Hit and Run Death
AMANDA SANDIN
Driver Charged In Hit-and-Run Death
A Leesville woman has been arrested and charged with leaving the secne of a vehicle accident that resulted in death.
According to Master Tropper Brandon Bolt, the crash occurred at about 10:25 p.m., June 6, on U.S. 1 near Topaz Road, two miles west of Batesburg-Leesville.
A 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan struck a moped from behind while both were northbound on U.S. 1.
The moped went off the right side of the roadway and the rider was thrown.
The Saluda County Coroner’s office identified the victims as Timothy Sean Cyrus, age 43, of Ridge Spring,
Cyrus, who was not wearing a helmet but was wearing a reflective vest, died at the scene.
The Caravan left the scene, according to the patrol.
However, the driver, identified as Amanda Sandin, 27, turned herself in at 1:45 a.m. Monday, according to the pa trol.
She was arrested and held in Saluda County on a charge of leaving the scene of a collision involving death, the patrol reported.
An autopsy of Cyrus was scheduled for Tuesday.
The Saluda County Coroner’s Office and South Carolina Highway Patro, including the MAIT team continue to investigate the incident.
A special thanks to responders for their assistance that evening. The responders include: Saluda County EMS, Batesburg Fire Department, Saluda County Sheriff’s Office, Batesburg Police Department and the SC Highway Patrol.
The coroner’s office extends its heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of Mr. Cyrus.
Man Killed In Shooting
The Saluda County Coroner’s Office responded to a death involving a shooting near 306 North Bouknight Ferry Road in the town limits of Saluda.
The incident took place between 3:30 and 4:00 on the morning of Sunday, June 13, 2021. The victim of the shooting has been identified as Deontrez Rashad Mealing, age 23, of Edgefield.
An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday of this week.
The incident remains under investigation by the Coroner’s Office, SC Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Saluda Police Department and the Saluda County Sherriff’s Office is also assisting.
Coroner Keith Turner and his staff send their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. Mealing.
County Suffers Second
Highway Fatality
Saluda County suffered its second highway fatality in as many days, when a Ridge Spring women died in a single vehicle collision
The Saluda County Coroner’s Office reported the motor vehicle collision occurred on June 7, 2021 in the late evening on Goff Road, Batesburg (Saluda County) near West Creek Baptist Church. The one vehicle collision involved an SUV vs tree.
According to Master Trooper Gary Miller, the driver of 2004 Nissan X-terra went off the left side of the road, over compensated, then went of the right side of the road and hit a tree.
The driver of the SUV died at the scene and was later identified as Ms. Heidy Cruz-Cadena, age 20, of Ridge Spring, SC. The collision is being investigated by the SC Highway Patrol and Saluda County Coroner’s Office.
The coroner’s office would like to thank the responders of the Saluda County EMS, Saluda County Sheriff’s Office, Ridge Spring Fire Department, Batesburg Fire Department and SC Hwy Patrol for their assistance at the scene.
The coroner’s office also extends its heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of Ms. Cruz-Cadena.
Vaccinations Offered Saturday
Free COVID-19 vaccinations will be given Sat., June 19, at Saluda High School from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. for anyone 12 and older. Free food will be offered while supplies last, and a drawing will be held for a free TV.
New Library Site
Old Long’s Pharmacy Building on W. Butler will become new library.
(Standard-Sentinel photos)
Current Saluda County Library
County Council Gives Library Board
Go-Ahead To Buy Old Long’s Pharmacy
Building For New Library Site
At a called meeting Tues., June 1, Saluda Council agreed to release sales tax funds, which will allow the Saluda County Library Board to purchase the old Long’s Pharmacy Building to transform it into the new library.
Located on West Butler Avenue near Saluda Elementary School, the Long’s building has 6900 square feet, compared to 1700 square feet in the current library.
Librarian Heath Ward said the size of former pharmacy building will allow the library to offer more books, more computers, expanded area for children’s programs and seating areas for patrons. Also, a meeting room, board room and staff offices will be available.
Ward said the Library Board got the Long family to reduce the price to $125,000.
The money for the library purchase will come from the penny tax designated for library and from funds raised by donations and The Friends of the Library groups.
In November 2018, Saluda County citizens voted 3546-3134 to add a penny sales tax.
The projects these funds would go to included, ranked by priority:
1. Saluda County Library (Saluda County) $125,000
2. Saluda County Animal Shelter (Saluda County) $125,000
3. Ridge Spring Downtown Revitalization and Eco-nomic Development $175,000 (Town of Ridge Spring)
4.Reconstruction of Bath-rooms at Brooks Roston Park (Saluda Recreation District) $50,000
5. Saluda County Detention Center (Saluda County) $8,434,304
101-YEAR-OLD ATTENDS CEREMONY - John Harmon, 101, attended the Memorial Day ceremony at the Saluda Theater Mon., May 31. He told his daughter Teresa Pierce, “I may be the oldest one here.” Mr. Harmon was one of 42 Saluda boys to leave for World War II together. He ended up serving in the Medical Corps. (Standard-Sentinel photo)
MEMORIAL DAY WREATH LAYING - Left to right, American Legion Post 65 Commander John Hook, Cliff Rollins and Eugene H. Matthews laid the wreath at the Saluda County war dead momument on Memorial Day. Rollins and Matthews were the featured speakers at the program held in the Saluda Theater. (Standard-Sentinel photo)
June 3 Arrest
Arrest Made in Burglary
and Larceny Case
The Saluda County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Charles Edward Way (of Lexington, SC) for the offenses of burglary and larceny.
On April 23, 2021, a residential surveillance camera captured images of a male subject driving onto a property located on Price’s Bridge Road. Mr. Way did enter a building on the property and subsequently stole a utility trailer from the property.
Sheriff Josh Price says, “Thanks to the support and tips from our citizens, the Sheriff’s Office was able to gather sufficient evidence to charge and arrest Mr. Way”.
The Sheriff’s Office is committed to protecting the property of our citizens and will strive to bring all criminals to justice.
Saluda 14th Safest City
The numbers are in and the data has been sufficiently analyzed to name the 20 safest cities in which to live in South Carolina in 2021, and Saluda is ranked 14th.
And thanks to Safe-wise, a company obsessed with home security that ranks cities around the country each year according to how safe they are, for providing the data here. Safewise recently ranked the top 20 safest cities in South Carolina. They are listed below:
#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.
Safewise uses FBI crime statistics data to rank cities in each state and across the country. To add extra insight and depth to that assessment, we include demographic information and the results of our proprietary State of Safety research study.
The “safest” cities rankings are intended to highlight cities with low crime rates and ignite conversation and action around how to make all cities and communities safer.
For the purposes of city ranking reports, 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.
How the safest cities are ranked
Safewise uses the most up-to-date FBI crime data as the backbone of our reports. This means we rely on information that cities across the country report through the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. If you don’t see your city listed, it could be due to incomplete UCR data or the failure to submit a report.
We know that crime statistics are only one measure of what makes any community safe.
Safewise also uses population thresholds for each state. We use US Census Bureau population data to identify the median city population in each state and report only on cities with populations above the median. This reduces the risk of outliers and lowers the likelihood of an extreme outlier skewing the data.
The FBI UCR data is just one way that cities report crime statistics, and we know that it may differ from other reports a city or police department submits. But, to make sure that we’re comparing apples to apples, we’ve chosen to use this data as the basis of our “safest” cities reporting. Plus, this is the most consistent report available for most cities across the nation.
A note about population data:
It has come to our attention that, on occasion, data may be skewed by outlying factors such as large commuter populations, college campuses, and incarcerated populations. In those cases, crime rates calculated based solely on crime reports and US Census population numbers may not give an accurate representation of a particular community. We appreciate these nuances and are considering their potential impact to future reports.
May 27 Arrests
Sheriff’s Office Makes Arrests
Among those arrested last week by the Saluda County Sheriff’s office was a suspect in a burglary and another arrested on druge charges.
Jose Felipe is behind bars at the Saluda County Detention Center after being arrested and charged with three counts of Burglary, three counts of Larceny, and one count of Malicious Injury to Property. These burglaries occurred at a residence on Greenwood Highway.
Investigators searched Mr. Felipe’s residence on Shady Lane and recovered stolen property from his residence.
Shanna Padgett has been arrested and charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine by the Saluda County Sheriff’s Offices Narcotics Division.
The Sheriff’s Office will continue a proactive approach to combating these dangerous drugs in Saluda County, and is also committed to protecting the property of the citizens of Saluda County.
Forty-Four Sentenced In Recent Court Terms
Forty-four defendants were sentenced on guilty pleas during two separate terms of Saluda County General Sessions Court earlier in the month:
Following are those sentenced:
James Keaton Murillo, possession of over than one ounce of marijuana, 30 days or $100. Joseph David Stoudemire, assault & battery 3rd degree, 24 days.
Robin Earleen Baker, possession of other controlled sub. in Sched 1 to V 1st offense, three days. Aishaia Monte Joe, possession of other controlled sub. in Sched 1 to V 1st, 3 days.
Corey Larangus Clark, assault & battery 2nd degree, six months. Nashua Javan Smith, possession of other controlled sub. in Sched 1 to V 1st, two days.
Salvador Perez, possession of less than one gram of meth or cocaine base 1st offense, 15 days. Kontay Nicole Gaines, failure to stop for blue light, one year, suspended to one year probation.
Rantavious Demon Norris, possession of MDMA, two days. Llewelyn Campbell II, unlawful carrying of a pistol, five days.
Carl Jeffrey Pugh, use of 911 unlawfully, three days. James Norwood Corbett Jr., obtaining nonferrous metal, three years, suspended to five years probation; Burglary 3rd degree, five years, suspended to five year probation.
Markell Navon Chapman, DUI 1st less than .10, two days. James Kolby Maroney, domestic violence third degree, 90 days.
David Antonio Graham, possession of less than one gram of meth or cocaine base 1st offense, two years, suspended to two years probation. Cleveland Durell Gaskins, possession of controlled substance, 30 days, suspended after service of two days and $100.
\ Carl Allen Lyles, DUI 1st less than .10, two days. Richard Morris Frazier, assault & battery third degree, nine days.
Austin Watkins Riley, use of vehicle with intent to deprive, three years, upon service of 238 days, suspended to 18 months probation. Adrian Conteras Leines, domestic violence 2nd degree, 90 days.
Mia Lechae Sales, assault & battery 3rd degree, 3 days. Kelle Nicole Bedenbaugh, forgery, two years, suspended to three years probation, restitution.
Francesca Perez Ramirez, burglary 3rd degree, 68 days. David Maurice Abney, possession of marijuana over one ounce, time served.
Belinda Jane Howard, receiving stolen goods $2000-10,000, 18 months, suspended to five years probation. Kaide Howell, accessory after the fact of a felony, Youthful Offender Act (YOA) not to exceed three years, suspended to three years probation.
James Alex Welch, accessory after the fact of a felony, three years, suspended to three years probation. Terry Eugene Reames, assault & battery 2nd degree, two years, suspended to two years probation.
James Seth Martin, DUI 1st less than .10, time served. Steven Dale Holley, possession of controlled substance, $100.
Eddie Lee Daniel, domestic violence 3rd degree, 90 days. Quenton Dontrell Bowers, unlawful carrying a pistol, time served.
Davey Keith Bedenbaugh, possession of less than one gram of meth or cocaine base 1st offense, one year, suspended to one year probation. Tanner Lecroy Hallman, unlawful carrying a pistol, time served.
Thomas Tavares Johnson, possession of over one ounce of marijuana, 15 days or $250. Cameron Terrell Atkins, possession of other controlled sub. in Sched 1 to V 1st, $100.
Roy Blacks, domestic violence 3rd degree, 90 days, suspended to one year probation. Tarras Michael Parker, DUI 1st less than .10, $400.
Omar Bilal Watson, habitual traffic offender, DUS, time served. Brianna Nicole Bennett, simple possession of marijuana, 10 days or $100.
Kevon Dre’Sean Etheredge, unlawful carrying a pistol, time served, Marlon Andre Walcott, simple possession of marijuana, time served.
SAVE THE DATE!
42nd Annual Truck and Tractor Pull
The Saluda Young Farmers 42nd Annual Truck and Tractor Pull, “Hottest Pull in the South” will be held July 31st at the Young Farmer Stadium at the County Recreation Complex.
The Carolina Truck & Tractor Pullers / Southern Pullers Association professional pull will begin at 6pm. Ticket gates and pit will open at 4pm.
Ticket prices are as follows: Adults - $20, Children 6 to 12 - $10, 5 and under – Free, and cooler/bulk beverage - $5.00 (no glass containers). Cash, credit and debit card ticket purchases will be available at the gate. Concessions will also be available.
The 2021 Saluda Young Farmer Scholarship winners will be recognized as well. Proceeds from the pull go towards the scholarship program.
Bring a chair – stand seating is limited. There will be no charge for parking and no additional charges for entering the pit.
Come and enjoy a weekend of high-powered action!
Check out www.SaludaYoungFarmer.org or syftp.us for the latest information. Like us on Facebook at “Saluda SC Tractor Pull.”