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Welcome to WBCU!
Schedule for today: 6-10:45 a.m.--Union County's Morning Show with Mike Stevens 10:45-11 a.m.--Swap N Shop 11-Noon—The Gospel Show with Mike Stevens Noon-1 p.m.--Noon Report with Steve Ramsey 1-3 p.m.--Clark Howard Show--call 1-877-872-5275 3-5 p.m.--The Drive With Daniel Prince 5-5:30 p.m.--WBCU Top Five at 5 5:30-6:00 p.m.--5:00 Report 6-8 p.m.--SC Sports Talk 8 p.m.-6 a.m.--Today's best country and some hits from yesterday HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO YOU!!! Roger Petty is our Monday Birthday winner! |
AMERICAN LEGION MEETS TONIGHT Monday, February 8 Union American Legion Post 22 will hold its regular monthly meeting this evening at the regular location in Foster Park: the Legion Hut at 120 Scenic Drive. A meal will be served at 6:00 P.M., for which voluntary contributions will be accepted. The guest speaker for this month’s meeting will be retired Brig. General, and current Union County Supervisor, Tommy Sinclair. The business part of the meeting begins at 7pm, and usually concludes shortly after 8:00 P.M. Post 22 meets on the second Monday of every month. Interested Veterans are always welcome to attend. - Monday, February 8 South Carolina currently has the lowest tax in the nation at 7-cents per pack, and South Carolina Superintendent of Education Jim Rex wants to raise the state’s cigarette tax by a $1.27 per pack. Rex was joined Thursday by educators and anti-smoking groups as he stated that raising the tax to the national average of a $1.34 per pack would bring in over $238 million a year. Rex, who is also running for governor, says his plan isn’t politically motivated. “What’s amazing to me is that we didn’t do this years ago. We’ve put it off for way too long in South Carolina, now’s the time to do it,” he said. Rex says the financial crisis facing the state necessitates the tax increase and that half of the new revenue could be used temporarily to support education and help stop teacher furloughs. “We’ve got to stop thinking that the only option before us is to cut essential services and some of the cuts we’re now experiencing in South Carolina are going to have irreparable damage,” said Rex. Lawmakers approved raising the cigarette tax by 57-cents last session, but Gov. Mark Sanford vetoed the measure. “We’re very much in support of a cigarette tax,” said Sanford spokesman Ben Fox. However, Sanford has said he would veto a cigarette tax increase again if it wasn’t accompanied by tax cuts elsewhere. “We’re not in favor of raising the aggregate tax on South Carolinians,” said Fox. “All we’re asking smokers to do in South Carolina is pay the price for their cigarettes that smokers in other states pay,” said Rex. - Monday, February 8
There are several meetings scheduled for this evening in Union County. The Union
County Council Public Health and Social Services Committee and the Board of the
Union Hospital District will hold a joint meeting at 6:30pm in the Law Library
at Union County Courthouse. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the
composition of the Hospital Board. At 7pm Monday evening, the Union County Board
of School Trustees will meet at the Union County Career and Technology Center.
Among the items on that agenda are: the 2010-2011 School Calendar, monthly
finance reports, a UCHS track scoreboard, and the 2009-2010 Home School Report.
The Union County Young Republicans will hold their regular monthly meeting
Monday February 8, 2010. The meeting will be held at 7pm in the Grand Jury Room
at Union County Courthouse. At this meeting they will discuss organizational
business and will hear presentations from 4th Congressional District Candidates
Jim Lee, David Thomas, Christina Jefferey, and Bob Inglis. They will also hear
from SC House District 42 Candidate Randy English and County Council Candidate
Don Hyder. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. For more information
on this meeting or the Union County Young Republicans you can email
unioncountyyoungrepublicans@gmail.com or call Chairman Tyler Shugart at 426-0464
VIETNAM PHOTOJOURNALISM EXHIBIT COMING TO SC MILITARY MUSEUM Monday, February 8 The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum presents moving and powerful images of the Vietnam War in an exhibit titled Requiem: By the Photographers Who Died in Vietnam and Indochina, on view from March 5 through May 29, 2010. This exhibition features 55 photographs taken by photojournalists who were killed or reported missing while covering the conflict, which began with the French Indochina War of the 1950s, and culminated with the fall of Phnom Penh and Saigon in 1975. The photographs featured are the best of thousands gathered by Horst Faas and Tim Page, two photographers who were wounded in Vietnam. They decided that the works of famous photojournalists like Robert Capa and Larry Burrows would hang alongside those of unknown photographers who contributed significant pictures before their death. Requiem displays images from 23 photographers representing seven countries, Britain, USA, France, Singapore, Cambodia, Japan, and Vietnam. The photographs begin with a beautiful and peaceful landscape in the 1950s, and become increasingly more dramatic as they take us through the escalating military involvement. Among the most moving images displayed are those from the famous series “One Ride with Yankee Papa 13” by Larry Burrows which documents a mission of Marine Lance Corporal James C. Farley. This series of photographs premiered in January 1963 as Life magazine’s first major cover story about the Vietnam War and brought home the fact that American soldiers were involved in a major conflict on the other side of the globe. Requiem is a traveling exhibit that is part of the George Eastman House permanent collection. Since 1997 Requiem has traveled internationally to Tokyo, Hanoi, Lausanne, and London. Showings in the United State s include New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. — drawing record crowds at each venue, including veterans of the war and many young people who were not yet born when the war ended. The SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum has selected the best of these images to exhibit for the first time in Columbia, South Carolina. Requiem is the first Vietnam War exhibit shown by the Confederate Relic Room and director Allen Roberson says that it was important for the museum to bring such a significant body of work to the Palmetto State. HOSPITAL BOARD TABLES MOTION TO FIRE CEO AND TERMINATE CONTRACT WITH CAROLINAS HEALTHCARE Friday, February 5 The Board of Trustees of the Union Hospital District held their regular monthly meeting at 6:30 PM Thursday evening in the conference room at Wallace Thomson Hospital. Bill Leonard, CEO of the Hospital District, presented the February Award of Excellence to Cynthia Cooke, Unit Clerk for the medical-surgical-telemetry section on the third floor of the hospital. This award enables Ms. Cook to be eligible to win Award of Excellence for the year. Mr. Leonard went on to tell the board that the hospital district had received $219,699 in refund of premiums for Worker’s Compensation. Wallace Thomson Hospital received $176,307, while Ellen Sagar Nursing Home received $43,392. He told the board that the refund of premiums was due to the low number of workers’ compensation claims in the hospital district. Emily Cannon, Workers' Compensation Representative for the district, gave a PowerPoint presentation to the board outlining the measures taken that led the low number of claims. Ms. Cannon showed the board some of the equipment purchased to help eliminate claims. EMS secured a grant that enabled them to purchase a Stryker power stretcher and a Stryker power chair. These two pieces of equipment eliminate the heavy lifting by EMS personnel, cutting down on back injuries. The hospital has acquired a lift pad and hydraulic lift to assist with moving patients within the hospital, also eliminating some of the dangers for back injuries. In other business, during the approval of the Finance Committee minutes, the meeting became somewhat heated. Board member Jeff Cannon told the board that he had information he would like to share with them before the minutes were approved. Once that information was passed out to members of the board there was some heated discussion over allegations that actions have been taken to deceive the board. Based on the information that was passed out to board members, information the news media did not receive a copy of, Cannon made a motion to fire CEO Bill Leonard and put Carolina Healthcare System on 60-day notice concerning their contract to manage the hospital. That motion was seconded by Board member Rhonda Ingle. The following discussion was very intense, and several times it was suggested that the board go into executive session, and that the discussion should not be held in open session. A motion to table the motion before the board was made by board member Dr. Gerald Fielder, and seconded by board member Dr. Christopher McWhorter. That motion was defeated by a vote of 3 for and 4 against. Chairman Tim Svedlund again entertained a motion to go into the executive session. Dr. Fielder made the motion, seconded by Dr. McWhorter and the motion carried 4 to 3. The board was in executive session approximately an hour and 15 minutes. When they returned to open session, another motion was made to table the existing motion. The tabling motion carried: 5 for, and 2 against. - Friday, February 5 DHEC will be in Lockhart Monday to give H1N1 flu shots to residents there. The clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lockhart Town Hall. There will be no charge for the shots, and anyone that wants one can come by and be vaccinated. - Friday, February 5 The Upstate Workforce Investment Board will be hosting the Upstate Small Business Expo at the Truluck Gymnasium on the campus of USC-Union. The expo will be held Wednesday, February 17, from 8-3. Geared towards those wanting to start a business, the expo will provide information on the basics of starting your own business, financing opportunities, tax information for small business, and programs available to help you succeed. The guest speaker at the event will be SC Secretary of State Mark Hammond. For more information or to register, call Beth Fowler at the Upstate Workforce Investment Board, at 427-4119. - Friday, February 5 The Planning and Development Committee of the Union County Council met in the Grand Jury Room at Union County Courthouse Thursday morning at 10:30 AM. The purpose of the meeting was to hold an appeal hearing on a complaint filed concerning a junkyard in the vicinity of 159 Ashley Acres. The person against whom the complaint was filed on August 18, 2009, was not present at the hearing. However, the committee did hear from the complainant, Stephen Broadbent, concerning the matter. He told council that he and his terminally ill wife live at 159 Ashley Acres, and that their lives had become a nightmare since his neighbor moved his junkyard operation next to their property. He told the council that according to the county ordinance, there should be something the county could do to help his situation. Mr. Broadbent was told that Council would have to consult with the county attorney to see what the next step would be to remedy his problem. Next, the Law Enforcement, Judiciary, and Recreation Committee met to discuss the concessions contract for the Timken Sports Complex. An advisory group has been formed, consisting of County Council members Tommy Ford and Joey English, sports complex employees Paul Wilkes and Kevin Shropshire, Union County Recreation Director Becky Cobb, and Stadium Manager Ronnie Wade. The group visited a couple of sports complex to get ideas on how to better manage concessions as well as general operations. Speaking on behalf of the group, Ronnie Wade requested the council consider a permanent part-time person for concessions, call-ins for the gate and stocking concessions. He told the committee that since the person is part-time, the county would save on benefits such as insurance, paid holidays, etc. Wade told the committee that 34 tournaments are tentatively scheduled to be held at the Timken Sports Complex this year. As a comparison, he said, the sports complex at Rock Hill only has six tournaments scheduled thus far. In addition to the part-time person, Wade also stated that it was recommended that the county purchase a video surveillance system for the complex to hold down vandalism, and that funds be transferred from the 1% hospitality tax to cover expenses such as grass seed, maintenance, etc. Wade explained to the committee that the complex should generate direct funds and indirect funds. The direct funds would be the revenue realized by the complex itself, and the indirect funds would be money made by other persons such as hotels, motels, and restaurants because of activity at the park. The first event scheduled for the sports complex is to be held beginning on February 26, 2010, with the Union County High School baseball tournament. - Friday, February 5
Union County Schools is looking to hire responsible adults to be certified to
drive school buses as full- or part-time employees. They need adults with good
judgment, sharp driving skills, and a keen interest in the welfare of our
students. They also need adult drivers who understand that a calm, orderly bus
ride is an important part of the school day and prepares students for learning
in the classroom. They are willing to discuss job sharing arrangements with
adults who are only interested in driving in the mornings or afternoons, or
certain days of the week. The minimum rate of pay is $8.96 per hour. All
applications for the February training session must be received on or before
Thursday, February 11th, 2010. Training dates for February are February 16th
through February 19th at the Operations Facility, located at 1417 Whitmire
Highway (Golden Triangle) in Union. You must attend all training dates, and the
hours are from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM. You must meet the following qualifications to
be a school bus driver: HOSPITAL DISTRICT BOARD MEETS TONIGHT Thursday, February 4 At 6:30 PM this evening, the Union Hospital District Board of Trustees will hold their regular monthly meeting in the executive conference room at Wallace Thomson Hospital. The public is invited to attend. Union County Council held two committee meetings today. WBCU’s Steve Ramsey was there, and he reported that no action was taken in either meeting. The Planning and Development Committee met at 10:30 AM to discuss appeals to the building code. Immediately following that meeting, the Law Enforcement, Judiciary, and Recreation Committee met to discuss the canteen contract at Timken Sports Complex. Tomorrow at noon, the Personnel, County Offices, and Departments Committee will meet to discuss part-time personnel. The meeting will be in the Law Library at the Union County Courthouse, and the public is invited to attend.
- Thursday, February 4 On Monday February 8th, The American Legion Post 22 in Union will have its regular monthly meeting. The February meeting will be held at the regular location in Foster Park: The Legion Hut at 120 Scenic Drive. This meeting will also follow the Legion's usual scheduling. A meal will be served at 6:00 P.M., for which voluntary contributions will be accepted. There will then be a guest speaker at 6:30 P.M. For February's meeting, the guest speaker will be retired Brig. General, and current Union County Supervisor, Tommy Sinclair. At 7:00 P.M., the American Legion business meeting will begin, with the business section usually being concluded shortly after 8:00 P.M. Post 22 meets on the second Monday of the month. Interested Veterans are always welcome to attend. - DHEC OFFERS H1N1 FLU CLINIC MONDAY IN LOCKHART Thursday, February 4 DHEC will be in Lockhart Monday to give H1N1 flu shots to residents there. The clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lockhart Town Hall. There will be no charge for the shots, and anyone that wants one can come by and be vaccinated. - SMALL BUSINESS EXPO COMES TO USC-UNION THIS MONTH Thursday, February 4 The Upstate Workforce Investment Board will be hosting the Upstate Small Business Expo at the Truluck Gymnasium on the campus of USC-Union. The expo will be held Wednesday, February 17, from 8-3. Geared towards those wanting to start a business, the expo will provide information on the basics of starting your own business, financing opportunities, tax information for small business, and programs available to help you succeed. The guest speaker at the event will be SC Secretary of State Mark Hammond. For more information or to register, call Beth Fowler at the Upstate Workforce Investment Board, at 427-4119. - STATE ANNOUNCES ENERGY STAR APPLIANCE REBATES STARTING MARCH 31 Thursday, February 4 A total of $3.9 million will be available in rebates to South Carolina residents purchasing ENERGY STAR appliances in the state beginning March 31, 2010 and continuing until all funds are exhausted. This program is funded by South Carolina’s share of federal stimulus funds being distributed to each state for appliance rebates. Rebates will not apply to online purchases or purchases made prior to March 31, 2010. For appliances purchased in a store, the rebate will be applied instantly at the register. Installers of whole-house equipment such as water heaters and HVAC systems will reserve rebates online and then provide customers with mail-in forms. Customers participating in this program will be required to let retailers and installers recycle their old, inefficient appliances to ensure that they are taken off the power grid.
Humphries Heating and Air is the only Union County business listed as of now as a vendor on the website, which is appliancerebates.sc.gov. According to the Union County Chamber of Commerce, Chamber members who sell products listed are RJI Home Furnishings, Farmer’s Furniture, and Henderson Plumbing and Mechanical Contracting. Any business who sells these products and wants to be an approved vendor can fill out the vendor application form, which is found at the website, which again is appliancerebates.sc.gov. Lockhart Power Company, the Electric Cooperatives of SC, SC Electric & Gas, and Duke Energy Carolinas are among the utilities partnering with the SC Energy Office to help carry out the program. - LICENSE PLATE PROMOTES RECYCLING Thursday, February 4 New Carolina and South Carolina’s Recycling Industry Group Wednesday announced the release of a new specialty license plate that promotes recycling through the introduction of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” specialty plate. The Recycling Industry Group is one of the state’s economic clusters supported by New Carolina, South Carolina’s Council on Competitiveness. Recycling is a thriving $6.5 billion industry in South Carolina that benefits both the economy and environment. The Recycling Industry Group held a design contest for the specialty plate design and Janice Antley of Greer-based Mighty Mouse Productions was the winner. The Greater Greenville Sanitation Commission provided financial support to the Carolina Recycling Association to advance the funding for the plate production fee. Proceeds from the plate will benefit the Carolina Recycling Association to develop programs and outreach to grow recycling and enhance its importance as a smart solution to waste management through avoided disposal fees, job creation and investment, and quality of life in the state. Ronnie Grant, chair of the Recycling Industry Group said, “We are excited to promote the new recycling specialty plate to South Carolina citizens and encourage recycling with the message of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ on vehicles traveling in South Carolina and across the United States. Underscoring the message of recycling, each license plate is also made from recycled aluminum.” The “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” plate is among the first issued through the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) digital “on demand” process, which means the plates are not available in SCDMV field offices. Instead, the plates will be printed and mailed as vehicle owners place orders. The fee for the specialty “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” plates is $30 every two years, in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee. Interested customers may place their license plate orders by mail, at scdmvonline.com, or at any SCDMV field office on form MV-95. Applications will be processed within three to five business days. To learn more about the Recycling Industry Group, go to newcarolina.org and follow the link to the Recycling Cluster. - SC HOUSE PASSES STATES' RIGHTS MEASURE Thursday, February 4
Tuesday, the South Carolina House of Representatives passed a
measure that affirms rights given to states expressly defined by the Bill of
Rights and the U.S. Constitution. Recent overreaching by the federal government
has pushed the limit of federal accumulation of power at the expense of the
states it collectively represents. This bill reaffirms rights granted to the
states and implores the members of Congress to abide by the Constitution they
took an oath to uphold. House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued the following
statement about the passage of Tuesday’s bill that moves to protect our state’s
rights: COUNTY COMMITTEES, HOSPITAL DISTRICT HOLDING MEETINGS THURSDAY Wednesday, February 3 There are several meetings planned for this week in Union County. There will be three committee meetings held by the Union County Council on Thursday, February 4th. These meetings will be held in the law library at the Union County Courthouse. The Planning and Development Committee will meet at 10:30 AM to discuss appeals to the building code. Then immediately following that meeting the Law Enforcement, Judiciary, and Recreation Committee will meet to discuss the canteen contract at Timken Sports Complex. At 12 noon, the Personnel, County Offices, and Departments Committee will meet to discuss part-time personnel. Then, at 6:30 PM the Union Hospital District Board of Trustees will hold their regular monthly meeting in the executive conference room at Wallace Thomson Hospital. The public is invited to attend these meetings. - Wednesday, February 3 Today, February 3rd, Google will announce ‘Doodle 4 Google’, a national art competition for students in kindergarten through 12th grade for a chance to win a college scholarship and have their art creation featured on Google’s homepage for millions of people around the world to see. This year’s theme for the competition, “If I can do anything, I would...” encourages students to share their vision of what they would do if given the opportunity to change one thing about their life or the world. One national winner will win $15,000 in scholarship money toward the school of their choice, among other prizes. “At Google we believe in thinking big, and dreaming big, and we can't think of anything more important than encouraging students to do the same,” says Michal Lopez, Chief Doodler for Google. “We are looking forward to see what kind of creative visions kids will submit for what they would do in the world, if they could do anything.” In addition to the $15,000 scholarship, the national winner will also win a $25,000 grant for their school toward the establishment/improvement of a computer lab, a trip to New York City for an event on May 26th, 2010, and a Wacom digital design tablet. 40 regional winners will also be chosen and their creation will be displayed for all to see at the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Teachers can sign up their school for the ‘Doodle 4 Google’ art competition by going to www.google.com/doodle4google. Registration deadline for schools is March 17, 2010, at 11:59 PM PT. Parents and children interested in participating should pass this link on to their teachers. Teachers must sign up on behalf of their students and submit their doodles and entry forms by March 31, 2010 11:59 PM PT. - Wednesday, February 3 A Union County High School student was arrested after an incident at the school on Friday. Just before 1 PM on that day, the school resource officer was called to the office where the principal was detaining a juvenile in an attempt to determine why he was acting incoherent and unsteady on his feet. The principal questioned the student, and then asked him to empty his pockets in the presence of the officer. In his right pants pocket, the student had two small plastic bags containing a green leafy substance that appeared to be marijuana. The officer charged the student with Simple Possession of Marijuana, he was released to his parents, and the substance was placed into the Union Public Safety Department’s drop box for testing. The student was referred to the DJJ in Union for further action. - Wednesday, February 3 The Union Public Safety Department is investigating a case of larceny from an automobile. According to the incident report, at just after 11 AM on February 1st, the victim met with Sgt. Farr at Union Public Safety Headquarters. The victim stated that sometime between 10 AM on January 30th and 10 AM on February 1st, an unknown subject or subjects had entered her 2002 Buick Century outside her residence at 212 Catherine Street. She stated that once inside, this subject removed a blue toolbox filled with various hand tools, a black crane jam saw, and a Tom-Tom GPS navigation unit. The victim stated that her vehicle was locked when she left it, and locked when she returned to find the items missing. The value of the missing items was estimated to be $990. The investigation is ongoing, anyone with any information is urged to call the Union Public Safety Department at 429-1713, or Crime Stoppers at 427-0800. - Wednesday, February 3
Tuesday, South Carolina businesses, unions, consumer groups, and other
organizations announced the launch of the South Carolina Coalition for Chemical
Safety (SCCCS). This non-profit, non-partisan group has joined together to
support modernization of our nation’s system for regulating the use of
chemicals. “We’re excited to be part of this important effort,” said Jamie
Sanderson, former chair of the Georgetown Democratic Party and a member of
SCCCS’s Public Policy Committee. “Modernizing the federal law regulating
chemicals is important for the safety of all Americans, whether at home, school,
or in the workplace.” “The federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is more
than 30 years old,” said Sanderson. “Our ability to assess chemical risks has
advanced tremendously since then, and our nation’s laws should reflect
improvements in science and technology.” SCCCS will be building its membership
and educating the public and elected officials about the importance of a strong,
innovative, properly regulated chemical industry. The organization supports a
national chemical safety regulatory system that: UNION BUSINESSWOMAN FILES SUIT AGAINST CITY AND BUILDING INSPECTOR Tuesday, February 2 A Union businesswoman who says her civil rights have been violated has filed a lawsuit against the City of Union and its building inspector, Brian Blackwell. Ralph Phillips, Jr., a Spartanburg attorney, filed the suit on January 26 in the Union County Clerk of Courts Office on behalf of Hope F. Small. Ms. Small is suing Brian Blackwell individually and as the building officer for the City of Union, and she is also suing the City. Small claims that her business has sustained $750,000 in damages, and she is seeking punitive damages of $1 million from Blackwell plus court costs and attorney’s fees. According to the suit, on November 23, 2009, Blackwell and the City issued Small a Uniform Ordinance Summons, while making her post bond and said the summons was for trial for violations of city ordinance. Ms. Small believes that Blackwell falsely accused her of violating an ordinance, and did not accuse others of violating such ordinances when many others were in similar situations and were not issued summons. When asked on Friday about the lawsuit, City Attorney Billy Whitney stated that he could not comment on the lawsuit because he had not had time to review it. WBCU News will continue to follow this story and bring you further details as they become available. - Tuesday, February 2 The Union Public Safety Department is investigating a drive-by shooting that occurred late Friday night or early Saturday morning. According to the incident report, officers responded to 124 Perrin Avenue in reference to damage done to a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers spoke with one of two victims who stated that he left his red in color 1997 Ford Explorer parked at that location while he and some friends went to Greenville, South Carolina. The victim stated that when he returned he noticed that the rear window was busted out. He then noticed that the side window had been busted out and a right front door window was busted out also. Victim stated that he noticed that the windows appeared to have been shot out of his vehicle. Officers then spoke with the second victim who stated that he also left his green in color 1997 Lincoln parked at the same location and he had went to Greenville, South Carolina with the other victim and other friends. Victim number two stated that his front windshield had been shot out also. The bullet hit the dash of the vehicle then came out through a small window just behind the right rear door window. A bullet that went through the first victim’s vehicle struck the dwelling at 124 Perrin Avenue, causing a hole in the vinyl siding on the front porch of the home. Investigator Parker was called to the scene, processed the scene, and will do a follow-up on retrieving the bullet from the dwelling. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with any information is asked to call UPSD at 429-1713, or Crime Stoppers at 427-0800. - Tuesday, February 2 The Town of Lockhart wishes to let citizens know that on Wednesday, February 3rd, at 10am the Census Bureau will be at the Lockhart Town Hall to give the census test. The on Friday, February 5th, the Census Bureau will return to Lockhart Town Hall at 10am to give interested citizens another opportunity to take the census test. - Tuesday, February 2 On Monday February 8th, The American Legion Post 22 in Union will have its regular monthly meeting. The February meeting will be held at the regular location in Foster Park: The Legion Hut at 120 Scenic Drive. This meeting will also follow the Legion's usual scheduling. A meal will be served at 6:00 P.M., for which voluntary contributions will be accepted. There will then be a guest speaker at 6:30 P.M. For February's meeting, the guest speaker will be retired Brig. General, and current Union County Supervisor, Tommy Sinclair. At 7:00 P.M., the American Legion business meeting will begin, with the business section usually being concluded shortly after 8:00 P.M. Post 22 meets on the second Monday of the month. Interested Veterans are always welcome to attend. - Tuesday, February 2
Carol Willis, of the Union Chapter of the American Red Cross, furnished the
following information on the relief efforts in Haiti. In an operation that has
involved more emergency response teams than any other single-country disaster in
global Red Cross history, the American Red Cross has so far spent or committed
more than $67 million to meet the most urgent needs of earthquake survivors in
Haiti. The American Red Cross is currently focusing on three areas through its
emergency responders and partners: INCH OF SLEET POSES FEW PROBLEMS OVER WEEKEND Monday, February 1
The weather was the big news over the weekend. The weather was not as severe as
first forecast for our area; however, it was severe enough to cause some
closures, cancellations, and delays. As reported on WBCU, some businesses chose
to either to open late, close early, or not open at all on Saturday. Some events
scheduled for Saturday were rescheduled for a later date. On Sunday, the vast
majority of Union area churches chose not to hold services, while others held
services later in the day or had an abbreviated schedule. Throughout Union
County, the estimate is that most of the county received approx. 1” of sleet,
with some areas receiving more and others receiving less. The major concern was
the possibility of interruption of power to our citizens. WBCU News spoke with
Joe Nichols, Utilities Director for the City of Union, and he stated that the
City did not experience any problems as a result of the icy conditions. The next
concern was parents wanting to know about school today. WBCU News spoke with Dr.
David Eubanks late Sunday evening, and he told WBCU that several persons within
the school district had driven the various roads in Union County, and the roads
were in good shape. He went on to say that not only were the roads clear, but
they were dry, as well. Dr. Eubanks said that that was good because it would
eliminate freezing over at night when the temperature dropped below freezing. He
also stated that not all parents have adequate daycare if school is called off
or delayed, and that too was a major factor in the decision to have school at
the regular time today. - Monday, February 1 The Town of Lockhart wishes to let citizens know that on Wednesday, February 3rd, at 10am the Census Bureau will be at the Lockhart Town Hall to give the census test. The on Friday, February 5th, the Census Bureau will return to Lockhart Town Hall at 10am to give interested citizens another opportunity to take the census test.
- Monday, February 1 A man serving a 49-year sentence in the SC Department of Corrections filed papers Friday with the Union County Clerk of Court’s Office seeking Post Conviction Relief. Christopher Joshua Howell pled guilty in Union County Court in April, 2008 to the murder of Margaret Ann Stevens in August, 2007. Ms. Stevens’ body was found by friends and family members near the Buffalo Mill Pond. Police reports stated that she had been strangled. Howell is seeking relief from the court and wants his sentence set-aside. He states in the paperwork that his guilty plea was involuntary, and that his case was not properly investigated. In the papers filed Friday, Howell states that he appealed his conviction to the SC Court of Appeals in November of last year, and that court dismissed that request in December of last year. WBCU News will continue to follow this case and bring you further details as they become available. - Monday, February 1
Free tax preparation for those who qualify is available once again through the
Spartanburg County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Coalition (VITA). In its
sixth year, VITA is a consortium of local organizations and IRS trained
volunteers who assist low-moderate income families and seniors with tax
preparation to ensure they receive credits for which they are eligible. IRS
approved software is used to allow tax returns to be electronically filed. In
the spring of 2009, VITA prepared and filed 1,065 returns totaling over $1.15
million. This amount included $276,000 in Earned Income Credit which goes widely
unclaimed in our area.
Friday, January 29
The weather is today’s top story. It is uncertain at this time what the weather has in store for Union County, but it is certain that measures have been taken by various agencies within Union County to be ready for whatever the weather will bring. Union County Supervisor Tommy Sinclair called a special meeting Friday morning of the various agencies responsible for handling icy weather. Among those meeting with County Supervisor Sinclair this morning were: Chief Sam White of the Union Public Safety Department, Troy Champion of the county shop, Robbie Hines of E- 911, Ronnie Roberson of Union County EMS, Sheriff David Taylor, Perry Harmon Director of Public Works for the City of Union, Myron Harris Director of Union County Public Works, Robert Garner Emergency Preparedness Director, Jerry Brannon retired resident engineer of South Carolina Department of Transportation, and members of the news media. After the meeting that the WBCU News spoke with Mr. Sinclair, and he explained the purpose for the meeting. Sinclair said the meeting was a preliminary planning session in case the worst-case scenario occurs this evening. He said they hope for the best and plan for the worst when it comes to winter weather. He said they will get back together around 4 p.m. to check on their status, delineate and further refine roles and responsibilities, and set priorities for response. The latest from the National Weather Service in Greenville/Spartanburg, as of 10:26 p.m.: MAJOR WINTER
STORM TO AFFECT THE REGION OVERNIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY... - Friday, January 29 During the month of January, a sustained period of colder-than-normal temperatures caused higher-than-normal electric bills for consumers across the state. “Freezing temperatures make heating systems work harder and operate longer,” said Doug Wilson, Assistant Manager with Broad River Electric Cooperative. “The colder the outdoor temperature, the greater the heat loss from inside the home, and the longer your heating system must operate to maintain your level of comfort.” Obviously, weather dictates how often heating systems operate based on the member’s desired level of comfort. The colder the outdoor temperature, the greater the heat loss from inside the home, and the longer the heating system must operate to maintain the desired level of comfort. For example, to maintain a basic comfort level of 65 degrees inside the home when the outside temperature is 60 degrees, a heating system’s run time is minimal. However, as the temperature outside begins to drop, the heating system will increase its run time proportionately to the heat loss from the home. By improving the efficiency of your home, energy savings can be realized and you can maintain a level of comfort at a reduced cost. The more efficient the home, the slower the heat loss occurs and the less run time required to maintain the desired temperature inside. Reliance on less energy efficient systems, like electric heat strips and portable electric heaters also boosts your chances of receiving a high bill during these prolonged cold spells. “We can’t do anything about the weather,” Wilson notes. “But consumers can take steps to make their homes more energy efficient such as adding weather stripping and caulk around windows and doors, replacing heating system air filters monthly and closing outside vents during the winter.” Broad River Electric Cooperative offers programs for members with high energy bills or to reduce costs. Some of those programs include Levelized and Budget Billing, the Heat Pump Loan Program, Time of Use Rate, and the Energy Conservation Rate. For more ways to save money, consumers can visit www.TogetherWeSave.com or call the co-op office at 866-OUR-COOP - Friday, January 29 The Union Public Safety Department has arrested a Union man and is seeking three other individuals concerning an incident that occurred at a local business. According to the incident report, at just after 9:30 PM on Tuesday, January 26 officers were dispatched to 719 N. Duncan Bypass for a fight. Upon arrival, Ofc. Young spoke with the owner who stated that four individuals had been fighting inside the business. Shortly afterwards Sgt. Vinson with Union County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene and he had an individual in the back seat of his patrol car. The owner told officers that he was one of the four people fighting inside the business, and Ofc. Young ID’d him as Joseph Mark Lipsey, 48, of 2240 Mount Lebanon Road in Buffalo. Lipsey was arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct –Fighting, and was transported to Union County Jail. Warrants were signed on the other three individuals identified as: Charles McLain, 31, of 302 Toluca St., Union; Joshua Andrew Addis, 35, of 309 Catawba St., Union; and Drew Phillip Sanders, 32, of 1029 Gaffney Highway in Jonesville. These three individuals were also charged with Disorderly Conduct-Fighting. -
Friday, January 29
In an effort to make South Carolina more attractive to new industry and improve
our state’s economic climate for existing businesses, House Speaker Bobby
Harrell created an economic development group to examine this highly important
issue and suggest legislative solutions to the General Assembly. This group’s
work and recommendations were drafted into legislation (H. 4478) and introduced
Thursday in the House. “South Carolina’s economy is the biggest issue facing
our state for the next two decades,” Speaker Harrell said. “Lowering
unemployment and increasing per capita income are issues that directly affect
the lives of South Carolina families. This legislative session will focus
intensely on our state’s economic priorities. The Economic Development
Competitiveness Act lays out steps we need to take to make our state more
competitive in today’s global economy.” Comprised entirely of private sector
industry leaders, the economic development group worked closely with business
leaders, industry experts, the Department of Commerce and other economic
development entities to address this unified goal of growing our state’s
economy. Speaker Harrell said, “This represents another major step the General
Assembly is taking in our ongoing effort to grow South Carolina’s economy and
create jobs. Over the past several years, we have worked hard to create a
pro-business climate in our state. We now need to implement a proactive
economic development strategy that promotes our favorable economic climate to
business and industry around the world.” Some of the major recommendations
included in the bill are the elimination of the Corporate Income Tax,
Restoration of the Closing Fund and various improvements to our economic
incentive tools. The economic development group also expressed their support
for other legislative initiatives being sought by the House this year – Tort
Reform, ESC Reform and Dual Rail access at the Port of Charleston. “This job
creation strategy was created by private sector input, because it’s the private
sector – not government – that must lead us out of these difficult economic
times,” Harrell continued. “I would like to thank the members of this economic
development group for volunteering their time and expertise as we work together
to improve South Carolina’s economy.” Friday, January 29
Columbia Museum of Art presents First Fridays-An extended evening of learning
and fun on the first Friday of every month. The Columbia Museum of Art presents
First Fridays by offering guided tours, film festivals, concerts, lectures, book
clubs, and more on the first Friday of each month. The Museum is open from 10:00
a.m. - 8:00 p.m. on First Fridays. The February First Friday kicks off with free
admission to the exhibition, The Chemistry of Color: Contemporary
African-American Artists, courtesy of BlueCross/BlueShield of SC. For visitor
enjoyment, the Museum now offers brewed Starbucks coffee and accepts donations
for each cup. For more information on upcoming First Friday programming, visit
columbiamuseum.org. The events scheduled for the 1st Friday in February include: PUBLIC SAFETY WORKING ON POLICY TO SECURE OFF-DUTY OFFICERS' SERVICE WEAPONS Thursday, January 28 WBCU News spoke with Chief Sam White of the Union Public Safety Department Wednesday morning concerning the theft of one of his officer’s service weapon and his duty belt. When asked, Chief White stated that he could not discuss what, if any, disciplinary action would be taken against the officer. He stated that it was a personnel matter and he could not comment at this time. We asked Chief White if there was a departmental procedure concerning securing of an off-duty officer’s weapon. He told us that at this time there is not; however, he and his department are in the process of creating policy dealing with how an off-duty officer secures his service weapon. Chief White stated that the policy should be in place no later than next week. On Tuesday, January 19, at just before 10 AM, Union Public Safety Officer Tommy Hart came to the Union County Sheriff’s Office and reported his service weapon and duty belt had been stolen from his vehicle somewhere between 10 AM on January 17 and 5 PM on January 18. It was later determined that Hart’s service weapon was used in a drive-by shooting in Jonesville Tuesday afternoon January 19. No one was injured in the incident; however, two Union men and a Cross Anchor man were arrested and charged with two counts each of Assault and Battery with Intent to kill. They also face additional charges in connection with the incident that occurred on January 19 at 390 Rogerstown Road in Jonesville. WBCU News will continue to follow this story and bring you further details as they become available. - Thursday, January 28 The Union Chapter of the American Red Cross will offer a babysitters training class for youth ages 11-15 on Saturday, January 30th at 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The class will be held in the Mon Aetna Baptist Church Fellowship Hall and will be taught by Sue Keith, certified instructor. The cost is $35.00 and prepayment and registration is required. Participants will learn how to: supervise children and infants, perform basic childcare skills such as feeding and dressing, choose safe toys and games, handle bedtime and discipline issues, identify safety hazards, care for common injuries and emergencies such as burns, choking, cuts, and stings; communicate effectively with parents, and find and interview for babysitting jobs. All students will receive a training certificate from the Red Cross. Class size is limited to 12. For more information and registration, please call Carol Willis at 864-680-8406 or 429-7954. Snacks will be provided, but students are asked to bring $5 for lunch that will be ordered. - Thursday, January 28
The South Carolina Department of Transportation closed four interstate rest
areas on January 27, 2010. The closings are aimed at creating cost savings with
minimal impact on the public. The facilities were chosen due to their age and
condition, traffic counts, and the availability of other restrooms and truck
parking nearby. The facilities that were selected are: - Thursday, January 28 House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued the following statement about Tuesday’s release of the Legislative Audit Council’s (LAC) audit of the Employment Security Commission (ESC): “The LAC’s reporting of just how broken the ESC has become is shocking. When Representative Kenny Bingham and House Leadership began its push for ESC Reform last year, we knew there were great concerns with the operations and accountability of this agency. However, this report shows an agency in shambles. This audit exposes a complete lack of accountability, transparency and an all-in-all failure by the Commission to accomplish basic goals. “We must act swiftly to reform the ESC from a check writing agency to the job placement agency our state needs. These oversights and failures have cost our citizens opportunities and jobs. Reforming the ESC can’t wait another year, our state’s unemployed need it now. “As revealed by the audit, the ESC watched as its Unemployment Trust Fund plummeted from an $835 million surplus in 2000 to a near $800 million deficit today but failed to alert the General Assembly to this concern. Since July of 2000, that is a loss of $400,000 per day that has gone unreported in spite of at least two state laws requiring notification of the Legislature. “Millions of taxpayer dollars have been lost to fraud and overpayments with no action taken to protect or retrieve our money. Job placement has taken a backseat to simply throwing more money at our employment problems. Only 40% of all the jobs available in our state are listed by the ESC and little is being done or followed up on to make sure qualified workers are connected with available jobs. “Hopefully this exposing of how severely broken this agency has become will open the eyes of all lawmakers to the need for major reforms at the ESC. This is one of the reasons why our state’s unemployment rate is far too high; an employment agency in disarray has done little to combat joblessness.” LOCKHART ENTERS LEASES WITH USSSA BASEBALL, NEW BUSINESS Wednesday, January 27 The Lockhart Town Council held its regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening at 7 PM at the Town Hall. Mayor Ailene Ashe told the council that she had been contacted by a citizen with a high power bill. Mayor Ashe said that the citizen asked her about getting a septic tank, punching a well, and getting a generator. Ash told the Council that she had talked with DHEC, and had been told by DHEC that if sewer is available, you could not have a septic tank; however, you could have a well provided a certified well puncher does the job. Next Council went into executive session to discuss two lease agreements. Approximately 20 minutes later Council came back into open session. Jeff Bailey then addressed the council requesting a change in the Little League baseball lease agreement. He stated that Lockhart Little League was changing from Lockhart Dixie Youth to USSSA Baseball. He stated that the advantage in changing is that it helps more kids to become involved in playing baseball, and they can play up to age 18. He stated that the lease change is in name only. A motion was made and approved to dissolve the lease with Lockhart Dixie Youth. A second motion was made and approved to enter into a lease with USSSA. Next, council considered a lease agreement with Brian Brown, which would lease the old water filtration plant in Lockhart to him for a canoe and kayak rental business. Terms of the lease were that it would be rent-free during the first year in exchange for cleaning and maintenance of the old water filtration plant. The rental rate after the first year would be determined based on his level of business. - Wednesday, January 27 As reported in the Lockhart Town Council meeting story, Brian Brown is leasing the old water filtration plant from the town of Lockhart as the site of his new business called Carolina’s Outdoors Expedition. The water filtration plant building will be used to store his boats, canoes, and kayaks. WBCU News spoke with Mr. Brown at the meeting, and asked him to comment on the plans for his business. Brown said the new business will offer people a new experience for this area. He said they will be able to rent kayaks and canoes, and they will put them in the Pacolet, Broad, or any of the other rivers in the area. He said they will give them the training they need, and put them in the boat and let them go down the river, and Carolina's Outdoor Expedition will pick them up at the end. He said the services will be offered to individuals, and also groups from churches and other places. He said they have special rates in place just for such groups, and will keep them from having to go out of town to the mountains for the kayak/canoe experience if they don't want to. He said it will allow them to stay local, enjoy the local rivers, and see the sites. He said there are numerous bird-watching opportunities, photography opportunities, and fishing opportunities as well. He said they are part of the SC Nature-Based Tourism Association, and the Union County Tourism Commission is helping them, too. He said he hopes it helps to bring people to Union County and, in time, create a few jobs. He said he wants everyone to get out, have fun, and enjoy what Union County has to offer. He said the business will start up in mid-March or so. He said the website, which is not yet complete, is www.carolinasoutdoors.com . He said he has several varieties of boats, including single kayaks, tandem kayaks, and canoes for the whole family. He said they will provide everything you need. He said to bring yourself, bring your pets, bring the kids, bring your lunch, and they will pick you up at the bottom. - UNION COUNTY SCHOOLS STANDS TO LOSE STATE REVENUE Wednesday, January 27 WBCU News reported on a change in the way the state calculates Educational Funding Act revenue that is paid to each school district in the state in our report from the Union County School Board meeting that was held Monday evening. We spoke with Dr. David Eubanks, Superintendent of Union County Schools, after Monday’s meeting and asked him to explain the state’s actions. These were Dr. Eubank’s comments. Eubanks said the proposed change in the calculation for state funding will cost Union County around $150,000. He said this takes owner-occupied housing out of the formula. He noted that of all the districts in the state, the wealthier ones are the ones who stand to gain from the change. He noted Charleston stands to gain around $8 million. He said $150,000 in Union is a lot of money to the school district budget. The change has come about as a result of Act 388, currently under discussion. He said he feels the law is being misread by those who must interpret it and implement the changes. He said he very much opposes the change that is in the process of taking place. The school board has urged Dr. Eubanks to join a consortium to fight the change. He said of 85 school districts in the state, 60 will lose money, and some of the winners will only get a small amount of money. He said the larger districts along the coast stand to gain the most. - Wednesday, January 27 Union County High School is one of seventy-nine high schools from across South Carolina receiving recognition for their efforts on ACT or SAT college entrance exams, the Department of Education announced Monday. The state created the ACT/SAT Performance Improvement Awards (ASPI) to showcase schools that have demonstrated high performance on the ACT or SAT and those that have had rapid or continuous improvement in their scores. The recipients represent 42 of South Carolina’s 85 school districts and will receive banners and certificates of achievement for their efforts. Union County High School will receive a Magna Cum Laude award for Rapid Improvement on the ACT. ACT scores for Union County High School seniors have improved for the past three years. The 2009 average composite score for Union County seniors was 18.2 on the 36-point scale, up from 17.4 in 2008 and 17.1 in 2007. The number of seniors taking the exam also increased approximately 20% from 68 in 2008 to 81 in 2009. ACT considers any change of three-tenths of a point to be statistically significant; one-tenth of an ACT point is comparable to four points on the SAT. Cindy Langley, director of secondary education stated, “We congratulate the teachers, counselors, and administrators at Union County High School for achieving this award. They have worked diligently in partnership with parents and students to set high expectations for academic achievement. Not only do they work with students during the regular day, they conduct tutoring sessions before and after school to help students reach their goals.” Joe Walker, principal at Union County High School, stated, “I am so proud of our students, teachers and parents for the effort that they have put forth to improve our total school program. Our teachers have done a great job in the classroom, and our students have responded to our expectations to improve ACT and SAT scores. Our counselors, assistant principals, and district office staff have all worked hard to assist all of us at UCHS to make this improvement possible. Our motto this year is ‘Hard Work Pays Off’ and it is evident in this ACT improvement. I extend my greatest appreciation to everyone at Union County High School for their hard work with our students. We are ecstatic about the award and are so proud to be representing Union County.” South Carolina is one of only a few states that have increased high school seniors’ scores on the ACT college entrance exam over the past five years despite dramatically increasing the number of students who took the exam. Its 22-point gain in SAT scores leads the nation over the past ten years among states where more than half of the graduating seniors take the test. UCHS BASEBALL TEAM TO PLAY AT TIMKEN SPORTS COMPLEX Tuesday, January 26
The Union County Board of School Trustees met Monday evening at 7pm at the Union County Career and technology Center. In his report to the board, Dr. David Eubanks, Superintendent of Union County Schools, shared information on the removal of homes from the calculation of revenue to school districts. Dr. Eubanks told the board that this move benefitted the richer school districts, and hurt smaller, poorer districts like Union. He said that Union would lose $150,871 due to this change. Two Board Members were recognized for 10 years of service on the School Board. Those Board Members were: Kakie White and Manning Jeter, and they received a certificate and a service pin. In business matters, Cindy Langley, Director of Secondary Education, presented to the board the proposed school calendar for next year for board consideration. Mrs. Langley also presented certificates to the principals of the three Union County Schools that met all requirements for AYP for the year 2009. Those receiving recognition were: Gene Palmer of Lockhart, Floyd Lyles of Jonesville, and Anita Maness of Monarch Elementary Schools. Mrs. Langley also recommended to the board to grant permission for three overnight field trips. Those trips included the Drama Club going to Atlanta; 2 JROTC cadets to Ohio to compete in Air Rifle Competition; and qualifiers to the Upperstate Wrestling Competitions to be held at Eastside High School in Greenville. The board voted unanimously to approve those requests. In other business, Mike Massey, Athletic Director for Union County high School, gave an update on athletics, which included an agreement for Union County High School baseball teams to play all baseball home games at the new Timken Sports Complex. The only exception will be a Saturday double-header for the JV team that will be played at Union County Stadium. Coach Massey stated that that double-header coincides with this year’s Dixie Youth opening day festivities. Massey also stated that the uniform purchase rotation for teams at various schools is pretty much in place, and that the plan is for coaches to coach at schools where they teach. - Tuesday, January 26
Additional charges have been brought against three men who were arrested by the
Union County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, January 20 in connection with an
incident that occurred on Tuesday, January 19. The three men went to a residence
at 390 Rogerstown Road in Jonesville, were asked to leave, but one of the men
started a fight with a person at the residence. After the fight was broken-up
and upon leaving three shots were fired from the vehicle the three men were in
towards the residence. As a result of those actions all three were arrested and
charged with Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill- 2 counts each.
Additionally, they now face the following charges: Harold Dean Sinclair, III,
17, of 117 Old Shetley Place, Union, has also been charged with Refusing to
Leave on Request and DUS. Paul Wayne Morris, III, 18, of 11960 Highway 56, Cross
Anchor, is charged with Refusing to Leave on Request, Discharging a Firearm at a
Dwelling, and Pointing and Presenting a Firearm. Christopher Deauntre Gist, 17,
of 271 Meansville Road-E6, Union, is charged with Refusing to Leave on Request
and Assault and Battery. JONESVILLE, LOCKHART, AND MONARCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS MEET A.Y.P. Tuesday, January 26
SUSAN SMITH FILES APPEAL ASKING FOR NEW TRIAL Monday, January 25 In news that broke over this past weekend, Susan Smith, convicted by a jury of her peers in 1995 of killing her two young children, asked that her life sentence be set aside and that she be granted a new trial. According to a hand written, six page brief, Smith claims that 1) her Miranda Rights were violated in that she was questioned during the investigation of her case without the presence of an attorney; 2) Prosecution Misconduct- she states that the solicitor knew that to question the petitioner repeatedly without the presence of counsel would constitute a direct reversal of the jury’s finding of guilt based on a legal technicality; 3) Ineffective Assistance of Counsel- the defense attorney in this case falsely represented the petitioner and in that he refused to enter a plea of guilty which the petitioner had asked to enter, and because of that she was forced to a jury trial against her will; 4) failure of the defense attorney to give the jury instruction to render a verdict or a conviction based on Battered Women Syndrome, Childhood Trauma, and Domestic Violence. This six page handwritten brief along with an Application for Post Conviction Relief and a Report and Recommendation from United States Magistrate Judge Paige J. Gossett were filed in the Union County Clerk of Court’s Office on Tuesday, January 19, 2010. These filings come as a result of the Judge Gossett’s ruling in the Report and Recommendation. It states in part: “According to the answers provided by the petitioner to the questions on the petition form she used, neither a direct appeal nor a post-conviction relief (PCR) application was pursued in state court relating to the two murder convictions. As a result, this petition was filed prematurely, since petitioner’s state court remedies have yet to be exhausted.” WBCU News will continue to follow this story, and we spoke with Solicitor Brackett this morning, and these were his comments on the case. Brackett said SC law says that you have to apply for this kind of motion within a year after the end of your trial or within a year after the end of your appeal. He said that her trial was in 1995, so she waited 14 years to apply for it. He said he feels the first issue she'll have to overcome is explaining why she waited 14 years to file this appeal. Secondly, he said the motion alleges certain things, such as that she was interviewed without an attorney present. Brackett said those issues were already litigated in 1995 at the trial, where there was a motion made by the defense to exclude the confession she had given to law enforcement. That motion was denied, and that confession was heard by the jury. He said that would have been an issue she should have filed an appeal on back then if she had a problem with it, but she didn't. He said the real issue he feels that people should focus on is that even if this ends up being a whole lot of nothing and is thrown out of court, (and he said he would certainly join the attorney general who will handle this in making that argument) it is a tremendous waste of state resources to take on these frivolous motions. He noted there is no cost or downside to the person like Susan Smith in filing them. Instead, he said, the state and the taxpayers have to foot the bill to fight these things. He said when you look at the 20,000+ people in the Department of Corrections all filing motions like this, you can expect the Attorney General's Office spends a lot of time and resources dealing with things like this. Brackett said he finds it outrageous that David Smith and the people of Union should have to relive this in any way, shape, or form, or should even have to think about this woman 15 years after her case has been resolved, her trial ended, and she was sent to the Department of Corrections. He said she should be done and doing her time, and no one should have to think about her again, and it is unfortunate she is given this opportunity. To view the court documents filed in Smith's case, click here (note: This is a PDF file and requires Adobe Reader to view). - Monday, January 25 Acting US District Attorney Kevin F. McDonald said on Thursday, January 21st, that US District Judge Henry F. Floyd granted a ruling that severs 4 charges from the 40 charges against former Union County Supervisor Donnie Betenbaugh. Those four charges will be tried in a separate trial. These counts include allegations that Betenbaugh allowed the Union County Tax Assessor’s Office to be used to store and distribute cocaine, and on at least two occasions in 2008 to possess Lorazepam with intent to distribute, and failed to provide FBI agents with knowledge of crimes committed by co-defendant former County Tax Assessor Bill Randall. Judge Floyd issued his ruling in response to a motion filed by Betenbaugh’s attorneys last week when they asked that charges be severed from the rest of the indictment. The attorneys stated that the charges were unrelated to a 2005 kickback scheme involving Union County’s purchase of the American Federal Building in downtown Union. According to information received by the WBCU News, Betenbaugh’s trial is scheduled to begin at 10 AM on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010. WBCU News will continue to follow this case and bring you further details as they become available. - Monday, January 25
According to a Union County Sheriff’s Office report, a Union Public Safety
officer reported on Tuesday, January 19 that someone had broken into his vehicle
and stolen his duty belt that contained his service weapon, a 40 caliber Glock,
Model 22,holster, pepper spray, handcuffs, a Glock magazine, and 32 rounds of
ammunition. Total value of the items taken was $790. As a result of an
investigation into the incident, a subject who was already in jail on another
charge was questioned concerning the incident, and led officers to a location
where the items were recovered. Ty Wayne Morris, 18, of 11960 Highway 56, Cross
Anchor, South Carolina, now faces additional charges of: Petit Larceny,
Possession of a Handgun With Altered Serial Numbers, Possession of a Firearm
During the Commission of a Crime, and Carbreaking. Monday, January 25 South Carolina’s unemployment rate rose sharply in December to 12.6%, from a November rate of 12.3%, the State Employment Security Commission reported today. December’s jobless figures set a record high for the state. Estimates produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the state’s labor force at 2,166,699 in December, a decrease of 6,720. The number of unemployed increased 6,352 to 273,175. The national unemployment rate was 10.0% in December, unchanged from November. The state’s job count decreased by 9,900 in December, with most of the decreases occurring in Professional and Business Services (-4,000), Leisure and Hospitality (-5,200), and Manufacturing (-800). Partially offsetting the losses were gains in Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (+1,000), and Retail Trade (+700). Of note, slight gains in Construction were observed for the first time since May of 2009. The state’s overall job count was 38,100 below the year-ago level and nearly 109,900 below the December 2007 level when the recent recession began. “December’s labor force levels were the lowest since September, 2008, and we have seen unemployment reach record levels in South Carolina. A net increase in private sector job creation is our #1 public policy problem, and a net increase in private job creation will be pivotal in reversing the trend in state’s unemployment rate” said Sam Foster, Interim Executive Director of the Commission. Allendale County continues to have the state’s highest rate of unemployment at 23.6%. Union County now ranks 4th highest with a rate of 21.7%. The state’s lowest rate of unemployment continues to be Lexington County with 8.7% unemployment. HOSPITAL BOARD APPROVES HANDHELD ULTRASOUND UNIT LEASE Friday, January 22 The Union Hospital District Finance Committee held their regular monthly meeting Thursday night at 6:30 PM at Wallace Thomson Hospital. Members of the committee received the auditor’s report for fiscal year 2008- 2009 from Steve Stang, of the District’s auditing firm, Larson Allen. Mr. Stang told committee members that the audit was a good, clean audit, even though lack of revenues caused the Hospital District to end the fiscal year in the red. He went on to say that the lack of revenue caused the hospital district to be in violation of their bond agreement covenant, because revenues for the hospital district were not at the level required in the bond agreement. Stang told members of the committee that this problem could be rectified in the upcoming budget year provided revenue was increased. In other business, Fred Howard, of support services recommended a Capital Expenditure of $29,950 for the purchase of a hand-held ultrasound unit. Howard recommended to the committee that Toshiba Mindray be the vendor of choice because Toshiba has a significantly better maintenance agreement and has been selected by numerous nationally recognized physicians. Howard told the group that an operating lease of $960 per month for 36 months would be the lease of choice. He went on to say that it would take between eight and 10 procedures per month to break even on the lease expense, however, estimated utilization total 32 procedures per month with an estimated profit of $20,160 per year. The committee approved a motion to accept the recommendation by a vote of 3 for, and 2 against. - Friday, January 22 The Union Public Safety Department is investigating a case of burglary at a Union business. On January 20 at just after 10 AM officers were dispatched to 214 North Pinckney Street in Union in reference to a break in at that location. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the owner, who stated when he arrived at the business he noticed that the front window of the business had been busted out. The owner stated when he entered the business; he noticed that the business had been ransacked. The owner went to the back room and noticed that a locked door also had been pried open. He stated that he had a combination lock safe that contained a large amount of cash, and the safe was missing. The owner stated that he also had six cartons of Newport cigarettes that were missing. Also missing was a 1 gallon canister full of pennies. The value of the money, safe, and cigarettes that were missing was said to be $11,430. Lt. McGee with Union Public Safety Department was called to process the crime scene. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with any information is asked to call the Union Public Safety Department at 429-1713, or CrimeStoppers at 427-0800. - Friday, January 22
The Union County Arts Council is having an Exhibit of Patty J. Coleman's works
January 25- February 26, 2010. The Opening Reception will be held Monday,
January 25 at 5:30, at the Arts Council building, located on E. Main St. in
Union. The reception will also include a book signing of Paul Doerner's children
book, The Pop Pop Man, which Patty illustrated. Patty Coleman is a local artist,
printmaker, illustrator and a Converse College graduate. HYDER ANNOUNCES COUNTY COUNCIL RUN Friday, January 22 The Union County Republican Party held a forum for candidates Thursday, January 21st at 7pm at the Career Source Center, located at 103 West Main Street in Union. Speaking at last night’s affair was Don Hyder, Jr, a local businessman, who announced his candidacy for the District 4 County Council seat – Monarch area. WBCU ‘s Tyler Shugart covered the meeting for WBCU, and these were Mr. Hyder’s comments. Hyder said he is running because he thinks he can make a difference in the community. He said we don't have all the answers now, but we have a lot of questions. He said he feels together, we can make a difference. - Friday, January 22
The Upstate Workforce Investment Board (Upstate WIB) receives funding annually
to assist in the development of a qualified workforce in Spartanburg, Cherokee,
and Union counties. The Upstate WIB allocates some of its funding to the
training of jobseekers that are currently out of work through the CareerSource
one-stop center by providing on-the-job training opportunities that create
win-win scenarios for both the job seeker and the client as well as providing
meaningful work experience opportunities. Other funding is allocated to assist
businesses with maintaining and increasing the skill level of their current
employees through the incumbent worker training program. All of the programs of
the Upstate WIB assist businesses in the three county areas by creating the
opportunity to have skilled employees and receive the necessary funding to
support training needs. Without these programs in place, some necessary
training would not happen and thus create an inadequate workforce in our area.
At the “Employer Appreciation Event” held January 14, 2010 at Summit Pointe in
Spartanburg, the Upstate WIB recognized the companies that have participated in
the programs of the Upstate WIB during the 2008 program year. For local
employers, the Upstate WIB recognized 8 companies from Union County and the
nearly $81,000 that these companies received to train their employees. Listed
below are the companies from Union County that were recognized at the luncheon
this week, who received $72,945 of the approx. $479,000 awarded. HOSPITAL DISTRICT BOARD MEETS TO DISCUSS FUTURE APPOINTEES Thursday, January 21
The Union Hospital District Board of Trustees held a special meeting Wednesday
evening at 7 PM at Wallace Thomson Hospital. WBCU News attended the meeting, and
when the meeting was called to order, Board Chairman Tim Svedlund entertained a
motion to go into executive session. WBCU News asked the chairman to grant us a
brief interview prior to executive session explaining to us the purpose of the
meeting and what the board hoped to achieve in executive session. These were
Chairman Svedlund’s comments. He said they wanted to get the board together to
talk about future board appointments. He said in the next couple of
months, there will be four board members that will have to be replaced. He
said they wanted to have a meeting just to talk about that, so they got
together. He said no action would be taken. He said a committee will
be put together to address the statute that reads that the board members should
not be working for the controlling company, in this case, Carolina Healthcare.
Thursday, January 21
The Union County Republican Party will host a forum for candidates tonight,
January 21st at 7pm at the Career Source Center, located at 103 West Main Street
in Union. Everyone is welcome to attend; this is the opportunity for the people
of Union County to meet the people who wish to be their representatives.
Speaking tonight will be: Don Hyder, Jr, a local businessman, who will announce
his candidacy for the District 4 County Council seat – Monarch area; Dr. Brent
Nelson, Candidate for State School Superintendent; and Randy English, candidate
for SC House District 42. If you have any questions or need additional
information, please contact Michael Fowler 864-251-0604 or e-mail to
mielfo@charter.net. Thursday, January 21 Two Union County men and a Spartanburg County man have been arrested by the Union County Sheriff’s Office following an incident that occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the Jonesville area of Union County. According to the incident report, at just before 5 PM on Tuesday, January 19, officers were dispatched to 390 Rogerstown Rd. in Jonesville in reference to shots being fired from a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers were told by the victim that three male subjects had come to her home and tried to start a fight with a person at the residence. The victim heard the argument outside and went outside her residence and asked the three male subjects to leave. At that point one of the subjects took his coat off and jumped on a person at the residence. The victim’s husband came out of the residence and broke up the fight and made the three individuals leave. As the three subjects walked back to their vehicle they turned and yelled to the victim- “ this ain’t over yet.” The victim stated that they then got into their vehicle which was parked on Wedgewood Rd., pulled off, taking a left onto Rogerstown Rd., and fired three shots as they were going by the front of the victim’s residence. The victim and her 17-year-old son were standing in the front yard of the residence when the shots were fired. Officers located three .40 caliber silver jacketed Winchester shell casings along the highway in front of the victim’s residence. Pictures of the shell casings were taken at the scene by the officers and statements were also taken from the witnesses. The three suspects: Harold Dean Sinclair III, 17, of 116 Old Shetley Rd. in Union; Christopher Deauntre Gist, 17 of 271 Meansville Rd. in Union; and Paul Ty Morris III, age 18, of 11960 Highway 56 in Cross Anchor, SC, have been arrested, booked into Union County Jail, and charged with Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill-two counts each. - SPARTANBURG OUTPATIENT VA CLINIC OPENS NEXT WEEK Thursday, January 21
This Monday, January 25th, 2010, the new VA Spartanburg Community Based
Outpatient Clinic will celebrate its Grand Opening. The clinic provides health
and medical services on an outpatient basis to Veterans in Spartanburg,
Cherokee, Union, Polk & Rutherford counties. CITY AUDIT REVEALS LOW EARNINGS LED TO BOND COVENANT VIOLATION Wednesday, January 20 At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Union City Council, Terry Fant, the Independent Auditor for the City of Union, gave a brief overview of the City’s audit for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2009. Fant told council members that the city had a healthy fund balance; however, the City’s earnings were down somewhat due to a decrease in utility usage of between 6 to 8%, depending on which department you look at. Fant told Council that this caused a violation of their Bond Ordinance Rate Covenant. He went on to say that this means that the city did not maintain the earnings level required by the bond agreement. Fant told the council that this problem is easily corrected using one of two options: either impose rate increases on utilities or cut expenses. He said this could be addressed during the upcoming budget work sessions. In business matters, council approved a motion to accept the low bid of $88,000 by Blanchard Machinery for the purchase of a standby generator and switchgear for the Raw Water Pumping Station. Council also made appointments to two boards. A.C. Martin, of 104 W. South St. in Union, and Wayne Cooke, of 200 Wilson St. in Union, were appointed to the Building Board of Appeals. George Ashmore of 401 Brookside Dr. in Union was appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals. In other business, Council authorized Mayor Thompson to enter into a two-year contract with Fidelity Associates Inc. for “Eight Keys to a Better Me”. Under this program, approximately 330 books will be ordered for Foster Park, Monarch, and Buffalo Elementary schools, as well as Union Christian Day School. The cost of the program is $450 per year, and the two-year agreement will cost a total of $900. Council voted to hold their Budget Work Sessions on March 23rd, 24th, and 25th, beginning at noon each day. During public comment, two citizens addressed Council. Glenn Meador addressed the council first, and he asked about the possibility of recycling by the city. He told council members that he felt that the City of Union was missing out on big bucks by not recycling. Next, Mike Crocker addressed the council, and he had three issues that he took up with Council. The first item Crocker presented was who he could contact for help with the homeless situation in Union. The next item dealt with grant money for projects that would put local contractors and laborers to work within our city. The final item mentioned by Crocker was a request to stop putting fluoride in the City’s drinking water, citing information that he had received stating that fluoride causes cancer in the elderly. After the meeting WBCU News spoke with Mayor Harold Thompson and asked him to comment on the items that were mentioned during Public Comment. Mayor Thompson said recycling is a good idea. He said that is something that the city can look at, providing it is financially feasible. He said he had no problem looking at it, and sitting down and working on a plan, if it will work. As for the homeless shelter, Thompson said it is a misconception that the City of Union owned the homeless shelter at the Salvation Army building. He said they don't own it, but they were supporting it with $1700 a month through last May. He noted the Salvation Army never came in to renew the contract. He said he met with some of their representatives last week to discuss the issue with them. He said their home office decided they were not going to take the city's money because they felt the shelter wasn't secure. As to the issue of fluoride in the water, he noted that is a State Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) issue. He said the city gets periodic reports from DHEC stating that the city's water is good and clean for the citizens. He said until DHEC says that they need to stop using fluoride, the city is stuck with it. He said if the city doesn't include it, they will be fined. He said the final authority on that decision has to rest with DHEC.
- Wednesday, January 20
The Union Hospital District Board of Trustees will hold a special called meeting
tonight, January 20, 2010, at Wallace Thomson Hospital. The meeting will be held
at 7 PM in the Administrative Conference Room at Wallace Thomson Hospital. Then
on Thursday, January 21 at 6:30 PM, the Union Hospital District Finance
Committee will meet at Wallace Thomson Hospital. That meeting will also be held
in the Administrative Conference Room at Wallace Thomson Hospital. Wednesday, January 20
The Union County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Lockhart man in connection with an
incident that occurred just before 11 PM on Monday, January 18, 2010. According
to the incident report, officers were dispatched to a stabbing on North 2nd St.
in Lockhart on that date and time. Upon arrival, deputies found the victim lying
across a bed bleeding. Deputies noticed that the victim had a stab wound to his
left armpit and back. Deputy Coffer spoke to the complainant who stated that he
and the victim were at the flat in Lockhart and two brothers were fighting. He
further stated that the victim tried to break them up and they turned on him,
and that was when Brian Henderson, 31, of 302 Canal Street in Lockhart pulled a
knife and stabbed him. The complainant stated that they had had some problems in
the past. Sgt. Haney went to 302 Canal Street where the subject was waiting to
talk with officers. Sgt. Haney placed Brian Henderson under arrest and deputies
took statements from three witnesses. Upon further investigation, Tyler
Henderson stated that his Dad told him to get rid of the knife and that was when
he took it and threw it into the canal. A warrant was signed on Brian Henderson
charging him with Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill and he was transported
to Union County Jail. Wednesday, January 20 A Glenn Springs couple was sentenced Tuesday in Federal Court in Greenville for income tax evasion. Senior US District Judge Henry M. Herlong Jr., sentenced Robert Ledford, 55, to 30 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release, during which he is to repay in excess of $875,000 in back taxes. Cheryl Ledford, 61, received a sentence of three years probation, including a requirement that she serve five months of house arrest, and contribute to the paying of the $875,000 plus in back taxes. Both Ledfords were ordered to cooperate with the Internal Revenue Service in the filing of tax returns and assessment and repayment of back taxes, penalties, and interest. Evidence established that the Ledfords have not filed US individual income tax returns since 1991. The case was investigated by special agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Trial attorney Michael C. Boteler of the United States Department of Justice’s Tax Division in Washington an assistant US Atty. William C. Lucius of the Greenville office handled the case. REV. MATTHEW ZIMMERMAN INSPIRES CROWD AT MLK CELEBRATION Tuesday, January 19
A celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was held
Monday evening at 6 PM at McBeth Baptist Church in Union. The celebration was
for people of all races, and the featured Speaker was Rev. Matthew Zimmerman,
retired Army chaplain and former Sims High School graduate, who is Pastor of the
First Baptist Church of Warrenton, Virginia. Rev. Zimmerman is a very
enthusiastic speaker, and these are some of the comments made by Rev. Zimmerman
at last night’s celebration. Zimmerman said it was good to be back home.
He went on to say that he has lived in 16 states and 4 countries, and in each
and every one of them, when asked where he came from, he said he strongly stated
that he came from "the greatest city in the nation, Union, South Carolina."
That comment was greeted with applause by the audience. Later in his
sermon, he touched on reasons to continue with celebrations of Dr. King, and he
had a unique illustration for describing the American people, not as a melting
pot, but as fruit cocktail, where the individual differences are seen but come
together in a beautiful way. "So we are here to celebrate our uniqueness,
but yet our togetherness, all at the same time. And those of you who say
we ought to be a great big melting pot, you're going against Somebody who made
us as we are. We didn't get to be different by accident. God made us
this way, and when we try to erase the differences, we are saying to God, 'You
didn't know what You were doing!' And you might be brave enough to do
that, but not me!" He continued, "These observances, I'll tell you what
they are. They are motivators, generators, moving us to continue to sing
the songs of Zion. They are put here for us so that we can witness to the
fact that your color simply means that God is so smart! Your color means
that God is able to collect a bunch of differences, mold them, and shape them
into a people who love Him and can move their neighbors to love each other.
That's what this is; it's something to spur and move us in the direction that
God would have us to go!" Tuesday, January 19
The Group Citizens-Union SC met Monday evening at 7 PM in the Grand Jury Room at
Union County Courthouse. A group of approximately 10 people attended the meeting
and several items were discussed. The group discussed the animal shelter
situation, the Timken Sports Complex, the failing infrastructure within the City
of Union, litter problems within our community, and how to best notify the
public of the next meeting. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, February
2nd, 2010, at 6:30 PM in the Grand Jury Room at Union County Courthouse. Tuesday, January 19 Tonight at 6:30 PM the Union City Council will hold their regular monthly meeting at the Municipal Building. On the agenda for that meeting is the awarding of a bid, an appointment to a board, an item for discussion, and executive session to discuss legal, contractual, and personnel matters. As always, the public is invited to attend this meeting. - Tuesday, January 19
The Town of Carlisle wants to let you know about the following: - Tuesday, January 19 The Union County Republican Party will host a forum for candidates on Thursday, January 21st at 7pm at the Career Source Center, 103 West Main Street. Everyone is welcome to attend, this is the opportunity for the people of Union County to meet the people who wish to be their representatives. Speaking Thursday will be: Don Hyder, Jr, local businessman, who will announce his candidacy for the District 4 County Council seat – Monarch area. Don is a lifelong resident of Union County and currently operates two business here, Hyder’s Pit Stop Barber Shop and Hyder's Hauling and Bobcat service. Don also served with the Union Public Safety Department. Dr. Brent Nelson, Candidate for State School Superintendent. Dr. Brent Nelsen is a devoted educator, church leader, husband and father. Brent graduated from Wheaton College. For over 20 years, Brent has taught politics and economics—of the United States and countries around the world—at Furman University in Greenville. Widely considered a political and policy expert, he has also served as the on-camera political analyst for WYFF Channel 4. Randy English, is a native of Florida and has lived in Jonesville for 3 years. Randy has three daughters and operates an Avon distribution facility in Duncan, SC. For district 42 Randy plans to help residents rediscover the freedom our Founding Fathers envisioned for us, through three core values sanctity of life, private property and transparency and accountability of elected officials. If you have any questions, please contact Michael Fowler 864-251-0604 or e-mail him at mielfo@charter.net. RED CROSS HELPING HAITI EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS Monday, January 18
Greg Virga, Public Support Director of the American Red Cross- Piedmont Chapter,
serving Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union Counties, made the following
announcement on Sunday. - Monday, January 18 A celebration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King will be held this evening at 6 PM at McBeth Baptist Church in Union. The celebration is for people of all races, and the featured speaker will be Matthew Zimmerman, retired Army chaplain and former Sims High School graduate. Everyone is invited to attend the celebration, however if you cannot attend, you may tune to WBCU Radio, 1460 AM or 103.5 FM, and we will have the celebration beginning at 6 PM in its entirety. - Monday, January 18
There are several meetings planned for this week in Union County. On Monday
evening the Citizens-Union SC group will meet in the Grand Jury Room at Union
County Courthouse. On Tuesday at 6:30 PM the Union City Council will hold their
regular monthly meeting. On the agenda for that meeting is the awarding of a
bid, an appointment to a board, an item for discussion, and executive session to
discuss legal, contractual, and personnel matters. Then, on Thursday at 6:30 PM,
the finance committee of the Union Hospital District will hold their meeting in
the conference room at Wallace Thomson Hospital. The public is invited to attend
these meetings. Monday, January 18
As of Friday, January 15, 2010, demolition of the Coca-Cola building located at 213 Thompson Blvd. was almost complete. Union City Council had purchased the Coca-Cola building as a result of actions taken in a meeting held on Thursday, November 20, 2007. Council voted in that meeting to pursue the purchase of the building at a cost of $253,000. Council later learned that improvements to the building exceeded the amount that would be cost-efficient for the City. At a special meeting of the Council held on Thursday, November 20, 2007, council accepted the low bid of $24,000 for the removal of asbestos from the building to make way for its demolition. Ray Lemmon’s Bulldozing is taking the building down after submitting the low bid. It is unclear at this time what the city plans to do with that property. WBCU News we’ll keep you informed on this project, and bring you further details as they become available. - Monday, January 18 Organizers of Get In The Pink, a local fundraiser for breast cancer research, announced Friday they will partner with Susan G. Komen for the Cure- SC Mountains to Midlands for the May 8, 2010 event. The second annual Get In The Pink will feature a 5K for Komen. It will also include a certified 10K race, Stiletto Sprint, a kids' fun run, and a post-race street party, as well as a soiree and fashion show featuring breast cancer survivors as models. More than 1,000 participants are expected to join in the activities. This is the first year Get In The Pink has partnered with the South Carolina chapter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The KICKS 10K begins at 8:00 a.m. and the 5K for KOMEN begins at 8:15 a.m. The Kids' 1 Mile Fun Run for children 10 and under, will start at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Stiletto Sprint, a fun race in which competitors must wear high heels at 10:30 a.m. Immediately following all races will be a street party featuring food, music and activities for all ages. All events will take place in the 2600 block of Devine Street. That evening the Soiree, which will include delicious foods, music, dancing and exciting prizes for guests begins at 7:00 p.m. at 701 Whaley in the Olympia Mills neighborhood. To register for any race or purchase tickets to the Soiree, please visit www.getinthepink.org. Race fees start at $10 and Soiree tickets at $60. The 2009 Get In The Pink raised more than $10,000 for the American Cancer Society. This year's event will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Share Our Suzy. Get In The Pink was founded by Jackie Howie, owner of KICKS Exceptional Shoes to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her store. Howie wanted the celebration to benefit her community and especially breast cancer organizations. In 1980, Nancy G. Brinker watch helplessly as her sister, Susan G. Komen, lost her three-year battle with breast cancer. Before Susan died, Nancy made a promise that would change the world: to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure. WELLS, RANDALL, FARR, AND BEACHAM PLEAD GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT Friday, January 15 Acting US Attorney Kevin F. McDonnell stated today that guilty pleas were entered by former Union County Sheriff Howard Wells, former County Tax Assessor Bill Randall, and Union County residents Willard Farr and Lapriest Beacham to charges stemming from four separate indictments issued by a federal grand jury in September 2009 as a result of a long-term investigation into public corruption in Union County. Former Sheriff Howard Wells pled guilty today in federal court in Spartanburg to lying to federal investigators. Evidence presented at today's hearing established that Wells made sizable loans to an individual, resulting in significant interest income to Wells. In March 2009, Wells made false statements to federal law enforcement agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning his involvement in concealing his receipt of taxable interest income and the existence of documents acknowledging the same. Wells faces a maximum possible sentence of five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.Former Union County Tax Assessor Bill Randall pled guilty to conspiracy, extortion, soliciting and accepting bribes, money laundering, structuring financial transactions to evade federal reporting requirements, and knowingly allowing the Union County Tax Assessor's Office to be used as a “stash house” for the storage and distribution of Cocaine and Hydrocodone. Randall faces a maximum possible sentence of 190 years imprisonment and a $5.25 million fine. In addition, Randall also pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute Cocaine and a mixture containing Methamphetamines. Randall faces an additional maximum possible sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1 million. Union County resident Lapriest Beacham was also named as a co-defendant in a separate indictment along with Bill Randall. Beacham pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute Cocaine. Beacham faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1 million. Union County resident Willard Farr pled guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion or faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. United States District Judge Henry F. Floyd accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence the defendants at a later date. Mr. McDonald stated that the case was investigated by agents of the FBI, the IRS-Criminal Investigation, and SLED, and that Assistant US Attorneys Mark Moore, Nancy C. Wicker, and JD Rowell of the Columbia office prosecuted the cases. WBCU News will continue to follow these cases and will bring you further details as they become available. To view the plea agreement for former Sheriff Howard Wells, click here. To view former Tax Assessor Bill Randall's plea agreement, click here. Note: these are PDF files and require the free Adobe Reader. - Friday, January 15
The Union Red Cross continues to offer training classes in January: - Friday, January 15 Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 644, Union, SC will hold their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, January 21st, at 7:00 P.M. The meeting will take place in the American Legion Hut off Scenic Drive, located in Foster Park in Union. President Ed Hund urges all members to attend, and “start the New Year off right.” The VVA is composed of Vietnam Era veterans; you do not have to have been in Vietnam to join. There is also an associate group, the AVVA, to which any interested person can belong, and which helps support VVA activities. Membership in either group is $20 a year, but any interested individual is invited to attend at least one meeting to get a feel for the local organization.More information on the national organization is available online at vva.org. VVA Chapter 644 meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at Foster Park, at 7:00 P.M. - Friday, January 15 Forest Service fire personnel soon will be implementing annual prescribed burning on the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests. Depending on weather conditions, burning may begin as early as mid -January and as late as June. “We conduct prescribed burns under very specific and controlled conditions to imitate fire that naturally occurs in forested areas,” said Sumter National Forest Zone Fire Management Officer Kyle Smith. These prescribed burns improve forest health enhance habitat for native species, live wild turkeys and songbirds, and prevent the excess buildup of forest fuels (dead or down trees and other vegetation) that could result in catastrophic wildfire. “The Forest Service conducts prescribed burns using ground personnel with drip torches. The agency also uses helicopters to burn more acres in less time, allowing for rapid dispersal of smoke. Burns are scheduled when weather conditions are most likely to reduce the risk of escaped fire and smoky conditions. Although Forest Service employees will work to avoid any inconveniences, motorists and residents near the national forests may see smoke columns or encounter reduced visibility in low-lying areas and additional traffic along Forest Service Roads. Motorists who encounter smoke on any road should reduce their speed and pay attention to any warning signs or directions from road patrol officers. Residents in Union County who have questions about a burn or smoke near the Sumter National Forest may call the Enoree Ranger District Office at 864-427-9858. MASSEY: BANNERS WILL BE PUT BACK UP; COMMUNITY INPUT WELCOME Thursday, January 14 There has been much discussion in the community concerning the removal of the various banners from the Union County High School gymnasium. There has also been concern that the banners would no longer be displayed at the school. WBCU News made several phone calls in order to get accurate information to pass on to you, our listeners. Wednesday afternoon, we spoke with Mike Massey, Athletic Director at Union County High School, and these were his comments concerning the removal of the banners and the future of those banners. Massey said some people in Union County had questions about the banners being taken down from the gym at UCHS. This summer, Massey noted, there was around $1 million of improvements done to Union County High School, much of it around the athletic facilities. He said in that process, the banners had to be taken down. He said some of them were worn, dirty, and sagging, and he said that was something that needed to be done. He said that contrary to rumors, the banners will be put back up. He said they are trying to figure out the best way to display them. He noted there has been some talk of including the banners in a “room of fame” or “walk of fame” coming into the gymnasium. He said another option is to put the old banners back up. He said another option is to put old banners from Union, Jonesville, and Lockhart high schools to commemorate the county’s history, and using another gym wall to display new region and state championship banners. He said the budget crisis throws a wrinkle into these plans, but he said it should not stop the process. He said we have one of the greatest booster clubs in the state, and he felt sure they would be willing to jump in and help fund the project. Massey said the big task right now is finding the best way to do this. He noted the danger of rushing ahead with a project, later to lament that it should have been done in a different way. He said he hoped the process would start sometime this summer, but he did not give a definite timetable, noting that they want to make sure it’s done the right way. Massey went on to say that public input into the future of the banners and how they should be displayed would be welcomed, and you can call Union County High School with that information at 864-429-1750, ext. 14.
- Thursday, January 14 The Union County Sheriff's Office arrested a Jonesville man and a Union man and they face several charges following an incident that occurred on Monday, January 11. According to the accident report, officers were on patrol in the area of the 300 block of Meansville Road, and pulled up on a stranded vehicle. The officer could see that one of the individuals was Reginald Woodson, 19, of 114 Rainbow Lane, Jonesville, South Carolina, and the officer had just seen an arrest warrant on that subject. The officer then asked if a City unit was close, and officer Young arrived on the scene to assist the officer. After the city officer arrived on the scene, Reginald Woodson was advised that there was an arrest warrant on him and as the officer was attempting to place handcuffs on Woodson, he began to try and pull away. A struggle ensued, and the officers took Woodson to the ground to restrain him. One of the officers then asked the passenger for an ID and saw that the passenger, Tom Welch, 22, of 1405 Peach Orchard Rd., Lot #1, Union, remove an open bottle of Jagermeister from between his legs and place it behind his seat. Welsh was then placed under arrest for an ABC Violation And also for Public Intoxication. Woodson was charged with Public Intoxication and Resisting Arrest. Both subjects were transported to Union County Jail. - Thursday, January 14 Wednesday, the South Carolina House of Representatives passed a censure resolution – a legislative decree condemning Governor Mark Sanford – for his dishonorable actions while in office which has brought great shame upon him, his office, our state government and our citizens. The censure resolution will now go to the Senate for its consideration. House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued the following statement about the House’s censure of Governor Sanford: “The past year’s fallout surrounding Governor Sanford has marked a dark chapter in our state’s history. Despite calls from many – including myself and a majority of lawmakers – to put this issue behind us by acting in the best interest of our state and resigning, Governor Sanford insisted on remaining in office. This unprecedented decision to keep himself, and his distractions, in office left the General Assembly with no other option but to fully investigate the numerous allegations of wrongdoings made against Governor Sanford. Our investigation into these actions has now culminated in the House’s passage of a censure resolution. “The House Judiciary Committee conducted a thorough investigation into whether or not the Governor had committed serious crimes or serious misconduct. The Committee found that Governor Sanford’s actions were irresponsible, misguided and hypocritical and that he used a taxpayer funded trip as a means to a personal end. However, as unfortunate and disappointing as these actions were, it was revealed that they did not reach the constitutional threshold for removal from office. “I would like to thank the members of the Judiciary Committee for all their time and hard work spent investigating this matter fully. And I would also like to thank the members of the House for acting quickly on the Committee’s recommendation to censure the Governor. The proper Constitutional procedure was followed and the House did its job in this regard. The possibility for any further action is a determination that will be made by the State Ethics Commission and the Attorney General. They will decide how to prosecute the 37 charges that the Governor still faces. “As we begin this New Year and this new legislative session, it is time for us to turn the page on this dark chapter, and focus our state on the many serious issues we face this year. Our citizens want lawmakers focused on moving South Carolina forward. Our ability to successfully land Boeing and the thousands of jobs they will create is the beginning of this new brighter chapter for our state. Today, lawmakers have turned the page and have made it clear that our focus is on improving our state’s future by focusing on our economy, education and the other issues the people of our state need us to deal with.” CITY DEEDS SOUTH HILLS PROPERTY TO COUNTY Wednesday, January 13 During a workshop held at 2pm on Tuesday, City Council addressed several items of business, with some being acted on and others postponed until the time Council begins work on the budget for the upcoming budget year. Council first addressed a matter involving the South Hills sports Complex. Public Works Director Perry Harmon presented information to Council concerning the 42-acre-tract located on the site of the old City landfill. He told council that a situation exists where the City still is in ownership of the parcel of land, but the County has maintained the location for recreational purposes, even receiving grant money for that purpose. Mayor Harold Thompson told Council during discussion that the land, because it is a former landfill site and is being used for the only suitable use, holds no future opportunity for use by the City. Mayor Thompson suggested that Council deed the property to the County, a move that would remove any liability on the part of the City. Council approved a motion to deed the property to the County. The next item addressed dealt with the Union County Foundation. The Mayor told Council that several years ago City Council had approved a $1 million gift to the Foundation to get it started. In the meantime, Mayor Thompson stated that Council has not received any reports on the financial standing of the Union Community Foundation, who is on the board, or any other pertinent information. As a result, Council agreed that representatives from the Foundation should be asked to attend a Council meeting and update the council on that information. Next, Council addressed the formation of a board to oversee the new Arts Center. Mayor Thompson told Council that construction of the new center will begin in the near future, and that a governing board needs to be formed. He also stated that because of recent events with at least one board member, future members of any board that are appointed by the City Council should submit to a background check to avoid any future problems. Council is to consider any members that they wish to recommend, and bring those names to the February meeting of Council. Perry Harmon also asked Council for permission to go out to bid for a new contract on the green dumpsters that are used in the various housing complexes within the City. The Fennell Corporation currently provides that service to the City, and their current three-year contract expires on June 30th, 2010. Harmon told Council that opening the contract to bids will insure that the City receives the best price possible for this service. - Wednesday, January 13 The Union Public Safety Department has arrested a Union man and charged him with Malicious Damage to Personal Property and Criminal Domestic Violence. According to the arrest warrants, James Michael Jeter, 25, of 402 Scott Street, Union, on January 7th, while at 310 South Church Street, Union, took the victim’s cell phone and threw it on the ground causing it to break. Jeter is also charged with striking the victim in the face, causing her to seek medical help. Jeter was arrested and booked into Union County Jail on Monday January 11th at 10:30am. - Wednesday, January 13 The Finance Committee of Union County Council met Tuesday at 4:30pm in the Law Library at Union County Courthouse. The purpose of the meeting was to receive a presentation from Ronnie Roberson, Director of Union County EMS. Roberson, citing information from a study done in 2002, took Council step-by-step through the process of how the Emergency Medical Service we have today came to be. He told Council that Union’s EMS employs 24 fulltime personnel, 14 paramedics and 10 EMTs. He stated that there are 21 part-time employees, 14 paramedics and 7 EMTs. Although Roberson did not cite a specific number, a chart used during the power-point presentation indicated that EMS answered between 5,000 and 6,000 calls last year. Union County EMS maintains three front line vehicles at all times within Union County, with two other, fully equipped vehicles available for use if necessary, specifically during peak times, to allow a frontline vehicle to be serviced, or in case of breakdown of a frontline vehicle. Roberson showed Council revenue figures for the previous year that indicated all revenue versus expenditures left Union County EMS with a bottom line figure of $16,000 in the black. He went on to say that it was a difficult year, and that there were no upgrades to equipment or Capital Improvements possible. At the conclusion of the presentation, Roberson asked Council to continue to fund EMS with the 12 mils currently funded, with the provision of an additional mil to be set aside for equipment upgrades or Capitol Improvements only. The presentation was a result of action by Council several months ago. At that time, Council notified the Union Hospital District Board of Trustees that the County was terminating its contract for EMS with the District. The contract contains a twelve month notification of termination clause. Union County currently sets aside 12 mils of tax to fund EMS. Those 12 mils yield approx. $726,000 of revenue. Council took the information under advisement, and no action was taken. - Wednesday, January 13 During Tuesday’s regular meeting of Union County Council, two council members received service awards. District 3 Councilman Tommy Ford and District 5 Councilman Randall Hanvey received awards for 5 years of service. In business matters, Council discussed the upcoming vacancies on the Hospital Board to be appointed next month, and voted to advertise to fill vacancies on the Tourism Commission. Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Perry Haney presented information on medical services at the jail and detention center. Haney, standing in for Sheriff David Taylor, out of town for departmental training, told Council that Sheriff Taylor had decided to allow Medico Correctional Health Corporation provide those services. The final item of business addressed by Council at the meeting dealt with the shortfalls in the Clerk of Court’s Office. Upon a recommendation from the Finance Committee, Council approved a motion that the shortfalls from the Clerk of Court’s Office be made up from the general fund, with reports of those payment amounts being brought back to Council. Council then voted to enter Executive Session to discuss legal and contractual matters. Upon returning to open session, no action was taken by Council. CITY, COUNTY COUNCILS MEETING TODAY Tuesday, January 12 Several Union County meetings are planned for today. This afternoon at 2pm, Union City Council will hold a Council Workshop. On that agenda are eleven items of discussion with at least three scheduled to be acted on at the meeting. At 4:30pm Tuesday, the Finance Committee of the Union County Council will meet in the Grand Jury Room at Union County Courthouse. The purpose of the meeting is to hear a presentation from Union County EMS. Then at 5:30pm, Council will hold their regular monthly meeting. The public is invited to attend these meetings.
- Tuesday, January 12
The Union County
Board of School Trustees met Monday evening at 7pm. In his Superintendent’s
report, Union County School Superintendent Dr. David Eubanks gave the board
information on the 2nd round of the H1N1 vaccine that will be administered to
students 9-years-old and under whose parents have signed permission forms. The
vaccine will be administered in the coming week. Dr. Eubanks also informed the
board that he had received information indicating that 32 of the 86 school
districts in SC have released plans to furlough staff members in their
districts. WBCU News spoke to Dr. Eubanks concerning the furloughs. He said it
appears that 32 of the districts have issued some type of furlough for staff.
He noted that is unusual, but not unexpected. He said at this time, it
does not appear that furloughs will be necessary for Union County. He said
the state has cut revenues twice already this year, and that unless another
major cut comes along or unless there is a significant change in the revenue
stream, he said he felt they could accommodate the staff for the rest of the
school year.
- Tuesday, January 12 A Jonesville family lost their home as a result of a Sunday morning fire. The origin of the fire appeared to be in a living room at the rear of the house, however, firefighters had not determined how the fire started at the time of this report. The home of Howard and Stacey Gibson, located at 152 Plantation Way, in the Magnolia Plantation north of Jonesville was a total loss. Jonesville Fire Chief Jimmy Wilkins stated that his fire department received aid from Bonham, Kelly-Kelton, Pacolet, and Philippi fire Departments. No one was home at the time of the blaze that was reported at just before noon on Sunday. Chief Wilkins stated that the SLED Arson team was called in to assist his department in determining the cause of the blaze.
- Tuesday, January 12 Kevin F. McDonald, of Columbia, has been named by the Department of Justice to serve as acting US Attorney for the District of South Carolina until further notice. W. Walter Wilkins, III, resigned as the US Attorney on Sunday. Columbia Attorney William N. Nettles has been nominated by President Obama as the next US Attorney for South Carolina, and is awaiting confirmation by the Senate. McDonald has been with the US Attorney’s Office for ten years, and previously served as Acting US Attorney in 2008. He has also served as the First Assistant, and the White Collar Crimes Chief.
- Tuesday, January 12
The Union Red
Cross will offer the following classes in January: MISSING WOMAN FOUND WET AND COLD Monday, January 11 Members of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Jonesville Police Department, EMS, Union County Rescue Squad, and other rescue personnel were dispatched to the Tinsley Road, off Highway 18 in Jonesville, Friday evening in reference to a missing person. Emergency personnel were trying to locate 59-year-old Gloria Fleming, of Tinsley Road, Jonesville, who had been reported as missing earlier in the day. WBCU News was on the scene, where the temperature was said to be 20 degrees at the time of her rescue, and we spoke to Union County Sheriff David Taylor after the woman had been located and brought to safety. Taylor said they received the call late Friday afternoon about the missing woman who was in the woods and had been in the water. Taylor said they did not know why she had gotten in the water. At the time Taylor was speaking, the woman was being transported to Spartanburg Regional for treatment. He said they had some officers that were dealing with hypothermia. He said they had trouble getting boats in the water, as the creek had frozen. He said they are still investigating; he reiterated that he didn't know why the woman was in the woods or the water. He said the woman had been in the water, and was found on the side of the creek bed. He said they did not know what her medical condition was, other than hypothermia. He said he felt the woman may be dealing with other medical issues, but he did not know. The woman was alert and talking to deputies before being transported to the hospital. - Monday, January 11 There are several meetings planned for this week in Union County. The Union County Board of School trustees will meet tonight at 7pm at the Union County Career and Technology Center. On the agenda is a request for an overnight field trip, the monthly finance report, and two matters of information from instruction. On Tuesday January 12th, Union City Council will hold a Council Workshop. On that agenda are eleven items of discussion with at least three scheduled to be acted on at the meeting. At 4:30pm Tuesday, the Finance Committee of the Union County Council will meet in the Grand Jury Room at Union County Courthouse. The purpose of the meeting is to hear a presentation from Union County EMS. Then at 5:30pm, Council will hold their regular monthly meeting. The public is invited to attend these meetings. - Monday, January 11 A three hour workshop, “How To Get The Most From Your Digital Camera”, will be held this evening, Monday, January 11th, 2010, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. The workshop will be held at the Union County Arts Council Building, located on East Main Street in Union. The instructor will be Harold Senn. Cost for the workshop will be $25.00 for UCAC Members, and $30.00 for Non-members. For answers to any questions or to sign-up, please call 429-2817 or e-mail to ucac@bellsouth.net. This class is set up to help the new digital camera owner transition from film to digital. We'll cover the camera controls that are common in both film and digital cameras; and explore the controls that are unique to digital only. We'll also discuss file types and why you should use one over the other, camera maintenance issues, file handling, and image storage techniques. At the end of the workshop, students should understand the advantages of digital over film and be able to make better photographs using these tools and techniques. - Monday, January 11 Union's American Legion Post 22 will meet tonight, January 11th. The meeting will be held at the American Legion Hut, located at 120 Scenic Drive at Foster Park in Union. There will be a meal at 6:00 P.M. preceding the meeting, with voluntary donations for the meal much appreciated. Union County Supervisor Tommy Sinclair will be the guest speaker from 6:30 to 7:00 P.M. The regular Legion business meeting will then commence at 7:00 P.M.
Monday, January 11 The South Carolina Department of Commerce is partnering with the National Federation of Independent Businesses to host a free, online forum to present information about capital programs available to small businesses across the state. The webinar, entitled “Access to Capital – A Guide for Small Businesses,” will be held on January 13, at 11 a.m., and will be the first of three webinars to be hosted by NFIB/South Carolina and the Department of Commerce. The webinar held on January 13 will allow small business owners will learn about the range of programs and funding sources available to small businesses Participants will not only gain valuable insight regarding access to capital, but participants will also be able to ask questions of presenters during the webinar. “This webinar will provide great resources and expertise for small business owners throughout the state and we hope many individuals will take advantage of this opportunity. Small businesses are the driving force of our economy and we are pleased to partner with NFIB to offer a series of webinars that will provide important information to help more small businesses grow,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce. Presentations will focus on non-commercial bank capital resources in South Carolina such as programs available through the Small Business Association and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Guarantee Loan programs. Information regarding export financing and venture capital resources will also be presented. Participants have the opportunity to interact with other small business owners and learn about additional state and local resources available to assist companies in finding capital. To register, please send an e-mail to kyle.jackson@nfib.org or call the NFIB/South Carolina office at 803-254-1476. After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with information about joining the webinar. DUKE ENERGY OFFERS TIPS ON MANAGING YOUR HEATING BILL Friday, January 8
With the deep chill of winter settling in, Duke Energy offers customers some
simple tips to help manage their heating bills. CENSUS BUREAU REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE IN CARLISLE SATURDAY Friday, January 8 You are reminded that representatives of the Census Bureau will be at the Carlisle Town Hall on Saturday January 9th, 2010. They will be there at 10am to test for upcoming jobs that pay $14 per hour. Also, Aerobics classes are being held every Saturday at the Carlisle Town Hall. The times for these classes are from 8am until 9:30am.
- Friday, January 8 A meeting of the Finance Committee of Union County Council was held at 4pm Thursday at Union County Courthouse. During the meeting, Council received information on several items from Union County Supervisor Tommy Sinclair. The first item dealt with the Bad Check Program that Council entered into with the Solicitor’s Office approx. 6 months ago. Under this program bad checks are referred to the Solicitor’s Office instead of the magistrate. The writer of the bad check pays a fee to the Solicitor, and a fee to the county, when the check is made good. The county’s check for the first 6 months of fees paid to the county totaled $4551. Next Sinclair presented to Council information for a full page ad in the Union Magazine that will be printed and placed in rest areas throughout the state. Council voted to try to negotiate a lower price for the ad and that information will be presented at Tuesday’s meeting. The Supervisor also presented Council with a report of shortfalls in the Clerk of Court’s Office. The Clerk’s Office was not forwarding fine and fee payments to the state during a part of Brad Morris’ tenure as Clerk, and now the county must catch up those funds. Sinclair told council that he had received an invoice from the state for $28,000, and needed authorization from Council to pay it from the general fund. He went on to say that he had informed the Solicitor that the county intends to file for reimbursement through Morris’ bond that was held by the Hartford Insurance Company. The final item of business dealt with the Timken Sports Complex. Sinclair informed Council of the expenditures that totaled $6.4 million, and where the revenues came from. He told the council that in addition to other revenue used to fund the project, approx. $2.5 million was taken from the general fund. WBCU News spoke to Mr. Sinclair after the meeting and he explained the action taken on those funds during the meeting. Sinclair said he updated council on the complex and the expenditures and revenue. He said the total bill is about $6.4 million for the initial rough grading, lights, and everything that went into the complex. He said it was paid for partly out of the general fund, partly out of bond revenue, the donations from Timken and other, C-Fund money, and money from the city. He said roughly $2.5 million came out of the general fund, and he wanted members to be aware of that. - Friday, January 8 The Board of Trustees of the Union Hospital District held their meeting at 6:30pm at Wallace Thomson Hospital. Bill Leonard, CEO of the Hospital District, presented the January Award of Excellence to Angie Sanchez. Ms. Sanchez works in registration. She received a savings bond, special parking privileges for the month, and is eligible to win the Award of Excellence for the year. In business matters, the board was presented with a new Management Action Plan from Fred Brown, Vice President of the Eastern Area of Carolina Health Care, Frank Letherby, Physicians Services Group of Carolina Health Care. AQ new action plan is being devised to try to improve the financial standing of the Hospital District. The hospital ended the last fiscal year in the red for the year. Mr. Leonard told the board that according to information he had received, 34% of all hospitals lost money last year. He said that that was a little more than 1 in 3 hospitals. OAKMONT WANTS YOU TO KNOW YOUR MEDICARE OPTIONS Thursday, January 7 The experts at Oakmont of Union have updated their easy-to-read brochure, Capture Your Benefits From Medicare – 2010, that takes the guess work out of what is, and what is not, covered by Medicare Part A & B. “Many people are familiar with the terms Medicare Part A & B, but very few people understand what these terms really mean,” says Derek Loyd, Admissions Director at Oakmont of Union. “Together with our parent company, HCR Manor Care, we have developed this brochure in an understandable format to educate everyone about the coverage available.” Much of the confusion of Medicare benefits comes from the difference between Parts A & B. Medicare Part A, or hospital insurance, covers some of the in-patient costs incurred at the hospital, including nursing care, meals, drugs, and ordinarily furnished lab and x-ray services. Medicare Part B, or medical insurance, covers services from outside providers, such as physicians and surgeons. Patients are eligible for Medicare if they are 65 and over, are eligible for Social Security, or if under 65, have a valid HIC number. According to Derek Loyd patients can recover in skilled Medicare certified facilities as long as they have fulfilled Medicare requirements such as a minimum three day stay in the hospital (not including day of discharge). “If the person has been in the hospital for three consecutive days, and they are transferred to a nursing center for further care of the same condition, their stay will likely be covered by Medicare,” says Derek Loyd. “At Oakmont of Union, many of our patients are eligible for Medicare funding, so we are always keeping up-to-date on changes. The Capture Your Benefits from Medicare brochure is just one way that we can help provide specifics about Medicare services covered, and not covered by Medicare.“ If you would like a copy of the brochure, or if you would like more information about Oakmont of Union, call 864-427-0306. The HCR ManorCare health care family comprises centers that are leading providers of short-term post-acute services and long-term care. With 60,000 caregivers nationwide, the HCR ManorCare centers are preeminent care providers in their communities. Quality care for patients and residents is provided through a network of more than 500 skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, assisted living facilities, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and hospice and home health care agencies. These locations operate primarily under the respected Heartland, ManorCare Health Services and Arden Courts names. - Thursday, January 7
The Union County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Union man early Wednesday morning,
January 6th, in reference to a domestic dispute that occurred at just after
midnight on that date on Whitmire Highway. According to the report, upon
arrival, officers spoke to the complainant, the victim’s mother, who stated that
her daughter called her and told her that she had been assaulted by her live-in
boyfriend, who is also the father of her child. The complainant stated that she
went to the residence to check on her daughter, found the door locked, and her
daughter curled up on the couch. She stated that she made her way into the
residence, found things in the residence turned over, and that her daughter had
been assaulted. The complainant then called 911 and requested law enforcement
and an ambulance. The officer could see that there had been some type of
struggle inside the residence and was able to speak with the victim. The victim
told the officer that her child’s father assaulted her by punching her
repeatedly about the face and head. The officer observed that the victim had
several small contusions about her face. EMS arrived on the scene, but the
victim refused transport. The suspect, Eric Zane Morris, 29, of 2312 Whitmire
Highway, Union, was arrested for the crime of Criminal Domestic Violence and
transported to Union County Jail. The victim left the scene with her mother, who
stated that she would take her to the hospital to be checked out. A victim’s
form was issued and photos taken. Thursday, January 7 The World Health Organization (WHO) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have announced a call to action for Americans to test their homes for Radon Gas, which has recently been identified as the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers in the US. The EPA has officially designated January 2010 to be National Radon Action Month in the United States. The press, local health departments, and the media have been encouraged to help save lives in 2010 by promoting National Radon Action Month. Radon is a naturally-occurring, radioactive gas that seeps out of the ground and can enter homes and buildings. Since Radon is invisible and odorless, the only way to know if a home has dangerous levels of the gas is to conduct a Radon test. Radon problems have been found in every county in the US, so the Surgeon General is recommending that all homes be tested. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that as many as 8 million homes in the US currently have elevated levels of Radon Gas. They also predict that if action is not taken to correct the problem, between 15,000 and 22,000 deaths will occur in 2010 from exposure to the gas. This is a health threat of epidemic proportions that needs immediate attention. For more information about Radon Gas, visit the National Radon Month website at RadonMonth.WordPress.com. - Thursday, January 7 A three-hour workshop, “How To Get The Most From Your Digital Camera”, will be held on Monday, January 11th, 2010, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. The workshop will be held at the Union County Arts Council Building, located on East Main Street in Union. The instructor will be Harold Senn. Cost for the workshop will be $25.00 for UCAC Members, and $30.00 for Non-members. For answers to any questions or to sign-up, please call 429-2817 or e-mail to ucac@bellsouth.net.This class is set up to help the new digital camera owner transition from film to digital. We'll cover the camera controls that are common in both film and digital cameras; and explore the controls that are unique to digital only. We'll also discuss file types and why you should use one over the other, camera maintenance issues, file handling, and image storage techniques. At the end of the workshop, students should understand the advantages of digital over film and be able to make better photographs using these tools and techniques. CITIZENS' GROUP MEETS TO DISCUSS ISSUES IN COUNTY Wednesday, January 6 A group of 25-30 people, calling themselves Citizens Union SC, gathered in the grand jury room at the Union County Courthouse Tuesday night to discuss complaints and ways to address them. Mike Crocker, who led the meeting, declined to be interviewed afterwards, but during the meeting, said the group was meeting to express concerns, discuss issues, and network with citizens in the county. He noted the group is non-profit, non-partisan, and non-governmental, but is political in nature and also not tax-exempt. He said that any votes taken will always be non-binding, and will be taken by polling those in attendance. Membership is informal; Crocker said that registered voters of the county that come to the meeting are members. There are no fees or dues. Dr. Karen Ruff from Newberry was the guest speaker at the meeting. She informed those attending about the work of the Continental Congress of 2009, a group of people from 48 states who met in Illinois in November to draft what they call “Articles of Freedom”, a 61-page document addressing perceived constitutional violations and offering instructions to the federal government on addressing the issues. The full text of the Articles of Freedom can be downloaded online at www.cc2009.us. Ruff also spoke about a rally that will be held in Columbia at the Statehouse Saturday. She said the rally for freedom will push for state senators to pass state sovereignty legislation, and also will push for roll-call voting in the legislature. After the speaker, the floor was opened to those attending to discuss issues. The next meeting will be held on Monday, January 18, in the Grand Jury Room at the Union County Courthouse. - Wednesday, January 6 The Union County Sheriff’s Office arrested two Union men as a result of an incident that occurred on New Year’s Day. According to the incident report, officers with the Union County Sheriff’s Office were conducting a traffic safety checkpoint on Highway 49 near Monarch Highway when at approx. 12:45am, a black 1995 Honda driven by Jeremy Hughes approached the checkpoint. As the officer was asking Hughes for his driver’s license, he noticed an open container of alcohol inside the vehicle. As the officer retrieved the open container, Hughes sped away in the vehicle, almost striking the officer. Deputies pursued the vehicle to Hancock Street where four occupants jumped from the vehicle and ran. An officer was able to apprehend Naquan Terik Rice, 18, of 209 Lawson Avenue, Union, on Hancock Street, and questioned him. Rice confirmed that Jeremy Jermain Hughes, 20, of 904 Lakeside Drive, Union, was the driver of the vehicle. The officer transported Rice back to the suspect vehicle, and while officers were searching it they found a quantity of marijuana, less than 28 grams, and a quantity of crack, in excess of 1 gram. Rice was arrested and charged with Possession of Marijuana and Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack and transported to Union County Jail. The vehicle was towed and warrants were signed on Hughes for Reckless Driving, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack. Hughes was arrested on those warrants and transported to Union County Jail at 12:45pm on January 4th, 2010. - Wednesday, January 6 Boyce Wharton, Marketing Director of United Way of the Piedmont announces that the United Way of the Piedmont has received a generous $75,000 grant from the Timken Foundation to support information technology needs in nonprofit organizations serving Cherokee and Union Counties. This event will recognize the recipients of these grants and give you an opportunity to learn more about how investment in technology can benefit agencies throughout our community. The event will be held Thursday, January 7, 2010, from 4:00 PM until 5:00 PM. The event location is at Broad River Electric Cooperative, located at 811 Hamrick Street in Gaffney, SC. - Wednesday, January 6 On January 5, 2010, some residents of Union County woke-up to a “Winter Surprise” thanks to the Union County Sheriff’s Office. The Union County Sheriff’s Office initiated “Operation Winter Surprise”, taking more drug dealers off the streets of Union County. This has been an ongoing drug investigation that has carried over from Operation Spring Clean in April 2009 and Operation Summer Slam in July 2009. The task force has made several arrests during this period on search warrants and drug eradication events but these arrest warrants were based on individual drug buys from informants. Sheriff David Taylor commended the efforts the Task Force has placed on the drug fight in Union County and thanks all of his staff for working together to make this successful. More arrest could be pending. A complete list of those arrested will appear on our website this afternoon at wbcuradio.com. The following were arrested: Union Sheriffs Office Drug Warrant List
Name Charge
--Denver Wallace Harris, 30, W/M 1- Dist. Crack Cocaine
--William Samuel Smith, 41, B/M 1-Dist. Crack
--Thomas Cartelyous Scott, 50, B/M 1- Dist. Crack Cocaine
--Thomas Boyd Austin, 36, W/M 1- Dist. Sch. III Narcotic --Bryant
B. Glenn, 22, B/M 1- Dist. Of Crack --Jennifer
O’Neil Davis, 29, W/F 1- Dist. Sch. III Narcotic --Gena
Marie Gregory, 25, W/F 1- Dist. Sch. II Narcotic --Sherry
Lynn Fallen, 34, W/F 1- Dist. Sch. II Narcotic --Jarvis
Andrew Jeter, 19, B/M 1- Dist. Crack --Earl
Eugene Browning, 46, B/M 1- Sunday Sales of Alcoholic
--Darrell A. Briggs, 33, B/M 1- 2 cts. each Distribution of --Joseph
C. Faulks, 34, W/M 1- Distribution of Sch. III --Michael
Daniel Shaw, 25, B/M 3 cts. each Distribution of --George
M. Horton, 19, W/M 1- Dist. Of Marijuana --Eddie
Brannon, Jr., 26, B/M 1- Dist. Of Crack - Wednesday, January 6 The Union County Recreation Department will hold registration for Pre-School Basketball beginning today, and running through Wednesday January 20th, 2010. This program is designed to teach the fundamentals of basketball to children 3 to 5-years-of-age. The fee for Pre-School Basketball is $20 per participant. Payment is required at the time of registration. Parents should also provide a Birth Certificate and Proof of Medical Insurance when registering. Anyone interested in helping with this program or needing additional should contact the Union County Recreation Department at 429-1670. SINCLAIR: PROMISE OF THE NEW YEAR BRINGS HOPE AND NEED FOR CHANGE Tuesday, January 5
As we enter a new year, and a new decade, Union County Supervisor Tommy Sinclair
wants Union County to put the past behind us as he strives to remove the dark
clouds that have overshadowed our county for so long. In a recent editorial
published in the local paper, he referred to the year 2000 and the hope and
promise everyone held for a new year, a new decade, a new century, and the new
millennium. The events of 9-11-2001, he said, altered our lives here in Union
and the nation. He went on to say that recent events in our county have caused a
degree of skepticism, and maybe even shattered some of the promise we hold in
our small and special community. Sinclair wants the people of Union County, who
have been patient, understanding, and encouraging, to regain that hope and
promise of the future of Union County. He states that it comes down to removing
two clouds: a cloud of money and a cloud of drugs. According to Sinclair, the
money part is relatively easy, especially with the random audit by the state
(part of their audit program) that will begin in the near future. The audit will
look at the Clerk of Court’s Office and parts of the Treasurer’s Office, and the
supervisor says that we are fortunate to have the audit at this time. He stated
that we will be transparent, and know where we stand. Sinclair stated that the
drug cloud will be harder to remove in the short term due to the lack of
provision for mandatory drug testing except in special circumstances and
employment. There was discussion of voluntary drug testing, and Sinclair quickly
went to other elected officials, appointed department heads, and employees
present at the time. He stated that everyone he talked with was enthusiastic
about the idea. He went on to say that those in government want the “drug cloud”
removed as much, and probably more than anyone else. Sinclair states that he has
individually talked with council, and has their support as well. There is also
talk of policy change, and he has contacted companies that can help facilitate
almost immediate volunteer testing. He stated that Sheriff Taylor’s deputies and
detention officers are already tested as a condition of employment. Mr.
Sinclair’s entire editorial will be on our website in the news section Tuesday
afternoon, at wbcuradio.com. WBCU News spoke with Union County Supervisor Tommy
Sinclair Monday morning, and he had these comments. "Ten years ago, as the year 2000 approached, we were looking forward to a new year, a new decade, a new century, and a new millennium, and the immediate and long-range promise promise each of those would bring. Early in the decade, the century, and the millennium, the tragic events of 9-11-2001 happened and altered our lives here in Union and in the nation. Many efforts and sacrifices were made then and still continue to restore the promises that were shattered early in that decade. Recent events have caused a degree of skepticism and maybe even shattered some of the promises we hold in our small and special community. We are about to enter a new year and a new decade. The people of Union have been patient, understanding, and encouraging as we set about to restore hope and the promise of the future. I have thought long and hard how to immediately and somewhat begin to permanently remove the skepticism of government in Union. As I consider and mentally digest the cause of this skepticism, it comes down basically to a cloud about money and drugs. The real question then is how do you not just ask people to believe in government, but to participate in activities that will remove the cloud and restore faith in government? As we enter this New Year and the promise it can hold for the new decade, we will do that in both areas. The money part is relatively easy. The Clerk of Court is about to begin an outside audit by the state that is part of their audit program. This audit will also look at parts of the treasurer's office. We are fortunate to have it at this time. Recent investigations serve somewhat as an audit of other county expenditures. I am about to provide council a complete financial sheet on the Timken Sports Complex. We will be transparent and know where we stand. The drug cloud is harder to remove in the short term. County personnel policy does not provide for mandatory drug testing except in special circumstances and employment. In the military and in many businesses and industries, random testing is the norm. I have thought for weeks how to provide this. Freddie Gault, Dianne Wilkins, and I were talking recently about the upcoming state audit and how to procedurally and financially respond to the anticipated shortfalls that will probably present themselves. We also talked of how to let the citizens know what we are doing with the audit so as to begin to remove the cloud. The discussion led to a discussion about drug testing and county policy, and the idea that we could do it voluntarily. I quickly went around to other elected officials, appointed department heads, and employees present at the time, and all were enthusiastic about the idea. I have no reason to expect the few I have not talked to because of vacation will not also enthusiastically support the idea. The truth is that those in government want the "drug cloud" removed as much and probably more than anyone else. I have advised council of this individually and have their support as well. Many in government and on council expressed support of a policy change. In the meantime, I have contacted companies that can help us facilitate the almost immediate volunteer testing. Sheriff Taylor's deputies and detention officers are tested as a matter of employment. I do appreciate both local papers and the local radio station as they help us get this information out to citizens." --Tommy Sinclair, Union County Supervisor - Tuesday, January 5
Citizens Union SC will hold its first meeting at 7:00pm tonight, January 5th,
2010 at the Union Court House. Any registered voter of the County who desires
more accountable and responsive local government is urged to attend. This is a
non-partisan, citizens’ action, or citizens watchdog group, to give citizens a
chance to voice their concerns and hopefully follow-up to ensure issues are
addressed as needed. The intent is to focus on local issues (city and county),
but if there are concerns that need to be addressed to state government that
will be allowable as long as there is someone who will see it through. Public
officials are welcome to attend with the understanding it is a citizens'
meeting. Additional questions may be emailed to: mc@ unionsc.us Tuesday, January 5
Union County Sheriff David Taylor spoke with WBCU News Monday, and he expressed
the danger that this extremely cold weather poses on the elderly in our
community. Sheriff Taylor said the Sheriff's Office and Communications is
concerned with the very cold weather we've experienced and may continue to
experience for the next couple of weeks. He said they are concerned about
the elderly; they may not have the heat in their homes that they need. He
encouraged those concerned about their safety and having problems dealing with
the cold to call the Sheriff's Office, and they will try to assist them.
They also encourage people to check on the elderly to make sure they have what
they need to deal with the cold. Taylor noted his office also conducts
welfare checks on people when necessary when people haven't seen or heard from
someone in a couple of days. He said that's not an uncommon practice for
the office, and he encouraged others to check on their neighbors and
acquaintances, as well. Tuesday, January 5 A Union couple was arrested and their 6-month-old daughter placed in the care of her grandparents following an incident that occurred Sunday night at approx. 10pm. According to the Union Public Safety Department report, officers were dispatched to 218 East Main Street, Apt. 104, Union, in reference to a domestic dispute involving a woman with a knife. Upon arrival, officers spoke with Robert Bernard Smith, Jr., 22, who lives at the residence, and he told officers that Patrice Tiara Jeter, 19, who also lives at the residence, came at him with a knife during an argument. Ms. Jeter was asked if this was true, and she said yes. Mr. Smith was then asked to give officers the whole story. Mr. Smith told officers that Ms. Jeter had been smoking in the house, and he had asked her not to. He stated that he had grabbed her by the front collar of her shirt and pushed her around. Ms. Jeter’s appearance indicated that she had been in an altercation. At that time Smith and Jeter were both arrested for Criminal Domestic Violence, with Ms. Jeter’s being High and Aggravated. Mr. Smith gave the officers consent to search the residence for contraband, and officers found a partial hand-rolled marijuana cigarette in the apartment. Further search revealed a bag containing what was believed to be marijuana in a dresser drawer. Ms. Jeter was charged with Possession of Marijuana. DSS was called to the apartment due to the presence of the couple’s 6-month-old daughter, and the DSS caseworker allowed the child’s grandparents to take custody of the child. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ state & national NEWS
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Union
Three
of nine schools in Union County met their individual federal requirements for
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in
2009. Schools meeting AYP include Jonesville Elementary School, Lockhart
Elementary School, and Monarch Elementary School. Under the federal NCLB Act,
AYP is a measure of each school’s progress toward meeting the national goal of
having every student in America demonstrate proficiency in mathematics and
English language arts (ELA) on state tests by the year 2014. NCLB is an
“all-or-nothing” rating system requiring schools and districts to break out
their performance data into a number of student subcategories. The more
demographic categories a school has, the more goals it must meet. Jonesville
Elementary School met 19 of 19 objectives; Lockhart, 9 of 9; and Monarch, 17 of
17. If even one subcategory of students fails to meet its goal for the year, the
school does not meet AYP. For example, Excelsior Middle School and Foster Park
Elementary School met 20 of 21 objectives each, for a compliance rating of
95.2%. Buffalo Elementary School and Sims Jr. High met 19 of 21 objectives
each, for a compliance rating of 90.5%. Jonesville Middle School met 11 of 13
objectives, for a compliance rating of 84.6%, and Union County High School Met
13 Of 21 objectives, for a compliance rating of 61.9. The district met 18 of 21
objectives, for a compliance rating of 85.7%, an improvement over the previous
year when the district met 13 of 21 objectives, for a compliance rating of
61.90%. Cindy Langley, Director of Secondary Education stated, “Two factors
influenced scores statewide in 2009. First, a new test, Palmetto Assessment of
State Standards (PASS), replaced the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT)
for students in grades 3 – 8. With that replacement, the rating scale was
adjusted to more appropriately reflect the performance of students in South
Carolina. The four-tiered scale of below basic, basic, proficient, and
advanced, which had been used with PACT, was replaced with a three-tiered
scale of not met, met, and exemplary for PASS. Students scoring "met" and
"exemplary" met the criteria for proficiency at those grade
levels. Additionally, targets for proficient and advanced at both the high
school and district level jumped this year. High school targets jumped in
English language arts from 52.3% to 71.3%, and in math from 50% to 70%, while
neither the test nor the rating scale changed for students at this level. The
percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced in mathematics at the
high school level actually increased from 58.8% to 63.2%; however, that was not
enough to meet the new standard. The percentage scoring proficient and advanced
in English language arts dropped from 55.9% to 54.4%. Targets at the district
level jumped in English language arts from 45.7% to 67.6%, and in math from
42.7% to 65.5%.” Further analysis of the district’s data shows that the
percentage of students meeting the new 2009 criteria for proficiency (met and
exemplary) in English language arts was 75%. That compares to 40.3% of the
students who met the standard for proficient and advanced in 2008. In math,
75.2% of all students met the criteria for proficiency compared to 42.2% in
2008. 
