Districts Meet

Dr. Harvey Livingston, Mrs. Angie Rye, Mr. Michael Bonner, Dr. Abbey Duggins, and Dr. Stephen Hefner. (Picture by Mackenzie Taylor)

Lexington Three, Saluda County School Districts
Partner For Back-to-School Convocation

by Mackenzie Taylor

  Staff members from Lexington County School District Three and Saluda County Schools came together on Thursday, August 15th with one mission in mind — to prepare themselves to make a profound impact on students each and every day of the 2019-2020 school year. 
  This common goal was the overarching theme of the school districts’ collaborative Back-to-School Convocation that was held at the Lexington Three Fine Arts Center.  The event was attended by teachers, administrators and other staff members who heard remarks from Lexington Three Interim Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hefner and Saluda County School District Superintendent Dr. Harvey Livingston.
  In addition, the crowd was wowed by featured guest speaker Michael Bonner.  Mr. Bonner is a nationally-known teacher and visionary leader who has received praise and recognition for his positive, unique and innovative educational strategies for students who may be coping with adverse childhood experiences.
   Mr. Bonner previously taught second grade at South Greenville Elementary School, a Title I school in North Carolina where a large majority of the students endure poverty, challenging familial dynamics and in some cases, even face homeless-ness. 
  In 2016, Mr. Bonner began to realize that in order to break through the barriers that were preventing his students from learning, he had to figure out a different way to engage them.  So, he turned to music, allowing students to create lyrics and beats from the content they were studying.  His novel idea worked, as students began engaging on a higher level and achieving greater academic success. 
  As a reward for their efforts, Mr. Bonner’s second grade class created an educational music video together and uploaded it to social media, catching the attention of news organizations nationwide. 
  In early 2017, Mr. Bonner was recognized for his efforts by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who not only presented Mr. Bonner and his school with educational equipment, but also flew him and his entire class to Los Angeles to visit her studios.  Wal-Mart also presented South Greenville Elementary School with nearly $50 thousand dollars to help enhance the school’s learning environment. 
  In addition, Mr. Bonner was honored by NBC Nightly News, the Ashton Kutcher Foundation, Flocabulary, and Front Row, just to name a few organizations.  Since 2017, Mr. Bonner has continued his work of promoting unique teaching strategies in the field of education.  He’s conducted more than 100 keynote speeches and workshop sessions to educators around the world and has written several books, all while continuing to make a huge impact on the lives of generations to come through his work as a teacher. 
  “It’s a privilege and honor to welcome Mr. Bonner to Batesburg-Leesville and to be able to kick off the new school year collaboratively with Saluda County Schools.  This is just one more example of how our districts continue to work together for the greater good of our students,” said Angie Rye, Chief Academic Officer for Lexington Three.
  Last school year, Lexington Three and Saluda County School Districts partnered to provide welding and firefighting courses to students in both districts through the Innovation Collaboration Pilot Project.  The classes, which are being funded by the State Department of Education and through grants obtained by the Town of Batesburg-Leesville, are housed at B-L High School.  Students from Saluda County Schools attend the classes with their B-L counterparts.  As part of the collaboration, transportation is provided for students to be able to participate. 
  Students who complete the firefighting course and pass the state skills test are able to obtain their Firefighter Certification, thus giving them an opportunity to help fill the growing need for volunteer firefighters in the Town of B-L and Town of Saluda.  Welding students are also able to obtain a certification if they finish a certain level of the program. 
  This year, students at B-L High School will have the opportunity to participate in a Health Sciences class at Saluda High School as part of the collaboration project.

Support swells for Saluda pastor’s
September 7 gun buy-back program

  SALUDA – In less than one week, the Rev. Hillary Taylor raised more than $5,000 to purchase Walmart gift cards for the gun buy-back program she and her churches are sponsoring Sept. 7 near Saluda Town Hall.
  “It’s been an incredible experience,” says Rev. Taylor, pastor of Bethany UMC and Zoar UMC in Saluda. “A lot of individuals and churches have supported this ministry with generous donations. A few people – including some whose families have been impacted by suicide – have even stopped me in town to tell me they are impressed with our program.
  “I don’t know how many people will respond to our buy-back offer, but we have plenty of gift cards to give anyone who wants to turn over a gun for any reason. We are planning to have mental health first aid professionals on site who can share resources about firearm safety, preventing suicide, and other related issues.”
  The buy-back event will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, beside the picnic shelter near Saluda Town Hall, 100 South Jefferson Street. Gun owners will receive Walmart gift cards valued at $100-$200, depending on the type of gun (Examples: shotgun/rifle = $100, handgun = $150, assault weapon = $200). This is a “no-questions-asked” event.
  Pastors from several local churches also will be on site to give communion and pray with anyone who would like to share a few minutes.
  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.”
  Suicide has been a topic of conversation and concern across the Midlands, sparked in part by the news that Shaw Air Force Base and the Sumter community are grieving the recent deaths of three airmen who took their own lives in as many months.
  In South Carolina, more than 90 percent of suicides are gun-related,3 and the state ranks 50th in the nation when it comes to the availability of mental health care.4

1 Noah Feit, “Fifth airman dies at SC base this year — and the third of suicide, coroner says,” The State,  August 15th, 2019.
2 “Suicide Rate Increases Nationally, Soars in South Carolina,” Greenville News, accessed August 5, 2019.
3 “The State of Mental Health In America 2018,” Mental Health America, accessed August 5, 2019.

August 2019 Council Meeting

County Council Holds
Long Executive Session

  Saluda County Council’s August meeting featured almost as much  action coming out of executive session as was in the regular meeting.
  The meeting was the last for District 2 Councilman D.J. Miller, who had to resign when he moved to a residence in the county outside of District 2. The newly elected District 2 councilman will be seated for the next meeting. Miller thanked the citizens of District 2 for their support
  A public hearing was held at the beginning of the meeting and final reading approval was given to an ordinance to renew the contract for Saluda Sky Aviation, LLC, as the fixed base operator at the Saluda County Airport.
  Emergency Management Director Josh Morton recommended the interior and exterior security cameras be replaced at the Courthouse at a total cost of $11,325.  This was approved by a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Justin Anderson voting against.
  Fire Board Chairman Chuck Adams asked for Council’s approval in allowing the Fire Departments to fill swimming pools.
  The Fire Board unanimously approved the proposal, saying with would allow the trucks to be operated on a more regular basis, members of the fire departments to interact with the community more, and the fees would be used as a fundraiser.
  Adams said the departments would pay for the cost of the water and the fuel used.
  Council approved the request, as long as homeowners sign a waiver releasing the fire departments from any liability in the event of damage to their property by the tankers.
  Judge Joyce Shults asked permission to fill a vacancy in her office. The criminal clerk position is included in the current budget, she said. Council approved her request by a 3-2 vote. Voting against were Miller and Anderson.
  Morton asked permission to attend the International Association of Emergency Managers - USA Council Conference in Savannah. Morton said he had attended the conference since 2013, and had learned much through the work sessions and had made many contacts. He said his trip would be paid by a grant and would not involve county funds. The motion to allow Morton to attend the conference died for the lack of a second.
  Council approved the nomination of Tim Taylor as an alternate on the fire board, representing the Saluda Department.
  Council then went into executive session, and the following came out of the session:
   1. Council approved first reading by title only on Ordinance No. 06-19, “an ordinance to establish a uniform service charge for public safety in Saluda County, South Carolina.”
  2. Council approved first reading by title only on Ordinance No. 07-19, “an ordinance to establish a uniform service charge for motorized vehicle users of the county roads of Saluda County, South Carolina.”
  3. Council approved to close the part-time heavy equipment operator position in the Roads and Bridges Department.
  4. Council approved to open a Mechanic position in the Roads and Bridges department and additional funds needed to be funded from contingency, and to advertise according to county policy.
  5. On July 8, 2019, County Council approved for a temporary vacant SRO position in the Sheriff’s office due to the deployment of the full-time SRO. Council approved to amend that vote to a temporary deputy position to be placed at the school for the same purpose.
  6. Council approved an addendum to the SRO agreement to allow a deputy to the assigned school district until the return of the deployed SRO.

Allie Trotter winner the
SC 4-H Presidential Tray

  During this year’s State 4-H Congress, Allie Trotter was named the SC 4-H Presidential Tray Winner.  Along with the announcement, Allie received a $2000 scholarship from the South Carolina State Fair. 
  In 2007, Allie Trotter joined the Lucky Charms 4-H Club, and has been involved in 4-H ever since.  In just her second year as a 4-H member, she decided to enroll in the poultry project to learn more about raising chickens. She admits those tiny baby chicks were so cute she couldn’t leave them alone. Taking care of the chicks taught her about responsibility and commitment at a young age as she realized she had to do her part to keep the pullets healthy.
  The next project she became involved in was the Healthy Lifestyles competition. Her team won at the regional level twice and at the state level in 2017, advancing them to the 2018 Great American Seafood Cook-off 4-H edition in New Orleans. Where they were named National Winners. 
  As winners of the state Healthy Lifestyles contest, her team was also asked to represent South Carolina at the National Youth Summit on Healthy Living at the National 4-H Center in the Washington, D.C. area.
  Recently, Allie expanded her interests into new project areas such as dairy and Livestock judging and the barrow project. 
 At her first dairy judging competition, she and her team received several awards including second place individual overall and first place team overall. The team then represented South Carolina 4-H at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Kentucky where they placed in the top 20. The team will now compete in Wisconsin at the World Dairy Expo in October, 2019
  In the barrow project, she learned about raising market hogs and training them for show. In her first year, she was presented with a first-place prize in showmanship.
  Allie leadership skills have been put to task through experiences as a Healthy Lifestyles ambassador and a regional representative on State Teen Council. This spring she made a presentation on agricultural challenges to USDA’s National Institute on Food and Agriculture while a delegate at National 4-H Conference. She also attended National 4-H Congress in Atlanta where she was exposed to projects and skills she hopes to bring back to her community.
  This inspirational young woman is confident that 4-H has already prepared her more than she can imagine to take the next steps in her life.  Her plans are to study pre-vet at a land grant university.

SPECIAL ELECTION
AUGUST 27

  The special election for the County Council District 2 seat will be held Tuesday, August 27.
  Wayne Grice won the Republican Primary in June, and even though he has no Democratic op-positon, the election must still be held.
  Any voter in District 2 can vote in the election.

Drug Charges Dropped

Statement Regarding The Dismissal
Of Criminal Charges  As It Relates
To Shai Werts In Saluda County

  Yafari Shairkir (Shai) Werts was arrested on July 31, 2019, in Saluda County for Possession of Cocaine following a traffic stop.   The Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office was made aware of the arrest on Friday, August 2, 2019. The Saluda County Sheriff’s Office provided Deputy Solicitor Al Eargle with copies of the incident report, police vehicle dash camera footage, and the body camera footage on Wednesday, August 7, 2019.
  Upon a thorough review of the report, the dash camera, and the body camera, Deputy Solicitor Al Eargle and I made the decision that the charge should be appropriately dismissed. The charge lacks prosecutorial merit and the evidence is insufficient for the State to proceed.  The charge was officially dismissed Thursday, August 8, 2019.
  The decision to dismiss this charge was made prior to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) completing their drug analysis of the substance collected. On August 8, 2019, SLED received the substance and completed the drug analysis. The forensic scientist determined that no controlled substance was detected.
  The Solicitor’s Office has begun the expungement process to have this charge removed from the system to ensure that this arrest and charge does not create a criminal history for Werts.
RICK HUBBARD

NOTE: Werts was suspended from the Georgia Southern football team following his arrest, but was reinstated when he passed a drug test. He is expected to state at quarterback when the Eagles open against LSU on Aug. 31.

Pastor Initiates Gun Buy-back
Program In Saluda County

SALUDA – While the nation mourns the victims of the latest mass shootings in Gilroy, El Paso and Dayton – and as suicide rates rise in South Carolina – a United Methodist pastor is launching a gun buy-back program for the Saluda area.
  As a teen, the Rev. Hillary Taylor experienced episodic depression and suicidal thoughts. Today, as a pastor, she acts out of compassion for a region with lots of guns and limited access to mental health services.
  “I’m a hunter and a gun owner myself,” says Rev. Taylor, pastor of Bethany UMC and Zoar UMC in Saluda. “I support the Second Amendment, but I also know that guns and mental health problems are not a good mix. Self-harm becomes too easy – and too easily fatal.
  “Not everyone who has a gun wants one around, or knows how to use one safely. Even guns that no longer work can be dangerous to have around, and a lot of people don’t know there are ways to get rid of them.”
  Rev. Taylor, who is coordinating the effort with the support of other local churches, is planning the buy-back event for 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, when gun owners will receive Walmart gift cards worth $50-$150, depending on the model and make of the gun. A location for the event is still to be determined.
  In the meantime, anyone who wants to support the effort can donate Walmart gift cards. To do that, please mail checks or Walmart gift cards (in increments of $50) to the following address: Bethany United Methodist Church, 1146 Hickory Grove Road, Saluda, SC 29138. Please make checks out to “Bethany United Methodist Church,” with “Buy-Back” in the memo line.

  Following most gun buy-back events, the purchased weapons are destroyed. In this effort, however, Rev. Taylor wants to disable the guns and repurpose them 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.”
  Nationwide, approximately 34,000 people complete suicide each year, and nearly half of suicides involve firearms.1 Suicides also make up three out of every five gun-related deaths in the United States (more than homicide, mass shootings, accidents, etc.).2
  In South Carolina, more than 90 percent of suicides are gun-related,3 and the state ranks 50th in the nation when it comes to the availability of mental health care.4


  1 “Fact Sheets: Suicide,” National Alliance on Mental Illness, accessed August 5, 2019.
  2 “America’s Gun Culture in 10 Charts,” BBC News, accessed August 5, 2019. .
  3 “Suicide Rate Increases Nationally, Soars in South Carolina,” Greenville News, accessed August 5, 2019.
  4 “The State of Mental Health In America 2018,” Mental Health America, accessed August 5, 2019.

Need a GED or a High School Diploma?

  Come to Saluda County Adult Education.
  2019- 2020 Open Enrollment begins August 19!!
  LET US HELP YOU!
  *GED preparation
  *High School Diploma classes
  *WIN preparation and testing
  *ESL/ English as a Second Language classes
  Call Jimmy Crawford or Andrea Minick at 864-445-3346, or stop by our office at 401 N. Calhoun St. in Saluda
 for more information. Office opens at 8:00 a.m.