Virtual Court

County Holds
Virtual Court

  Saluda County held it first General Sessions Court last week.
  All activities were centered in the Courthouse, but the judge remained in his chambers, the probation personnel in their office, while the defendants came to the courtroom and reacted to proceedings on laptops.
  Clerk of Court Sheri Coleman said the set-up worked, but she doesn’t know how the county can hold a jury trial in the near future, because of social distancing.
  Following are the sentences on guilty pleas:
  Oreakie Rashawn Dukes, drugs, manufacturing meth, Youthful Offender Act (YOA) not to exceed six years, suspended to timed served and three years probation.  Benjamin Arnold Stephen Dorn, adulterate urine or bodily fluid sample to default drug or alcohol test, 1st offense, 45 days.
  Charles Lamount Long, assault & battery 2nd degree, two years, suspended to four days time served, six years probation; resisting arrest, four days. Brandi Shanea Bryson, unlawful carrying of a pistol, three days.
  Willie Dewayne Dublin, use of a vehicle without owner’s permission for temporary purposes only, 69 days. Rebecca Deanne Garrett, possession of other controlled substances, five days.
  Ubaldo Ramirez, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, time served. Seratone Leyoa Jr., use of a vehicle without owner’s permission for temporary purposes only, 84 days.
  Mark Lane Mathias, DUI 1st, 30 days. Oscar Lee Daniels Jr., domestic violence 2nd degreee, three years, upon service of 13 days, suspended to two years probation.
  Joseph Peter Harmon,   domestic violence 1st degree, seven years, credit for 432 days times served. David Lawrence Coleman Jr., trespassing, 30 days. Mary Ann Tyler, possession of a controlled substance, one day.
  Markavies Lintre Bonds, unlawful carrying of a pistol, three days. Phoebe Fayell Norris, possession of over one ounce of marijuana, three days.
  Thomas Junior Tolen, possession of crack cocaine, 1st offense, two days. Shaquille Oneal Goodlett,  contributing to the delinquency of a minor, three years, suspended to two days and three years probation.
  David Deaun Smith, shoplifting $2000 or less, five years, suspended to 129 days time served and five years probation. Artis D’Lante A Jene McGraw Foster, simple possession of marijuana, 30 days, suspended to two days time served.
  Brian Maxie Rhodes possession of controlled substance in Sched. I to V, 1st offense, 90 days, suspended to seven days times served. Albert Nole Mosley, failure to stop for a blue light, 90 days, suspended to one day times served. Taras Michael Parker, DUI 1st, 30 days.

Friends Continue Tradition

  Jasper T. Moon Jr., Leroy Chapman, and Colie Long Jr. enjoying the nice weather on a charter boat in Maryland Chesapeake Bay. The Coronavirus pandemic severely hampered this year’s fishing, including their annual trip to Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, for seabass; however, they were able to get together last week to fellowship and do a litter fishing before the season’s end.
  They all were reared in the Hollywood Community of Saluda, South Carolina, starting their education at Hollywood Elementary/Middle School. Chapman left Saluda in 1961 for Washington, DC, finding employment with the Department of the Navy. Moon went into the military in 1963, traveling to many states and foreign countries while serving in the United States Army, including the Republic of Vietnam, and ending his career in Washington, DC. Long left Saluda in 1964, joining Chapman at the Department of the Navy. Although Moon’s path took him in different directions, the trio stayed in contact with each other before reuniting in the Washington area.
  Chapman and Moon still subscribe to the Saluda Standard Sentinel for hometown information. They all agree that the values they learned while growing up in Saluda propelled them to the pinnacle of life they now enjoy.

Pedestrian Dies

Dog Walking Pedestrian
Dies When Struck By Car

  On the early morning of September 2, 2020, a pedestrian walking her dog, was struck by a vehicle near the intersection of Highway 178 (Greenwood Hwy.) and North Wise Road in Saluda.
  The victim was identified as Akemi “Reka” Powell, 83, of Saluda.  
  The incident occurred at approximately 6:50 AM on Hwy 178.  A driver in a 2020 Ford Edge was headed east along Hwy. 178 when Ms. Powell was struck by the vehicle.  
  Ms. Powell was transported by Saluda EMS to Self Regional Medical Center, but unfortunately died while in route.  The driver of the vehicle was not injured.
  The collision is still under investigation by the SC Highway Patrol and the Saluda County Coroner’s Office.

589 County COVID
Cases, 12 Deaths

   Saluda County’s COVID-19  cases have risen to 589, with 12  deaths.
  The latest DHEC report says the county has had 3634 tests and 34 hospitalizations. The county is classified as high incidence with a rate of 459.1 cases per 100,000.
 
  Counties neighboring Saluda had the following case totals: Aiken - 2409; Edgefield - 503;  Greenwood - 1907; Lexington - 5906; Newberry - 998.
   Thurs. Sept 3., DHEC announced 1,084 new confirmed cases and 29 new probable cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, 12 additional confirmed deaths and 1 new probable death.
  This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 119,822 probable cases to 1,874, confirmed deaths to 2,667, and 140 probable deaths.
  Thursday, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is clarifying misunderstanding around newly released data from the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention Control (CDC) regarding deaths associated with COVID-19.
  Provisional death data updated by the CDC last week shows that for six percent of COVID-19 deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause of death mentioned. The remaining 94 percent of deaths were among people with other underlying or contributing conditions but COVID-19 was still a factor in the deaths.
  Cause of death, as listed on a death certificate, includes an immediate cause, intermediate causes, underlying cause, and contributing conditions. A common example of cause of death involving COVID-19 would have acute respiratory distress syndrome as the immediate cause of death, which is the ultimate condition that caused the death. The intermediate cause of death would have been pneumonia, with COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death. The underlying cause of death is the condition that leads, via intermediate causes, to the immediate cause of death.
  Contributing factors could have been asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, or any other illness or condition that may have made the condition that was the cause of death worse than it would have been.
Cause of Death Certificate

  In the example above, COVID-19, as the underlying cause of death, is the condition that triggered the cascade of events that eventually lead to death. While certain people such as older adults are more likely to have more contributing factors, if the person doesn’t contract COVID-19, then those factors don’t start the cascade of events that lead to death. Therefore, while COVID-19 infection had a significant role in causing the death in the example, it was not the only cause of death listed. As a result, that death would not count in the six percent from the CDC.
  This is not new information. It’s been understood for quite some time that individuals with certain underlying conditions are at greater risk for severe illness and death, which is why DHEC provides underlying health conditions data, also called comorbidity information, for COVID-19-associated deaths on its county-level dashboard, under the “Deaths” data section.

$30 Million Project

SIGN AGREEMENT - Town and county officials met Wed., Aug. 26, to witness the signing of a wasterwater treatment plant agreement at Saluda’s Town Hall. Pictured, L to R, are Miriam Adams, Tony  Black, Motte Jean Yarbrough, Saluda Commission of Public Works (CPW; CPW Superintendent Keith Berry; Saluda Mayor Amelia Herlong; Saluda County Water and Sewer Authority (SCWSA) General Manager Jason Fell; Saluda County Council Chairman Jerry Strawbridge; SCWSA Chairman Al Stevens; and Saluda Administrator Tom Brooks. (Town of Saluda photo)

30 Million Dollar Wastewater
Treatment Agreement Finalized

By Jason Fell, SCWSA General Manager

  “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit,” Harry S. Truman, 33rd U.S. President.  
  Saluda County Water & Sewer Authority (SCWSA), Saluda Commission of Public Works (CPW), the Town of Saluda (Town), and Saluda County (County) met Wednesday, August 26, 2020 to sign a Wastewater Treatment Agreement.  The signers were Miriam Adams with CPW, Amelia Herlong with the Town, and Al Stevens with SCWSA.  For the past two years these three governmental entities carved out a complex and technical legal document that protects each parties’ interests.    
  Here’s what you as a reader of the Saluda Sentinel need to know:
  It’s good for the environment.  SCWSA’s new Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) will be built beside CPW’s existing WWTP, see the proposed site layout.  The new WWTP will improve the water quality of the Little Saluda River.  This project has gained the support of the Lake Murray Association.
  It’s good financially for all parties.  On the surface you would think a $30 million dollar capital project would mean higher sewer bills, but you would be wrong.  By working together, it provides a lower cost to treat sewage for both CPW and SCWSA.  That means it helps contain customer costs for each.
  For CPW, they avoid going into debt for WWTP upgrades.  CPW had secured a loan of $6 million to upgrade their WWTP.  By partnering with SCWSA, they avoid this debt.  In the WWTP Agreement, SCWSA offered number of incentives, totaling $4 million dollars so CPW would not go into debt to help them financially.
  For SCWSA, it contains their sewer treatment costs, adds CPW as a wholesale customer, and adds additional capacity to treat sewer.  Currently, SCWSA has only 100 sewer customers.  This WWTP provides the foundation for sewer throughout Saluda County.
  It’s good for keeping and creating new businesses and jobs.  The first questions any prospective business asks how much water, sewer and labor is available.  It provides Saluda County over 3 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) in capacity for growth of existing businesses and attracting new businesses to Saluda.
  Negotiations of this magnitude are always difficult.  Many simply avoid collaboration because it is perceived to be too difficult.  Building detailed contracts require trust and establishing trust is difficult, requiring time.  Further, hard gained trust can evaporate in an instant.  The negotiators can be quickly be swayed by their peers second-guessing their actions.  It can also bring up old deep-seeded feelings from the past about the other parties that can curtail discussions.
  I commend all three parties for forging ahead where others would have wilted.  I believe what helped was understanding that it was not just about themselves.  Each recognized they represent something more than themselves in these negotiations.  Each recognized working together would benefit all of Saluda County.  It was this bigger picture that was a guiding light that led the way to this momentous day.
  I would like to personally thank Keith Berry and his Commissioners at CPW, Miriam Adams, Motte Yarbrough and Tony Black.  They should be praised for their leadership.  It is always difficult to trust.  Former CPW Chairman, Earl Forrest would be proud.  Out of these negotiations, I have enjoyed getting to know each Commissioner.  They have demonstrated their trust in signing this WWTP Agreement.  SCWSA will not let them or the people of Saluda down.
  I would be remiss not to personally thank Tom Brooks, the Mayor Amelia Herlong and her Town Council Members, Miliken Matthews, Obie Combs, Lauren Yonce, and John Mark Griffith.  They were the steady hand on the tiller.  If the waters were choppy, Mayor Herlong’s actions were measured and deliberate.  The Mayor helped guide the negotiations forward, looking for common ground and compromise.  All of the Town’s leadership should be commended.
  I must also acknowledge my appreciation for SCWSA’s Board, Al Stevens, Bob Nelson, Jimmy Gillian and Jerry Coleman in displaying trust through this complex negotiation.  Before and during negotiations, SCWSA’s Board pushed for evidence to demonstrate the financial and technical soundness of this Wastewater Treatment Plant.  It was their oversight of the project ensured that this project will be a success.
  Finally, SCWSA’s Chairman Al Stevens emphatically stated, the former SCWSA Chairman, Jerry Strawbridge deserved praise for his leadership on behalf SCWSA.  He attended every meeting during the negotiations.  He read every contract revision and ensured SCWSA was protected. He also ensured that it was a balanced contract that provided a win for all parties involved.  Al continued, it is appropriate that in July he was elected as Saluda County’s Chairman, because he has truly demonstrated a compassion for all of Saluda County’s citizens.
  This is a watershed moment for Saluda County that everyone should celebrate!  However, there is still much to be done.  The construction of the WWTP will take at least two years.  SCWSA has been working in good faith toward this day.  SCWSA has completed and submitted the engineering design for regulatory review.  SCWSA has been and will continue to work hard to get this project to construction.  As will all good things, they don’t happen overnight.  This WWTP project still has lot to be accomplished before it is placed into operation.  On behalf of all the parties that approved this WWTP Agreement, we ask for your prayers for this project to move forward without setback.