September Court Term

Court Term Clears 52 Cases

  The two week term of Saluda County General Sessions Court that concluded last week cleared 52 cases.
  Judge Frank Addy presided over the first week, and Judge Eugene Griffith the second.
  There was only one jury trial during the session. In the trail, Jerry Lee Butler was found not guilty of driving under the influence.
  Following are the sentences for the guilty pleas:
  Acey T. Beebe, assault & battery 2nd degree, three years, suspended to 33 days and two years probation. Jeremiah Christopher Blocker, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, Youthful Offender Act (YOA) not to exceed five years, suspended to three days and the years probation.
  Mary L. Bruce, possession of a controlled substance, two days & $150. Tomaz Ledeivence Burton, possession of marijuana over one ounces, YOA not to exceed 0.5 year, suspended to 18 months probation.
  Harry Carter, robbery/common law robbery, strong armed robbery, 12 years, upon service of 12 months, suspended to 36 months probation. Marcus Oliver Cobanccio, unlawful carrying of a pistol, 34 days.
  Roger Lee Cutlip, possession of meth, time served. Zonnie Cyrus Jr., attempted house entry, YOA not to exceed six years.
  Brandon Marvelous Daniels, breaking into a motor vehicle, YOA not to exceed 5 years, suspended to time served, four years probation; common law robbery, YOA not to exceed 6 years, suspended to time served, four years probation. Kevin Chase Franklin, strong armed robbery, 15 years, upon service of three years, suspended to three years probation.
  Richard Allen Gentry Jr., failure to stop for a blue light 1st offenses, 18 months,  upon service of 79 days, suspended to two years probation. Carlos Gerardo Flores, possession of a controlled substance, time served.
  Floencio Gomez-Sajcle, identity fraud, 210 days. Curtis Gregory Graham, assault & battery 3rd, time served & $100.
  Kentavious Jacoby Graham, simple possession of marijuana, one day and $100. Joseph Michael Hale, domestic violence 2nd degree, three years,  upon service of 11 days, suspended to four years probation.
  Joseph Peter Harmon, domestic violence 2nd degree, 90 days. Marcos Hernandez-Hernandez, assault & battery 3rd degree, time served.
  Christopher Levante Herrin, simple possession of marijuana, one day and $150. David Terrell Hunter, domestic violence 2nd degree, six months.
  Wesley Adams James, possession of meth 2nd offense, four years, suspended to time served, three years probation. Tigree Jermaine Johnson, failure to comply with lawful direction of police officers, two days.
  Chester Runtry Jones, burglary 2nd degree (violent), eight years,  upon service of 18 months, suspended to three years probation. Antonio Juarez, resisting arrest, 53 days; possession of a controlled substance, 53 days.
  Christopher Roland Laurie, assault & battery 2nd degree, 24 months, suspended to time served and 24 months probation. Charles Leo Linton, DUI 1st, two days.
  Jessica Sandlin Linton, assault & battery 3rd degree, three days.
  Charles Lamont Long, distribute of crack cocaine within proximity of school, 430 days. George Heyward Means, use of vehicle without permissions, nine months.
  Frederick Lorenz Mathis, assault & battery 3rd degree, one day & $200. David Michael McLeod, assault & battery 3rd degree, nine days & $100.
  Stephen Larinzo Marquell Nelson, common law robbery, 10 years,  upon service of 14 days, suspended to 36 months probation. Willie James Norris, assault & battery 3rd degree, $100.
  Calvin Undray Ouzts, contraband, 30 days; assault & battery 3rd degree, 30 days. Dominique R. Padgett, assault & battery 1st degree, 10 years, upon service of four years, suspended to 36 months probation; discharging a fire arm into  vehicle, aircraft, etc.,, while occupied, 10 years, upon service of four years, suspended to 36 months probation.
  Diego Perez-Guzman, possession of meth, time served. Kym-Michael E-Monie Quattlebaum, common law robbery, YOA not to exceed six years.
  Danilo Garcia-Rodriguez, possession of cocaine, two years, upon service of six days, suspended to one year probation. D’Ondre Alphonso Rouse, possession of a controlled substance, three days & $150.
  Crystal James Smith, assault & battery 3rd degree, two days.  Tyrian Damon Stallings, unlawful carrying of a handgun, 87 days.
  Shannon Leigh Stockton, trespassing, one day. Steven Durant Stone, resisting arrest (2 counts), 60 days.
  John Purrell Scurry, shoplifting, $2000 or less, four years, upon service of 47 days, suspended to two years probation. Dusty Lee Tribble, simple possession of marijuana, $200.
  Christopher Lee Ussery, possession with intent to distribute meth 2nd offense, six years. Lessie Toretha Ware, assault & battery 3rd degree, one days & $100.
  Roosevelt Antonio Williams, Jr., failure to stop for a blue light, time served. Brandy Lynn Wilson, receiving stolen goods, time served.
  Alister K, Wingard, burglary 3rd degree, five years, suspended to time served and 60 months probation. Kendall Lamar Yarbrough, resisted arrest, time served; shoplifting, $2000 or less, four years, suspended to time served and three years probation.

Junior Division - Left to right:  Toddler Miss Charley Frances Driggers; Baby Miss Kyndall Rayne Johnson; Little Miss Sydney Ruth Heath;  Tiny Miss Taylor Ann Bowdler; Wee Miss Tatum Lynn McAlhaney

Senior Division - Left to Right: Young Miss Kurston Alice Long; Young Teen Miss Chaney Suzanne Feagin; Teen Miss Jordan Taylor Stone; and Miss Harvest Festival Hattie Grace Summers

2018 Ridge Spring Harvest Festival
Beauty Pageant Winners

  The Harvest Festival Pageant was held Saturday, September 22, at the Ridge Spring Civic Center with an attendance of family, friends and people who enjoyed such  a beautiful event.  
  The Master of Ceremonies was Bob Jackson, stage director was Qwen Etheredge, sound system by Mike Cook.  The judges were Mrs. Crystal Jewel Crawford, Ms. Samantha Miller and Ms. Karmen Roller.  The Auditor was Ms. Lillie Jackson. 
  Mr. Patrick Arnold the Harvest Festival chairman welcomed all.

Deputy Coroner

Former Sheriff Named
Chief Deputy Coroner

  Former Saluda County Sheriff Dudley Rushton has been named Saluda County’s Chief Deputy Coroner.
  County Council approved Coroner Keith Turner’s request for the position at the Sept. 10 meeting.
  “I am very happy Dudley agreed to accept the job,” Turner said. “He is respected throughout the county. We worked well together the 12 years he was sheriff, and I know he’ll do an excellent job in this position.”
  Turner has been without any paid assistants for some time, and he thanks County Council for approving his request. He also appreciates the work Rodney Minick has done as a volunteer deputy coroner.
  Pictured above is Rushton, left, being sworn in by Judge William Keesley, right, as Turner looks on.

Daughter Of Former Saludan
Becomes Hurricane’s SixthVictim

  The daughter of a former Saludan became Hurricane Florence’s sixth victim in S.C. when she died in a weather related vehicle accident.
  The Lexington County Coroner identified the victim as 30-year-old Rhonda Rebecca Hartley of Leesville, a daughter of Saluda High School graduate Joan Gaylord Singleton. Hartley was pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries she received in a collision. 
  Officials say at 6 a.m. Sunday morning, a pickup truck was traveling east on Pond Brand Road when it drove into standing water on the roadway. The vehicle lost control, went off the side of the road, and struck a tree.

SALUDA COUNTY ESCAPES MAJOR DAMAGE

  Saluda County Emergency Management Director Josh Morton said downed trees were the only damage reported in Saluda County.
  “We were definitely spared the brunt of the storm,” Morton said.

Saluda Theater Open House

The public is invited to an Open House at the Saluda Theater  Sun., Sept. 23rd, 2-4 p.m.
  Tour the newly renovated Saluda Theater. We hope you will be as pleased as we are with what has been done. We are anticipating the installation of a modern screen, projector, and sound system. With the improvements the theater will much more useful to the community.
  The Saluda County Museum will be open and refreshments will be served.

Increased Need for
Volunteers

  If you’ve considered delivering a Meals on Wheels route before, NOW is a great time to step forward.    Contact us today to get started!  Volunteering is easy.     Meals are picked up at your local Meals on Wheels office.  Each route takes about 45 minutes – an hour to deliver and includes up to 8-10 stops.     Detailed directions are available for each route.
  Call your local Meals on Wheels office today!
  Saluda: 864-554-5499   

Win Wedding

(USC photo by Allen Wallace)

Saluda Native, Fiance
Win Free USC Wedding 

  Saluda native CJ Lake and her finance Jon Tamasco found out Thur., Sept. 6, they had one a free wedding given away by the USC College of Hospitality.
  Accoridng to the press release, Lake and Tamasco were one of many couples who submitted their story to be considered for USC’s Love Story wedding.
  Twice a year, professor Annette Hoover’s wedding planning class gives students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in planning a real wedding. The project covers all costs of the chosen couple’s wedding, at the sacrifice of allowing every decision – from the venue to the dress – to be chosen by the students.
  The University of South Carolina is a big part of Lake and Tamasco’s story, according to the couple. The two met at Cool Beans, a coffee shop across from USC’s campus.
  Lake wrote in her submission letter about the night they met: “He stalled by asking me if I wanted to take a walk around campus. He swears my eyes lit up as I accepted his offer because he didn’t know it yet, but during my time at Carolina, I was a university ambassasdor – and he had just signed up for my signature campus tour. I hate how cliché it sounds, but after that night, the rest was truly history between us.”
  Tamasco later brought Lake back to the horseshoe for his proposal. “He often joked that he knew I wouldn’t accept his proposal unless it was on the Horseshoe,” wrote Lake. Tamasco said, at Thursday’s announcement, that it caught Lake a little off guard when he proposed to her on a week day, but he knew it had to be there, at that spot.
  Lake said the decision to have the committee choose them means just as much to her family as it does to them. “We’re just so thankful for this gift. USC has been a huge part of my life, so having it be part of my biggest day of my life makes so much sense.”
  The announcement was made at Spirit Communications Park, where the wedding itself will soon be held, October 29.
  Lake is a daughter of Mike and Marcy Lake and a graduate of Saluda High School.

Council Approves Millage

  Saluda County Council approved the proposed county and School District One millage for FY 2018.
  The actual millage, which is set by the auditor and treasurer, is as follows:
  Saluda County - County Operating, 142.97 ; Piedmont Tech Bond, 2.10;  Law Enforcement, 1.00; Public Bldg. Maint., .50; Economic Development, 1.00; Piedmont Tech. College, 3.00;  Fire Board Service, 1.00. Total County Millage, 151.57.
  Saluda School District One - Operating, 145.87; GB #1,  27.30; GB #2, 5.30;  GB #3, 4.80; GB #4, 9.60. Total School District One 192.87,
‘The total county millage for FY 17-18 was 147.60, and the total Saluda School District One millage was 182.50.
  Council held a public hearing on two ordinance amendments at the beginning of the meeting. One added permit fees to the building ordinance, and another added permit fees to the manufactured home ordinance. No one spoke on either ordinance.
  Before passing the building permit ordinance, Council approved the following fees:
  Building Permit fee schedule applies to - A. Residential - new construction or renovations, including modular homes; B. Commercial - new construction or renovations; C. Pools - Residential or Commercial; D. Signs; E. Accessory Structures
Total Valuation, Building Permit Fee
  $5,000.00 and less, $50.00
  $5,001.00 to $50,000 for the first $5,000.00 plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof up to and including $50,000.00
  $50,001.00 to $100.000, $365.00 for the first $50,000.00 plus $6.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or  fraction thereof up to and including $100,000.00
  $100,001.00 to $500, 000.00, $665.00 for the first $100, 000, 00 plus $5.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or  fraction thereof up to and including $500,000.00
  500,001.00 and up, $2,665.00 for the first $500,000.00, plus $4.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof.
  Demolition - $100; Moving permit- $150; Re-inspection fee - $50, must be paid prior to any rescheduling; Failure to cancel a scheduled inspection or give notice of cancellation - $50; Plan review fee, when required - 1/2 of the permit fee. This fee is paid when plans are submitted.
  The mobile home ordinance amendment adds an administrative issuance fee of $25,00.
  Both readings passed unanimously.
  Second reading was given to an ordinance granting an easement on property owned by the county to the Water and Sewer Authority.
  Council awarded the contract for demolition of the old Road and Bridges Building, and three other small structures was awarded to F.D. Riley and Son who submitted the low bid of $28,500.
  A request by EMS Director Jacob Starnes to apply for a $53,705.30 grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield foundation, which would buy five automated chest compression devices. This is a non-matching grant.
  Council approved upping the salary of the Chief Deputy Coroner from $10,900 to $15,000 at the request of Coroner Keith Turner. Turner said he currently does not have any paid assistants, but has a qualified person in mind who would take the job.

MEMORIAL FLAGS PRESENTED - An impressive American flag dedication ceremony was held during the September meeting of the Saluda American Legion Post 65.  Sisters presented flags.  Ann Hancock Coker presented a flag in memory of their father, a veteran of World War II. Mr. Charlie Ernest Hancock served as Staff Sargent in the U.S. Army in European Theater. He saw combat action in several campaigns including Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, Central Europe, and Germany. His personal decorations include the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was wounded in France in July 1944, and was captured by Nazi forces in December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge. Her sister, Charlyn Hancock Staubes, presented a flag in memory of their brother, Marine Colonel (Retired) Don Hancock. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Colonel Hancock deployed to Iraq in January 2005, the Iraq War which was known as Operation Iraqi Freedom. These flags memorialize the sacrifice and service of these two heroes to our great nation and will take their place to be flown on the Saluda County Courthouse Square during appropriate times. The American Flag is a symbol of our freedom, and our liberty.  Pictured left to right: Past Post Commander Al Butler, Ann Hancock Coker, Charlyn Hancock Staubes and Post Commander John Hood.