City Elections Tuesday, Primary Candidates Set for June 14

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Election season is under way, with the closing of primary filings and municipal elections set for next week. 

The biggest news is the retirement of longtime Judge Martha Newton, who served Anderson County as probate judge for nearly four decades. J.T. Foster, chief information officer with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, and Attorney Jamie Saxon are running for the vacated probate judge position. 

Meanwhile, the City of Anderson will vote for mayor and council seats 1, 2, 3, 5 and At-Large 7 on Tuesday, with a one incumbent facing challengers and two candidates seeking the seat vacated by Don Chapman, who resigned in December to run for the South Carolina House Dist. 8 seat. 

Banker Luis Martinez and Bobby Johnson are vying to fill the vacated Seat 2, while Matt Harbin faces two challengers, CPA Monica Rockwell and Attorney Bill Thompson, for At-Large Seat 7.

Run-off Election, if necessary, are scheduled for April 19.

Primaries are set for June 14, with a number of local seats are in play.

S.C. House Dist. 6 Incumbent Brian White will face Businesswoman April Cromer. Dist. 6 covers Anderson County

S.C. House Dist. 7 Incumbent Jay West is challenged by Alex Foppoli. Dist. 7 covers parts of Abbeville, Anderson and Greenville Counties.

S.C. House Dist. 10 Incumbent West Cox will face Real Estate Agent Thomas Beach and Mark Durham. Dist. 10 covers parts of Anderson, Greenville and Pickens Counties. 

Two Anderson County Council members will have challengers in the primary.  

In County Council Dist. 3, Incumbent Ray Graham is being challenged by Retired State Trooper Greg Elgin.

Two candiates are seeking the Anderson County Auditor position, Anderson Businessman John Benca and Danielle Caldwell, who is currently serving as deputy auditor.

S.C. Senate Oks Some Funding for Private School Vouchers

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Senate late Wednesday gave key approval to a bill that would allow some poorer or disabled students taxpayer money to attend a private school or a public school outside their district.

The 25-15 vote overcomes a big hurdle that advocates for school choice and vouchers have been trying to top in the state for nearly two decades.

After one more routine vote, the bill goes to the House, which has been more agreeable to the idea in the past.

The bill provides up to $6,000 in state money each year. Along with tuition, the money could also go toward textbooks, materials, education services or equipment for disabled students.

The program would be limited to students whose family income is low enough to make them eligible for Medicaid and students who have disabilities that require a formal plan for their education from a school district. More than half of the state’s 781,000 students could use the program.

The "education scholarship trust funds" would be limited to 5,000 students the first year before reaching a permanent cap of 15,000 students the third year. If the program reaches its maximum, it would cost $90 million a year, House Majority Leader Shane Massey said.

“This is not a silver bullet. This doesn’t solve every problem in education, but it solves some," said the Republican from Edgefield who has worked on the bill for most of this year.

The proposal is the evolution of nearly 20 years of Republicans pushing to put money into providing more education choices for parents. Problems with online or in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic gave the legislation more urgency. Sponsors tailored the bill toward poorer families or those with special education needs.

Opponents of the program said it likely violates the state constitution, which prohibits spending public money on private or religious schools. They said $6,000 doesn’t cover the full tuition at some private schools and poor students can’t afford to make up the difference.

They also contend that a fairer solution would be to put more money into education, especially in poorer areas, instead of concentrating on a plan not popular with educators.

“We're making an argument that we’re doing things that really makes us feel good and we leave here thinking we made a difference, but we're putting a small bandage on a really bad, hemorrhaging problem," said Sen. Darrell Jackson, a Democrat from Hopkins.

A number of changes have been proposed to the bill over four days of debate, but most were rejected.

More conservative senators had their proposals rejected to either expand the program to more students or allow families with higher incomes to take the money if poorer families didn't fill all the slots.

Proposals to prevent private, religious schools that take the money from discriminating over sexual orientation or disabilities were also rejected.

If a student leaves a school district, the per pupil spending from the state for that student is no longer taken away. Private schools that take the money would have to give students the same standardized tests as public school students for accountability.

A similar bill is on the House floor. The House proposal would create a pilot program and uses money that isn’t already set aside for education. It has yet to be debated.

Lawmakers are also considering bills that would allow school choice both within school districts and across district lines under some circumstances. 

Honey Soppin' Festival Returns to Honea Path April 22-23

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The return of the Honea Path Honey Soppin' Festvial April 22-23 highlights the town's Spring update on progress in this Anderson Observer interview with Mayor Christopher Burton.

Anderson Cricket Club Expects Sport to Grow in the Area

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The Anderson Cricket Club kicked off it's inaugural event Saturday, with a good crowd and spirited atmosphere.

Members of the two-team club, the Spartans and the Kings currently make up the county's roster, expect up to five more teams to join in the near future. Many also expect Anderson to become a hub for cricket in the Upstate, thanks to a cricket pitch and field provided by Anderson County which members of the club said outshines anything else in the area.

Plans to expand and make the sport available to local children is also in the works.

Cricket is the world's second most popular sport, with roughly 60 million people in 106 players. 

Here's a recap of the day's events, plus interviews from a coaches, team captains and more, who told the Anderson Observer the best is yet to come for cricket in the county.

Pendleton Spring Jubilee Set for Saturday, Sunday

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The 45^th annual Pendleton Spring Jubilee is set for Saturday and Sunday on the historic Village Green, and vendors are returning in pre-pandemic numbers.  

The event will kick off Saturday with the traditional bagpipe processional at 10 a.m. and events will continue until 6 p.m. Sunday’s hours are noon-5 p.m. A live Facebook stream of the event will also be available for those unable to attend.

As the state’s longest-running juried arts and crafts festival, artists from several states are expected to participate this year with paintings, glasswork, pottery, jewelry, textiles and more.

Restaurants on the square and street vendors will offer a variety of food and drink.

Live music, is also scheduled both days. 

Admission is free and the public is invited. For more information call 864-646-3782 or visit the  Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee Facebook site.

Pelzer Growing but S.C. Act 388 Presents Challenges to Small Towns

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

New housing, better infrastructure and plans to work on recreation and roads are all part of the vision of Pelzer Mayor Will Ragland.

But Ragland hopes the South Carolin Legislature will reconsider the negative impact Act 388 is, and will continue to have, on small towns in the state.

S.C. Extends Temporary WIC Benefit Increase Through September

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Temporary benefits for participants in South Carolina's Women, Infants and Children program will be extended through September.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control said Friday WIC's temporary increase of cash value benefits for fruit and vegetable purchases will now end Sept. 30. The temporary increase has been in effect since Oct. 1, 2021 and was set to expire March 31. 

The increase will continue to be $24 per month for child participants; $43 for pregnant and postpartum participants and $47 for breastfeeding participants. Standard cash value benefits range from $9 to $11 per month. 

President Joe Biden signed the funding package earlier this month authorizing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to carry over the temporary increase. 

DHEC's director of the WIC program, Barry Kelly, said, "We will continue doing our part in making sure eligible residents have access to healthy food and nutrition resources for their families.” 

In South Carolina, over 600 businesses are authorized WIC retailers. 

The WIC program helps to keep women, infants and children up to age five fed with proper nutrition, support and referrals to health care services.

Absentee Voting for Belton Ward 2 Seat Begins May 17

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Absentee voting for the Town of Honea Path Special Election to choose a candidate to complete the unexpired term for Ward 2, begins May 17.

Absentee voting closes June 13. In-person voting is available at the Anderson County Elections and Voter Registration office. When voting absentee, voters must present a valid photo ID (South Carolina Driver’s license, a photo ID issued by the DMV, a photo voter registration card, or a U.S. Passport.)

There are 17 qualified reasons a voter can vote absentee: A Member of the Uniformed Services on Active Duty; A Merchant Marine; An Accompanying Spouse or Dependent; A U. S. Citizen Permanently Residing Outside the United States; A U. S. Citizen Temporarily Residing outside the United States; Disabled; Students, their spouses and dependents residing with them; For reasons of employment will not be able to vote on Election Day; Government employees, their spouses and dependents residing with them, who are out of their county of residence on Election Day; Persons on vacation; Persons who will be serving as jurors in a state or federal court on Election Day; Persons admitted to the hospital as emergency patients on day of election or at least four days prior to the election; Electors with a death or funeral in the family within 3 days before the election; Persons confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial; Persons attending sick or physically disabled persons; Certified poll watchers and poll managers, county registration board members and staff, and county election commission members and staff working on Election Day; Over 65 years of age (Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act.

For more information on absentee voting call 864-260-4035 or visit www.andersoncountysc.org/vote.

S.C. Chili Championship to Return to Downtown Belton for 2022

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Belton Mayor Eleanor Dorn says her city is ready for Spring, with the return of annual events, such as the May 14 Chili Cookoff, which brings in competition from more than a dozen states.

Dorn discusses events, economic development and more in this Spring update with the Anderson Observer.

Partisan Candidate Filing Deadline Wednesday

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

As the election season draws near, partisan candidate filing remains open through Wednesday at noon.  

Filing for County Auditor (unexpired term), probate judge, and all seven county council seats are included in this year's elections, with the primary set for June 14. Candidates may file at the County Board of Voter Registration & Elections, 301 North Main Street Anderson.  

The Statement of Intention of Candidacy & Party Pledge (SICPP) filing form is required and is available in the “Candidate Information” section of www.scvotes.gov and at the county election office. 

Filing fees are paid at the time of filing by candidates seeking the nomination of a party nominating by primary. This filing fee is prorated for the unexpired term and is: $1,761.81. Filing fee checks must be made payable to the appropriate state political party. 

Candidates are also required to file a Statement of Economic Interest and a Campaign Disclosure online with the State Ethics Commission at www.ethics.sc.gov. Failure to file these documents may result in a candidate fine but will not disqualify a candidate from an election. 

For any additional information contact the Anderson County Board of Voter Registration and Elections at 864-260-4035

Electrolux Donates Funds, Equipment to Meals on Wheels, Soup Kitchen

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Electrolux has donated a total of $45,000 to Anderson organizations who provide food for those in need in this community.

The company has given $35,000 to Meals on Wheels of Anderson, which has served Anderson for more tha 40 years, to purchase the fresh food it prepares for the almost 600 seniors it serves with hot meals each weekday. 

"We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the donation from Electrolux," said Meals on Wheels of Anderson Executive Director Laurie Ashley.  "With our mission to deliver hope for our senior and disabled neighbors in Anderson County through meal delivery and interaction that nourishes their physical and emotional needs, Meals on Wheels-Anderson relies on the community to support our efforts.  By receiving this generous donation that is in keeping with Electrolux’s mission of sustainability and fighting hunger, over 5,800 meals will be provided to seniors in need right here in Anderson County."

The Anderson Emergency Kitchen was also given $10,000 to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables for use in the weekday meals it provides at the facility along with the donation of a refridgerator for the charity.

According to the Consumer Price Index, food prices have increased 7.4 percent year over year and are expected to rise an additional two to three percent in 2022. Meals on Wheels received a $35,000 donation to purchase the fresh food it prepares for those in need.

“We are committed to being at the forefront of sustainability and to fighting hunger in our community alongside our strong community partners,” said Nolan Pike, head of Electrolux North America. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support our neighbors by providing access to food and fresh produce as food prices increase.” 

Anderson Farmer Spreads Word about Mental Health in Agriculture

ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — Tom Garrison’s family has been farming for four generations. He remembers following his father around their dairy in Anderson as a small child.

When he graduated from Clemson, his father was ready to retire. So Tom and his brother, Bart, leased the farm with its 300 dairy cows.

In 1990, Bart and one of the farm’s employees died in a silo accident.

“We got covered up with grain, and I was in there with them,” Tom said.

He was the only survivor.

Life wasn’t the same for Tom after the loss of his brother.

“There’s no one else closer to him than me, and for him to die in that silo right beside me. Can you imagine all the guilt I went through, and all the emotional part of it, and trying to run the business without him?”

Garrison sought counseling for “depression, all that goes with the grief and the mourning,” he said.

He made progress, started a new business and built a new life. Then came legal disputes over the farm and friction in his marriage.

Tom said he needed mental and emotional support.

That’s when Adam Kantrovich, a professor of Agribusiness at Clemson University, suggested he look into a program that helps farmers in South Carolina deal with mental and emotional health problems.

The program, called SC AgriWellness, provides free counseling for farmers and farm families.

PURSUING A SOLUTION TO A CHALLENGING PROBLEM IN S.C.

The idea for the program came from J.E.B Wilson, a fifth-generation farmer from Chester.

Wilson is a participant in the Liberty Fellowship, a state-based program that allows members to “pursue creative solutions to the State’s greatest challenges.”

Wilson’s project, as part of the fellowship, was creation of SC AgriWellness. He was recently awarded $20,000 through the McNulty Prize Catalyst Fund. Wilson was one of five recipients chosen from the United States, Nigeria and India.

That money will help fund the efforts of SC AgriWellness. The program also has received funding from the state, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

“South Carolina is such a growing state, but I think over half our counties have actually lost population, and a lot of these counties are rural counties,” Wilson said. “So you know, some of the outlets farmers used to have, maybe their church family or civic group, aren’t as strong as they used to be due to the population decline. So farmers are kind of increasingly isolated. I just saw this as an opportunity to help spotlight some of these issues.”

Wilson said he’s often heard of farmers committing suicide because they fear losing their farms. Data backs up Wilson’s concerns: A survey conducted by the American Farm Bureau in 2019 shows that 87% of farmers cited fear of losing their farm as a significant stressor, and 46% said it is difficult to access a therapist or counselor.

A TEAM EFFORT

Wilson joined with stakeholders to make SC AgriWellness a reality.

Kantrovich already had created a curriculum about farm stress when he was at Michigan State University. In 2015, the issue came to Kantrovich’s attention during a financial crash in the farm industry.

“We began to see a rash of suicides, suicide attempts and other issues that indicate significant stress levels,” he said.

When he moved to Clemson, Kantrovich continued to focus on mental health in the farming industry.

Kantrovich said he often hears from farmers who do not have health insurance and are hesitant to seek help. Access to treatment in rural areas also is a barrier. Programs like SC AgriWellness can break through those barriers.

Katronvich’s Farm Stress curriculum offers several resources and works to inform individuals about farm stress and the effects of stress on the brain and body.

Garrison has helped to spread the word about SC AgriWellness.

“I have friends throughout the state who have had tragedy, and bad luck if you want to call it that, or unfortunate things that have happened to them, and most pale in comparison to what I’ve been through,” Garrison said. “This program is for people like that.”

Garrison said he hopes others will take advantage of the program.

“Today, my mental state is good,” he says. “I try not to look back. I just want to look on, press on toward the goal line.”

HOW TO ACCESS COUNSELING SERVICES

SC AgriWellness operates through the South Carolina Farm Bureau. Farmers and their families can call a hotline, 1-800-968-8143, to set up counseling sessions or talk to a crisis counselor.

They can receive three free counseling sessions from First Sun EAP, a network of counselors that helps businesses and industries. According to First Sun’s website, the company is meant to “address the mental health crisis striking America and get solutions into the hands of those who need it most.”

Counseling is available in person, on the phone or via text.

The Cleo Bailey Experiment Breathing New Life into East Side

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Two years after the launch of The Cleo Bailey Experiment, which kicked off just as the pandemic hit, Zephaniah and Whitney Smith have seen more than a little progress at the facility.

The goal of purchasing an old school on Anderson's East Side and turn it into a vibrant community center, is a few steps closer to reality, with the community garden in place (and expanding), a commuity art project which inspires creativity in the neighborhood while engaging local artists.

The Cleo Bailey Experiment aims to breathe new life into the community as a hub or activity and services for neighbors, families and children.

Find out more about the art iniative here.

The couple who are fanning the flames of this vision talked about what has been accomplished and what's next in this interview with the Anderson Observer.