This year’s Hoof & Paw Benevolence Society officers held their first meeting at Tweedberry Farm in Ridgeway with board members Kathy Faulk, president; Minge Wiseman, treasurer; Terri Daughtry, vice president; Aimee Griffith, member at large; Kathy Korash, secretary, and Janell Gregory, social media.
BLYTHEWOOD – The Hoof & Paw Benevolent Society returned to in-person gatherings with their first regular monthly meeting after more than a year on Saturday, June 5.
The group met at Tweedberry Farm in Ridgeway for a covered
dish picnic and a K9 Agility demonstration. Alison Carter, the owner and
operator of Carolina Performance K9s in Columbia, set up an abbreviated course
at the farm and showed off the agility skills of her champion Border Collie,
Passion. Passion breezed over jumps, wove through poles, darted through tunnels
and showed off several impressive tricks, all of which brought cheers from the
audience.
Entertainment was provided by agility dog, Passion, at left performing flying course work.
Hoof and Paw members had a lot to celebrate, including a
wider outreach in the Midlands area through funding numerous spay and neuter
clinics, funding lifesaving heartworm treatments for animals in shelters and
rescues, organizing rescues for animals in need, providing pet food to senior
citizen pet owners and more.
To join Hoof and Paw, or assist them in their mission, please visit them on Facebook at HoofandPaw SC or reach out to them by email at hoofandpawsouthcarolina@gmail.com.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has filed proposed postage
increases that are, in some cases, seven times the rate of inflation, according
to the News Media Alliance. This increase will have detrimental effects on
small businesses, including small-market and rural newspapers that cannot
afford the increased costs, particularly as they strive to recover from the
economic impact of COVID-19. The average
increase for market-dominant mail, including First Class, Periodicals and
Marketing Mail, is 6.9 percent. Periodical mail, which is used by local newspapers
across the country, will see a rate increase of more than 8 percent on average.
These new rates – on top of rates increased earlier in the
year – will push mail out of the system and, in some cases, may put companies
out of business. The proposed rate increases come at a time when the U.S. Postal
Service has so far earned nearly $2 billion more in 2021 revenue than predicted
and after receiving a $10 billion grant from Congress at the end of last year.
The new rates come on the heels of a decision by the Postal
Regulatory Commission (PRC) on November 30, 2020, that overturned a congressionally
mandated inflationary price cap for mail products that USPS has a monopoly on
delivering: First Class, Periodicals, and Marketing Mail. This change, which
was based on USPS’s financial standing in 2017, allowed the Postal Service to
raise rates that exceed the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Previous rate
increases, which were in line with the CPI, were more reasonable and
predictable, averaging roughly 2 percent per year over the last 14 years.
News Media Alliance President and CEO David Chavern stated,
“These excessive rates not only threaten publishers and newspapers throughout
the country, but they are being introduced at one of the worst times for small
businesses that are struggling to recover from the economic impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic. The Alliance is deeply concerned that these rates will force
small market, rural and minority-owned newspapers to cut back on distribution,
leaving their communities less well-informed. We urge Congress to hit the pause
button until a more up-to-date evaluation can be done on the need for and
potential impact of these extreme rate increases.”
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – Around noon today, June 9, Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery announced the arrest of Tommy Gene Tolbert, 50, after the US Marshalls located Tolbert in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Tolbert man was arrested and charged with distribution of methamphetamine to an undercover agent on July 3, 2018. He was scheduled to stand trial on the charges in the 6th Judicial Circuit Court in Winnsboro in April 2021, but did not appear. The trial proceeded without him, and he was found guilty.
BLYTHEWOOD – Authorities with the Richland County Sheriff’s
Office are continuing their investigation this week into a shooting at a
graduation party over the weekend that left one young man dead.
Authorities said the incident occurred in the 1000 block of
Lawhorn Road in Blythewood, near Grover Wilson Road.
The victim has been identified by the Richland County
Coroner’s Office as 19 year-old David Green. Authorities have confirmed to The
Voice that Green did not live at the residence where the shooting occurred.
According to a RCSO incident report, deputies responded to a
report of a shooting at the residence at approximately 12:30 Sunday morning.
The report read that the responding deputy arrived at the
scene to find a crowd of people standing in front of and around the residence.
Those people directed the deputy to the side of the home where he located the
victim lying on his back in the grass.
The deputy reported that the victim was unresponsive.
RCSO officials have said the victim had been shot in the
upper body.
According to the incident report, a witness at the scene
told the responding deputy that a gun had been located near where the victim
was laying, and that they had moved the gun for “safety reasons”. The report
described the gun as a 9mm Glock handgun.
The witness also told the deputy that there may have
possibly been a second gun involved in the shooting, but no other gun was
located at that time, according to the report.
As of Tuesday, authorities have not said if the recovered
gun was used in the shooting.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is encouraged
to contact Richland County authorities through Crime Stoppers. Tips may be left
anonymously.
WINNSBORO – The majority 4 on Fairfield County Council voted
to hire their sixth choice for interim administrator, Brad Caulder, during a
special called meeting Thursday night, June 3, following a five-minute
executive session. Caulder is the county’s director of Human Resources. He did
not attend the meeting.
Caulder
Before the vote for Caulder, Councilman Neil Robinson made a motion to hire Fairfield’s assistant county administrator Laura Johnson as the interim administrator.
“I think we’re at a stage right now…I believe she’s the one
to carry the torch forward,” Robinson said. Following the meeting, Robinson
cited Johnson’s years of experience with the county and her overall role and
expertise in assisting Taylor run the county for the last two year.
Johnson, a CPA and former finance director of the county, will
retire Friday, June 4, the last full day that Taylor said he will be in the
county offices before moving into the town manager’s job at the Town of
Winnsboro.
Johnson and Taylor are two of several top county officials
who were pushed out by the majority 4 since January.
Council voted 3-4 against hiring Johnson, with the majority
4, Moses Bell, Mikel Trapp, Tim Roseborough and Shirley Greene voting against. Council
members Robinson, Douglas Pauley and Clarence Gilbert voted for.
After Trapp made the motion to hire Caulder, Pauley proposed
an amendment to the motion.
That amendment called for Caulder’s appointment to be for no
more than a three-month period and for Caulder to be allowed to transfer back
into the role of Human Resources Director following the three months.
Pauley said following the meeting that he, Gilbert and
Robinson hoped such an amendment would protect Caulder’s job until he gets back
to it.
Alluding to the majority 4’s penchant for government
secrecy, Pauley also stipulated in his motion that, during the period Fairfield
County has an interim administrator, any communications initiated to the
interim administrator by a member of Council, including the Chair and Vice
Chair, be in email format, and that all other Council members be copied on the
email.
“While I am hesitant
to hire someone for the position of interim administrator who does not have
extensive local government organization leadership experience,” Pauley said, “we
need to do what is best for Fairfield County right now and we need to have an interim
administrator by tomorrow according to state law. I think the best we can do
tonight, considering the circumstances, is to hire a person we know to be
intelligent and ethical. I believe Mr. Caulder to be both,” Pauley said.
Pauley said the focus must now be shifted to hiring an imminently
qualified permanent administrator.
“We have no time to waste in doing that. I think three months
is a reasonable timeline,” Pauley said. He called for stability and for no
individual council members to attempt to micro-manage the interim administrator.
“If this amendment passes, I will vote to appoint Mr.
Caulder as the interim administrator. If the amendment fails, I will not be
able to vote in favor of the appointment,” Pauley said.
The amendment failed 3-4 with Pauley, Robinson and Gilbert
voting for the amendment. Bell, Trapp, Roseborough and Greene voted against.
Council authorized Bell and the county attorney, Charles
Boykin, to negotiate a contract with Caulder.
Bell said Caulder has experience in human resources and
public works.
“What we’re doing tonight is a very innovative approach,”
Bell said. “We believe this move will allow us to gain more depth in our
organization, and it creates a significant alternative long term.”
There was no mention of who would be over Human Resources
during Caulder’s absence.
Following the meeting, Caulder said in a phone interview
with The Voice, “We will work as a team to continue to provide services for the
citizens.”
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Michael Squirewell, a candidate for the Fairfield County’s interim administrator’s job, notified Council Chairman Moses Bell in an email this morning that he is withdrawing his name from consideration for the position.
Squirewell spoke with The Voice earlier today as well to
confirm that he is no longer a candidate for the job.
Squirewell
“Upon arrival for the interview [Tuesday evening], I was informed by a council member that you had decided who you were going to hire before the interview began,” Squirewell wrote in the email to Bell.
In an interview with The Voice, Squirewell said that while
he appreciated that council was going to continue to interview him tonight, he
would have appreciated it more had he received prior notice that he was out of
the running.
Squirewell told The Voice that he was under the impression
that he was seriously being considered and did not know that council had interviewed
another candidate after he (Squirewell) left the interview.
Brad Caulder, the county’s director of Human Resources, was
interviewed in executive session separate from Squirewell on Tuesday night,
according to sources. The Voice reached out to Caulder but had not yet spoken
with him before this story was posted. Bell also could not be reached for
comment.
A special called council meeting is scheduled for tonight
(Thursday, June 3) at 6 p.m., in council chambers at the Fairfield County
government building.
Caulder is expected to be the only candidate interviewed,
according to Councilman Neil Robinson, but The Voice was not able to confirm
that information with Bell.
Town Councilman Sloan Griffin & Town Administrator Carroll Williamson
BLYTHEWOOD – Residents had the opportunity to get an up close look at some of the proposals for changes to roads in downtown Blythewood that were on display at The Manor.
As part of the Richland County Transportation Penny Tax
program, the town is in line to have Creech Road extended from Blythewood Road
down to Main Street (Highway 21/Wilson Boulevard) as well as the construction
of a four-way stop at the intersection of McNulty Street and Boney Road.
Before plans are drawn up for the two projects, Richland
County officials wanted to hear from the residents of Blythewood regarding
their preferences for the extension and the roundabout.
Of the four Blythewood projects that will be completed with Penny Tax funds, the first will be to widen and improve the Creech Road Extension down to Main Street. Second priority is to widen and improve McNulty Street from Main Street to Blythewood Road. The third priority is to widen and improve Blythewood Road from I-77 to Main Street. And the fourth priority is to widen and improve Blythewood Road from Syrup Mill Road to Fulmer Road.
COLUMBIA – Richland County residents have a second
opportunity to view the county’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The County will hold a virtual public hearing on the budget at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 3. The meeting will stream live on the county’s YouTube page and on the county website.
County Council uses the budget to oversee the delivery of
services, programs and resources. Residents can review the recommended budget
book for fiscal year 2021-22, which details the biennial budget, on Richland
County’s website by navigating to the Budget & Grants Management webpage.
By state law, Richland County must approve a balanced budget
for the fiscal year before July 1. The County’s 2022 fiscal year runs July 1,
2021-June 30, 2022.
Richland County Council will hold a third reading of the
budget at its June 10 meeting.
WINNSBORO – Time’s almost up for Fairfield County to designate an interim or permanent administrator before running afoul of state law.
In spite of four failed attempts in as many weeks to seat an
interim administrator, the county’s top elected official asserted Tuesday night
that one would be confirmed by Thursday evening, June 3.
At the special meeting called on Tuesday night, council was
set to discuss the fourth candidate. Council Chair Moses Bell emailed council
members Tuesday morning that the candidate would be David L. Rawlinson, an
upstate educator for more than thirty years. There was no mention in the email
that Rawlinson had government experience.
By mid-afternoon the same day, The Voice learned that
Rawlinson had declined the job offer, citing turmoil on council, and that Bell
had put forth two other names for consideration at the evening meeting –
Michael Squirewell, a home builder who lives in Ridgeway, and Brad Caulder, the
county’s human resources director.
Both men were interviewed in executive session for more than
an hour, but council took no action on selecting either of them.
Bell told The Voice following the meeting that he
anticipated interviews will resume during a special meeting tentatively planned
for Thursday, June 3, at 5:30 p.m.
Asked if council would continue the selection process with
Squirewell and Caulder or interview another candidate, Bell said he didn’t
think a new candidate would be considered at this point.
Rawlinson’s candidacy for the interim position was preceded
by three other failed considerations for the job. The first candidate, a former
Richland County government official, didn’t make it to the vote before he was
dropped from consideration because of reports linking him to sexual harassment
in the workplace at Richland County. The second candidate, educator Jim Rex,
dropped out the day after council voted to approve him for the position, citing
turmoil on council. The third candidate, former Richland County administrator
Gerald Seals, said his offer for the position was withdrawn by Bell the day
following the vote. It was formally withdrawn by council four days later.
Fairfield County has until the end of business Friday, June
4 to appoint an interim administrator to comply with state law.
It was only three weeks ago that Bell issued an RFP for a
search firm to advertise and bring candidates to the county for the
administrator job. After securing a firm to search for qualified candidates,
Jason Taylor, the current county administrator, said it could take as much as
six months to fill the position.
Section 4-9-620 of state law states the following: “The
council shall employ an administrator who shall be the administrative head of
the county government and shall be responsible for the administration of all
the departments of the county government which the council has the authority to
control.”
Taylor and Laura Johnson, the county’s assistant county
administrator, are both leaving their posts June 4.
Tim Winslow, executive director of the S.C. Association of
Counties, said the county could merely designate an interim administrator by
council vote while continuing to search for a full-time administrator, noting
that’s how Pickens County proceeded with a recent vacancy.
Numerous top-level employees have departed Fairfield County
in the wake of the November general elections, which saw a dramatic shift in
the council’s balance of power. The council now routinely votes 4-3 on most
issues of consequence, including votes on appointing an interim administrator.
In light of the fact that the county will have neither a
county administrator nor an assistant administrator after Taylor and Johnson
depart the county offices on Friday, council members voted 5-0 to give Anne
Bass, the county’s finance director, signature authority for county checks.
Council members Doug Pauley and Mikel Trapp were absent for the vote.
The vote is contingent on the county confirming the legality
of giving Bass that authority.
WINNSBORO – A special meeting of Fairfield County Council
was called for 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 1, for the purpose of discussing a
candidate for the position of interim county administrator. Council members had
been told in a Tuesday morning email from Council Chairman Moses Bell that they
would be interviewing educator David L. Rawlinson. But Rawlinson backed out of
the offer midday on Tuesday, hours prior to the meeting, citing the current
turmoil on council, according to Bell.
Instead, Ridgeway builder Michael Squirewell and Director of
Human Resources for the county, Brad Caulder, were presented to council members
during executive session for consideration for the interim county administrator
position.
No decision was made on either candidate and the meeting was
adjourned.
Bell said in an interview with The Voice following the
meeting that the two candidates are expected to be interviewed further during
another special called meeting Thursday night at 5:30 p.m.
Rawlinson was the fourth candidate in as many weeks that was
considered by council for the interim administrator position. The first
candidate, a former Richland County government official, didn’t make it to the
vote before he was dropped from consideration because of reports linking him to
sexual harassment in the workplace at Richland County. The second candidate,
educator Jim Rex, dropped out the day after council voted to approve him for
the position, also citing turmoil on council. The third candidate, former
Richland County administrator, Gerald Seals, reportedly had his offer for the
position withdrawn by Bell the day following the vote and withdrawn formally by
council four days later.
The county is at risk of violating state law if an interim
or permanent administrator isn’t installed by Friday, June 4. Both County
Administrator Jason Taylor and Assistant Administrator Laura Johnson have
resigned their positions effective on that date.
For more information about the candidate search see the Thursday, June 3 issue of The Voice.
