Inspiring Tiger

Saluda’s ‘Rudy’

Notre Dame football had Rudy. Saluda High football has Fully! Fri. night the the Tigers’ popular, long-time waterboy, ball boy, manager turned football player Fulton Winn caught a touchdown pass in the Saluda’s 55-12 win at Ridge Spring-Monetta. His teammates got a 15-yard penalty when they all rushed to the end zone to celebrate with Fulton, He was hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates when they gathered to sing the Alma Mater after the game ended. (Photo by Trey Fingerlin)

Parents Help Children Hurdle Transition Back to School

  As the summer winds down, parents begin to prepare for the new school year by buying school supplies, arranging after school care, and meeting with school staff. One more item that should be on the “to do” list is talking with their children about transition.
  They say that “the only thing permanent in life is change.” That may be true, but even though change is a regular part of life, it doesn’t come easily – especially for teens and tweens.
  Studies show that even adolescents who haven’t tried drugs or alcohol are more likely to start during times of transition in order to cope with stress. But don’t worry – while change is a part of life, risky behavior like drug and alcohol use doesn’t have to be. Here are a few thoughts you might put into practice to help keep your child healthy – and even happy! – during transition periods.
  Even when life events or transitions are typical and expected – starting puberty or moving up a grade — those times may feel like a big deal to your tween or teen (and to parents, as well).  It’s the newness, the anticipation and the fear of the unknown that causes anxiety and stress. And, certainly, some transitions can be particularly tough.
  Parenting is all about clearing these hurdles of transition. Each step along the way — first tooth, first day of kindergarten, first time behind the wheel — we celebrate our child’s new milestone, but deep down, a part of us is heartbroken as a chapter of our child’s life comes to an end.
  “Periods of transition can be hard for anyone — children and adults alike,” explains Jill Longshore, Director of Treatment Services at Westview. “And what often happens during periods of transition is anxiety and stress levels go up, which may make a person more at-risk for alcohol and substance misuse.”
  Going back to school, in itself, can be a transition. An even greater transition a child goes through is the advance from elementary school to middle school or from middle school to high school. Your child has just gone from being a big fish in a little pond to a little fish in a big pond. “Cool” older kids can be intimidating and may even purposely try to make younger students feel unwelcome. Freshmen boys tend to have a particularly hard time with this transition because the girls in their grade want to date juniors and seniors – and they ignore all the boys their own age.
  Here are the top 5 reasons teens use drugs during transitions:
  · To combat loneliness, low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression
  · To mentally “check out” of family issues or school trouble
  · To ease discomfort in an unfamiliar situation
  · To look cool or change their image/reputation
  · To fit in with a desired group of friends
  So what can parents do to help our kids successfully handle big life changes like going back to school, moving to a new town and puberty?  In a nutshell, the answer is maintain a dialogue.
  “When your children are in a transition time, talk to them about it,” says Longshore. “Try saying: ‘You’ve started a new school or school year. I know when I was your age, it was a little scary. How are you feeling?’”
  “Let them know that their anxieties are normal. Let them know that you understand it, and afterward ask, ‘How was it for you? What are some of the good things you experienced? Oftentimes, I suggest parents ask their children, ‘What was the best part of your day?’ to open dialogue and increase their focus on positive aspects of their lives.’”
  Remember that the conversation must be a two-way street. Listen to your child. Try not to interrupt with your running commentary. If you’re thrown off guard by something your child says, say you’ll get back to him/her. Then, talk it through with a spouse or friend, and readdress the topic with your child when the time is right.
  Also, don’t expect kids to open up without some encouragement or to always show what they are feeling. Some children never seem stressed about academics – it appears to come easy to them. If you investigate, though, you may be surprised to hear that it is not the case. These children may be stressed but don’t show it like other kids do.  This means it’s important to check in with kids and probe a bit. Things are not always what they seem.
  Parents must be actively involved in helping their children clear the hurdles of transition, and communication is the key to the process.

Westview Behavioral Health Services
Contact: Hugh Gray, (803) 276-5690

First Day of School

First Day Of School Made Special
For Children Of Fallen Officers

Some Saluda County law enforcement officers combined to make the first day of school, Mon., Aug. 20, memorable to two special Saluda Primary School students, Jase, the stepson of fallen Deputy Sheriff Dale Hallman, and Autumn, the daughter of fallen Johnston Policeman Eric Chapman. “I would like to say a  big thank you to the Saluda County Sheriff’s Department, Town of Saluda Police and Highway Patrol for coming and taking the time to be there for my daughter,” said Eric’s widow Tonya Powell Chapman, “Thank you, Uncle John Perry, for walking Autumn to her class. This is something she will always remember. We love our blue line family.” Dale’s widow Brandi said, “I wish with everything in me that Dale could have been there with us, but having these men stand in for him helped dull the sting a little. And in the words of Jase, ‘they came to see me this morning because they love us"’. (Photos by Evelyn Powell)

New Ridge Spring-Monetta
High School to Become Reality

  Friday, August 17th was a momentous day for the Ridge Spring and Monetta communities.
  Representatives, Board of Education members and local leaders came together to turn the first shovels of dirt as the new school begins it construction. Teachers and students applauded as they were promised a new school that would be equal to any other school in Aiken County.
  Yes, there will be lockers which the school has never had, and yes, the baseball field will get its long awaited lights. In addition, the school will feature enhanced technology and security.
  The new facility will be completed by the end of 2019 and will cost an estimated $40.6 million. As the high school is finished, there are plans to add a new elementary school, creating a campus that houses all three schools: elementary, middle and high schools.

Benefit Scheduled For Henry

  A benefit has been scheduled to help with the medical expenses of infant Henry Wilson

Henry the Heart Warrier
5K Run and One Mile Walk

  Saturday, August 25,  8:00 AM, Saluda Town Park, S Jefferson Street, Saluda.
  $25 per participant, run and walk.  Awards for the top three male and top three female runners
  Contact Debbie Kirkland to register:  Debkirkland67@gmail. com, (864) 993 - 1966.
  All proceeds will go to Colton and Jennifer Wilson for Henry’s medical expenses.
  Race route. (Motorist can expect some delays):
  5k Run • Start at park entrance on S Jefferson Street
  • Turn (L) onto – Pencreek Roadt
  • (R) onto – The Heights 1st Ave
  • (L) onto – Bonham Street
  • (R) onto – S Wise Street
  • Cross Hwy 378 (Mc Cormick Hwy) • (R) onto – Matthews Drive
  • (R) onto – N Calhoun Street
  • Cross W Butler Street • Cross Hwy 378 (Mc Cormick Hwy)
  • (R) onto - W Eutaw Street
  • (L) onto - S Wise Street
  • (L) onto - Bonham Road
  • (R) onto - S Banks Street
  • (L) onto - Pencreek Road
  • Enter Saluda Town Park On Pencreek Road
  Terry Times will

45 Year Sentence

ROBERT GOODWIN, JR.

Man Sentenced To 45 years
In Prison For Home Invasion

  Robert Goodwin, Jr., age 29, of Maryland, pleaded guilty Wednesday for his role in the home invasion in Saluda County of the owners of Tidwell Jewelers, Lynda and Danny Tidwell.
  Goodwin was sentenced to forty-five (45) years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections by Circuit Court Judge Eugene C. Griffith, Jr., for Burglary First Degree, Armed Robbery, two counts of Kidnapping, and Criminal Conspiracy. Goodwin committed these crimes with his nephew, Abin Lee Lowman, and two others. Goodwin has a previous Manslaughter conviction out of Maryland. Solicitor Rick Hubbard and Assistant Solicitor Sutania Fuller handled the prosecution of this case.
  Solicitor Rick Hubbard commented that “this was a horrific, violent crime that robbed the Tidwells of their sense of peace. Their lives will never be the same, but we hope as each of these offender’s cases are resolved, they gain more closure.”
  Lowman, who is from South Carolina, drove to Maryland to recruit Goodwin, James Wilson, and Joshua Darien to assist in the home invasion burglary and robbery of the Tidwells.   The four men conducted surveillance of the Tidwells for approximately a week prior to the burglary, learning their daily routine and habits.  They purchased a handgun in Spartanburg and ammunition from a Walmart in North Augusta.  They also bought dark clothing, gloves, walkie-talkies, and zip-ties in preparation for the home invasion.
  Shortly after midnight on March 8, 2017, Goodwin, Wilson, and Darien entered the Tidwells’ residence through a back window.  Goodwin was armed with a .380 caliber pistol he had stolen from one of the Tidwells’ vehicles.  As they entered the residence, they shouted “ATF” and ordered the Tidwells from their bedroom. The three men then forced the Tidwells to lie face-down on the floor and tied their hands behind their backs with zip-ties. The Tidwells were then separated and threatened for information as to valuables in their home. Mr. Tidwell was questioned about the codes and keys to his jewelry store while a gun was pressed to his head.    At one point, Goodwin took Mrs. Tidwell’s driver’s license and showed it to Mr. Tidwell, saying “I see your wife is an organ donor.  You don’t want her to be donating any organs, do you?”  The Tidwells endured this terrifying ordeal for approximately two hours.
  As Goodwin, Wilson, and Darien threatened the Tidwells and searched the home, Lowman waited outside on the back porch for the keys to the jewelry store, alarm and safe codes.  He then drove to Johnston with the intent to rob the Tidwells’ jewelry store.  His plans were interrupted when he was stopped and arrested by the Johnston Police Department for a traffic violation. 
  Goodwin, Wilson, and Darien stole the Tidwells’ vehicle and drove to Aiken County where they abandoned the vehicle. The three men were also captured on video surveillance together at a local establishment in Aiken.  They took jewelry, cash, and other items from the home.  Some of the items taken from the home were recovered in Aiken. All three men eventually made it back to Maryland.
  The Tidwells were able to free themselves shortly after the men left the residence and seek help from neighbors.  The Saluda County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and requested the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Officers were able to quickly identify all four suspects and Lowman’s vehicle using video surveillance from the Tidwells’ neighborhood and information from a suspicious vehicle report involving all four men that occurred a week prior to the home invasion. In searching Lowman’s car after his arrest in Johnston, law enforcement found Maryland identification cards belonging to Goodwin and Wilson, Goodwin’s cell phone, and ammunition for one of the pistols used in the crime.
  Goodwin, Darien, and Wilson were all eventually arrested in Maryland and brought back to South Carolina.  They have each pleaded guilty in Federal Court for their role in this crime.  Darien’s and Wilson’s state charges are still pending.
  Lowman was tried and convicted for these crimes in Saluda County the week of June 18, 2018.  He was sentenced to Life without the possibility of parole.
  During the night of the crime, Lowman instructed Goodwin and the others to kill the Tidwells if things went wrong. At Goodwin’s sentencing, Mr. Tidwell stated: “If it were not for God Almighty intervening, we would not be here today.”
  This case required several agencies working together. We are grateful to the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland, Prince George County Police Department in Maryland, Greenville Department of Public Safety, Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office, Johnston Police Department, and Aiken County Sheriff’s Department for their work on this case.

Resource Officers Now At Each District School

2018-2019 School year is here. Sheriff John C. Perry, Saluda District One and Saluda County Council, would like to welcome two new Resource Officers. Lucy Phillips will be located at the Saluda Primary and Elementary school and Leslie Pinckney will be located at Hollywood Elementary. Lee Morris will be at the Saluda Middle School and Chris Crouch at the Saluda High School. All are excited about having a Deputy at each school in District One and look forward to a safe school year. (From left to right pictured above) Lucy Phillips, Leslie Pinckney, Capt. Toby Horne, Sheriff John Perry, Lee Morris and Chris Crouch)