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.

First Meeting of 2019

COUNTY COUNCIL - Saluda County Council held its first meeting of 2019 on Mon., Jan. 14. Members are pictured above, L to R, Chairman Derrick Jones, Vice-Chairman Frank Daniel (District One), D.J. Miller (District Two), new member Justin Anderson (District Three), and Jones Butler (District Four). (Standard-Sentinel photo)

RECOGNIZED - Former County Councilman Gwen Shealy was presented a plaque of appreciation by Chairman Derrick Jones, recognizing her eight years’ service on Council. (Standard-Sentinel photo)

Council Begins 2019 Meetings

  Saluda County held its first meeting of the new year on Mon., Jan. 14.
  The meeting some welcoming of the new, and appreciation of the past.
  At the beginning of the meeting, Justin Anderson, District 3, was welcomed at the new member of Council, and District One Councilman Frank Daniel was elected vice-chairman.
  Chairman Derrick Jones presented a play of appreciation to Gwen C. Shealy and recognition of her eight years of service on Council. Mrs. Shealy chose not to seek re-election, and was succeeded by Anderson.
  Later in the meeting, Council passed resolution of appreciation to two long-time employee who retired last year, Rosa S. Berry, who began working for the county in 1983, and Sheila W. Horne, who began her employment in 1988.
  After the preliminaries, Council held there public hearings for third readings of ordinances. All of them were approved later in the meeting.
  The first ordinance dealt with setback requirements of the building code ordinance. The new amendment reads: “No structure shall be located closer than 25 feet of the right-of-way of a street or closer than 20 feet from another structure. All structures must have a minimum setback of ten feet from property lines.
  The second ordinance dealt with rental agreements for hangars at the airport: “Upon signing the lease agreement, the lessee has 30 days to place an airworthy aircraft in the hangar. Extensions may be granted on a case by case basis as approved by the Airport Commission.”
  The third ordinance should bring about a boost to economic development in the county, as Council approve selling 21 acres around the Town of Saluda’s water treatment plant to County Water and Sewer Authority for $114,300.
  This will allow the two entities to work together in the future on the Town and County’s wastewater treatment needs.
  Council also gave second reading to an ordinance that will have the County joining with Edgefield County on an industrial park in Edgefield County.
  Chairman Jones announced the following Council committees:
  ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE: Derrick Jones-Chm, Full Council
  PUBLIC SAFETY: Justin Anderson - Chm, Jones Butler
  HEALTH & WELFARE: D.J. Miller - Chm, Justin Anderson
  COUNTY PLANNING: Derrick Jones - Chm., DJ Miller
  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Derrick Jones - Chm., DJ Miller
  PUBLIC WORKS I: Frank Daniel -Chm, Derrick Jones
  PUBLIC WORKS II: Jones Butler-Chm., Frank Daniel
  EDUCATION: Derrick Jones-Chm, Full Council
  JUSTICE: Justin Anderson -Chm, Jones Butler
  AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, MILITARY
  AFFAIRS: Jones Butler - Chm, Frank Daniel
  COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY: Frank Daniel-Chm, Derrick Jones
  QUALITY OF LIFE: DJ Miller - Chm, Justin Anderson
  Council approved Assistant Emergency Management Director/Airport Jill Warren’s request to issued a request for qualifications for engineering and consulting services at the airport. This is a requirement to receive future funding from the FAA.
  The transfer of  funds from one account to another for the Fire Board was approved.
  Fire Service Coordinator Josh Morton said the Fire Board used $13,500 from the rollover account when a used tanker truck became available to purchase for the Saluda Department. Morton said there was not enough to go through the process for getting the funds from the Fire Board millage.
  Morton asked that the $13,500 no be transferred from the Fire Board millage account to the rollover account, and he also asked from $8,500 from the Fire Board millage account to purchased equipment for the tanker. Both requests were approved.
 Council approved issuing a letter of intent to purchase a new ambulance chassis.
  EMS Director Jacob Starnes said the letter was needed to purchase a Demer chassis for the ambulance service. The company only makes a set number of the chassis, and the county needs to get on the list to maintain continuity in the ambulance service vehicles.
  Council heard a presentation from Clemson Extension Agents Travis Mitchell and Darcy Schuler, and 4-H’er Allie Trotter.
  Mitchell explained how the extension service helps the county’s farmers, and Ms. Schuler outlined the importance of the 4-H program.
  Ms. Trotter read her essay on what 4-H had meant in her life.
  She included the Saluda Count team won the National 4-H Seafood Cook-off in New Orleans last year. She also pointed out the 4-H’s greatest honor was presented to four recipients at this year’s state 4-H Congress and three of them were from Saluda County 4-H.
  The Extension Service was one of the local agencies whose funding the county cut from the current budget.
  Chairman Jones asked Mitchell haw the $4000 the county usually gave to the Extension was used.
  Mitchell said it went toward paying the phone bill and the many mailing the Extension sends out to farmers and 4-H’ers. He said they were having to take the money out of other accounts to make up the difference.
  Jones said Council get the agencies who really needed the county funds would come to the meetings and ask for reinstatement, an d asked for a motion to reinstate the $4000 funding to the Clemson Extension. The motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously.
  Edgar Lamb and Stanley Fulmer from the Palmetto Tractor Club thank Council for past funding of the club from Accommodations Funds and asked for continued consideration this year.