100 Year Old Legionnaire

Legionnaire Honored
On 100th Birthday

Cayce Memorial American Legion recently honored post member Ellis F. Temples of Saluda County on his 100th birtday. He was presented the Quilt of Valor, a 100 Year Centennial Legion Coin and a WWII Cap. Saluda native Duane Johnson is also a menber of the post.

SUPERINTENDENT SPEAKS - Pictured left to right:  Post Commander John Hood, Saluda District 1 Superintendent Dr. Harvey Livingston, Legionaries Captain Mary Andrews, USAF Nurse 1961-1966, Commander (Ret) Jim Moore, US Navy, and SFC (Ret) Grady Clark, US Army.  Dr. Livingston, was the keynote speaker at the February American Legion Post 65 meeting. He began his educational career in 1977 as a history teacher, continuing as a head football coach, athletic director, assistant principal and principal.  Dr. Livingston has been in Saluda School District 1 for 22 years. He is innovative in his leadership in moving programs forward for greater educational opportunities for our students. No longer will school district lines stand in the way of student education.  There is collaboration with Batesburg-Leesville, being first in the state, to offer welding in one district and fire fighting in another.  Dr. Livingston, entertained questions from the Legionaries and Ladies Auxiliary following his presentation. Post 65 thanks Dr. Livingston for the great job he does in leading  Saluda School District 1.

Quilting on the Ridge

Quilting on the Ridge - March 8 and 9. The Town of Ridge Spring will have lots of quilts on display.  You may start at the Art Center,  108 Maintenance Building Circle (behind the Civic Center).  Purchase a bag of Goodies for $5.00.  View the painting of a guilt block.  Visit the Civic Center where Creative Sewing Machine Center will have a long arm machine with sewing and quilting machines on display and a sewing machine as a door prize.  The shops downtown will have more quilts on display.  Enjoy the walk, visit the antique shops and boutiques.  There are three restaurants in town, Juniper Restaurant, Migulitos, and Rikard’s Roadside BBQ.  Additional raffle tickets will be available for our featured quilt for $1.00 each or 6 tickets for $5.00. Raffle tickets are available at most stores.  The beautiful quilt made by Anne Curley is on display at the Security Federal Bank. The bank is located  at 636 E. Main Street.  Their phone number is 803-674-1165.  If the bank happens to be closed when you want to view the quilt, it is in plain sight for all to see.

Mansalughter Suspect Sentenced

SHANNON

Allendale Man Sentenced In
Ridge Spring Homicide

  Lamar Maurice Shannon, a 34 year old from Allendale, was sentenced to 18 years without parole for the homicide of Schanen T. Samuels, age 34.
  On Labor Day in 2016, Shannon intentionally drove his vehicle at a high rate of speed into a crowd of people at the Circle K in Ridge Spring in Saluda County. Shannon pled guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter earlier today and the sentence was imposed by Circuit Court Judge Walton J. McLeod, IV. This case was investigated by the Ridge Spring Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant Solicitor Sutania A. Fuller.
  On September 5, 2016, around 8:00 p.m., Samuels and his family went to the Circle K where a friend Shannon engaged in a verbal altercation with one of Samuels’ family members. Samuels reportedly was trying to stop the altercation. Multiple witnesses reported that Shannon backs up his compact SUV on the side of the Circle K just prior to accelerating into the crowd at an extremely high rate of speed. He struck one other individual prior to striking Samuels. Samuels’ body ended up in the roadway over fifteen (15) feet away. Several witnesses report that Shannon then turns up the road and comes back intentionally running over the body again. Shannon’s friend then jumps in the car and they flee the scene. Several witnesses were able to describe Shannon as the driver of the vehicle. Samuels was pronounced dead at the scene.
  A volunteer fireman who witnessed some of the incident pursued Shannon. He and his sons were able to set up a perimeter around the woods where Shannon and his friend were hiding until law enforcement arrived. Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted and the bloodhounds were able to successfully locate Shannon and his friend hiding in the woods.
  The vehicle was abandoned near the woods and later processed by South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Crime Scene agents. Samuels’ blood and hair were recovered from the undercarriage of the trunk area of the vehicle and DNA analysis confirmed that the blood and hair belonged to Samuels.
  An autopsy conducted by Dr. Janice Ross in Newberry determined that Samuels sustained multiple blunt force injuries to include a fractured skull with lacerated brain, fractured ribs, fractured pelvis, and multiple abrasions, contusions, and lacerations about his body abrasions, contusions, and lacerations about his body.

MITCHELL REMEMBERED -  Gov. Henry McMaster ordered that the flags atop the State Capitol Building be flowered to half-staff on Fri., Feb. 1, in honor of Rudolph Mitchell and in recognition of his service to the State  as a member of the House of Representatives and the Public Service Commission. (Photo by Renee Lipson)

RUDOLPH MITCHELL

County ComunityLeader,
Entertainer Rudoph Mitchell Dies

  Rudolph Mitchell, who served Saluda County and the of South Carolina in many capacities, and entertained thousands through the years with piano playiin died  Tues.., Jan. 29, at his home.
  He was 92.
  The youngest of four sons of Sue Bledsoe and Thomas Spearman Mitchell, Ru-dolph spent his entire life on their family farm in Saluda County.  A graduate of Hollywood High School, and Veteran of WW II, he married his next-door neighbor Lenora Werts in 1949.  Together, and with his brother Frank, they established Rudanks Farms – a prize-winning Guernsey Dairy herd.
  He began his public service by serving as Master of the Higgins Grange. Under his leadership, Higgins was awarded Top Ten Grange Community Clubs in the United States.    In 1962, he was elected to the SC House of Repre-sentatives introducing legislation to establish the Saluda County Nursing Home, a fee to support the SC Dept of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and advancement for agriculture and rural communities in SC.
  In 1973, he was elected to the SC Public Service Commission, served twice as Chairman. He retired in 1998.
  He loved Saluda County and worked to improve the quality of life for his neighbors.  He chaired the Saluda Pull-It Festival, faithfully volunteered his musical talents to the Saluda Nursing Home patients, and worked to establish the Saluda Dialysis Center.
  A self-taught musician, he first played the mandolin as a member of the Silver Dew Boys. For 50 years, he and his late friend, Holly Price, entertained as “The Ivory Keys” – a piano and organ duo. They brought beauty and joy with their opening number - “Down Yonder”, waltzes, country classics, gospel favorites, and Rudolph’s jokes and recitations.
  He was a life-long member of Hickory Grove Advent Christian Church and served as Sunday School Superintendent and a member of the choir.  His strong voice could be heard each Sunday praising God in song and resounding “Amens”.
  He received the “Order of the Palmetto” from Governor David Beasley, was named Saluda County Citizen of the Year, and was inducted into the SC Dairy Hall of Fame at Clemson University.
  His two children following him in community service.
  His son Randy, who died a a tragic farm accident a few years ago, served Saluda County as a member of County Council and as Judge of Probate, before becoming a member of the S.C. Public Service Commission, like his father..
  His daughter Molly Mitchell Spearman, like her father, was elected to the S.C. House of Represen-tatives, and is currently the S.C. Superintendent of Education.
  See the complete obituary elsewhere in today’s paper.

Cattlemen's 2018 Banquet

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS - Left to right: McKenzie Maffett, Sarah Shore, President Maffett, Ashley and Kevin Crittendon, s, Texanna Miller, Sabrina Swygert accepting for Mariah Swygert, Ben Boozer. Unable to attend Ben Buzhardt.

CATTLEMAN OF THE YEAR - Lena Clary, Phillip Clary, President Maffett.

PHIL PERRY AWARD - Fred Kesler, center along with members of his family and Phil Perry

Saluda County Cattlemen’s
Association Annual Banquet

by Randall Maffett, President

  On Saturday, December 8, 2018, the Saluda County Cattlemen’s Association held their Annual Christmas Banquet at Saluda High School.
  A large crowd attended even with the wet weather that was occurring that day and evening. Members and their families and welcomed guests were treated to brisket catered by Shealy’s BBQ and enjoyed entertainment from humorist Michael Mills.
  One of the goals of the Association is to provide financial support to its Annual Scholarship and Youth Programs. Some programs that are funded are Saluda 4H and FFA Livestock shows and the SC Junior Beef Roundup. Yearly, the Association sponsors sales for its members to market their high-quality cattle. In February, we hold the Saluda Heifer Sale where 200 excellent open and bred heifers consigned by some of our members are auctioned off and are sold to ranchers and farmers all over the southeast. In August and November, members sale several hundred preconditioned steers and heifers by the truckload through the Saluda Stockyard to buyers around the nation. This year, the Association was able to sale 10000 tickets to raffle off  30 heavy-duty cattle panels and trailer and gave it away at our annual HayDay in April.
  With the great financial support, this the Saluda Cattlemen’s Association last year was able to provide five $1000 scholarships to worthy students who have either have an agriculture background or are majoring in an agriculture degree in college. Ben Buzhardt, Mathematical Sciences major at Clemson University, McKenzie Maffett, Animal Agribus-iness  major at TriCounty Tech with transfer to Clemson University, Texanna Miller, Agricultural Biotechnology major at Clemson University, Sarah Shore, Animal Agribusiness major at Clemson University, and Mariah Swygert, Agricultural Education major at Clemson University were the lucky and most deserving students.
  The entire family of former member Mike Stevens who passed away this year donated a scholarship in his memory of $1000 and this amount was split between the five Association recipients. Ashley (daughter) and Kevin (son-in-law) Critten don represented the family for the award. Also, the family of former member Don Havird who passed this year donated a $1000 scholarship in his memory to student Mathew Boozer. Don’s son Marty Havird and daughter Sheila Mathews presented the award.
  Two annual awards were handed out at the banquet. Fred Kesler, owner of Newberry Feed was awarded the Philip R Perry Educator and Industry Service Award in honor of past Association Secretary and Clemson Extension Agent Phil Perry.  Mr. Kesler has always worked to provide high quality feed and help animal producers in our area any way he can.
  The Saluda County Cattle-men’s Association Cattlemen of the Year Award was given to Phillip Clary. Phillip Clary raises outstanding red angus, gelveih, and angus crossed cattle. He regularly plants annual and summer grasses to provide rotational grazing for his cattle and bales high quality baleage and hay. On his free time, he grows broiler chickens for Amick Farms with four poultry barns.

JOY ANTLEY RECOGNIZED - The Columbia Section, of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. held its 38th Annual “Living the Legacy” Award Luncheon, Saturday, January 19, 2019.  This award honors persons whose contributions to their community and to society personify the legacies and philosophies of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Joy Antley, second from right, director of Saluda’s Christ Central, was among the recipients of the prestigious award.