Cattlemen Recognized

SALUDA COUNTY CATTLEMENS ASSOCIATION  2017 CATTLEMEN OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS were Kevin and Lydia Yon of Yon Family Farm, Ridge Spring. Pictured with them is Randall Maffett, left.

SALUDA COUNTY CATTLEMENS ASSOCIATION  2017 PHILIP R PERRY EDUCATOR AND INDUSTRY AWARD was presented to  Watson Dorn of Hickory Hill Farm. Accepting on his behalf were Reggie Padgett, center, and Joel Black, left. Phil Perry is pictured left.

Bob Shealy Speaks at Garden Club of Saluda

  The Garden Club of Saluda met in the social hall at Red Bank Baptist Church on Monday, February 5 to hear invited speaker Bob Shealy’s fascinating talk about bees and his work as a bee keeper.  His explanation of the importance of bees in our agricultural South was at the heart of his presentation.  Bees play a crucial role in the pollination of crops, making their health and well-being of grave importance to all of us.
  To begin, Bob explained the amazing structure of the highly organized bee hive and the work of each bee within the hive.  The queen, the workers, and the drones have specific tasks to perform, each working for the good of the colony.  Bob brought a hive to show and to explain the different parts and how the bees form their honey within the hive.  He explained the role of the beekeeper in managing the hive and how the honey is harvested and extracted.  He also explained how predators can cause problems and how a hive can be destroyed by other pests.  He reiterated what most people already know that the use of pesticides has played a large part in the alarming reduction in the bee population in our country and in many other parts of the world. He said what will kill one insect pest will also kill a bee.
  One of the things Bob stressed was the bees’ needs for nectar sources.  He said with mass clearing of land, the flowers upon which they depend have been reduced.  He said that we who love beautiful, weed free lawns do the bees a disservice by eliminating one of their very early spring foods, the dandelions.  Apparently these spring bloomers have exactly what the bee needs, both carbohydrates and proteins.  This could change our perception of this humble little weed as we think of the winter-weary bee looking for its first nectar in the spring.
  Bob closed with a question and answer session and finally by thanking our garden club and others for promoting the use of flowers in our beautification efforts.  He said bees do so much more than produce the delicious honey which he brought for us to sample.  They are truly one of nature’s most highly organized and essential creatures.   They are well worth all our efforts to help them thrive.                                                                                                               
                        Gloria Caldwell

Legion Meeting with Chairman

CHAIRMAN SPEAKS TO LEGION - Saluda American Legion Post 65 was pleased to have Saluda County Council Chairperson, The Honorable Derrick Jones as the key note speaker at their February meeting. He shared his vision for our county. Jones noted that the Council meetings were being streamed on the county web site making the Council meetings transparent as much as possible.  He encouraged citizens to attend Council meetings or  visit the County web site.  Pictured left to right:  Chaplain John Hood, World War II Veteran Wilbur Humpries, World War II Veteran Bill Begemann, The Honorable Derrick Jones, Commander Al Butler and Adjutant Tina Buffington.

Purification, Romance, Repentance
February

by Roy Vandegrift, III

  Get ready; be prepared.  February (which means “purify”) cometh!  A mere 2,700 years ago, February was added along with January as the 11th and 12th months on the Roman 10 month calendar.  Therefore, February was both the End and the Beginning.  So here we go!
  February 2nd was Feralia, when sacrifices were offered to the dead.  So is that why pancake suppers would become popular then?!  That day was 40 days after Christmas – the birthday of Jesus, and Mary concluded her 40 days of purification, which the Church named Candlemas.
  February is the month of purification and repentance AND romance.  Roman men walked around – nude – brrrrrr – whipping themselves in repentance.
  On February 12th and 13th priests walked around nude whipping childless women with goat skin whips.  That’s a strange way to get barren women pregnant, especially by a nude man.
  It was also the custom on these days to draw the name of a young girl out of an urn.  She would then be the girlfriend of the young man for the coming year.  Cupid is associated with this – shooting love arrows into the hearts of people, causing them to fall in love with an inappropriate person.  Some called him ‘stupid Cupid’.
  Valentine, an upper-class Roman and, later a saint, lived circa 250 AD.  He was executed for his Christian beliefs – he would not renounce Jesus.  Valentine sent greetings to friends, one of whom he signed, “From your Valentine”.  This was done on the 13th, 14th or 15th of February – Feast of Lupercalia. Around 500 AD the Church renamed February 14th as Saint Valentine’s Day and tried to get people to draw the names of saints, not women, out of urns.  The idea was a flop!  In Britain in mid-February birds also began to mate as spring was approaching.  Kale was in bloom so kale soup was popular.
  On the 29th day of February – ‘0ne day more one year in four’ – women asked men to marry them.  The weather of February 2nd could also determine the weather for the coming year:  warm day meant cool year and vice versa.  George Washington, Abe Lincoln, and William Henry Harrison were born this month (February) – so was your writer, RV3.
  Our Valentine’s Day goes back into the Roman world associated with Venus – goddess of love, — Cupid — the winged baby with bow and arrows creating romance — and Lupercus – god of shepherds and flocks.  Early Christianity attempted over the centuries to modify the customs of several pagan festivals.  England’s King Henry VIII officially acknowledged St. Valentine’s Day in England. In the mid-19th century in our country, Esther Howland really launched Valentine card mailings.  The penny stamp helped.  Ms. Howland made a fortune making and selling Valentines.  We still love cards and candy and flowers for Valentine’s Day.

Seeking Candidates for S.C. Silver Haired Legislature

  The Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging/Aging & Disability Resource Center is seeking candidates for the next term of the S.C. Silver Haired Legislature.

  Greenwood and Laurens counties are eligible for three represen-tatives apiece while Abbeville, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties are each eligible for two representatives.
  The purposes of Silver Haired Legislature are to identify issues, concerns, and possible solutions for problems faced by the citizens of South Carolina with special emphasis on issues related to seniors; to make recommendations to the Governor and to members of the SC General Assembly; to educate the public on senior issues; to encourage seniors to participate actively in public affairs; to function on a nonpartisan basis; to promote good government for all South Carolinians; and to hold one Silver Haired Legislative session annually.
  Anyone who is 60 and older and is a registered voter in the county in which he or she resides is eligible for candidacy. Those interested in becoming a Silver Haired Legislature representative can request a candidate packet by contacting Vanessa Wideman at Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging/Aging & Disability Resource Center at 864.941.8053.
  Filing for candidacy will continue through February 23. The election will be held on March 6. Election locations will be announced at a later date. The election is for two-year terms.

Lions Club Grant Approved

  The Saluda Lion’s club has been informed that our grant for help in the purchase of the Spot camera has been approved.
  Many of you have contributed to the Don Hancock memorial fund which was established both to honor Don and to help with the purchase of the Spot camera. During the fall, we were able to borrow a camera from the Abbeville club. We went to all of the local schools and did eye exams on almost one thousand students.
  About one hundred and fifty of those were sent to their optometrist for further evaluation. The ultimate purchase of this camera will insure that we will be able to identify eye problems not only with school children but to be utilized in churches and senior citizen’s venues.   We want to thank all who helped make this possible. 

Board Members recognized

School Board Members Recognized for Service

  Saluda County Schools Board members were recognized by the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) for their years of school board service:  Dr. Arlene Puryear- 10 years,  Dr. Kathy Coleman- 20 years  and Mr. James Holloway-30 years of service.
  Board Members received special lapel pins and certificates for reaching this benchmark.  Veteran school board members provide vision and valuable leadership for school districts.   
  Saluda County Schools Board members were recognized by the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) for their years of school board service: (above, L to R) Dr. Arlene Puryear- 10 years,  Dr. Kathy Coleman- 20 years  and Mr. James Holloway-30 years of service.
   Board Members received special lapel pins and certificates for reaching this benchmark.  Veteran school board members provide vision and valuable leadership for school districts.

Left to right - Jeremy, Gerald, and Pam Cromer

Saluda Young Farmer
Recognized at State Level

  Isle of Palms, SC…..The Saluda County Young Farmer and Agribusiness Chapter was well represented at the 70th annual convention held January 19-21 at the Wild Dunes Resort.
  During this event, Gerald Cromer was presented the Young Farmer & Agribusiness Award for the Mid-State Region and the State.  This is one of the highest awards available to a state member, and the first time since 2000 that a Saluda member has received the award.  Gerald has successfully owned and managed Cromer Trucking for 25 years.  He recently turned the operation over to his son, Joey.
  Reggie Padgett was the State winner for the categories of Swine Production and Energy Efficiency.  Reggie is employed by Hickory Hill Milk, but manages a small swine herd on the side.
  Officers of the Saluda Young Farmer Chapter for 2018 include President Terry Brown, Vice President Daniel Patterson, Secretary Marlene Bushey, Treasurer Candice Miller, and  Agricultural Education Instructor at Saluda High School Amanda N. Crouch, who serves as the advisor.  Membership is open to anyone with an interest in agriculture, 18 years of age or older.  Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month.  See www.saludayoungfarmer.org for more information.

Left to right - Reggie, Maddie, and Daphine Padgett