S.C. Teachers Tops in U.S. in Training to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina teachers are leading the nation to keep kids safe thanks to a public / private initiative to help prevent, recognize and react responsibly to signs of child sexual abuse.

By the end of this year, 20,000 S.C. teachers and school employees will complete child sexual abuse prevention training. That's more than 40-percent of the state's 54,000 school staff and sets a national record among U.S. school systems, according to Darkness to Light (D2L), a national non-profit that administers the training. By the end of 2010, state officials anticipate more than 38,000 (75-percent) school teachers and school employees will complete the training.

Funding for the training programs has been boosted through donations of $25,000 by Select Health of South Carolina and $15,000 by Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, two of the state's largest health insurance carriers.

The training was launched statewide in 2008 by the S.C. Department of Education in partnership with D2L. Dr. Jim Rex, S.C. Department of Education Superintendent, said several S.C. school districts have already trained 100-percent of their educators.

S.C. Gets "C" in Protecting Abused Children

WASHINGTON-- Most U.S. states do not adequately protect the rights of abused and neglected children, leaving our most vulnerable citizens exposed to the vagaries of the juvenile court system without adequate legal representation, according to a state-by-state study conducted by two national child advocacy organizations. South Carolina received a "C" grade.

The peer-reviewed study -- A Child's Right to Counsel: A National Report Card on Legal Representation for Abused and Neglected Children -- was released today on Capitol Hill by First Star and the Children's Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law (CAI). To view the full report, visit www.firststar.org, or www.caichildlaw.org.

The report graded each state and the District of Columbia based on how well they protect the legal rights of abused and neglected children in dependency court. Twenty-nine states earned C's or lower:

  --  Two states earned A+'s: Connecticut and Massachusetts
  --  9 states earned A's:  Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New
      Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Vermont, and West Virginia
  --  11 states earned B's: California, Kansas, New Jersey, North Carolina,
      Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and
      Wyoming
  --  14 states earned C's: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado,  Michigan,
      Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia,
      Washington DC, and Wisconsin
  --  8 states earned D's: Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri,
      New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Washington

  --  7 states earned F's: Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Maine,
      and North Dakota

In addition, the federal government recently announced a five-year, $5 million grant to research the benefits of providing counsel to children in these proceedings. Up to now, research has been scarce.

State grades were based on a rigorous examination of state law by leading national child welfare experts, who established guiding principles and developed a 100-point grading system. Criteria included: whether state law mandates that attorneys be appointed for children in dependency proceedings; whether these attorneys represent the children in a client-directed manner; whether this representation continues throughout the case, including appeal; whether states have specialized education or training of a child's counsel; whether the child is given the legal status of a party to the proceedings; and whether rules pertaining to confidentiality and immunity from liability apply to attorneys representing these children. Extra credit was given if states have mandatory caseload limits for children's counsel. Officials and/or advocates from each state participated in the process and provided valuable feedback.

AnMed Honored for Organ Donation Rates

Charleston -  AnMed Health Medical Center was one of 10 South Carolina hospitals received awards from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Sept. 30, 2009, for their success in increasing the number of organs available for transplantation. Our state’s 10 winners were among 428 of the nation’s hospitals that received the department’s Medal of Honor for Organ Donation during a ceremony at the 5^th Annual National Learning Congress held in Grapevine, Texas.

Hospital executives, along with their respective partners in all 58 federally designated organ procurement organizations (OPOs), were honored for achieving and sustaining national goals for donation, including a donation rate of 75 percent or more of eligible donors at their facilities. (Three out of every four medically eligible donors became donors.)

Honea Path Honors Leon Lollis

O’DELL TO PRESENT STAR REPRESENTING SERVICE IN MORE THAN 5 WW II BATTLES
 
ANDERSON COUNTY, SC – On Friday, October 16th , SC Senator William “Billy” O’Dell will join Anderson County elected officials and Honea Path Mayor Lollis Myers at the Honea Path Town Hall to honor Navy veteran Leon Lollis.  During the ceremony, which begins at 10 am, Senator O’Dell will present Lollis with a replacement star to be pinned on his WW II Victory Medal, representing his service in more than five WW II battles.
 
“Leon Lollis is an American hero and I am very pleased to recognize his dedication and service to the United States and her citizens,” said SC Senator Billy O’Dell. “It is truly an honor for me to take part in replacing his final missing medal – a star representing his service in more than five battles during WW II.”
 
Lollis lost his military medals and personnel records in a house fire more than 25 years ago. His niece, Jean Moore Phillips, assisted him with online research and contacting the Veteran Affairs Office to recover his records and obtain replacement medals. To date, Lollis has received all but one of his earned medals, including a WW II Victory Medal, a Philippines Liberation Medal and an Iwo Jima Operations Star on an Asiatic Pacific Area Service Ribbon. The star, which will be presented by O’Dell on Friday, is the final remaining medal owed to Lollis for his military service.

Update on Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 8:44PM by Editor

$40,000 Reward Still Offered in Unsolved Murder

This week marks the four-year anniversary of the murder of James Guy “Pete” Wells.  On October 13, 2005 Pete Wells was killed in an apparent robbery attempt as he returned to his vehicle after purchasing food at Bamboo Garden Restaurant, located next to Quality Foods on Hwy. 28 By-Pass in Anderson, SC.  To this date this case remains unsolved.
 
There is still a $40,000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction(s) of the person(s) responsible for Mr. Wells’ death.  The reward is made possible by Crime Stoppers, along with several private donors.  Mr. Wells' family recently contacted Fairway Outdoor Advertising, who graciously offered to put up a billboard with the reward information.  The billboard features a photograph of Mr. Wells, along with the reward information and photographs of a hat and necklace/charm that are thought to have been left behind by the perpetrator(s).  The billboard is located on Hwy. 28 By-Pass at Flowe Rd.
 
Anyone with any information relating to this investigation is asked to call the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office – 864-332-5453, or Crime Stoppers - 864-231-STOP (7867).

Gang Task Force Meeting Oct. 15

ANDERSON –Anderson County Gang Task Force is sponsoring a Community-Wide Meeting on Thursday night, October 15th, at the Anderson County Museum beginning at 6 PM. Guest speakers will include Mr. William Stansberry (Youth Crime Watch of America) and Mr. Mike Gregory (Sheriff’s Office).

Mr. William Stansberry is a Master Trainer with Youth Crime Watch of America and Advisor for Youth Crime Watch of Chillicothe, Chillicothe Metroplitan Housing Authority in Chillicothe, Ohio. Youth Crime Watch of America is a nationally recognized best practice program operating in hundreds of schools and community organizations throughout the United States.

The Anderson County Gang Task Force was organized by Anderson County Council member Gracie S. Floyd to combat gang activity in the Anderson area. The Task Force was patterned after national models to focus on gang prevention, intervention and suppression. In order to address the issues from the broadest perspective, the Task Force sought representation from local law enforcement, the solicitor’s office, local governments, school districts, the department of juvenile justice and the housing authority.

“Anderson County is not immune to gang activity,” said County Council woman Floyd, leader of Anderson’s Gang Task Force. “Our Task Force was organized to develop strategies to more accurately monitor gang activity, understand the attraction of gangs, discourage participation, provide positive alternatives to gang participation and reduce the impact of gang activity in our community. We have made strides toward our goal, but there is still much left to do. We encourage the community to come out and learn how they can be part of the solution to making Anderson County a safer place for our youth.”  

After a late-night shootout near Applebee’s Bar and Grill on Clemson Boulevard in 2005, Floyd went to work rejuvenating the Gang Task Force that she had formed a few years earlier. Since that time the Task Force has met regularly, making strides toward their goals. Additionally, Floyd has worked to support and collaborate with the Fusion Warehouse because she believes it can give young people a positive alternative to becoming involved in a gang.

Andersonians Tackle 1,400-Mile Bike Ride for Cancer

The Palmetto Peloton Project’s Challenge to Conquer Cancer (P3C3) is a 1,400 mile cross country relay cycling event from Greenville, SC to Austin, TX. The ride will benefit the Greenville Hospital System’s Cancer Services, Oncology Rehab Program at AnMed Health through the Cancer Association of Anderson and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Last year's event raised $15,000 for the Cancer Association of Anderson.

Anderson riders include Dr. Chasse Bailey-Dorton and Milton Bowen.

This is the event’s second year and will begin October 18 in Greenville with hopes of reaching Austin by October 22 or 23.   Twenty six cyclists and fourteen support personnel, divided into five teams, will ride relay style from Greenville to Austin.  Each team will ride a six-hour shift every 24 hours. The route from Greenville heads west through the mountains of GA, NC and TN then picks up the Natchez Trace Trail just south of Nashville.  They will follow it all the way to Natchez, MS then head west to Austin.

Once in Austin, the entire team will participate in the weekend long event, LiveStrong Challenge.  The LiveStrong Challenge includes a 5K run/walk Saturday and a bike ride on Sunday with Lance Armstrong.

As part of the P3C3 event, a Warrior Program will recognize individuals currently battling cancer, those who are in remission or affected by cancer.  The warriors will be joining the relay teams in Austin to participate in the LiveStrong Challenge.  The Warrior Program serves to bring awareness to cancer and the organization’s mission, while also providing some sort of normalcy to the lives of those with cancer, surviving caner or affected by cancer.  The relay teams leave Greenville even more dedicated and focused on making a difference after having one of the team members was diagnosed with cancer just weeks before the event and losing two of the P3C3 warriors to cancer just this week.  To remember and honor the fallen warriors, a bike will accompany each team as they make their way to Austin. 

One of the bikes belonged to Scott Shuey, an enthusiastic cyclist, who had planned to ride in the Challenge. Mr. Shuey died of lymphoma on Oct. 5.

While the Challenge to Conquer Cancer is in its second year, the Palmetto Peloton Project formed in 2005 with its inaugural event, the Greenville Peloton Project. Since the organization’s inception, over $500,000 has been presented to beneficiaries.  In addition to the Challenge to Conquer Cancer, P3’s efforts include the annual Stars and Stripes Challenge cycling event held in conjunction with the US Pro Cycling Championships held in Greenville, SC.

The Palmetto Peloton Project launched a website/blog to track and follow the progress of the team’s ride and fundraising efforts. Visit http://www.ridetoaustin.com/ for more information.

There will be a send off celebration for the P3C3 group on Sunday October 18 at 1:30PM from the Cancer Center on Greenville Hospital System’s main campus.  The teams will leave promptly at 3:00PM. 

South Fant, West Market Receive Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Grant

Students at South Fant and West Market Early Childhood and Education Centers will be encouraged to boost their consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables thanks to a federal grant making healthier eating easier during the upcoming school year.

The schools are among 51 schools statewide taking part in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. They will be sharing a $1,172,650 grant from the USDA in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Education and South Carolina Department of Agriculture. South Fant and West Market will receive a total of $18,400 for the 2009-10 school year.

The funds will go to purchase and serve a wide variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables, providing fruit baskets inside classrooms, kiosks in hallways and other innovative approaches to give youngsters a chance to grab a healthy snack throughout the school day. The aim is to create a healthier school environment.

Schools also will make nutrition education a priority, emphasizing the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables in a healthy diet. The program engages all of the students’ senses – sound, sight, touch, smell and, most important, taste.

“There are actually two goals here,” said State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex.  “First, we want kids to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Second – and perhaps even more important in the long run – we want to give them a head start on developing healthier eating habits that can last their whole lives.”
The grant was written by West Market Teacher Hedrick Lewis. The SDE’s Office of School Food Services and Nutrition is partnering with the state Department of Agriculture to work with local farmers to purchase home-grown fruits and produce for the program.  

Carolina Christian Writers to Gather in Anderson

Fourteen prize-winning authors, editors and agents will converge on Anderson, South Carolina, for the  Carolina Christian Writers' Workshop October 23-24, 2009. The registration fee for the two-day event is $95 which includes a Saturday sack lunch for registrants. Students, pastors and spouses can attend for $30.Walk ins will be accepted as long as space is available. The event, beginning Friday night at six o'clock through Saturday at four-thirty, will be held at North Anderson Baptist Church, 2308 N. Main Street, Anderson, S.C. 29621. Any one interested is welcome to attend.

The following is a list of speakers and classes:
 
Candy Arrington – prolific author and on staff of The Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service:  Non-fiction Markets Worth Pursuing;  Tackling Tough Topics; Query Letter Boot Camp
Linda Canup – Asst. Editor, In Touch Magazine: From Good to Great-Practical Tips
            To Improve Your Writing; Marks of a Professional Writer;
            Writing the Christian Article
Captain Randy Creamer- Special Operations, Anderson County Sheriff's Office:
            Profile of a Law Officer; How to Put Firearms in Your Book Without Shooting
   Yourself in the Foot; How to be a Cop and a Christian
Rosey Dow – Winner of the coveted Christy award; CEO of Experts in Focus
                      1. How to Create an Online Platform
                      2. Social Networking to Boost Book Sales
                      3. The Online Article--A Whole New Breed
Lynette Eason –  Steeple Hill and Revel Christian Romantic Suspense novelist
                         1) Writing Suspense, 2) Using Excel to Plot Novels,
                         3) Selling a Series
Dr. Edna Ellison – author of 12 books, humorist, international speaker
             Non-fiction books, Writing Basics, Writing a Bible Study Series
Linda Gilden – author of Love Notes series, Dir. Of CLASS Christian Writers’  Conf.:   
  Speaking with CLASS;  A Non-Fiction Overview;  The Writers'  Glossary
Dr. Bonnie Harvey – author of 22 books, book consultant and literary agent
            Writing for Children, Writing Poetry, Creative Non-Fiction
Larry Leech – Journalist, Ghostwriter. Has more than 2300 articles published:
             Interviewing; Ghostwriting; Time Management                                             
Yvonne Lehman -  Author of 48 Christian novels: Writing Christian Novels, Novellas;
    The Spiritual Element;  Raising the Stakes
Dr. Robert Lesslie - author of bestseller Angels in the ER:
               From Idea to Bookshelf,  One Writer's Journey
Lynda Moldrem – author, speaker and Vice-President of Upstate SC ACW
            Overview of Different Kinds of Publishing (print-on-demand, subsidy, royalty)
             One class,  repeated, Saturday only.
Les Stobbe - Literary Agent: Earning the Right to be Published,
                    Enlisting Your Reader for Life Change
Ann Tatlock –  Novelist and former Asst. Editor, Decision
            Writing for a Post-Modern World - Part 1 and 2; 
            Writing Articles and  Devotions
             Senses and Setting in Fiction  

Mayor's Disability Fair Friday

The Anderson Mayor's Committee on Disability is hosting the Disability Fair, "Access Anderson" on Friday, October 16th at the Anderson County Farmer's Market from 9 am-3pm.  I have attached some fliers and a vendor agreement form.  We still have space for additional vendors and would love to have you join us.  If you cannot make this event, please send us information about your organization and programs. We are happy to display them and handout materials to participants.  We must receive all vendor agreements by October 4th.  Also, please spread the word to your clients and members.  Last year we had over 300 participants and hope this year will be even better.

Here a a few of the organizations that have confirmed:
Anderson Mayor's Committee on Disability
Anderson OneStop Workforce Center
Bryant Pharmacy & Supply
Disability Action Center
Easter Seals of SC
Family Connections of SC
Free Spirit & Mobility Home Medical
Kool Smiles
Morningside Assisted Living
SC Commission for the Blind
SC Physically Handicapped Society, Anderson Chapter 5996
Social Security Administration
Special O;lympics of SC-Area 14

Verbally confirmed but agreement not received:
AnMed Health Lifeline
AnMed Homecare
SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department
Senior Solutions
Walton Options & HUBSCRUB
Computer Engraving
Walgreen Distribution Center HR

Providing Literature:
SC Assistive Technology Program
Anderson Services Association

This event is free to all vendors and participants.  We will have live entertainment, concessions and other events.  Door prizes and table give-aways are encouraged.  We will have information not only for people with disabilities but also service providers and employers.  Again please join us and spread the word.  Thank you.

Please contact the Anderson Mayor's Committee on Disability, Chair at (864) 221-4011 if you have any other questions.

Supporting AIM Easy this Weekend

Friday & Saturday, Oct. 9th & 10th at Toadily Fun.  $5 per child entry fee (no charge for parents) from 5p – 9pm.  Carnival to benefit AIM!  Jumping on inflatables included.  Additional attractions available for tickets (25 cents each).  Visit their website for more information: www.toadilyfun.com

Saturday, October 10th at St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church – 1821 White Street, Anderson.  BBQ dinner plates - $10.  Please purchase tickets at AIM or call the church prior to give them a count (226-8621).  BBQ donated by The Pompous Pig.

AUCTION THIS WEEKEND with percentage of the proceeds benefitting AIM!  Beginning at 12 noon on Saturday, October 10th.  Storage Multi-Unit Auction Under One Roof Sat. 10/10 12 pm Hundreds of items have accumulated over several months & have been moved to our facility. Portion of net proceeds to be donated to Anderson Interfaith Ministries.  View listing & terms at auctionzip.com ID #5504 Bob Stutler's Auction SCAL #3553  235 Polaris St.  Anderson, 933-2965

WYFF: Vandals Damage Corn Maze

Click here for WYFF Story and Video at their site.

The Denver Downs corn maze and farm activities, site here, have become a major fall tradition in Anderson and a means of helping keep the generations-old Garrison family farm running. Show your support by making an extra effort by taking your family and friends to visit the farm this year.

Also, do your part to help find those responsible for the vandalism.

CrimeStoppers (864-231-STOP) is offering a reward for information on these criminals.

Arrest Made in Anderson Shooting

ANDERSON (Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 10:55 AM) – Sheriff’s investigators have arrested Brandon Corey Williams, 24, of Anderson for shooting and wounding a man yesterday afternoon. Edgar L. Harkness, Jr., 21, of 221 Stringer Road, Anderson, was sitting in his vehicle around 3:30 pm at 414 Lance Road when he was shot twice in the leg and thigh.  He was transported to AnMed Health for treatment.  The injuries were non-life threatening.
 
Investigators identified Williams as the suspect and obtained arrest warrants charging him with Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime early this morning.  Williams turned himself in to investigators and is currently being held at the Anderson County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing. The reason for the shooting is unknown at this time.  No other arrests are expected.