"Flushable Wipes" Clog Charleston Water System

JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) - Workers at the Charleston Water System Plum Island Facility had their hands full over the weekend when the system was clogged by a massive amount of wipes.

"It took a few days for us to get divers in here to actually dive down about 80 feet into raw sewage with their bare hands and feel around in total darkness," said Mike Saia, Communications Manager, Charleston Water System.

Those divers found mounds and mounds of flushed wipes. They clogged the system and caused a huge backup. While the system is clear now, there are still wipes around the facility from the overflow.

"They might do a lot of damage inside your home to your plumbing. They definitely do a lot of damage when they make their way through our infrastructure," said Saia.

When a wipe disappears down a toilet, so does your money. Maintenance is tied into your water rate and it costs a lot to clean messes like this. 

One of the divers says going down into the wells is a big task.

"When you get down to the bottom, you can't see anything, everything is done by feel," said diver John Lares. 

It's a lot of trouble that can be prevented by just throwing your wipes away.

"Hopefully with some new construction improvements we have here and some community education, we can get people to throw less and less wipes down into the toilet," Saia said.

When it comes down to it, only two things are supposed to be flushed down your toilet: human waste and toilet paper.

Elevator at Historic Courthouse to Be Complete by Oct. 31

The elevator in the historic Anderson County Courthouse, which has been out of order for more than a month, are scheduled to be complete by the end of October.

Repairs on the out-of-order, which have been delayed while custom parts are built for the repair, are expected to cost $57,000. The reparis include overhaul the hydraulics of the elevator, which was installed in the early 1980s.

The elevator is required for access to public meetings, which is why county council meetings are being moved mostly to the Anderson County Civic Center to comply with the law.

Interest Rates Likely to Rise

(Reuters) - Federal Reserve policymakers are largely united on the need to raise borrowing costs further, minutes from their most recent policy meeting show, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s view that interest rate hikes have already gone too far. 

Every Fed policymaker backed the central bank’s September decision to raise the target policy rate to between 2 percent and 2.25 percent, according to minutes of the Sept. 25-26 meeting, published Wednesday. 

Participants in the Fed’s rate-setting committee also “generally anticipated that further gradual increases” in short-term borrowing costs “would most likely be consistent” with the kind of continued economic expansion, labor market strength, and firm inflation that most of them are anticipating, the minutes showed. 

“This gradual approach would balance the risk of tightening monetary policy too quickly, which could lead to an abrupt slowing in the economy and inflation moving below the Committee’s objective, against the risk of moving too slowly, which could engender inflation persistently above the objective and possibly contribute to a buildup of financial imbalances,” the minutes said. 

U.S. stocks closed slightly lower and U.S. Treasury yields gained a bit as traders continued to bet on further rate hikes ahead. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield ticked up 3 basis points to 3.184 percent. The dollar also rose.

Administrator Updates County's Activity in October

Council Approves Sale of Land for TTI Retail Store

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer 

Anderson County Council approved the sale of property to TTI, a new Duke backup battery facility at the civic center, and $28.7 million in special resource bonds to be used to pay for sewer projects at Exit 14 on I-85.

The county will sell four acres to Other World Technologies (TTI) for a retail outlet for some of the the company’s brands, including Milwaukee, Ryobi, Homelite, Hoover, Orek.  

Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns said TTI is paying the county the appraised value for property, and will begin work their retail outlet as soon as details on the sale and final. 

The county also approved giving seven-tenths of an acre to Duke Energy behind the Anderson County Civic Center to be used as a battery backup for the main facility. Duke uses the civic center as a operations site during emergencies, and the building is also used as a shelter by the county during those emergencies. Duke will pay for the construction of the battery backup center. 

Meanwhile, plans to boost economic development at the Exit 14 site got a shot in the arm when council approved the three sewer projects on the property.  

Anderson County Councilwoman Cindy Wilson said the projects should have happened “30 years ago.”

“This is important for our county’s economic development,” said Rita Davis, director of finance for Anderson County. 

“It’s a very detailed plan,” Wilson said. 

Council also moved ahead with a plan to restrict the kinds of vehicles which can travel on Ballard Road.  

“Since the county finished improvements on the bridge, 18-wheelers have been using the road as a cut through between U.S. 29 North and S.C. 8,” Burns said. “It’s not appropriate traffic for that road.” 

Wilson agreed. 

“It’s important to keep the 18-wheelers off that road,” she said. 

Finally, on Tuesday night, council moved ahead with a plan to pay members of the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Board of Planning $50 per meeting. Both boards require extensive training and in the past many of the meetings were poorly attended, said Anderson County Councilman Ray Graham.

County Council to Meet at Civic Center Tonight

Anderson County Council is expected to give final approval to the sale of land to TTI, Inc., and to allow Duke Energy to put a energy storage site at the Anderson County Civic Center as part of tonight's meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Anderson County Civic Center. The meeting is being held at the civic center while the elevator in the historic courthouse is being repaired.

Full agenda here.

S.C. Children in Foster Care Up Sharply Since 2012

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A report says the number of South Carolina children in state custody has grown from roughly 3,100 in 2012 to nearly 4,600 today.

The Post and Courier reports the Chronicle of Social Change published the data Monday.

The analysis shows the increase has forced officials to continue relying on congregate care and group homes as the number of foster children sent into a facility or home nearly doubled between 2012 and 2016.

State Department of Social Services' spokeswoman Pam Bryant says the Chronicle's report is nearly three years old.

Bryant provided numbers showing the percent of children placed in congregate care during the 2012 fiscal year decreased roughly 1 percent six years later. She says the department's focus was ending the use of congregate care for children 6 and younger at the time.

Federal Deficit of $779 Billion Highest Since 2012

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government closed the 2018 fiscal year $779 billion in the red, its highest deficit in six years, as Republican-led tax cuts pinched revenues and expenses rose on a growing national debt, according to data released on Monday by the Treasury Department. 

New government spending also expanded the federal deficit for the 12 months through September, the first full annual budget on the watch of U.S. President Donald Trump. It was the largest deficit since 2012. 

The data also showed a $119 billion budget surplus in September, which was larger than expected and a record for the month. A senior Treasury official said the monthly surplus was smaller when adjusted for calendar shifts. 

Economists generally view the corporate and individual tax cuts passed by the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress late last year and an increase in government spending agreed in early February as likely to balloon the nation’s deficit. 

Trump and his fellow Republicans have touted the tax cuts as a boost to growth and jobs. 

“America’s booming economy will create increased government revenues – an important step toward long-term fiscal sustainability,” Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said in a statement accompanying the data. 

The deficit in the 12 months through September was $113 billion - or 17 percent - bigger than in the same period a year earlier. Adjusting for calendar effects, the gap was even larger, the Treasury official said.

Clemson, CDC, Working on Obesity Solutions

CLEMSON – With 93.3 million adults tipping the scales as obese, it’s no secret that America has an obesity problem.

In the hardest-hit communities, more than four in 10 adults suffer from obesity. That’s not just a health problem; that’s a health crisis.

“Obesity recently surpassed tobacco use, high blood pressure and high cholesterol to become the leading cause of preventable life-years lost among Americans,” said Sarah Griffin, an associate professor in the public health sciences at Clemson University. “It can lead not only to heart and circulatory diseases, but also to other potentially fatal diseases like cancer. The estimated overall cost of obesity in the United States is $315.8 billion.”

It’s no wonder, then, that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is enlisting the help of land-grant universities like Clemson in 15 states to combat this crisis.

The CDC High-Obesity Program provides grants for locally driven health and nutrition initiatives specifically for counties with a 40 percent or greater obesity rate.

“South Carolina has the 10th highest rate of obesity in the nation, and three counties – Hampton, Lee and Marion – have more than 40 percent adult obesity,” said Michelle Parisi, who leads the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service rural health and nutrition program. Parisi and Griffin will team up to conduct the five-year CDC initiative in the Palmetto State.

For the program’s first year, Clemson has received more than $836,000 to fund the effort, which will help the three counties increase access to healthy foods, create safe places for physical exercise and help guide lifestyle changes in the community.

“There is no silver bullet – no single solution. Obesity is a complex issue,” Griffin said. “For example, look at the paradox of high rates of food insecurity and obesity in rural areas where so much healthy food is grown. To be successful in addressing this issue we need multilevel, community-driven solutions involving individuals, family, work organizations, schools and public policy.”

Multidisciplinary Extension teams consisting of agents who are from the regions or who have a connection to the the local areas will be created in each of the counties.

“The interdisciplinary teams are a unique part of the project. They will be working to create a connection between business, agriculture, education, health care and community planning in these communities,” Parisi said. “We will follow a 100-year-old model of Extension using grassroots efforts that are driven by the communities themselves, meaning that the community members will choose the activities that will be implemented to enhance health in the community.”

Clemson students from these counties will also have the opportunity to go back and work through summer internships and other opportunities, Griffin said.

These teams will encourage healthy environments and policies with activities like helping small vendors in food deserts connect with local farmers to procure, market and promote fresh foods. Agents also will deliver health programming directly to consumers where they will be taught and encouraged to purchase fresh produce which will support the efforts of the the vendors, Parisi said.

During the next five years, Griffin and Parisi are interested in working with local agencies to expand access to fresh foods through policy and environment changes and will partner with state agencies and  programs, such as the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and Farm to School – a program that promotes the acquisition and use of fresh fruits and vegetables in schools and the community. They will also partner with health care organizations based on a community’s chosen priorities to promote health education and health care delivery related to chronic disease prevention and self-management.

The second part of the project – the physical activity component – is focused on walking. The goal is to make the communities more walkable and to promote walking from both a policy and an individual perspective to help the community plan, use and sustain safe places for exercise and help schools increase physical activity.

While the primary aim of this project is to see a decrease in adult obesity rates in each community, Griffin and Parisi also plan to track changes in community support for healthy eating and physical activity as well as changes in obesity-related health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.

War of 1812 Veteran to Be Honored Tuesday at Museum

Col. John Martin, a hero from the War of 1812 will be inducted into the Anderson County Museum's Hall of Fame Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the museum.

“This year’s ceremony will also feature the previous 35 Hall of Fame inductees as we celebrate 15 years of the Hall of Fame,” said Anderson Country Museum Director Beverly Childs. “The ceremony and reception is free and open to the public. We hope many past recipient’s families will attend.”

Martin was chosen from the 20 applications for the honor by the Anderson County Museum Advisory Hall of Fame Committee. Nominees must be deceased at least 10 years before they are eligible to be nominated. Martin was nominated by committee member Dr. Julia Barnes.

“Anderson County gave a significant contribution to South Carolina’s effort in the war of 1812," said Barns. "Unfortunately in 2018, our county’s participation is nearly forgotten. Colonel John Martin was a continuation of the tradition of Anderson County citizens making a significant personal sacrifice to preserve and protect our freedom.”

More information here.

Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Set for Saturday

AnMed Health is teaming up with the City of Anderson Police Department and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office for Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. The event will take place at two locations:  the AnMed Health North Campus and the Anderson Mall in the front parking lot beside the Lifeway Christian Store. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will provide safe disposal of unused or expired medication. Shred-A-Way will also be on site to ensure secure disposal of unwanted documents.

Only pills will be accepted. Both sites will collect documents for shredding. 

AnMed Health has received the Impact Award for its Prescription Drug Take-Back Day program from the Society for Healthcare Volunteer Leaders (SHVL). The award recognizes volunteer services programs that have made a positive impact on the healthcare organization or the local communities it serves. 

AnMed Health surpassed last year's haul in the April 28, National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day and Shred Day. The total weight of pills collected was 150 pounds, 25 pounds more than in 2017. 

Market Theatre "Addams Family" October Gust of Ghoulish Fun

By Paul Hyde/Anderson Observer

They're creepy and they're kooky -- but mostly kooky.

The Market Theatre Company's "Addams Family" is an October gust of ghoulish fun.

This Halloween treat, which opened Friday, asks very little of an audience except to sit back and bask in the daffiness of the famously macabre Addams clan, familiar to mostly everyone through Charles Addams' classic Dalton Cole, center, stars as Gomez in the musical "Addams Family," continuing through Oct. 28 at The Market Theatre Company in Anderson - Escobar PhotographyNew Yorker cartoons and decades of TV and film adaptations.

Director/choreographer Mary Nickles gives us a peppy production of the 2010 musical, which features an appealing score of uptempo numbers and ballads by Andrew Lippa.

The show, written by the "Jersey Boys" team of Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, centers on a crisis in the Addams family involving Wednesday, the daughter. She's been raised to be a black-clad princess of darkness with a drop-dead stare and a penchant for torturing her little brother Pugsley. 

But, oh the horror, Wednesday has fallen in love with a nice, ordinary young man from a painfully normal Midwestern family. It's even suggested that they're (gasp!) Republicans.

Both families take a dim view of the budding relationship. Cultures clash when the Addams family invites the young man and his parents over to dinner.

The story of mismatched families locking horns over youthful romance is an old one (think "La Cage aux Folles," "Abie's Irish Rose" and "Romeo and Juliet"), but sometimes the star-crossed lovers prevail.

The show tosses in plenty of jokes about death, torture and other dark topics.

Nickles brings clarity and a giddy, playful spirit to the show. I liked Friday's opening performance most when it was most extravagant. I've always thought these Addams characters should be played one step below the campy hams of "Rocky Horror."

Nickles elicits fine performances from her cast.

Leading the revels is Dalton Cole as Gomez, the sword-wielding paterfamilias. Cole opts for understatement in a usually flamboyant role (John Astin on TV, Nathan Lane on Broadway), but his suave approach often pays off handsomely, particularly when Cole applies honeyed vocals to his ballad "Happy Sad," about life's contradictions. It's a tear-jerking moment.

DeAnna Gregory is a bewitching Morticia, cool and poised, with the expected rigor mortis posture, and she brings some strong pipes to her big number, "Just Around the Corner," a blithe song about death. 

Sarah Greene's winning Wednesday is a petite tornado of teenage self-assertion. Greene offers a dynamic account of the song "Pulled," about Wednesday's tumultuous feelings of love.

Sean Johnson plays a cheerfully wacky Uncle Fester, in love with the moon.

Eli Stone is terrific as the spunky young Pugsley.

Libby Riggins does a nice turn as the scratchy-voiced Grandma.

Bill Griffith, wonderful as the undead Lurch, towers above the scene with a world-weary snarl. 

Noah Austin offers a sympathetic portrayal of Wednesday's love interest, Lucas.

Becca Payne plays Lucas' mother Alice, given to nervous laughter and spontaneous rhymes. Late in Act I, Payne's Alice unleashes a powerful voice in her frustrated wife's lament, "Waiting."

Mark Cawood strikes the right note as Alice's stuffy husband (and secret rock fan) Mal.

The ghostly chorus of 10 shakes the Market Theatre rafters with vocal heft.

Sarah Greene's dark-hued and spooky costumes are marvelous.

Julie Florin is responsible for the tight music direction.

Makeup (Kat Bates) and set design (Noah Taylor) also are excellent.

One caveat: On opening night, some of the song lyrics were not as crisply articulated as they might be. Ongoing performances should iron things out.

Theater-goers should note: The show contains a few instances of strong language and sexual innuendo. 

This zany "Addams Family" continues through Oct. 28. For tickets, call 864-729-2999 or visit the website www.themarketanderson.org.

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

"Gullah Gullah Island" Star to Perform at Library Tuesday

Storyteller Natalie Daise will be performing “Comeyah Tales” for a special Family Night Tuesday at the Anderson County Library, as part of this week's Starburst Storytellers Festival. Admission is free and the event open to all ages.

Well known to television audiences via Nick Jr. and Noggin TV’s “Gullah Gullah Island,”  Daise is master storyteller and visual artist. Her Comeyah Tales highlight the rich culture and history of coastal South Carolina. Along with numerous other awards and honors, Natalie Daise has received the South Carolina’s Order of the Palmetto and the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award.

The Starburst Storytellers’ Festival is presented by the Friends of the Anderson County Library.