Clipping Surprise

Surprising Find!

John White came across this old newspaper clipping recently that featured his son John Mac, and Russell Gentry of Saluda at a Tri-County Junior Golfers event for 8-12 year olds. When John read the cutline, he was shocked to discover that one of the kids in the photo was Dustin Johnson, the current number one ranked professional golfer in the world. Also, in the photo is another future Dutch Fork High graduate, who went on to the PGA, Wesley Bryan. Bryan is known as a YouTube golf trick shot artist, but he also became the first S.C. native to win the Heritage Classic at Hilton Head last year.

South Carolina Department of Education
Releases Annual Student Dropout Report

  Columbia, S.C. - The South Carolina Department of Education today released the statewide Report on Student Dropout Rates for the 2016-2017 school year.
  The overall state dropout rate increased from 2.3 percent during the 2015–16 school year to 2.4 percent during the 2016–17 school year. The dropout rate for grades 9 through 12 declined in 52 of the 84 districts from 2015-16 to 2016-17.
  ”Students who are engaged and see the relevance in what they are learning will show up to class on time and not drop out.,” said State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman of Saluda. “I challenge our teachers, schools, and districts to find students’ passions and offer them opportunities so that they can be successful. If we do this, our graduation rates will continue to climb and our dropout rate will get even lower.” 
  The Report on Student Dropout Rates is an annual data collection process that reports students who leave school during a twelve-month period including those who leave over the summer. The process allows those who re-enroll during the collection period and remain in school to be excluded from the count.
  Saluda County Schools had nine dropouts in the ages 13-14, 14 in ages 14-15, 17 in ages 15-16, and 16 in ages 16-17.
  The 13-14 was 1.6 percent, below the state average of 2.7. The 14-15 category was slightly below the state average 2.4 to 2.5, but the 15-16 and 16-17 were above the state, 2.8 to 2.3 and 2.5 to 2.4, respectively.
  The male dropout rate was below the state average for 13-14 year old, but above for the other three category. The biggest disparity is in the 15.-16 age group, where the percentage was 3.7 for Saluda, but only 2.7 for the state.
  Female dropouts were below the state average for 14-15 and 15-16, and above for the other two.
  The white dropout percentage was  well below the state average for 13-14 and 14-15, and slightly above for 15-16, `16-17.
  The non-white rate was the same as the state in the 13-14 and 16-17 ages, but well above the state in the 14-15, 4.7 to 2.6, and 3.0 to 2.2.
  The non-white rate was the same as the state in the 13-14 and 16-17 ages, but well above the state in the 14-15, 4.7 to 2.6, and 3.0 to 2.2.
  The white female dropout rate was well below the state average inn 13-14, 0.7 to 2.3; 14-15, 0.0 to 2.1; 15016, 1.3 to 2.1; and above in the 16-17, 2.3 to 2.0.
  Non-white females were above the state average in 13-14, 5.0 to 1.9; 14-15, 3.5 to 1.0; 15-16, 1.9 to 1.6; and the same in the 16-17, 1.9.
  The white male rate was below the state average in 13-14, 0.0 to 2.9; 14-15, 0.0 to 2.9; and above the state average in 15-16, 3.3 to 2.7; and 16-17, 2.7 to 2.6.
  The non-white male dropout rate was below the state average in the 13-14, .06 to 3.1, and 16-17, 3.0 to 3.1; but above in the other three age groups: 14-15, 5.6 to 3.2; and 15-16, 4.0 to 2.8.

Sales Tax Holiday to Give Small
Businesses a Much-Needed Boost

  COLUMBIA, July 30, 2018—NFIB State Director Ben Homeyer says this weekend’s sales tax holiday on clothes, school supplies, and computers should give a boost to South Carolina’s small businesses. The sales tax holiday because Friday and ends Sunday.
  “Hopefully, it will be a big weekend for small businesses,” Homeyer said. “When you combine the savings of the sales-tax holiday with the usual back-to-school sales, you’re going to help people get a bigger bang for their buck.”
  NFIB is encouraging people to support local businesses by shopping small this weekend, Homeyer said. “When you shop at small, locally-owned businesses, you’re helping your friends and neighbors,” he said. “You’re supporting the businesses that support our schools and charities and create jobs in our communities.”
  To learn more about South Carolina’s sales tax holiday, visit the Department of Revenue’s website at https://dor.sc.gov/taxfreeweekend.
  NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association. To learn more about NFIB in South Carolina, visit www.NFIB.com/SC and follow @NFIB_SC on Twitter.

Tops in State

Named Top State Ducks Unlimited Chapter

  The Saluda County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited was recognized at the South Carolina Ducks Unlimited State Awards Gala on July 14, 2018, in Charleston, SC.
  The Saluda County Chapter was awarded the 2017 Top Chapter in South Carolina and the 2017 National Chapter of Excellence.
   The Saluda County Chapter would like to thank all of the DU volunteers as well as all of the dedicated sponsors. If you are interested in joining Ducks Unlimited please contact a committee member, or look us up on Facebook.
  Pictured left to right; Allison Quattlebaum, Jesse Quattlebaum, Tanner Quattlebaum, Brandon Padgett, Hailey Padgett, and Ethan Forrest.

Meets Famous Sound Engineer

  Marvin Bernstein (left), 103, of Saluda had a great evening Thurs., July 19.
  Bob Heil, “Heil Sound,” (right) was a speaker at the Dutch Fork- Little Mountain Amateur Radio Club. He became a Ham operater at age 15 and said his love of Ham radio, the knowledge he gained from being a Ham operator and the different people that came into his life through Ham radio led him into his career as a sound engineer. 
  He toured with The Grateful Dead, The Who, Jeff Beck & Joe Walsh to name a few. His company Heil Sound supplies sound equipment for many of today’s artists including Carrie Underwood.
  He was invited to exhibit at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. If you visit Hall of Fame,  and you get to the Heil Sound room, the sign mentions Ham Radio, per Mr. Heil’s request.

Harvest Festival 2018 Update

  The Harvest Festival planning is in fifth gear heading down the stretch.   We have a NEW website (www.ridgespringharvestfestival.com) for everyone to visit and find the necessary participation forms and sponsorship/advertising information. We would like to thank all of the sponsors that have contributed so far and want to remind all of the businesses that we can only fund the Harvest Festival with their sponsorship dollars. The top sponsor will be the parade grand marshal this year and will have a prominent spot on our website and booklet. 
  Ridge Spring Harvest Festivalwww.ridgespringharvestfestival.comCome celebrate the harvest at Ridge Springs 34th Annual Harvest Festival. Ridge Spring is a small town located in the heart of what locals call The Ridge Region of South Carolina.
  We have at least six BBQ teams signed up for the BBQ Battle for the Ridge. The top four BBQ cook teams at the top of the points standings will be at our competition this year! There will be a ceremony for the former BBQ King of Ridge Spring where their flag will be lowered, folded and presented to the team during the awards.
  Top prize this year... $1000, a trophy and the team’s flag flown above the town for a year! Spaces are limited and there are early sign up incentives for teams to save money.
  The Miss Harvest Festival Beauty Pageant is making it’s return to prime time September 22nd. For more information please check our website and the pageant will have it’s own Facebook page coming soon.
  See y’all at the Harvest Festival, Saturday, October 13th!

Benefits for Infant

My Story

On April 10th, my husband and I welcomed our twin boys, Henry and Elias. While we were pregnant, we found out our sweet Henry had a congenital heart defect called Pulmonary Atresia (PAIVS). His heart defect caused him to develop abnormal arteries, which is why Henry will need a heart transplant. As he waits for his heart, he will be staying at MUSC. His brother and I are staying with Henry in Charleston, along with my mother during the week and my husband on the weekends. We are grateful for all the love and support from our community as we care for Henry.
JENNIFER WILSON

Benefits Scheduled For Henry

  Two benefits have been scheduled to help with the medical expense of infant Henry Wilson (see above explanation).
  The benefits are:

‘Helping Henry’ Steak Supper

  The Mayson Fire Department and Good Hope Baptist Church are sponsoring a ribeye steak supper Sat., July 21, from 5-7 p.m. at the church to benefit Henry.
  Eat-in or take out plates are $12 each.

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 3 male and top 3 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.

ANDREW JOHNSON

Saluda Attorney Selected as a
June Employee of the Month

  July 16, 2018 – The South Carolina Department of Social Services’ Employee of the Month programs recognizes staff whose work exemplifies our core principles: Competence, Courage and Compassion. Andrew Johnson, assistant general counsel, was recently named a June Employee of the Month.
  “I was very surprised and humbled to be selected, but I think that the recognition is a direct result of the leadership in the office of General Counsel,” he said. “Being selected is an honor for the entire legal team.  I believe you can’t manage lawyers, instead you have to lead and inspire them, and that is the leadership we get from (General Counsel) Tony Catone.
  “I also love my DSS team - from the local DSS team in Saluda County led by Becky McDowell (who still gives me expert child welfare advice from time to time!) to the folks here in the State Office, the person to my left and my right as we work together in our mission for children and families in South Carolina.”
   Johnson is originally from Saluda.
   According to his nomination, Johnson “has a way of seamlessly absorbing the impact of everything that comes at him, no matter how big or complex the task. He completes his work swiftly and effectively but maintains flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Recently, a combination of highly sensitive projects required that Andrew review a total of more than 18,000 documents — and he did it without complaint.”
   He has been with the agency since 2013.
   “I have never had two days that were that the same,” Johnson said. “I feel like the luckiest lawyer that I know to get to come to work here at DSS - and actually make a difference in the lives of children and families.
   “What I love about the job is I have always believed over the years working here that this is how God wants me to use my law license for the benefit of the most vulnerable members of society — abused and neglected children, vulnerable adults and families in need.
   Staff chosen as part of the Employee of the Month Program are awarded lunch with the State Director along with other honorees, a dedicated parking space, a photo and write up displayed at State Office and a write-up sent to their community newspaper.

Historical Society’s Annual Picnic

  The Saluda County Historical Society (SCHS) held their annual picnic at the home of Gene Berry at beautiful Padgett’s Pond on Saturday, July 14, 2018.
  Gene welcomed guests and gave a brief history of how he came to live beside the large pond.  He has restored or rebuilt several of the out buildings at the site of an old grist mill.  Guests were invited to enjoy viewing may of his items collected over the years and to walk around his property.
  Following the blessing by Kenneth Feaster, everyone helped themselves to the wide variety of delicious food.  It was a great, cool place to relax and visit with friends and share a wonderful meal in the picturesque setting beside the mill pond.
  Our sincere appreciation to Gene for opening his home to the SCHS, for his hospitality and his dedication to Saluda County’s historical past.
  The Society is always looking for new members and volunteers.  The museum is staffed by volunteers weekdays 10 -4 and half days on Saturdays.  Please stop by and see the newly renovated Saluda Theatre or call 864-445-8550 for more information.  We will be expecting to hear from you soon!