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  • Dr. J.R. Green named Super of Year

    COLUMBIA – Fairfield County School District Superintendent, Dr. J.R. Green, has been named the 2021 South Carolina Superintendent of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA).

    “I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Green as a school board member and as a parent,” said Fairfield County School Board Chair William Frick. “Dr. Green talked about having a ‘culture change’ in the Fairfield County School District…Our students graduate with two years of college as they graduate from high school, overall test scores are improving, and financially we are operating with a balanced budget.” Mr. Frick continued, “While he did not accomplish any of these things on his own, none of it would have happened without Dr. J.R. Green and a culture change.”

    Dr. Green is an active member of the SCASA Superintendents’ Affiliate, and he currently serves as a member of the South Carolina State Board of Education. His school district is home to 2,600 students; in which nearly 90% of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

    Elizabeth “Beth” A. Phibbs, Executive Director of SCASA, states, “Dr. Green has been and continues to be a stabilizing force in the Fairfield County School District. Under his leadership, the district has expanded and strengthened programs and opportunities for their students. By working closely with the community, he has established partnerships which directly benefit the students of Fairfield County, and we are delighted to honor him as the 2021 South Carolina Superintendent of the Year.”

    Finalists for the award included Dr. William “Bill” James, Lexington School District Two and Dr. Neil Vincent, Florence School District Two. Candidates participated in an application and interview process conducted by a team of South Carolina business, education, and community leaders.

  • SC House District 41 candidates have their say

    • Annie McDaniel
    • Charlene Herring
    SC Rep. Annie E. McDaniel

    I know District 41 and will fight for it because Fairfield is home. I am a lifelong resident of Fairfield County and educated by our public schools. I am a proud alumna of the University of South Carolina where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting and my Master’s Degree in Public Administration.  I also completed two Ph.D. level education administration courses in Finance while earning my Master’s Degree.

    I know the value of education and the love our teachers pour into our children. In 2000, I was elected to and served 18 years as a member of the Fairfield County School District Board of Trustees, fighting for our children, teachers, and public schools. During my tenure on the School Board, I was elected to the State School Boards Association Board and served locally as Board Chair, Secretary, Finance Committee Chair, Student Hearing Committee member, and Delegate to the SCSBA Delegate Assembly. My work and experience with students, parents, and teachers fundamentally impacted how I view public service.

    This experience served as a backdrop for my 2018 campaign to represent District 41 in the South Carolina State House. With a rich background serving in the field of education, you allowed me to expand my service and tackle the challenges we face as a community in the fields of healthcare, economic empowerment, environmental protection, and quality of life.  I am proud of the blessings my constituents have received as a result of my service to District 41.

    In November of 2018, I was elected to the SC General Assembly.  My 2018 bid was historic because I became the first African American since reconstruction, and the only African American woman to represent District 41. This history has been humbling and has inspired me to fight for ALL South Carolinians. Our destiny as a State and District are truly tied together as one and I am committed to ensuring that our destiny is bright!

    During my first year in office, noteworthy accomplishments included being the first freshman legislator to get a bill passed (E-Rate expansion) and my appointment as a SC State Director for the National Women in Government Organization. Additionally, I serve on the Medical, Military, Public, and Municipal Affairs Committee.

    I would be honored to receive your support on June 9th. The Governor recently signed a bill allowing no excuse absentee voting during this primary.  I encourage you to visit scvotes.org to request an absentee ballot and vote now through June 8th. You may also absentee vote in-person through June 8th at Midlands Technical College’s Fairfield Campus.

    I am proud of the work I have accomplished thus far and am dedicated to continuing to fight for you and your families.

    Challenger Charlene Herring

    A Voice for Education, Business, Towns and Cities

     As a lifelong educator, small business entrepreneur and former mayor, I am now a candidate for SC House District 41 which encompasses Chester, Fairfield and Richland Counties.

    The pandemic does not care if we are Democrat or Republican. We are all in this together and my mission is to be our voice for education, business and towns and cities in the new “normal”. It will require a flexible vision as well as creative and collaborative problem solving strategies to recover our economy.

    America was built and will survive this pandemic on the backs of business and industry, but continued assistance must come from all levels of government and in different formats. I am a small business owner myself, a member of the Board of Directors of the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce and a former three-term mayor of Ridgeway.  I had the opportunity to lead the initiative for accelerated business growth in our community.  I understand the value of a team approach and the necessity to develop strong partnerships to assist small businesses in re-inventing themselves through training, business start-ups, e-commerce and monetary incentives. 

    My passion for education is evident. I have been recognized early in my profession as a SC State Teacher of the Year Finalist. I want to use my extensive and successful career experience in public education, both teaching and administration, to make some real improvements in the way we educate our children. I plan to visit classrooms and schools to see and hear firsthand the prevalent needs of educators and students.  I want to engage the public and to work personally to support the implementation of teacher retention strategies as well as the accessibility of broadband internet service for all students at home.

    Regarding towns and cities, I will work to secure reliable funding levels through legislation concerning the Local Government Fund so government entities can continue to provide the needed services of safety, health care, infrastructure, recreation and cultural activities for their citizens. I will support local and fiscal accountability and management of resources that are critical to serving citizens and governing efficiently and effectively.

    I am prepared to bring a lifetime of public service and merge it with my strong work ethic to make the quality of life better for all of us in House District 41. I can do it if you will give me the opportunity.

    Please visit HerringforSCHouseDistrict41.website or my Facebook page for more information.

  • Oops! Pot alarm brings deputies

    WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Angelo A. Noce, 37, on Thursday, May 7 after responding to an alarm call at Noce’s residence, 230 Doty Road Extension in Winnsboro.

    Noce

    Upon arrival, deputies found a window that had been broken during a possible attempted burglary. Following standard protocol for alarm responses, deputies checked the exterior of the residence and observed, through the broken window, marijuana plants growing in buckets.

    After obtaining a search warrant for the residence, deputies seized an elaborate marijuana growing operation. Including marijuana plants, a ventilation system, heating and cooling systems, chemicals and grow lights.

    Noce was arrested for Manufacturing Marijuana.

  • PC recommends commercial zoning

    Council’s Votes Override Staff Recommendation

    BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood Planning Commission disregarded Town Administrator Brian Cook’s recommendation to vote against a request to rezone a Rural (RU) zoned property on Wilson Boulevard for commercial use. The commission voted unanimously Monday evening to recommend that town council rezone the property to a commercial zoning designation – Multi-Neighborhood Office (MO) District.

    The property in question, located at 10715 Wilson Blvd. is zoned RU, with Neighborhood Commercial (NC) zoning on one side, MO zoning on the other side and RU zoning to the north, the rear and across Wilson Boulevard to the east, according to Cook. The property backs up to a neighborhood of residential properties, all zoned RU.

    Cook explained that the future land use map in Blythewood’s Comprehensive Plan currently designates the property for rural residential use.

    “The idea for a rezoning in Blythewood is to discourage urban sprawl down our corridors that enter our Town of Blythewood. We want to encourage commercial zoning in pockets [in designated areas] and discourage sprawl along roadways,” Cook said.

    “Based on that and where the property is located, staff would not recommend the rezoning request at this time,” Cook said. “The potential would be to piggyback down the corridor with the same [commercial] zoning.”

    Applicant Taricka Taylor appeared virtually before the commission Monday evening to request rezoning of the property, which she owns, to MO, telling commissioners that at least five properties on either side of her property are all currently zoned commercial – “the day care, Dan Creed’s, the property I own, the property I rent now and the horse farm.”

    While only two properties in that segment of properties she referred to are zoned commercial – one is zoned Neighborhood Commercial (NC) and one is zoned MO – commissioners chose Taylor’s interpretation of the zoning.

    “It sounds like a reasonable request to me,” Commissioner Malcolm Gordge told his fellow commissioners. “I realize our intent is to avoid cluster development along our corridors into our town. But a business is already there [next to the property requesting MO zoning.] To me it seems perfectly in keeping with other businesses along there zoned for commercial use. I would favor granting the request on further down, there’s a little school enterprise and three businesses operating there.”

    Commissioner Ed Kesser agreed.

    “There’s a lot of commercial properties on that side of the road,” Kesser said. “I think it’s a great commercial site and should be rezoned. I recommend the property rezoning be approved.”

    And with that, it was – unanimously – with no further discussion.

    The two properties in that block that have actual commercial zoning designations are the one Taylor currently leases with MO zoning, and another property that has a more restrictive NC zoning. The horse farm and day care are zoned RU and are permitted in RU zoning.

    Taylor said she currently operates an interior design business at the MO zoned property at 10711 Wilson Boulevard, but purchased the property next door for which she is requesting the commercial rezoning for her current business.

    Asked by The Voice about the zoning requirements for Taylor’s business, Cook said MO zoning is a higher use zoning than Taylor’s current business would require. NC and NO zoning, he said, would accommodate her business as it is now.  Both NC and NO are more restrictive, allowing only light commercial uses and building footprints are restricted to 5,000 square feet in NO and up to 10,000 square feet for NC zoning under certain conditions. MO zoning jumps to medium commercial uses and up to 15,000 square foot buildings under certain conditions.

    The property requested to be rezoned is in proximity to a residential neighborhood in the rear and around the corner from Rimer Pond Road, where residents have long fought against commercial zoning.

    In March of 2015, as then chairman of the planning commission, Gordge, championed commercial zoning on a nearby parcel on Rimer Pond Road. In response to a request from an out-of-town owner for commercial rezoning of his Rimer Pond Road RU zoned property, Gordge, on behalf of the town, sent a letter that was obtained by The Voice. The letter read in part:  “The Mayor and I have discussed your desire to amend the zoning of the property in question from Rural to Commercial and we would like to help you if at all possible.”

    Gordge went on to write that, “the staff at Town Hall and myself would welcome the opportunity to chat with you informally and under no obligation about your plans and how the Town might help.”

    Gordge advised Warren that in order for the Town to help him he would need to annex the property into the Town. Gordge further stated that Warren could “feel free to write, call or e-mail me in confidence at any time.”

    After a number of Rimer Pond Road residents opposed the rezoning request during a planning commission meeting, the issue did not come up again.

    Because council’s next regular meeting falls on Memorial Day, the rezoning request will be heard by Town Council at 7 p.m., on Tuesday, May 26.

  • JWC lawsuit thrown out

    JENKINSVILLE – A six-year legal battle over Jenkinsville water service has reached an end – for now. 

    On April 30, Circuit Court Judge Brian Gibbons sided with the Jenkinsville Water Company, throwing out a lawsuit filed by Broad River Campground that claimed breach of contract, fraud and other violations. 

    “The non-moving party is only required to submit a mere scintilla of evidence in order to withstand a motion for summary judgment,” the order states. “Summary judgment should be granted when plain, palpable and undisputable facts exist on which reasonable minds cannot differ.”

    An attorney for Broad River Campground, which in 2014 filed suit, said he plans to appeal. 

    “The court was erroneous in its decision to grant summary judgment. The standard we had to meet was met,” campground attorney Glenn Bowens said Tuesday. “You have to produce at least a scintilla of evidence and we had way more than that.”

    An attorney for the JWC could not be reached as of press time. 

    Bowens said the litigation is important because he said the JWC needs to be held accountable so that water service is available to all who request it.

    “Jenkinsville [Water Company] seems to think they can pick and choose who they want to provide water service to,” he said. “In the course of all of this, we found numerous people who were trying to get water services for their businesses and they were either denied water service or not granted what they needed exactly.”

    In his order, Judge Gibbons listed six reasons why he dismissed the case. Most boiled down to whether or not a water service contract existed between Broad River and the JWC. 

    Broad River argued that a 2009 letter from the JWC constituted a contract. In the letter, the JWC stated it could provide 175 gallons of water per day to serve 46 campsites, but only if it didn’t negatively impact customers.

    Broad River’s lawsuit says the JWC didn’t provide adequate water service despite having adequate capacity. The JWC denied it ever entered into a contract.

    Gibbons’ order states that testimony and pre-trial briefs established that campground co-owner Dee Melton never agreed to any restrictions on the campground’s right to expand.

    “Defendant JWC is entitled to summary judgment and a dismissal with prejudice as to the breach of contract claim because there was no meeting of the minds as to the essential terms of the October 2009 Letter,” the order states. “Accordingly, the Court finds that the Parties never entered into a valid, legally binding contract regarding water usage.”

    By extension, negating the 2009 letter also negated other breach of contract claims related to the water company’s bylaws, a water user agreement and a 2009 oral promise by the JWC to provide up to 40,000 gallons of water per day for up to 200 campsites, the order continued.

    “Plaintiff’s co-owner, Dee Melton, should have been aware of the alleged existence of these purported contracts, yet he did not identify any of them in response to direct questions from Defendant’s counsel,” the order states.

    Gibbons also dismissed the suit on statute of limitations grounds. He wrote in his order that Broad River amended its original 2014 suit in 2018, which the judge said exceeded the three-year statute of limitations on litigation.

    Gibbons threw additional cold water on the campground’s argument that the breach of contract constituted fraud.

    “Without a valid and enforceable contract and its subsequent breach, Plaintiff’s claim for breach of contract accompanied by a fraudulent act fails as a matter of law,” the order says.

    The lawsuit’s dismissal doesn’t spell an end to litigation for the JWC. 

    Broad River also sued the water company in 2016, accusing the group routinely violating state open meeting and public record laws. That suit is still pending. 

    And Fairfield County Councilwoman Bertha Goins countersued the JWC in April, claiming the slander suit the water company filed against her a month earlier was an attempt to harass and intimidate her after she publicly voiced concerns over Jenkinsville water quality. That case is also still pending. 

  • R2 Superintendent defends travel expenses

    COLUMBIA – Tampa, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. are among the locations where Richland Two Superintendent Dr. Baron Davis traveled in the name of district business over the past two budget cycles, spending more than $15,700, according to documents obtained by The Voice.

    In 2018-2019, Davis spent $10,076.50 on travel-related expenses, or enough to buy 30 iPads for students each year.

    Travel-related expenses in the current budget cycle totaled $5,635.08 as of March 23, about a week after the state issued a state of emergency in response to the coronavirus pandemic, documents show.

    The issue of superintendent travel arose during the school board’s February 11 meeting, when Richland County resident Gus Philpot questioned a California trip Davis was planning to take in March.

    Davis was invited to act as a panelist at the League of Innovative Schools annual conference in Los Angeles, California. The March 23-25 conference has since been rescheduled to October due to the coronavirus, or COVID-19.

    Philpot thought the trip was wasteful and that Davis’ time would be better spent working in Richland County.

    “Superintendent Davis belongs at his desk in Richland School District Two,” Philpot told the board. “His speaking to members of the League of Innovative Schools in California on the equity initiatives underway in Richland Two provides no benefit or value to Richland Two.”

    Philpot didn’t think Davis’ travel costs were particularly exorbitant, but also thought number of travel expenses was high.

    “I am shocked by the number of out of town events and conferences,” Philpot said. “It can’t be that important for the superintendent to go to all of these conferences.”

    In a prepared statement, Davis said professional development is part of the district’s strategic plan. Professional development is also a part of the superintendent’s evaluation criteria, the statement said.

    “It’s been a long standing practice in Richland Two that the superintendent attends professional learning opportunities with members of the board,” the statement reads. “The superintendent is charged with working with the school board to develop and implement policies that define organizational expectations and to establish and maintain effective channels of communication with board members.

    “As a result, the superintendent regularly attends professional development conferences with school board members as a way to meet performance standards that are part of the superintendent’s evaluation criteria,” the statement continued.

    Many of Davis’ business trips were to destinations that double as major tourism hubs, such as Hilton Head, Charleston and Myrtle Beach, according to district documents.

    Other expenses were associated with conferences and events in major American cities at least 470 miles away, including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Tampa and Washington, D.C., documents show.

    By comparison, Davis’ travel expenses greatly eclipse those of his counterpart to the north, where Fairfield County Superintendent Dr. J.R. Green spent $3,042.72 on travel during 2018-2019, according to online budget records.

    But Davis’ spending is also comparable to at least three present Fairfield County school board members: Sylvia Harrison ($9,585.02), Henry Miller ($9,046.58) and Darreyl Davis ($8,453.37), records show.

  • Apartments tabled for traffic study

    The proposed 2.86 acre apartment complex would be located next to IGA. | Graphic: Ashley Ghere

    BLYTHEWOOD – The site plan of a 48-unit apartment complex proposed next to the IGA in downtown Blythewood was tabled Monday night by the Planning Commission over concerns about the amount of traffic the complex would foist upon Blythewood Road near the I-77 on/off ramps.

    If the site plan for the complex, called The Park, is approved and built, it will be the second apartment complex Prestwick Companies of Atlanta has brought to Blythewood. Prestwick built The Pointe, a low-income apartment complex, in October, 2017 on Main Street.

    “So, you’re aiming for similar clientele at The Pointe?” Commissioner Malcolm George asked Devin Blankenship, Senior Development Manager for Prestwick Companies.

    “This one [The Park] is a senior housing facility,” Blankenship said, “but it’s financed through the low-income tax credit program, so we consider it workplace housing. Same product.”

    Town Administrator Brian Cook told The Voice that Prestwick is not restricted to use the property as a senior living use.

    “They can use it for senior living or other uses,” Cook said. “It’s still multi-family housing that is permitted in the Town Center District no matter whether it’s low income housing or senior living.”

    Asked by Commissioner Ed Kessler who Prestwick would be marketing the complex to, Blankenship said it would be marketed to seniors age 55 and older. He also suggested that because most of the residents would not be driving to work, the traffic from the complex would be about 25 percent of normal traffic.

    “Most 55- and 65-year-olds I know are working,” Commissioner Ernestine Middleton said. “They are working because they have to work for one reason or another. It’s not like it was 25 years ago.”

    Cook said that because the complex will have less than 150 units, it will not require a traffic study.

    The complex has only one access point – Creech Road – which empties onto Blythewood Road where vehicles from two hotels, McDonald’s, San Jose, Hardee’s, Carolina Wings and several other restaurants and businesses already come together in a traffic whirlpool a short distance from the on/off ramps of I-77. In addition to the proposed apartment complex, an 88-room Hampton Inn is under construction across Creech Road from the apartment complex and will add to the traffic congestion.

    The hotel traffic will have to pass twice in front of the entrance of the apartment complex to reach Blythewood Road.

    Planning Commission Chair Rich McKenrick said the traffic out of the Hampton Inn’s parking lot, under an agreement with the Town, will have to turn right on to Creech Road, go past the apartment building, then around the cul de sac at the end of the road and back up Creech, past the apartment building a second time to reach Blythewood Road.

    “The difficult part is going to be trying to make a left turn onto Blythewood Road from Creech Road to get to I-77,” Commissioner Derrek Pugh said. “As we speak right now, there are probably people sitting there trying to get out on to Blythewood Road.”

    “We’re making a big mistake here,” Commissioner Ed Kessler said. “We have a major traffic problem at that intersection today without the traffic that will come from the new hotel and apartment building. We need to get the infrastructure in place first before we commit to putting more cars on Blythewood Road. The citizens of Blythewood are upset now and we don’t even have the hotel and apartments built. It’s going to be a mess,” Kessler said.

    “I think the only way we’re going to have any success is to enforce a right turn only from Creech road to Blythewood Road,” Gordge said. He suggested that Prestwick collaborate with the S.C. Department of Transportation regarding a traffic study that was required for the Hampton Inn and come up with a feasible plan to move traffic more efficiently from Creech Road to Blythewood Road and on to the interstate.

    If the site plan is not approved by the Commission it can be appealed to General Sessions Court.

    McKenrick said he would hate for the project to not go forward, that Blankenship had worked so hard on it. He suggested the applicant follow Gordge’s suggestion, but stated that any expense for a traffic study would have to be borne by Prestwick.

    Gordge made the motion to table the plan until Prestwick could get with SCDOT to come up with an acceptable answer for the traffic issue. The commission voted 5-0 in favor of the motion.

    Prestwick is expected to come back before the commission in June.

  • Former Fairfield County Sheriff Herman Young has died

    Young

    WINNSBORO – Former Fairfield County Sheriff Herman Young has died. Sheriff Young was first elected Sheriff in 1992, and served the county for 22 years before resigning in 2014 for health reasons. He won six consecutive bids for office.

    During his service to the county, Young enjoyed many honors including being named Sheriff of the Year in 1996 and served as the 2011-12 Sheriff’s Association’s President. Young was credited with creating a Summer Kids Camp that has been nationally recognized.

    A statement on the Sheriff’s Association’s Facebook page states: Sheriff Young was a gentleman and the consummate professional. He served as a mentor to many, both in the community and within his profession.

    In 2014, Young stepped down from office after over two decades, citing medical reasons.

    In 2015, Young was awarded the S.C. Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest award, for his 62 years in law enforcement.

    Former Fairfield County Sheriff Herman Young (center) was honored in February 2015, with the S.C. Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest award, for his 52 years in law enforcement, 22 of which were spent as Fairfield County Sheriff. Surrounded by his deputies, Young accepts the award from Director of S.C. Department of Public Safety Leroy Smith. Young’s wife, Peggy, is at right. | Barbara Ball

  • Driver of UTV rollover crash identified

    BLAIR – The driver who was killed in a rollover crash of a UTV in western Fairfield County has been identified by the Fairfield County Coroner’s Office.

    Elly Gross, 18, of Columbia, died when the 2019 Kubota side-by-side UTV she was driving left the road, causing it to roll over, ejecting Gross.

    The crash occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. Saturday on Fort Wagner Road, east of Blair, according to S.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Joe Hovis.

    Two passengers were injured in the crash and were transported to the hospital. Their conditions have not been made known to the media at this time.

    The two passengers were restrained, but the driver was not according to Highway Patrol officials.

    The accident remains under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Fairfield County Coroner’s Office.

  • Driver of UTV killed in crash, two passengers injured

    BLAIR – A rollover crash of a UTV in western Fairfield County resulted in the death of the driver and injuries to two passengers.

    The crash occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. Saturday on Fort Wager Road, east of Blair, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Joe Hovis.

    The report stated that the river of a 2019 Kubota side-by-side UTV left the road, causing it to roll over. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.

    Two passengers were injured in the crash and were transported to the hospital. Their conditions have not been made known to the media at this time.

    The two passengers were restrained, but the driver was not.

    The coroner has not yet released the name of the driver of the UTV.

    More information will be reported as it becomes available.

    See Driver of UTV rollover crash identified