March 2018 meeting

Council Hears Litter,
Animal Control Concerns

  County Council heard citizens’ concerns on litter and animal control at Monday’s meeting.
  Jacqueline Rhinehart said the county had a litter problem, and needed to do something about it. Increased fines for littering, and volunteer participation in Keep America Beautiful’s Spring Cleaning, Mar.1-May 31st were among the suggestions she offered.
  Jennifer Warner urged Council to start an animal control program. She said stray dogs present a safety problem to humans, pets and livestock.
  She said adults and children should be educated on how to take better care of their pets. Ms. Warren said shed has taken in 42 stray dogs this year.
  She has talked to neighboring counties, and said all are willing to work with Saluda County in helping to solve the problem.
  Lynwood Livingston said his wife was walking their pet dogs on leashes last month, when they were attacked from behind by a neighbor’s dog that was running loose.
  Their 13-year-old pet required two surgeries, and the neighbor has not shown any sign of concern or offered to help with the medical expenses.
  Livingston said there are children and grandchildren in his neighborhood, and he and his wife have warned neighbors about the dogs. He urged the county to enact a leash law.
  Councilwoman Gwen Shealy said as a private citizen, she agreed with all three presentations, but as a County Council member she knew these objectives could not be accomplished overnight, and all require money.
  She said the county at one time had a litter control officer, and needs one now, as well as an animal control officer. She said the county had been in talks with neighboring counties about joint animal shelters.
  Council ratified a lease agreement between the Hollywood Recreational District and the County, allowing the Recreation Department to use the baseball field at Hollywood for practice.
  Council gave first reading to two ordinances concerning flood damage prevention. One repealed a section on the old ordinance, and the other put new wording in.
A resolution to create a commission pursuant to the Capitol Project Sales Tax Act was passed. Mrs. Shealy said more will come out on this later, and may lead to a referendum on the November ballot.
  Council passed a Workman’s Compensation Resolution that will result in volunteers with rescue squads being covered under the county’s Workman’s Compensation plan when the squads are assisting the county.
  A proposal to provide environmental plans for the old Roads and Bridges building was approved. 
 Council approved Risk Manager Hardee Horne’s recommendation to change the substance abuse policy.
  Under the old plan, employees were required to take a drug test following any vehicle accident. The new plan eliminates the requirement for a drug rest when the accident involves collision with wildlife or a domestic animal if there is no evidence of driver impairment or injury. Horne said this will save the county a great deal of money.
  Council approved applying for a $73,000 State Homeland Security grant that will supply communication equipment for the EMS, Sheriff’s Office and EMD.
  Jane Cason was nominated to Westview Behavioral Services board by Councilman D.J. Miller. This was approved unanimously.
  With nothing on the executive session agenda, the meeting adjourned.

Girl Scouts of South Carolina 
Celebrate Four Local Women of Distinction

  Columbia, SC – Girl Scouts of South Carolina - Mountains to Midlands honored four women at its 25nd Annual Women of Distinction Awards Dinner on March 1.  Selected for their exemplary commitments to family, career and community, this year’s honorees are:  Kathleen Lawson Gibson, Director of Clarendon One Community Resource Center; Melanie Huggins, Executive Director of Richland Library; Erin McCaskill, Vice President and private banker for First Citizens Wealth Management; Molly Spearman, South Carolina State Superintendent of Education from Saluda.
  Nearly 200 people attended the fundraising event that was held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.  The media sponsor was WIS-TV.
  Pictured (L to R):  Girl Scout Women of Distinction honorees:  Melanie Huggins, Molly Spearman, Kathleen Lawson Gibson, Erin McCaskill.

Law Enforcement Agencies Joining Forces For Safety Patrol

  Law enforcement agencies are joining forces in Saluda County for an enforcement initiative Mar. 21-23.
  Taking part in the event are the South Carolina Highway Patrol, and Saluda County Sheriff’s Office.
  The officers will be primarily patrolling 121, 178, 378, 391, 23, and secondary roads off those main highways.
  There will be several checkpoints.
  The officers  will be looking for DUIs, speeding and distracted driving.
  Saluda County had seven highway fatalities last year, but, thankfully, has had none this year.
  Through Mar 11, the state has had 145 fatalities, compared to 193 during the same period in 2017.
  In Troop 2, which includes Saluda County, there have been nine fatalities so far this year, compared to 19 during the same time last year.
  In 2017, there were 987 fatalities in the state, down from 1020 in 2016. Of the 987 fatalities in 2017, 317 of the victims were not wearing seatbelts.
  Motorists are urged to focus 100 percent of their attention on driving, and to be good defensive drivers.
 

Scouts visit Legion

LEGION MEETING FEATURED BOY SCOUTS - The March American Legion Post 65 meeting featured Boy Scout Troop 31. Boy Scout William Yonce was the keynote speaker. There was a question and answer period and Yonce fielded questions from the Legionaries. Yonce stated he was working on his Eagle Scout Badge and that he enjoyed all aspects of camping. His Eagle project is the beautification of Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery.  Cub Scouts play a big part in Scouting.  Cub Scouts Pack 31 is led by Angela Rodgers, and has 30 Cubs in the Pack. Yonce also mention that a very impressive US Flag retirement ceremony was being planned for later on this spring and to drop flags off at Cromley Ford in Saluda. Pictured First row:   Commander Al Butler presents a check to Troop 31 Scout Master Ansel Price as part of Post 65’s community service project, and  to Price’s left  is the keynote speaker,  Boy Scout William Yonce.  Back row: Boy Scout Christian Bailey and Boy Scout Leader Ricky Bailey.

Tom Poland to Speak at LandTrust Annual Meeting

  Southern writer Tom Poland will be the guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Upper Savannah Land Trust on March 22 at the Arts Center at the Federal Building in Greenwood. 
  Poland’s work has appeared in magazines throughout the South. Among his recent books are Classic Carolina Road Trips From Columbia; Georgialina: A Southland As We Knew It; and Reflections of South Carolina, Vol. II. Swamp Gravy, Georgia’s Official Folk Life Drama, staged his play, Solid Ground.
  He writes a weekly column for newspapers and journals in Georgia and South Carolina about the South, its people, traditions, lifestyle, and changing culture and speaks to groups across South Carolina and Georgia. He’s the editor of Shrimp, Collards & Grits, a Lowcountry lifestyle magazine. His new book, South Carolina Country Roads, will be released April 16, 2018.
  Poland grew up in Lincoln County, Ga., and graduated from the University of Georgia. He lives in Columbia, where he writes about “Georgialina”—his name for eastern Georgia and South Carolina.  
  The doors open at 5:30 p.m. for silent auction and refreshments. Dinner by Shealy’s Barbeque will be at 6:30 p.m. Landowners who have donated conservation easements will be recognized and a short business meeting will be held.  The Peggy Adams Conservation Award will be presented to someone who has made a significant contribution to conservation in the Lakelands area.
  There will be a drawing for a Stevens 555 over and under 20 gauge shotgun. Raffle tickets for the gun are available from board members or at the door for $10 apiece.
  Proceeds from the gun drawing and silent auction will be used to promote conservation of farms, forestland and special natural areas in the Lakelands.
  There is no charge to attend for financial donors of USLT. Cost for others is $20. The public is welcomed. Dress is casual.
  Sponsors for the event are AgSouth Farm Credit, Ballentine Ford/Toyota, County Bank Trust Services, Enviva, Fynimex LLC,  Greenwood Conservation District, Hunters Headquarters, Ken Driggers Conservation Services, Logcreek Timber Co.,  McDonald Patrick Poston Hemphill & Roper LLC, Norbord, Inc.,  Stone & Associates, South Carolina Sustainable Forestry Initiative,  andTedford & Associates.
  Please RSVP to Rick Green at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 864-941-8072.
  Upper Savannah Land Trust is a private, nonprofit conservation organization that assists landowners in Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry and Saluda counties to conserve their land. 
  Since its inception in 2000, the organization has protected 47,562 acres of agricultural, forested, scenic, historic and ecologically important properties. The Trust considers itself a tool for landowners who are interested in seeing their properties remain in their natural state for farming, timber and recreation.

February Has Temp Extremes

  The month of February featured all seasons, temperature wise, as daily highs featured those in the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
  Rain fell on 12 days, but only totaled 2.72 inches for the month.
  So far in 2018,  6.96 inches of rain has fallen. This compares to 7.51 inches during the same time in 2017.
   The highest temperature, 81,  came on Feb. 23. The lowest daytime high, 45, was on Feb. 4. The lowest morning temperature, 24, was recorded on  Feb. 1
  This information was reported by NWS observer Edwin Riley at the Saluda CPW.

Kidnapping charge

Florencio Gomez Saiche

Missing Teen from Kentucky Found in County

  On Tuesday, February 20, at approximately 9:52 a.m. the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office received a report from family members of a missing 16-year-old Hispanic teen from Kentucky being in Saluda County.
  Deputies responded to a residence in Saluda County where the victim was reported to be.  Florencio Gomez Saiche, 24 year old Hispanic male, was encountered and stated no one else was at the residence.  During the conversation with Saiche deputies heard movement in the residence and immediately conducted a security swipe.  At this time the victim was located and taken to safety and Saiche was arrested.
  Due to the language barrier and several state lines crossed in this case the Sheriff’s Office investigators contacted SLED and the SCDPS Immigration Enforcement Unit to support the investigation.  During this ongoing investigation it was uncovered that the victim was taken on or about December 7 of last year from Kentucky and brought to Saluda County, where she has been confined to a bedroom until she was able to make contact with family through social media when the suspect was not around.
  Saiche is currently charged at this time with kidnapping,   criminal sexual conduct 1st Degree, and identity fraud to obtain employment.

Arrest Made in Social Media Threat
Toward Saluda Middle School

  On Thursday evening, February 22nd at approximately 7:00pm the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office received a report from concerned citizens about a social media post. 
  The Sheriff’s Office quickly responded and the suspect, an 8th grade male Saluda Middle School student, was taken into custody and transported to DJJ in Columbia. 
  “We feel that this situation has been resolved and have no further evidence to suggest anyone else to be involved in this matter,” Sheriff John Perry said.
  The Sheriff asks that everyone continue to be vigilant and notify the Sheriff’s Office if you hear or see anything out of the ordinary.  The Sheriff is proud of the concern citizens, school district, and his deputies on how promptly they all responded to this incident. 
  “If we continue to work together as a team, we can continue to keep our schools and communities safe,” said the sheriff.

To Our Saluda County Family

  Since the tragic events in Florida, I wanted to take time to address some of the concerns that we all share in reference to the safety of our students and staff.  I want to make very clear that we will not tolerate threats to our students or staff.
  The district’s top priority is the safety of all students and staff members. We work very closely with our local enforcement and first responders on safety measures, emergency plans, and drills. Each of our schools conduct drills throughout the year to teach our students and staff how to react in an emergency situation.
  While we can not share specific information about the measures we have in place, please know that we are continually reviewing our practices and drills to maintain a safe and prepared learning environment.
  We would ask each of you to continue to be vigilant and to talk with your children to be aware of their surroundings. Please encourage your children to immediately report anything that does not look right or if they hear something that makes them uncomfortable. The faster we are aware of a situation, the faster we can respond and contact law enforcement. If you have any specific concerns or questions, please reach out to your child’s principal.
  As parents, students, educators, and law enforcement we will continue to work together to keep our students and staff safe.

Thank you for your continued support,
Dr. Harvey H. Livingston
Superintendent