First United Methodist Church, 109 W College St. Winnsboro, is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Nov. 8 from 2 – 7 p.m.
This will be the second annual Clemson/Carolina Blood Drive. Last year was very successful with over 40 people offering to donate. Please call the church office at 635-4087 from 9 a.m.-noon during the week to schedule your donation time to donate blood. You may leave a message. Last year Clemson won the battle and Carolina fans hope to show that the blood collected this day “runs garnet instead of orange.” Door prizes will be given and a silent auction will be held to donate money to the American Red Cross Heroes Campaign.
If you have any questions, contact Barbara Martin at 635-2273. Plan to donate blood on Thursday, Nov. 8 to support the American Red Cross and your favorite team.
The holidays will quickly be on us again, ready to fall like a snowball balanced on top of Mt. Crumpet. Many people may be thinking of giving gifts to their loved ones.
The Fairfield County Council on Aging (FCCOA) hopes that you’ll think of gifting them with some of your time and become a Meals on Wheels volunteer.
Just a few hours out of your busy schedule can be a priceless gift for some seniors in Fairfield County.
“We have several meal routes in and around Winnsboro, where we’d love to see some kind-hearted people volunteer to carry the meals,” said FCCOA Meals on Wheels coordinator Brian Garner.
“Most of our routes are designed to take about 45 minutes to complete,” he added.
Meals on Wheels volunteers arrive at the FCCOA Senior Center about 11 in the morning to pick up their meals, then spend an enjoyable 45 minutes visiting with the seniors on their designated routes and delivering meals to them. Everything is pre-packaged
“We feed in the neighborhood of 75 seniors each day,” Garner said.
“The hot meals are important, but what’s equally important is the other thing the volunteers provide; human contact.
“When you bring a meal to someone and spend a few minutes with them, you show them that you care,” Garner said.
“It’s the best feeling to get back in your vehicle after having visited with a client, and know that you’ve made their day, just by being there.”
The time commitment can be as little or as much as you like; you can deliver one day a week or more if you wish.
“We also have volunteer opportunities in the Jenkinsville, Greenbrier and Ridgeway areas,” Garner said.
“We have a really dedicated group of volunteers and staff. Because of them, some people get meals that might ordinarily not get anything,” Garner said, “but we have other people in the county who don’t get a meal simply because we don’t have any way to get it to them.
“Our volunteers and staff have their hands full serving the clients that we can serve, but some additional volunteers would enable us to help so many more people.
“If you are interested in donating your time, call me at 803-635-3015 and we will find the volunteer opportunity that’s right for you.
“The gift of your time could be the greatest gift you give this year.”
The Rev. Norris B. Turner and the Gethsemane Baptist Church Family would like to thank you for supporting the Ordination Service for Minister Bridget Goodwin on Oct. 14.
The sermon was delivered by Pastor Algerron Williams Sr., Moderator of the Gethsemane Baptist Missionary Association and pastor of Zion Chapel #2 and New Dimenson Baptist Churches in Columbia.
Selections were given by Gethsemane Gospel Choir and Stonewall Holiness Church. The processional included the candidate and her husband, Mr. Sammie Goodwin.
Fairfield County marchers show their signs during the Oct. 13 march.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and not just domestic violence should be acknowledged, but violence of all kinds. The 2012 Mayor’s walk was held in Finlay Park this month and a group from Winnsboro in Fairfield County held a similar march of their own at the same time. Violence in the home or gang-related violence leads to the same results, someone in many cases loses their life.
The Winnsboro march, their third, was organized by local pastors such as the Rev. Eddie Woods, Columbia pastors, community leaders and citizens of Fairfield County. They met in a parking lot across from the Fairfield Memorial Hospital at 8 a.m. when the temperature was barely 50 degrees and a strong wind was blowing. Bundled in sweat shirts against the wind, they marched with a two-car police escort to the County Courthouse where Carolyn Bates was the guest speaker. Bates lives in Augusta, Ga. but her son Larry Sanders Jr. was killed in Winnsboro, her reason for driving to Fairfield County for the march. Larry was killed in his home and no arrests have been made.
Like ripples in water, violence continues to spread in our community. Three out of four Americans personally know someone who has been affected in this way. That is 74 percent. It is happening to teens in our community, in the neighborhood and in school. Not all of it is gang related; some is the accidental killing of a person who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is not just teens but also young adults and older citizens. This serious issue can lead to psychological trauma, injury and death. This month was a time set aside for mourning those who have died, a celebration of those who have survived and connecting with those who work to end the violence like the Rev. Woods and others like him. We must raise awareness and remember all who lost their lives. Most of the deaths due to violence occur when the perpetrators are the victims themselves or people close to them, such as parents, partners, siblings and friends.
Violence takes the lives of more than 1.5 million people annually, of which 35 percent is due to homicide, the rest being due to war or conflict of some kind and suicides. The reasons for many of these homicides are poverty, gender inequality and harmful use of alcohol.
While at the march I spoke with Cheryl Weldon, one of the speakers on the steps of the courthouse. She is a sister of the Rev. Woods. Her eldest son Jamie Robertson went missing in the year 2006 and after weeks of searching for him, his remains, the results of violence, were found and the family was able to put him to rest. She often sees young men around town that resemble Jamie and it brings the pain back each time. This was not the last tragedy in this woman’s life; she also lost a second son in the year 2011. Weldon’s youngest son, 18-year-old Rodrickous Woods, was shot in the chest and killed as he was leaving a parking lot after a party with friends. He died in the hospital. The accused was locked up for only one day and then released. “This case is still open,” Weldon said.
She and her brother, the Rev. Woods, also lost a brother to a violent act. He was killed in his yard following an argument with someone he knew, when he was asked to leave his property.
Violence is preventable, and on Oct. 13 Fairfield County took to the street to let us know.
Javin George (13) takes the pass from DeAndre Belton (3) and races for the end zone.
Griffins’ quarterback DeAndre Belton (3) steps into the end zone.
The Fairfield Central Griffins may not have had their strongest week on the practice field this week – at least to hear head coach Demetrius Davis tell the tale – and although the first half of football Friday night was rife with Griffin penalties, Fairfield Central nonetheless put Region III in their rear-view mirror with a convincing 57-6 beat-down of North Central.
“A lot of penalties,” Davis said, reflecting on the 98 total yards surrendered to the yellow flag, 88 of which came in the first half. “I think our kids kind of relaxed once we knew we had the region (with last week’s 56-0 win over Pelion). As coaches, we’ve got to do a better job of coaching them not to play a game, but to play to get better. But North Central beating Columbia last week (33-28) actually made our guys pay a little more attention, but we still didn’t have a good week of practice and it showed today.”
The win gives the Griffins an unblemished 5-0 region record and a first round bye in the Class AA state playoffs, which begin next week. Although the Griffins mostly cruised through Region III, Davis said he was not concerned about his team’s preparedness for tougher competition in the playoff bracket.
“We probably played one of the most difficult pre-region seasons than anybody in 2A,” Davis said. “We’ve been battle-tested. We’re still young, and our kids are just now getting to the stage where they understand what it takes to be successful.”
Indeed, the Griffins could be peaking at just the right time, and they showed it Friday night, in spite of the penalties.
The Fairfield defense set things in motion for the scoring frenzy Friday when Davon Pearson intercepted North Central’s Grayson King at the Knights’ 31-yard line, killing North Central’s opening drive and unleashing an offensive explosion that in five plays had the Griffins in a first-and-goal situation from the Knights’ 5. Penalties slowed them somewhat, but Griffin quarterback DeAndre Belton set those troubles aside with a 15-yard touchdown run. Compton Walker, who was perfect off the tee Friday, added the PAT to make it 7-0 Fairfield Central with 7:34 left in the first quarter.
The Knights were forced to punt away their next drive from their own 28 and the Griffins, starting from their own 14, used only five plays to take the ball to the North Central 31. On the sixth play of the drive, Belton hit George Javin with a 31-yard touchdown pass, and just like that, the Griffins were up by two scores.
Fairfield Central hung another 22 points on the Knights in the second quarter, beginning with a 48-yard screen pass from Belton to Damien Bell on the first play from scrimmage to start the period. Bell also brought home the 2-point conversion to make it 22-0 with 11:48 left in the half.
Although the Knights were able to get on the scoreboard with a 7-yard pass from King to Austin Furman with 3:23 to go, Bell answered with a 5-yard run with 36 seconds remaining to make it 29-6.
“We want to play fast,” Davis said. “We want to score fast. We’re trying to get as many snaps as we can get. We play up-tempo. Coach (Ryan) Sharpe – all of our offensive coaches – coach (Kenneth) Lathan, coach (Terrell) Roach, coach (Jay) Schiedermayer, do a good job of putting us in position to make some plays, and we’ve got some good players, too.”
Even the defense got a little taste of the blood before the clock expired in the first half when Kevin Bannister scooped up a William Jenkins fumble at the North Central 46 and hammered and diced his way into the end zone with 14 seconds remaining to give the Griffins a 36-6 first-half lead.
Fairfield Central took their opening possession of the second half and in five plays sent Bell into the end zone once more, this time from 25 yards out with 10:57 on the clock. Another fumble recovery by the Griffins, this one at the North Central 40, would put their final scoring drive of the third into place. It took only two plays, one of which was a spectacular catch by Kewaun Squirewell, who leapt over his defender and snatched Belton’s pass out of the air at the Knights’ 9-yard line. Larry G. Bell polished off the drive with the 9-yard touchdown run with 8:04 to go in the quarter. Belton would throw for 274 yards on the night while contributing 97 yards on the ground with the kind of speed that looked almost otherworldly, like a magic trick.
With no answer for the speed of the Griffins’ starting squad, the Knights also had little solution for the speed of the reserves who took the field mid-way through the third quarter. Piloted by sophomore Markelle Whittaker at quarterback, the Griffins second unit began the final scoring drive of the evening on their own 38. Whittaker, who rushed for 57 yards in a quarter and a half of play, led the Griffins to the North Central 2-yard line where sophomore Joseph Young capped the drive.
The Griffins enjoy a week of rest to get healthy for round two of the playoffs, at Fairfield Central on Nov. 9, when they will play the winner of the Pelion-Crescent game.
“We’re going to treat it as a regular week,” Davis said. “We’re going to practice. Instead of playing a game Friday night, I’ll give them Friday off, but we’ll be back in the office Saturday morning.”
FC 14-22-14-7 57
NC 0-6-0-0 6
First Quarter
FC – DeAndre Belton 15 run. Compton Walker kick. (7:34)
FC – Javin George 31 pass from D. Belton. C. Walker kick. (3:59)
Second Quarter
FC – Damien Bell 48 pass from D. Belton. D. Bell 2 pass from D. Belton. (11:48)
FC – Kevin Bannister 46 fumble return. C. Walker kick. (0:14)
Third Quarter
FC – D. Bell 25 run. C. Walker kick. (10:57)
FC – Larry G. Bell 9 run. C. Walker kick. (8:04)
Fourth Quarter
FC – Joseph Young 2 run. C. Walker kick. (10:30)
Team Stats
FC NC
First Downs 15 7
Rushes/Yards 30-283 29-64
Passing Yards 137 40
C-A-INT-TD 11-14-0-2 5-12-1-1
Penalties/Yards 12-98 3-25
Fumbles/Lost 2-1 4-2
Individual Stats
RUSHING: FC – Damien Bell 12-60. DeAndre Belton 5-97. Larry G. Bell 1-17. Timothy Gieger 1-7. Miles Pearson 1-8. Joseph Young 2-1. Markell Whittaker 6-57. JaVon Neal 3-43. NC – Reggie Outten 8-13. Grayson King 4-7. William Jenkins 13-41. Willie Taylor 3-6. John Bowers 1-(-3).
PASSING: FC – DeAndre Belton 10-13-0INT-2TD 274 yards. Markell Whittaker 1-1-0-0 9 yards. NC – Grayson King 5-12-1INT-1TD 40 yards.
RECEIVING: FC – Javin George 2-33. Damien Bell 2-50. Larry G. Bell 1-3. Kewaun Squirewell 3-52. Raheim McDaniel 1-20. NC – Anthony Spinelli 1-7. Austin Furman 2-13. J.P. Faulkenberry 1-20.
The Fairfield Memorial Hospital Foundation has been selected to participate in the annual charity sale on Saturday, Nov. 3, sponsored by Belk stores to help raise funds for Fairfield Memorial Hospital.
“As a charity participant, our foundation will receive the proceeds from all event ticket sales we sell as well as receive a share of total ticket sales in the Belk stores where we volunteer on that Saturday morning,” said Mike Quinn, foundation president. “This special sale allows the community to get a jump on its holiday shopping, but also helps support our foundation as well as other charities.”
The charity event runs from 6-10 a.m. on Nov. 3 at all Belk stores. Those who purchase a $5 ticket for the benefit will receive $5 off their first purchase as well as some extraordinary discounts. Quinn said merchandise can be reserved with the discount beginning Oct. 28.
Tickets to benefit the FMH Foundation are available in the lobby area of the hospital, the Yellow Daisy in Winnsboro, Over The Top in Ridgeway and Maggie’s Market in Blythewood. For group sales contact the Foundation office at 803-608-5510.
Fairfield Memorial Hospital Foundation was established in 2010 to support Fairfield Memorial Hospital, an accredited 25-bed critical care hospital. Located in Winnsboro, S.C., the hospital has served the health needs of Fairfield County for more than 50 years.
Donations to the Foundation are used to fulfill some of the critical needs of the hospital, such as new or replacement equipment and technology, enhanced patient services, capital improvements, community health education and healthcare career scholarships. As a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization, donations to the foundation may be tax deductible. Donations may be sent to FMH Foundation, PO Box 1156, Winnsboro, SC 29180. For more information, contact the FMH Foundation office at 803-712-0363 or 803-608-5510 or e-mail Foundation@fairfieldmemorial.com.
The 2012 general election is Nov. 6, and The Voice recently reached out to Fairfield County’s local candidates with a brief question-and-answer survey to help voters make a more informed choice.
This week, we present the candidates for the S.C. Senate, District 17 and S.C. House, District 41. Next week, The Voice will preview the candidates for Fairfield County Council and the Fairfield County School Board of Trustees.
Our questions were:
1. Education/Occupation.
2. What inspired you to run for office?
3. How have you been involved in the community in the past?
4. What do you see as the major issues facing (County Government/School District)?
5. What is your vision of where (County Government/School District) should be in the next four years?
6. If you are an incumbent: What impact have you made during your term(s) in office? If you are a challenger: What differentiates you from your opponent, and what impact do you expect to have?
The candidates said:
S.C. House District 41
(no incumbent)
MaryGail Douglas (D)
1. Attended public schools in Fairfield County and the USC School of Nursing.
2. I’ve always been interested in the workings of government and its people, especially Fairfield County. There is a sense that many in leadership roles do not listen to the people they represent.
3. After working at the local hospital, I became Director of the Fairfield County Council on Aging. It was during this time that I became more engaged in issues on a county and state-wide level. While serving as President of the S.C. Association of Council on Aging Directors, I learned more about the outsider-insider workings with legislation.
4. The County government is not responsive to the county stakeholders: the taxpayers. In the school district, we have too many chiefs, too much money going out and there seems to be no ‘gatekeeper;’ although I hear good things about the Superintendent. Board members are elected to develop policy, not micromanage the daily operations. Get out of the way and let him do the job you hired him to do.
5. For the County: Establish a rapport with the community that embraces needed changes in the county to make Fairfield County more progressive. Develop a written plan that includes more than buying up buildings and land. For the School District: Allow the current superintendent to develop a plan of action for the district. The school board would sign off on this plan, then provide the needed stools and support. Monitor and evaluate that plan at reasonable intervals.
6. I know more about my strengths and weaknesses than I do my opponent’s, so I will not begin to state the differences between us. I have the communication skills and the people skills to work for District 41. I am a listener and I will speak up on behalf of those I will represent, and I will do it in a way that is respectful and honorable for the entire District.
William Gray
William Gray (R)
1. Bethel High School, Blythewood, S.C. 1966. Benedict College, Columbia, S.C.; B.A. Social Studies, 1970 University of South Carolina; Master’s of Art, Political Science 1972, and Master’s of Public Administration (M.P.A.) 1973.
2. I felt very deeply that I had much to offer to the citizens of S.C District 41, based on my education and experience. I want to be a servant of the people and help create a viable two-party system.
3. For many years I have fostered and fought for equality for all people. I helped to bring about the elected School Board in Fairfield, and served as chairman of that effort. I was one of three individuals to file the first lawsuit for Single Member Districts for County /council, although the suit failed (the lawyer brought suit against wrong organization. After a three-day hearing, the federal judge dismissed the suit). I was also instrumental in passing a bond issue for building the new high school.
4. Major issues are voter apathy, the educational system, economic development, Fairfield work force skill development and the racial divide between whites and blacks.
5. My vision is that we must be willing to plot a new course for the 21st century. To implement ways to foster economic development, to create sustainable economic development, to create an environment for work force development and working toward better race relationships. All of this begins with having a top-notch educational system.
6. My community and political involvement, my education and experience, and my relationships with the Republican leadership and, if elected, being able to hit the ground running.
S.C. State Senate, District 17
Creighton Coleman
Creighton B. Coleman (D)
(Incumbent)
1. Graduated from Mount Zion Elementary School in 1969, Winnsboro High School in 1974, The Citadel in 1979, University of South Carolina School of Law in 1985.
2. I have always been involved in politics and it is in my blood. Both in my law practice and in public office, I try to help people from all walks of life to solve their issues.
3. My involvement is not only in this community, but other communities as well: My commitment started at an early age and has continued throughout my life. I assisted my father in running for Congress and Solicitor when I was in elementary school. I assisted long-time Senator John A. Martin when he ran for public office by stuffing envelopes. I campaigned for Strom Thurmond in his many Senate elections and later worked for him in Washington, D.C., and Columbia, South Carolina. I campaigned for John Spratt in his many Congressional campaigns. I Campaigned for Republican Barney Giese for Solicitor in Richland and Kershaw counties. I have served as Chairman of the Fairfield County Democratic Party. I served in the S.C. House District 41 from 2001-2008. Since 2008, I have been serving District 17 in the S.C. Senate District 17. I also serve on the Vestry at St. Johns Episcopal Church, and I serve on the Public Defender Board for Chester and Fairfield counties and on the Congaree Land Trust Board.
4. The ability to attract businesses and industries for high-quality, good paying jobs. The current lack of a comprehensive long-range countywide development plan to accomplish the above. Providing the necessary stability and resources for the Fairfield County School District in order for all students to excel.
5. My vision is for the Fairfield County government to implement a long-term comprehensive strategic plan for attracting businesses and industries to our county that will offer high quality jobs to our citizens. I was successful in obtaining a $40,000 grant from Santee Cooper, and it is my continued vision for this county that county government will adopt and utilize the grant to accomplish this critical long-term planning.
My vision for the school district is that every student be given a top quality education from kindergarten through graduation, and that the resources provided to the school district be appropriately allocated to the classroom where the learning takes place.
Further, with regard to our county government, because of the nuclear reactors and the tax money generated now and in the future, I would like residential property taxes to be abolished and industrial property taxes (10 percent) to be greatly reduced. Think of the impact this will have in attracting people and industry.
6. Locally, I was instrumental in establishing the “C” Funds Committee, which reorganized the method by which funds are appropriated for roads and sidewalks. Previously, the decision to repave roads was made by one person; this reorganization now provides for decision making equally across the county by a committee, rather than one individual.
I was instrumental in getting the Senate to pass Bill #H 3720, the Data Center Tax Exemption bill. Because of this new tax structure, the State of South Carolina can now compete with our neighbors, North Carolina and Georgia, in recruiting large data centers that provide computer support for companies such as Apple, Google and Facebook.
In Chester County, I was able to help Chester Wood Products solve their smokestack issues, preventing a shutdown by the Department of Health and Environmental Control, thus preventing the loss of jobs for 400 employees. The company is now prospering and, in fact, has 40 new employees.
Over the past four years I have introduced more than 20 bills, one of which was #S 0717, which provided a sales tax incentive to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, a company that replicates natural disasters in order to study disaster building codes. In turn, the Institute invested $40,000,000 (40 million dollars) in our region and provided jobs for 17 employees. In addition, this company is featured often on the Weather Channel, offering excellent public relations for Chester County and South Carolina.
I introduced the Rural Infrastructural Bank Bill, a bill that helps rural South Carolina. This entity administers monies to rural counties for their infrastructure, such as water and sewer.
Realizing that Fairfield County’s water supply and infrastructure needs assistance, I contacted entities with expertise in this area. I contacted South Carolina Electric and Gas (SCE&G), which has ongoing discussions with the Town of Winnsboro concerning providing water from V.C. Summer Lake. In addition, I contacted Santee Cooper, which has expertise in setting up joint water agencies in Clarendon County and Dorchester County.
I was appointed by the Republican Leadership to represent the S.C. Legislature on the Catawba Bi-State River Commission. This entity oversees the Catawba River chain in North Carolina through South Carolina.
I was appointed by the Republican Chairman of the Judiciary on the Family Court Study Committee to study custody issues in South Carolina’s Judiciary.
Robert Carrison
Robert Carrison (R)
1. College of Lake County, Grayslake Ill.; Air University, Maxwell Al.: Certified Avionics Tech.
Information Technology Technician, Fairfield County Government
2. I am running for Senate because I know I have much to offer in the effort to improve the state of our State. Hard times are upon us and we must lay the groundwork for a successful recovery. These efforts will require someone with a breadth and depth of life experiences and the time to dedicate to the effort. These efforts will take more than someone willing to serve. It will require someone willing to lead and someone unafraid of the challenges facing us for our generation, our children and grandchildren’s generations and those generations yet unborn.
3. I served four years on the Winnsboro Town Council and was voted Best of the Best Elected Official by the readers of The Herald Independent. I served for four years on the Winnsboro Downtown Development Assn. While on Town Council, we were able to secure the mineral rights to the Rion Quarry and build the infrastructure to supplement the Winnsboro Reservoir, which was crucial in assuring adequate water during our recent drought (not a perfect solution, but without that foresight we would have had a catastrophe). I also led the effort to implement the Downtown Streetscape, a facelift that was sorely needed for our main business district. I have years of experience in industrial and retail management and know how to build teams and get things done.
4. I think that the number one issue facing the 17th District is economic development, meaning specifically: JOBS! Jobs don’t magically appear. Employers build their businesses where the conditions for success are best. This means a well-trained work force is critical to recruitment of job creators. We can either import a work force or train one. My preference would be to train those people who are currently here; however, this will require that our system of education become nimble and responsive. I will author and/or support legislation that will lead to a state- of-the-art education system for our people, young and old alike. This would necessarily include vocational, technical and apprenticeship programs
5. I see a new reliance by our citizens on our State Government for services and leadership. I think the Federal Government’s role in our lives will be reduced primarily because the Federal Government has run up so much debt. We must manage affairs on a State level so our citizens will have confidence in the State’s ability to provide essential services, especially law enforcement and emergency services
6. I am a Constitutional Conservative, I don’t spend money I don’t have. I will not author or support legislation that creates new boards, committees, commissions or any additional layer of Government.
With a little more than a week left before the Nov. 6 general election, State Senator Creighton Coleman (D-17) has responded to allegations of unethical practices, disseminated by the Fairfield County Republican Party (GOP) and its chairman, Kevin Thomas, in their campaign for Coleman’s challenger, Robert Carrison.
In email blasts sent across District 17, and on the Fairfield GOP’s Web site, www.truthaboutcoleman.com, Coleman’s opposition has, in recent weeks, suggested the Senator engaged in unethical behavior by participating in a trip to Turkey last year. Research by The Voice found that the Turkey trip was nothing more than a diplomatic junket taken annually by politicians and other influential Americans, and that it cost the taxpayers of this state nothing (see Oct. 12 editorial “Here’s Mud in Your Eye”). A similar blast and Web post from the organization dated Oct. 11 states that Coleman has appointed his law firm partners (Carol Tolen and Paul Swearingen) as county magistrates and questions Coleman’s ethics in doing so. The same post also states that Coleman appointed the son of County Council member Carolyn Robinson (who also works for Coleman’s firm) to a post with the County Veteran’s Affairs Office.
“Is it ethical to appoint your law partners local magistrates?” the post asks. “Also, let’s not forget Carolyn Robinson who is running for re-election for County Council. She is part of the same good ole boy & girl system that Coleman is. Let me get this right, she works for our State Senator Coleman as a paralegal. Coleman also works for the town of Winnsboro as their attorney. He then appoints Robinson’s son to work at the County Veterans office and the son is not a veteran.”
While Coleman has been silent on the Fairfield County GOP’s previous posts, these most recent accusations have prompted him to respond.
“These people would rather tell a lie than do a little bit of research and tell the truth,” Coleman said last week.
Research of the magistrate appointments bear out Coleman’s frustrations.
Tolen, according to documents obtained by The Voice, was appointed by Coleman’s predecessor, Sen. Linda Short, in 2005 (Coleman was elected to Senate in 2008). Swearingen was appointed by Coleman, but in 2010. At that time, Swearingen worked for the Koon and Cook law firm at 229 S. Congress St. in Winnsboro. Nearly a year later, after Koon and Cook had closed their Winnsboro office and Swearingen was looking for a place to practice, Coleman said he opened his doors to him.
Coleman said state senators make recommendations of such appointments to the Governor’s Office, and the Governor makes the actual appointment with the advice and consent of the full Senate. Both Swearingen and Tolen, therefore, were appointed by Republican Governor Mark Sanford.
Since their original appointments, both Swearingen and Tolen have come up for reappointment, and the record reflects that Coleman has recommended them for retention.
“That is routinely done,” Coleman said. “Unless they’ve done a terrible job or gotten in trouble with the law, there’s no reason not to reappoint them.”
Furthermore, Coleman said, once a judge is appointed a considerable monetary investment is made on their part to take classes and earn their certification.
“If they’re doing a good job, they need to keep it,” Coleman said. “There’s no need to reinvent the wheel every time you get a new senator. With the backlog of cases that we have, it would throw the whole system into disarray.”
Coleman added that, as an attorney, he has never appeared before Tolen or Swearingen in court.
“I never have and I never will,” Coleman said.
As for the appointment of Robinson’s son to the VA office, Coleman said the Fairfield County GOP’s allegations were “totally false.”
A letter obtained by The Voice shows that, in March of 2011, Coleman delegated the management of the Fairfield County Veterans Affairs Office to Davis Anderson, Fairfield County Deputy Administrator.
Coleman said that while the law states that veterans get preference in hiring for positions within the County VA itself, Robinson’s son holds a secretary position to which that law does not apply.
Reached for comment last week, Thomas said only that he stands behind his posts.
During the Oct. 16 town council meeting in Winnsboro, the first of three readings took place of new zoning ordinances. Ordinance 110612A is an ordinance to revise the town of Winnsboro zoning code or ordinances. Ordinance 110612B is an ordinance to regulate and discharge fats, oil and grease. Ordinance 100612C is an ordinance amending the business license and provisions for insurance companies. The ordinances will not be voted on until the next official town council meeting on Nov. 13.
Later during the meeting, Councilman Danny Miller voiced concerns about reports he said he has received from citizens claiming discoloration in their water. Town manager Don Wood attempted to ease his concerns.
“There is nothing in the water that is harmful,” Wood said. “Our engineers are working on a solution and everyone assures us there is nothing wrong with the water.”
The discoloration has come from a purging of water that is done routinely once to twice a year. Wood agreed to request a letter from the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) verifying that the water is completely safe.
After executive session the council members arranged to meet for a work session on Nov. 13.
The Fairfield County School Board got a clearer picture of how a new Career Center might be financed during their monthly meeting Oct. 16, held without microphones or amplification in the cafeteria at Geiger Elementary School in Ridgeway. The Board heard from Brent Jeffcoat, a bond attorney with the Pope Zeigler law firm, who laid out several options for how the district might pay for such a project.
Jeffcoat said the district had a bond debt capacity of approximately $9.5 million, $1.2 million of which is being used annually on capital needs for the district. That leaves the district with between $8 and $9 million in bond debt capacity for a facility that could cost an estimated $25 million to build.
“There are things we can do to stretch bond debt capacity a little bit,” Jeffcoat said, “but not three times the bond debt capacity for a facility.”
One option for the district, which would not include putting a referendum on the ballot, would be to issue the entire bond debt capacity with a one-year maturity.
“One year, a second year and in the third year you could do a longer term bond issue that would pay out over time,” Jeffcoat said. “The problem with that is that your millage rate would skyrocket.”
Jeffcoat said the millage rate under that scenario would jump to around 70 mils.
“It would be there for less time than it took for the voters to get you out of office,” Jeffcoat said.
Jeffcoat said tax dollars expected to come in from the new V.C. Summer nuclear reactors would not begin rolling into the county until 2019, and relying on those funds for relief would further set back a project that has already been identified as a need and in discussion for nearly a decade. Therefore, he said, a referendum would be necessary – the results of which would see the millage rate rise to only 16 mils.
“You’re currently using somewhere around 8 or 9 mils, so it’s not a huge increase,” Jeffcoat said.
Jeffcoat said the district also had other facilities that needed attention, and if the district was going to ask the voters for 16 mils, another mil or two could accomplish quite a bit. Then, he indicated, when the V.C. Summer money began coming in, those rates could come back down.
Another alternative, Jeffcoat said, would be for the district to ask their local legislative delegation for a local sales tax increase, which would require a piece of special legislation at the State House.
Discussions between Jeffcoat and the board in February centered around a $14 million Career Center project, a number that could have been handled with the district’s existing bond debt capacity, without a referendum. When that number went to $25 million, financing became more complicated, Jeffcoat said.
Board member Annie McDaniel (District 4) asked if the district could not consider a $14 million facility that could accommodate the 520 students currently enrolled at the existing Career Center and that could be expanded as needed in the future.
“At least we could get started,” McDaniel said, “to build certain phases of it. This is something we’ve been promising our children and our community for a long time. If the $14 million could accommodate a relatively decent facility, that we could add on to at an opportune time, is that attainable?”
Jeffcoat said it could be done and without a referendum.
J.R. Green, Superintendent, clarified that even a smaller project would result in some millage increase.
“I think there’s some confusion that if we go with a $15 million project that there would be no millage increase,” Green said.
The millage, Jeffcoat said, would go to 20 mils under that scenario.
“I think his (Jeffcoat’s) position is, which I would concur with, is if we are going to embark on such a project, we should go before the voters and say this is what we’re going to do and this is how we’re going to fund it,” Green said. “I’m 100 percent for the Career Center, but I just want to be clear that if we move forward, millage is something that is relevant.”
McDaniel said the district had not raised its millage rate more than 2 percent since 2006.
“I would hope that if we choose to go out and push for the Career Center,” McDaniel said, “that the County would be along with us in realizing we are way, way, way removed and far behind, particularly with the kind of money that comes into this district, and not have a decent facility for our students.”
Jeffcoat said he could have some firm, definite numbers, detailing the district’s options, in two to three weeks.
Prior to Jeffcoat’s presentation, the Board voted 6-1 to accept MBAJ Architecture of Charlotte to head up the career center project. MBAJ has designed several schools, including South Pointe High School in Rock Hill.
