Blythewood Online 691

Category: Community

  • Meals on Wheels in critical need of volunteers

    WINNSBORO – The Fairfield County Council on Aging currently delivers meals to 190 senior citizens throughout Fairfield County every week, and more are waiting to receive the service. But without additional volunteers to deliver those meals, it’s impossible to add more routes and more recipients to the program, according to Angela Connor, Executive Director of the county’s Council on Aging.

    “We’re touching lives one meal at a time,” explained MaryCathryn Wilson, the agency’s Volunteer Coordinator, “but we need help.  Currently, even our staff is serving routes in the Winnsboro area due to a critical lack of volunteers,” Wilson explained.

    Many of the seniors in the program are homebound and live alone, often in isolated areas.

    Linda Branham delivers a meal to 92 year-old Rosalee Peay. | Darlene Embleton

    “It’s not unusual for our volunteer to be the only person they see in a day,” said Conner.   “This daily contact is a large component of what the program is all about.”

    Good nutrition is the key, though.  The meals provided to seniors in the program are nutritionally balanced to meet the 1/3 recommended daily allowance (RDI) for seniors.

    The volunteers help to improve the quality of life for older adults by providing them with services that allow them to remain independent and in their own homes for as long as possible.

    The home-delivered meals program receives funding from a number of sources – the federal government, the state, Fairfield County as well as private donors.  Participants who receive meals may also donate toward the cost of their own meals, but it is not required. All contributions received through the home delivered meals program remain in the program and are used to sustain it.

    The volunteers deliver both hot and frozen meals, depending on the location of the recipients.

    “Strict regulations regarding food safety temperatures determine where the hot meals can be delivered,” Connor said. “We are currently running 10 hot meal routes in Winnsboro, Ridgeway and the Lebanon area.”

    Frozen meals are delivered to outlying areas once a week in boxes of five meals with supplements.

    The volunteers come from all walks of life.

    “We have 3 families who home school their children and use this as their service project,” Wilson said.

    Ridgeway residents Linda and Rodger Branham have been volunteering for years.

    Routes typically take just 45 minutes to one hour to complete and are picked up from the Winnsboro Senior Center at 210 E Washington Street at 10:45 a.m.  Ridgeway has some other arrangements for pick-up.

    “Volunteers can deliver as often as they like or as little as they can,” Connor explained.  “We know that everyone’s time is stretched thin these days, therefore we have availability for volunteering from one hour a month to one hour a day.  Our Volunteer Coordinator will work with each volunteer to help make the schedule as suitable as possible. “

    Helping seniors be able to stay in their own home for as long as possible is a wonderful way to give back to others in our community.

    Volunteers need to be at least 18 years of age and have their own transportation. Those who would like more information about volunteering to serve the meals, can contact MaryCathryn Wilson at 803-635-3015.

     

  • Lightning struck twice in Drawdy Park

    Heyward Mattox, left, Jeff Mattox, back center, Dee Mattox, front center, and Russell Price. | Darlene Embleton

    WINNSBORO – July 19, 1993.  Winnsboro resident, Dee Mattox recalled that day 25 years ago when lightning struck twice in the same place.

    “I remember it vividly,” Mattox recalled, “even the smell of burnt flesh.  My family and I were attending an All Star Little League game at Drawdy Park being played between Winnsboro and Mullins. The game had to be called because a violent thunderstorm had moved in.”

    According to a story printed in the Herald Independent, witnesses reported that a flash of lightening hit a large oak tree near a car belonging to the Gasque family from Mullins. Dale Gasque, his wife and daughter Amy were sitting in the car at the time.

    “We heard a loud noise when the lightning hit,” a witness who asked not to be identified, was quoted in the news article. “I think the three in the car were scared when the lightning hit so close, so they got out of their car.”

    Heyward and Dee Mattox and their son, 11-year-old Jae, were sitting in their car not far away when they saw the lightning strike.

    “My first memory after the initial strike is seeing Russell Price run over to the car to check on the family parked beneath the tree,” Jae recalled in a Facebook post last Thursday, the anniversary of the strike.

    Mattox said some who were at the park reported that Gasque, who was outside of his family’s vehicle surveying the situation, commented that he was safe because lightning never strikes the same spot twice.

    Just minutes later, the second lightning strike hit a tree in the same area.

    Already a nurse of 15 years, Dee jumped from her car and ran to the scene.

    “They were all unconscious,” Dee recalled.  “But I could smell the burned flesh and Dale’s skin was blue and purple.  He was not breathing and he had no pulse.  I immediately started CPR,” recalled Mattox, who was also an American Heart Basic Life Support Instructor then and now.

    Right there in the pouring down rain, with lightning and thunder still rampant, Mattox is credited with saving Gasque’s life.

    “There were many heroes that day and it would never have worked without everyone working together,” Mattox said.  “Jeff Wade (a SC Highway Patrol Trooper) assisted with the CPR. Jeff Mattox took care of the other members of the family, someone called 911, Russell Price and many of the men there carried Dale to a place where we could do more effective CPR. Many people in their own way were heroes that day. I do believe God put us all there for a reason,” Mattox said. “It was 15 or 20 minutes before the ambulance came but it felt like forever.”

    The Herald reported that the other occupants of the car, Beverly Gasque and her daughter Anna, regained consciousness and were driven to the hospital by Jeff Mattox.  In a Facebook post, Jeff said he remembers that their shoes were smoking. Beverly Gasque, responded that, indeed, she still has the tennis shoes with the insides melted and holes burned in them.

    Dale Gasque survived the ordeal, as did the whole family.

    “We actually stayed in touch with them over the years,” Dee said.  “I understand their daughter Anna became a nurse as a result of being influenced by the event.”

    Anna Gasque Johnson said she felt her family was blessed with a true miracle that day in Dee Mattox and that she (Mattox) was the reason she and her brother, Luke, still had a daddy and her children had a Papa.

    As fate would have it, sons from both families, Jae Mattox and Luke Gasque, attended the Citadel at the same time. Dale and Beverly Gasque still live in Mullins, SC, and now have three grandchildren.

    “God works in mysterious ways,” Mattox said.  “I recently got a text from Anna Gasque Johnson, that she was able to ‘pay it forward’ when she performed CPR on a stranger at a Clemson ball game.”

    Mattox said she encourages everyone to take a day to learn CPR.

    “It works,” she said. “I don’t think there would be anything worse than to stand by and watch someone die who could have been saved. And that someone may be someone you love. God put us here to take care of each other.”

    And that is exactly what she and others did 25 years ago, in the pouring rain and violent lightning at Drawdy Park.

  • Golf Club of SC in foreclosure

    Crickentree residents fear plan to replace entire golf course with 450 homes

    Crickentree residents heard E-Capitol’s presentation on Monday. | Barbara Ball

    BLYTHEWOOD – After years of struggling financially, the Golf Club of South Carolina closed last week. The Club is entered off Langford Road and much of the golf course borders the Crickentree subdivision, which is accessed off Kelly Mill Road. One side of the golf course is the back yard to many of the 145 expensive, uniquely-designed Crickentree homes that boast large lots, some up to two acres in size.

    A Texas investment company, E-Capitol, which holds the note and mortgage on the golf course property, initiated foreclosure proceedings on the course in March. Once the foreclosure is complete, E-Capital expects to purchase the course and build about 450 homes on it.

    450 homes could replace Crickentree Golf Course.

    This is not sitting well with the 75 or so Crickentree residents who showed up at the Hilton Garden Inn on Farrow Road Monday night to hear E-Capitol’s attorney Jake Barker, with Gaybill, Lansche and Vinzanti, explain his client’s plans for the golf course

    property if they, indeed, become the purchasers.

    “Once my client owns the property, they will pivot from the foreclosure process to the development process,” Barker said. “They will sell the property to a developer who will then develop it.”

    But Barker was careful to explain that the golf course will be developed as residential property, not a golf course. To make that transition would require a rezoning from the current TROS (Traditional Recreational Open Space) zoning classification to a residential zoning classification.

    That rezoning is where the residents feel they have a foothold to stop the development of hundreds of homes on small lots in their backyards.

    The TROS zoning classification dates back to 2007 when the planning commission added a zoning classification to the Richland County land use plan to protect golf course communities throughout Richland County from becoming the victims of rampant residential development.

    The question is, now, will county council vote to change the zoning to protect E-Capitol’s investment and satisfy the developer or keep the current zoning in place to protect the Crickentree property owners’ investments and quality of life they say they moved there for.

    “Before the rezoning process begins,” Barker told the homeowners gathered at the Hilton Garden Inn, “we want to get feedback from the Crickentree neighborhood as to what you would like to see. The golf course was not meeting its obligations and could not continue on,” Barker said. “I understand none of this is ideal for you, but we want to have a discussion with you. We want to work with you.” Barker said.

    The course, outlined in black, is partially bordered by Crickentree subdivision.

    While the anxious crowd of homeowners vowed to fight any rezoning effort that would result in smaller lots and a crowding of hundreds of homes onto the golf course, as the hour-long meeting continued, Barker suggested the possibility of building fewer homes on larger lots with a buffer as wide as 100 feet separating the golf course homes from the current homes.

    “That’s all possible,” Barker said. “These drawings are our initial, conceptual plans to develop it. We want feedback. We want to hear from you,” Barker insisted.

    Asked about the pricing and size of the homes that would be built on the golf course, an engineer representing E-Capitol’s interest said he didn’t know. He said that would be determined by the eventual developer.

    Barker said there is no timetable for the actual foreclosure and purchase of the golf course, but that it would take place in Richland County circuit court, and had been referred to Judge Strickland, the master of equity for Richland County.

    “Once the foreclosure process is finished,” Barker said, “the property will be sold at auction, and any third parties can come and bid at that sale.”

  • Blair’s Hodges is global hero

    THAILAND – A Blair favorite son, Major Charles (Charlie) Hodges, has been in the news around the world the last two weeks, and for good reason.  As the U. S. Mission commander for the 353rd Special Operations unit for the Air force, Hodges served as commander in the daring, seemingly impossible, but totally successful rescue of 12 young soccer players from deep within the bowels of a water filled cave in Thailand last week.

    Hodges’ friends, family and strangers in Fairfield County have followed the news of the boys’ rescue and Hodges’ and the other rescuers’ fete on every major news outlet in the country, albeit in the world.

    The Richard Winn graduate has been interviewed on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, the Today Show and was the subject of stories in the New York Times, Post and Courier and other local, state, national and worldwide news sources.

    While The Voice was not able to talk with Hodges, here are some excerpts from his interviews.

    Today Show: “I felt like I was being optimistic when I told the governor of Chiang Rai that, in my mind, the potential chance of success was anywhere from 60 – 70%, we were fully expecting casualties.”

    “We knew that if we acted soon, we had the potential to rescue them, but we didn’t have the option to wait.”

    CBS This Morning: “We also understood, though, we didn’t have the option to not attempt this…even though the odds seemed impossible. What I’ve always been taught is to take risks and be bold when the situation calls for it, and this situation absolutely did.”

    “We’re not trained to do cave dive rescue missions, so at the end of the day you just have to rely on the training that you’re given, how we approach problems methodically and logically, try to push away any emotion and look at it from the lens of ‘what are the circumstances and what do we absolutely need to do to make this a success.’”

    “It took every single one of us, putting our heads together and pushing aside any sort of political or cultural differences, and doing our best to find a solution to do this. What I take away from this is how much can be accomplished from teamwork, because it was pretty impressive seeing all those entities working together.”

    New York Times: “I don’t know of any other rescue that put the rescuer and the rescuee in so much danger over a prolonged period of time, unless it is something along the lines of firefighters going into the World Trade Center knowing that the building is on fire and is going to collapse.”

    Interview and article links:

    SC man who helped in Thai soccer team rescue has a proud former teacher back home (WIS TV),  Citadel graduate involved in Thai cave rescue describes dramatic operation (Post & Courier) ,  US Mission Commander reacts to successful Thai rescue (Good Morning America) ,  ‘We were fully expecting casualties’: Thai soccer team rescuers describe harrowing mission (Today Show), Air Force commander describes Thai rescue (CBS This Morning), ‘Still Can’t Believe It Worked’: The Story of the Thailand Cave Rescue (The New York Times)

  • Moving on up

    WINNSBORO – The Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce held a moving sale last Saturday in preparation of their move back to the Town Clock this week. Dillon Pullen, left, helped shoppers Tommy Richardson and Robert and Bobbie Pemberton while Betty Gutschlag, right, visited with Chamber Director Terrie Vickers. Following Saturday’s sale, the Chamber relocated to the Town Clock on Wednesday.

  • Serving The Servants

    Photos: Martha Ladd

    WINNSBORO – While Salkehatchie volunteers spend this week making home repairs and doing small projects for Fairfield County residents in need, members from churches throughout the county take turns preparing food and serving the volunteers, who reside in Fairfield Central High School for the week.

    On Monday, representatives from St. John’s Episcopal, Sion Presbyterian and Salem Presbyterian churches fed Salkehatchie workers. Pictured above, Lily and Roman Hawkins, youth from St. John’s, serve chili. At right, Sion Presbyterian member Austin Costenbader plates hotdogs.

  • Two Fairfield County Veterans buried Friday

    COLUMBIA – The interment of the cremains of two Fairfield County Veterans took place Friday, July 13 at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.  Private Leroy McAllister and Army Veteran Patricia Green were honored at a 10:00 a.m. service.

  • Winnsboro Lions welcome exchange students

    Winnsboro Lions President Bill Haslett hosted a small community gathering for the exchange students on Tuesday. Pictured, seated, from left: Ida Marie Lorensten, Maria Clara Annes; Standing: Aaron Frish, Kayla Robinson, Michelle Taylor, Ella Roosa Mantysalo, Donnie Laird, Berenika Poplerova, Jim Barn, County Councilman Neil Robinson, Rafal Baran, Andres Byttebrier, Paul Dove, Will Haslett and Bill Haslett. | Martha Ladd

    WINNSBORO – A trip across the pond for six Lions Club exchange students has landed them in Winnsboro for two weeks of their month-long journey, beginning with scattered arrivals over the weekend of July 7.

    Visiting Winnsboro are Maria Clara Annes, Brazil; Ida Marie Lorensten, Denmark; Ella Roosa Mantysalo, Finland; and Berenika Poplerova, Czech Republic; Andres Byttbrier, Belgium; Rafal Baran, Poland

    The students are spending the first half of their four-week trip with Winnsboro Lions Paul and Bobbie Dove and Bill and Linda Haslett before joining 12 other exchange students to tour South Carolina for two weeks.

    In their first days as temporary Winnsboro residents, the group has eaten at Cornwallis Tea Room, attended First United Methodist Church and introduced themselves to Fairfield County Council at Monday night’s meeting. They plan to volunteer with Salkehatchie later in July.

    The group’s month-long trek across South Carolina will end August 4.

  • Artist memorializes Shaggin’ in the Street

    Interpretive artist Trahern Cook painted photo during Shaggin’ in the Street. | Photos: Darlene Embleton

    WINNSBORO – What started as a commissioned painting to commemorate the Shaggin’ in the Street festival for those attending a Winnsboro High School class reunion, may turn out to be a memento for residents and a souvenir marketing opportunity for The Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce.

    For Gail Stevenson Lyles, a member of the Winnsboro High School class of ’73, the class reunion was gearing up to be special this year. It fell on the day after the town’s annual Shaggin’ in the Street festival. Both events are near and dear to Lyles’ heart – after all, her husband, Jamie, plays in the Reunion Bande which would be on stage at the festival again this year. So Lyles wanted to combine the two events for the enjoyment of reunion attendees.

    To make it a weekend to remember for her classmates, Lyles commissioned local interpretive artist, Trahern Cook, to capture the moment on canvas as the reunion attendees and others danced the night away in the street in front of the town clock. She planned to auction the painting at the end of the evening to pay Trahern’s $300 fee.

    Set up in the middle of the festivities, Cook’s commission turned out to be a major attraction during the evening as he worked at his easel, deftly wielding his brushes in the dark to capture the images of the festival – the clock, the colors and the movement and attitudes of the festival goers as they shagged the night away with abandon.

    While the auction was scratched as a sudden rain storm, complete with lightening and strong winds, washed the festival off the streets an hour before it was scheduled to end, Lyles said she was still able to take bids for the completed painting. It was purchased by Michael Talbert and gifted to Patti Estes who titled it, “Shaggin in the ‘boro.”

    “I was the lucky recipient of this wonderful painting,” Estes enthused. She said she anticipates it becoming a family heirloom. “I know all three of my children would love to have it because they all grew up in Winnsboro and graduated from Richard Winn Academy.”

    For Lyles, it was a night to remember.

    “We were excited to see that so many of our classmates attended the festival,” Lyles said. “And the wonderful people of Winnsboro voluntarily chipped in $200 toward the cost to have Trahern join us and create this painting of our beloved home town festival.” Lyles said.

    As it turned out, the painting that depicts Winnsboro in all its festive glory is going to have a double life. Plans are in the works for it to be shared by the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce with the community and visitors to the town.

    “We bought the reproduction rights to the painting,” Chamber Director Terry Vickers said.  “And we’re looking forward to reproducing the image on post cards, note cards, posters, cookbooks and even T-shirts that we plan to market,” Vickers said. “Keep an eye out for these great gift ideas coming, we hope, before the holidays. And what great souvenirs for our visitors to take back home with them as reminders of their trip to our town!”

    Indeed, the special night Lyles pulled together for her classmates may now live on for years in the Chamber’s marketed items.

    “I am so thrilled about the way it all turned out,” Lyles said. “And I can’t wait to see our beautiful Winnsboro festival emblazoned on T-shirts and posters.”

    The Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce is making plans to market the image on souvenirs.

  • Free dementia care training offered Aug. 7

    BLYTHEWOOD – A free community training event for caregivers who provide care to family members or others with dementia or related dementia disorders will be conducted at Doko Manor on Tuesday, Aug. 7, from 8:30 a.m.  – 1:30 p.m. The course has the support of the Town of Blythewood and Mayor J. Michael Ross.

    The course, titled ‘Dementia Speaks,’ is based on the dementia training program offered by the  University of South Carolina’s Office for the Study of Aging and will be conducted by USC gerontologist and licensed social worker, Dr. Macie Smith, who specializes in providing one-on-one family dementia training.

    Smith’s specific focus is coordinating quality care within aging and underserved communities.

    Attendees will receive free materials from the Office of Aging, The Alzheimer’s Association, Leeza’s Care Connection and others.

    To register, contact Doris Kelly Coleman at 404-444-6960 or email MIDORA@bellsouth.net.