McMaster Expected to Sign Bill Linking S.C. Taxes to Federal Code

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina lawmakers have given key approval to a bill linking the state tax code to the federal tax code and Gov. Henry McMaster has promised to sign it as soon as possible.

The tax conformity bill allows taxpayers to transfer information and deductions from their federal tax returns to their state returns since South Carolina doesn't have its own tax code.

The federal tax bill passed last year by Congress complicated a normally easy issue by eliminating personal exemptions.

The General Assembly added deductions for business and families with children so state taxes wouldn't rise.

The Senate passed the bill 37-4 on Tuesday and the House voted 117-0 on Wednesday in a special session.

McMaster said on Twitter he will sign the bill before the end of the week.

Judge Orders Release of Report on S.C. Political Corruption

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A judge has ordered the release of a State Grand Jury report on political corruption in South Carolina.

Media outlets report judge Clifton Newman gave attorneys until Friday to offer their thoughts on information that should be redacted during a Wednesday hearing.

Solicitor David Pascoe had argued in favor of the report's release, saying the grand jury finished its two-year term in June and that the main suspects in the Statehouse corruption probe have been indicted.

Pascoe has said releasing the report is the best way to fight public corruption. He says it suggests specific actions the Legislature can make.

Four Republican lawmakers have pleaded guilty, although none served prison time. An attorney for one of those lawmakers, Rep. Rick Quinn Jr., had sought more time to review the report.

S.C. Voters Get Extra 10 Days to Register before Election

Anderson Observer Reports

South Carolina residents are getting an extra 10 days to register to vote in November due to the impact of Hurricane Florence.

With the November elections less thansix weeks away, there's still time to register to vote in South Carolina. State law requires a citizen must first register to vote at least 30 days prior to the election, which means registration is open until Oct. 17.

Eligible voters must:

• Be a United States citizen -be at least eighteen years old on or before the next electio
• Be a resident of South Carolina, this county and precinct
• Not be under a court order declaring you mentally incompetent
• Not be confined in any public prison resulting from a conviction of a crime
• Have never been convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws OR if previously convicted, have served the entire sentence, including probation or parole, or have received a pardon for the conviction. 

There is no length of residency requirement in South Carolina in order to register to vote.

Registered voters can check their registration information at scvotes.org When checking your voter registration information, you must provide your name, county and date of birth as it appears on your voter registration card in order to view your information.

Citadel Coach to Speak at Anderson TD Club Friday

Citadel Coach Brent Thompson is scheduled to speak at the Anderson Area Touchdown Club Friday at noon at the Anderson County Library. The Citadel’s twentyfifht head football coach, Thompson is entering his third season as the head football coach and has compiled a 15-8 record overall, and the highest winning percentage is the highest in Citadel history.

Players of the week and the coach of the week will be also honored from the previous Friday night games.

Memberships are still available to the club.  An individual membership fee is $50 and a Corporate membership (which includes 5) is $200. 

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 cub or to join, call Bill Brissey at 864-226-7380 or Nancy at 864-616-6471.

Council Oks Midway Subdivision, Nixes Rezoning for Women's Home

Anderson County Council on Tuesday night rejected a request, tabled from earlier this year, to rezone a portion of property at 1226 Massey Road near Pendleton for use as a crisis pregnancy home. The issue attracted nearly 100 local residents to the council meeting to voice support/opposition to the plan at the earlier meeting. 

Local residents who live in the area, spoke out against the rezoning to allow for the residential St. Clare's Home crisis pregnancy center proposed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, which sought to rezone the parcel as part of the 100 acre-tract of land. 

Also on Tuesday night, council: 

Gave final approval to a new subdivision at the corner of Midway and Crestview roads.The new 74.6-acre subdivision would bring between 170-180 single-family houses to the property. The project, which would be built by Falcon Real Estate Development, would also set aside 25 acres of the property as green space, which would include a trail, a dog run and playground area. Two entrances to the tentatively titled “Spencer Trails” subdivision, one on Crestview, one on Midway would also be included. Details on the project here. 

Gave final approval tax incentives for Element Materials Technology (Element), a leader in materials and product qualification testing. The company’s $3.4 million investment is projected to create 31 new jobs, with an average salary of $23.81 per hour, and an annual payroll of $1.2 million. Located at 1370 Shiloh Church Road in Piedmont, S.C., the company’s new, 30,000-square-foot facility is projected to come online in December 2018. Hiring for the new positions has already begun, and interested applicants can visit www.element.com/careers for more information.

Gave final approval a tax-incentive agreement to work with the City of Anderson to help develop unused buildings in downtown Anderson to recruit and bring in new businesses. The buildings are directly across South Main Street from City Hall. The buildings are being renovated for commercial use. The infrastructure credit agreement will allow investors to pay reduced property taxes on those properties. 

Agreed, on second reading, a plan to lease .75 acres at the Anderson County Sports and Entertainment Complex to Duke Energy Carolinas, to provide “solar photovoltaic power aways, voltage regulations, and power quality regulation.” The move is for an emergency shelter that will provide power for Anderson County citizens in the event of an emergency. Wooten said the value of the solar project would cost the county $8 million if not for Duke Energy constructing the project. “This will be a tremendous benefit to public safety,” said Anderson County Councilman Ray Graham. “We want to thank Duke Energy for their investment in Anderson County."

AU, Greenville Tech Make New Partnership Formal

GREEVILLE, SC – Anderson University today formalized a partnership with Greenville Technical College that will allow GTC students to more easily transfer and complete their studies at AU.

 

Officials from both schools signed an agreement that puts in place the Anderson University Bridge Program, which is intended for Greenville Technical College students who complete an associate degree and who wish to transfer to Anderson to complete a bachelor’s program.

 

“This agreement represents an incredible opportunity for college students in our region,” said Dr. Evans P. Whitaker, President of Anderson University. “We are so appreciative of our friends at Greenville Technical College, and we look forward to welcoming their students into the AU family.”

 

Under the agreement, Bridge students enrolled in Greenville Technical College’s Associate of Art, Associate of Science and designated Applied Science degrees will sign an intent to transfer to AU. If they meet the minimum GPA requirement of 2.50 and earn an associate degree, they will be accepted for transfer to AU and will receive advising and academic support that will ensure a successful transition from the two-year college to the four-year university. Merit and transfer scholarships will be available for those who qualify.

 

Articulation agreements have also been signed for the Supply Chain Management, Marketing, and Management programs. The agreements allow graduates of these Greenville Technical College programs earning a 2.50 GPA to transfer 60 -62 credit hours, depending upon the program, of GTC credit to Anderson University in order to complete a Bachelor of Business Administration.

AU to Offer New Degree Path for Greenville Tech Graduates

Anderson University and Greenville Technical College will sign an agreement tomorrow to allow GTC students a new path to receive a four-year degree from AU.

The pact will be signed during a 3:30 p.m. ceremony at the Greenville Technical College Executive Board Room, 506 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville. 

Clemson Helping Farmers Needing Hay in Wake of Storm

CLEMSON — With widespread flooding in eastern South Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Florence, Clemson University Cooperative Extension is offering resources to help meet hay needs of the state’s livestock producers, both in the short term and throughout the winter.

An online hay request form allows producers in immediate need of hay to enter their location and description of livestock for Clemson Extension to better assist them. The form is also available online at Extension’s Livestock and Forages home page.

“We’re trying to make sure we have a place for people who have immediate needs for hay to fill out a short online form to let us know that they have that need, where they are located and how many animals they need to feed,” said Matthew Burns, Extension beef specialist.

Significant amounts of hay in the Pee Dee region and parts of the Lowcountry have been sitting under water. Clemson Extension is working to be responsive to the needs of producers who have animals that may be trapped by flood waters and cannot reach other food sources.

“We’re really looking for people who are in need and just need enough hay to get them through the next week,” Burns said. “It’s an emergency situation where they have nothing to feed their animals, and we’re trying to make sure that they get that taken care of.”

Clemson Extension is also compiling a 2018 Hurricane/Flood Relief Hay Listthat will provide contact information of anyone who has undamaged hay for donation or sale. Once compiled, the results of the list will be posted online at Extension’s Livestock and Forages home page.

AIM Wants You to Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat

What if, instead of just eating candy on Halloween, you helped make it possible for hundreds of families to have food to eat?  You can this holiday by Trick or Treating for canned goods rather than candy.

This year you can help stock the food pantry at Anderson Interfaith Ministries (AIM) who needs your help now more than ever. Each month AIM assists more than 900 families with their food needs.  The monthly average continues to rise as unemployment and a poor economy leave more and more families needing to ask for help to make ends meet.
 
During this unique annual food collection effort, canned goods and non-perishable items are collected to stock AIM's Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry.  This eventwill jump-start the busy holiday season and AIM is asking the entire community to join in the fun.

Any class/group/club or individual is welcome to join AIM in fighting hunger by participating in "Trick Or Treat So Others May Eat!"  There are many ways to become involved.  You can form a team and collect in neighborhoods; or you can collect within your church, school, or organization.  AIM can help provide any materials you might need along with lots of support, while you provide the volunteer power and enthusiasm during the last two weeks of October.

Any non-perishable food is welcome. Avoid glass items. Please do not include items which will crush, such as bread. Soups, canned vegetables, canned meats, rice, beans, peanut butter, pasta are among the most requested items.

Perisable items need to be brought directly to the AIM offices.
 
Here are some “Trick Or Treat So Others May Eat” details:
 
1. Recruit your group team members to participate in this event.
2. Pick up bags and bag attachments at AIM.
3. Drop off bags to your neighborhoods/class prior to Halloween this week.
4. Pick up the filled bags & deliver them to the Fishes & pantry at AIM. Arrangements can also be made to pick up bags from groups.

For your convenience, we are opening our food pantry so you can drop-off your collection on Oct 30 from 2-6 p.m. For more information, please call 965-9077 or email susan.anderson@aimcharity.org to discuss other ways you can fight hunger.

Council Expected to Ok Midway Road Subdivision at Tuesday Meeting

Anderson County Council is expected to give final approval to a new subdivision at the corner of Midway and Crestview roads as part of Tuesday night's meeting in the historic courthouse downtown. 

The new 74.6-acre subdivision would bring between 170-180 single-family houses to the property.

The project, which would be built by Falcon Real Estate Development, would also set aside 25 acres of the property as green space, which would include a trail, a dog run and playground area. Two entrances to the tentatively titled “Spencer Trails” subdivision, one on Crestview, one on Midway would also be included. Details on the project here. 

Full County Council Agenda Here

FreshTaste 2018 Set for Tuesday Downtown

A retooled FreshTaste returns to downtown Anderson Tuesday from 6-9 p.m. in Carolina Wren Park. The event is a showcase for local food, products, music and emerging artists, and also includes wine and craft beer tastings.

How it works:

This year, FreshTaste passes will be sold to purchase food at the event.

Advance purchases: A General Admission Pass costs $15, and provies pass with 8 punches for food items. A Half Admission Pass is $8, and provides four punches for food items. Advance passes available here.

At the door: General Admission $20, Half Admission $10

Music for the evening will include bluegrass by "My Girl, My Whiskey, and Me!"

Voter Registration Deadline for November Elections Oct. 7

With the November elections less thansix weeks away, there's still time to register to vote in South Carolina. State law requires a citizen must first register to vote at least 30 days prior to the election, which means registration is open until Oct. 7.

Eligible voters must:

• Be a United States citizen -be at least eighteen years old on or before the next electio
• Be a resident of South Carolina, this county and precinct
• Not be under a court order declaring you mentally incompetent
• Not be confined in any public prison resulting from a conviction of a crime
• Have never been convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws OR if previously convicted, have served the entire sentence, including probation or parole, or have received a pardon for the conviction. 

There is no length of residency requirement in South Carolina in order to register to vote.

Registered voters can check their registration information at scvotes.org When checking your voter registration information, you must provide your name, county and date of birth as it appears on your voter registration card in order to view your information.

Belk Parking Lot Downtown Closed Until Wednesday Morning

The Belk parking lot adjacent to Carolina Wren Park will be closed today through Tuesday as preparations begin for the FreshTaste 2018 festival downtown Tuesday. The closing will be posted, and cars parked in the lot after 5:30 p.m. today will be towed.

The event, hosted by Downtown Anderson, is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. and will feature food, music and other activites in Carolina Wren Park.