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Monday
Oct272014

Lt. Gov. Debate Tonight on ETV

The candidates to be the last elected lieutenant governor in South Carolina are meeting in a debate.

Republican Henry McMaster and Democrat Bakari Sellers will discuss the issues at 7 p.m. Monday in a South Carolina ETV debate aired statewide.

McMaster is a political veteran, having served as attorney general and run for governor and U.S. Senate in a long career,

Sellers is more of a political newcomer. He is giving up the House seat he first won in 2006 to run for lieutenant governor.

The lieutenant governor has three jobs in South Carolina. He is constitutionally mandated to preside over the state Senate and to take over for the governor if needed. Lawmakers also have put the state's Office on Aging under his supervision.

Sunday
Oct262014

Council Candidates Crowder, Sprague to Debate on WRIX Wendesday

The two candidates seeking the Anderson County District One Council Seat will appear on WRIX-FM 103.1's "The Morning Show with Greg and Aly" Wednesday at 7 a.m.

Republican Incubent Frances Crowder will face Democratic Challenger Stuart Sprague in the election Nov. 4.

Each candidate will be asked four questions about their ideas on the needs and concerns of Anderson County, and at the end be allowed closing remarks. 

The debate will be moderated by Greg Wilson, editor/publisher of the Anderson Observer and co-host of The Morning Show and Aly Haley, co-host of the the Morning Show.

Calls to the candidates will not be permitted under this format.

Sunday
Oct262014

Superintendent to Discuss Sales Tax Hike on WRIX Monday

Anderson County School District Five Superintendent Tom Wilson will discuss the proposed one-cent sales tax referendum to fund school projects, which will be on the November ballot Monday at 7 a.m. on WRIX-FM 103.1's "The Morning Show with Greg and Aly."

The money would be used to repair schools and for the construction of a new techinical education center to be built in Anderson and shared by county school districs 3, 4 and 5. Wilson has said pubicly the one-cent tax would not apply to groceries or prescription medications.

The following is the exact wording of the referendums as they appears on the ballot:

Must a special one percent sales and use tax be imposed in Anderson County for not more than fifteen (15) calendar years with  the revenue of the tax used to provide property tax relief, and to pay, directly or indirectly, the cost of education capital  improvement projects in Anderson County, as follows: (1) At least twenty percent (20%) of the proceeds of such tax must be used to reduce property taxes by offsetting the existing debt service millage levy on general obligation bonds of any school  district in Anderson County; (2) Installation, maintenance and improvement of security and public safety measures in each  school district in Anderson County; (3) Acquisition or updating of technology hardware, software and necessary  infrastructure in each school district in Anderson County; (4) Constructing, improving and equipping a facility for career and  technical education to serve Anderson County School District Nos. 3, 4 and 5, but solely from proceeds of such tax allocated to  those school districts; and (5) Repairing or replacing roofs and HVAC systems for any school buildings in each school district in Anderson County; (6) Constructing, improving, renovating and equipping any instructional, fine arts or athletic spaces or  facilities in each school district in Anderson County; (7) Acquiring land whereon to construct school facilities in each school  district in Anderson County; and (8) Acquiring student transportation vehicles in each school district in Anderson County? All revenue received by the school districts from the sales and use tax will be used to reduce property taxes needed to pay debt  service on school district bonds or to directly pay costs of education capital improvements projects identified herein.

In favor of the question /yes

Opposed to the question/no

Only in the event that “Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax Act Referendum” above is approved, shall the Board  of Trustees of School District No. 5 of Anderson County, South Carolina (the “School District”), be authorized to issue and sell, either as a single issue or as several separate issues, general obligation bonds of the School District in the aggregate principal amount of not exceeding $60,000,000, the proceeds of which shall be applied to defray the costs (including architectural, engineering, legal and related fees) of the following: 1. Installation, maintenance and improvement of security and public safety measures; 2. Acquisition or updating of technology hardware, software and necessary infrastructure; 3. Constructing, improving and equipping a facility for career and technical education to serve Anderson County School District Nos. 3, 4 and 5; 4. Repairing or replacing roofs and HVAC systems for any school building; 5. Constructing, improving, renovating and equipping any instructional, fine arts or athletic spaces or facilities; 6. Acquiring land whereon to construct school facilities; and 7. Acquiring student transportation vehicles?

In favor of the question / yes
Opposed to the question / no

 

Sunday
Oct262014

Whitehouse Warns, N.Y., N.J. over Ebola Quarantine Laws

White House officials warned the governors of New York and New Jersey of the “unintended consequences” of quarantining all medical workers returning from west Africa, as a political crisis deepened on Sunday over how to counter public fears about the spread of Ebola in the US.

Amid a barrage of criticism from aid organisations, medical experts and the mayor of New York, the governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, and his New York counterpart, Andrew Cuomo, staunchly defended their plans, which provide for the mandatory 21-day quarantine of anyone returning from west Africa after direct contact with people suffering from Ebola.

Kaci Hickox, a nurse who was detained in New Jersey despite testing negative for Ebola, described her treatment as “inhumane” and said she had been made to feel like a criminal.

The White House made it clear that it objected to the hurried introduction of “policies not grounded in science”.

The tougher rules were introduced hurriedly on Friday by Christie and Cuomo after it emerged that a New York doctor, Craig Spencer, had moved widely around the city in the days before he tested positive for Ebola.

Spencer, who worked for Doctors Without Borders in Guinea, is now in isolation at Bellevue Hospital. Hickox was stopped at Newark airport in New Jersey just as the new rules were announced.

On Sunday evening Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York City, hit out strongly against her treatment. “The problem is this hero, having come back from the front, having done the right thing, was treated with disrespect, was treated with a sense that she had done something wrong when she hadn’t,” he said.

Full Story Here

Sunday
Oct262014

Jeb Bush Likely to Seek GOP Nomination, Son Says

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is "moving forward" on a potential 2016 White House run and it appears more likely he will enter the Republican field, according to his son, who's running for office in Texas.

George P. Bush told ABC's "This Week" that his father is "still assessing" a presidential bid, but suggested it was more likely that he would seek the White House this time. The ex-governor declined to run for president in 2012 despite encouragement from Republicans.

"I think it's more than likely that he's giving this a serious thought and moving -- and moving forward," said the younger Bush, who is running for Texas land commissioner.

Asked if that meant it was "more than likely that he'll run," George P. Bush responded: "That he'll run. If you had asked me a few years back ... I would have said it was less likely."

Jeb Bush, the brother of former President George W. Bush and the son of former President George H.W. Bush, would stand out in what could be a crowded Republican field in 2016.

Sunday
Oct262014

Tuesday's 2014 Red Ribbon Walk to Honor Fallen Heroes

The 2014 Red Ribbon Walk in the Park will be held on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Chris Taylor Park at the Civic Center of Anderson. The public is asked to join local law enforcement, fire departments and EMS personnel as they honor the memory of our fallen heroes and walk for a drug free community. The event will include guest speakers, a memorial sihouette presentation, a 21-gun salure by the Anderson County Sheriff's Department, a memory roll call and a walk around the grounds.

For more information, contact Anita Allison Donley, Community Projects Coordinator at (864) 844-5005 or by email at adonley@andersoncountysc.org

Sunday
Oct262014

Halloween Run Event at Civic Center to Support Habitat

The second annual Irun4Habitat will be held on Halloween night from 5-9 p.m. at the Anderson County Civic Center. The even consist of a 5K Glow Run as well as a trunk or treat event for kids, offering a safer alternative to traditional trick or treating.  

The costs to participate in the run vary:  $35 for the 5K, $20 for the 1 mile, and a FREE fun run for kids.  Pre-registration is recommended by October 30 to receive the discounted 5K price; use the code GLOW10 at http://go-greenevents.com/iRUN4Habitat

All runners receive a GLOW-IN-THE-DARK Tech Shirt and GLOW swag bags provided by other local sponsors. The trunk or treat portion is free and children are encouraged to wear their costumes.  Local vendors will be present to sell refreshments. 

The entire event is family- friendly.  and last year, through these efforts, the Anderson-based Infinity Fellowship raised $5,000 for Habitat. More than 250 people attended the event in 2013 and organizers hope the number will grow this year..

Sunday
Oct262014

Roadwork on Clemson Blvd Near Garrison Farm this Week

Roadwork will continue Monday on Clemson Boulevard in Anderson County, with inside lane closures between Garrison Farm and I-85. Constuction is expected to continue until Nov. 1

Road crews ask drivers to slow down in the area and to look for warning signs, workers and equipment in the roadway.

Sunday
Oct262014

Maine to Vote on Bear Hunting Restrictions

In Maine, a hunter can shoot a bear while it’s nose-deep in a barrel of doughnuts, after it’s been chased up a tree with dogs, or when it’s snared in a cable trap – but that could change in days, and hunters and animal rights advocates around the country are watching.

Bears are hunted in 32 states but Maine has the most permissive rules. It is the only one that allows hunters to use three methods – bait, dogs and traps – decried by animal rights groups and targeted by a 4 November ballot proposal that would ban them all.

National hunting groups oppose the ban because they believe it could set a precedent that prompts other states to try to roll back hunting rights. Some animal rights activists see it as a dress rehearsal for referendums in other states that allow hunting methods they perceive as cruel.

The referendum has prompted a spirited fight within the state, where proponents of the ban say the food habituates bears to humans, which can lead to dangerous encounters. They also decry the three methods as unsportsmanlike. But opponents say the methods are necessary to control Maine’s growing bear population, which has risen to about 30,000, up about 30% from 10 years ago.

Campaigns supporting and opposing the ban have both raised more than $1m. The Ohio-based US Sportsmen’s Alliance has donated more than $100,000 to Save Maine’s Bear Hunt, which seeks to defeat the referendum, said Evan Heusinkveld, a spokesman for the group.

“It’s a direct threat to the future of hunting in Maine and across the country,” Heusinkveld said. “We want to see the longtime professionals in the state be able to manage the bear population.”

State wildlife biologists also oppose the ban and have campaigned against it. Maine wildlife division director Judy Camuso said passage of the ban would mean a larger bear population that would create more competition for resources, meaning more bears starve and range into residential settings in search of food.

Saturday
Oct252014

GAMAC Opens Season Nov. 7

The Greater Anderson Musical Arts Consortium, Inc. (GAMAC) Chorale & Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Don Campbell will open the 2014-2015 Concert Season with "Around the World In 80 Songs…or Less" on November 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Boulevard Baptist Church.  Featuring a whirlwind tour of folk songs from around the world, audiences of all ages will enjoy this musical journey!

Concert tickets are priced at $20 for adults and $10 for students and children.  To purchase tickets, please call the GAMAC office at (864) 231-6147.  This performance is made possible with generous sponsorship support from Mr. & Mrs. Mason Garrett.  Support is also provided in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives funding in part from the National Endowment for the Arts.  This performance is presented in loving memory of beloved Chorale member, Wayne Martin.

Saturday
Oct252014

New Clemson Band Facility Among Top in Nation

Clemson University officials and Tiger Band directors, alumni and friends today dedicated the John H. Butler and Bruce F. Cook Tiger Band Plaza. With this new plaza, the Tiger Band outdoor facility becomes the premier college marching band rehearsal space in the country.

Band alumnus and lead donor Keith Snelgrove, along with his wife, Risse, named the plaza in honor of the two former Tiger Band directors. Butler and Cook were college roommates at West Texas State College. The two became lifelong friends, band mates in “The Collegians” and work colleagues at Clemson.

After five years of planning, design and construction and more than $1 million in fund raising, the Tiger Band practice field renovation is a reality. What began as a beautification concept for the practice field turned into an initiative that raised enough for the renovation and to establish a $500K scholarship endowment for Tiger Band members, through the generosity of the Mike Jansen family.

Spirit Walk, gateway to the plaza and field, is a paved pathway from the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, home of Tiger Band, to the practice field. It was donated by DP3 Architects of Greenville, led by Tiger Band alumni Mike Taylor and Mike Pry.

Inspirational quotes are etched into markers every five yards along the walk, similar to a football field. Visitors can choose an ADA-accessible alternate pathway that takes them by a Tiger Band history wall, sponsored by Rick and Lesa Foster and family, that marks major events and milestones on the band.

Full Story Here

Friday
Oct242014

Imagine Anderson Honors Smoke-Free Communities, Businesses

Imagine Anderson, the United Way of Anderson County and the South Carolina Tobacco Free Collaborative have partnered to host a luncheon in support of Smoke Free Communities and to recognize local businesses, municipalities and individuals that are leading the way to ensure clean, healthy, smoke free environments for residents and visitors of communities across Anderson County. 

Keynote speaker Pamela Buffington Redmon, who was born and raised in Belton, graduated from Belton Honea Path High School and Clemson University, has come back to visit her home town in support of smoke free communities.  Ms. Redmon now serves as the Executive Director of the Global Health Institute – China Tobacco Control Partnership and the Administrative Director for the Tobacco Centers for Regulatory Science. 

Those receiving special leadership recognition include:

Smoke Free Towns - Pendleton, West Pelzer and Williamston

59 of the municipalities in South Carolina have already gone smoke-free, including 3 in Anderson County.  Sandra Gantt, Mack Durham and Blake Sanders will be accepting awards. 

Smoke Free Restaurant – Tucker’s Restaurant

Hamid Mohsseni, owner of Tucker’s, has been a leader and advocate for smoke free restaurants and businesses across Anderson County since instituting a ban on smoking in his restaurant in 2011.

Tobacco Free Higher Education – Tri County Technical College

Tri County Tech has stepped up for the health of its students and faculty, not only passing smoke-free and tobaccos-free policies. Effective Aug. 1, 2014, tobacco use is prohibited on all Tri-County Technical College (TCTC) campuses and learning centers, including all buildings, parking lots, automobiles, and outdoor areas. 

Smoke Free Business –  Westminster Company

Showing exemplary leadership in the business realm, this company has set smoke free policies for its local apartment complexes restricting smoking in the apartments.  

Individual Awards –  

Terry Taylor of the South Carolina Tobacco Free Collaborative 

Beth Connell – resident of one of the Westmister Company apartment complexes that went smoke free.  Ms. Connell, who had smoked for 40 years of her life, has quit smoking since the apartments banned smoking.  This can be tied back to the leadership steps and decisions Westminster Company has made for its residents.

Dr. Becky Campbell, co-chair of the Imagine Anderson Smoke Free Committee and former Director of the Anderson County Health Department stated:  “The Imagine Anderson Board believes one of the greatest positive impacts we can have on the health of our community is to create and sustain smoke-free environments. We know that secondhand smoke kills over 41,000 people in the U.S. every year and is an internationally recognized health hazard.  According to the 2006 Surgeon General’s report, “there is no risk free level of exposure to second hand smoke”.  Keep in mind, approximately 80% of county residents choose not to smoke.  Imagine Anderson aims to protect the health of these individuals and our community, thus, has set a lofty, but doable, goal: To ensure Smoke Free Anderson policies are adopted in every municipality across the County as well as throughout all areas within County jurisdiction.” 

Smoke free environments will not only protect the health of our residents in communities across Anderson County, but also create a clean, enjoyable environment for patrons and employees of local shops, parks, restaurants and other area businesses.  Going smoke free carries health, social and economic benefits.

Friday
Oct242014

News Reflects Character, Education of Where You Live

Last year, the news media reported on 195,000 disasters around the world. The ones you heard about depend crucially on your location.


One interesting question about the nature of news is how well it reflects the pattern of real events around the world. It’s natural to assume that people living in a certain part of the world are more likely to read, see and hear about news from their own region. But what of the international news they get—how does that compare to the international news that people in other parts of the world receive?

Today, we get an answer to these questions thanks to the work Haewoon Kwak and Jisun An at the Qatar Computing Research Institute in Qatar. These guys have analyzed the news agendas in different parts of the world to see how the coverage reflects actual events in other parts of the world. And to visualize the different news agendas, they’ve created cartograms to reflect the coverage. These are maps in which the land area of a country is distorted by the amount of news coverage it receives in a given region (the image above shows how international news is viewed in North America).

Kwak and An begin with a database of 195,000 disasters that occurred between April 2013 and July 2014 and which were reported by more than 10,000 news outlets around the world. They noted the country in which each news outlet was based and then counted the published stories from other parts of the world. Finally, for various regions, they created a map of the world showing where the news was from.

The maps make for interesting viewing. They clearly show how the news agenda differs across the planet. Unsurprisingly, people in south Asia consume far more news about disasters in that region than people in North America, for example. And people in Latin America consume far more news from Argentina than Europe.

More interesting are the anomalies. For example, people everywhere consumed relatively large amounts of news from Egypt and Syria, mainly about the unrest in these countries and the accompanying humanitarian crises.

Kwak and An go on to investigate the factors that determine why people in one part of the world view disaster news from another. They found, for example, that population size is significant. People in all regions are more likely to see disaster news from other large countries, probably because there are more likely to be immigrants from those large countries who provide demand for that kind of coverage.

But by far the biggest factor that determines news coverage is whether an international news agency, such as Reuters, or Associated Press, covers the disaster. That’s unsurprising given that most news outlets have subscriptions to one or more agencies and are therefore able to use their stories easily. This is the primary mechanism behind the way news stories sometime snowball around the world.

Interesting work that reveals the way patterns of news coverage change around the globe.

Ref: http://arxiv.org/abs/1410.3710: Understanding News Geography and Major Determinants of Global News Coverage of Disasters