Salvation Army to Take Angel Tree Applications Oct. 8-12

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The Salvation Army of Anderson is getting into the holiday spirit a little early to help our friends and neighbors in need this Christmas. The annual "Angel Tree" campaign, a needs-based program which provides Christmas presents for chidren birth to age 12 and special needs of any age through the generosity of the community.

Anderson residents who would like to sign up to receive toys and clothing for their children are asked to visit the Salvation Army of Anderson, 112 Tolly Street, Oct. 8-12, during the followin hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, 9-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m., and Thursday 9-12 p.m. and 1-6 p.m.

The following information will be required for eligibility:

1. Current photo ID for the person applying

2. Proof of residency (something with your current Anderson county address on it)

3. Birth certificates for all children aged 12 and younger

4. Income verification within the last 30 days (Sept.) for all members of your household

5. Proof of expenses within the last 30 days (Sept.) for the household where you reside

6. If you receive government assistance, bring Current DSS Household Summary

(if an individual brings #6, items 4 and 5 are not required)

Applicants are also asked to bring clothing and shoe sizes for all children 12 and younger as well as three toy ideas for their wish list (no electronics or items over $50 will be considered).

For more information, including how to donate to help families in need, call The Salvation Army of Anderson at 864-225-7381, extension 5.

Elevator Issues Move Tonight's Council Meeting to Civic Center

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Tonight's 6:30 p.m Anderson County Council meeting is being moved to the ballroom of the Anderson Civic Center because of a non-functioning elevator in the historic courthouse downtown.

The elevator, which was installed in the early 1980s, will probably need to be replaced, according to Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns.

Burns said it will cost $3,000 for a study to determine the best path for replacing it, and that it was likely to be an expensive project. He said there is no timetable on the upgrade, but added that it would be done "as quickly as possible."

The elevator is required for access to public meetings, which is why tonight's meeting has been moved.

Kenyon to Speak at Friday Touchdown Club Meeting

Sid Kenyon, the general manager of the Colonial Life Arena at the University of South Carolina, will be the featured speaker at the Anderson Touchdown Club meeting on Friday.

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.

Collision Shuts Down I-85 Northbound in Anderson County

UPDATE: One lane has reopened.

Law enforcement is asking drivers to detour at Exit 4 to S.C. 243 and return to I-85 at at Exit 11. 

A collision at 7:30 this morning has shut down the northbound lanes of I-85 between Exits 8 and 10 

Details emerging...

Annual Meals on Wheels Oyster Roast Set for Saturday

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer 

The 14^th annual Meals on Wheels Oyster Roast and Low Country Boil, presented by Eco Waste Services, Inc. and Piedmont Automotive, is scheduled for Saturday from 5-8 p.m, at the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center.

This Meals on Wheels Anderson fall tradition offers all-you-can-eat roasted oysters, a Low Country boil featuring boiled shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn as well as Brunswick Stew from Creekside Barbeque. 

Tickets are $40 for adults and $15 for children under 12. Children 5 and under are free. 

Tickets include all food and beverages and may be purchased online at www.acmow.org; at the Meals on Wheels Center at 105 S. Fant St.; or by calling 864-225-6800. It is recommended that tickets be purchased in advance but a limited number will be available at the door. 

Meals on Wheels of Anderson serves more than 400 homebound elderly and disabled residents of Anderson County by providing hot, nutritious meals each weekday and frozen meals for weekend use when requested. Every dollar raised will help the program continue to reach out, as well as help us extend our reach, to these vulnerable residents of our county in maintaining their health, independence, and quality of life.

Granddaughter of Caesar Chavez to Speak at Clemson

CLEMSON — Christine Chavez, granddaughter of Cesar Chavez, the co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers. She will speak at 6 p.m. Oct. 11, in the Watt Family Innovation Center auditorium. Her visit is one of two planned in the Upstate. Clemson teamed up with Hispanic Alliance to host Chavez at 5 p.m. Oct. 12. at Greenville One.

Chavez follows in the steps of her legendary grandfather, serving as an outreach coordinator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Resource Conservation Service, where she helps farmers from various communities, including Hmong, Latinx, African-American, veterans and LGBTQ, ensuring no one fails to benefit from the groundwork of equality laid by her grandfather.

The civil rights activist's visit is part of Clemson's celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, which runs through Oct. 15. For complete information about the month's speakers and events, visit here.

Study: Infant Walkers Pose Safety Hazard

from CBS Report

While some parents may think infant walkers are a way to give young children more independence, pediatricians are once again warning the public that they are a safety hazard. 

A new study, published online Monday in the journal Pediatrics, found that more than 230,000 children age 15 months or younger were treated in hospital emergency departments in the United States for infant walker-related injuries from 1990 through 2014.

"Baby walkers give quick mobility — up to 4 feet per second — to young children before they are developmentally ready. Children at this age are curious, but do not recognize danger," senior study author Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, told CBS News. "It only takes a young sibling to leave the door to the basement stairs open briefly for an injury to occur. A child in a baby walker would be across the room and down the stairs before the parent could respond."

The majority of injuries in the study, about 91 percent, were to the head or neck. About 30 percent of the injuries were concussions or skull fractures. 

Almost three-quarters of the injuries were caused by children in walkers falling down the stairs. Other common problems included falls out of the baby walker, and injuries that occurred because the walker gave the child access to something they wouldn't normally be able to reach, such as burns from touching a hot appliance. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics has spoken out against the use of infant walkers for decades and has called for a ban on their manufacture, sale, and importation in the United States, but they continue to be sold by many major retailers.Smith says parents often seem shocked by how quickly a child in a walker can get into a dangerous situation.

The report recommends parents not buy a baby walker for their child, and if they have one they should remove the wheels and dispose of it.

Rusty Burns Talks About State of Anderson County, Sept. 2018

Opinion: Fizzled Storm an Opportunity for Generous Gratitude

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

As Hurricane/Tropical Storm Florence continues to fall apart as it moves away from the Anderson area, there has been more wind from complaints about the poor forecast than from the actual drizzle event that arrived here. 

Instead of complaining, Anderson should recognize the events as an opportunity to give back and to say thanks to those who were preparing for the worst. 

Reacting to warnings earlier in the week to prepare for the worst, many of our friends and neighbors now have cupboards full of non-perishable snacks that they will likely never eat. This offers an excellent opportunity to fill the cupboards at AIM as fall races toward the holiday season. They feed roughly 800 families every month, and if everyone who stocked up on food expecting to be without electricity for days would bag those groceries and take them to AIM (it’s on South Murray Ave, here’s the map), the effort and money would not be a waste, but instead a blessing for those who need a little extra help.

And while you are boxing and bagging those groceries, take a minute to give thanks to those who spend endless hours this past week preparing for the worst. The team at Anderson County Emergency Management, led by Lt. David Baker (see Friday Observer interview here), was ready to act if the storm had wrought the destruction originally forecast. The offered up-to-date information on social media about the storm, which include lists of emergency supplies and contact numbers. Working with local first responders, Duke Power crews, state agencies and other local groups, Emergency Management had plans in place to shelter, feed and rescue those in need, as well as plans to get things back to normal as soon as possible. Since the storm missed Anderson, their preparations now allow them to assist those in other parts of the state hit hardest by the hurricane/tropical depression. As part of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, we owe them a debt of gratitude, a thank you card, and maybe a dozen or so doughnuts if you really want to show your appreciation. 

Hurricanes are just plain unpredictable, said John Cangialosi, a hurricane specialist at NOAA's National Hurricane Center. “They're still somewhat mysterious," said. Cangialosi. "We can observe them, but we don't actually understand them to a large factor.”

What is more predictable is the way our community prepares and responds when there is a potential threat to the safety of our friends and neighbors. We have excellent people and systems in place, and for that we are blessed. 

The best way to respond is by being a blessing to others. So remember to pack up all that food you bought to weather to storm and take it to AIM this week. It’s too early to start holiday binging anyway. 

Wonderettes Sock Hops into Music, Nostalgia

By Paul Hyde/Anderson Observer

The Mill Town Players has enjoyed great success recently with nostalgic jukebox musicals. In July, the irresistible "Beehive" took audiences back to the pop songs of the 1960s.

"The Marvelous Wonderettes," which opened Friday, journeys back further -- to the 1950s -- with charm and feel-good glee.

Terrie West Poore directs a quartet of talented local actresses in this blithe and peppy production that evokes a simpler time, tugging ever-so-lightly at the heartstrings as it puts a smile on your face.

"The Marvelous Wonderettes," written by Roger Bean, focuses on four high school students who are called on to perform at their 1958 senior prom as a last-minute replacement. That setup allows for some cutesy high jinks and comic awkwardness as the girls entertain their "classmates" (the audience, that is) with songs in close four-part harmony.

The story is told through more than two dozen familiar pop tunes from the 1950s and 60s, such as "Lollipop," "Dream Lover," "Stupid Cupid," "It's My Party" and "It's In His Kiss."

Act II finds the girls 10 years later, returning for their class reunion. The easy cares of their teenage years have been replaced by bigger real-life issues, particularly romantic disappointments.

But in this joyful musical, it's a pretty safe bet that love will find a way.

The show makes considerable demands on its four actresses, who never leave the stage -- well, except to interact with the audience.

There were a few rough patches at Friday's opening, but continued performances should tighten things up.

Poore, the director, has assembled a winning cast. As an ensemble, the four produce some lovely sounds. To mention one episode: The shimmering, yearning harmonies of "Dream" which morph into "Dream Lover" are pure magic.

Poore's spirited choreography evokes 1950s and 60s social dances. She elicits vivid performances from her four actresses. Each enjoys a few solo moments in the spotlight.

Amy Blom, as Cindy Lou, is marvelous as the would-be high school princess, perfectly coiffed and with perfect teeth always beaming. She seems to channel Amy Adams from the film "Enchanted." Blom has a ballet dancer's arms, which she puts to graceful use in her pretty "Allegheny Moon." In Act II, she sings a heartfelt "Maybe."

Laura Bennett plays Betty Jean, the delightful cutup of the quartet. Vocally, Bennett soars on "That's When the Tears Start."

Kelsey Crews, as Missy, delivers an assertive "Wedding Bell Blues" and follows that with "You Don't Own Me," knocking it out of the park.

Laura Beth Cannon, as Suzy, closes the revels with a dynamite "RESPECT."

Chase McAbee is responsible for the fine musical direction -- and he also serves as stage manager and light board technician.

The show makes use of recorded music, which is not as appealing as live music, but it works.

Will Ragland designed the pleasing, heart-themed set.

This crowd-pleasing "Marvelous Wonderettes" continues through Sept. 30: Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m. For tickets, call 864-947-8000 or visit the website www.milltownplayers.org.

Paul Hyde, a veteran Upstate journalist, writes about everything under the South Carolina sun. Write to him at paulhydeus@yahoo.com. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: @PaulHyde7.

Busy Agenda for Tuesday's County Council Meeting

Anderson County Council will vote on an agreement to officially partner with Peach Properties, Inc., to develop the property behind the historic downtown courthouse as part of Tuesday's meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the historic courthouse.

The property, fomer home to the Bailes department store and Woolworth's, will be a key part of downtown development, according to Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns.

Council will also consider the sale of some of the property purchased from TTI adjacent to the old Ryobi facility and hear reports from various commitees on items ranging from parks consolidation to a traffic study.

Full agenda here

Tropical Storm Florence to Bring Rain, Wind Tonight, Tomorrow

From Fox21 Reports

Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, NC as of 7:15 AM Friday morning with winds of 90 mph.

Tropical Storm Florence has weakened further, now packing 65 mph winds near the center as it gets close to Myrtle Beach. The storm is moving slowly at only 5 mph, but will pick up speed into this weekend.

A wind advisory is in effect for both the Upstate and mountains on Saturday and Sunday with wind gusts associated with Florence. Gusts could exceed 40 miles per hour and could cause power outages for some.

A flash flood watch has been issued for most of the Upstate and WNC for Saturday morning through Tuesday morning.

Florence is expected to continue to slowly weaken as it moves west to southwest toward South Carolina later today and tonight, further weakening on Sunday to a tropical depression as it pushes toward the Upstate. By Monday, it should be moving north of the area but rain chances will linger.

Here is a breakdown of what to expect as the storm moves into the Upstate:

• Saturday: Gusty wind, especially late. 25-40 mph. Spotty t-storms, isolated severe threat. Small flood concern.

• Sunday: Widespread heavy rain, gusty wind around 30-40 mph, isolated tornado threat.

• Monday: Lingering rain/flood concerns, slightly lower wind 20-30 mph gusts. Low severe threat.

• Storm total rainfall from Sat-Monday looks like 2-5” are very likely in our area overall, but some spots (esp. in the mountains) could see up to 10”.

Anderson County Prepared for Hurricane Florence