July 15 Arrest Report

Three Arrested On
Separate Sex Crimes

  Saluda County Sheriff’s Office Investigators have arrested two persons in unrelated cases for Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor, and the Attorney General’s Office has made another sexuual exploitation case.
  John Van Wertz has been arrested and charged for three counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor in the 2nd Degree and one count of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a minor in the 1st Degree.  Arrest warrants state that over a course of four years, Wertz physically and sexually assaulted a minor victim.  
  Courvoisier S. Cullum has been arrested and charged for two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor in the 2nd Degree.  Arrest warrants state that Cullum drove to a residence in Saluda County and sexually assaulted two minor victims.
  Sheriff Josh Price commented, “These cases are priority for us, we will do all we can to protect our children and to bring those to justice who would harm a child”.  We ask that you pray for the victims in these cases.
  The Attorney Generals Office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, along with assistance from the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office, have arrested Jerry Wayne Townsend for criminal charges related to sexual exploitation of a minor.
  After executing a search warrant at Townsends home in Saluda County, it was found that Townsend had been searching and downloading unlawful images and videos of children engaged in sexual activity. Investigators have charged Townsend with four separate counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in the 3rd Degree.
  The Saluda County Sheriff’s Office will proactively work to seek out and arrest those who would prey on our young and innocent.

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 7pm.  Ticket gates and pit will open at 5pm.  
  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.
  To purchase trackside parking, contact Scott Wertz at (803) 924-3124 after 5:00 PM. All trackside parking spots are $50.00 for the night.
  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.”

VACCINATIONS
Offered Saturday

  Vaccinations will be offered to anyone 12 and older at the Saluda Park Sat., July 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  Free community Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen COVD-19 vacinnations will be offered.
  The park is located at 416 S. Jefferson St., Saluda.

Vet Fulfills Goal

IN REMBRANCE - Paul Moody placed a flag at the grave of William Golston at Wateree Cemetery on Mon,June 28. Moody credit Golston with saving his life, when both were soldiers at Ft. Benning, GA. (photos by Phillip Brooks)

Veteran Finds Grave Of
Soldier Who Saved His Life

  A Vietnam-era veteran last week fulfilled a 57-year goal of visiting the grave of a Saluda County soldier he credits with saving his life.
  Paul Moody of Tennessee had visited Saluda County before attempting to find the grave of William R. Golston, Jr., but was unsuccessful.
  On June 19, 1964, Moody was the front seat passenger in a 2½-ton Army van driven by Golston. Both soldiers were stationed at Ft. Benning, Ga.
  The van was part of a convoy of four vehicles, and came upon a house being moved on a flatbed trailer. Apparently, the brakes on the van failed, and it plowed into the back of the trailer.
  Golston was killed instantly, while Moody sustained only minor injuries.
  Moody said his life  was saved because Golston purposely steered the van so that he would take the brunt of the force.
  Moody had told his story to many friends throughout the years and one of them contacted him recently with some exciting information. He had found Golston’s gravesite on the ”Find a Grave” website.
  Golston was buried at the Wateree Cemetery in Saluda County, South Carolina.
  Well, Moody knew Golston was buried in Saluda County, but where was Wateree Cemetery?
  His next step was to call the Saluda County Historical Society, and this is where, perhaps, Divine Providence came into play.
  Phillip Brooks was volunteering at the Saluda County Museum, and took Moody’s call. Brooks knew exactly where the cemetery was located.
  Brooks, who grew up in the Hollywood Community, had visited the cemetery before.
  “I may be the only member of the Historical Society who knows where the cemetery is located, and I was the one to take the call.” Brooks said.
  The reason the cemetery was hard to find is church it was associated with has been moved, and the only means to get to the graveyard is on an ATV.
  Mon., June 28, Brooks met Moody and took him to the cemetery on the four-wheeler.
  Moody remembered his fallen comrade, who gave  him an extra 57-years of life, by placing an American flag at his tombstone.
  Thanks to his friend and Phillip Brooks, his longtime quest was accomplished.

Community Meeting Held
On Curbing Violence

Story and photos by Dibbie Shealy

  Saluda Town Councilman Miliken Matthews sponsored a meeting June 24 at Progressive Church to discuss recent violence and how to prevent future incidents.
  The attendees gave ideas and wrote suggestions about what can be done to curb the violence and educate young people about making poor choices. The group will be forming committees to address some of the issues.
  Councilman Matthews challenged each of us to “help one person this week.”
  James Holloway added, “If you don’t think one thing can make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito.”  
 
 

New Head State Program

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Celebrates the
Beginning of East Coast Migrant Head Start
Project’s Head Start Services in Saluda

  Raleigh, North Carolina, June 21, 2021 – East Coast Migrant Head Start Project (ECMHSP) is ready to bring its successful proven model of Head Start services to the hard-working farmworker families of Saluda, South Carolina.
  During the week of June 21, the children of agricultural workers living in the surrounding areas of Saluda will begin to receive high-quality early childhood education services.
  These services will be at no cost for families working with peaches, broccoli, peppers, and other crops. In addition, families can qualify if they do dairy work, poultry industry jobs, and plant nursery work.
  “Based on our community assessments, we know families in Saluda have limited access to child care and are not being served by the local Head Start agency since services are not designed for this working population. ECMHSP will continue to collaborate with community partners to enroll as many children as possible,” said Maria C. Garza, ECMHSP Chief Executive Officer.
  Bruce Wright, Bilingual Community Health Worker with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, will be present during our ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, June 22. Wright has been an ally for the South Carolina farm-worker community for more than 20 years. Other valuable community partners will also come together to witness this memorable day for ECMHSP. The town of Saluda has much to celebrate. Our Migrant and Seasonal Head Start location will help secure our nation’s food supply.
  East Coast Migrant Head Start Project was established in 1974 through a grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Under the leadership of Sister Geraldine O’Brien, Head Start centers were opened along the east coast of the United States to ensure continuity of services, as families migrated to work in agriculture. Currently, ECMHSP operates 49 Head Start Centers in 10 states.
  Additional information about ECMHSP can be found by visiting www.ecmhsp.org.

WINNING CHEFS - Seven chefs from Capital City/Lake Murray Country, including Brian Velie of Ridge Spriong’s Juniper,  have won the “Golden Ticket” to the World Food Championships’ “Ultimate Food Fight” in Dallas, Texas, this November. Credit: Capital City Lake Murray Tourism Board

Capital City/Lake Murray Country Chefs
to  Represent SC in High-Stakes Culinary

  CAPITAL CITY/LAKE MURRAY COUNTRY, JUNE 2021—The World Food Championships  (WFC) just completed the South Carolina Super Regional Qualifier and selected seven area chefs to make up the first-ever “Team Lake Murray Country,” a competitive culinary team that will represent the Palmetto State at the 9th Annual Ultimate Food Fight, scheduled for November 5-9, 2021, in Dallas, Texas. This is the first time a team from Lake Murray Country has ever been selected.
  The qualifier was integrated into the Taste of Lake Murray, a food event that benefits the Lake Murray July 4th Fireworks Show. In addition to impressing WFC representatives, 15 chefs from the region were tasked with producing their best samples for almost 600 guests, all of whom got to vote on their favorite dishes of the night to create Team Lake Murray Country through a “people’s choice” process.
  The seven chefs to receive the most votes earned a place on Team Lake Murray Country, where they’ll now go head-to-head against the world’s best for a chance at WFC’s $350,000 prize purse in November. Team Lake Murray Country now includes the following:
  •Kevin Schwab of Bistro on the Boulevard, New American cuisine by way of Texas and the Southeast in a relaxed, casual ambiance with fine-dining service and quality ingredients, nightly specials and an award-winning wine list. (1085 D Lake Murray Boulevard, Irmo, South Carolina 29063; 803-369-1332)
  •Henry Griffin of Griffin Chophouse, a classic steak-house, burger and barbecue joint with a butcher shop, The Royal Butcher, next door. (924 East Main Street, Lexington, South Carolina 29072; 803-957-0863)
  •Arif Rizvi of RF’s Corner Grill, a “modern classic” with touches of Eastern influence and favorites like Duck Fat Fries, tacos and more. (712 West Main Street, Lexington, South Carolina 29072; 803-490-7800)
  •Brandon Velie of  Juniper, locally sourced, in-season Southern ingredients, national reviews in a hidden-gem location. (640 East Main Street, Ridge Spring, South Carolina 29129; 803-685-7547)
  •John Worthington of Figaro the Dining Room, fine dining with an eclectic Southern twist in a historic bank building; the vault is the wine cellar. (1117 Boyce Street, Newberry, South Carolina 29108; 803-276-0101)
  •Jon Cooper of Alodia’s Cucina Italiana, authentic home-style Italian restaurant using generations-old family recipes. (101 West Main Street, Lexington, South Carolina 29072; 803-781-9814)
  •Eric Crissey of Columbo’s Restaurant, at the Double-tree by Hilton, American contemporary and fusion cuisine that belies its chain-hotel location. (2100 Bush River Road, Columbia, South Carolina 29210; 803-744-2200)
  “We’re excited to send our seven talented chefs to the World Food Championship,” said Miriam Atria, Capital City/Lake Murray Country President/CEO. This is an amazing opportunity to showcase the regional bounty and notable dining of the Capital City/Lake Murray Country region and represent the state. We are thrilled to bring South Carolina’s cuisine for the world to savor.”
  Next, Team Lake Murray Country will be assigned to their categories and learn about WFC’s E.A.T. Methodology, which is how more than 8,000 dishes are judged and scored at the main event in Dallas. More than 450 teams from 40 states and 10 countries are expected to participate in this year’s tournament, which will feature 10 categories of food and be filmed for a special TV show.
  To stay up-to-date on all things Food Sport, follow the World Food Championships on Twitter (@WorldFoodChamp),  Facebook and Instagram (@World
Food Championships).