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  • FCSD Board moves parent conferences

    WINNSBORO – Fairfield County school board members will take a second look at the 2018-2019 academic calendar next month, with changes in parent conference days potentially impacting how next year’s calendar unfolds.

    For the 2017-2018 school year, the school district decided to schedule spring parent conferences on Thursday instead of Friday, prompting questions from some board members.

    “This week we’re out on Thursday [for conferences], but come back on Friday. Next year we are doing the same thing,” said board we are doing the same thing,” said board member Henry Miller. “Why did we do that rather than do [conferences] on a Friday?”

    “We felt if we put it in the middle of the week, we’d have better participation,” answered Dr. Claudia Avery, the district’s deputy superintendent of academics. “It wouldn’t conflict with school performances or anything of that nature.”

    Superintendent Dr. J.R. Green concurred.

    “When you plan parent conferences on a Friday afternoon, many parents are busy planning their weekends,” Green said. “Many teachers are not excited about staying until 7 p.m. for parent conferences.”

    Thursday was the first time conferences were scheduled in the middle of the week.

    Board chairman William Frick said the board could use feedback from schools to determine whether to keep or abandon holding conferences on a Thursday.

    “At least that way we’ll have more information to go on,” Frick said. “Surely Dr. Avery can tell us if there was a better participation rate this go-around than in the past. We don’t have that information to make that decision right now.”

    Green cautioned about making too many changes to the calendar, noting it was developed with significant community input.

    “There are lots of people who feel this is preferable. Sometimes we tend to forget that,” he said.

    Board members approved first reading of the calendar by unanimous vote. Second reading will take place in May.

    As it stands, the proposed calendar includes three makeup days for inclement weather in 2017-2018. Makeup days have been scheduled for Nov. 19, Feb. 18 and May 27.

    Other calendar dates of note include:

    • First day for teachers: Aug. 13.
    • First day for students: Aug. 20.
    • Christmas break: Dec. 21 to Jan. 4.
    • Fall break: Nov. 19-23.
    • Spring break: April 15-19.
    • Last day for students: June 7.
    • Graduation: June 8.

    State assessment dates have not yet been released.

  • Green Energy Biofuel donates to Sustainable Carolina

    COLUMBIA – Green Energy Biofuel made a second annual donation to the University of South Carolina’s Sustainable Carolina on April 17. The company collects used cooking oil from USC and other organizations and upcycles it into useable biofuel. Green Energy Biofuel, located on Congress Street in Winnsboro, graduated from the University of South Carolina’s Incubator Program in 2012. By donating 25 cents for every gallon collected, Green Energy Biofuel gave a total of $2,100 back to Sustainable Carolina to help fund new butterfly and vertical gardens on campus. From left, Paris Block, Green Energy Biofuel executive assistant, Joe Renwick, Green Energy Biofuel founder and process engineer, Tom Syftert, USC Director of Environmental Health and Safety, and Zack Johnson, Green Energy Biofuel intern and USC student.

  • Food Lion robbed at gunpoint

    BLYTHEWOOD – The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is looking for two black males in connection with an armed robbery at the Food Lion Grocery Store located in the Food Lion Shopping Center on University Village Drive in Blythewood.

    The robbery occurred on Sunday evening at approximately 10:15 p.m., according to a Sheriff’s report. A spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Department said the two robbers entered the store with hand guns and demanded money. The report stated that the amount taken is unknown.

    It is believed the subjects then fled the location on foot. Investigators said they are in the process of obtaining a video from the store.

    The Sheriff’s Department had not made an incident report available to The Voice at press time. The story will be updated as more information is available.

  • FCSD Board spars over employee salaries

    WINNSBORO – Next year’s proposed budget includes pay raises for all school district employees, but some Fairfield County Board of Education members want to spend more.

    The board held a lively discussion Tuesday evening before unanimously passing first reading on the $41.2 million budget.

    Among the most vocal was board member Annie McDaniel, who took issue with comparatively high supplements she says some coaches are paid versus salaries of classified employees, such as cafeteria workers and bus drivers.

    “Before we give another supplement, we need to look at it on the table what we’re paying classified people,” McDaniel said. “It was sad looking at the supplements compared to what we were paying employees who work 180 or 190 days a year.”

    The proposed $41.2 million budget is about $2.5 million higher than the one approved last year. Millage would remain at 203.1 mills. Fairfield County Schools hasn’t raised millage since 2010, said Kevin Robinson, the district’s finance director.

    Robinson said the district is anticipating an increase in non-residential property tax revenue. Because of that, the draft budget recommends step increases as well as a 2 percent across the board raise for all employees.

    District Superintendent Dr. J.R. Green said there’s been talk at the state level about budgeting higher pay for educators, but nothing definite.

    “We recognize the state probably won’t mandate 2 percent and they probably won’t mandate the classified employees,” Green said. “We’re doing 2 percent across the board to make salary increases effective for all employees.”

    While board members were happy to increase pay, some took issue with implementing a percentage increase, saying it disproportionately favors higher paying employees.

    “When you’re looking at 2 percent on $20,000 versus 2 percent on $110,000, that’s a big difference,” McDaniel said.

    Board member Paula Hartman agreed.

    “We should do straight amounts. That’s more fair to me,” Hartman said. “The people working in the cafeterias and cleaning up don’t make as much so they don’t get as much.”

    Green said he favored raises by percentages.

    “To suggest we use a specific number instead of a percentage doesn’t seem to be very realistic, in my opinion,” he said.

    Robinson said the budget also includes $325,000 for five new school resource officers, which works to about $65,000 per officer. Green said the funding covers the officers’ salaries and benefits, while Fairfield County would cover vehicle, equipment and training costs.

    “We wanted to have enough money to cover the additional cost of five officers,” Green said.

    Gov. Henry McMaster has said he wants to invest millions of dollars statewide on SROs, a request that comes in the wake of recent school shootings elsewhere in the country, but no bills have been passed.

    “As much as people have talked about that at the state level, the funding of resource officers have filtered down to the local level,” Green said. “It doesn’t look like the state will be providing any money.”

    Board members also reopened debate on an old topic – a 2010 law that allows students in the Mitford community of northeast Fairfield County to attend Chester County schools at Fairfield County school district’s expense. The proposed budget for 2018-2019 estimates student transfer costs at $626,436, a nearly $75,000 increase over this year, according to Fairfield County School District budget figures.

    Some board members said they want more accountability of the money it sends to Chester County. Others want an attorney to take a second look at the Chester ruling.

    “I don’t think they intended for it to go on and on forever,” McDaniel said. “We need to look at that, we’re sending a lot of money over there.”

  • Albert graduates from FBI Academy

    Albert

    COLUMBIA – Blythewood resident Capt. Bobby J. Albert of the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) recently graduated from the FBI National Academy. Albert is commander of SCHP Troop Four, which includes Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Lancaster, Union and York counties.

    Albert was one of 223 law enforcement officers who completed 2 ½ months of advanced communication, leadership and fitness training at Quantico, Virginia, during this session.

    The Fairfield County native has served with the Highway Patrol for more than 24 years. He resides in Blythewood with his wife, Donna, and they have four grown children.  He is a member of Shandon Baptist Church and Ridgeway Masonic Lodge #30.

    “I am honored SCDPS selected me to attend this prestigious course,” Albert said. “I believe my experiences gained through this program will benefit the department as I to continue to serve the citizens and visitors of this great state.”

  • Ridgeway Council OKs sidewalk match; water tower bid

    RIDGEWAY – Two new town councilmen and a new mayor held their first council meeting last week, four days after being elected to office. The first order of business was to elect a new Mayor Pro Tem to replace Mayor Pro Tem Doug Porter who did not seek re-election for his council seat.

    Longtime Councilman Don Prioleau was nominated, and Mayor Heath Cookendorfer and the two new Councilmen, Rufus Jones and Dan Martin, voted 3-0 to approve Prioleau. Councilwoman Angela Harrison did not vote but looked down at her desk with no acknowledgement of the vote taking place.

    Water Tower Bids

    Council voted 5-0 to accept the lower of two bids submitted for construction of an elevated water tank near the Geiger Elementary School. That bid, for $549,153 was submitted by Phoenix Erectors and Fabricators, Inc. A second bid in the amount of $572,930 was submitted by Caldwell Tanks, Inc.

    Matching Sidewalk Grant

    Council also voted 5-0 to accept the Fairfield County Ordinance match requirement for a grant for $57,000 to help pay for an extensive sidewalk project in Ridgeway. The County grant requires a 20 percent match of $11,400 from the Town.

    The Town is seeking a total of $500,000 for the sidewalk project. Council plans to apply for a $400,000 grant from the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s (SCDOT) Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) which requires matching funds from Ridgeway in the amount of $100,000 or 20 percent of the project’s total cost ($500,000).

    To come up with that $100,000, the Town has applied for $43,000 from the Fairfield County Transportation Committee (CTC) and hopes to receive $45,600 ($57,000 less $11,400) from Fairfield County.

    “If we want to come up with that TAP grant of $400,000, then we will have to commit $11,400 out of Town funds [toward the $100,000 match],” Harrison said. “It could come out of our capital improvements or we could wait and put it in our budget for next year.”

    Harrison said the Town must get all the matching funds together – $43,000 from CTC, $45,600 from the County and $11,400 from Ridgeway – before Council can apply for the $400,000 TAP grant.

    Zoning Administrator Resigns

    In other business, Council accepted a letter, dated April 6, from Rick Johnson notifying Council that he was resigning his post as Zoning Administrator for Ridgeway, effective immediately.

    The next meeting will be held at the Century House, at 6:30 p.m. on May 10.

  • New Ridgeway Council tackles old issues

    Jones: ‘Release Bella.’
    Harrison: ‘I’m Done.’

    RIDGEWAY – About five minutes after the Ridgeway Town Council entered into executive session during their regular monthly meeting on April 12, Councilwoman Angela Harrison returned to the public meeting room, briskly gathered her purse and other belongings and announced, “I’m done!” She then walked out of the council chambers and slammed the town hall door loudly as she exited the building. Harrison did not return for the conclusion of the meeting. When asked about the incident, Harrison said, “I left for a very personal reason.”

    Council had announced it was entering into executive session to discuss, “a contractual matter regarding audit proposals” and a ”personnel matter,” which newly elected Councilman Rufus Jones said regarded the uncrating of the town clerk’s dog during office hours and the removal of security cameras in the town hall office.

    About 10 minutes after Harrison left the building, the other council members returned to the public meeting room and voted to return to public session.

    Jones made a motion to uncrate Bella, Town Clerk Vivian Case’s service dog, who had been ordered crated [while in Case’s Town Hall office] by the former administration.  Jones’ motion also called for the removal of a security camera that was set by the previous administration to focus on the town clerk’s desk.

    “I feel it’s a good thing to have the dog in there. She serves as a deterrent, and she’s not hurting anything being in there. Release Bella,” Jones said. “I also don’t think it’s necessary to have a camera directly over Vivian Case’s desk. I wouldn’t like every move I make to be watched. Vivian is a very trustworthy person. I think we should take that camera down and put it in another location in the Century House,” Jones said.

    Council voted 4-0 in favor of both of Jones’ motions. The audience erupted in applause.

    The Voice reported last year that Bella had been accompanying Case to work for four years when Herring’s administration tried unsuccessfully to evict the dog in January 2017. Herring claimed that she had received anonymous complaints about the dog and that the dog’s presence in Town Hall was not in compliance with the town’s dangerous breed ordinance.

    However, The Voice discovered, after submitting a Freedom of Information request for the town’s dangerous breed ordinance, that the ordinance was specific to the pit bull breed, and that Bella was not incompliant with the ordinance since she is a Rottweiler.

    Herring also sought to establish that Bella did not meet the requirements of a service dog.

    To that end, council and the mayor spent more than $8,000 with attorneys last year trying, unsuccessfully, to prove, among other things, that the dog was not a service dog and that Rottweilers are a vicious breed. Council and the attorney did eventually make the concession that Bella could be uncrated for short periods of time inside the office if she was on a leash.

  • Students create rollicking rap video for First Responders

    WINNSBORO – Featuring catchy rap lyrics and quirky dance steps by some of the County’s finest, a fun and wildly entertaining rap video produced by Fairfield Magnet School art teacher Kimi Daly’s first and second graders, extols the service provided by the County’s first responders.

    The idea for the video came to Daly as part of the school district’s Opening Minds to Academics and the Arts (OMA) program. The theme for this year’s OMA classroom study is Community.

    “To help my first and second graders learn about and better understand Community, I integrated music, dance and language arts into the classroom art work,” Daly said. “For the focus of our study of Community, I choose our county’s first responders and military personnel.”

    After creating, from boxes, a church, school, store, police car, helicopter, ambulance and other emergency facilities and vehicles, Daly asked her students to draw pictures of the uniformed emergency personnel who serve the county and the equipment they use.

    “I also wanted to make the learning fun, so I wrote a rap that I felt would help the students remember what they learned about these first responders. As I wrote, I interjected questions and statements from the students about emergency situations, like, ‘What do I do if someone breaks into my home?’ I wanted them to sing and dance it and believe it so they would pass it on,” Daly said. “From there the kids and I recorded the audio.

    “We talked about what emergency personnel do and how they each help us – but I heard things like, “What’s inside of an ambulance” and “Police shoot people.” So I wanted to go beyond the classroom and invited some of our first responders and military personnel to visit us at school and bring their vehicles and equipment for the kids to see,” Daly said. “The emergency personnel talked with my kids about their jobs, and the kids responded. The first responders really had fun and were soon dancing along with the kids as I videoed. That was the beginning of the rap video.”

    Daly said a couple of the students actually spoke the rap with her, and the video, for the most part, features the kids and the responders.

    Then Daly put the 4 minute, 23 second video together.

    “I edited it over spring break. That’s all I did during vacation,” she said, with a half-smile and an exaggerated sigh of relief. “I’ve been living and breathing this video. It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun for me and for the students.”

    Viewing the video, which is both educational and highly entertaining, it appears to have been lots of fun for the first responders, too, as they largely shed their public personae as first responders and are seen dancing and miming with abandon, as they try to keep up with the first and second graders’ fancy footwork.

    On May 24, Daly is holding a showing of the video for the parents, kids, the first responders, school personnel, and other interested parties. We will also have on display all the art work the students created for their study of Community.

    “As a result of making the video, I think the kids have a whole new perspective on our emergency and military personnel and what they do for us,” Daly said. “Plus, the kids made lots of new friends through the process of creating the video. When they see these first responders on the street, now, they’re going to recognize them and maybe give them a hug,” Daly said. “But, more than that, I think they’ll appreciate what these first responders can do for them if there’s an emergency.

    “My hope is that the video will go viral, carrying our message of trust and appreciation for our emergency personnel all over the world. We hope everyone will come to our showing on May 24,” Daly said.

    First Responders Rap Video

  • Tornado downs trees, smashes homes

    Charlie Robertson stands in front of what’s left of one end of his home on Highway 21 on the edge of Ridgeway after a giant tree fell on top of it, crushing the kitchen and family room areas of the home. | Photos: Barbara Ball

    FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Storms moved through Fairfield County between 2:30 and 3 p.m. Sunday bringing rain, high winds and spawning at least one tornado along the east side of the County with many reports of trees down causing considerable damage to structures from Ridgeway to Mitford.

    The National Weather Service notified the County offices Monday that a tornado, with winds in excess of 86 miles per hour, touched down in the Ridgeway-Lake Wateree area.

    Some of the storm’s worst destruction could be followed from the Ridgeway area north, along Lake Wateree, to the Mitford area, as it toppled giant oak and pine trees in its path. Some of those trees crashed through roofs and sliced into homes causing heavy damage. Several roads were blocked by fallen trees.

    Some areas along the storm’s path were reported to be without electricity until Monday.

    No injuries have been reported.

  • BAR approves COA for bakery

    BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood has come one step closer to getting a whole lot sweeter.

    The Blythewood Board of Architectural Review (BAR) voted on Monday evening to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for the use of the historic Bookhart/Blume home as a bakery and cafe.  The building is located at 193 Langford Road in downtown Blythewood.

    Blythewood residents Jay and Christine Keefer and Charles White submitted the application.

    “This COA is one of the contingencies, one more step in the process,” Christine Keefer said.

    After Ralph Walden, the BAR’s consulting architect, met with the applicants and reviewed renovation plans, the BAR voted to accept the 10 changes the applicants agreed to make to the exterior of the property zoned Town Center – Historic.

    Jay Keefer indicated in his presentation to the Board that his group wanted to preserve as much of the current building as possible, even to the extent of maintaining the current metal roof and matching all exterior colors.  Plans are to add an ADA-compliant access ramp that will extend from the right side of the front porch to the onsite parking area.  The onsite parking will also be to the east side of the building, using the existing curb cut on Sandfield Road as ingress and egress.

    The Board requested that the applicants work with the BAR Chair or Vice-Chair regarding the outdoor signage.  Keefer emphasized that their plan was to use a slice of the approximately four-foot diameter tree that currently exists in the front yard facing Langford Road.  He explained that the tree needs to come down and they want to include a slice of it to create a raised and painted wooden sign for the café.

    Current plans are to be open from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays.

    “My sister, Chanin White, will be our bakery chef,” explained Christine Keefer.  “And we anticipate catering mainly to the commuters and lunch crowd with an opening planned, hopefully, for this summer.”

    Asked if they had selected a name for the café yet, Keefer smiled and said, “We Bake You Happy”.