Congressman Visits

Congressman Duncan Meets With
First Responders, Law Enforcement

  Congressmen. Jeff Duncan met with Saluda County first responders and law enforcement personnel on Tues., Mar. 14,  for a visit and open-ended conversation, as part of an annual tradition to honor and show support for first responders and law enforcement throughout the Third District.
  “It has always been a priority of mine to thank and honor the heroes who are willing to run into danger to keep us safe. Our First Responders are the ones who make our country great, and it’s important they know they are appreciated and that their work does not go unnoticed,” said Congressman Duncan.

Saluda Springfest Saturday

  Saluda’s Springfest will be held Sat., April  1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Town Park.
  Featured will be Easter Egg Hunts: four and under, 10:15 a.m.; 5K-2nd grade, 10:45 a.m.; and 3rd-5th, 11:15 a.m.
  Another special event for the children will be the HOPstacle course, including egg relay, dizzy bat, egg toss, egg match, and egg wattle. This will also be divided by age: four and under, 11;30 a.m.; 5K-2nd grade, 11:45 a.m.; and 3rd-5th, 12 noon.
  Vendors, inflictables, food, music and games will be highlighted.

Saluda Mayor Graduates
From Officials Institute

  Town of Saluda Mayor Graduates From the Advanced Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government
  Mayor Miliken Matthews of the Town of Saluda has graduated from the  Advanced Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government. Graduates received their certificates during the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s Hometown Legislative Action Day in February.
  The Municipal Association offers the Advanced Institute exclusively to graduates of the Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government. Created in 2014, the Advanced Institute provides elected officials with continuing education through classroom instruction and interaction with experienced peers. 
  “The Advanced Institute allows mayors and councilmembers to explore in depth many governance topics that can make them more effective leaders for their cities and towns,” said Urica Floyd, staff associate for distance learning for the Municipal Association. 
  Graduating officials have participated in at least four of six courses to graduate from the Advanced Institute. Topics include public safety, budgeting, utilities, advocacy, economic development and governance.
  The Advanced Institute draws its faculty from South Carolina and across the country including recognized local government leaders, state officials, as well as college and university faculty.
  Established in 1986, the Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government is a program of the Municipal Association of South Carolina. It gives municipal officials a strong foundation in the operation of municipal government.
  The MEO Institute and Advanced Institute are two of the many educational and training opportunities that the Municipal Association offers for the elected officials and staff serving cities and towns. Learn more at www.masc.sc (keyword: education and training).

BlackTie Gala

SOME OF THE LADIES AT THE GALA
(Standard-Sentinel photos)

Education Foundation
Holds First Black Tie Gala

The Saluda County School District Education Foundation held its first annual Black Tie Gala Sat., Mar, 11, in the atrium of the Educational Complex.
  School board and foundation board of directors member, Dr. Arlene Puryear in her welcome, said the foundation was created to support local teachers and the schools.
  After Rev. Trey Shealy gave the blessing, dinner was served by members of the Saluda High School Teacher Cadet program.
  Following the meal Dr. David Mathis gave the featured speech.
  Dr. Mathis spent 42 years in education, and is a former Saluda Schools superintendent. He left the district to join Saluda native, Supt. of Education Molly Spearman, at the Department of Education, where he served as deputy superintendent from 2017-2023, retiring when Spearman announced she would not seek re-election.
  Mathis praised the local school system and administration.
  When many district boards make the news, because of disputes, Mathis said the Saluda  board of trustees gets along and works closely with the superintendent.
  Mathis said the Saluda teachers and administrators are more than willing to go the extra mile for the students.
  He said school systems face many challenges, but because of the student, teachers, administration and community cooperation, Saluda schools are blessed.
  Rev. Shealy, chairman of the Foundation Board of Directors, explained the foundation’s “Grow Your Own Program.”
  The program encourages Saluda High School students who want to go into education to come home to teach when they finish college.
  Shealy mentioned as an example his father Jamie, a Saluda High School graduate and current assistant principal at the school,  who ”has been here since Moses was alive.”
  The evening concluded with dancing, with Dr. Bryan Vacchio serving as the DJ, and a silent auction, with items ranging from a Dabo Swinney autographed football to a 58” TV.
  Serving on the Foundation Board with Puryear and Shealy are Miliken Matthews, Sharon Holloway and Heath Ward. Shawn Claire Williams was mistress of ceremonies and Ralph Shealy was master of ceremonies for the gala.
  Next year, the gala will be held on March 16 at Tin Roof Farms.

COUNTY COUNCIL

Further Steps Toward
 Animal Control Taken

  At the Mar. 13 meeting, Saluda County Council took three more steps towards the establishment of an animal shelter in the county.
  They gave second reading to an ordinance that will add animal control to the Code of Ordinances.
  The next item approved was authorizing the council staff to issue a bid for a local animal shelter using the Capitol Project Sales Tax Funds. Council will still partner with Edgefield County for animal control, but they cannot use Saluda County funds raised by a sales tax to go toward building a facility in another county.
  Finally, they decided on the pay grade for the animal/litter control officer. The choices were Grade 17- $37,200 per year or Grade 18 - $39,104.
 Sheriff Josh Price recommended Grade 18, because the officer will be self managing and needs to be experienced.
  Council took the Sheriff’s advise and went with Grade 18.
  At the beginning of the meeting, Councilman Carey  Bedenbaugh reported on the distribution of dog food through Christ Central. The dates for future distribution will be announced through SaludaNow. There is no place to store the dog food so it has to be distributed the day of delivery, Bedenbaugh said.
  Councilman Jack Atkinson and Chairman Jim Moore commented on how nice the Recreation Complex fields look this year, and praised the work of Rec Director Speedy Wideman.
  Council gave third reading approval of the ordinance allowing the sale of the building, located at 117 and 119 North Main Street in Saluda, to C.F. Tatham, Jr. A public hearing was held prior to the final reading, but there were no speakers.
  The standard operating guidelines for the EMS were approved.
  EMS Director Jacob Starnes said this was a yearly update and the guidelines had only a few changes.
  Atkinson asked if the guidelines were available to the public.
  Starnes said each employee is given a thumb drive with the guidelines, but said they could be available to the public, with certain parts, like drug storage, redacted..
  Starnes said his department is fully staffed and all ambulances are operational.
  Council approved purchasing a loader for the Road & Bridge Department through the Caterpillar Financial Lease Program.
  The current loader is 29-years-old and repairs are estimated to cost $23,000. The lease will cost $4654 a month for five years, and at the end of the lease the loader can be purchased for $1.00.

March 9 Fatality

Woman Dies In Collision

  On Thursday afternoon, March 9, 2023, Saluda County Coroner’s Office responded to a two vehicle crash between a 2015 Freightliner tractor-trailer and 2019 Honda Sedan on Hwy 39 near Speigner Road in Saluda County.
  Unfortunately, the driver of the passenger car died at the scene. She has been identified by Coroner Keith Turner as Kimberly F. Bundrick, age 65, of Saluda. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.
  The passenger car appeared to have traveled over the center line hitting the tractor-trailer head on.
  The Coroner’s Office and the SC Highway Patrol will continue to investigate this fatality.  The Coroner’s Office extends its thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Ms. Bundrick.
  Special thanks for the assistance of the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office, EMS and Fire Service for their assistance on scene.

Saluda Native Appears
On NCIS-Los Angeles

  Actress Joycelyn McElveen, a Saluda native, appeared on the March 5 episode of ”NCIS-Los Angeles.”
  She posted on her Facebook page the next day:
  “Last night was a moment I will never forget. I am still processing all the goodness. The little girl inside from Saluda, SC, is screaming. “We did it!” & that we did. If you didn’t get to see me in the latest episode of NCIS-LA it is now streaming on CBS Paramount +.”
  McElveen studied Theatre at University of South Carolina Aiken and Mass Communication at CUNY Lehman. She a graduate of  Brookland-Cacye High School.
  She is scheduled to appear on SaludaNOW’s “Talking Tuesday” March 21st, 2:30-4PM.

Historical Society Needs
New Mailing Addresses

  The Saluda County Historical Society reminds its members that over 100 addresses of its members may change due to the Saluda County Emergency Management Divisions new E-911 update.
  Please let us know what your new E- 911 address is so we will be able to correspond with you.
  If anyone would like to become a new member of the Saluda County Historical Society send your information plus $25.00 for an individual, $40.00 for a couple or $50.00 for a family membership to P. O. Box 22, Saluda, SC.
Thanks, Meade P. Hendrix, Executive Director

4-H DAY - Saluda County 4-H members visited the Gov-ernor’s Mansion and State House on 4-H Day, March 7.