Two Teams In Championships

UPPERSTATE CHAMPS - Saluda head football coach Stewart Young talks to his team after the Tigers upset four-time defending state champion Abbeville, 32-28, at Hite Stadium Friday. The Tigers will play Barnwell for the state  title at the Benedict College stadium in Columbia Fri., Dec. 6, at 5 p.m. (Photo by Trey Fingerlin)

Tigers, Trojans In
Championships

  A large portion of Saluda County will be in Columbia Fri., Dec. 6, as two local high school football teams will be playing in their respective state championship games.
  Saluda will meet Barnwell at 5 p.m. at the Benedict College Stadium for the 2A title. The Ridge Spring-Monetta - Green Sea-Floyds Class A game will follow at 8 p.m. at the same site.
  The two teams had remarkable similarities in getting to the championships.
  •In the quarterfinals but teams claimed wins over teams that had defeated them in the regular season. After losing to Southside Christian 16-13 earlier in the year, the Tigers beat the Sabres 56-42 in the third round. RSM lost to Blackville-Hilda 42-14 during the regular season, and won in the play-offs 26-24 in triple overtime.
  •The two teams continued the trend of beating teams that had defeated them during the regular season by lopsided scores, Abbeville over Saluda 48-20 and Wagener-Salley over RSM 40-6, in the Upperstate championship games.
  •Both teams were seeded third in the playoffs and beat number one seeded teams from their own conference in the Upperstate championship games.
  •Both teams beat undefeated teams that were ranked number one in the state in their respective classes, Abbeville 2A and Wagener-Salley 1A.
  •Both teams won the Upperstate title by four points, Saluda 32-28 and RSM 26-22.
  Saluda schools will dismiss early Friday, so students and faculty will have time to get to the game. The elementary schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m., and the middle and high school will dismiss at 1:00.
  Advanced tickets can be purchased at Saluda High School up until 11 a.m. on Friday.

Court Clears 34 Cases

  Thirty-four cases were cleared in the recent term of Saluda County General Sessions Court.
  There was only two lengthy sentences.
  Kyle Wayne Way, whose case was featured in last week’s paper, was sentenced to 15 years for criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
  The other lengthy sentenced was given to Clifton Eugene Felder II, who was sentenced to ten years for assault and battery first degree. Upon service of five years, it will be reduced to three years probation.
  Others sentenced on guilty pleas are as follows:
  Hugo Leonel DeLeon-Juarez, domestic violence 2nd degree, time served, possession of meth, time served. Roselia Juarez Cabrera, identity fraud to obtain employment or avoid detection by law enforcement, 48 days; forgery, 48 days.
  Terrence Reshon Hendrix, petit larceny $2000 or less, 30 days, suspended to time served and restitution. Brandon Nathaniel Marshall, failure to stop for blue light, three years, suspended to time served and three years probation.
  Joseph Michael Demetrius Dicks, unlawful carrying of a pistol, time served. Jamie Terrell Wooden, domestic violence 3rd degree, time served.
  Ny’Kel Rashad Rolland, assault & battery 3rd, time served. Benjamin Matthew Wallace, unlawful manufacture, transfer, or possession of distillery, 1st, time served.
  Michael Gantt, shoplifting $2000 or less, 2 years, suspended to time served, two years probation. Kevin Lajuan Logan, possession of firearm or ammunition by person convicted of a violent felony, two years, suspended to time served and two years probation.
  Connie Sue Beard, possession of controlled substance Sched. I-V, two days. Gregory John Moore, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, five years, upon service of four days, suspended to three years probation.
  Dreshawn Marquez Adams, DUS 2nd, seven days. Brandon Marvelous Daniels, possession of over one ounce of marijuana, two days.
  Cruise Castillon Johnson, assault & battery 2nd degree, three years, upon service of two days, suspended to two years probation. Tobias Shykeam Daniels, grand larceny, $2000-$10,000, four years, upon service of 14 days, suspended to five years probation.
  Joseph Allen Lee Whitten, assault & battery third degree, three years, upon service of 30 days, suspended to four years probation. Lacie Someillan Bennett, assault & battery third degree, time served.
  Carl Aull, reckless driving, two days. Mary Elizabeth Gulledge, possession of less than one gram of meth or cocaine base, 1st, 30 days.
  Nytreat Raheem Edwards, possession of controlled substance - MDMA, seven days. Richard Anthony Blue, domestic violence 2nd, 3 years, suspended to time served and three years probation; assault & battery 3rd degree, 3 years, suspended to time served and three years probation.
  Amanda Dale Brock, use of vehicle without permission temporary, four days. Darius Deaondrick Reynolds, possession of controlled substance, 60 days.
  Lisa Marie Layfield, possession of controlled substance I-V, five days or $25. Anthony Curtis Rogers, DUI 1st, four days.
  Teri Elizabeth Edwards,  possession of controlled substance I-V, time served. Jamie Paul Lybrand, false or incomplete information to police, time served.
  Patricia Drayton, reckless driving, 30 days, suspended to time served, $100 fine. Dwight Anthony Powell II, grand larceny $2000-$10,000, 10 days.
  Meoshi Dawn Williams, possession of meth, 90 days. Courtney Lurk, breach of trust less than $2000, 30 days, suspended to five years probation.
  Jabari Damani Bunch, possession of controlled substance, one day.

NOTICE

In order to allow ample time for travel for those attending the Saluda playoff game and the Ridge Spring playoff game at Benedict College, Council is closing the non-emergent offices at 1:00 P.M. on Friday, December 6, 2019. This includes Election Office. I will be open December 7^thfrom 9 to 12 for Candidate filing.

15 Year Sentence

Kyle Wayne Way

Greenwood Man
Sentenced To 15 Years

  Kyle Wayne Way, of Greenwood, was found guilty Thurs., Nov,. 21,  by a Saluda County Jury for sexually assaulting a minor child on multiple occasions.
  Way, age 32, was convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor – 3rd degree.  Circuit Court Judge Walton J. McLeod IV imposed the maximum sentence of 15 years in prison after the four-day jury trial. Upon his release from prison, Way will be required to register as a sex offender and active electronic monitoring.
  Eleventh Circuit Assistant Solicitor Robert E. McNair, III, who prosecuted the case, stated, “This conviction was only possible because of the strength and bravery of the survivor in this case. This sex offender is now behind bars and out of our community. We are grateful to see justice served today.”
  The Saluda County Sheriff’s Department began an investigation on October 13, 2017, after receiving a report of sexual assaults committed against the young victim, who was thirteen (13) at the time. Investigators executed search warrants on two cell phones used to facilitate communication between the victim and the Defendant recovering evidence corroborating the sexual assaults.
  The victim testified at trial and was present in court for sentencing. The victim provided a written statement during the sentencing which stated, “He wanted me to be scared of him for the rest of my life, but after all this, after I testified, I proved him wrong.”
  This case was prosecuted by Assistant Solicitors McNair and Melanie Darko on behalf the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office.   Captain Josh Price with the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation of this case and remarked, “The Sheriff’s Office is committed to working with the Solicitor’s Office in making these cases a priority and keeping our children safe.”
  Way is being transferred to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to immediately begin service of his prison sentence.

Action from Saluda - Ridge Spring-Monetta game on Aug. 30. (SHS photo by Dean Roesner)

Tigers, Trojans
In Semi-Finals

  Saluda County will be well represented Friday, as Ridge Spring-Monetta and Saluda will play in their respective class’ Upper State Championship games.
  Both teams defeated squads that had beaten them earlier in the season, and both will play opponents that also beat them during the year.
  The Trojans, 9-4, beat Blackville-Hilda 26-24 in triple overtime Fri., Nov. 22. They will make the short trip to old rival Wagener-Salley for the Upper State game.
  Saluda, 10-3, claimed its first win ever over Southside Christian, defeating the 11-1 Sabres 56-42 in Simpsonville. The Tigers will play at league foe Abbeville for the Upper State title for the fourth time in the last five years.
  Kick-off for both games will be 7:30 p.m.

Bennett’s Country Christmas

  John and Susan Bennett invite you to share the Holiday season at our 15th Country Christmas. This yearly walk thru’ event is offered FREE, nightly to the public during the month of December.
  We are opened December 1st - December 26th,, 6pm - 9pm. Enjoy numerous lighted displays, floats and wood art. Over 200,000 individual lights. See our miniature Christmas village in Santa’s house out back, while sampling our gift of hot chocolate and treats. Santa will visit on Friday nights,(when His schedule permits), so bring your cameras.
  Unfortunately, will be closed if rain, ground is too wet or heavy winds occur, so if coming from a distance, please call first.
  Located at 434 Fairfax Road, Saluda County.
   For more information or directions, call: 864-554-8299, or join us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook .com/countrychristmas. bennett, and send us a friend request so you can keep up with openings and closings.
  Power donations are accepted, but never required.
  Roadside parking. Driveway parking for the handicap.
  Church Buses welcome.

Fees Up Again

Council Trying Again
On Road Use Fee

  After shooting down a road user fee at the September meeting, Saluda County Council brought it back to life at the Mon., Nov. 11, meeting.
  The main difference in the new ordinance is the fee has risen from $20 to $25.
  If the fee passes the third reading, the money will be used to repair and maintain the county’s roads.
  According to the ordinance, the owners of every wheeled and titled vehicle, except licensed and registered mobile homes, required to be registered and licensed in Saluda County by the S.C. Department of Transportation, shall pay annually a road user fee of $25.00.
  The fee will be included in the vehicle property tax notice.
  Funds derived from the fee will be used exclusively for improving roads and streets, which are not part of the state or federal road system.
  Council Vice-chairman Frank Daniel said a public hearing on the ordinance will be held Mon., Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers.
  Council rescinded a decision made at a previous meeting on buying a  trailer for the Election and Voter Registration office from the Saluda Fire Department for $3600. It was discovered after the vote that the County EMS had a trailer that can be used for transporting voting machines to and from precincts at no cost to the county.
  David Enzastiga, CPA, with Rich & Enzastiga Firm, presented the audited financial statement for Fiscal Year 2018-2019.
  A primary concern is the county has dropped below the $2 million it is required to have in reserve to operate the county for six months. The fund balance on July 1, 2018, was $2,073,938, while the balance on June 30, 2019, was $1,830,126.
  Council voted to adopt the Saluda County Recreation Rule and Rental Policy at the recommendation of Recreation Director Paul Ergle.
  Ergle said travel teams, not affiliated with the Recreation Department, are using the county’s facilities free of charge, but the county still has to maintain the fields. He said some teams from out of the county are using the facilities.
  Ergle said Saluda is one of the few counties that does not charge rental fees for use of facilities, and recommended the county adopt fees, including $20 an hour for baseball fields, and $25 for the soccer field for in-county teams, and $30 for baseball per hour and $35 for soccer for out of county teams.
  There is also a fee for all day use for the soccer field and the entire complex.
  Ergle said these fees are comparable with neighboring counties.
  Council approved by a 3-1 vote to replace the camera system at the American Legion Building. County Emergency Management Director Josh Morton said the current cameras are more than a decade old and the DVR is six to seven years old.
  He said putting in an entirely new system would cost approximately the same as buying a new DVR, so he recommended buying a new system for $4359.20. Daniel and Councilmen Wayne Grice and Jones Butler voted for the new system. Councilman Justin Anderson voted against.
  Assistant Emergency Management Director Jill Warren asked permission to submit a grant application for new radios for the EMS and Fire Departments. The $400.355.07 grant will require a match of $40,035.00.
  Warren said this was the same grant the county sought last year, but did not receive. The $34,000 matching money for that application in still set aside, so the county would need an additional $6,035.50 if the grant is approved.
  Council approved the request.
  A request by Solid Waste Coordinator Jacob Schumpert to fill a vacation position in the Solid Waste Department was granted.
  At the beginning of the meeting, Daniel expressed the county’s sympathy to the family of Billy Asbill on his passing. Mr. Asbill worked at one of the convenience centers.

Man Dies In Monetta Crash

  A man died in a fiery crash Fri., Nov. 15, near Monetta.
  According to Deputy Coroner Angie Rita, the victim was identified as William Robert Abener, 69, of Ridge Spring.
  Lance Corporal Tyler Tidwell of the S.C. Highway Patrol said the accident happened at 6:48 a.m. on S.C. 23 near Peach Orchard St., about 1.3 miles north of Monetta.
  The driver of a 1975 Chevrolet pick-up was travelling north, when the vehicle went off the left side of the road, hit a tree and became fully engulfed in flames.
  The victim was not wearing a seatbelt.
  Assisting on the scene were the S.C. Highway Patrol, Sheriff’s Office, EMS, Ridge Spring Fire Department, and Chief Deputy Dudley Rushton and Mrs. Rita from the Coroner’s office.

Chairman Resigns,
Filing Announced

  Saluda County Chairman Derrick Jones abruptly resigned Fri., Nov. 8.
  In his letter Jones gave no reason for his decision, other than to say it was time to resign.
  On Sun., Nov. 10, Jones also resigned as pastor of Saluda Church of God, citing health reasons.
  Filing for the office with open Fri., Nov. 29, at 12 noon and will close on Sat., Dec. 7, at 12 noon.
  The party primaries will be held Jan. 21, 2020, and the special election will be held on  Mar. 24, 2020.
  See the official notice in this week’s print edition for further information.