Teens Die In Wreck
Two Saluda High Seniors
Die In Newberry Wreck
Two popular Saluda High School seniors died in a two car collision near Newberry on Fri., Dec. 10.
The driver in the other car also died.
According to Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece the victims were 17-year-old Jasmine Rosas of Saluda, who was driving, as well as 17-year-old Jason Santos, also of Saluda, who was her passenger. Also killed was 21-year-old Colin Kittrell of Greer who was the driver of the other vehicle.
According to Master Trooper Brandon Bolt of the S.C. Highway Patrol, the accident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. on Hwy. 34, near Hwy. 121, about 2.8 miles from Newberry.
The 2016 Nissan Sentra, driven by Rosas, and the 2019 Jeep Cherokee, driven by Kittrell, collided head-on.
All the victims were seatbelted and were entrapped.
All were pronounced dead at the scene according to Kneece.
Autopsies have been scheduled for the upcoming week as the coroner’s office and the SCHP MAIT unit continue their investigation.
The tragedy marks the second time in less than two years that Saluda High School has lost two students in a highway accident. On Jan. 27, 2020, Drayton Black, 17, and Jaden Coleman, 16, died in a one vehicle accident.
Santa Visits Saluda Tech Campus
Santa Charlie made a surprise visit to the PTC Saluda Campus Dec. 9 to spread holiday cheer to students, staff, and PTC President Dr. Rivers. After meeting one furry resident of the campus, Santa may be renegotiating his Dec. 24 transportation contract. (Piedmont Technical College photos)
Piedmont Tech Fall
Graduations Set for Dec. 16
Piedmont Technical College (PTC) will hold two in-person fall commencement exercises on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021.
An afternoon ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. for Administrative Office Technology, Business, Computer Technology, Commercial Art, Public Service, and Engineering & Industrial Technology graduates.
An evening ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. for Health Care, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Science graduates.
Both commencements will take place in the James Medford Family Event Center on PTC’s Lex Walters Campus-Greenwood.
The student speakers for the 3 p.m. ceremony will be Amy Marshall, a Human Services major from Leesville, and Haylee Godfrin, a General Technology, Advertising Design/Photography major from Greenwood.
Student speakers for the 7 p.m. ceremony will be Jake Roberts, an Associate Degree Nursing major from Greenwood, and Jaqueline Escobar-Rivera, a Cardiovascular Technology major from Newberry.
In the interest of safety, PTC has increased security measures for all graduation ceremonies. Face coverings are required, and all guests are encouraged to leave unnecessary items in vehicles. Umbrellas and balloons will NOT be allowed into the event. Any bags carried into the Medford Center must be made of clear plastic.
This is a ticketed event. Each individual ticketholder, including children, will be entitled to one seat only. The Emerald City Brass will provide musical entertainment.
CVS Robbery
Robbery At CVS
On December 1, 2021, a robbery occurred in the Town of Saluda at CVS. The suspect took cash from the register and then fled on foot. The suspect’s description is a black male wearing black pants, black hoodie, red hat, and red shoes. If you have any information to help identify this person, please contact the Saluda Police Department or the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office.
Saluda Parade Route
The Saluda Christmas Parade will be held Sat., Dec. 11, beginning at 11 a.m.The parade will follow the above route.
Jingle Around the Block
Saluda Operation Christmas Parade “Jingle around the Block” will be held on Saturday December 11, 2021 at 11:00am.
We would like to have many entries and lots of participation. The lineup will start on West Butler Avenue near the schools. We encourage you to have your vehicle or float decorated. Please make sure people in your entry are visible. The theme for this year’s parade is: “Operation Christmas.” If you have any questions about the parade, or the theme, please contact Mandy K Hess at Town Hall at 864-445-3522 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We encourage vendors, restaurants, churches, and all stores to decorate and participate!
Please complete sign up online http://www.townofsaluda.com/christmas-parade Please be aware: if we do not receive your entry prior to the deadline your float may not be acknowledged by the announcer!
VENDORS NEEDED!!!
To sign up to be a vendor go to http://www. townofsaluda.com/festivals.
If you have any questions about the festival please call/text Courtney at 803-480-0249.
All-Lakelands
Tigers Make All-Lakelands
Five members of the 2021 Saluda Tiger football team have been named All-Lakelands. They received their plaques at a banquet in Greenwood Mon., Nov. 22. Featured speaker was former Gamecock and New York Giant linebacker Corey Miller. Pictured, L to R, are Javarious Stevens - defensive back, Tyleke Mathis- wide receiver, Sam Espinoza- kicker, Coach Stewart Young, Kenmane Brunson - linebacker; Jonah McCary - quarterback. Mathis and Espinoza made their second appearance on the team. Stevens is the only All-Lakelands performer who will not return for 2021.
LAWTER
Arrest Made
November 22, around 2:00 am, officers with the Saluda Police Department conducted a traffic stop near Mack Street.
The driver of the vehicle, Dustin V. Lawter, fled from the vehicle on foot. Three other occupants were taken into custody.
The Sheriff’s Office responded and a joint search began for Lawter. Several hours later, Lawter was taken into custody by the Sheriff’s Office and Saluda Police Department. He is currently incarcerated at the Saluda County Detention Center where he is charged with numerous drug offenses’ to include Trafficking Methamphetamine.
Sheriff Price and Chief Holmes are grateful for the great working relationship between the Sheriff’s Office and Police Department.
Pay $0 for Classes
at Piedmont Tech
There are a lot of great jobs available in the region. Many of these opportunities require a college education or advanced training. For that reason, Piedmont Technical College (PTC) is fully removing the tuition cost barrier for current and future students who enroll through summer 2022.
“We don’t want anything standing in the way of your pursuit of a new or better career path,” said Dr. Hope E. Rivers, president of PTC “Every single credit program we offer is now eligible for 100% tuition coverage. It’s truly a historic opportunity.”
Made possible by a variety of funding sources, including federal, state, local and community aid, PTC’s no-cost tuition option is available to South Carolina residents with a desire to begin or continue their education. Eligible students must also enroll at PTC in a minimum of six credit hours (typically two courses).
“This step will ensure that citizens in our service region have access to all the benefits a college education provides,” said Dr. Rivers. “When they leave us, they will be equipped to seek good jobs or pursue further education.”
For more information, visit www.ptc.edu/free.
Delegation
Meeting
Chairman, Sen. Billy Garrett, has called an organizational meeting of the Saluda County Legislative Delegation on Friday, December 3, 2021 at 10:00am in the Delegation Admin-istrator’s office located at 111 Law Range Street in Saluda.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the appointments/reappointments of our Boards and Commissions. Other delegation members are Senators Shane Massey and Nicky Setzler, and Representatives Bill Clyburn and Cal Forrest.
Volunteers Recognized
VOLUNTEERS RECOGNIZED - Volunteers Appreciation Day at Piedmont Agency on Aging in Saluda was observed Fri., Nov. 20. Volunteers recognized were (not in order of photo) are Tami Bodie, Mary Andrews, Albertha Harp Annette Harris, Annie Hunter, Erline Long, Lynette Tolen, Jackie Banks, Kathy Anderson, Martha Keeler, Jean Kelleher, Felicia Kinard, Cliff Wells, James Etheredge, Grady Clark, Charles Gallman, Shirley Pugh, Lois Gibson, Rev. Mildred Walker, Thomas Bryant, Cyteria Gantt, bus driver, and Site Manager, Janice Coleman. (Standard-Sentinel photo)
Counties with highest COVID-19
infection rates in South Carolina
A recent survey by Stacker.com determined Saluda County has the 41st lowest COVID-19 infection rate in South Carolina
As has been true throughout America’s COVID-19 history, every state—and every county therein—has its own COVID-19 story, driven by local policies and behaviors. The United States as of Nov. 16 had reached 764,440 COVID-19-related deaths and 47.2 million COVID-19 cases , according to Johns Hopkins University. As of Feb. 2, more Americans had been vaccinated for COVID-19 than had been in-fected.
But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came. More than 80% of these cases by late July were caused by the Delta variant, which is more contagious than the original virus. This has resulted in growing rates of community transmission and—especially in areas with lower vaccination rates—increasing rates of hospitalization and death. Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in South Carolina using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services . Counties are ranked by the highest infection rate per 100k residents within the past week as of Nov. 15, 2021.
Cumulative cases per 100k served as a tiebreaker Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in S.C.
The rankings for Saluda County and adjacnet counties are as followsL
#42. Saluda County, SC – New cases per 100k in the past week: 34 (7 new cases, -59% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 12,568 (2,573 total cases) — 28.5% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 269 (55 total deaths) — 0.4% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 28.1% (5,758 fully vaccinated)
— 44.5% lower vaccination rate than South Carolina
#31. Aiken County, SC – New cases per 100k in the past week: 65 (111 new cases, -23% change from previous week)
#28. Lexington County, SC – New cases per 100k in the past week: 69 (207 new cases, -34% change from previous week)
#18. Newberry County, SC – New cases per 100k in the past week: 81 (31 new cases, -49% change from previous week)
#10. Greenwood County, SC – New cases per 100k in the past week: 97 (69 new cases, -49% change from previous week)
#8. Edgefield County, SC – New cases per 100k in the past week: 103 (28 new cases, +115% change from previous week)
The highest rate in S.C. belongs to Union County, with 223 new cases per 100k in the past week.
Saluda Christmas Information
Have you everwondered how it all gets done? How Santa gets in and out of millions of homes all in one night? Let’s just say he has a little help. The operation has its challenges, but we’re always prepared. Our mission statement is: Get in. Get out. Never be noticed.” -Prep and Landing
This year the Town of Saluda has been asked to assist with the prep and landing for Santa’s arrival! We need all the elves’ help we can get!
To sign up to be a vendor or be in the parade please use the link: http://www.townofsaluda.com/ festivals
If you have any questions please call me at 803-480-0249
-This year the Prep & Landing team needs a little help preparing for Santa’s arrival! We need all the elves’ we can get! If you would like to participate we would love to see all the elves working in your businesses/schools! Be creative and have fun! Once your elves’ arrive please let me know and we will send out a special guest! This special guest loves to take pictures so be ready to smile because it’s Jingle Time!!!
-Saluda Operation Christmas Parade “Jingle around the Block” will be held on Saturday December 11, 2021 at 11:00am. We would like to have many entries and lots of participation. The lineup will start on West Butler Avenue near the schools. Look for the route to be published in the Saluda Standard Sentinel as the parade time draws near. We encourage you to have your vehicle or float decorated. Please make sure people in your entry are visible. The theme for this year’s parade is: “Operation Christmas.” If you have any questions about the parade, or the theme, please contact Mandy K Hess at Town Hall at 864-445-3522 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We encourage vendors, restaurants, churches, and all stores to decorate and participate!
Please complete the entry form and return it by December 6th, 2021 to Town Hall, found online http://www.townofsaluda. com/festivals, 100 S Jefferson Street, or fax to 864-445-4928 Attn: Mandy.
Please be aware: if we do not receive your entry prior to the deadline your float may not be acknowledged by the announcer!