S.C. Marks Mental Health Awareness Day

South Carolina has a new Mental Health Awareness Day aiming to ease stigmas against mental illness and connect those suffering with resources to get better.

"I'm dealing with PTSD, major depression, major clinical depression, anxiety disorders and anger issues," said Donald Miner who served with the United States Marine Corps for a decade.

Today, Miner is getting help from NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness through support groups and opportunities to tell his own story of recovery.

Across the state Wednesday, groups like NAMI came together working to improve conditions and increase resources for people in South Carolina suffering from a mental illness.

"Treatments work if you can get it," said Bill Lindsey, Executive Director of NAMI South Carolina. "The problem we have in mental health and mental illness is getting the right amount of treatment and getting the funding to support those treatments."

According to NAMI, one in four adults suffer from a mental illness at some point in their lives. However, NAMI statistics say 85% of those folks go on to live a productive life.

"It's a lot more pervasive than people think," Lindsey said.

Ervin Asks Haley to Reconsider SCETV Debate

On his webiste today, independent Republican Petition candidate Tom Ervin has asked Gov. Haley to reconsider her decision not to participate in the October 20 SCETV Governatorial Debate.

“With our state’s unemployment rate on the rise, with the crisis of leadership at DSS and with reports that the FBI is investigating campaign finance irregularities and ethical violations at the Statehouse, we need to hear from Governor Haley on how she intends to address these issues,”
Ervin said.

“We are at a critical crossroad in South Carolina. The voters need every opportunity to hear from all the candidates for governor so that they can make an informed choice on November 4th about which candidate can best lead our state with common sense solutions to grow our economy for all, to improve public education, to fix our crumbling roads and bridges and restore trust in state government with strong ethics reform,” Ervin said.

Website here

First Flu Death of Season Reported in S.C.

A person from the Midlands has become the first to die from flu this season, state health officials said today.

"We are in the beginning stages of our state's flu season. It is important to get vaccinated now," said Dr. Linda Bell, epidemiologist with the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.

"Flu activity typically peaks in February in South Carolina, so we have to prepare for several months of the disease circulating in our communities," she said. "Therefore, we strongly encourage vaccination for all individuals six months and older to prevent the flu and its potentially serious consequences."

Council Tables Dropping "Interim" from Administrator's Title

On Tuesday night, Anderson County Council tabled a move to drop the “Interim” portion of title for Interim Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns, after the details of the plan were left off the agenda.

Anderson County Councilman Francis Crowder, who chairs the committee, said that Burns salary would remain the same, there would be no contract and “everything will continue as it is.”

Meanwhile, Anderson County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn said that he wanted everything “on the up and up,” and waiting another two weeks to finalize the move would not be a problem. Council voted unanimously to delay final approval of the proposal until the Oct. 21 council meeting.

Earlier, council also gave final approval to tax incentives for Tactical Medical Solutions, Inc., which will add 15 jobs at and average salary of $14.50 per hour, and an additional $2.5 million investment to the existing firm located on Harris Bridge Road. More details here. 

Approved on second reading tax incentives for Project Haven, creating 10 new jobs at an average $18.35 wage. The company has been in Anderson for more than 30 years, and the new investment totals $5.9 million. 

Council also heard a report from the finance committee, including approving tuition discounts for Anderson County employees in Emergency Services for Anderson University. 

Near the end of the meeting, Crowder transferred $80,000 from District 1 paving funds to the City of Anderson contingent on a number of matching funds for paving in his district.. 

Council voted unanimously to cancel the Nov. 4 County Council, since the scheduled meeting falls on election day.

Also on Tuesday night, council issued resolutions:  

• Congratulating the Anderson County Wastewater Department, recipient of the South Carolina rural Water Association, 2014 Wastewater System of the Year Award.
• Honoring Anderson County Veterans Affairs Office, Richard M. Campbell Nursing Home, and the United States Veterans' Clinic for their commitment to service and care for Veterans of Anderson County.
• Honoring county employees and community volunteers for successfully organizing, managing, and promoting the 2014 Celebrate Anderson Weekend, including: Pro Races, Fun Rides, a Charity Pedal Race, and the weekend's grand finale being a community tradition, the 16th Annual Celebrate Anderson Concert with Patriotic Fireworks. 
• Declaring October 2014 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

GNews: S.C. ETV Cancels Governors Debate

An S.C. ETV debate between the candidates for governor will not be held. Meanwhile, a second debate — between candidates for superintendent of education — will have to be rescheduled.

State Sen. Vincent Sheheen, the Democratic candidate for governor, said Monday he will not debate petition candidate Tom Ervin alone on ETV after Republican Gov. Nikki Haley declined to take part in that debate.

“I will participate in the debates when Nikki Haley agrees to join us,” Sheheen said in the statement. “(R)esidents of every region deserve the opportunity to hear directly from their governor about her record and the gubernatorial candidates about the direction we would take this state.”

Haley and Sheheen will debate Oct. 14 and 21 in debates sponsored by three S.C. television stations and a newspaper.

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Walmart Drops Health Care for Part-Time Workers; Raises Premiums for All Other Employees

Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the biggest U.S. private sector employer, said on Tuesday that its 1.3 million workers would have to pay more for healthcare and it would end benefits for some part-time staff in a move that could prompt other companies to follow suit.

The world's largest retailer said it would raise health insurance premiums for its entire U.S. workforce beginning in January. In addition, Wal-Mart will end coverage for employees who work fewer than 30 hours a week, a change that will impact 2 percent of U.S. workers, or about 30,000 people.

The move comes as U.S. companies brace for a January 2015 deadline under the Affordable Care Act. Starting then, companies with 50 or more employees will have to offer health insurance to those working at least 30 hours a week, a mandate that has drawn criticism from some companies worried about higher costs.

Wal-Mart, which announced the change in a blogpost on Tuesday, had cited health care expenses as a problem in August, when it cut its 2014 profit forecast. It said more people than expected had enrolled in its plans and its annual forecast for health care costs had risen by 50 percent.

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Blood Moon Should Be Visible at 5:15 a.m. Tuesday

Weather prospects for Wednesday's total lunar eclipse are great for observers hoping to catch a glimpse of the "blood moon" from around the United States.

The moon will start moving into Earth's dark shadow, signaling the start of the partial phase of the eclipse, at 5:15 a.m. on Oct. 8. The total phase of the eclipse will begin about 70 minutes later. The only regions of the United States where poor total lunar eclipse viewing conditions are expected are in New England, the central Rockies and the Southwest desert.

The moon will set during the total phase for those near and along the Atlantic coast. Farther west, as the moon sets, it will be emerging from the umbra, the innermost and darkest part of the Earth's shadow. If weather does get in the way of your view of the eclipse, you can watch three lunar eclipse webcasts featuring live views of the celestial site on Space.com. [How to See the Total Lunar Eclipse (Visibility Maps)] kywatchers viewing the eclipse from the ground might be able to see the moon turn a coppery shade of red during totality Wednesday. This feature has led some to call the eclipsed moon a "blood moon."

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Tactical Medical Solutions Expands in Anderson

A company specializing in medical and triage supplies for first responders, military and law enforcement agencies is expanding its Anderson County operations. Tactical Medical Solutions, which established a presence in the county in 2006, has invested $2.5 million to purchase 67 acres and build a new corporate office. The expansion is creating 15 additional local jobs. 

Tactical Medical Solutions was founded in 2003 by former Army Special Forces personnel and medics. The company supplies customized kits and emergency response supplies to support federal agencies, law enforcement agencies and medical personnel nationwide as well as internationally. Their Anderson County corporate office houses its administration and sales staff as well as kit assembly operations and custom order fulfillment.

The new, 25,000-square-foot facility is located at 1250 Harris Bridge Road in Anderson and is nearly three times larger than the company’s previous site. Tactical Medical Solutions purchased 67 acres and constructed the new facility, which is intended to be the first of a larger corporate campus and training center. Today the company works with more than 300 domestic and 30 international distributors.

Hiring for the new positions is currently underway. Those interested in applying are encouraged to visit www.monster.com and search for Tactical Medical Solutions. 

Fast Facts

•           Tactical Medical Solutions is expanding its Anderson County operation, which specializes in medical and triage supplies for first responders, military and law-enforcement agencies.

•           $2.5 million investment creating 15 additional jobs.

•           Tactical Medical Solutions has operated in Anderson County since 2006.

•           The new 25,000-foot facility will be nearly three times larger than their previous site.

Anderson Regional Water Opens Clemson Booster Station

The Anderson Regional Water’s Facility Opening ceremony for its newly constructed Clemson Booster Station (CBS) on at noon today on Vanguard Road in Anderson County.

The CBS Project  is a critical investment in regional water reliability, efficient operation and future economic growth. Following the cremony, the facility will be open for public inspection and staff will be available to answer questions following the ceremony. 

SAT Scores Up Slightly; Still Below National Average

South Carolina’s public-school seniors scored higher on the SAT college admissions test last spring than the year before.

S.C. seniors trailed their peers nationally, scoring an average of 1,429 out of a possible 2,400 points on the SAT in the 2013-14 school year – below the national average of 1,471, the S.C. Department of Education and College Board announced Tuesday.

Seniors in two of eight Midlands districts scored higher than the state and national averages.

The average for students statewide was 1,429 points, six points higher than the previous year. That average showed moderate gains in two of the three test areas. In reading, S.C. students’ average scores increased to 483 from last year’s 479. In math, scores ticked up to 487 from 484. Scores decreased one point to 459 in writing.

Only one in three S.C. public-school seniors scored 1,550 or higher – the College’s Board’s measure that a student has a 65 percent chance of having a low B average or higher during their first year of college.

In comparison to S.C. students, 43 percent of students nationwide who took the SAT last school year scored at least a 1,550.

S.C. public-school students also showed gains last spring over the year before on the College Board’s Advanced Placement tests, whose scores the College Board also released Tuesday.

In one year, students scoring a three or higher out of five possible points on Advanced Placement tests increased by about 7 percent, a Department of Education spokesman said.

The number of Advanced Placement tests taken by S.C. students also increased by nearly 8 percent, and the number of African-American students taking the advanced placement tests increased by 13 percent last spring over the year before.

S.C. schools Superintendent Mick Zais said the gains in the SAT and AP tests were positive, but the state must do more to prepare students for colleges and careers.

Zais said: “We must build upon these gains as we prepare students for life after high school, whether they’re joining the military, entering the workforce, or seeking higher education at one of our state’s superb technical colleges, or a four-year degree.”

S.C. Seeking Better Animal Welfare Laws

Anderson County is leading the way in ahimal welfare laws, and now the rest of the state is looking for solutions.

South Carolina state leaders are working to find different ways to make animal welfare a priority in the upcoming legislative session.

A South Carolina Senate select subcommittee is traveling the state to receive input from concerned citizens and animal welfare leaders on what can be done to toughen up animal welfare laws.

“I think if we tie the animal to some human in some responsible way,” Palmetto Animal Services founder Joya DiStefano said. "We can build from there.”

DiStefano advocated at a meeting last week that perhaps one of the best plans is to require micro chipping in all pets.

“The way that cars are registered and have a VIN number or abandon your car or get in an accident and just walk away from it,” DiStefano said.

The subcommittee held its first listening session in Greenville on Sept. 23. Others are scheduled for Florence and Charleston.

“I'm very committed to making sure that animals have the best chance at a good life regardless of the socioeconomic status of their owners,” DiStefano said.

Tourism Continues Record Pace in Tourism

South Carolina's $18 billion tourism industry continued its record-setting pace through the height of the summer season and another $400 million is being invested in attractions, according to figures from the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

Revenue per available room, a key indicator of the strength of the industry, is up 11 percent over last-year's record for the calendar year though the end of July, according to figures released last week. Statewide, revenue per available room is now just over $95.

For the fiscal year that ended June 30, state park revenues increased while admissions taxes kept pace with last year's record numbers. Last fiscal year, the 47 parks and historic sites in the system brought in $24 million — enough to pay for 90 percent of ongoing operations.

The department has a goal of making the state parks self-sufficient so they no longer require taxpayer money for ongoing operations.

The system is adding attractions including a splash pad water feature at Sesquicentennial State Park outside of Columbia. The system also is expanding the marina at Dreher Island State Park northwest of Columbia and adding campgrounds and cabins at several other parks.

Supreme Court Upholds S.C. Redistricting

The Supreme Court has left intact South Carolina's redrawn state house and congressional maps.

The justices on Monday rejected without comment an appeal from black South Carolina voters who wanted the justices to take another look at the state's new lines for state house and congressional districts.

The high court previously upheld the new lines in a 2012 decision. But opponents asked a lower court to set aside that ruling in light of another recent Supreme Court decision that struck down a key provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The lower court found no need to re-examine its previous findings that the state's districts are fair and don't discriminate against racial minorities.