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  • Winter No ‘Wonderland’ for One Local Business

    Philip Reese, owner of Reese’s Plants, stands near the wreckage of a greenhouse at his Wilson Blvd. business.

    BLYTHEWOOD – While many in the Blythewood and Fairfield County communities enjoyed the recent snow day vacations, Reese’s Plants, located at 10418 Wilson Blvd. in Blythewood, did not. One of its three greenhouses, a 35-by-120-foot steel frame covered in plastic, collapsed under the weight of snow and ice that accumulated on the top of the greenhouse over two days.

    Owner Philip Reese said the business was closed at the time of the collapse. He said he discovered the collapse when he arrived at the plant nursery about 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12 to check on things. Reese said that while there was only about $5,000 of plant inventory in the greenhouse when it collapsed, he estimated the total loss at about $25,000.

    While the greenhouse and damaged plants were insured, Reese said the difficulty is in trying to find a greenhouse builder who can get to it right away.

    “It shouldn’t take them more than two or three days to build it as soon as we can get them out here,” Reese said. “We hope to have it up and running in a few weeks. In the meantime, we’re open for business.”

  • American Stonehenge

    Written in Stone –
    The mysterious Georgia Guidestones, with their message to Mankind, stand in a field near Elberton, Ga. . . . Go figure.

    Drive approximately 100 miles west and cross the Georgia line and you’ll come to Winnsboro’s sister city, you could say. Elberton, Ga., is a town with a blue granite heritage, too. Drive north of Elberton on Highway 77 for 8.7 miles and on a high hilltop you’ll see blue granite put to unique use. You’ll see an American Stonehenge and something more, one of this region’s true mysteries. No one knows who commissioned the construction of this extraordinary monument.

    In June 1979, a dapper, persuasive stranger walked into the Elberton Granite Finishing Company and stated that he wanted to build an edifice that would send mankind a message. He said his name was R. C. Christian, but that was just an alias. The monument was built and it became known as the Georgia Guidestones.

    Almost 20 feet tall, the Guidestones consist of six granite slabs that weight more than 100 tons. The four main stones radiate like spokes on a wheel from the fifth stone, which stands in the center of the ring. A capstone tops the astronomically aligned five slabs. The stones were carved with admonitions in eight languages: English, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Swahili and Spanish. Carved into the stones one reads sage advice such as “Avoid petty laws and useless officials.” A CNN writer referred to the Guidestones as “an astronomically complex, 120-ton relic of Cold War fears, built to instruct survivors of an Armageddon that the mystery man feared was all too near.” The monument’s admonitions advise mankind to . . .

    1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.

    2. Guide reproduction wisely — improving fitness and diversity.

    3. Unite humanity with a living new language.

    4. Rule passion — faith — tradition — and all things with tempered reason.

    5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.

    6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.

    7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.

    8. Balance personal rights with social duties.

    9. Prize truth — beauty — love — seeking harmony with the infinite.

    10. Be not a cancer on the earth — Leave room for nature.

    A slot in the center column allows one to observe the sun’s transit throughout the seasons. A hole higher up focuses on Polaris, the North Star. A hole in the capstone directs a shaft of sunlight onto the central pillar at noon. Such features let survivors of R. C. Christian’s coming apocalypse reproduce the calendar, clock and compass.

    Not all are content with this monument, however. Critics call the Guidestones ‘Satanic,’ and some want them to be destroyed. They’re still standing though, and it’s easier by far to drive to Elbert County Ga. than to fly to England. An American Stonehenge is just a day away. Check it out.

    If You Go …

    • Location: Grassy field north of Elberton on Highway 77.
    • Directions: From Elberton travel north on Highway 77 for 8.7 miles. The Guidestones are visible on the right, a short distance from the main highway.

    • GPS: WGS84 34° 13’ 55.14″ N, 82° 53’ 40.22″ W

    34.231984, -82.894506

    • www.thegeorgiaguidestones.com/Message.htm

    Learn more about Tom Poland, a Southern writer, and his work at www.tompoland.net. Email day-trip ideas to him at tompol@earthlink.net.

  • Candidates State their Cases

    James Arnold
    Eddie Baughman

    BLYTHEWOOD – As the Town of Blythewood prepares for their March 11 special election to fill the remaining two years left on the seat vacated by former Councilman Roger Hovis in December, The Voice offers voters a glimpse of the two candidates, in their own words. . . .

    James Arnold, 73

    Family: Wife, Glenda; 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren

    Career: Retired after 31 years in the Navy. Last position,Chief Warrant Officer 4

    Residency: Ashley Oaks. Lived in the town since 2006

    I am running as a write-in candidate for Blythewood Town Council because I have a lot of concerns about how the Town is spending our money. My wishes are to see Blythewood as a family friendly place where we can live and raise our children.

    Town Council needs to set new priorities for the people and their concerns. They need to focus on the things that will draw new families to our town and not on big ticket items that most people do not want or need, and that drain the town budget. I will be but one vote on the Council, but that one vote might be the one vote that will make a difference for the people of Blythewood.

    I served 31 years in the Navy and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4. During that time I was an officer-in-charge of the Navy BEE school that had 80 instructors and 300 students. While there I instituted new programs that are still being taught there today. I was a range control officer in Puerto Rico at the Navy’s weapons training facility. My last duty station was at N S MY port at one of the training centers as an operations officer. At each of these places I had the responsibility of large budgets.

    I graduated summa cum laude from Saint Leo University in Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology. My wife and I are active members of Praise International Church of God where I serve as an usher and she interprets for the Deaf.

    Whether you vote for me or for the other candidate, I urge each of you to use your right to vote.

    Eddie Baughman, 55

    Family: Wife, Donna; 2 children and 2 grandchildren

    Career: Retired after 26 years with Columbia-Richland fire service. Last position, Battalion Chief

    Residency: Lake Ashley. Lived in town for 28 years.

    I am running for a seat on the Blythewood Town Council to be a voice for our citizens who feel their voice is not being heard on the issues facing our community and the direction it is headed.

    As a public servant for 30 years and a longtime resident of Blythewood, I am confident in my abilities to serve the citizens of Blythewood. As a Battalion Chief with the fire service, I was responsible for the emergency operations on a daily basis. I am a U.S. Navy Veteran and, while on active duty, I was assigned to Fighter Squadron 101, a F14 tomcat fleet replacement squadron. We trained naval aviators to accept assignments in the fleet. I left active duty as a petty officer 3rd class with an honorable discharge.

    As a public servant I’ve operated within a set budget to accomplish set goals and have worked to ensure a positive outcome. My experience in public service has allowed me to work hand in hand with many of the vital agencies that deal with the day to day activities of our town government and those which service this area of Richland County. I have held the first vice president position with the International Association of Firefighters CFFA here in Richland County and I’m the secretary of the Lake Wateree VFW post 8346 MA. I am also a Deacon at Sandy Level Baptist Church.

    Blythewood is at a crossroads with its master plan. We are still a bedroom community where you can live, work and raise your family. The growth of our town depends on the infrastructure to handle that growth. A primary concern is that the infrastructure has not kept up with growth of our town. Improved infrastructure will allow us to grow at a rate that will improve the quality of life for all our residents and, for our business owners, this will allow an increase in job creation which in turn will boost the revenues needed to provide a safe living and working environment.

    If elected, I will focus on maintaining financial accountability to those who have placed their trust in this Council and to put “public” back in public service.

  • Manor Gets New Director

    Booth Chilcutt

    BLYTHEWOOD – Town Council voted unanimously on Monday night to hire Booth Chilcutt as the new Events and Conference Center Director for The Doko Manner, replacing Martha Jones who recently resigned the position.

    Chilcutt, who had served as Jones’ assistant, comes to the position with an enviable set of credentials. Prior to retiring to Blythewood in 2013, Chilcutt served for five years as Executive Director for the Sumter County Commission and the Sumter County Cultural Center (which includes the 1,000-seat Patriot Hall Auditorium, the Sumter County Gallery of Art and the Sumter Community Theatre). Before that he was the Cultural Director for the City of Sumter. Chilcutt is credited with organizing, promoting and directing Sumter County’s community based cultural arts program during the late 1990s. Behind the scenes, he also directed the Cultural Commission’s small grant program which supported local artists and art-based programming throughout Sumter County. Chilcutt has been nominated for the S.C. Art Commission’s Verner Award which is the Governor’s Award for the Arts. That award will be announced in April.

    Under Jones, Chilcutt had served as the Manor’s Accommodations Manager, taking care of the operational duties – keeping it clean and in order, entering data into computers and making sure customers were accommodated. As Director he will manage the Manor and work toward creating a cultural program for the facility.

    “I will initially be breaking down costs and working on our financial framework, but the part I’m really excited about is the events,” Chilcutt said. “I like programs that connect the whole community through the arts. There’s a lot to do, but first we need to get the finances in hand.”

    “We think he’s the right person for the job,” Councilman Bob Massa told The Voice. “He has an outstanding resume and reputation in the cultural arts, both managing the Center in Sumter and creating and maintaining a vibrant cultural arts program over there. He is well connected in the cultural arts throughout South Carolina, and we’re looking forward to what he can do for our town. I’m looking forward to working with him.”

  • Council Confronts Manor Morass

    Term Limits Get Green Light

    BLYTHEWOOD – With only three of its four members present, Town Council amended its 2014 budget on Monday evening to reflect more accurately the operational losses it has incurred in the operation of Doko Manor this past year. The 2014 budget that was set last July projected a $20,000 loss in the Manor’s operating funds in the 2014 fiscal year, which ends June 30, but by December that loss was already at $22,000 and climbing. The adjustment revised the projected loss from $12,000 to $44,000 for General Maintenance/Service Supplies and from $33,000 to $49,000 for Program and Oversight Salaries for the fiscal year. Councilman Bob Massa, a CPA, had advised Council at a previous meeting that state law requires a budget adjustment when the budget veers from its projections by more than 5 percent.

    Other revisions to the budget included: appropriation for Ground Maintenance was changed from $8,000 to $2,500; General Maintenance/Major Repairs from $10,000 to $5,000 and Utilities from $22,000 to $14,000. The changes will not go into effect until second reading, which will probably occur at the next meeting.

    Term Limits

    Council voted 3-0 to place limits on the number of terms for which an individual may be elected and reelected as Mayor or Town Council member. The idea was brought forward at the Dec. 16 meeting by then newly seated Councilman Tom Utroska. The suggestion was generally supported by Councilmen Massa and Bob Mangone, but opposed by Mayor J. Michael Ross. Although the Mayor was absent on Monday evening due to a pressing family matter, his opposition received strong support Monday evening from James Meggs, the Town’s interim administrator, who told the other Council members that “This ordinance has been promulgated by one of your colleagues. But you will note in the ordinance that you have been informed by your Town Attorney (who is also Meggs) that a South Carolina Attorney General has opined that term limits are beyond the proper scope of your authority.”

    However, the opinion actually only states that “term limits are not authorized by state law.”

    Meggs then reiterated, “I just wanted you to once again be clear that you at least have an Attorney General’s opinion that holds this is not an authorized effort by Town Council.”

    “An opinion is just that,” Massa quipped after Meggs offered his advice.

    Utroska added that, while he made the proposal for term limits, the suggestion was brought to him by citizens in the Town. Utroska also reminded Meggs that, “while the state may not have authorized term limits, neither has it prohibited them.” Council forthwith voted unanimously to prescribe term limits for elected officials of the Town.

    Doko Manor Projections

    After being named the new Events and Conference Center Director of the Manor by Town Council Monday night, Booth Chilcutt thanked Council for their confidence in him and gave them the long awaited first quarter projections they have been seeking from former Manor Director Martha Jones since late last fall. Chilcutt also outlined second quarter projections that he said will show some leveling out of expenses.

    Referring to a projected income report he handed out to Council and members of the audience, Chilcutt reported income projections, based on scheduled events as of Feb. 17, at $15,654 through March and $15,667 for April, May and June, for a monthly average of $5,220. According to Massa, expenses for the Manor average $6,600 each month. Chilcutt said there are a total of 28 paid events and 48 unpaid events already on the books through March, but that beginning in April, there are 31 paid events and only 21 unpaid events for the second quarter. He said the number of unpaid events for February and March are skewed by the inclusion of 24 rehearsals for the Bravo Blythewood Community Theater. Asked by Massa why the rehearsals are being held for free at the Manor when they could just as easily have been held at Westwood High School where the play will be held, Booth said those arrangements were made before he became Director.

    Utroska pointed out that “We’re spending about $28.46 an hour when this place is open and we’re having a lot of groups like this using it for free. We need to cover the outflow of expenses of this money pit. We need to be charging these ‘free’ groups for their costs – setup charges, the dance floor, etc. The room may be free but we have charges. If a group uses it for free for two hours, we need to be charging $30 an hour for our overhead plus any applicable fees for setup and use of equipment. We aren’t trying to make money. We’re trying to get to where we are not subsidizing someone’s party.”

    Chilcutt agreed, saying, “Initially the vision was to make this a community based facility and a lot of people wanted to use it for free, but we have real costs involved that we need to monitor and control.”

    While a 25 percent increase in rental fees has been proposed, Utroska said notice would be given to the public prior to Council implementing additional charges for both paid and unpaid events at the Manor.

    Rules Changed for PC Appointments

    In other business, Council passed final reading to amend provisions of an ordinance the Ross administration, with no public objections from Meggs (as Town Attorney), has repeatedly ignored pertaining to how applicants are recruited for the Planning Commission. The previous ordinance required the posting of notices of vacancies on the Planning Commission at least 30 days prior to appointment so that members of the public are adequately notified of vacancies in case they want to apply. Meggs has repeatedly stated that such requirements are overly complex and that the new ordinance simplifies the process. The new ordinance no longer requires public notification when vacancies occur, but provides for Council to advertise twice a year (January and July) for applicants for the Planning Commission. Council recently passed similar ordinances for the Board of Architectural Review and the Board of Zoning Appeals.

    Council voted to go in to executive session to discuss negotiations incident to the proposed contractual arrangements for the Doko Depot Restaurant. No votes were taken following the executive session.

    Council has scheduled a work session on March 14 at the Manor to further discuss ways to equalize the Manor’s expenses and other matters.

  • Trapp: Race Behind S2 Review

    WINNSBORO – More than a month after the collapse of a portion of retaining wall at the recently completed Drawdy Park football field sparked criticism of the project’s manager, S2 Engineering, and spurred County Council to call for a review of all S2 projects, one Council member created a stir Monday night when he said the real issue was about race.

    “For those in the audience who are not familiar with a lot of stuff, S2 Engineering firm is a black firm,” Councilman Mikel Trapp (District 3) said during Monday night’s Council meeting. “So, some of the blacks can probably relate. You’ll get the picture. (It’s) a black firm, the only black firm in the county. Who’s all complaining about them? They happen to be all white Fairfield County citizens.”

    The mixed-race audience immediately issued forth a series of uncomfortable groans, with one unidentified member of the crowd loudly grumbling, “The Race Card.”

    “The issue’s been made by race,” Trapp replied, and as the din began to grow, Chairman David Ferguson (District 5) brought down the gavel.

    “No comments,” Ferguson said, hammering the gavel.

    “Mr. Chair, is that not out of line?” another unidentified member of the audience asked. “You could throw him out. That is out of line.”

    When Ferguson instead asked this particular audience member to leave, Mr. William Turner asked from the back row, “When are you going to leave, Mr. Ferguson?”

    After identifying Turner, Ferguson ejected him as well.

    “You all come on with me, though,” Turner said on his way out. “If I leave, you should go.”

    Trapp’s comments, which were left lingering in the atmosphere like fumes from a ruptured sewer main, came on the heels of a clarification by interim County Administrator Milton Pope, at the request of Councilwoman Mary Lynn Kinley (District 6), on how S2 was selected for the Drawdy Park project. The park lies within the boundaries of Kinley’s district. Pope said that since his arrival in July, the County has been following standard procurement guidelines as outlined in the County’s policies. How things were handled before that, he said, he could only discern from reviewing “prior information.”

    “There was a contract for S2 Engineering,” Pope said. “There was a list of engineers that were chosen to do certain work. S2 Engineering was one of those. I cannot tell you specifically, not from documents at least in writing, of how those things worked, but it appeared as though that there were engineers that were chosen to do certain works, certain projects. All of them were not necessarily procured in the traditional way, but selected from a list of contractors to do various work for the County.”

    After the meeting, Trapp reiterated his feelings that race, not competency, was at the heart of criticism of S2, an engineering firm actually located in Irmo, which lies mostly in Lexington County with parts of its borders reaching into Richland County.

    “I believe it,” Trapp said. “Yes, I do.”

    Trapp also alluded to the possibility that the retaining wall may have been brought down by someone intentionally.

    “I do not think the wall fell down on its own,” Trapp said.

  • Frick Eyes Solicitor’s Seat

    William Frick

    WINNSBORO – With the announcement last week that Sixth Circuit Solicitor Douglas A. Barfield Jr. will retire at the end of his current term, Winnsboro attorney William P. Frick has announced his intentions to run for the top prosecutor’s job, which covers Fairfield, Chester and Lancaster counties.

    Frick, who currently works as Deputy Public Defender for the Sixth Circuit, has previous experience as a prosecutor, having served in the Solicitor’s office in the Fourth and Sixth circuits and as an Assistant Attorney General with the S.C. Attorney General’s Office. Frick also represents District 6 on the Fairfield County School Board of Trustees.

    Frick said that while pursuing the office will present no conflict with his duties as a School Board member, if elected he would have to give up that seat. His duties as a Public Defender, however, would come to an end once he files to run for the office.

    “As soon as I file, that will be the end of my being a Public Defender,” Frick said. “I’ll be out of work for a few months.”

    Frick said he will run as a Democrat, and filing for the Democratic primary opens March 16, with a primary election scheduled for June 10. The general election will be held Nov. 4.

    “I am not sure if it really makes a difference whether you have a ‘D’ or an ‘R’ by your name in the job of Solicitor,” Frick said. “This job is about seeking justice and I am not sure how that is a Democratic or a Republican thing. I think that’s more of a Constitution thing.

    “The Job of Solicitor is a complex one,” Frick added. “You must not only be able to handle complex criminal matters, you need to be able to deal with several of them at the same time, while also managing an office of attorneys and staff that encompasses Lancaster, Chester and Fairfield counties. I have the experience that is necessary to do that job.”

    Frick’s election to the School Board in 2010 was part of a larger paradigm shift in School Board politics, one that has led the Fairfield County School District to calmer waters.

    “I’ll do whatever I can to help recruit a candidate (for School Board) who understands the role of a School Board member,” Frick said.

  • Councilman Challenges Critics: Beat Me at the Ballot Box

    WINNSBORO – In the wake of last week’s revelation that the State Ethics Commission had issued notices of hearing to three County Council members, Council took no small amount of heat during Monday night’s meeting from one outspoken member of the public.

    “Council members who have been accused and charged and will be found guilty by the State Ethics (Commission) should resign immediately,” Jeff Schaffer said during the evening’s second public comment session. “If not for their own self-respect, then do it for us, the public taxpayer of Fairfield County. We elected you to serve us, not yourselves, and it’s obvious that more than a few of you are incapable of performing your duties without making excuses or continuing to back the bus over Mr. Hinely (former County Administrator Phil) time and time again. We would like to see you take responsibility, step up and say, ‘I made a huge error in judgment and I think I should resign for my actions’.”

    Last week, the Ethics Commission issued a notice of hearing to Council Chairman David Ferguson (District 5), Councilman Mikel Trapp (District 3) and Councilwoman Mary Lynn Kinley (District 6), outlining four counts against Ferguson, six counts against Kinley and 11 counts against Trapp (see the Feb. 7 edition of The Voice). Trapp, who had previously offered no public statement on his charges, shot back Monday night following Schaffer’s comments.

    “As to Mr. Schaffer’s concerns: I notice you didn’t call any names about the (Ethics charges),” Trapp said. “I’m one of those (charged) . . . You said I should resign immediately. (It will) never happen. Beat me at the ballot box in November, because I’m not going to resign.”

    When an unidentified member of the audience spoke up, saying, “I think you should resign,” Trapp answered, “Well, you wait and see.”

    “I also notice that you left out Mrs. (Carolyn) Robinson (District 2) from your Ethics comments,” Trapp continued. “Is that because she’s a member of your Tea Party group? She got the same paperwork I got.”

    At that point, Schaffer asked Ferguson if he could respond.

    “You may not,” Ferguson answered, at which time another unidentified member of the audience spoke out: “So we just get to listen?”

    “You get to listen,” Trapp answered. “You can talk to Mrs. Robinson, since she started this whole group (Saving Fairfield) from District 2, all her neighbors, started this whole mess. But if you’re waiting on me to resign, it’ll be a cold day in you-know-where.”

    At press time, The Voice could not confirm additional notices of hearings handed down to any of the other Council members.

    Trapp, according to the Ethics Commission, allegedly violated Section 8-13-700(A) of the S.C. Code of Laws “by knowingly using his official office to obtain an economic interest for himself by vacationing in county funded lodging following the conclusion of the S.C. Association of Counties’ summer conference” on Hilton Head Island in July of 2010, 2011 and 2013. The Ethics Commission said Trapp also failed to disclose payments made by the County to him in lieu of health benefits on his Statement of Economic Interest forms in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    In addition, Trapp is accused of “knowingly using his official office to obtain an economic interest for a family member when he voted to allocate” funds “to his sister-in-law’s employer, CIC, Inc.” Trapp’s notice of hearing states that the “votes” came on July 1, 2011; July 7, 2011; July 10, 2012; and July 15, 2013. The amounts allegedly allocated were: $2,500 on July 1, 2011; $1,234 on July 7, 2012; $3,500 on July 10, 2012; and $2,500 on July 15, 2013.

    A review of minutes on the Fairfield County Web site turns up no votes by Council on any matter related to CIC, Inc., and that no meetings were held on July 1, 2011; July 7, 2011; or July 10, 2012. Council did hold a special meeting on July 15, 2013, but only to debate recreation funding. The Ethics Commission clarified this week that those dates reflect when the checks were cut to CIC, Inc., not when the votes were taken to allocate the funds. The Ethics Commission said they did not know when the votes to distribute the funds were held.

    Monday night, Trapp confirmed that the payments were made to Community Improvement, Inc., a 501(c)3 registered with the S.C Secretary of State’s office that, through donations, provides schools supplies to underprivileged children. Trapp said his sister-in-law serves on the CIC, Inc. Board of Directors. The funds were disbursed from Trapp’s discretionary fund, he said.

    “I’ve been giving to (them) since 2008,” Trapp said. “Starting in 2008, I had to turn in all the board members’ names to Mr. Hinely, and Hinely called the Ethics Commission to confirm it was (OK) for me to give to them.”

    Last week, the Ethics Commission said that sisters-in-law were added in 2010 to the list of family members for whom public officials are prohibited from using their office to obtain an economic interest. That Trapp’s sister-in-law is not an owner of CIC “is a distinction we’re going to have to look at with Mr. Trapp,” the Ethics Commission said.

    Milton Pope, interim County Administrator, said that each Council member has $3,500 in their annual discretionary fund. However, Trapp’s disbursement of $2,500 on July 1, 2011 and another $1,234 on July 7, 2011, exceeds the $3,500 threshold by $234. Pope said it was possible the 2011 disbursements shown in the Ethics Commission documents represent an overlap of fiscal years, but that he would have to review the corresponding documents to confirm that possibility. As of press time, that confirmation had not been made. Monday night, Trapp said he could not remember the details of the 2011 payments to CIC, Inc.

  • Arts Group Hit With Fine

    Martha Jones

    Bravo Blythewood Improperly Registered with Secretary of State

    BLYTHEWOOD – Bravo Blythewood, the cultural arts arm of the Town of Blythewood, was notified last week that it has been fined $2,000 for failing to register with and file its financial information with the Secretary of State’s Public Charities Division, according to Shannon Wiley, Deputy General Counsel of the Office of the Secretary of State. Former Town employee Martha Jones has been the CEO of the 501(c)3 since it was incorporated as a non-profit on Aug. 3, 2011. Wiley said no financial records have been filed with the Public Charities Division for Bravo Blythewood since it was incorporated.

    While Bravo Blythewood is registered as a non-profit corporation with the business filing division, Wiley said because it solicits money and is funded by the Town Hall, it must also be registered with the state’s Public Charities Division and file an annual financial report and an annual registration form.

    According to documents provided to The Voice by Wiley, a letter dated Jan. 1 was sent to Jones stating that a fine would be levied on Bravo Blythewood if Jones did not register and file the proper paperwork within 15 days. Jones did not respond to the letter until Jan. 22, when she phoned the office to say she would comply according to Wiley. When Jones did not further contact the office, a Notice of Administrative Fine was issued against Bravo Blythewood on Monday, Feb. 3. Wiley said Jones has since submitted a registration form, but did not submit financial information on the non-profit. Wiley said the paperwork was rejected and that Jones must resubmit her registration and submit the required financial information within 15 days of the last request that was expected to be mailed on Thursday.

    If Jones does not comply or request a hearing with the S.C. Administrative Law Court within 30 days of the Feb. 3 Notice of Fine, Wiley said the entire fine could be levied.

    The issue came to Wiley’s attention when Jones failed to submit information about Bravo Blythewood to The Voice for a story last December. When The Voice sought the same information from the Secretary of State’s office, Wiley contacted Jones about the matter. The Voice was unable to reach Jones for comment before press time.

  • Voodoo Jugs & Turkey Art

    The grave of John Bettis, near Edgefield, S.C.

    Less than two hours away, about 92 miles to the southwest, you’ll find a rich history. A town that can boast it’s the home to 10 governors, an historic pottery tradition and strange-but-colorful turkey art. We’re talking Edgefield where the statue of Strom Thurmond overlooks the town square. You’ll see classic antebellum homes, antique shops, an old carpenter’s stand, majestic old cemeteries and lots of history. Just outside the town limits you’ll find the headquarters of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

    Founded in 1785 as a trade center for farmers, Edgefield went on to develop some famous native sons. Its 10 governors are Andrew Pickens, George McDuffie, Pierce Mason Butler, James H. Hammond, Francis W. Pickens, Milledge Luke Bonham, John C. Sheppard, Benjamin R. Tillman, John Gary Evans and J. Strom Thurmond.

    Politics and pottery — that’s Edgefield. It’s not surprising a pottery tradition has long flourished in Edgefield with its rich resources of kaolin, sands, feldspars and pines. Edgefield’s pottery history is a good one. Plantations here led to a demand for large-scale food storage and preservation. In the 1800s, slaves made traditional, alkaline-glazed pottery much as they had in Africa. Particularly notable were the “grotesques” or “voodoo jugs” upon which slave potters applied facial features.

    Jane Bess still makes pottery in Edgefield. Jane, a Charleston native and University of Georgia graduate, makes gorgeous, functional stoneware. In an historic brick building, circa 1918, just off Main Street, you’ll find her charming shop and studio. Jane, who once lived in Atlanta, says the real America lives in small towns.

    Edgefield’s most famous potter, Dave, was born around 1800. Dave left 30 years of verified work, from 1834 to 1864. In 1840, Dave began signing his work, not by merely stamping his initials on the base, as was the custom, but by writing “Dave” on the shoulder of most vessels. His jars and jugs provide a glimpse into life back then.

    On one piece, Dave inscribed “I wonder where is all my relations / Friendship to all and every nation.” This couplet, inscribed April 16, 1857, alludes to the buying and selling of slave family members. On another piece, dated August 7, 1860, he wrote, “I saw a leopard and a lion’s face / then I felt the need of grace.” Perhaps it references the Bible, a dream or stories passed down by African ancestors. Historians surmise that Dave learned to read and write, perhaps, while working as a typesetter for an owner, Abner Landrum, who published a newspaper, The Edgefield Hive.

    Enjoy a day trip to Edgefield. It’s not that far away from you and it’s a great place to just walk around. Ask locals about Horn’s Creek Church and its hand-painted angels in each corner of the ceiling . . . down a dirt road.

    Edgefield. It’s worth the drive . . . Plan a trip when the peach trees are blooming and breathtaking beauty will be your companion.

    If You Go …

    • www.edgefieldsc.net

    Learn more about Tom Poland, a Southern writer, and his work at www.tompoland.net. Email day-trip ideas to him at tompol@earthlink.net.