Sheriff Asks for Help to Find Man with Dementia

Anderson County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public and media to assist in locating missing endangered 70 year old, Donald Ray Sherman, from the LaFrance area of Anderson County.

Sherman was last seen at Wendell’s Dippin’ Branch on Highway 29 South at about 11:00 p.m. last night. A family member, who lives next door to  Sherman, woke up this morning and noticed his uncle had not returned home.

Sherman has been diagnosed with dementia and requires medication for a number of other conditions. He is 5-feet 7-inches tall and weighs approximately 275 pounds. He has gray hair, blue eyes, and wears glasses. It is unknown what he was last wearing. He may be driving a 2004 gray PT Cruiser with a black paper tag that reads, “Knights.”

If you recognize this individual or have information about this incident, please call the Anderson County Sheriff's Office 911 Dispatch Center at (864) 260-4444.

Time Change Can Influence Sleep, Internal Clock

NPR Reports

When it comes to turning back the clocks on our devices, technology has us covered. Our smartphones automatically adjust.

But our internal clocks aren't as easy to re-program. And this means that the time shift in the fall and again in the spring can influence our health in unexpected ways.

"You might not think that a one hour change is a lot," says Fred Turek, who directs the Center for Sleep & Circadian Biology at Northwestern University. "But it turns out that the master clock in our brain is pretty hard-wired, " Turek explains. It's synchronized to the 24 hour light/dark cycle.

Daylight is a primary cue to reset the body's clock each day. So, if daylight comes an hour earlier — as it will for many of us this weekend — it throws us off.

"The internal clock has to catch up, and it takes a day or two to adjust to the new time," Turek says.

Scientists have documented that the shift to daylight saving time in the spring, when we lose an hour of sleep, is linked to an increased risk of heart attacksand traffic accidents.

These studies are a reminder of just how sensitive we are to time and rhythm. Over the last 20 years, scientists have documented that, in addition to the master clock in our brains, every cell in our body has a time-keeping mechanism. These clocks help regulate important functions such as sleep and metabolism. And increasingly, there's evidence that when our habits — such as when we eat and sleep — are out of sync with our internal clocks, it can harm us.

As we've reported, our bodies crave consistent routines. When we disrupt our routines with erratic sleep or eating habits, it can increase the risk of metabolic disease. For instance, people who work overnight shifts are at higher risk of developing diabetes and obesity. Research also shows that kids who don't have set bedtimes and mealtimes are also more likely to become overweight.

At this time of year, as the amount of daylight continues to decrease, it's easy to fall into bad habits. "The [decrease] in daylight can throw off a lot of things including socialization and emotional rhythm," says Sanam Hafeez, an adjunct assistant professor of psychology at Columbia University.

How to prepare for the darker days ahead

Go to bed an hour or so earlier. As the clocks turn back, Hafeez says you want to maximize your exposure to daylight in the morning hours, since it gets dark so early in the evening. If you're accustomed to going to bed at 11 p.m., try 10 p.m. instead. "Just record 'The Daily Show,' or whatever you watch at night. That's what I do," says Hafeez.

As we've reported, research has shown that a lack of sleep can send a signal to the body to store fat, so getting plenty of shut-eye is key to good health. And, if you use the morning for exercise, all the better, since physical activity can help stave off depression.

Stock up on foods that nourish. Our moods can take a turn south during the cold dark months, and we tend to eat more, too. So, instead of a big plate of pasta for dinner, think about adding protein sources. "There definitely seems to be more fullness associated with protein," Janet Polivy of the University of Toronto at Mississauga told us in 2011.

Fish, nuts and other plant-based proteins such as tofu are good alternatives if you don't want to add meat. Fatty fish like salmon and tuna are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids. "One of the most basic ways that omega-3s help to regulate mood is by quieting down the [body's] response to inflammation," Joe Hibbeln of the National Institutes of Health told us for a story on the Food-Mood connection.

Eat dinner early and keep it light. Research suggests that the timing of your meals can help stave off weight-gain. In one study, a group of dieters who ate their main meal of the day before 3 p.m. lost about five pounds more than the people who ate a dinner meal later in the evening.

So here's one approach: Make lunch your main meal, and take a small-plate, tapas approach to dinner. Also, limit alcohol. There's plenty of evidence that drinking more than a serving or two per day is not healthy.

Join a club or group activity. Winter can bring social isolation. "Some people tend to hibernate," Hafeez says. And some people develop seasonal depression. Bright lights or light boxes can help people who have seasonal affective disorder.

Another approach is to try to stay socially engaged. Hafeez's advice: Join a book club or find people with a shared hobby. Group exercise classes are also effective at combating the winter blues.

Twitter Deletes Thousands of Anti-Voting Accounts

Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Twitter deleted thousands of automated accounts the social media company accused of posting messages to discourage Democrats from voting in Tuesday's midterm elections.

Approximately 10,000 accounts were removed from September to early October after they were flagged by staff at the Democratic Party, Twitter confirmed with TechCrunch. 

"We removed a series of accounts for engaging in attempts to share disinformation in an automated fashion - a violation of our policies," a Twitter spokesperson said in an email. "We stopped this quickly and at its source."

Twitter said the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee brought the issue to their attention, CNN reported.

"We applaud Twitter for taking this step to help ensure that voters get correct and timely information about how to make their voices heard on Election Day," DNCC chief technology officer Raffi Krikorian said in a statement.

Twitter said it believes the automated accounts were run in the United States, but would not share any details on what the accounts looked like or how they discouraged people from voting.

Pair of Minor Earthquakes Shake Lowcountry

A pair of minorearthquakes apparently hit the Lowcountry overnight, according to the U.S. Geological Survey said two earthquakes hit the Lowcountry Friday night. 

The first, a magnitude 2.2 quake, was centered  in the Pine Forest Estates area around 8:06 p.m. The report said the earthquake was centered 2.6 miles WSW of Summerville and 10.6 miles West of Goose Greek. 

The second, a magnitude 2.2 earthquake, was detected in the Brick Yard Trace area at 10:42 p.m. Friday. From the epicenter, the quake was a mere 0.9 miles ENE of Summerville and 8.1 miles from Goose Creek. 

Judge Clears Way for New Citizens to Vote in Georgia

Nov. 2 (UPI) -- A federal judge on Friday said Georgia must allow 3,000 new U.S. citizens to vote in the midterm elections if they show proof of citizenship.

The ruling is another blow to the state's so-called "exact match" law in which voter registration information must match exactly the information on a person's vehicle registration and government-issued identification. The law has come under scrutiny for putting some 50,000 early voters on hold, in some cases because of typos or differences in signatures.

Three thousands of those registrants are new citizens. State identifications often aren't updated with citizenship status until the next time a new citizen renews their ID.

"Allowing poll managers to verify proof of citizenship would alleviate the severe burden on individuals who have been flagged and placed in pending status for citizenship while still serving the state's interest of ensuring that only United States' citizens are voting," District Judge Eleanor Ross said in her ruling.

Belton Museum to Host Workshop on Photo Restoration

A workshop on preserving old photographs is scheudled for Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Belton Train Depot. Genealogist Don Kay and photographer Dan Harvell will lead the event. The meeting is part of "The Family Trees and Me" genealogy series of lectures and workshops sponsored by the Belton Area Museum Association.

Kay will share tips and strategies for preserving family collections of old photographs, including personal experiences and suggestions on archival documentation. Harvell, will share information about preservation materials, computer software programs to use, and repair techniques.  

All attendees will have a chance to ask questions and get good tips for saving their family’s visual heritage.  

Admission is free to BAMA members, and $5 others..

For more information, contact Abigail Burden, BAMA Executive Director, at 338-7400 or beltonmuseum@bellsouth.net.

SCDOT Director Updates Road Projects at Anderson Town Hall

Speaking at the Anderson Civic Center Thursday night, South Carolina Department of Transportaton Director Christy Hall said Anderson County will see a huge increase in the amount of money for roads as part of the recent increase in the state's gas tax.

SCDOT Legislative Liaison Allen Hutto offered details on current and planned road/bridge projects in Anderson County as part of the meeting, sponsored by S.C. Rep. Brian White, R-Anderson.

Winthrop Poll: Trump Approval Rating at 44 percent in S.C.

With less than a week to go until the country’s midterm national elections, President Donald Trump’s approval rating registers at 44 percent among South Carolina residents, according to the latest Winthrop Poll of a representative sample of SC adults. (Note: this is a general population poll, not a likely voter poll and results may not be used to make inferences about any election).

Among respondents who lean Republican, Trump has an 83% approval rate, which continues to climb in what is one of the reddest states in the country. The 45th president has a disapproval rating of half of Palmetto State citizens.

Trump’s approval rating among adults in South Carolina has remained in the mid-40 percent over his two years in office.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES

“Trump’s approval in South Carolina continues to be higher t"Currently, his approval in S.C. is 4 points higher than his national approval rating of 40 percent (according to Gallup). S.C. Republicans continue to offer their full-throated support of the president.”

NATIONAL PROBLEMS, THE ECONOMY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

The Winthrop Poll found that a slight majority of respondents think our country is headed in the wrong direction, but that South Carolina is on the right track.

In this poll, S.C. residents said the most important problems facing our country are immigration, followed by racism, and politicians/government. Those surveyed said the most important issues facing the Palmetto State are, and these same issues keep cropping up: education, roads/bridges/infrastructure, and jobs or unemployment. With this poll, the economy also was in the mix.

Poll respondents were asked if women who complain about sexual harassment cause more problems than they solve, and nearly half strongly disagreed. Nearly 2 out of 3 respondents strongly disagreed that sexual harassment in the workplace is no longer a problem in the U.S.  Nearly 75 percent strongly or somewhat agreed that most women who come forward about sexual harassment are telling the truth. Nearly 80 percent say that innocent men have to be extra careful in order not to be accused of sexual harassment.

Concerning the economy, nearly three fourths of South Carolina residents said our country’s economy is very good or fairly good, while the same number of respondents think the condition of the state’s economy is either very or fairly good. With the stock market rallying this year and unemployment low, a large majority described their own financial situation as good or excellent and getting better.

With memories of Hurricanes Florence and Michael still fresh from this fall, nearly half those polled said climate change is happening, and the cause is equally shared between humans and nature. Twenty-eight percent said humans are the primary cause.

“Many polls force respondents into a single all-or-nothing question on climate change before they are offered the ability to choose a more nuanced response," Huffmon said. "In this question, respondents can easily choose an option that climate change is not real. However, when presented with the ability to flatly deny climate change or acknowledge it but assign causal blame to either man or mother nature, we see fewer flatly denying that climate change is happening. The greatest divide is whether respondents feel climate change is natural or man-made, not whether it is occurring or not.”

CONGRESS, BRETT KAVANAUGH, SC GOVERNOR HENRY MCMASTER AND OTHERS

S.C. residents give Congress a disapproval rating of 69 percent. But U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, who took a lead role in the Senate in the approval of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, was rewarded for going on the attack to help Trump’s candidate. That vocal support helped win Graham nods from the GOP where 3/4 of respondents who lean GOP and supported Kavanaugh said they approved of Graham. His ratings in the past have been more tepid.

“Graham’s new persona as tireless, and occasionally aggressive, cheerleader for the president and his agenda resonates well with the Republican base in South Carolina," said Huffmon. "Whereas those who identify with the GOP in South Carolina have waxed, and – more frequently in recent times – waned in their support for Graham, his vigorous defense of Judge Kavanaugh and vocal support for President Trump has returned him to the good graces of his party.”

Meanwhile, half of Winthrop Poll respondents said they approved of Kavanaugh’s nomination and only slightly fewer say their opinion of him was very or somewhat favorable.

Approval ratings for the state’s junior senator, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., remain high with the Republican base. He has a 76 percent approval rating among those who identify as Republicans. Scott’s popularity among the general public remains high as well, with 55 percent reporting approval of the job he is doing.

South Carolina will also elect its governor on Tuesday. The support from the general population for incumbent S.C. Governor Henry McMaster has climbed to 51 percent from the spring when it was in the mid-40 percent range.  His disapproval ratings remain at 29 percent, with 18 percent not sure. Elected as the lieutenant governor in 2014, McMaster took over as governor after Trump tapped S.C. Governor Nikki Haley to be the United Nations ambassador.

Poll Director Huffmon said that the Winthrop Poll data should not be used to make predictions about the governor’s race because poll callers talked to a representative sample of all South Carolina adults who may or may not even be registered, much less “Likely Voters.”

The S.C. General Assembly got an approval nod from 46 percent of those polled, while 35 percent disapprove of the job they’re doing.

METHODOLOGY

For this latest Winthrop Poll, callers surveyed 674 residents in South Carolina by landline and cell phones between Oct. 20-28. Results which use all respondents have a margin of error of approximately +/- 3.8% at the 95 percent confidence level. Subgroups have higher margins of error. Margins of error are based on weighted sample size and account for design effects.

State Transportation Leader Town Hall in Anderson Thursday

A town hall meeting to provide an update from the South Carolina Department of Transportation on transportation and infrastructure is scheduled Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Anderson County Civic Center.

South Carolina Representative Brian White, R-Anderson, will join S.C. Secretary of Transportation Christy Hal for the meeting. 

The public is invited to attend.

Mill Town's "Romeo and Juliet" Packs Emotional Wallop

By Paul Hyde/Anderson Observer

Set it where you will, “Romeo and Juliet” can still pack a wallop.

Gregory Middleton as Romeo and Kat Bates as Juliet. Photos by Escobar PhotographyThe Mill Town Players decided to place Shakespeare’s tragedy among hardscrabble mountain folk in 19^thcentury Appalachia.

The conceit works well, perhaps because any time period is apropos for a play about how tribal animosities can destroy young love and young lives.

Such hatred has always been with us, and perhaps more so in this election year, as the headlines of the past week attest. 

Director Christopher Rose has given the play, which opening Friday, a hurtling momentum, reducing its famed “two hours’ traffic of our stage” to one hour.

Rose has cut many lines while admirably retaining the heart of the story about the star-crossed lovers from two families divided (in this production like the Hatfields and McCoys) by an ancient feud.

Shakespeare’s words remain unchanged, but they’re delivered with Appalachian accents. Knives and guns take the place of swords. Paris bribes Capulet for his daughter’s hand with a jug of moonshine. If those nods to our own region’s heritage help to bring the play’s message closer to home, all the better.

Another plus: This is an age-appropriate production: Rose’s teenage characters are played by young actors.

Rose’s uptempo production grabs you by the lapels and never releases you. One occasionally longs for more breathing space for dramatic emphasis – or for love to develop. (I believe this play is being prepared for competition where performance time is limited.)

Yet the cruelty of the parents, the rage of the young rivals and the fate of the lovers tug mightily at the heart.

Kat Bates and Gregory Middleton are an appealing pair of impetuous young lovers. Bates is a glowing Juliet. Middleton is the very picture of the wide-eyed besotted swain with his head in the clouds.

The marvelous Cindy Mixon is a standout as the blunt, earthy, garrulous, highly emotional Nurse. She’s terrific.

It’s a pleasure also to see Anne Robards, another veteran of Upstate stages, as the fierce Lady Capulet. 

Ken Thomason has some explosive scenes as the domestic tyrant Capulet.

In a nice bit of non-traditional casting, Kelly Crittendon is a nimble Mercutio, delivering the character’s Queen Mab speech with verve.

Also offering solid contributions are Will Landrum (Benvolio), Al Means (Friar Lawrence), Jason Masters (Paris/Apothecary), Matthew Garrison (Tybalt), Ed Chambers (Montague) and Debbie Chambers (Lady Montague). 

Scenes are pleasingly interspersed with some evocative Appalachian fiddle music.

Will Ragland’s set design features a weather-beaten barn that serves a variety of purposes. Mountains and trees are never out of sight, reminding the audience of the ties that bind these characters to the land.

Beth King’s costumes are excellent – plain, sometimes threadbare and dirty -- suggesting a people burdened by poverty and hard work.

The cast generally articulates Shakespeare’s words clearly and naturally, although a few lines could be enunciated more crisply.

This production of “Romeo and Juliet” continues at Pelzer’s Mill Town Players through Nov. 4. For tickets, call 864-947-8000 or visit the website www.milltownplayers.org.

Paul Hyde, a veteran Upstate journalist, writes about the arts for the Anderson Observer. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: @PaulHyde7.

Don Munson to Speak at TD Club

Don Munson, the play-by-play voice of Clemson University football and baseball, will be the speaker for Friday's meeting of the Anderson Area Touchdown Club Friday at the Anderson County Library. Munson has covered Clemson athletics since 1994. Munson also hosts weekly football and basketball coaches shows.   

A meal is served and members are charged $10 and visitors $15.  The food line opens at 11:30, the program begins about 12:10, and the program concludes at 1:00 pm.

For further information about the Club or to join, call Bill Brissey at 864-226-7380 or Nancy at 864-616-6471.

Free, Discounted and Special Halloween Food Deals

From The Thrillist

Halloween is already, at least in part, about free food. You get dressed up and walk door to door in your neighborhood demanding free candy because your parents bought you a Hulk mask. It's a good deal. 

As you get older, everyone knows you can keep dressing up, but some people forget that the treats don't have to end either. Restaurants all across the United States -- Chipotle, 7-Eleven, Krispy Kreme, and more -- are offering free, cheap, and weird food in honor of the year's best holiday. For most of them, you don't even have to dress up (though, you can and you totally should).

Here are all the places where you can dig up free and cheap food in honor of this fine holiday. Oh, and we promise you won't find anything about bobbing for apples in here.

Free Food for Halloween 

Krispy Kreme
The deal: Stop by Krispy Kreme in your costume, and you'll earn yourself a totally free donut. 
When: October 31

Wendy's
The deal: Make a $1 donation to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and get a coupon book with coupons for five free Frostys.
When: Books available through October 31

7-Eleven
The deal: Download the 7Reward app to get a buy-one-get-one-free pizza between 4-10pm local time.
When: October 31

IHOP

The deal: When you stop in to make syrup bottles sing, know that kids 12 and under get a free Scary Face Pancake from 7am to 10pm on Halloween. 
When: October 31

Food Deals for Halloween 

Applebee's
The deal: The home of all sorts of fried appetizers has a zombie cocktail as its cocktail of the month for just a buck.
When: All of October

Chipotle
The deal: The burrito chain's BOORITO promo is back. From 3pm to close, anyone in a costume can grab a burrito, bowl, salad, or order of tacos for just $4.
When: October 31

Dairy Queen
The deal: DQ also has deals to get you a cheap Blizzard in the mobile app. You'll find offers for a buy-one-get-one for $0.99 on any size Blizzard. You can also take them up on an offer for a free small Blizzard with the purchase of any regularly-priced combo meal.
When: October 29-November 4

Papa John's

The deal: The former pizza of the NFL has a jack-o'-lantern pizza for Halloween that's just $11. Papa John's also has a boatload of other Halloween deals for anyone throwing a Halloween party. You can get five large one-topping pizzas for $42.50 with the code "SCARE"; five large one-topping pizzas with three sides or desserts for $55 with the code "GHOST"; five large one-topping pizzas with three sides and three desserts for $70 with the code "FRIGHTFUL"; and one large jack-o'-lantern pizza, five large one-topping pizzas, three sides, and three desserts for $80 with the code "TRICKORTREAT."
When: Through October 31

Cicis Pizza

The deal: Dress your kid up in a costume and they're getting a free pizza buffet with the purchase of an adult buffet.
When: October 31

Other Halloween-Themed Food Fun 

Krispy Kreme
The deal: They're not discounted, but Krispy Kreme is offering four Halloween-themed donuts, including one covered in salted caramel and crushed Halloween candy.
When: Through October 31

Burger King
The deal: The chain just launched The Nightmare King. The sandwich has a burger, a chicken fillet, bacon, and cheese crammed between two nuclear green buns. BK also claims it can actually increase your chance of nightmares. Happy Halloween.
When: Available through November 12

Three Websites Offer Complete Information on 2018 Elections

Anderson Observer

'Tis the season.

Next Tuesday, voters around the state and nation will go to the polls. Voter registration is up in South Carolina, and while local, state and national elections can create confusion on issues and candidates, two websites offer a preivew of exactly how your ballot will look next week.

SCVotes.org offers a sample ballot, as well as providing information on where you are allowed to vote based on your address.

Ballotready.org walks you through everything on the ballot with links directly to the candidates own sites and links providing explanations of the other issues. 

A third site, Vote411.org, also includes much of the same information.