May 27 Arrests

Sheriff’s Office Makes Arrests

  Among those arrested last week by the Saluda County Sheriff’s office was a suspect in a burglary and another arrested on druge charges.
  Jose Felipe is behind bars at the Saluda County Detention Center after being arrested and charged with three counts of Burglary, three counts of Larceny, and one count of Malicious Injury to Property. These burglaries occurred at a residence on Greenwood Highway.
  Investigators searched Mr. Felipe’s residence on Shady Lane and recovered stolen property from his residence.
  Shanna Padgett has been arrested and charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine by the Saluda County Sheriff’s Offices Narcotics Division.
  The Sheriff’s Office will continue a proactive approach to combating these dangerous drugs in Saluda County, and is also committed to protecting the property of the citizens of Saluda County.

Forty-Four Sentenced In Recent Court Terms

Forty-four defendants were sentenced on guilty pleas during two separate terms of Saluda County General Sessions Court earlier in the month:
  Following are those sentenced:
  James Keaton Murillo, possession of over than one ounce of marijuana, 30 days or $100. Joseph David Stoudemire, assault & battery 3rd degree, 24 days.
  Robin Earleen Baker, possession of other controlled sub. in Sched 1 to V 1st offense, three days. Aishaia Monte Joe, possession of other controlled sub. in Sched 1 to V 1st, 3 days.
  Corey Larangus Clark, assault & battery 2nd degree, six months. Nashua Javan Smith, possession of other controlled sub. in Sched 1 to V 1st, two days.
  Salvador Perez, possession of less than one gram of meth or cocaine base 1st offense, 15 days. Kontay Nicole Gaines, failure to stop for blue light, one year, suspended to one year probation.
  Rantavious Demon Norris, possession of MDMA, two days. Llewelyn Campbell II, unlawful carrying of a pistol, five days.
  Carl Jeffrey Pugh, use of 911 unlawfully, three days. James Norwood Corbett Jr., obtaining nonferrous metal, three years, suspended to five years probation; Burglary 3rd degree, five years, suspended to five year probation.
  Markell Navon Chapman, DUI 1st less than .10, two days. James Kolby Maroney, domestic violence third degree, 90 days.
  David Antonio Graham, possession of less than one gram of meth or cocaine base 1st offense, two years, suspended to two years probation. Cleveland Durell Gaskins, possession of controlled substance, 30 days, suspended after service of two days and $100.
\  Carl Allen Lyles, DUI 1st less than .10, two days. Richard Morris Frazier, assault & battery third degree, nine days.
  Austin Watkins Riley, use of vehicle with intent to deprive, three years, upon service of 238 days, suspended to 18 months probation. Adrian Conteras Leines, domestic violence 2nd degree, 90 days.
  Mia Lechae Sales, assault & battery 3rd degree, 3 days. Kelle Nicole Bedenbaugh, forgery, two years, suspended to three years probation, restitution.
  Francesca Perez Ramirez, burglary 3rd degree, 68 days. David Maurice Abney, possession of marijuana over one ounce, time served.
  Belinda Jane Howard, receiving stolen goods $2000-10,000, 18 months, suspended to five years probation. Kaide Howell, accessory after the fact of a felony, Youthful Offender Act (YOA) not to exceed three years, suspended to three years probation.
  James Alex Welch, accessory after the fact of a felony,  three years, suspended to three years probation. Terry Eugene Reames, assault & battery 2nd degree, two years, suspended to two years probation.
  James Seth Martin, DUI 1st less than .10, time served. Steven Dale Holley, possession of controlled substance, $100.
  Eddie Lee Daniel, domestic violence 3rd degree, 90 days. Quenton Dontrell Bowers, unlawful carrying a pistol, time served.
  Davey Keith Bedenbaugh, possession of less than one gram of meth or cocaine base 1st offense, one year, suspended to one year probation. Tanner Lecroy Hallman, unlawful carrying a pistol, time served.
  Thomas Tavares Johnson, possession of over one ounce of marijuana, 15 days or $250. Cameron Terrell Atkins, possession of other controlled sub. in Sched 1 to V 1st, $100.
  Roy Blacks, domestic violence 3rd degree, 90 days, suspended to one year probation. Tarras Michael Parker, DUI 1st less than .10, $400.
  Omar Bilal Watson, habitual traffic offender, DUS, time served. Brianna Nicole Bennett, simple possession of marijuana, 10 days or $100.
  Kevon Dre’Sean Etheredge, unlawful carrying a pistol, time served, Marlon Andre Walcott, simple possession of marijuana, time served.

SAVE THE DATE!
42nd Annual Truck  and Tractor Pull

  The Saluda Young Farmers 42nd Annual Truck and Tractor Pull, “Hottest Pull in the South” will be held July 31st at the Young Farmer Stadium at the County Recreation Complex.  
  The Carolina Truck & Tractor Pullers / Southern Pullers Association professional pull will begin at 6pm.  Ticket gates and pit will open at 4pm.  
  Ticket prices are as follows:  Adults - $20, Children 6 to 12 - $10, 5 and under – Free, and cooler/bulk beverage - $5.00 (no glass containers).  Cash, credit and debit card ticket purchases will be available at the gate.  Concessions will also be available.
  The 2021 Saluda Young Farmer Scholarship winners will be recognized as well.  Proceeds from the pull go towards the scholarship program.
  Bring a chair – stand seating is limited.  There will be no charge for parking and no additional charges for entering the pit.
  Come and enjoy a weekend of high-powered action!
  Check out www.SaludaYoungFarmer.org or syftp.us for the latest information. Like us on Facebook at “Saluda SC Tractor Pull.”

May Council Meeting

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD GIVEN TO EMME BUZHARDT - The South Carolina Association of Counties awarded a $2,500.00 Scholarship to Emme Buzhardt of Saluda County. Ms. Buzhardt will attend Furman University in the fall to study Health Science. Presenting the  award is Jerry Strawbridge, Chairman of the Saluda County Council.

Second Readings
Given To Budgets

Saluda County Council gave second readings to the 2021-22 school and county  budgets at the May 10 meeting.
  The local support portion of the school district’s $20,688,6657 budget is $7,613,718, minus revenues and credits reflected on tax receipts from Property Tax Relief, Homestead Exemption, Tier 3 Property Tax Relief, and Motor Carrier for a net amount of $5,001,100  from ad valorem taxes.
  The county’s budget currently stands at $13,886,776. One more reading is required for both budgets.
  Pete Hall asked Council to consider a Second Amendment Ordinance, first proposed in Feb. 2020, which would make Saluda County a Second Amendment Sanctuary. Hall said 1500 counties and ten states had passed the ordinance.
  Council agreed with Councilman Carey Bedenbaugh to do further study on the ordinance before taking action.
  Ann Skinner of the Upper Savannah Council of Governments explained the S.C. Works System, which has an office in the County Council Building.
  The system works with job seekers, employees, and unemployed, and offers training to those out of work and to high school students. She says the state currently has more jobs than job seekers, and when Gov. McMaster ends the enhanced unemployment program, unemployed citizens need to come by the S.C. Works System office soon to begin their job search.
  Council gave readings to several ordinances and a resolution  involving a joint industrial park and fee in lieu of ad valorem taxes.
  Chairman Jerry Strawbridge explained the ordinances and resolution don’t use the actual names of the businesses involved. This is an economic development ploy to protect the identity until an official announcement is made.
  Sheriff Josh Price’s request for some new floor covering at the Sheriff’s Office was approved. Total estimate was over $12,000, but Price said he could cut out the new flooring for the training room, which will save $5000. The money will come from the Building Repair Reserve Fund.
  Grants Coordinator Jill Warren asked permission to apply for a Corona Virus Emergency Supplement Fund grant. If the $11,391 grant is approved, it will be used to purchase seven laptops, which will replace desktop computers. The laptops will allow users to take the devises with them to work at home. The request was approved.

Left to right - Savannah Rodgers, Quinten Miller, Amber Epting

Saluda FFA Tops In SC FFA
Livestock Evaluation CDE

  Members of the Saluda FFA Chapter competed in the virtual State Livestock Evaluation Career Development Event on April 22 and came out on top with a 1st place finish.  The team now advances to national competition this fall.
  Career Development Events (CDEs) build on what is learned in agricultural classes and encourage members to put their knowledge into practice. Students were required to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the livestock industry with a general knowledge test and also judged and placed three classes of livestock, including beef cattle, swine, and goats.
  Team members from Saluda included: Quinten Miller, Amber Epting, and Savannah Rodgers.  Quinten was also named high individual in the state.  Amanda N. Crouch is the agriculture teacher and FFA advisor for the Saluda Chapter.  
  South Carolina agricultural education serves more than 12,000 students across the state. Students receive instruction in one of five different pathways within the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources career cluster. The South Carolina FFA Association is comprised of over 7,000 members across the state. The mission of the SC FFA Association is to develop premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

Bloodhound Training

From left, deputies Alex Rhodes and Heather Clary present Sgt. Jeff Graham, former commander of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office bloodhound tracking team, a memento celebrating his departure from the team after two decades. (Index-Journal photo by  Damian Dominguez )

Bloodhound team veterans let
younger deputies take the leash

NOTE: The following article aprared in the May 7 issue of the Index-Journal,and is reprinted with permission. Featured in the article is Heather Clary, daughter of Elaine and Davind Clary of Saluda.

By Damian Dominguez This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  Bloodhounds barked jealously Wednesday evening as a Greenwood County deputy grilled turkey burgers outside their kennels.
  Under the roof of the utility building attached to the sheriff’s office kennels, uniformed deputies handed out paper plates, trading stories of their years on the Bloodhound Tracking Team. Two veteran dog handlers were celebrating retirement, while a pair of young deputies were paying respects to their former commander, ready to try and fill his shoes.
  Sgt. Jeff Graham wasn’t one of the team’s founding members in 1993, but he joined it soon after, and has spent more than two decades helping track suspects and missing people with the help of canine detectives’ keen sense of smell. For the past 16 years, he served as the team’s commander.
  The current kennels are found along a stretch of road behind the sheriff’s office named Dax’s Alley, after the team’s first bloodhound. Graham helped design the current building, based on the needs and shortcomings of the original kennels.
  Graham has seen dozens of bloodhounds come through the team and built a close bond with each of them. “Red” came to live with Graham and his wife, Angie, after Red got too old to keep chasing scents.
  “Everybody thinks he’s called Red because of the Blake Shelton song, you know, ‘Ol’ Red,’” Graham said with a laugh.
  It’s simpler than that — when they assigned collars to that round of dogs, Red’s was red. Graham said each dog has a different tell, and each handler has to learn to look for specific cues. These highly trained dogs use consistent signals to let their handlers know if they still have the scent or if the trail has run cold. It’s a bit like learning another language.
  The bloodhound team is on call 24/7. Each member is also a full-time deputy, but when officers need tracking, the bloodhound team members can be called out at any hour, for as long as they’re needed.
  “They answer calls in the middle of the night, middle of the morning, 24/7, 365,” Graham said.
  Graham was one of the guests at Wednesday’s celebration, as other team members grilled and joked with him. Animal Control Officer Joseph Brooks was also in the hot seat — when he decided he was going to retire from the bloodhound team after 11 years, Graham decided it was his time to step aside, too.
  “We were the last of the old guard, but the guys before me wouldn’t call us the old guard,” Graham said. “I wanted to turn it over to a new generation.”
  Stepping into the command role as co-commanders are deputies Heather Clary, the team’s first female commander, and Alex Rhodes, whose father served on the team alongside Graham. Graham and Brooks aren’t retiring as officers, but Brooks said handling these dogs is a job for younger deputies.
  “It takes a toll on you, a toll on your body,” he said. “You get dragged around by a dog, stumbling and tripping in holes, wearing pounds and pounds of gear. It’s a young man’s game.”
  The hounds that Graham and Brooks built closest relationships with are no longer on the team, dogs such as Red, Ruby and Blue. Some of their remains sit in urns, wrapped in their service collars on shelves in the kennels, surrounded by photos, newspaper cutouts and framed letters showing the storied history of each dog. Buford is the oldest bloodhound still on the team, with Duke, Sam and Riley representing the newest batch of dogs.
  “It’s a new generation of dogs, they need a new generation of handlers,” Brooks said.
  Their tracking calls blur together after so many years, but Brooks distinctly remembered helping another county’s sheriff track a missing woman. Deputies had searched her house and surrounding areas, but when Greenwood’s team got on the scene, Brooks said he walked into the house and saw the elderly woman’s socked feet dangling out from under the bed. The local deputy who searched the house missed that she was hiding under the bed.
  “My most memorable call was with Red, looking for this missing 5-year-old,” Graham said. “I’m telling you, it was like Red was in a different gear. Like he knew it was a child that went missing.”
  They found the boy in the woods, arms outstretched for help — it was an early call in Graham’s career that helped him understand how dedicated these dogs are to their search.
  Clary and Rhodes gave Graham and Brooks each an engraved, glass plaque, commemorating their years of service. Graham assured them that retirement wouldn’t stop him from being there for them if they ever need help.
  “I’ll admit, this is not what I had planned when I joined the dog team,” said Clary. “But they had openings, and I needed more to do around here.”
  Clary spent more than five years with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office, three of those in crime scene investigations. She joined Greenwood County in 2017 to be closer to home in Saluda, and she said she’s excited to take on this new responsibility.
  Rhodes has been in the bloodhound team for a year and a half, and he said he’s thrilled by the chance to carry the team’s legacy forward.
  “My dad did it. I used to run out here with him in high school,” he said. “I’m definitely excited about it. A little nervous, yeah, but more excited than anything.”
  As the deputies finished their cheeseburgers and grabbed homemade cupcakes to celebrate, they shared stories and memories. Don’t put Sam and Riley together with Scarlet — they’ll team up and annoy her. When Red went home with Graham, he was so accustomed to the noise of the kennels that he barked nonstop. Some dogs are biters, and you have to know how to rein them in to keep them under control.
  It was clear after decades with these dogs, this was one piece of work Graham and Brooks couldn’t help but take home with them.

Saluda Man Dies In
Laurens County Wreck

  One person is dead after a single-vehicle crash on Hwy. 39 near Cross Hill around 7:20am on Sat. morning, May 1, according to Trooper Joe Hovis.
  The Laurens County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as 22-year-old Dakota James McKinney of Saluda, SC.
  The victim was driving a 2011 Kia south on Hwy. 39 when they ran off the right side of the road, overcorrected and ran off the left side of the road, hitting several trees.
  Hovis said the victim was not wearing a seatbelt, was entrapped in the vehicle and had to be mechanically extricated. The victim died at the scene, according to Hovis.