AU Moves Up in U.S. News Ranking of Regional Universities

Anderson University moved up eight spots in the new U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” list, and is now listed at number. 65 among regional universities in the South.

 

Anderson ranked No. 73 in last year’s rankings.

“Today’s rankings reaffirm our commitment to an academically excellent, comprehensive Christian education and the principles upon which our institution has stood since 1911,” said Anderson University President Evans Whitaker. “We’re pleased that U.S. News & World Report continues to recognize the affordable, entrepreneurial and innovative environment that Anderson University’s students enjoy, and we look forward to even better things in the years to come.”

 

In addition to the school's ranking among regional universities, AU as the sixtheenth “Most Innovative” school and thirty-sixth on the list of “Best Value” schools.

S.C. Emergency Management Preparing for Hurricane

South Carolina's Emergency Management Division operations center is fully activated in preparation for the possibility of Hurricane Florence making landfall this week. South Carolina is currently in the center of the projuected path of the hurricane, which is expected to strike the coast by midweek.

Evacuation transportation is being made ready, and emergency management services are on alert statewide.

The agency is encouraging citizens to download their mobile app in preparation for the storm. Additional information on storm preparedness is also available at the the SCDEM website. 

SCEMD is urging residents and and those planning to visit the state to monitor official forecasts for Hurricane Florence from the National Hurricane Center.

The agency offers the following advice to prepare for the storm:

• Have a plan for where you will go if conditions become too unsafe to remain in your home.
• Know your evacuation zone by going to scemd.org or downloading the SC Emergency Manager mobile app.
• Prepare your home by boarding up windows and securing any items you have in your yard by taking them indoors.
• Make sure your car has fuel.
• Make sure you have some cash in case of power outages.
• Keep all of your important papers in a watertight bag.
• Check with your pharmacy to make sure all important medications are filled.
• Make plans for your pets that include extra food, collar, leash and a pet carrier.
• Refer to the preparedness checklists in the 2018 S.C. Hurricane Guide.

On Sunday, S.C. Governor Henry McMaster asked United States President Donald Trump for a federal emergency declaration as Hurricane Florence approaches the East coast. 

Related:

The Myrle Beach Sun News is dropping the requirement to pay for their content to promote safety ahead of and during the storm.

Clemson Ranked 24th Best By U.S. News & World Report

CLEMSON — Clemson University is ranked among the top 25 national public universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report for the 11th year in a row. Clemson is ranked No. 24 in the 2019 edition of Best Colleges Rankings released Monday.

“The fact that we have maintained our top-25 ranking for more than a decade is a testament to the outstanding work of our faculty and staff, who strive to provide the best educational experience possible for our students,” said Clemson President James P. Clements. “I am very proud of our ranking, but even more importantly, I am proud of the positive impact we have on our state and the difference we are making in the lives of our students.”

For its annual rankings, U.S. News measures institutions’ performance on 16 measures of academic quality as well as on how they are perceived by their peers. The rankings emphasize outcomes, with graduation and retention rates accounting for 35 percent of the score. The top schools all have high six-year graduation rates and strong freshman retention rates.

U.S. News noted Clemson is the 11th “most innovative” school among all national public universities based on nominations from top college officials of schools that are making the most innovative improvements in curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.

Clemson is ranked third among national public universities in percent of alumni giving at 22.9 percent, well above the average of 7.9 percent at the 184 universities included. In 2016, Clemson raised more than $1 billion in its capital campaign, the most ever achieved by a public university with an alumni base less than 150,000.

In its rankings, U.S. News said Clemson:

• is among the best colleges for veterans,
• is recommended by high school counselors,
• has a commitment to undergraduate teaching and
• is among the best value schools.

It also recognized the College of Engineering (29th) and College of Business (49th) among the best at national public universities.

When private and public universities are measured together, Clemson University was tied for 66th among all national universities.

Hurricane Florence Likely to Threaten Carolinas

Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Hurricane Florence is gaining strength and is expected to again grow into a major hurricane this week -- and threaten the U.S. East Coast near the Carolinas, forecasters say.

Florence strengthened early Monday into a Category 2 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest update. It's packing maximum sustained winds of 105 mph.

The storm is expected to become a major hurricane, at Category 3, Tuesday morning with 140 mph winds on the forecast track with landfall projected near the Carolinas Thursday night into Friday morning.

Forecasters said Florence could impact anywhere from northern Florida to the Washington, D.C., area and cause life-threatening conditions.

State of Emergency Declared Ahead of Atlantic Storm Florence

Governor Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency for South Carolina ahead of Tropical Storm Florence. 

In a press conference Saturday, Gov. McMaster said declaring the state of emergency allows agencies to start mobilizing in case the storm impacts the coast. 

“This storm is too powerful and its path is too uncertain to take any chances,” McMaster said. “We are mobilizing the state’s resources to make sure we are prepared, and the people of South Carolina must not hesitate to prepare for the possibility of a hurricane impacting our coast.”

The Governor's office said McMaster and SCEMD Director Kim Stenson are working with emergency managers, SERT agencies and local National Weather Service offices. 

“If you experienced Hurricane Irma last year, Hurricane Matthew in 2016, or even the Flood in 2015: think about all the supplies you didn’t have or safety measures you didn’t have time to implement,” Stenson said. “Now is the time to make sure you have everything you may need: check your emergency supplies, prepare your home and your property and have a plan for where you will go if the worst-case scenario becomes reality.”

“We do not know when it will change, if it will change, but we are preparing for the worst and of course, hoping for the best," Gov. McMaster said.

The full executive order can be found here.   

View the 2018 S.C. Hurricane Guide here.         

Hurricane Watchers Concerned about Potential Path of Florence

Florence has shifted back and forth from hurricane to tropical storm status the last couple of days, but one thing has become clear, storm watchers are concerned.

 New models show Florence is posing an increasing threat to the East Coast and the chances are now higher it will have direct effects Wednesday through Friday anywhere between Florida and southern New England, including the Carolinas.

The National Hurricane Center issued advisories Saturday morning on Tropical Storm Florence, which is located over the central Atlantic Ocean and is expected to return to Hurricane status on Sunday. North Carolina declared a state of emergency on Friday.

Both the European and American models have shifted the storm westward, rather than northerly, increasing the likelihood it will come close to or make landfall somewhere on the East Coast. See possible paths in the so-called spaghetti model above.

Hurricane Florence has weakened to a tropical storm but will likely strengthen again into a major hurricane and could threaten the U.S. East Coast by next week.

On Wednesday, Florence became the first major hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic season, with maximum sustained winds peaking at 130 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. 

Track the storm and compare different forecast models

But increased wind shear over the open Atlantic -- the storm is more than 1,600 miles from the East Coast -- has weakened Florence to a tropical storm, with 65 mph winds as of 5 p.m. Friday. Wind shear will lessen over the weekend, and Florence should regain major hurricane intensity (Category 3 or greater) by early next week -- as the storm moves northwest, getting closer to the US coastline by the day.

It's too early to tell if the storm will make landfall somewhere on the East Coast, or if it will turn harmlessly back to sea. Still, there are some troubling signs in the major computer models that meteorologists use to predict hurricane tracks a week or more in advance. 

The European and American models have shifted westward, consistently showing a menacing hurricane coming dangerously close to the Eastern Seaboard. 

High School Football Scoreboard

Daniel 36, Westside 14

T.L. Hanna 44, Belton-Honea Path 7

Pendleton 50, Berea 0

Palmetto 35, Crescent 16

Clinton 47, Powdersville 0

Wren 48, Easley 7

Prosecutor Wants S.C. Grand Jury Corruption Report Released

A South Carolina prosecutor is asking a judge to release a State Grand Jury report on political corruption, saying it has information of great public interest.

In a court filing Thursday, Solicitor David Pascoe wrote the grand jury finished its two-year term in June and the main suspects in the Statehouse corruption probe have been indicted.

Four Republican lawmakers have pleaded guilty, although none served prison time. Two more are awaiting trial. Most of the charges were for using their offices for personal gain or converting campaign money to their own use.

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

State law typically keeps grand jury actions and reports secret.

Anderson Area TD Club Names Week 2 Winners

The Anderson Area Touchdown Club on Friday announced the week two winners for high school football games played on August 31. 

Offensive Players:  Tyrell Jackson, Wren

Defensive Player:   Joseph Sloan, BHP 

Offensive Lineman:Bryce Roberts, Palmetto 

Def. Lineman: Jonathan Brown, T.L. Hanna

Coach:    Russell Blackston, BHP

Magazine Honors Neil Paul for Sports Tourism Leadership

Neil Paul, Executive Director of Visit Anderson, was recently recognized in "Connect Sports" magazine’s Fall 2018. “Game Changers" issue, which features industry leader in the sports tourism field.

“This is just another affirmation of the great work that Mr. Paul and the Convention and Vistors Bureau does every day for our community,” said Anderson County Admnistrator Rusty Burns.Neil Paul, left, was recently honored for his national leadership in sports tourism management.

The national, B2B magazine offers resources and ideas to professionals and planners in the sports tourism industry. 

Nominations were received from across the country, then reviewed and evaluated by the magazine staff based on references, industry involvement and other resources. The annual “Game Changers” issue honors innovative leaders who have earned respect from industry professionals and media. 

The story detailing Paul’s accomplishments can be found here.

Market Theatre Announces Ambitious 9-Show Season

By Paul Hyde/Anderson Observer

Before a packed crowd Thursday night, Anderson’s Market Theatre Co. announced its most ambitious season ever, with a total of nine shows planned.Photo from the most recent show, "Cabaret," featuring Meghan Cole. Photo Credit: Escobar Photography

On tap for 2019 will be two free outdoor productions, two children’s shows and seven Broadway musicals.

Two big Upstate premieres are scheduled: “Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical” and “Heathers: The Musical.”

The Market Theatre’s season runs on the calendar year. Here’s the full fourth-season lineup:

•  “Our Town” (Feb. 8-17). Thornton Wilder’s classic 1938 play, a slice of nostalgic Americana, focuses on the ordinary and beautiful events in the lives of people in a small town. (Directed by Robert Fuson)

•  “How I Became a Pirate” (March 22-April 7). The children’s show is based on the book by Melinda Long with music and lyrics by the veteran creative team of Janet Yates Vogel and Mark Friedman. (Directed by Aaron Pennington)

•  “Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical” (May 17-June 2). The Depression-era outlaws mix crime with romance in Frank Wildhorn’s 2009 show. “Bonnie & Clyde” was the most-requested show in a recent survey of Market audiences. 

•  Free Shakespeare in the Park (June 21-24). Shakespeare in the Park will be "The Adventures of Pericles," an epic journey of myth, magic and adventure. One storm at sea brings love, and another takes it away. Pericles, Prince of Tyre journeys to find redemption in one of Shakespeare's hidden gems. The free performances of a play by Shakespeare return for the fifth year in Anderson’s Carolina Wren Park. 

• “Heathers: The Musical” (July 19-Aug. 4). Based on the 1989 cult film by John Waters, “Heathers” looks at the joys and anguish of high school, with a provocative message about bullying. (Directed by Christopher Rose)

• “The Sixth Annual 24-Hour Musical” (August TBA). The Market Theatre partners with a charity to put together an entire Broadway-style musical in 24 hours. (Directed by Drew Whitley)

• “Into the Woods” – a free production in Carolina Wren Park (September 5-15). Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning musical offers a modern take on familiar fairy tales. (Directed by the Noah Taylor)

• “The 39 Steps” (Oct. 10-20). The fast-paced spy caper is based on Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film, in turn based on a John Buchan novel. (Directed by Drew Whitley)

• “Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells” (Dec 5-15). The irrepressible Junie and her first-grade classmates return in a holiday show to delight children and their parents. (Directed by Jessica Wayland)

“Our goal is to offer quality, affordable entertainment and something for everyone,” said Noah Taylor, executive artistic director of the Market Theatre.

A BANNER YEAR

The Market Theatre in 2018 has enjoyed a banner year, with ticket sales likely to break previous records, Taylor said.

Even as the Market Theatre makes plans for its 2019 season, two shows remain this year: “The Addams Family” (Oct. 12-28) and “Annie” (Nov. 29-Dec. 16).Drew Whitley from last year's Gala. Photo Credit: Casey Bates. Drew is also performing in this year's Gala and directing the 24 Hour Musical and The 39 Steps in 2019.

Though Market performances take place mostly in the theater’s warehouse-style space, the theater has never shied away from big musicals such as “Legally Blonde” and the recent edgy hit “Cabaret.”

“That gives us the courage to take on challenging and bold shows in the future,” Taylor said.

Taylor’s “dream project” for 2019 is the production of “Into the Woods” to be presented admission-free in Carolina Wren Park, thanks to the support of the City of Anderson.

“The City of Anderson has been thrilled with the success of Shakespeare in the Park, so when I took the idea of taking ‘Into the Wood’ outside under the stars, the city said ‘absolutely.’ There was no hesitation,” Taylor said.

The Market Theatre has staged one children’s show every year but Taylor decided to up that to two children’s shows in 2019.

“Kids shows are so popular,” he said.

A children’s show based on the beloved “Junie B. Jones” books sold out its entire run in the Market’s first season, so the theater will present another account of the young heroine in “Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells” in December 2019. 

Taylor founded both Anderson’s Shakespeare in the Park and “The 24-Hour Musical,” but those projects were not part of the Market Theatre’s operations. That changes in 2019.

“Now they’re going to officially be under the same brand,” Taylor said.

The overall aim of the Market Theatre is to please as many tastes as possible, Taylor said.

“I’m excited to announce a bigger season and to offer more in terms of diversity and opportunities for people to be involved,” he said. “We want to be a place that unifies the community.”

For tickets to the 2019 Market Theatre season, see the website www.themarketanderson.org or call 864-729-2999.

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

Clemson Schedules 9/11 Remembrance Event

Clemson University will hold a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at  5 p.m. Tuesday in Tillman Hall auditorium. The event is being coordinated by the student organization Tiger Platoon, which promotes awareness of Clemson’s rich military heritage.

Two speakers are scheduled for the event: Wes Few, who was a friend of James Patrick White, the only Clemson alumnus who died in the 9/11 attacks, and Bill Tobin, who was in the Pentagon on the day of the attacks and spent the following days helping remove victims’ bodies.

Following the speakers, first responders, including Clemson University police, firefighters and EMS, and veterans will be recognized for their sacrifices.

Then, outside on the Military Heritage Plaza, the Clemson ROTC honor guard, the Pershing Rifles, will perform a wreath-laying ceremony and fire a 21-gun salute.

The doors to the auditorium will open at 4:30 p.m.

County Seeks Citizen Comment in Park & Recreation Survey

Anderson County is evaluating its parks and recreation facilities, and they want your help.

As the county is in the process of evaluating the parks and other facilities, they are asking citizens to participate in a survey, aimed at helping set the course for the future of such facilities in the future.

The survey is part of an overall effort to update the county's master plan for recreation, which was last studied in 2007, and which needs to factor in growth areas and access in conjuntion with the Americans with Disabilities Act. An estimate at that time found that more than $10 million was needed to take care of the list of facilities at that time, and did not include Green Pond Landing. 

The effort is part of a larger one by county council, which is in the process of determining the viability of all parks and recreation areas that are either one of the 36 parks owned by or are in some way connected to the county.

In addition to the online survey, paper versions are being sent home to elementary students countywide.