Spreaman Not Seeking Re-election
Spearman Through The Years
Molly Mitchell Spearman has been involved in politics for most of her life. In the top photo, she observes her father Rudolph Mitchell being sworn in as a member of the S.C. House of Representatives, as her mother Lenora and brother Randy look on. In the middle photo, Lt. Gov. Nick Theodore swears Molly in to the same House of Representative seat her father held. Her son Mitchell, husband Bill, and daughter Katie witness the event. In the bottom photo Spearman is sworn in as S.C.’s Superintendent of Education by Gov. Henry McMaster in 2015.
Spearman Will Not Seek Re-election
Saluda County’s Molly Spearman announced last week she will not run for a third term as South Caro-lina Education Superintendent, saying after 40 years of service as a teacher, lawmaker and education official she wants to devote more time to her family.
Spearman, 67, made the announcement in a statement five months before filing for the 2022 election begins and 13 months before the election. She also said she plans to keep working up until her replacement is sworn into office.
“Until the end of my term in January 2023, I will continue to work diligently to help us rise out of the pandemic stronger than before while advocating for the needs of our students, educators, and families,” Spearman said.
Spearman pushed for consolidating smaller school districts backing financial incentives passed by legislators. By the end of this school year, 11 districts will have merged into five, leaving the state with 73 traditional school districts in its 46 counties.
Spearman’s state Education Department also took over three districts from local officials after too many schools were rate
Spearman grew up on a dairy farm in Saluda County, starting her education career as a music teacher and assistant principal. She spent four terms in the South Carolina House before becoming an administrator at the state Education Department and executive director of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators.
“I am humbled that a little girl from a dairy farm in Saluda County has had the chance to serve her community and state for over forty years,” Spearman said. “My husband — Bill, children — Mitchell, Katie and Lee, and grandchildren — Molly Brooke and Marilyn Ann now deserve my full attention.”
BROWN
Arrest Made
Devonta Brown has been arrested and charged with two felony counts of Unlawful Conduct Towards a Child. On Monday October 25, 2021, Saluda County EMS responded to a residence in Saluda County in reference to a two month old infant being unresponsive.
The infant was transported to Palmetto Richland Hospital where the infant began receiving medical attention. Due to the nature of the medical incident, the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation.
The medical tests show the infant is suffering from injuries to the head and brain. Medical tests further showed that the infant had older head injuries to the brain as well.
The investigation has revealed that Brown caused these injuries and has been arrested by deputies. Brown is currently incarcerated at the Saluda County Detention Center. Bail has been set at $200,000.
The two month old victim is stable at this time. Sheriff Price asks that you please pray for the full recovery of the infant.
2021 Hall Induction
INDUCTEES - Saluda County Schools inducted the 2021 Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor Class at halftime of the Saluda-Columbia football game, Fri. Oct. 22. Pictured, L to R, Ring of Honor - Wayne Grice and Charles Long; Hall of Fame - Luke Brown, Lindsay Hawkins, Steve O’Kelley, and Tracy Palmore. (SHS photo by Dean Roesner)
Recent Arrest
John Vance Canday has been arrested and charged for Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor.
Canday is currently incarcerated at the Saluda County Detention Center. Bond has been denied.
Sheriff Price commented, “I commend the dedicated work of the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office and we will use every resource possible to bring those to justice who prey on the young and innocent.”
Saluda 14th
Safest City
According to a report on Safewise.com, Saluda has been named the 14th safest city in S.C.
The Top 20 is as follows:
#1 Woodruff
#2 Fort Mill
#3 Tega Cay
#4 Mount Pleasant
#5 Bluffton
#6 Isle of Palms
#7 Hanahan
#8 Walhalla
#9 Central
#10 Mauldin
#11 Duncan
#12 Port Royal
#13 Clemson
#14 Saluda
#15 Simpsonville
#16 Clover
#17 North Augusta
#18 Fountain Inn
#19 Charleston
#20 Lexington
For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.
70 cities met criteria to be considered for our 2021 list.
Half of the cities on our list moved up in the rankings this year.
Woodruff climbed 26 spots to land on top as South Carolina’s new number one safest city.
Duncan and Clemson each debuted on the safest cities list this year.
Isle of Palms fell from the top spot to number six this year, due to an increase in reported property crimes. It still boasts the lowest violent crime rate with just one aggravated assault reported.
Your odds of falling victim to violent crime in the safest cities are 2 out of 1,000, versus 5 out of 1,000 throughout the state.
Seven cities (35%) reported fewer than 10 violent crimes: Woodruff, Tega Cay, Isle of Palms, Walhalla, Central, Duncan, and Saluda.
The property crime rate in the safest cities is 18.9 incidents per 1,000—that’s 10 fewer incidents than the rest of the state.
Five cities (25%) reported fewer than 100 total property crimes: Woodruff, Isle of Palms, Walhalla, Duncan, and Saluda.
Eagle Rescued
EAGLE RESCUED - Chief Deputy Coroner Dudley Rushton, left,l and Sheriff Josh Price pose with the bald eagle rescued in Saluda County last week.
Bald Eagle Rescued
On Oct. 11, a bald eagle was found injured in the roadway on Greenwood Highway. The Sheriff’s Office responded and secured the eagle. It was then transferred to a rehabilitation center by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources where it is expected to make a full recovery.
Thank you to everyone involved in rescuing this magnificent creature.
County Council
Discusses Property
Saluda County Council discussed several property-related issues at the Mon., Oct. 11, meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting, the agenda was amended to allow council to voted on letting the chairman or county director sign closing papers on 307 West Butler Ave. Also, mentioned was the possibility of purchasing property adjacent to the building.
First reading was given to an ordinance approving the transfer of real property located at to 101 Civic Street, Saluda, to the YMCA. Chairman Jerry Strawbridge said this property is a small strip of land the county owns near the swimming pool and tennis courts. Information is limited, but the YMCA may get the pool and tennis courts operational again.
A public hearing was held prior to the third reading of an ordinance that will designate Saluda County as a Second Amendment Sanctuary.
Council gave second reading to an ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes by and between Saluda County and Project Maple Leaf. The ordinance includes having Project Maple Leaf in a multi-county business park.
First reading was given to three ordinances:
11-21, an ordinance providing for the naming of roads and the addressing of properties in Saluda County. Emergency Services Director Josh Morton said this will clear up errors made in the original ordinance and will benefit EMS, law enforcement and the elections office.
12-21, an ordinance to repeal No. 11-91, naming of roads and the addressing of properties in Saluda County.
13-21, and ordinance to adopt a false fire alarm ordinance for the County of Saluda. This ordinance it to encourage business and home owners to maintain alarms systems properly.
Council gave EMS Director Jacob Starnes permission to advertise for a Request for Proposal for an ambulance box remount to a new chassis.
Trey Fingerlin was reappointed to the Tax Appeals Board.
TALITHA KAY
GGC’s Talitha Kay
Honored by SC Chamber
GREENWOOD, SC (October 11, 2021) -Talitha Kay, Assistant Human Resources Manager at the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC), has been named the 2021 HR Rising Star by the SC Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Kay is the daughter of Larry and Rebecca Dasher of Saluda.
The statewide award recognizes an individual with fewer than 10 years of professional experience in human resources who has already made an impact. Kay is a 2014 graduate of Lander University with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Healthcare Management. She worked at GGC as a college intern and joined the Center as a Human Resources Generalist upon graduation.
She was promoted to Assistant Human Resources Manager in 2020. In addition to her HR duties, Kay is part of the GGC COVID Task Force and the Center’s Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Council. She has also served as President of the Piedmont Area Human Resource Association (PAHRA). “T alitha is a pleasure to work with and her delightful demeanor, professionalism, and initiative have endeared her to all of the employees at GGC,” said Steve Skinner, MD, Director of GGC.
“She truly embodies the epitome of a human resources professional- working within our organization and the larger profession to improve our workplace and support our workforce every day. We are fortunate to have her on our team!”
The award was presented at the statewide meeting of Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in Myrtle Beach in September.
2021 Hall of Fame
2021 Hall of Fame, Ring of
Honor Class Announced
Saluda County Schools has announced the 2021 Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor Class.
Named to the Hall of Fame are Luke Brown, Lindsay Hawkins, Steve O’Kelley and Tracy Palmore. Named to the Ring of Honor, which recognizes outstanding volunteer supporters of the SHS athletic program, are Wayne Grice and Charles Long.
The inductees will be recognized at halftime of the Oct. 22 SHS football game.
Luke Brown is one of the few athletes in Saluda High history to letter in four sports, football, basketball, baseball and track, all four years he was in school. In football he played wide receiver, wingback, tailback, and quarterback. His freshman year he broke his neck in a game against Irmo. He recovered in time to play varsity basketball. He was all-conference in basketball his junior year. In track, he competed in many events, competed in the state track meet for four straight years, and won the state pole vault championship in 1972. He was Most Valuable player of the 1972 baseball team.
Lindsay Hawkins graduated from Saluda High School in 1996. She was a member of three state championship SHS bands and was drum major of the 1995 band. She lettered three years in basketball. She lettered four years in softball and was all region in 1996. After graduation, she received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, where she was a three time rugby All-American, and is one of the first two women to be inducted into the Navy Rugby Hall of Fame. Following graduation, she served from 2000-2007 in the U.S. Marine Corps, reaching the rank of Captain. She was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Steve O’Kelley led the most award winning band program in Saluda High School history, serving as band director from 1980-1994. During that time the Marching Tigers earned over 29 first place finishes in competitions. The band was Upper State Champions in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993, and State Champions in 1989, 1990, 1992 and 1993. A U.S. Army veteran, O’Kelley graduated from Lander University in 1973.
Tracy Palmore lettered in three sports at SHS. A four year lettermen in football, he was the MVP in 1995. He was the point guard on the basketball team, and was named All-State in baseball in 1995, when he batted .415 had hit five home runs. He was a recipient of the Dr. Robert Sawyer Award for two years, and was selected for Boys State in 1996. He signed to play wide receiver at North Greenville University in 1996. He joined the National Guard in 2000 and was deployed to Iraq from 2005-2006.
Wayne Grice graduated from Saluda High School in 1972, and is a former County Councilman and Saluda volunteer fireman. For 40 years he has operated the clock for Saluda High varsity and junior varsity football games, and has operated the clock at the basketball games for 25-plus years. He and his family have sponsored meals for the SHS athletic teams and coaches for over 40 years, and served the football per-game meals for five years.
Charles Long graduated from Saluda High School in 1975. He served as an assistant junior varsity coach in 1978, 1980 and 2003. He has filmed football games, cooked Boston Butts to raise money for the baseball teams for three years, and Booster Burgers to sell at the football games. He assisted in the installation of irrigation systems, fencing and batting cages at the practice fields, and has been a member of the chain crew at home football games since 1998.
Saluda Nursing Center
Named 4th Best In State
Saluda Nursing Center has beeen named the fourth best nursing home in S.C., according to a survey conducted by “Newsweek” magazine.
Selecting the right nursing home for a family member has always been difficult and never more so than during the age of COVID-19. To try to make it easier, “Newsweek “ has once again partnered with respected global data research firm Statista to create an annual ranking of America’s Best Nursing Homes.
This year’s ranking identifies the nation’s top nursing homes based on three critical criteria: overall performance data, peer recommendations and each facility’s handling of COVID-19, relative to in-state competition. Nursing homes in the 25 states with the highest population size, according to the United States Census Bureau were included in the study.
Methodology - America’s Best Nursing Homes 2022 highlights the nation’s top 450 nursing homes out of 11,849 analyzed. The rankings are based on performance data, peer recommendations and handling COVID-19, relative to in-state competition. Nursing homes in the 25 states with the highest population size, according to The United States Census Bureau (2020) were included in the study.
Recent Drug Arrests
The Saluda County Sheriff’s Office’s traffic units have made the following recent Narcotic Arrests.
Anthony Gillian – Possession with Intent to Distribute
Methamphetamine, Driving Under Suspension
Dennis Bailey – Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Brittany Anderson – Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of Cocaine
James Adams – Possession of Methamphetamine
Emily Moore – Possession of Methamphetamine
The Sheriff’s Office continues a proactive approach to remove these dangerous drugs off the streets.