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  • Town council candidates lay out plans

    Eddie Baughman, 62

    Baughman

    I am a retired battalion chief. I am married to the former Donna Miller, and we have 2 grown children and 4 grandchildren.  My son and his family also live in Blythewood.

    I graduated from Spring Valley High School, class of 1977.  I continued my education throughout my Naval and Fire service careers, attending Midlands Technical College.

    I was first elected to town council in 2014 to fill an unexpired term, and re-elected in 2016.  These last 6 years have been rewarding and challenging. 

    It’s been my pleasure to serve the residents of Blythewood these last 6 years.

    I started my service career in 1977 enlisting in the United States Navy serving as a petty officer assigned to Fighter Squadron 101, a fleet replacement squadron responsible for the training of naval aviators and ground crews for the F14 Tomcat, Naval Air Station in Oceana Beach VA.

    After my honorable discharge, I continued my service with the City of Columbia as a firefighter attaining the rank of Battalion Chief. As command officer I directed the daily activities of 9 fire stations and 60 firefighters. For 26 years I served the citizens of Columbia and Richland County.

    After retirement I continued my service with the South Carolina Baptist Convention at the White Oak Conference Center in Winnsboro SC, where I assist with the booking of church groups and nonprofit originations and all their conference and retreat needs.

    I hold membership in the International Association of Firefighters, AMVETS post 33 and the VFW. I am a board member of the Doko Meadows Park Foundation which has been very rewarding bringing to life the Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union Amphitheater.  

    Many accomplishments have been achieved while I served on council these last few years such as passing zoning ordinances on lot size, reducing some new neighborhoods from high density too low to medium density thus maintaining the beauty we have all come to expect here in our small community.

    Addressing the traffic issues we continue to face, economic development that benefits our businesses and residents alike.  A resident of Blythewood for 35 years, I’ve seen and felt the burden of uncontrolled growth.

    We have many issues to address to maintain balance here in Blythewood. If re-elected I will continue to push for better emergency response by continuing to pressure Richland county for upgrades to our fire station, adding six more full time firefighters to bring Blythewood in line with other northeast neighborhoods.

    Blythewood is still the premier northeast location to raise a family, and we need to continue to welcome new residents while lessening the burden on our infrastructure. 

    If elected to town council I will continue to work diligently for our residents and business community alike, striving to maintain a balance to control growth and bring the infrastructure in our town to a level that will lessen the burden on our commute times, allowing us quality time with our families. 

    Barry Belville, 38

    Belville

    My name is Barry Belville, and I am running for Town Council. My wife and I have lived in Blythewood for the past 5 years. We live in Cobblestone Park with our 3 children.

    I am the current Assistant Athletic Director for the Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission.  I have served in this role the past 7 years, overseeing one of the largest Athletic Programs in the state.  Before working in Lexington County, I worked with the Richland County Recreation Commission for 6 years as an Athletic Coordinator and Park Manager at our local Blythewood Park. These jobs have given me the opportunity to work and serve the public on various projects and events. I have gained valuable experience that will be very helpful as I serve as your Town Council member.

    In addition to my work experience, I also serve on the HOA advisory board for Cobblestone Park. I have served in this role for 3 years. This role has given me insight into the growth that is coming to Blythewood in the next decade. It has showed me the importance of planning for growth so our current community can handle the changes it will bring.

    There are three main issues for Blythewood that I believe are important to focus on in the coming years. 

    Dealing with the expected growth and development over the next 5-10 years.

    There is no doubt that Blythewood is a growing town. Growth is a great thing for the community and the surrounding area. However, I believe we need a plan in place to handle this growth. Right now the infrastructure we have in the Town of Blythewood will not be able to handle the amount of projected growth.  Even with the planned projects from the Penny Tax, our roads and infrastructure in Blythewood are not capable of handling 2-3 more massive subdivisions and 1,300 acres of industrial development. We need to address our infrastructure before we move forward with the growth that is planned.

    Renewal of the water contract with Winnsboro.

    The Town of Blythewood’s current water contract is coming up for renegotiation with the Winnsboro Water Department. This current contract was signed about twenty years ago. I would love to see Blythewood review what we currently pay and research to see if there are other water sources available.  We currently pay out of county rates to the Winnsboro Water Department. I believe we should look for a way to lower our fees for water with our next contract. 

    Hospitality Tax and Accommodation Tax and the events they support

    Blythewood has a Hospitality and an Accommodations Tax to help support our town and community events.  I want to see these used to continue to provide new events to meet the needs of our growing community.  I would like to have committees to review the support for events and make necessary changes.  By celebrating old traditions and creating new lasting memories we will make Blythewood strong as we move into the future. 

    As your town Council Member, I will work hard for the Town of Blythewood.

    Donald Brock, 39

    Brock

    When my family moved to Blythewood a few years ago, we moved to a community.  We moved into a community that takes pride in their town, one where people are friendly and helpful; a community that welcomed us with open arms and has given me an opportunity to serve the common good.  As a father of three, my children are being raised in Blythewood, establishing their roots in a community that appreciates integrity, hard-work and family values, and for me, there are no better qualities for a community to have.  I was fortunate enough to be appointed to the Blythewood Planning Commission in September 2016 and in December 2017, I was elected Chairman.  While I truly love this opportunity to serve the town, I would like to take the next step and serve as a member of Town Council.  

    As a member of Town Council, it is without question my duty to protect this community.  It is my duty to protect Blythewood from those who would seek to profit at the community’s expense.  Whether it’s national builders who want to develop high density neighborhoods or County Council looking to rob Blythewood of the qualities that make it wonderful, we all need leaders who are willing to draw a line in the sand and say “No, this will not happen in our town!”  The last two years as Planning Commission Chairman show that I am willing and able to draw that line.  Blythewood has a charm and elegance that we must not allow to be lost to overdevelopment.

    As a member of Town Council, it’s imperative that we maximize the use of one of our finest assets:  Doko Meadows.  We have an amazing park, amphitheater, and one of the best facilities in the northeast, Doko Manor.  Doko Meadows can be a key piece in the growth and prosperity of the town, hosting world-class concerts, festivals and family-friendly events that will attract visitors from beyond the greater Blythewood area.  I look forward to working with local event promoters, such as Bravo Blythewood and the Blythewood Chamber of Commerce, to increase visibility of current events and bring new and exciting events to our town.  

    As a member of Town Council, I feel it is my responsibility to advocate for a top-notch health, recreation and wellness facility, one that’s owned and controlled by the Town.  I envision an all-in-one complex, one that includes sports and recreational activities that will be beneficial for all residents, not just our youth. 

    As One Blythewood, we need to oversee our town and our town’s future, not relinquish control to outsiders who would simply use us as a profit engine.  We have to develop a top-notch health, recreation and wellness complex to serve the greater community.  Finally, we must continue to enhance the resources we have by supporting the current events at Doko Meadows and promoting new events and opportunities that can truly showcase Blythewood’s true charm.  I am asking for your support to make these visions a reality. 

    As One Blythewood, we need to oversee our town and our town’s future, not relinquish control to outsiders who would simply use us as a profit engine.  We have to develop a top-notch health, recreation and wellness complex to serve the greater community.  Finally, we must continue to enhance the resources we have by supporting the current events at Doko Meadows and promoting new events and opportunities that can truly showcase Blythewood’s true charm.  I am asking for your support to make these visions a reality. 

    Sloan Griffin, 33

    Hello, my name is Sloan J. Griffin III, and I’m seeking your support for Blythewood Town Council. My wife, our Pomeranian and I are residents of Cobblestone and we attend church at The Brook. I worked in Blythewood during the 2015 floods while deployed with FEMA and ate every day at Lizards Thicket, Carolina Wings and Scotties. I said after returning home, one day I’ll move to Blythewood buy my first home and start a family. Here I am today a proud resident of Blythewood, married, expecting our first child and serving you all as a member of the Blythewood Planning Commission.

    I started my professional career in public service as a firefighter in June of 2005. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Management (Magna Cum Laude) from Kaplan University. Currently employed by South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control as an Emergency Preparedness Coordinator II and currently serving on the Town of Blythewood Planning Commission.

    September, 2016 I was awarded the SCDHEC’s highest operations award for “Excellence in Leadership and Service” and honored by Governor Nikki Haley during a private luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion. The award wa for training and designing an emergency management system for our federal and state-recognized Native American tribal nations.

    In addition, throughout my career I have served our great citizens in other capacities as a Firefighter, Fire Marshal, Fire Captain, Operation Chief, Public safety officer, and with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a Planning Section Chief Reservist, Since 2005 I’ve responded to thousands of emergency calls, trained hundreds, deployed over 10 times with the state of South Carolina (Latest one Hurricane Dorian) and over 6 times nationally with FEMA (most recent deployment to Hurricane Harvey to lead strategic operational planning as Planning Section Chief for Houston, TX)

    I hope to continue to serve you by taking the next step and, with your vote on November 5, OUR goals are:

    1. Public Safety Improvements
    2. Environmental & Clean Energy Policies
    3. Arts & Culture
    4. Smart Growth & Jobs Creation
    5. Open Transparency

    It’s time for a better and smarter Blythewood, a Blythewood that listens and delivers. Let’s make Blythewood safe and environmentally friendly, let’s celebrate our history of arts and culture, let’s create jobs that provide growth in our homes, and let’s have a local government that responds to your needs. With my willingness to not only listen but to get results and my outlook to drive for a smarter future puts me in the perfect position to serve you all as your next Town Council member.

    I invite everyone to visit www.SloanGriffin.org and like my Facebook page. Vote for Sloan J Griffin III “Blythewood Town Council” or contact me at (864) 377-2120 and email at sloanjarvisgriffin@yahoo.com.

    Thank you for your support.

    Taylor

    Blythewood Town Council candidate Marcus Taylor did not respond to The Voice’s request for comments for this issue.

    Related Articles: Mayoral candidates have their say

  • Residents oppose Vulcan quarry

    RIDGEWAY – The announcement last week that Vulcan Materials plans to open an $18M granite quarry in Fairfield County, just north of the county’s 1,500-acre megasite in Ridgeway, was hailed as good news for the county from an economic development standpoint.

    Neighbors in the rural area of the proposed quarry, however, came to county council Monday night to express their fears that the quarry could be harmful to their properties and to them by spreading cancer-causing dust, depleting the ground water that feeds their water wells and polluting their air. They called on county council for support in their opposition to the giant mining company locating near their homes.

    Rob Black, who lives on Highway 21 near the proposed quarry said his family has lived on their property for 90 years and he worries that the noise and dust from the blasting and rock crushing will go on not only through the daytime, but through the night as well.

    “I went to the open house that Vulcan hosted,” Black said. “They avoided answering our questions about whether they would be blasting past the edge of the granite deposit into the soil and water tables. They assured us that the cancer causing dust they produce wouldn’t be a problem since they spray water on their crushers. We worry about what Vulcan isn’t telling us.”

    Black’s wife, Michelle, expressed other concerns.

    “It’s not the blasting that will be the largest source of noise and disturbance,” She told council. “It’s the constant drilling of the blasting holes and the crushers running constantly.”

    The company is in the process of applying for the necessary permits from Fairfield County and the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

    In an emailed statement to The Voice last month, Elliott Botzis, vice president and general manager for Vulcan Materials in S.C., said the Fairfield quarry will serve as a catalyst for economic growth and will supply building materials for nearby homes, businesses and infrastructure while creating good-paying jobs and generating needed revenue.

    Kevin Thomas, who lives near the proposed quarry site said that catalyst for economic growth may not be worth the risks it poses to neighboring homes.

    “We have great concerns about the potential loss of our water wells and the dust and noise of blasting that will risk the destabilization of the foundations of our homes that come with any quarry,” Thomas said. “This proposed quarry is only targeting to bring 15 jobs to Fairfield County, many of whom will reside outside the county and take their dollars with them. With that potentially happening for just 15 jobs, is this project worth what it will cost the Fairfield residents who live near that quarry?” Thomas asked.

    Vulcan operates 16 facilities in the state, including its Blair quarry in Fairfield County and Columbia and Dreyfuss quarries in Richland County. The company plans to open another quarry in Lexington later this fall.

    Thomas told council that the quarry Vulcan built across the county in Blair brings in only $30,000 in tax revenue, and has already caused untold damage to roads in that area.

    “They won’t even have their equipment registered in South Carolina,” Thomas said. “It’s registered in North Carolina, and the blasting and dust from this quarry could potentially keep jobs away from Fairfield’s nearby megasite.”

    “While we’re concerned about the dust and the noise that the quarry will create, our water is our main issue,” property owner David Ray said. “There’s no county water out there. You think about losing your water. If we lose our well water, we’re out of water. And this quarry is being built right next to Horse Creek Branch which flows into Little Wateree Creek,” Ray said. “Please consider that.”

    In an interview with The Voice, County Council Chairman Neil Robinson said that when the land is zoned for a particular use, there’s not a lot that the county can do to directly influence a situation like this.

    “I would like to arrange a community forum about the quarry and hear more from the residents’ about their concerns. I would hope that not only the county could meet with the residents but that Vulcan officials would also attend and be able to answer questions and provide documentation,” Robinson said. “I think that’s one of the first things we need to do. Our citizens need to have a voice in this. This process is in its infancy right now, so I think we have some time.”

    Vulcan officials could not be reached for comment.

    Of its 909.7 acres along I-77, Vulcan officials say only 127.7 (14 percent) will be mined. Approximately 86 percent of the site will remain unmined, including setbacks, buffers, natural landscape and wildlife habitat areas, according to Vulcan’s statement.

  • Blythewood’s oldest hometown girl

    Annie Faust, 103, is surrounded by most of the women in her family who look after her. Front row, from left: granddaughters Kayce Prince-Harvey and Bonnie Walker, daughters Sandra Faust Prince and Cheryl Faust Bullock. Back row, from left: Great granddaughters Kayle Counts (twin), Brook Edwards, Kendall Counts (twin), Ashley Counts, Kyndall Walker and Michelle Edwards. With his arm around his great great grandmother is Cooper Thompkins, 6. Not shown are grandson Billy Prince, Jr., granddaughter Brittany Bullock who is serving in the U.S. Army in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and great granddaughter Dallas Prince.

    BLYTHEWOOD – Annie Faust has lived in the same house in Blythewood for about 75 years – just down the road from where she grew up on Rimer Pond Road.  Hers was a simple life with few frills. But today, at 103, Annie is living every senior citizen’s dream, basking in round-the-clock attention of an army of loving caregivers – her family – in her own home.

    In addition, she may well own the distinction of being the oldest living native Blythewoodian.

    Born in 1916, Annie was always an independent woman and is still remarkably healthy in mind and body. Last year, at 102 years old, she fell and broke her hip, but she’s defied the odds with an amazing recovery that has been hampered only by arthritis in her knees.

    “My doctor says I’m fine. Nothing wrong with me,” she said with a laugh and feisty wave of her hand. “My heart and everything’s fine. I’m fine.”

    She has a quick wit, an astonishing grasp of her faculties, and she delights in talking about what it was like growing up in Blythewood.

    Asked how she maintains such a sharp memory at her age, she quipped, “It’s not that older people don’t have good recall, it’s that the older you get the more memories you have to keep up with. It’s hard!”

    Annie sat down with The Voice recently to talk about her 103 years. She quickly turned the interview around, noting that she doesn’t always get her Voice newspaper in the mail every week and she wanted to know why.

    Growing up as the next to youngest of five children whose parents were farmers, Annie’s young life was never easy.

    Annie Faust, 103, enjoys a cheeseburger Happy Meal (with extra fries) with her great granddaughter, Kendall Counts. | Photos: Barbara Ball

    “My parents tried to farm, but my mother was sick a lot and my daddy became ill and died in his 60s. So they never made much at farming,” she recalled.

    Annie and her late husband, Littleton Faust, knew each other in school as they were growing up.

    “A bunch of us kids all walked together about three miles to school every day and back home. We didn’t have a cafeteria or any food at the school. We either took our lunch or waited till we got home to eat. That’s what I did,” she said.

    There were only 11 grades at the time, and after graduation, Littleton, at 17, split for the Army. Annie stayed at home with her parents, often helping her dad in the garden, something she remembers fondly.

    “There was nothing for girls like me to do back then after we got out of school.  No real job. No car. No money.

    About five years later she and Littleton reconnected, this time romantically. She was 24 when they were married in 1940.

    “After we married, he left the Army and tried to get work in Columbia, but it was hard to make enough money for a family,” Annie recalled. World War II was underway, so Littleton re-enlisted. He also served in Korea, Vietnam and other places around the world as well as a number of years at Ft. Jackson before he retired after 30 years. 

    During her husband’s extended deployments, Annie remained in their home in Blythewood where she raised the couple’s two daughters, Sandra (Prince) and Cheryl (Bullock), both of whom still live in Blythewood.

    In later years, she also helped look after her grandchildren, great-grands and great-great-grand while their parents worked.

    Littleton died eight years ago at the age of 93. Asked how long they were married, Annie answered, “We’re still married. He’s just dead.”

    Today, Annie still lives in their little house on seven acres on Highway 21, where she raised their two girls almost by herself. She talked about how she sewed and gardened to help make ends meet as a stay-at-home mom. While the years were often lean, she remembers them as good times.

    She said she couldn’t afford fancy weddings for her daughters, but she sewed the dresses they wore to be married in.

    “They were very pretty,” she said.

    “I loved to sew and work in the garden, and I loved to cook. I just loved it,” she said enthusiastically. “I still did a lot of that until I turned 90. Then I just stopped and let someone else do it,” she said with a laugh.

    While Annie faces life head on and generally exhibits a straight-laced demeanor, her soft side engages when she talks about her family and her fond remembrances of her daughters growing up.

    “They were sweet girls,” she said. “Sometimes children cause their parents trouble. Our girls didn’t. They were very sweet.”

    When the girls got married, Annie and Littleton gave them each an acre of the family property for their own homes. Today, one of their two daughters, two granddaughters and a grandson, all but one of the six great-granddaughters and a great-great-grandson still live in the family compound and are returning the love and thoughtful care that Annie provided in abundance for them as they all grew up.

    “One is with me around the clock,” Annie said. “They take turns in 12-hour shifts. Someone is here all the time. The [great-grand] girls do their homework and studying while they’re here.” Three of the six great-granddaughters attend Westwood High School and one is enrolled at Midlands Tech. “It’s so nice to have them here.

    “Whoever stays the night shift fixes breakfast for us,” Annie noted. Her breakfast is always a hearty one and always the same – a bowl of grits and cheese, two pieces of toast, a Jimmy Dean sausage biscuit and two cups of coffee.

    “Someone brings in lunch or one of the great-grands picks up Happy Meals for us,” she said with a wink.

    “She likes extra fries,” great-granddaughter Kendall Walker added, with a smile.

    Annie said she doesn’t eat supper or snack before bedtime.

    A tall slender woman who would easily pass for a vibrant 80-year-old, Annie attributes her healthy skin to liberal applications of Oil of Olay and eating lots of fruits and vegetables.

    “I do eat some meat, but I always loved vegetables – butterbeans, tomatoes, black-eyed peas, cucumbers, just about any vegetable. I especially like purple-top turnips. When I was young, I was always picking a peach or plum or apple right off the tree and eating it. I love fruit, especially apples,” she said.

    While Faust doesn’t get out and about too much anymore, she’s always up early, dressed and ready to pass a pleasant day with whichever family member is on duty.

    And, at 103, she’s still making plans for the future and looks forward to every tomorrow.

    “I’m hoping to be getting around without my walker by the end of the year,” she told The Voice.

    Annie has made the most of a simple life, focused on sharing the gifts of her time, energy and whatever she had in this world with her children and their children. Now those gifts are coming back to her in the form of busy days filled with happy experiences, occasional visitors and the constant coming and going of family members who clearly love her to pieces.

    “I enjoy them all,” she said, folding her hands in her lap. “Everything has worked out real good.”

  • Video, documents contradict claims by council members Bell and Trapp

    WINNSBORO – On Feb. 11, at the third council meeting of 2019, County Councilman Moses Bell listened intently to a presentation about a new farmers market.

    When the presentation ended, Bell voiced his support for the farmers market work and praised County Administrator Jason Taylor for the county’s participation in it.

    “The building, Mr. Taylor, is a really nice building. I’ll tell you what, all that work that’s gone on at that building is just really representative… a really good job,” Bell said.

    “When I was talking to the people there, they were saying that it might be [used] for some other activities,” Bell continued. “Talk a bit about that piece because I think the county needs to know. That’s a good deal.”

    At Monday’s meeting, however, Bell’s tone shifted dramatically.

    Instead of showering the farmers market with praise, he sided with two former county employees, Jackie Workman and Tony Armstrong, calling for an investigation into how the market was funded and accusing Taylor of missuse of funds.

    The farmers market expenditures totaled about $162,000, though $30,000 came from a Walmart donation for economic development.

    Bell said he thought Taylor should have secured council approval before spending any county money. He accused Taylor of circumventing procurement rules by funding the farmers market incrementally instead of as a lump sum project.

    “It appears that our county administrator may have spent money on the farmers market, over $130,000, without council approval,” he said. “It appears our county administrator may have also violated procurement code policies right under the nose of this county council.”

    No Violation of Rules

    But according to documents obtained by The Voice through a Freedom of Information request and Fairfield County’s own procurement code, Taylor didn’t violate any rules.

    The procurement code does not require council approval for any purchases under $25,000. Only two farmer’s market-related purchases exceeded $10,000 and none came close to $25,000, documents show.

    “Purchases in amount [sic] up to $15,000 – can be approved by Director of Procurement,” the code states. “Purchases in excess of $25,000 must be approved by the County Council.”

    The code does not specify who’s responsible for authorizing expenditures between $15,000 and $25,000, nor does it prohibit the county administrator from unilaterally making individual purchases for the same project.

    “So the administrator can spend up to $25,000 without approval?” Trapp asked Council Chairman Neil Robinson.

    “We brought this up in the past, about two years ago to amend that [procurement code] to say ‘projects’ over $25,000 instead of ‘purchases’ over $25,000. We can clear up a lot of things if we want to change it,” Robinson said.

    “So you were within your authority according to the procurement manual?” Robinson asked.

    “Yes,” Taylor answered, “but I would suggest you might want to change that. We could recommend any project exceeding $25,000 has to come before council.”

    “Well, I guess we could get together and work on changing that,” Robinson said.

    Trapp Claims Racism

     Money wasn’t the only thing driving farmers market opposition Monday night.

    Councilman Mikel Trapp also attacked the farmers market, which he said had promoted racial profiling, though he did not elaborate.

    “It is not for everyone. It is for a select few,” Trapp said.

    Other council members disagreed, throwing their support behind the farmers market.

    “The farmers market is used by everyone,” said Councilman Jimmy Ray Douglas. “It’s not used by a certain family or sect. It’s used by everybody, and everybody loves it. I don’t understand why such a big thing is being made of it. That’s not right. This thing needs to be put to rest.”

    Councilwoman Bertha Goins said uproar over the farmers market reminds her of verbal attacks made against Brandt Jean, the 18-year-old Texas man who hugged the police officer recently convicted of killing his brother.

    On both instances, she said, people are being unjustly attacked for doing the right thing.

    “I want to thank the administrator,” she said, turning toward Taylor. “Not long ago, people were saying ‘thank you. We appreciate you. You’re doing a good job,’” Goins said. “But when they don’t agree with you, the knives come out.”

    Trapp said he didn’t even know about the farmers market until the ribbon cutting ceremony in May. But that’s also not true.

    He can be seen in attendance on the video of the Feb. 11 council meeting when the farmers market was discussed for approximately 15 minutes.

    Trapp also attended a county council retreat on April 13, where Taylor gave another report about the farmers market, and members of council also discussed it at length. There are other videos of council meetings as well where the renovation of the market building was discussed openly.

    “Economic development brings jobs. Community development makes people who get those jobs want to stay here and spend their paychecks here. And that’s what the Farmers Market and the Market parking lot are about,” Taylor said at the retreat.

  • District’s report card mixed

    WINNSBORO – Fairfield County elementary students did well in classroom testing last school year, but successes didn’t carry forward into middle and high school scores.

    Fairfield Magnet School for Math & Science and Kelly Miller Elementary both received “Excellent” ratings, the highest possible on the 2019 South Carolina report cards, which were released last week.

    Fairfield Middle and Fairfield Central High, however, struggled.

    Fairfield Middle School received an Unsatisfactory rating, earning just 22 of a possible 100 points. Only seven middle schools received the state’s worst rating, according to report card results.

    Fairfield High School received an Average rating, the same as last year, but the school’s score plunged from 57 to 51 points, placing it just one point shy of “Below Average.”

    Superintendent Dr. J.R. Green couldn’t be reached for comment.

    William Frick, chairman of the Fairfield County Board of Trustees, also couldn’t be reached.

    Behind the Ratings

    Since 2012, when Green became superintendent, the district has received an Average rating every year except in 2016 and 2017, when the state didn’t issue accountability ratings.

    The ratings returned after the report cards were revamped in 2018.

    Report cards grade schools based on these indicators: Academic Achievement, Preparing for Success, College & Career Readiness, Graduation Rate and Student Engagement. Varying weights are given to each category in calculating a school’s overall rating.

    Here’s a breakdown of how each school performed in 2019, with the 2018 rating in parentheses:

    Fairfield Magnet School for Math & Science – Excellent (Excellent 2018)

    Kelly Miller Elementary — Excellent (up from Good 2018)

    Geiger Elementary — Good (up from Average 2018)

    Fairfield Elementary — Average (up from Below Average 2018)

    McCrorey-Liston Elementary — Average (Average 2018)

    Fairfield Central High School — Average (Average 2018)

    Fairfield Middle — Unsatisfactory (down from Below Average 2018)

    Fairfield Middle

    Report card figures paint a grim picture behind Fairfield Middle’s unsatisfactory rating.

    On the SC Ready language arts exam, only 26.1 percent of students met or exceeded standards compared to 31.3 percent for the district and 45.4 percent in the state.

    Fairfield Middle struggled even more on the SC Ready math exam.

    Only 17.5 percent (69 of 395) met or exceeded the standard, less than half the district’s performance (35.8 percent) and also below the state average of 45.1 percent.

    Fairfield Middle’s prime instructional time fell four percentage points, from 89% to 84.9%. One in five students (20.9%) was chronically absent, while teacher attendance tumbled from 96.9% to 91.2%

    Student-teacher ratios rose to 16.8 to 1, up from 15.6 to 1, figures show.

    Teachers with advanced degrees dropped from 72.1% to 66.7% while teachers returning from the previous year plunged nearly 9% (81.1% to 72.5%).

    Fairfield Central

    Fairfield Central eked out an Average rating despite receiving Below Average ratings in the categories of Academic Achievement, Preparing for Success and College & Career Readiness subcategories.

    An Excellent rating on Student Engagement and Average rating for Graduation Rate (81%) saved Fairfield High from receiving an overall Below Average rating.

    Fairfield High students struggled on English and Math end of course tests, with less than half of 200 test takers earning at least a “C” on either exam.

    In Math, the drop in the number of Fairfield High students scoring “C” or better was profound – from 62.7% to 51%.

    English results declined as well, with the gap growing between Fairfield High and the state averages.

    The percentage of Fairfield students scoring “C” or better in English fell from 43.6% to 40.5%, while the state percentages rose from 53.9% to 56.3%.

    As with Fairfield Middle, Fairfield High experienced declines in teacher attendance, qualifications and retention, figures show.

    In 2019, Fairfield High staffed 54 teachers, down from 61 the previous year. The percentage of teachers with advanced degrees dropped from 68.9% to 59.3%

    Teachers on continuing contract fell from 63.9% to 57.4% while teachers returning from the previous year dropped from 80% to 77.8%

    District Level

    At the district level, teacher attendance fell from 96.1% to 93.3%, teachers on continuing contract fell from 63.2% to 58.7% and teachers with advanced degrees fell from 62% to 59.4%.

    Fairfield’s per pupil expenditures again led area schools at $17,780

    Fairfield Compensation

    Fairfield County average teacher salaries rose about 4.2 percent, from $49,288 to $51,363, from the 2017-2018 to 2018-2019 school years, according to report card data.

    However, the district’s percent of expenditures on teacher salaries dropped from 47.1% to 44.2%, data shows.

    Administrator salaries increased 1.77 percent, from $85,575 to $87,091.

    The district’s increases in teacher and administrator pay are less than the 5 percent raises that Green, the district’s superintendent, has received annually since 2015. His base pay is $182,287 plus benefits that bring his total to over $200,000.

    Green is contractually entitled to an automatic 5 percent raise every year provided he receives at least a Satisfactory rating on his annual evaluation.

    While the District’s overall ratings have remained at ‘Average’ during Green’s seven-year tenure in Fairfield, in December, the school board gave Green an ‘Exemplary’ rating and voted to extend his contract to 2024.

    Union

    For the second straight year under the revised report card system, none of Union County’s eight schools received an Unsatisfactory rating, despite the district resembling Fairfield both demographically and economically.

    Union’s average teacher pay was lowest among area districts at $46,611. Per pupil expenditures were $9,112, almost half of Fairfield’s.

    The district, however, reported two Below Average schools, up from only one in 2018.

    Four schools received Average ratings and one was rated Good. No Union County school received an Excellent rating.

    Kershaw (Note: Kershaw was accidentally left out of the story in the paper copy of the newspaper.)

    Kershaw County schools, which also had no unsatisfactory schools for the second year in a row, had the second highest average teacher salary in the area at $51,880. Per pupil expenditures were $9,034.

    However, two schools were rated as Below Average. Six schools received Average ratings while the district also had two Good and one Excellent school.

    Lancaster

    While four of the six school districts bordering Fairfield County had at least one school rated as Unsatisfactory on state report cards, only Lancaster reported two Unsatisfactory schools. Lancaster had none in 2018.

    Ten Lancaster schools, however, received either Good or Excellent ratings. Seven others were rated Average and two were Below Average.

    In 2018-2019, Lancaster teacher salaries rose about $1,200, from $49,413 to $50,657.

    Chester

    Chester County reported one Unsatisfactory school, down from three Unsatisfactory schools in 2018. Four schools received Average ratings while two others were rated as Good.

    Average teacher salaries remained virtually unchanged, creeping up to $49,309. Chester’s total per pupil expenditure was $10,767, highest among districts neighboring Fairfield, but well under Fairfield’s.

    Richland Two

    The area’s largest school district also turned in one of the strongest showings.

    Nearly two-thirds of Richland Two’s 39 schools received either Good (13) or Excellent (11) ratings. Another 13 schools received Average ratings.

    Richland Two only had one school rated Unsatisfactory and another was rated Below Average.

    The district had the highest average teacher salary at $52,149, slightly higher than last year’s average of $51,802.

    Newberry County

    Newberry County, which had no Unsatisfactory schools in 2018, had one school rated Unsatisfactory this year.

    Also in 2018-2019, the district had two schools rated Excellent, down from three last year. Five other schools received average ratings.

    Newberry had the second lowest average teacher salary in the area at $46,707, while the total per pupil expenditure was $10,696.

    To view the entire Report Card for South Carolina schools, go to: ed.sc.gov/data/report-cards/

  • Mayoral candidates have their say

    The candidates for Blythewood mayor present their plans and platforms.
    Bailey
    Keith Bailey, 60

    A Blythewood resident for 23 years, I was born in Nassawadox, VA. I am a military child with roots all over the world.  I received a B.S. Degree in Business Management from Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) in Hampton, VA, in 1981.  As a commissioned second lieutenant in the United States Army, I served honorably as an active duty officer for over 22 years, receiving several commendatory awards including qualification status for Airborne Ranger.

    I’ve served in several public service offices here in South Carolina, including:  Mayor of Blythewood (2008-2012); Blythewood Town Council (2004-2008); Deputy Director for A Better Way’s “Project G.O.” (Gang Out),  an organization focused on cleaning up gang activity in SC neighborhoods; Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Hopes of Higher Education, a non-profit organization that bridges the educational gap from high school to college for foster children who reached age of maturity; Co-founder of the Blythewood Youth Football and Cheer League, an organization that teaches leadership, followership and team building to youth between the ages of eight and twelve and served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Francis Burns United Methodist Church.

    I am proud of my record as a public servant of Blythewood. During my term as mayor, the town government:

    • Planned and implemented what, today, is Blythewood’s crown jewel – The Manor and Doko Meadows Park
    • Assisted in transitioning the Blythewood Business Coalition into the Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce.
    • Assisted in establishing the Blythewood Historical Society.
    • Brought the Rodeo and the Diamond Invitational Baseball Tournament to Blythewood
    • Welcomed five new businesses to town due to economic enterprise
    • Beautified Exit 27 (bridge area over I-77) with trees and flowering shrubs.
    • Negotiated a $450,000 settlement for the Town with SCE&G
    • Annexed the Google property and over 2000 additional acres into Town limits
    • Established a recycling point in the town
    • Developed walking trails in the park
    • Brought attractive directional signage to the town
    • Created kiosks on Main Street and at Town Hall to promote town events

    During my time as mayor of Blythewood, many of the major attractions and events in the town were implemented, and many traditions were started. There is more to governing a municipality than making legislative decisions pertaining to zoning and ordinances.  I feel it’s important to make life better, more enjoyable and more fulfilling for those who live, work and play here.

     While our previous accomplishments continue to enhance the town, there is work still to be done. We do not have enough ball fields. We have traffic congestion and uncontrolled residential growth. We need to continue working toward road and infrastructure improvements. And we need to make the best use of our gift from travelers that keeps on giving – the A-tax and H-tax revenue.

    Governing the town is not a new experience for me. If I am fortunate enough to be elected to serve again, I will continue a vision and a plan that have proven successful. 

    With your vote and my experience, together we can continue to move Blythewood forward. 

    Franklin
    Brian Franklin, 51

    I was raised in Blythewood and attended Richland School District 2 schools here. I graduated from The Citadel as a Distinguished Military Graduate in 1990, and became an Army Officer. I served for 24 years, deployed to combat three times, was awarded a Combat Action Badge and two Bronze Stars, and after serving honorably, retired back to my hometown.  Although we met thousands of people around the world, the unbeatable character, hospitality and hard-working people of Blythewood called us back home to raise our kids. Of our eight children, five are still at home with us here in Blythewood (not for too much longer!).

    After earning two Master’s Degrees [in Health Administration (Chapman University) and Strategic Studies (U.S. Army War College)], I turned to public service. I served on the Blythewood Planning Commission, was elected Chairman, and later became elected as a Town Councilman (2014-2019). Today, I proudly serve you as a Councilman, and I now want to employ my leadership to accomplish my five-pillar vision for Blythewood as your next Mayor: 

    1. Engineer smart growth. We must own the new Richland County industrial park expansion, widen our local roads, keep developers in check, and get our traffic problem under control now. We must be vocal and involved in all construction in the Greater Blythewood Area.
    2. Build Partnerships. We must reestablish our relationship with the Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce to work with area businesses to build a better future with public-private partnerships. Better relations with the County Council and Recreation Commission are also paramount.
    3. Provide for our Citizens. Now is the time to procure land and build a state-of-the-art sports complex. This facility will also host many family and senior activities which are badly needed in Blythewood today. Simultaneously, we have to build sidewalks to connect our neighborhood and facilities. As I see it, a person living anywhere in town should be able to walk, bike or drive a golf cart all the way to Town Hall on a safe, lighted sidewalk.
    4. Be disciplined. I will enforce our ordinances. If a developer tries to shortcut a project, or clear-cut acres of land only to let it sit idle, there must be consequences. “Woods” are what make Blythe“wood” unique and must be properly maintained when possible within these subdivisions. 
    5. Act boldly. I propose we put a referendum on next year’s ballot and offer our neighbors a voluntary opportunity to join us in the Town of Blythewood. Blythewood should include nearly all of the 29016 zip code boundary. Join together or prepare for the City of Columbia to move northward as the population continues to grow.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, we must stand up and control our growth while modernizing our facilities and services. Together we can build a great new vision on our already solid foundation (kudos to outgoing Mayor Mike Ross for a job well done). I would appreciate your vote on November 5th– Vote Bryan Franklin for Mayor of Blythewood.  Call or text 803.800.3922. Thank you.

    Gordge
    Malcom Gordge, 71

    Four years ago I was honored to be elected as a member of Blythewood Town Council. It has been an extraordinary and rewarding experience for me and I feel I can build upon that experience and serve Blythewood’s residents as its Mayor.

    My career with Spirax Sarco as Engineering Manager gave me the opportunity to travel throughout the world giving me a broad perspective of life and interacting with people to identify opportunities and solve problems.  Since retiring, I have found that my life-time of experience has been of value in serving the Town as a Councilman and chairing the Planning Commission before that. I also serve my local neighborhood as a director of Ashley Oaks HOA and both my wife Emily and I volunteer our time to the School Improvement Council for Muller Road Middle School.

    Having lived in Ashley Oaks since 2004 I have seen the effect of unprecedented growth in the Blythewood area and this was the main issue that concerned me and my neighbors and caused me to become active in the affairs of the Town. I am not against development per se but it should achieve at least one of two things: fulfill a need of the Town or improve the quality of life for the residents of Blythewood.

    In my view, Blythewood has far exceeded reasonable residential growth and is at risk of losing the very assets that make Blythewood a great place to live in, raise families and appreciate one another.

    As Mayor I will do whatever is possible to preserve our rural zones. The Town’s Zoning Ordinance is in need of simplifying and updating and I will ensure that review takes place with your input.

    I have been an active member of the Transportation Penny Advisory Committee for Richland County to ensure that the $29 million allocated to Blythewood is realized for the road improvements that will benefit everyone using the roads in our Town.

    In addition to the Richland Penny Program, I represent the Town at the Central Midlands Council of Government and negotiated a cost sharing study for a Traffic Improvement Plan for the Blythewood area which looks at the road improvements needed for the traffic volume we are likely to see in twenty years time.

    Our Comprehensive Plan is due for an overhaul as we approach the next decade and I am excited about driving that initiative forward. This is particularly important with the 2020 Census approaching. Every resident needs to complete the census so that Blythewood receives the full Federal funding it is entitled to and make it work for us.

    My vision is for an inclusive Blythewood that values its cultural history and recognizes the value of all citizens. I have been proud to chair the Committee for Black History month for the last three years and have seen the value of this event which will continue to grow and develop.

    As Mayor, I shall work diligently for you and for the good of Blythewood.

    Related Article: Town council candidates lay out plans

  • Blythewood residents killed by gunfire

    COLUMBIA – A Blythewood woman was one of two individuals who died about 10:30 p.m., Oct. 2 after being involved in a shooting in Columbia. Another man also from Blythewood, was found wounded in the incident according to a Richland County Sheriff deputy’s incident report.

    Christine Anne Hayes, 47, of Blythewood, died at the scene after being shot in the upper torso by someone, according to Richland County Cornor Gary Watts.

    Justin Glenn, 24, of Columbia, died at the scene after also being shot in the upper torso. 

    The incident occurred on Ballenton Road in Columbia.

    When officers responded to the location, they found three people. Hayes was lying face down in the yard of a residence. Glenn was slumped over in a vehicle nearby and a third victim, a 27-year-old male, also of Blythewood, was found in the back yard injured, but conscious and unable to move, the report stated. He was transported to a local hospital.

    Handgun shell casings and a sawed off shotgun were also found in the back yard, officials said.

    No information was available on the condition of the third victim.

    The Richland County Coroner’s Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the incident.

    Anyone with information should contact the Richland County Sheriff’s office at 576-3000.

  • Council approves industrial park 5-0

    BLYTHEWOOD – After much discussion among town and county officials, the five members of the Blythewood Town Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve zoning for the remainder of a 1,300-acre site that Richland County plans to turn into an industrial park.

    The project site, located just west of Interstate 77 with access points in the heart of Blythewood, has spurred controversy because of anticipated traffic congestion and other impacts. But the council members said they and county officials had reached a good compromise in a series of meetings.

    “This is the way America should work,” said Mayor J. Michael Ross shortly after the meeting began, referring to the process that he said took into account both localities as well as the concerns expressed by the public. “I’m proud of the town of Blythewood working this way – unlike Washington, D.C.”

    The vote took place Oct. 2 in a Wednesday morning special called meeting. It was rescheduled after it had been announced at a prior meeting that the vote would be taken on Monday, Sept. 30. Significantly fewer opponents of the project were in attendance at the Wednesday meeting than had attended previous regularly scheduled meetings on the issue.

    Project details are spelled out in a declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions that includes what town leaders call a key concession – veto power for a town representative (appointed by town council) over several areas of the project. This person will sit on the project’s design review committee along with two people appointed by the county.

    “Two members appointed by Richland County and one by the town council. But this member gets a veto authority on eight different line items,” said Town Councilman Bryan Franklin.

    He said the veto power is important, as it represents an assurance that Blythewood will have a say in the project as it moves forward. He said the plan agreed upon was a compromise of “mutual respect.”

    Richland County Councilman Calvin “Chip” Jackson was in attendance and addressed the town council, expressing confidence that the project as currently conceived would protect the livability of the Blythewood community while building for the future – and that the industrial park would be as good as any anywhere.

    “I chair the economic development committee for Richland County Council,” he said, “and in that role and that capacity, I want to make sure that any development that’s occurring anywhere in our county represents the best interest of development, it represents the best interest of our county, it represents the best interest of our citizens and also of our community.”

    A couple of audience members also spoke against the project during the public comment portion of the meeting, the final reading for approval of the project which had previously divided the council 3-2.

    “A disaster awaits the residents,” warned former town councilman Tom Utroska. “I’ve done traffic planning for 45 years, and this is not well thought out.”

    Before voting for approval, the town council members spoke about it in the context of broad issues: Blythewood’s past planning and current growth trajectory, both of which they say dictate this type of development for a site that’s for sale and well-situated in relation to infrastructure and transportation.

    Town Councilman Malcolm Gordge said the town’s master plan has included development of the site for a decade – and, as an opportunity and economic climate emerged that enabled a plan to solidify, town officials had to take a hard look at what kind of development would bring the biggest advantage to the town.

    “We don’t know what’s going to be within the park itself,” he said, “but with the indications from the economic development council, the plan looks far, far better to me than an intense residential development that could add another 2,000 homes in that area, which would be the worst of all things.”

    Town Councilman Larry Griffin echoed the reality: whatever type of development is done on the land – whether business or residential – it will increase traffic. But Griffin, a lifelong Blythewood resident, said ultimately growth has been a good thing.

    “This is not perfect,” he said of the plan, “but I want you to understand – you talk about change, and you talk about growth – you’re talking to the wrong person here, because I’ve seen changes and growth that you can’t believe.

    “When you say, ‘I want to see Blythewood the way it used to be’ – no, you don’t,” he said. “You want to see Blythewood the way you see it and the way you moved to it. That’s not what it used to be…. Somewhere along the line, you’ve got to trust this council that we may be doing the right thing.”

    In reference to the traffic issue, Ross said the potential traffic snarl near Exit 27 will be solved by common sense, as both truck drivers and employees who work in the park choose a different entrance and exit point less bogged down by Blythewood commuters accessing the Interstate.

    Also, he said, a planned road widening project will include a traffic circle in front of the Cobblestone Park community to keep traffic flowing smoothly.

    “This is not going to be Killian Road,” he said. “There’s not going to be car dealerships on these corners. There’s not going to be a Walmart. You can’t put those there. We have ordinances against that.”

  • Oktoberfest set for Saturday

    Mountain Top Polka Band will perform at the Oktoberfest in Doko Park on Saturday.

    BLYTHEWOOD – Talk about a German invasion! This weekend will have that and more, much more in Doko park – a mountaintop polka band, an authentic German oompah band, yodeling, cows pooping money and many other fun activities.

    The Blythewood Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a traditional German Oktoberfest, the first festival of its kind in the town. Admission is free.

    The event, set for Saturday, Oct. 5, in Doko Meadows Park, will open at 1 p.m. and continue until 10 p.m.

    There will be live music all day on the Palmetto Citizens Amphitheater stage: Stampede (southern & classic rock) will perform from 1 – 2 p.m.; Ramblin’ Road from 2 – 3 p.m.; the Stuebenville Tootlers from 3 – 5 p.m. and the Mountaintop Polka Band from 7 – 10 p.m.

    Games and activities will include a yodeling contest, traditional German trachten dress contest, balloons, face painting, a photo kiosk and games, games and more games for the kids.

    German cuisine will be plentiful. Food trucks with ice cream, sweets and ‘fair’ food will line the park and two biergarten tents will be open all day.

    An Almabtrieb cow parade through the park will begin at 5 p.m., and the highlight of the day’s festivities will be cow patty bingo from 5 to 7 p.m., in the Farmers Market field next to Town Hall. Raffle prizes include 1st cow patty dropped – $250, 2nd – $500, 3rd – $750 and the grand finale cow patty will earn a lucky ticket holder $1,000.

    Raffle tickets ($5 each) for cow patty bingo and Bavarian beer mugs can be pre-ordered at blythewoodoktoberfest.com or purchased at the event.

    Sponsors for the event are McNulty’s Taproom, Mekra Lang North America, Founders Federal Credit Union, Buck, McDaniels Volkswagon, Constantia Flexibles, JTEKT, Koyo, TOYODA and Watercrest Senior Living Group.

    For more information about the event, contact the Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce at 803-403-6769. Or blythewoodoktoberfest.com.

  • Sheriff seeks suspect in armed robbery

    A composite sketch of the suspect sought in Dollar General strong armed robbery on Sept. 25.

    BLAIR – At approximately 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, an unknown person assaulted an employee of Dollar General at the Salem Crossroads intersection in the Blair area of Fairfield County.

    The suspect forcibly stole a quantity of money that was being taken to the bank and then fled on foot in the direction of SC 215 South towards Jenkinsville. The suspect was wearing black sweatpants and a long-sleeve gray shirt.

    If you have any information about this incident, you are urged to contact the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 635-4141 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIMESC (888-274-6372) or visit www.midlandscrimestoppers.com to email a tip. Your identity will be kept anonymous and if your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

    The Voice will update this story as more information becomes available.