Today 
Saturday, August 4, 2012 at 9:16PM The 2012-2013 ATAX Grant Applications are now available at the Anderson County Parks, Recreation & Tourism Division located at 101 South Main Street, Room 11, Anderson, SC 29624. Applications are due on August 24, 2012 at 4 PM.
For more information contact Glenn Brill, Director, Anderson County Parks, Recreation and Tourism
(864) 260-1092
gbrill@andersoncountysc.org
Friday, August 3, 2012 at 9:14PM Anderson School District Five “substantially exceeds” expectations under the state’s new accountability system, according to data released today by the State Department of Education.
Only 25 of the state’s 85 school districts received the “substantially exceeds” designation, the highest level under the new Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Federal Accountability System.
District Five also scored above the state average on all five areas of the state’s Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS) Test - English Language Arts (ELA), Writing, Math, Science and Social Studies. In addition, the district’s score on the High School Assessment Program (HSAP) test was also above the state average.
The PASS and HSAP tests are among the state measures used to evaluate schools and districts in the ESEA Federal Accountability System.
On the state’s PASS test’s five areas, District Five’s scores were as follows:
In ELA, 76.1 percent of students scored “Met Expectations” or above, compared to 74.3 percent statewide.
In Writing, 75.6 percent of students scored “Met Expectations” or above, compared to 73.8 percent statewide.
In Math, 77.2 percent of students scored “Met Expectations” or above, compared to 73.5 percent statewide.
In Science, 77.9 percent of students scored “Met Expectations” or above, compared to 71.4 percent statewide.
In Social Studies, 80.6 percent of students scored “Met Expectations” or above, compared to 74.1 percent statewide.
District Five also beat the state average in the percentage of students who scored “Exemplary,” the highest level possible on the test:
In ELA, 45.6 percent of students scored Exemplary, compared to 41.8 percent statewide.
In Writing, 38.5 percent of students scored Exemplary, compared to 36.9 percent statewide.
In Math, 41.2 percent of students scored Exemplary, compared to 35.2 percent statewide.
In Science, 41.2 percent of students scored Exemplary, compared to 35.2 percent statewide.
In Social Studies, 41.8 percent of students scored Exemplary, compared to 33.6 percent statewide.
Friday, August 3, 2012 at 6:19PM This week, Urologic Surgery Associates became the newest member of the AnMed Health Physician Network. Now AnMed Health Urology, the practice is home to Drs. Dennis S. Whatley, R. Kirk Seiler and Vidal M. Despradel.
AnMed Health Urology specializes in helping people with urinary and reproductive conditions. Common problems treated by urologists include kidney stones, prostatitis, enlarged prostate, overactive bladder, sexual dysfunction and urinary tract cancers.
Drs. Whatley, Seiler and Despradel are all board-certified physicians with 20 years of experience or more. Dr. Whatley graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina and trained in urology at St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo. Dr. Seiler graduated from Hahnemann University Medical School in Philadelphia and did his urology training at Wayne State University in Detroit. Dr. Despradel graduated from medical school at the Institute of Technology of Santo Domingo and did his urology fellowship at the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University.
AnMed Health Urology is located in Suite 2900 of the Oglesby Center at 2000 E. Greenville St. in Anderson. The office can be reached at (864) 716-6100.
Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 10:33AM Students from the Anderson V Career Campus earned Gold medals at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America national competition in Orlando, Florida.
Danielle Black, 2012 Westside High School graduate; Emily Taylor, Westside junior; and Shaniqua Little, 2012 Westside graduate; worked as a team to compete in the Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation category. They began working on their project in late December and completed it in March for the State competition.
The students received Gold medals in the State, then moved on to the Nationals to represent South Carolina and the Anderson V Career Campus. The students worked with Jenny O'Brien, teacher and advisor; Jodi Durkee, advisor; and Cathy Benson, director of the Anderson Convention Visitors Bureau; in creating an Agriculture Tour Guide of the seven farms to visit in Anderson County, local restaurants and hotels. Students completed a portfolio, a guide, a website and a brochure to present to the national judges.
The judges were impressed that the students are promoting local farms since people are beginning to want to buy home grown food. One local farm, Happy Cow, sells fresh milk and another, Split Creek Farms, produces and sells fresh goat cheese. The brochure is titled, "Agri-Tourism Adventures in Anderson County," and will be used at the Anderson Convention Visitors Bureau.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at 5:55PM Anderson County Roads and Bridges has closed the Airline Road Bridge over Beaver Creek until further notice. An emergency closure and detour route has been posted.
Roads & Bridges received a call from a citizen this afternoon about a hole in the northbound lane of the north bridge approach. Upon investigation the small 12-inch hole was found to be undermined at least five feet under the roadway. The closure will remain in place until repairs can be made.
The road closure detour will follow the existing truck detour. From the SC 28 and Airline Road intersection travel south on SC 28 to Hayes Road, turn right onto Hayes Road and travel to Airline Road. Only adjacent residents and delivery vehicles will be permitted within the road closure.
For more information, contact: Judy Shelato, Principal Engineer 864.260.4190
Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 10:42PM Wednesday marks Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day and Christians across the country plan to express solidarity with the restaurant following the fallout over gay marriage.
According to the Support Chick-fil-A Facebook page, more than 550,000 people have committed to visit the fast-food restaurant.
Led by former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day has gained the support of influential Christian leaders including evangelist Billy Graham.
The public event was created in response to the backlash the restaurant was facing after its president, Dan Cathy, affirmed his belief in traditional marriage, or the "biblical definition of the family unit."
His comments were made to the Biblical Recorder, a Baptist publication, and they have been met by protests from the LGBT community, with some elected officials, including the mayor of Boston, threatening to block the company from opening a restaurant in their city.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary President Daniel Akin has encouraged students to join the action and be a patron Wednesday and expressed gratitude to Cathy and his family for "taking a stand that reflects their biblical convictions" and doing so "with grace and kindness."
"This entire situation is a sad commentary on the moral slide of our nation and the 'bully politics' that too often rears its ugly head," he said in a blog post. "It is one thing to be a hatemonger and seek the hurt of another. It is something altogether different to take a gracious stand, rooted in biblical conviction, that only wants the best for another, and be labeled as intolerant and a bigot. The intolerance of those screaming for tolerance has become deafening. It is also, in many instances, dishonest."
Chick-fil-A issued a statement earlier this month saying its "culture and service tradition" is "to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender."
Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 9:05AM The Anderson County Planning and Community Development Office will hold a Community Meeting on Aug. 9 at 6 pm at the Sandy Springs Fire Department, 247 Welpine Road. The purpose of the meeting is to present the proposed land use/zoning map of the Denver-Sandy Springs Precinct and to answer questions regarding the proposed zoning referendum.
There will be an Open House on Aug. 20 from 3 to 5 pm at the Holiday Inn Express, 3509 Clemson Blvd, to allow residents to view the proposed map, request zoning designation changes, and ask questions prior to the Planning staff’s final revisions and presentation to the Planning Commission on September 11, 2012.
Copies of the zoning designation request form and zoning descriptions are available at the Planning and Community Development’s Office at 401 East River Street, Anderson and also on the webpage, www.andersoncountysc.org/web/Planning_04.asp. The deadline for the zoning designation request forms is August 20, 2012 at 5 pm.
Please call 260-4720 for more information.
Monday, July 30, 2012 at 9:08AM The Anderson County Council Finance Committee will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the council chambers of the historic courthouse downtown. The public is invited.
Sunday, July 29, 2012 at 9:19PM A new South Carolina law aims to make sure that every veteran in the state gets a proper military funeral.
The law passed this year allows coroners or funeral directors with unclaimed remains to release information to veteran and military groups to see if the deceased is a veteran who has earned a burial will full military honors.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Rieser became the first veteran afforded a funeral under the new law. He died in Conway in 2009, and his remains went unclaimed because his parents were dead and he was an only child.
Two American Legion members who pushed for the law contacted Horry County Coroner Robert Edge, and Rieser was laid to rest earlier this month at the Florence National Cemetery.
Saturday, July 28, 2012 at 10:22PM The Rev. Billy Graham has posted a new prayer letter on his website where he addresses the people of the nation and tells them he is very much afraid of the damage that the American lifestyle is doing in the eyes of the Lord.
The 93-year-old evangelist begins his letter by recalling an incident a few years ago when his wife, Ruth, who has since passed away, remarked that "If God doesn't punish America, He'll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah," referring to the cities in the Old Testament destroyed for the sinful nature of their residents.
"I wonder what Ruth would think of America if she were alive today. In the years since she made that remark, millions of babies have been aborted and our nation seems largely unconcerned. Self-centered indulgence, pride, and a lack of shame over sin are now emblems of the American lifestyle," Graham remarks.
The pastor then goes on to refer to several other incidents in recent times where he sees the American government and American society as a whole coming down on Christians – including instances where chaplains who serve the police department have been told to no longer say the name of Jesus during prayer.
"Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone – except God," Graham says. "Yet the farther we get from God, the more the world spirals out of control."
"My heart aches for America and its deceived people," Graham continues. "The wonderful news is that our Lord is a God of mercy, and He responds to repentance. In Jonah's day, Nineveh was the lone world superpower – wealthy, unconcerned, and self-centered. When the Prophet Jonah finally traveled to Nineveh and proclaimed God's warning, people heard and repented."
Saturday, July 28, 2012 at 10:18PM Local students are among 60 Clemson University musicians getting ready to go to London July 29 to Aug. 4 to perform at various venues around the city during the Summer Olympic Games.
Clemson's Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble are going to perform at Olympic venues to showcase their talents and American music to people from all over the world.
Area participants are:
Edward Stein of Anderson, who is majoring in materials science and engineering and is a member of the jazz ensemble
Frederick Wewers of Anderson, who is majoring in chemical engineering and is a member of the symphonic band
Through planning, hard work and fundraiser support, the students were able to formally accept the invitation. As London plans to celebrate this global event by facilitating entertainment programs at Olympic Live Sites across its 33 boroughs, the tour allows Clemson students to be featured performers on the entertainment program being staged for millions of visitors and locals who will be in London during the games.
"This is a unique opportunity for our band students not only to travel abroad and learn about new cultures, but to bring the Clemson spirit to people from all over the globe," said Mark Spede, Clemson's director of bands.
Not only will the musicians perform, but they will learn about British culture and history ondays set aside for sightseeing; they took a special course prior to departure taught by Clemson faculty. The group will visit such places as London's West End, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Piccadilly Circus and will have the opportunity to attend Olympic events.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at 10:31PM The Advisory Committee of the Anderson County Museum (ACM) invites you to the announcement of the 2012 Hall of Fame inductees in a ceremony at 2 p.m. on Monday, August 13 at the Museum.
Each year the museum recognizes and inducts into the ACM Hall of Fame up to two people who have made outstanding contributions in shaping Anderson County, state, national or world history. The HOF committee made their selection from more than 50 applications. Nominees must be deceased at least 10 years before they are eligible for induction. The 2012 class will be the tenth class to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Applications are now available for the 2013 Hall of Fame.
The Anderson County Museum is at 202 East Greenville Street, in downtown Anderson. The Fred Whitten Gallery and Museum store hours are Tuesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Reading and Research Room is open 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays and by appointment with the Curator. ACM is handicap accessible and admission is free. Donations are always welcome. For more information, contact the Museum at (864) 260-4737.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at 10:30PM Anderson County Roads and Bridges Department will close a portion of Joe Black Road west of West Pelzer, SC on August 6, 2012 to replace a damaged bridge with a large box culvert. The roadway will be closed between New Hope Road and SC 8, and is scheduled to re-open by October 1, 2012.
The posted detour will follow New Hope Road and SC 8. Only adjacent residents and delivery vehicles will be permitted within the road closure area.
For more information contact:
Judy Shelato, Principal Engineer
Anderson County Transportation
jshelato@andersoncountysc.org
864.260.4190