Charlie Donation
Pictured, L to R, are Ann H. Coker, Kim Chariker and Charlyn H. Staubes. (Standard-Sentinel photo)
Charlie Foundation Donates
To First Steps Program
The Charlie Foundation has made a financial contribution to the Saluda County First Steps “Story Walk” program.
The presentation as made Thurs., Aug. 24, at the Saluda Park.
The Charlie Foundation was created by a bequeath of the late Don Hancock, who succumbed to cancer while he was serving as Saluda County Council Chairman.
The foundation is administered by Hancock’s two sisters, Charlyn H. Staubes and Ann H. Coker, both retired educators. They said education was a priority of their brother.
The “Story Walk” was made possible through a grant, and the use of the park was approved by Saluda Town Council. Town employees installed the reading stations.
The purpose of “Story Walk” is to combine reading with exercise. Eighteen displays are set up around the paved walking trail at the park, allowing the children to read a book from start to finish. At the end of the trail is information, showing how the children can enter a contest to win a copy of the actual book.
County First Steps director Kim Chariker said copies of the book are in both the Saluda County and Ridge Spring libraries.
Also, along the path are painted circles, marking the site of signs. printed in English and Spanish, that suggest interactions in the park between parents and children.
Top Guns Have Successful Season
Richland Creek Top Guns wishes to showcase just a few successes this past shotgun season.
We had many “wins” as a team but wanted to focus on the younger shotgunners for this article. RCTG recognized Thomas Corley as Rookie/Intermediate HOA (Highest Over All) for the 2022-2023 season at the team gathering recently.
Thomas won South Carolina Youth Shooting Foundation (SCYSF) Rookie HOA at Rocky Creek and Clinton House and, along with his teammates, Colton Edmonds and Easton Ridgeway received a first-place team award at Clinton House and won the SCYSF State Championship at Moree’s Sportsman’s Preserve.
In addition to participating in SCYSF, Thomas competed in the SC Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) State Sporting Clays Championship, State Trap Championship, and State Skeet Championship. He finished the championship series as HOA Intermediate Entry Division Runner Up by winning first place in sporting clays and skeet. Lastly, Thomas Corley, Scott Thomas Ulman, and Aiden Morgan scored a second-place award at the 2023 SC Department of Natural Resources shooting sport program Trap Championship.
This year, Thomas obtained the following awards:
•SCYSF Rocky Creek 12/3/22 Rookie HOA
•SCYSF Clinton House 2/18/23 1st Place Rookie Team
•SCYSF Clinton House 2/18/23 Rookie HOA
•SCYSF Moree’s Sports-man's Preserve 1st Place State Championship Rookie Team
•SCTP State Sporting Clays Championship 1st Place Intermediate Entry Division
•SCTP State Skeet Championship 1st Place Intermediate Entry
•SCTP 2023 HOA Intermediate Entry Division Runner Up
•2023 SCDNR Youth Trap Championship 2nd Place Middle School Club Division
In addition to Thomas Corley being recognized; the team also awarded several other awards: most improved shooter went to Hudson Massey; high overall for the intermediate advanced division went to Scott Thomas Ullman; high overall for junior varsity division went to Mark “Wills” Ullman; high overall for the team and the senior varsity division went to Kaeleigh Seigler.
Richland Creek Top Guns Shotgun Club is a 4H based club that operates to educate its members on the importance of firearm safety, while training them in clay target sports. Our head coach and assistant coach are NSCA (National Sporting Clay Association) trained, and our numerous safety volunteers are either NSCA certified or have other recognized safety training. Each shooter must obtain hunters education to participate and sign up for the club. While we have children that range from 5th-12th grade on the team, we are currently accepting new membership for those chil-dren in grades 5th-9th grade only.
If you are interested in learning more, please reach out via email @ jbgodbey This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit richlandcreektopguns.com.
Historical Marker Unveiling
An historical marker unveiling for Rosenwald and Riverside schools will be held on-site on Sept.2, at 11am. It is sponsored by Riverside Community Development Corporation.
Animal Shelter Ribbon Cutting
Ribbon Cutting Held For Animal Shelter
On Mon., Aug. 14, a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Edgefield County Animal Shelter was held. “We are thankful to be partnering with them,” Saluda County Sheriff Josh Price said. “Saluda County Sheriff's Animal Control is now officially up and running! We are currently trapping dogs in the Town of Saluda. Please do not feed any strays.” Pictured above are Sheriff Price, front, County Council Chairman Jim Moore, behind him, and Councilman Carey Bedenbaugh, left.
Ordinance Amendment Would Bring
Detention Center Construction Sooner
At the Aug. 14 meeting, County Council took a step toward bringing the construction of a new detention center closer to reality.
First reading was given to an ordinance amending the Capital Project Sales Tax Act ordinance of 2018. The amendment will continue the collecting of the sales tax until the cost of the new detention center is reached. Since 2018, $4,917,000 has been collected to go toward the new jail.
The ordinance description reads: “an ordinance amending Saluda County Ordinance no. 06-18 entitled “an ordinance to levy and impose a one percent sales and use tax, subject to a referendum in Saluda County pursuant to the Capital Project Sales Tax Act, South Carolina code annotated section 4-10-300, et seq.; to define the specific purposes and designate the projects for which the proceeds of the tax may be used; to provide the maximum time for the imposition and collection of the tax and the maximum amount of net proceeds to be raised by the tax; to provide for a county-wide referendum and to prescribe the contents of the ballot question in the referendum; to provide conditions precedent to the imposition of the tax and conditions or restrictions on the use of the tax revenue; to establish the priority in which the net proceeds of the tax are to be expended for the purposes and projects stated; to provide for the conduct of the referendum by the Saluda County Board of Voter Registration and elections; to provide for the payment of the tax; to provide for the issuance of bonds, in one or more series, tax-exempt or taxable, in an amount not to exceed the aggregate of $9,400,000; authorizing the county administrator to prescribe the form and details of the bonds; providing for the payment of the bonds and pledge of revenues related to the bonds; providing otherwise for the disposition of the proceeds of the bonds; providing for borrowing in anticipation of the issuance of the bonds; providing for the disposition of property related to the bonds; and other related matters” in order to provide certain details as to the sale of the bonds authorized thereby and other matters related thereto.”
County Council Chairman Jim Moore said the action will not require a referendum, although one is included in the original ordinance. The ordinance will require three readings and a public hearing.
Councilman Jack Atkinson said this action will allow the county to borrow funds in anticipation of the collection of revenue, and the project can begin sooner.
The meeting began with a salute to Saluda County Recreation Department’s 10U Angels Dixie Softball World Series Champions.
Moore read the accomplishments of the Rec’s All-Star teams, including six teams winning District Championship, three winning State Championships, and three playing the World Series. He recognized the 8U World Series participants, and the 12U World Series Runners-up.
He then read the names of the coaches and players of the 10U World Series champions, and read a resolution from the county marking the accomplishment.
Moore and Recreation Director William Wideman then presented each coach and player a trophy.
10U Coach Nancy Jordan thanked Council and all the county for the outstanding support of all the teams.
Peggy Merritt, Upper Savannah Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging Director gave a report of offerings for elderly.
New this year is the providing of air conditioners and later, heaters, as part of the American Rescue Plan, which provides services for rural, and underserved areas, of which all of the region qualifies. The plan also included providing weather radios.
Lawn care for those 60-plus who qualify is also offered. Upper Savannah pays a flat fee of $60 per yard and is looking for people to cut the grass.
With the new animal-little control officer beginning work the week of the meeting, Council approved the purchase of a $13,685 dump trailer for litter control. If the officer sees large litter items, he will call the Road and Bridge Department and employees will come pick up the items.
At the beginning of the meeting, Council members told of attending the ribbon cutting ceremony earlier in the day for the Edgefield County Animal Shelter, where Saluda County will send animals.
Council approved awarding a $496,000 bid for construction of a new Coroner’s building, and purchase of additional operational equipment (generator, cooler, etc.). The funding will come form the public building reserve fund. The current Coroner’s building is in the footprint of the new detention center.
Two A.C. units at a cost of $14,300 were approved for the Courthouse. Funding will come from the Building Repair Reserve Account.
The meeting concluded with the following appointments - Debbie Louise Starr to the Behavioral Health Board, Susan Davis Nichols to the Library Board and David Joseph Miller to the Planning Commission.
August Referendum Fails
Referendum Fails
Saluda County’s $7.5 million Public Safety Referendum Tues., Aug. 8, was soundly defeated.
Those opposed tallied 1705 votes, while those in favor only managed 259.
The turn-out was poor, as only about ten percent of the county’s registered voters bothered to cast ballots.
The county held “Community Discussions” on the referendum at seven locations throughout the county in July.
Had it passed the referendum would have provided funds to build an EMS Headquarters, which is currently located in the basement of the Nursing Center. This Headquarters would be able to have an office for Fire Service and house a Fire Truck in the future if needed.
Also, included was an expansion of the Sheriff’s Department to accommodate investigations, filing space, and training.
The estimated cost of the Detention Center will be mainly funded through the Capital Project Sales Tax (the penny sales tax) previously voted on by the public in 2018. Included in the referendum was funds to cover a possible $200,000 cost overrun not covered by the sales tax.
The Town of Ridge Spring had a Town Council election on Aug. 8. Six candidates ran for the three seats.
Vote totals were: James E. Williams Jr., 95; Amanda Derrick, 77; Crys Lybrand, 46; Greg San-der, 44; Ivy P. Silk, 38; and Denise Askin, 33.
Saluda Honors
Champion Teams
Saluda County’s three Dixie Sports World Series teams were recognized with a parade down Main Street and a Courthouse ceremony on Sat., Aug. 5.
Honored were the 10U World Series champions, the 12U World Series runners-up, and the 8U World Series participants.
Saluda Mayor Miliken Matthews read a proclamation declaring Sat., Aug. 5, as 10U World Series Champions Day in Saluda.
Special recognition goes to World Series Champion coach Nancy Todd Jordan, who put-off breast cancer surgery to coach her team to the championship. She had her surgery on Wed., Aug. 9.
Mayor Matthews Visit Legion Meeting
Saluda Mayor, The Honorable Miliken Matthews was the keynote speaker at the August 3 meeting of American Legion Post 65.
Pictured left to right front row: Ladies Auxiliary, Albertha Harp; American Legionnaires, Mary Andrews, Commander John Hood, Saluda SC Mayor The Honorable Miliken Matthews, and First Vice Commander Al Butler.Second Row: Keith Lester, Gehrig Minick, Bob Albert, Saluda County Chairman, The Honorable Jim Moore, Joe Corley, Grady Clark and Paul Potts.
Mayor Matthews made an excellent presentation of three major projects that may take about two years to complete. Project number 1: Street Scapes. Redoing both sidewalks on Main Street from CB Forrest to First Citizens. Project number
2: Parks Project: Replace walking tract at Saluda Park and adding a walking track and restrooms for park behind City Hall. Project number
3: YMCA Reestablish Jaycee Pool area. If cannot do pool may lean toward a splash pad.
Other updates included having received twenty applications for the building that housed the old Saluda County Water and Sewer Authority Office on Church Street.
Plans in making to add a fire marshal to the town code. The presentation was followed by a question and answer period.
2023 World Series Champions
WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!!
For the second year in a row the Saluda County Recreation Department has produced a Dixie Sports World Series champion.
The 10U Angels X-play team won six of seven games in claiming the championship in Fairview, Tenn., on Tues., Aug. 1.
The local 12U Ponytails X-play almost made it two World Series titles in a row, but fell in the championship game to Virginia on Aug. 2, in Alexandria, La.
The county’s record third state champions, the 8U Darlings, lost two close games and were eliminated early in their World Series, also in Fairview.
The champions got their tournament going with a 9-0 win over North Carolina. In that game, pitchers Reese Shaw, Abigail Cockrell and Mac Jones combined to pitch a no hitter.
Next up was North Carolina, who fell 12-0. Shaw and Cockrell combined to throw another no hitter.
Virginia was the next team to fall, 11-3.
Shaw threw an unprecedented third tournament no hitter, as Team SC defeated a tough Fairview host team, 1-0.
Saluda defeated Florida 12-0 to set up the championship game with Fairview, which would have to beat Saluda twice to win the championship.
The local team prevailed in the first game 4-1, but Saluda came back to win the championship with an 8-4 win.
Members of the team and their coaches are: Ava Frye, Mckynzie Jones, Reese Shaw, Abagail Cockrell, Zoey Springs, Zoei Clark, Tenylah Brown, Natalie Jordan, Hayden Maddox, Libby Matthews, Emoree Shealy, Sarah Ann Crawford, coaches Darren Frye, Jamie Gayle, Nancy Jordan.
Teams competing in the World Series in addition to Saluda were: Dothan National, Alabama; West Pasco, Florida; Sabine Parish, Louisiana; West Chatham, North Carolina; Mendenhall, Mississippi; Savannah, Tennessee; Fairview, Tennessee, Pottsboro, Texas; And Amelia County, Virginia.
The 12U team opened with a 4-2 win over N.C. They were sent to the loser’s bracket in their second game when the fell 6-4 to Virginia in extra innings.
They came back with a 10-0, four inning win over Pontotock, Miss., with Saluda’s Ava Forrest pitching a perfect game.
Next, Saluda defeated Alabama 3-0. This set up a meeting with host Alexandria, La., and the S.C. champs prevailed 4-2.
The win put Saluda in the championship series, needing two wins to claim their second World Series in two years.
Saluda got the clutch win in the first game with Virginia, 5-3.
In the championship game, Virginia jumped off to an 8-0 lead. Saluda fought back but fell 8-6.
Playing in the tournament were two teams from Mississippi, the home team from Alexandria, La., Virginia, Tennessee, N.C., Alabama, Louisiana, Florida and Texas.
The 8U Darlings played well, but did not manage a win. They fell to eventual World Series champion Louisiana in the first game 4-3, and were eliminated by Florida, 6-4, in their second contest.
Competing with S.C. state champ were the host team from Fairview, Tenn., as well as Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, N.C., Georgia, Mississippi, Texas and Virginia.
No community has ever produced three S.C. state champions in the Dixie softball 8U, 10U and 12U divisions until Saluda County did it this year.
A parade was held on Main St., Saluda, Sat., Aug. 5, to recognized all three teams.
The area was also represented by the Batesburg-Leesville coach-pitch team, who finished runners-up in the World Series in Hattiesburg, Miss.
The team featured several players from Saluda County.

12U World Series Runners-Up
Saluda County’s 12U Ponytails represented South Carolina amd finished second in their World Series.Players and coaches are (not in order of photo): Emma Enlow (10), Ensley Patterson (2), Kam Campbell (4), Karen Almaraz (16), Kylee McGIohorn (7). Miller Martin (00), Nyla Jordan (13), Adalynn Holsomback (23), Angie Rios (20), Ashlynn Vereen (54). Aubrey Boots Maranati (22), Ava Forrest (3), Blythe Buzhardt (5), Emma Dorn (9), Emma Enlow (10), coaches Lee Wertz, Daniel Patterson, Jeffrey Jordan (Parent photo)
8U World Series Team
Saluda’s 8U All-Star team representing S.C. in the Dixie Softball World Series. They were eliminated after two close losses. Pictured are bottom row, L to R, Autumn Latham, Sophie Patterson, Avery Enlow, Lizzie Patterson, Tinsley Barwick; middle row: Braelyn Barwick, Hudsyn Crouch, Memphyss Lawton., Alexius Lewis, Lynslee Gantt, Emma Buzhardt, Ansley Miles; top row: Coaches Bradley Gantt, Jeff Crouch, Daven “Tubby” Buzhardt, Josh Barwick.