Candidates File for Primaries

Candidates File

  Despite the coronavirus pandemic, candidates filed to run for office in S.C. Mar. 14-30.
  The primaries are still scheduled for June 9, but that is subject to change.
  Saluda County voters will see several contested races.
  Sheriff John Perry will be challenged in the Democratic Primary by his former Chief Deputy Chris Cockrell. The winner of that race will meet another former deputy and current Saluda police officer Josh Price, a Republican, in the Nov. General Election.
  District 2 County Councilman Wayne Grice will face opposition from current Elections & Registration Board Chairman Jack Atkinson in the Republican Primary.
  District 4 Councilman Jones Butler will have two opponents, former county employee Gary Therrell, and Carey Bedenbaugh, who has run for the office before, including 2012 as an independent because of the Republican party filing fiasco.
  All of the senators representing the county face opposition.
  District 10 Sen. Floyd Nicholson will face the winner of the Republican Primary race between Billy Garrett and Bryan Hope in the fall.
  Susan J. Swanson has filed to run against District 25 Sen. Shane Massey in the Republican Primary. The winner will meet Democrat Shirley A. Green in November.
  Democratic District 26 Sen. Nikki Setzler will face the Republican Primary winner, either Perry Finch or Chris Smith.
  Third District U.S. Congressman Jeff Duncan, a Republican will face the winner for the Democratic Primary race, Mark D. Welch or Hosea Cleveland, in the General Election.
  Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has a slew of candidates seeking his office, including Republicans Duke Buckner and Joe Reynolds, who Graham will meet on the primary. Also running are Bill Bledsoe - Constitution, Jamie Harrison - Democrat, and two Libertarians who will meeting in a primary, Keenan W. Dunham and David Weikle.
  Escaping opposition were District 39 House Rep. Cal Forrest, District 82 House Rep. Bill Clyburn, 11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard, Probate Judge Brenda Griffith, Clerk of Court Sheri Coleman, and Coroner Keith Turner.

Body Found In County

  The body of a Bamberg County man was discovered along a rural Saluda County road Sun., April 5.
  The call came into dispatch at 9:30 a.m. about a body  on Oakdale Drive, near the Edgefield County line.
  The man was identified as Joseph Glenn Grubbs, Jr., 28, of Bamberg.
  The death is under investigation by the Coroner’s office, Saluda County Sheriff’s Office and SLED. An autopsy will be performed Thursday.
  Coroner Keith Turner would like to thank dispatch, EMS, Sheriff’s Office, SLED and DPS for their assistance.

Saluda County Has
Four COVID-19 Cases

  According to DHEC, Saluda County now has four COVID-19 cases,
  The zip code chart shows there were two cases in the 29129 zip code, one in 29138 and one on 29832.
  The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Sun., Apr. 5,  announced 132 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, including four additional deaths.
  This brings the total number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 in South Carolina to 2,049, and those who have died to 44.

Tough Times Don't Last

Tough Times Don’t Last, Tough
People (And Communities) Do

Westview Behavioral Health Services
Contact: Hugh Gray, (803) 276-5690
*Saluda Behavorial Health is now affiliated with Westview

  The outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) may be, and probably is, stressful for most people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Appropriately coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and our community stronger.
  Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations.  How you respond to the outbreak can depend on the experiences you have endured in the past, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in. Here are some insights by the U.S. Center for Disease Control.
  Many different population segments of our community may have a greater sense of anxiety and stress during this crisis. These include:
  •Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for COVID-19
  •Children and teens
  •People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers, or first responders
  •People who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use
  Signs of stress during this outbreak can include:
  •Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
  •Changes in sleep or eating patterns
  •Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
  •Worsening of chronic health problems
  •Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
  Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with this stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make our community stronger.
  Reduce stress in yourself and others.
  Sharing the facts about COVID-19 and understanding the actual risk to yourself and people you care about can make an outbreak less stressful. When you share accurate information about COVID-19, you can help make people feel less stressed and allow you to connect with them.
  But don’t overdose on watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting, especially when the message is coming from social media “experts” or people who are experiencing heightened anxiety themselves.
  Also, remember to take care of your body and spirit. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs. Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy, like making safe connections with others. A telephone call with people you trust about your concerns can help alleviate the stress.
  For Parents
  Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.
  Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include
  • Excessive crying or irritation in younger children
  •Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting)
  •Excessive worry or sadness
  •Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits
  •Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens
  •Difficulty with attention and concentration
  •Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past
  •Unexplained headaches or body pain
  •Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
  There are many things you can do to support your child
  •Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts  about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.
  •Reassure your child or teen that they are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.
  •Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
  •Try to keep up with regular routines. With schools closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
  •Be a role model.  Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Make safe connections with your friends and family members.
  For Responders
  Responding to COVID-19 can take an emotional toll on you. There are things you can do to reduce secondary traumatic stress (STS) reactions:
  •Acknowledge that STS can impact anyone helping families after a traumatic event.
  •Learn the symptoms including physical (fatigue, illness) and mental (fear, withdrawal, guilt).
  •Allow time for you and your family to recover from responding to the pandemic.
  •Create a menu of personal self-care activities that you enjoy, such as spending time with friends and family, exercising, or reading a book.
  •Take a break from media coverage of COVID-19.
  •Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for your family and patients as you did before the outbreak.
  We are strong and we shall overcome.

Educator Bill
Whitfield Dies

William (Bill) A. Whitfield, who devoted over 50 years to education in Saluda County, died Fri., Mar. 27, losing his battle with pancreatic cancer.
  Whitfield came to Saluda High School in the mid-60s as the agriculture teacher. In that capacity, he because the advisor of the Young Farmers organization. Under his leadership, the Young Farmers started the Truck and Tractor Pull, which has given thousands of dollars in scholarships to Saluda County students seeking a college degrees in agriculture related majors.
  After teaching agriculture for 16 years, he was promoted to Saluda High School principal, where he served another 16 years.
  In his retirement, he continued to support education, serving as Saluda County’s representative on the Piedmont Technical College Board of Commissioners for  over 20 years. He was instrumental in getting the Saluda County Piedmont Tech satellite campus built.
  See the complete obituary  in the print edition of this week’s newspaper.

Emergency Ordinance

Council Council Issues
Emergency Ordinance

AN ORDINANCE DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR SALUDA COUNTY DUE TO THE THREATS POSED BY THE 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (“COVlD-l9”)
  Whereas, the Governor of South Carolina, by Executive Order 2020-08 has declared that a state of emergency exists by virtue of the threat posed by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (“COVlD-l9”); and
  Whereas, Saluda County has taken and must continue to take, all necessary and appropriate actions in proactively preparing for and promptly responding to the COVID-19; and
  Whereas, as cases of COVID-19 increase, Causing an imminent threat to the health and safety of citizens and visitors to Saluda County, it is necessary for the County to implement emergency planning for anticipated problems and prepare for emergency actions needed to confront the challenges of this public health emergency.
  Now, therefore, be it ordained, in accordance with South Carolina Code of Laws Title 4, Article 9, Section 130 and Saluda County Code of Ordinances Chapter 10, Section l0-35, declares that a state of emergency exists, and that the threat thereof is imminent, and extraordinary measures are deemed necessary to cope with the existing and anticipated situation.
  Be it further ordained, that the Saluda County Council hereby declares, enacts, ordains, and orders the following:
  l. The Saluda County Director is authorized to take any necessary actions for protections of the health, safety, and welfare of Saluda County citizens and visitors including but not limited to the following:
  a. Utilize all available resources of county and municipal government as reasonably necessary to cope with the COVID-l9 emergency; and
  b. Transfer the direction, personnel or functions of county departments and agencies or units thereof for purposes of facilitating or performing emergency services as necessary or desirable; and
  c. Implement the duties and functions assigned in the County Emergency Operations Plan, and
  d. Modify personnel policies to ensure essential public services are met but also limiting unnecessary travel, protecting personnel by utilizing liberal leave for quarantine and isolation, modifying sick leave policies for those individuals who are immune suppressed, infected, otherwise need isolation for suspected infection, or have no other means to care for their K-12 children who are subject to state ordered school closings, and authorizing remote access to the workplace by employees as assigned duties allow; and
  e. Temporarily suspend or alter board, commission, committee, or other similar meetings or authorize remote attendance electronically, temporarily alter open hours or close certain County facilities, temporarily suspend activities and programs including the organized use of county recreation facilities, and other temporary measures that prohibit the unnecessary congregation of people, including the closing of county facilities to members of the general public; and to
  f. Authorize the County Director to suspend the procurement procedures for individual purchases and to implement alternative purchasing procedures, and
  g. Authorize the County Director to allocate funding to emergency expenditures attributable to the departments necessary during the state of emergency. Any emergency allocation will not require an ordinance and will be reflected in subsequent budget amendments; and
  h. Contract, requisition, and compensate for goods and services from private sources; and i. Prescribe routes, modes of transportation and destinations in connection with evacuations or relocations that have been ordered by the Governor of South Carolina, if any; and
  j. Suspend or limit nonemergency activities and prohibit public assemblies; and
  k. Implement curfews or quarantines to prevent the spread of infection; and
  l. Any and all other actions deemed necessary for the preservation of the health, safety, and welfare of citizens, residents, and visitors to Saluda County, South Carolina. This ordinance shall remain in force until emergency conditions associated with COVID-19 have subsided and the emergency activities in Saluda County are no longer necessary to protect the life and property of our citizens, or upon the sixty-first (6lst) day alter the effective date of this emergency ordinance. Effective this l9th day of March, 2020, in the County of Saluda South Carolina.
ATTEST: Karen T. Whittle
Clerk of Court
J. Frank  Daniel, Sr.,
Vice-Chairman .
Justin Anderson,
Council Member
Jones Butler,
Council Member
Wayne Grice,
Council Member

Saluda County Has
First COVID-19 Case

  Saluda County’s first COVID-19 case was officially reported by DHEC on Thurs., Mar. 19.
  The Ridge Spring Family Practice sent out the following notice:
  “We recently treated a patient at Ridge Spring Family Practice who was later tested at Lexington Medical Center and found to be positive for COVID-19. In compliance with the CDC guidelines for healthcare workers, we are restricting our staff from coming into the office for 14 days. After consultation with DHEC, we have already contacted any patients that may have come into contact with the affected patient.
  We have routed the phones to another of our sites so that we can continue to respond to your questions and needs. We have staff available to take your call and, where possible, are happy to assist you with possibly being seen at another one of our locations. We are also working with our pharmacy to help ensure seamless access to prescriptions you may be needing. For all patient questions or concerns, please call 803-685-3100. We plan to reopen this office on April 1.”
  The county has followed the directives of the Governor.
  Restaurants are serving take our orders only. Most churches were closed Sunday and services were broadcast by the pastors over the internet.
  Despite not having large gatherings, many churches are reaching out to the community. Radius Church , for instance, was the site Fri., Mar. 20, for an organzed food delivery to school children. Nearly 90 bags of good were delivered.
  Stores were depleted of paper supplies and bread, but shelves got restocked as quickly as possible. The crowds at the stores got smaller as the week progressed.
  Saluda County Schools supplied over 2000 lesson packets, and a food pickup and delivering schedule is printed in today’s edition.

71st Annivesary

Bobby and Lou Frances Crouch had an unusual 71st anniversary celebration on Mar. 18. Since Saluda Nursing Center is not allowing vistors due to the coronavirus, and Lou Frances is a resident there, Bobby had to greet his wife at the window. They talked to each other over cell phones. (Photo by Kayla Matthews)