2019 Hall of Fame Inductees

Saluda Schools To Induct
New Hall Of Fame Class

  The Saluda County School District will induct the 2019 Hall of Fame Class, plus a Ring of Honor member, at the halftime of the Saluda-Ninety Six game Friday.
  Inducted will be athletes Larry Boswell, Sammy Crouch, Albert Etheredge, Petina Etheredge Waldo, and teacher Dibbie Shealy. Amy Rankin will be the inaugural entrant into the Ring of Honor.
  Boswell is perhaps the only Saluda High athlete to play in both the football and basketball North-South All-Star games. After college he coached the Lower Richland boys basketball team to the 1965-66 state championship, and was the head coach in the boys North-South All-Star game in 1967. He was the winner of the S.C. Golf Association Amateur Championship in 1981, is a four-time winner of the Carolina Golf Association Championship. He qualified three times as an amateur to play in the U.S. Golf Senior Open, and was inducted into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame at Pinehurst in 2011.
  Sammy Crouch was captain of the 1963 Saluda High state championship team, and was a first team All-State guard. From 1964-67 he was a member of the Clemson University football team. He graduated from Clemson in 1968 and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Army. From 1970-71 he was a platoon leader in Vietnam and was awarded the  bronze star and purple heart. He receive his MBA from Clemson in 1977, and retired from the Army as a Lt. Colonel in 1996.
  Albert Etheredge is a member of the 1000 point for Saluda boys basketball. He was All-Region in 2001, 2002 and 2003, All Lakelands in 2002 and 2003, and All-State in 2002 and 2003. He was a Peach Jam participant in 2003.
  Petina Etheredge Waldo played in the North-South All-Star game in 1991, representing the Saluda girls basketball team. She was All-Region and All State in 1990 and 1991, and was Region Player of the Year in those two years, as well. She finished her career at Saluda High with 1332 points and 931 rebounds. Her career high in points was 39 and in rebounds was 31. The Lady Tigers has a record of 82-19 in her four year career.
  A 1973 graduate of Saluda High. Dibbie Shealy taught school for  43 years, with 40 those served at Saluda High. She is the longest serving journalism teacher in SHS history, 21 years. She served 20 years as the Tiger yearbook advisor, 11 years as the Purple & White newspaper advisor, one year as the Prism Literary magazine advisor, and 10 plus years as the Prism photography advisor. Her publications consistently won awards at state, regional, and national levels. She produced the Miss Tiger pageant for 21 years, and was the teacher of SHS’s first African American literature class.
  Amy Rankin is the inaugural  inductee in to the ring or honor, which recognizes her dedication and devotion to Saluda High School. A 1987 graduate of Saluda High, she was a member of the golf team, manager and statisticians of other athletic teams, as was sport editor of the Purple and White while. Even though she now lives in Newberry, she rarely misses a Saluda High sporting event.

Saluda Landmark Home Burns

A landmark Saluda home burned Sat., Sept. 28. Located at 300 West Church Street, the house is know by many Saludans as the home of the late Ben and Kate Hazel. Ben wa a former grocery store owner, who later served as Saluda’s Town Clerk for 17 years. Kate ran the Guest House in the home for 20 years, and people came from miles around to enjoy the meals she served. Marsha Riley took the top photo from the yard of Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church, which also burned in 1997. Bottom photo by the Standard-Sentinel.

Moped Rider Dies

Moped Rider Dies
In Monetta Collision

  A Monetta man lost his life Wed., Sept. 25, when the moped he was riding collided with a log truck.
  According to Saluda County Coroner Keith Turner, Stephen Joseph Stein, Sr., 44, of 5841 Columbia Hwy. N., Monetta, died on the scene of the accident, which took place on Early Sims Rd., not far from the Aiken County line.
  The accident happened at 3:40 p.m.
  A 2018 Mack tractor-trailer was passing the moped on the rural  road, when the moped went left of center and was struck by the right rear portion of the truck, Highway Patrol Trooper Joe Hovis said.
  The driver of the truck from Saluda was not injured.
  Turner would like to thank all who assisted on the scene, including the Highway Patrol, Saluda County EMS, Ridge Spring Fire Department, Ridge Spring Police Department, and Saluda County Sheriff’s Office.

SART Team Holds Training
on Sexual Assault Response

  On Thursday, September 19, 2019 the Multi-County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) held a training in Saluda at the American Legion Building titled Sexual Assault Response; What Role Do you Play? 
  The objective of this training was designed so that each entity can clearly identify and understand the responsibilities and roles of all key players in response to sexual assault. 
  The Multi-County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) include members from the Cumbee Center, child advocacy centers,  law enforcement, victim advocates, SANE nurses, solicitor’s office, and  the Department of Social Services (DSS) from six counties, which include Aiken, Allendale, Barnwell, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda.  The mission of the SART is to promote a coordinated response that is designated to enhance safety and justice for victims, hold perpetrators accountable and provide education to the community that will encourage social change.  For this training the SART team divided into two groups with Saluda, Edgefield and McCormick in one and Aiken, Allendale and Barnwell in the other. 
  The presenters for the Saluda training were Capt. Josh Price and Victim Advocate Melinda Reeves from the Saluda Sheriff’s Office, Victim Advocate Nicole Maffett from the Saluda Police Department, Victim Advocate Gladys Mason from Edgefield Sheriff’s Office, Victim Advocate Angela Martin from McCormick Sheriff’s Office, SART Coordinator Elizabeth Lemacks from the Cumbee Center for Abuse Persons,  Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Gina Dyer-Goss from Prisma Health Richland, Forensic Interviewer Specialist Kim Sawyer from the Aiken Child Advocacy Center, Genita Snipes, Ruth Brockman & Gail Washington from the Department of Crime Victim’s Compensation, Director of Saluda County Department of Social Service Becky McDowell and Solicitor Rhonda Patterson from the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.  The order of the presenters was done in the order that each person/agency would come in contact with the victim.
  In attendance at the training were over 50 professionals from state, local, and private/none for profit agencies from Saluda and surrounding counties that provide direct services to victims of crime and their families.  This includes DSS workers, school based guidance counselors, private family counselors, none for profit child advocacy agencies, as well as law enforcement officers and victim advocates.  
  The team of ladies who planned this training, Nicole Maffett, Angela Martin, Gladys Mason, and Melinda Reeves, would like to thank all the presenters for taking the time out of their busy schedule and agreeing to be a part of this training.  We could not have done it without you!  A special thank you to The Cumbee Center and Elizabeth Lemacks for sponsoring the training and to Radius Church for providing the meal and Judy’s Kitchen for preparing it!

A memorial endowment for Emma Jeannette Carr, pictured here working at the Ridge Spring Farmer’s Market, is being established by her husband, Brig. General Chalmers “Hap” Carr (’60), to ensure the legacy of the woman who has been called “The Veggie Lady” and “Queen of the Market” continues.(Photo by Harriet Householder)

Clemson Extension Endowment
Continues Legacy Of ‘Queen of the Market’

STEVEN BRADLEY
Clemson University
Media Relations

  RIDGE SPRING — Jeannette Carr passed away April 1, 2019, after a battle with cancer, but more than three months later as the Ridge Spring Farmer’s Market bustled with its regular Saturday crowd, her community spirit and passion for produce were still plenty palpable.
  “I kind of feel her presence a little bit,” said Katie Pfeiffer, one of Carr’s granddaughters who has worked at the market alongside her on summer visits since her teenage years. “It’s just feels so much like her, like something she would enjoy doing, so it makes me happy to be here.”
  And thanks to the Emma Jeannette Carr Memorial Endowment being established by her husband, Brig. General Chalmers “Hap” Carr (’60), the family is making certain that the legacy of the woman who has been called “The Veggie Lady” and “Queen of the Market” continues.
  “It feels good to remember her and support her legacy, and customers will come up and ask about what happened and it makes them happy that we’re continuing to (sell produce at the market), too,” Pfeiffer said, “and they care about the endowment, as well, and what that’s going to support.”
  The endowment is to be used to advance vegetable gardening education and outreach through the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service, and all proceeds from the sale of produce from the flat-bed trailer overflowing with fruits and vegetables grown at nearby Titan Farms are to be donated to the endowment in honor of her love of gardening.
  “Jeannette was well known to those who knew her for her love of gardening fresh vegetables and fruits, and the Carr Family has been and continues to be tremendous supporters of Clemson Extension,” said Extension Director Tom Dobbins. “We’re excited and honored to partner with Jeannette’s family at Titan Farms in working to continue her legacy and advance vegetable gardening across the state of South Carolina.”

SEE COMPLETE STORY IN THE PRINT EDITION

Fees Fall

Proposed Fees Die ... Again

  For the second time in nine days, County Council’s attempt to give second reading to ordinances adding fees failed.
  At a called meeting Wed., Sept. 18, Council voted 4-1 against passage of both ordinances. Voting against both were Chairman Derrick Jones, and Councilmen Frank Daniel, Wayne Grice, and Justin Anderson. Councilman Jones Butler voted in favor.
  At the regular Council meeting on Mon., Sept. 9, both ordinances failed to pass due to lack of a second to the motions.
  Council held a budget work session on Mon., Sept. 16, and after hearing from County Attorney Chris Spradley, they voted to once again give second reading to the ordinances at a called meeting set for 5:30 p.m.
  Word spread and the Council Chambers was  packed, just as it was at the regular meeting.
  Chairman Jones asked Spradley to explain what he shared with Council on Monday.
  Spradley said Saluda County is in it dire financial situation due to the fact Councils have been borrowing from the reserve fund to balance the budgets since 2008.
  Spradley used a chart to show the following totals: 2008 - $161, 689; 2009 - $160,678; 2010 - $589,765; 2011 - $583,720; 2012 - $230,079; 2013 - $378,211; 2014 - $223,897; 2015 - $428, 198; 2017 - 634,883; 2108 - $922,921; 2019 - $1,018,420; 2020 - $1,027, 822.
  The county only has $2.6 million remaining in the reserve fund.
  Spradley said if the county budget next year is out of balance like the previous years, then the county will have to borrow money, and, obviously, pay back the loan with interest.
  Spradley said without the proposed fees, the county would have to eliminate 22.6 positions out of 146 employees.
  The $50 fee would be put on 9300 lots with structures. The money would go toward EMS and Law Enforcement.
  The $20 fee would be put on 20,200 licensed vehicles. That money would go to county roads.
  Some of the same concerns were expressed from those present that were expressed at the meeting nine days earlier.
  One man said he was on a fixed income, lived in a trailer and had three vehicles.
  “It will cost you $110,” Spadley said.
  “Where is that coming from?,” the manyasked.
  Others questioned why the State is forcing the county to build a new jail, and why is has to be a 100-cell jail when the county doesn’t exceed the current 40-cell capacity.
  Jail Administrator Janice Ergle said the State has cited substandard conditions at the current jail that could set the county up for litigation.
  Spradley said if the State closes the jail, then the county would have to pay other counties to house local prisoners.
  The county will have to borrow money to build the new jail and the current situation with using reserve fund money makes the county a lending risk, he said.
  Spradley answered a rumor that the county taking over EMS was causing a shortfall in funds. He said the expense for the county running the EMS is only $37,000 higher that when the nursing home ran the EMS, through county funding contributions.
  Many said the county should balance the budget first, before considering imposing fees.
  Some asked why the county granted a “fee in lieu of property taxes” to new businesses and industries. Spradley said that is what the State Department of Commerce recommends.
  Many of the comments were heated.
  Following Spradley’s presentation, Chairman Jones asked for a motion and second on the two ordinances. Unlike at the Sept. 9 meeting, there were seconds this time.
  When it came time to vote, both measures failed by a 4-1 vote.
  Council began meeting with department heads later in the week to discuss cutting staff.

Saluda pastor’s gun buy-back
program a wild success

  SALUDA – Almost two weeks after her church’s gun buy-back program, the Rev. Hillary Taylor is still elated with the results.
  “We bought back 19 guns in total,” said Rev. Taylor, pastor of Bethany and Zoar United Methodist churches in Saluda. “If we had bought only 10 guns, I would have been ecstatic.”
  Nine of the purchased guns came from persons living somewhere other than Saluda.
  “Individuals from Columbia to Inman who read about our program were so impressed that they drove all the way to Saluda to turn them in,” Rev. Taylor said. “The reasons for turning them over were as diverse as the people who brought them.”
  At the Sept. 7 “no-questions-asked” event, people who turned in guns received Walmart gift cards valued at $100-$200, depending on the type of gun.
  “We passed out a total of $2,100 in Walmart gift cards,” Rev. Taylor said. “We will be saving remaining cards for another gun buy-back program next year. This could not have been accomplished without many individuals and churches who donated to this project.”
  Following most gun buy-back events, the purchased weapons are destroyed. In this effort, however, the guns will be disabled and repurposed in the Saluda community as gardening tools or artwork – almost literally playing out Isaiah 2:4: “...they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
  “We hope the next event will be more comprehensive in terms of mental health first aid,” Rev. Taylor said. “This is a topic many people are excited about, and I look forward to connecting churches and local businesses with the needs of the Saluda community in the future.”
  Rev. Taylor already has been in communication with another church and a non-profit organization interested in planning similar gun buy-back programs in other rural areas of South Carolina. An avid hunter and gun-owner herself, she hopes events like these will raise awareness about the rising suicide rates in South Carolina and ways to promote firearm safety.