May 13 Podcast: Sheriff Skipper Interview, Mr. Downtown Carey Jones and Sharon Nicometo

Golden Harvest Food Event Monday in Abbeville

Golden Harvest Food Bank is hosting a Supplemental Food Distribution event at Mulberry AME Church Monday from 10 a.m.-noon to Abbeville County residents. Families in need of food should bring boxes or bags to carry their food, and will be asked to provide photo ID and proof of Abbeville County residence. Food will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis and there is a limit of one food distribution per family. 

Golden Harvest Food Bank employees and volunteers will help distribute food to those in need. One in six people in Abbeville struggle with getting enough food to feed their families, especially in the summer months when utility costs are on the rise. This supplemental food distribution will give families a helping hand as the summer is getting started. 

This is a distribution of USDA TEFAP Commodities, and therefore Golden Harvest Food Bank will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. For the full non-discrimination statement, please visit https://goldenharvest.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/USDA-Nondiscrimination-Statement-20151.pdf

Study: Car Side Windows Don't Shield Sun's UV-A Rays

The front windshield of your car probably shields you from the sun's UV-A rays as you drive, but the same may not be true for side windows, a new study finds.

Experts have long known that prolonged exposure to ultraviolet A (UV-A) rays can raise the odds for skin cancer and cataracts.

And with the long hours many Americans drive each day, one researcher in California wondered how much sun protection today's cars might offer.

To find out, Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, of the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute in Beverly Hills, analyzed the ultraviolet protection provided by the glass in 29 cars from 15 different automobile manufacturers.

Boxer Wachler measured levels of ambient UV-A radiation behind the front windshield and behind the driver's side window of the cars, which were produced between 1990 and 2014.

While windshield windows tended to offer good protection against UV-A, protection was lower and inconsistent for the side windows of cars, the study findings showed.

The study found front windshields blocked an average of 96 percent of UV-A rays, compared to 71 percent for side windows.

Overall, only 14 percent of the cars offered a high level of side-window UV-A protection, the research revealed.

Full Story Here

Sen. Larry Martin Says S.C. Can Get Tough on Guns

An Upstate senator is working to bring tougher gun laws and planning a hearing this summer to find out why background check loopholes exist.

State Senator Larry Martin said South Carolina is capable of creating new legislation without laws out of Washington.

This comes as about 100 people rallied for tougher gun control Thursday in Columbia. This was the view as they joined together demanding those tougher laws.  It was hosted by a group called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense.

Nearly a year ago 9 people were killed in a deadly gun rampage at a Charleston church.

A gun shop sold the suspected church shooter, Dylann Roof, the gun after his background check expired.  Meaning, gun shops can sells guns - if the background check takes longer than three days.

The trouble is, Roof had a felony charge on his record that would have kept him from legally getting a gun - if there had not been a hold up with processing his background check.

Mike Jones runs The Gun Shop and Indoor Range in Simpsonville.  He’s seen directly how the holdup effects potential gun buyers.

"If you have a delay you can, after 3 days you can go ahead and sell the firearm, which we've actually chosen not to do that. Because we've found out its sort of a loophole, if you've had a conviction and it was never recorded, you may get delayed because there's an arrest, but no conviction which means if you had an arrest but no conviction, you may not be able to buy,"  he said.

The FBI admits an error and that the gun should never have been sold.  Jones agrees - but doesn’t want more state or federal laws.

He wants current laws enforced.  Those at the rally want both.  When speaking to the media, one member said, "There are so many illegal guns on the street, and so many people that are buying guns because of the loopholes that are not closed.  When is it going to be enough?"

Jones says the ATF and all law enforcement need better communication between all agencies. 

"There's not enough enforcement if you illegally use a firearm and like say I'll give you an example - if someone comes in and they get a deny to buy a firearm, which means they are not supposed to have a firearm - seldom is it ever followed up on by anybody," he said.

He said that would help to close the gap that puts guns in the wrong hands.

Martin said, "I think South Carolina should set its own policy.  We don't need any direction by the federal government to make any sensible policies."

High School Tournament at Green Pond This Weekend

Green Pond Landing & Event Center set to host the 2016 Palmetto Boat Center (PBC) High School Tournament Trail Classic on Friday and Saturday. Skeeter Boats is providing "Skeeter Beans" at weigh-ins for the participants and spectators.  Weigh-ins are at 3 o’clock both days at Green Pond Landing on Lake Hartwell.

This two-day tournament is the First Annual PBC High School Tournament Trail Classic, and is an invitational tournament. Sixty-seven teams representing 23 high school bass clubs will participate in the classic. Each school's club has to participate in at least four of the six tour events to be eligible and send their top three teams to the tournament.

"We are so excited to see how the high school trail has grown this year. There are a lot of great kids fishing, supported by many great volunteers," said Marty Walker, Palmetto Boat Center.. "These young people are the future of our sport, and from what I see, the outlook for a lot of championships to be coming home to the Upstate is strong,"

These teams will compete for two days on Lake Hartwell, competing for money for their clubs and gift cards from our sponsors, BI-LO and Academy Sports.

Additionally, the winner of the tournament will be earn an entry into the Palmetto Boat Center Tournament Trail Classic in November to compete with the best Upstate adult fisherman for a top prize of $5,000.

For more information, visit PBC’s website:http://www.palmettoboatcenter.com/read-more-about--2015-16-HIGH-SCHOOL-TRAIL or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pbchstt/.

Voter Registration Deadline for Primary Tomorrow

If you want to vote in the June 14 South Carolina Primary elections, the deadline for registration is tomorrow.

S.C. residents have until tomorrow to register to vote if they wish to participate in the elections.

Anyone who is registering for the first time or needs to update their registration details must do so at their county registration office by close of business Wednesday, by mailing a registration form with a Wednesday postmark or by completing the online form by midnight. Otherwise, those voters won’t have the option of voting in the crowded GOP race.

Visit the Anderson County Voter Registration department here.

AU to Graduate 450 Saturday

Anderson University will confer a record 450 degrees on the Alumni Lawn at the front of campus Saturday at 10 a.m.

The commencement address will be delivered by Walt Brashier of Greenville. Brashier is one of the state’s largest real estate developers, a noted evangelist and major philanthropist, especially to institutions of higher learning.

Aside from being the largest graduating class in the 104-year-history of AU, the ceremony will also mark a few firsts for the university. The first graduates of the traditional BSN program (nursing) will receive their degrees. The 35 nurses entered AU as freshmen 4 years ago. The first nursing graduates from the accelerated BSN program graduate 2 years ago.

The first graduate of the Johnny Mann Center for Commercial Music will also receive a degree on Saturday. The new program at AU was named for legendary composer/arranger Johnny Mann, who retired to Anderson and upon his passing last year left a huge legacy in The South Carolina School of the Arts.

Of the 450 graduates, 85 are receiving graduate degrees.

The commencement address will be delivered by Walt Brashier of Greenville. Brashier is one of the state’s largest real estate developers, a noted evangelist and major philanthropist, especially to institutions of higher learning.

To attend the ceremony, visit www.andersonuniversity.edu/colleges-schools/commencement for the latest information on parking, weather, and the ceremony itself. The event will also be live streamed. 

Cancer Association to Honor Founding Doctors

The physicians who pioneered the oncology program at AnMed Health and were integral to the founding and success of the Cancer Association of Anderson will be honored as Heroes of Hope and Remembrance at a semi-formal dinner on June 21.

Doctors Rajeev and Ravinder Malik, who came to Anderson in 1982, have cared for thousands of cancer patients during their careers. Ravinder Malik retired from her radiation oncology practice in 2012. Her husband Rajeev retired from his oncology and hematology practice in 2015. “We can’t imagine two more deserving people for our inaugural Heroes of Hope and Remembrance honor,” said Angela Stringer, executive director of the Cancer Association. “Not only have they saved many lives, they have been ardent supporters of our organization from day one.” 

Ravinder Malik was a founding board member of CAA and recently rejoined the governing board. Rajeev Malik has provided office space for the organization for 13 years in a charming old house he owns at 215 E. Calhoun Street.

The Heroes of Hope and Remembrance Dinner will be held at the Civic Center of Anderson. A reception will start the evening at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner catered by Friends from the Farm, remarks and the presentation of the award. Tickets are $75 apiece or $600 for a table for eight, and sponsorships are available. 

For information, contact Angela Stringer or Carrie Binnicker at 864-222-3500.

Sanders Wins West Va., Trump Rolls On

A defiant Bernie Sanders refused to go gently into the night on Tuesday with another last-minute primary win over Hillary Clinton that comes despite her commanding lead in the national race for delegates.

In a fundraising email sent out soon after polls closed, the leftwing senator hailed his victory in West Virginia and said: “Every vote we earn and every delegate we secure sends an unmistakable message about the values we share, the country’s support for the ideas of our campaign, and a rejection of Donald Trump and his values.”

He added: “There is nothing I would like more than to take on and defeat Donald Trump, someone who must never become president of this country. But I believe that it is not enough to just reject Trump – this is an opportunity to define a progressive vision for America. 

Presumptive Republican nominee also takes Nebraska primary as Sanders’ victory in the Mountain State brings him only a few delegates closer to Hillary Clinton 

  

“Voters agree: just today, three new polls showed that we are the best campaign to defeat Trump.”

In the Republican race, Trump beat former rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich in Nebraska and West Virginia. The two remained on the ballot despite having dropped out of the race last week. 

With 96.8% of the vote reporting, Sanders had 51.4% of the vote and Clinton had 36%. The remaining votes were spread between four other candidates, with lawyer Paul Farrell at 7%.

But with West Virginia’s 29 delegates awarded on a proportionate basis, the small net gain for Sanders is unlikely to make much of a dent in the lead of 290 pledged delegates that the former secretary of state had going into the contest. She is much further ahead when superdelegates – party elites not bound by primary results – are factored into the equation.

Sheriff's Office Receives Award, Continuing Accreditation

Anderson Coiunty Sheriff John Skipper said t the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office has completed all requirements set forth by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and has earned continued national accreditation.  

CALEA standards promote excellence and the accreditation process insures that an agency’s actions are in keeping with the agency’s defined policies. 

In November 2015, the Sheriff’s Office participated in a specialized review known as the Gold Standard Assessment.  This voluntary analysis focused on the agency’s overall processes and tangible outcomes. 

As a result of the extensive assessment, CALEA Program Manager John Gregory will present the agency award at a special press conference to be held today at 1 p.m. in the second floor conference room of the Sheriff’s Office, located at 305 Camson Road, Anderson. 

This award recognizes the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office as one of the nation’s top law enforcement agencies demonstrating a commitment to professional excellence. 

PAWS $10 Adoption Special Wednesday-Saturday

P.A.W.S. is offering $10 adoption specials Wednesday-Saturday. All adult (one year and older) dogs and cats will be available to adopt for $10.  The price includes: spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, and micro chipping of your new pet.  Some of the available animals may be viewed at - www.petango.com/andersoncountypaws.  (Restrictions may apply. Special pricing not available for canines and felines less than one year of age.)

Anderson County P.A.W.S, along with all other County offices, will be closed today in observance of Confederate Memorial Day.

President Seeks to Simplify Medical Billing

Part of the problem with the cost of healthcare is understanding who is being paid and for what, with the Obama administration now looking for ways to standardize medical bills to make them easier to understand.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today launched a contest for companies in the medical industry to design a bill that can eventually be used across healthcare making it easier for patients to understand.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell announced the contest at Health Datapalooza in Washington, D.C., with several companies having volunteered to test the new bill model toward the end the year.

"This challenge is part of HHS' larger effort to put patients at the center of their own health care," Burwell said in a press release. "With today's announcement, we are creating progress toward a medical bill that people can actually understand and a billing process that makes sense -- progress that includes creating a forum that brings everyone to the table: patients, doctors, hospitals, insurance companies and innovators."

Submission requirements for the contest, called "A Bill You Can Understand," include a wealth of research on medical bills, the information they should convey, what consumers currently get out of their bills and what they want their bills to convey.

HHS set out core criteria for contest entries which include requirements for how data is presented, translated and explained. Each entry is required to address concerns already raised about the billing process and how all information included with a bill is useful to consumers.

The agency makes it a point to push "human-centered" design concepts to make bills more naturally flow with the way people process information, all of which is based on how people read, what they expect to read and how they understand information as they read it.

Entries are expected to include a written description and video about the bill proposal, how it fits design requirements and how it will help patients better understand healthcare billing.

Contest entries are due August 10, with the winners announced at the Health 2.0 conference in September.

City May Fine Those Who Don't Manage Trash Cans

Trash cans... they are not pretty but they're a necessity. Residents in the City of Anderson said some people never put their cans away after trash pick up. Those people may soon face a fine.

"You've got some trash cans that stay out all week... You know, and I call it just lazy," said Jerry Norris. Norris is an Anderson resident, and takes great pride in his home, and has two city trash cans.

But on Monday on Norris' street alone, there were three trash cans left outside and he says trash pick up was on Friday. That is why city officials want to do something about it.

"Residents are complaining about it impeding traffic down the sidewalks and you know it just makes our neighborhood real bad," said Tony Stewart and Anderson City council member. 
 
For the past 90 days, city officials said at their Monday meeting,  they took a survey and found that 17 percent of their 99 hundred cans were left out for 48 hours after trash pick up.  So now their considering fining residents.
 
"If you repeatedly, first, second and third time you do not pull your cart back onto your property then there's an enforcement process," said a member of council.

Residents would receive a warning the first time they are cited. The second citation would be for 10 dollars, and the third fine would be for 25 dollars. If you are cited after three times, the fine could reach 500 dollars and 30 days in jail.

The city is considering adding the fines to water bills and one council member Stewart who has many elderly residents in his district doesn't agree. 

"$10 a week possibly for a fine is a lot and that's some decisions I don't think residents should have to make...whether they get their water cut off because their trash didn't get taken out to the curb at a proper time or not," said Stewart. 

The next reading of the proposal will be held on the fourth Monday of the month at City Hall in Anderson.