WINNSBORO – Those crisp new jerseys, cleats and gloves have officially been broken in as Fairfield County Recreation’s spring baseball and softball season began this week.
Drawdy Park was packed on Monday’s opening night as the Rec featured t-ball games spread through the park’s three fields.
The league’s older teams opened their seasons on Tuesday, and t-ball was back in action on Wednesday.
WINNSBORO – Fortune Springs Park pool, now under the management of the Fairfield County Recreation Department, will open June 11.
Fairfield County lifelong resident Carolyn Walters, a former physical education teacher, will be the pool manager.
The pool will be open to the public Tuesdays – Fridays from 3 – 5 p.m.; on Saturdays from 12 noon to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
The pool will be limited to senior swimmers on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 12 noon.
Public swimming fees will be required: $3 per person daily fee, $40 per person/$85 family of 5 for a mid-season pass, $75 per person for individual season pass, $75 family of 5 weekly pass and $150 family of 5 season pass.
Children 16 years and under must be accompanied by an adult and children five years and under must be accompanied in the water by an adult. Children under 48 inches tall who cannot swim will be required to wear a life jacket and swim in a designated area.
Swim lessons will be provided for ages five and older Monday through Thursday from 7 to 7:45 p.m. at a cost of $40 per individual on the following dates: June 17-June 27, July 8-July 18 and July 22-Aug 1. Free lessons will be provided for rising third graders on those same dates from 6 – 6:45 p.m.
Register for swim lessons at the Winnsboro Recreation Center Monday – Friday from 9 a. m. to 5 p.m. or at the pool beginning June 11. Session times may be combined depending upon participation.
Fortune Springs Park pool is located at 451 Fortune Springs Drive in Winnsboro.
For more information please call 803-635-9114.
WINNSBORO – Approximately 10 health care vendors were available on Saturday at the Free Fairfield County Health Fair, sponsored by U.S. Congressman Ralph Norman at the Fairfield County Parks and Recreation Center from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Representing Providence Health’s new ER facility in Winnsboro were, from left: registered nurses Arlene Vance and Robin Gilbert, who are shown above providing information and mini first aid kits to Jarvis Ballinger, Trista Davis and Saya Lyles. Doctors, nurses and other health care personnel were on hand to take blood pressure, conduct other health screenings and dispense nutritional and dietary advice.
WINNSBORO – The Fairfield County Parks and Recreation Department has opened a new fitness room at the Winnsboro Recreation Center.
“We’re always looking to bring new opportunities to our community to exercise and stay fit,” County Administrator Jason Taylor said. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of the Fitness Room.”
Located in the basketball gym, the room will provide members with exercise options for cardio training, weight training and functional training, according to Parks and Recreation Director Russell Price.
“We took a dilapidated storage area and renovated it into an updated fitness facility for our citizens, and it was all done at a minimal cost,” Price said. “Mr. Taylor’s motto is, ‘Always utilize what you have,’ and we did that.”
The opening of the fitness facility coincides with the start of the Rec Center’s ‘Get Fit Fairfield!’ program, a 12-week fitness challenge between 20 teams that will measure their achievements in weight loss, diet and exercise, Price said.
Hours of operation for the Fitness room are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Membership fees are $20 per month for an individual and $35 per month for a family of two. For more information, contact Lucas Vance at 803-635-9114 or by email at lucas.vance@fairfield.sc.gov.
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Parks & Recreation will offer a free baseball and softball camp to kids ages 4-12. The camp, led by former high school coaches and Fairfield County residents Jonathan Burroughs and Roe Coleman, will be held March 12 and 13 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Drawdy Park, 702 Eighth Street, Winnsboro.
Burroughs is the former head coach at Westwood High School in Blythewood and Coleman is the former head coach at Ridge View in Columbia.
For information about the free camp, contact Lucas Vance at 803-815-2487 or lucas.vance@fairfield.sc.gov.
WINNSBORO – Former Fairfield County Recreation Director, Lori Schaeffer, has filed a lawsuit against County Councilman Douglas Pauley and Fairfield County.
The complaint, filed with the Fairfield County Clerk of Court on Feb. 12, 2018, alleges that Pauley illegally interfered with Schaeffer’s employment and was involved in her termination last fall such that he either insisted upon her termination and/or was the source of the complaint used to justify her termination.
Schaeffer alleges that the County violated a “clear mandate of public policy such that Pauley could interfere and did interfere in her employment, which is prohibited by the letter and spirit” of the law. She states that because Fairfield County has a Council/Administrator form of government, its Council members are forbidden from meddling in the day-to-day affairs of that government and from supervising county employees other than the county administrator.
The suit also cites S.C. Code 4-9-660 which states: “Except for the purposes of inquiries and investigations, the council shall deal with county officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the county administrator solely through the administrator, and neither the council nor its members shall give orders or instructions to any such officers or employees.”
Schaeffer, who was hired by the County as Recreation Director in October, 2007, states that Pauley, immediately upon becoming a Council member in April, 2017, “began to nit-pick and micromanage” her work. She alleges that Pauley hassled her, “about miniscule items including an issue with baseball uniforms being late to arrive, the start time for the County’s baseball schedule, schedules generally, and later a wall at the County’s recreation center playground.”
The suit also cites the following and other ways that Schaeffer alleges Pauley interfered with her work.
– During the County’s 2017 budget meeting, Schaeffer alleges that she was disproportionately questioned by Pauley regarding the intricacies of her department budget in comparison to other department heads. The suit states that Pauley also asked Schaeffer, but not other department heads, questions that were not germane to the budget.
– During a meeting with Pauley in Deputy County Administrator Davis Anderson’s office, Schaeffer alleges that Pauley stated to her that “they want you [Schaeffer] and [another person] terminated from the County.”
– Schaeffer alleges that Pauley interjected himself into her employment when, she states, an unforeseen issue arose due to unpronounced changes in Little League Baseball Rules which precluded three boys from competing in state all-star competition for the 9-10 age bracket due to their age. Schaeffer’s lawsuit states that the boys were permitted to compete in the next bracket up. The suit states that Pauley specifically told Anderson that the issue was disgraceful and that something had to be done about Schaeffer and her department.
– Pauley, Schaeffer alleges, requested that one of her subordinates be terminated.
– Schaeffer alleges that when she secured bids that were approved by Anderson and Taylor for a grant-funded scoreboard, the purchase was put on hold when Pauley interjected himself, stating that he could get the scoreboard cheaper.
– On or around September 5, 2017, Pauley questioned whether proper hiring procedures had been followed in regard to a recreation employee, the suit alleges. Schaeffer states that her employment with the County was terminated on the basis that one of her subordinate employees had failed to perform background checks for a Little League football coach.
The suit states that the County is liable for Schaeffer’s termination which, it states, violates state law and that she is entitled to recover from the County all damages associated with her termination.
Schaeffer further states that Pauley is liable for tortious interference with her contract and that she is entitled to damages, from both Pauley and the County, for her diminished earning capacity, lost wages, lost benefits, embarrassment, shock, humiliation, pain and suffering, reputational loss and loss of good will.
The suit, which requests a jury trial, also states that Pauley’s actions were willful and intentional and asks for punitive damages.
Asked to comment on the lawsuit, County Administrator Jason Taylor said he had not yet met with the attorney yet.
“It’s an on-going lawsuit and I really can’t comment at this time,” Taylor said. “Our insurance through the County Association covers us in these kinds of actions.”
Fred Williams with the law firm Gignilliat, Sabitz and Bettis in Columbia has been assigned to represent the County.
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Deputy Administrator Davis Anderson announced last week the hiring of two new directors for the County – Russell Price as Fairfield County Parks and Recreation Director and Denise Bryan as Airport Director.
Bryan, a private pilot with over 12 years in commercial aviation, has served as interim director since the summer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics with a minor in airport management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. She is a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives.
“This is an airport with so much potential to grow,” Bryan said, “I’ll be working to make it one of the most valuable tools in Fairfield County to attract new business.”
Bryan and her husband, Joe, have lived in South Carolina for 24 years and are both involved in the general aviation community.
Effective Dec. 4, Price, who serves as a Fairfield County magistrate, will begin his new role as the Fairfield County Parks and Recreation Director.
“I’ve worked with Russell for 18 years, including his successful tenure at Drawdy Park,” D Anderson said, “and he always gives 100 percent to his job.”
“I’m looking forward to working with the youth of the county again and improving recreational opportunities for the entire county population including seniors, get-fit participants, after school programs and youth sports,” Price said. Price said he also wants to improve the county’s facilities/parks and many of the recreational programs.
“The commitment by the county administration to improve recreation in the county played heavily in my decision to accept the position,” Price said.
Price and his wife, Julie, and their two children, Georgia Kate and Brody, live in Fairfield County.
“Having someone in this job who is from the community who knows the people and has a background in recreation is a plus for the department as it moves forward,” County Administrator Jason Taylor said. “Both of these new directors are an asset to the County. “Having someone at the airport reporting directly to administration will, I think, improve the safety, professionalism and customer service at the airport,” Taylor said.