 National Christmas Tree Display

  Saluda High School is this year's state representative in the America Celebrates Ornaments Program.
  Ornaments created by our own SHS art students will be on display at this year's National Christmas Tree Display in Washington, DC. Many thanks to Wayne Bell and his students for creating some amazing ornaments that are currently on display in our Nation’s Capital.
\  The art work from Saluda High School takes viewers on a journey around South Carolina.  From the azure blue waters of the Grand Strand through the race car dirt tracks of the Midlands to the cattle fields of the up country and everywhere in between.  Other pictures depict the images that define our state: The Boykin Spaniel, Yellow Jasmine, The Carolina wolf spider as well as the indigo blue State Flag. These students have worked hard to capture the essence of this great State.  Hours of research and work have culminated in artwork that defines a school, community and a State.
  Congratulations to Wayne Bell, Art Teacher, and the following students: Alex Pascual Guzman de Leon, Amy Gonzalez, Aryana Hazelton, Emily Glendening, Brianna Walker, Christopher Contreras, Emelin Lo-pez, Gracelyn Deal, Haley Taylor, Jacob New, Mary anne Summer, Owen Stoudemire, and Shey-Dan Smit.

PARADE GRAND MARSHAL - State Superintendent of Education, Saluda County native Molly Mitchell Spearman, served as Grand Marshal for the Saluda Christmas Parade on Sat., Dec. 10. She was accompanied by her two granddaughters. Driving her was retired teacher and newly sworn in school board member, CeCe Yonce. (Standard-Sentinel photo)
 

New School Schedule

Saluda County Schools To
Offer Modified Calendar

Saluda County Schools will be modifying the school calendar for the 2023-2024 school year.
  This new calendar will provide real-time opportunities for all students to be academically successful throughout the school year. Enrichment days will be strategically placed in the school calendar to assist students in staying on track.
  The addition of these enrichment days throughout the year will result in a shorter summer recess. As we move forward, the district will be providing additional information on the new school calendar.
  Some families may have pre-planned vacations this first year, which could conflict with this new school calendar. The district will work with families to allow students the opportunity to make up any missed assignments.
  Please feel free to reach out to your child’s school with any questions.

Local Suspect Sentenced to
20 Year Prison Sentence

  Joel Weston Dowd, age 39 of Gaston entered a guilty plea last week on charges of Accessory to a Burglary and Malicious Injury to Property.
  Dowd was sentenced by the Honorable William P. Keesley to serve a twenty (20) year prison sentence in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
  On May 13th, 2022 Dowd assisted other individuals in stealing firearms from a home in the Gaston area of Lexington County.
  On July 9th, 2022, Dowd attempted to burglarize a storage unit facility and steal a camper in Saluda County.
  A concerned citizen who was mowing grass that day noticed him wearing a facemask and behaving unusually. The concerned citizen attempted to prevent Dowd from leaving the storage facility by blocking him in with his vehicle. Dowd and his accomplice drove through a fence to escape the scene and were later apprehended by law enforcement.
  During the plea hearing that was held this morning, Dowd’s victims addressed the court. The prosecution provided his lengthy criminal history to the Court, explaining that Dowd “has spent all of his adult life terrorizing our community.”
  Dowd was sentence to an eleven (11) year prison sentence on his Lexington Accessory to a Burglary Charge and a nine (9) year prison sentence on his Saluda Malicious Injury to Property Charge.
  Judge Keesley ordered that Dowd shall serve his sentences consecutively (one after another, without interruption). After completing his twenty (20) year prison sentence, Dowd will also be required to complete five (5) years of probation and pay restitution to his victims.
  Dowd was investigated and brought to justice through the combined efforts of the Lexington County Sheriff's Office and Saluda County Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Solicitor Angela Martin and Assistant Solicitor Doug Fender.

Postal Service Closed Monday, Dec. 26,
and Monday, Jan. 2

  SOUTH CAROLINA — This year, Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Sunday, when Post Office locations nationwide are already closed.
  As a result, all Post Offices will be closed for the observation of both federal holidays on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022 and Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. There are no residential or business deliveries on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 except for Priority Mail Express, which is delivered 365 days a year in select locations for an additional fee.
  All Post Office locations will be open for business and regular mail delivery will resume after the holidays on Tuesday, Dec. 27 and Tuesday, Jan. 3. Some Post Offices may have extended hours leading up to the holidays, while others may have limited hours on Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24. There are currently no plans for limited hours on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, Dec. 31.
  Customers are advised to always check with their local Post Office for hours of operation. Blue collection boxes with final collection times before noon will not be affected by an early closing Dec. 24. If a box normally has a final collection time after noon, its mail may be picked up earlier that day.
  For mail pickup on Dec. 24, customers are asked to either put their mail into blue collection boxes by noon regardless of the final collection times posted on the box or take their items to one of our more than 34,000 Post Office locations.
  Customers who are unable to mail items before the scheduled collection box pickup times on Dec. 24 should visit the online Postal Locator tool at tools.usps. com to find Post Office locations that may be open late.  As a reminder, blue collection boxes are not serviced on Sundays or holidays. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.