Last Vegas Shooting

Saluda Woman Was Near
Las Vegas Shooting Scene

  A Saluda woman was near where the Las Vegas shooting tragedy occurred Sunday night.
  Jana Tuttle, daughter of Linda and Joey Tuttle announced on Facebook, “I am very fortunate to be safe. I was directly outside of the concert entrance in a vehicle when the shooting occurred. It was terrifying and reminded me, we aren’t always promised tomorrow!!! My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families of those affected by the shootings in Las Vegas!”
  “The only reason I didn’t purchase a ticket to the country music festival was because it was too hot outside,” Ms. Tuttle told the Standard-Sentinel.
  Despite her proximity to the shooting, Ms. Tuttle did not hear the shots.
  “We were in a car and had the radio on,” she said.
  She knew something bad was going on, however. Thirty minutes later she heard two people had been killed, and it got worse from there.
  She said she did not sleep at all Sunday night, and the airports were on lockdown, and would not let anyone in or out.
  Two other Saluda natives J.W. Stephens and Jimmy Yow, were in Las Vegas at the time, and marked themselves “safe” on Facebook.

2017 Ridge Spring Harvest Festival
And Bar-be-que Battle October 12-14

  The Ridge Spring Harvest Festival began in 1982 with the theme of 100 years of progress.  Each year there was a different theme.  In 1983 it was “Farming on the Ridge”, then “A time to Gather”,” Something to Cackle About”, “Reunion of the Ridge”,  “Community on the Moo-ve”, “The Pride of the Ridge”, “Timber on the Ridge”, “A Salute to American Veternans”, “Let’s Go Nuts”, “Fiesta on the Ridge” just to name a few.   That brings us to this year’s theme.  It goes a bit farther with the Bar-BE-Que theme for there is competition.
  This year the Ridge Spring Harvest Festival  will be hosting the BBQ Battle for the Ridge.  You will have the opportunity to sample 15 competitors who are tops in the field of cooking BBQ using their own recipes.  You can even reserve a pound of Bar-be-que or buy a whole Boston butt.  Ridge Spring Town Hall will give you a receipt with a number on it at the time of payment and you will be able to choose which cooker you want to get your BBQ from the day of the festival October 14th.  Town Hall’s phone number is 803.685.5511.
  Now there will be more there this year too.  Bingo, Country Store, Music at the Gazebo, Free activities including rock wall.   The Country Store would not be possible without the support of our local farmers.
  Here is a little history of the Cake and pie Contest. In the beginning, Annie Lois Asbill of the famous Asbill Catering began the pie and cake contest.  All went well except a very sweet lady kept winning the pound cake part.   Her name was Louise “Cricket” Cogburn.  She was finally given permanent recognition and did not compete any more. 
  Then it became a little too much, and Annie Lois asked Daisy Rutland to help with the pies.  Daisy and her friend called people to remind them of the contest.  They had 76 pies that had to be judged.  Eventually Annie Lois turned all over to Daisy who has done it since.  This year Daisy has turned it over to Debbie Rodgers. 
  Bank’s Drugs has been sponsoring the contest for over 22 years supplying funds for the first, second, and third place winners.  The children’s category was added three or four years ago and Bo supplies that one too.
  The committee did put together a cookbook.  Not very many are left.
  There was the year that during the judging, the power went out.  One of the judges was trying to find out the name of the winner.  Without realizing it, he turned it upside down and the pie dropped out of the pan.  He immediately bought it.  By the way the pie was still delicious.
  A coveted job at the Harvest Festival is judging the contest.  How nice for all!!!!  There are other stories about the contest, but I do not have them.  Maybe at another time.
  After the judging, the pies, cakes and cookies  go on sale, so all bring their entries in nonreturnable containers.   The categories are: pound cake, layered cake, pie, and children’s cookie and brownie contest.

IN CLEMSON HOMECOMING TOP TEN - Congratulations to Greyson Lake, Saluda native, for placing in the top ten of Clemson University’s Homecoming pageant. Greyson is the daughter of Wesley Lake and Kim Lake of Saluda, and is a PreHealth Science major. Grandparents of Saluda are Karl and JeNeann Adams and Ethel Lake. She serves as President of Clemson’s Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and was nominated to compete by her sisters. The winner of Clemson’s Homecoming 2017 will be announced at Friday night’s Tigerama. Good luck, Greyson!

Legion Meeting

SWORN IN - Ed Miller  is shown  being sworn in as the new South Carolina Department of American Legion  District 17 Commander, by the South Carolina Department Commander Mike Strauss.  Commander Miller’s responsibilities include the following American Legion Posts:  Saluda, Newberry, Edgefield, Johnston, Ridge Spring, Batesburg-Leesville and Gilbert.  Commander Miller is a past pastor of Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church, Saluda;  past Chaplain and Post Commander of Post 65 and past Chaplain for the South Carolina Department of American Legion.

Trinity Lutheran Church Closing

After preaching the Gospel since 1837, Trinit Lutheran Church,430 Trinity Rd., Saluda, will be closing. The closing service will be Sun., Oct. 8, at 11 a.m., with Bishop Herman Yoos of The South Carolina Lutheran Synod leading the service, assisted by the Rev. Bill Stone. Everyone is invited to come and worship.

Attention Voters:
Precincts Moved

  The following polling locations have been moved:
  # 13 Pleasant Cross: Voters who formerly voted at Bethlehem Baptist Church Community Center will now be voting at Mine Creek Baptist Church, 1799 Johnston Hwy, Johnston, SC 29832.
  # 16 Ridge Spring Monetta: Voters who formerly voted at Ridge Spring Town Hall will now be voting at Ridge Spring Fire Department, 201 Green Street, Ridge Spring, SC 29129.
  The Elections Office  will be sending out new voter registration cards with the new address on them to voters affected. 
  Please contact the office if you have any questions or concerns.  (864) 445-4500 Ext. 2200 and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

County A Leader In Net Worth

  In a recent study, financial technology company SmartAsset set out to find the places in the country where people have the highest net worth.
  The study measured net worth, income and debt across counties in the U.S. to see where people have the highest per capita net worth. Saluda County ranked among the top places in South Carolina
  For a look at how the top counties in South Carolina stacked up, check out the table below:

 
  For more information on the study, including the methodology and interactive map, check here: https://smartasset.com/investing/online-brokerage-accounts#South Carolina

Dog Returned

Left to right, Britt Long, Estabon, and Joshua Wright

Irma Evacuated Service Dog
Rescued And Returned To Owner

 
  It took some amateur detective work, but a service dog, evacuated from Florida ahead of Hurricane Irma, was rescued by a Saluda County man and returned to its rightful owner last week.
  The saga began Tues., Sept. 12, when Britt Long was driving toward Monetta after doing some work at the home of Marvin Bernstein in the Hollywood community.
  Near the ballfield at the Aiken-Saluda County line, he spotted a hunting dog.
  “When I looked closer, I saw it was wearing a vest, so I knew it was a service dog,” Long said.
  Long looked all around and saw no one in sight, so he put the dog in his truck and took it home with him.
  Long knew the collar would have some identification. He discovered the dog belonged to Joshua Wright of Daytona Beach, Fla.
  There were four phone numbers on the vest, and Long began dialing.
  The first call was to Daytona Beach, but it did not go through. His next call was to Wright’s cell phone, but it got no response.
  Next, Long called Wright’s mother in Pennsylvania and found out Wright was staying with friends in  Monetta, not too far from where the dog was found, but he had no cell service there. She said she would try to get in touch with him.
  Long also put a picture of the dog on Facebook, and it got shared over 500 times.
  Long knew the dog was used to living inside, so he brought him into his house and he was well behaved. When Long went to bed, the dog got in bed with him.
  At 2:30 a.m. Long got a call letting him know Wright knew about the dog.
  After the call, Long and Wright were later able to text and make arrangements for Long to get the dog to Wright.
  Long found out Wright had to go into the attic of the place he was staying to get a signal.
  The reunion took place Wed., Sept. 13.
  Estabon was reunited with his owner Joshua, who is a 33-year-old Navy veteran.
  Wright told Long Estabon was originally from Wyoming, and when he saw the wide open farm country of the Ridge, he may have thought he was home.
  Hurricane Irma brought separation to many, but through a service dog, it also brought people together.

CHAIRMAN HANCOCK REMEMBERED - Saluda County Council remembered the late Chairmain Don Hancock by presenting his sisters a resolution and a plaque of remembrance at Monday’s meeting.l Pictured L to R, are Ann Coker and Charlyn Staubes, Hancock’s sisters; and County Council members Jones Butler, Gwen Shealy - vice-chair, Frank Daniel and D.J. Miller. (Standard-Sentinel photo)

Chairman Hancock Remembered,
His Foundation Announced

  Saluda County Council remembered the late County Council Chairman Don Hancock with special presentations to his family at teh Mon., Sept. 18, meeting.
  His sisters, Charlyn Hancock and Ann Coker, then announced Hancock remembered Saluda County with the creation of a foundation.
  Council Vice-Chairman Gwen Shealy read a resolution that praised Hancock for his service and loyal devotion to the county, and presented a plaque of remembrance to his sisters.
  “Don thought highly of all of you (Council and staff),” Ms. Staubes said, “and spoke of  you all by name.”
  Following those presentations, Councilman D.J. Miller, on behalf of Sen. Floyd Nicholson, presented Recreation Director Paul Ergle at $2000 check in memory of the chairman for the use of the Recreation Department.
  Mrs. Coker and Ms. Staubes then announced the foundation.
  “On July 20, Charlyn, Don and I sat on Charlyn’s front porch,” Mrs. Coker said. “Don told us about how he wanted to leave a legacy in Saluda County
  Because of his love of the county, Don wanted to continue to be a part of its progress, even after his death. He wanted to establish a foundation to benefit the county. Don wasn’t quite sure how this foundation would work, but he wanted a non-profit organization, focusing on economic development, education and quality of life for the residents of Saluda County.
  Don wasn’t a showy persons and didn’t want the foundation to hold his name. So, he chose to name it The Charlie Foundation, partly because of our Daddy’s first name.
  During Don’s last hospitalization, the three of use enthusiastically spent many hours brainstorming ideas and dreaming of the potential of The Charlie Foundation.”
  “Currently, we are in the very early stages of learning how to properly and legally administer The Charlie Foundation,” Ms. Staubes said. “Don appointed Ann and me along with his nephews and niece, Keller Staubes, Katie Staubes, Justin Coker and Tyler Coker board of directors.
  We are hopeful that within a year we can present to you a formalized plan on the working of The Charlie Foundation. We are counting on your support as we move forward to fulfill Don’s dream for Saluda County.”
  In the old business portion of the meeting, Council gave second readings to three ordinances.
  The first will quit claim the property owned by Saluda County containing 10 acres on East End Drive.
  Miller said this will return Brooks & Roston Park to its rightful owners, the community.
  The second amends the multi-county industrial park agreement between Saluda County and Aiken County.
  Development Director Ed Parler said the county needed to add two more properties to the agreement, Project Catalina and Project Thunder, before the final reading.
  The third ordinance outlines the lease of T-hangars and use requirements at the Saluda County Airport.
  In new business, Council gave first reading to an ordinance authorizing a fee in lieu of ad valorem taxes for Project PBM.
  Parler said the project will invest a minium of $45 million and employ a minimum of 90.
  Council approved the county and School District One Millage.
  The county millage is 147.60, which includes 138.60 county operating; 1.00 economic development; 1.00 law enforcement (jail renovation); 1.00 Fire Board; .50 public building maintenance; 3.00 Piedmont Tech appropriation; 2.50 Piedmont Tech bond.
  The District millage is 182.50, including 140.80 for operating and 41.70 for school bonds.
  Council approved issuing a request for qualifications for local contractors to perform small construction/repair projects. This will allow the county to hire local contractors, when staff is too busy to get to the work immediately.
  At the beginning of the meeting each Council member thanked the County’s emergency workers, utility workers and volunteers when Hurricane Irma came through last Monday.
County Council Exective Session
County Council  after executive session Monday (story on page 1) approved to increase the part-time Risk Management Assistant’s hours by 5 hours for a total of 29 hours to assume the duties of assisting with accounts payable which were duties of the former Registration /Election Director.