Colleton Now

High Court Rules In Favor of Schools

The state Supreme Court's ruling can be found here.

Here's our story by Post and Courier Staff Writer Schuyler Kropf.

I'm officially covering Berkeley County now, but feel free to write me at [email protected] if you have a story in Colleton County and we'll see if we can get it covered.

Reeves Resigns

Cottageville Mayor Bert Reeves has resigned.

Read Staff Writer Nita Birmingham's story.

Still Here

I was hoping to write about the state Supreme Court ruling before I left for good after this week, but still no ruling. I talked to Superintendent Charles Gale last week about the district's contingency plan in case the court did not rule before the Dec. 31.

Gale said the district's other option is to sell the bonds and then place the funds in esgrow until the decision is made. He said they haven't done this sooner because it'll cost interest once its done and the School Board will have to approve it - so look for that to happen if a ruling doesn't come down.

I'm actually moving this week so in reality I'm more of a reader than a writer until I take off for Berkeley. I say that because I wanted to pass along the Associated Press version of an unbelievable story I read in today's paper. The full story with video is on the Anderson Independent-Mail website:

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A man driving a float in the Anderson Christmas parade has been charged with drunk driving after he passed another float then sped down Main Street, police say.

When officers caught up to 42-year-old David Allen Rodgers, he had an open container of alcohol in the truck he used to haul the children and adults on the float for the Steppin' Out Dance Studio, Anderson Police spokeswoman Linda Dudley said.

Witnesses said Rodgers was driving in line in Sunday's parade when he pulled out to pass a tractor in the float.

Rodgers sped down Main Street and ran a red light, while a witness on the float called 911 on a cell phone, police said.

Officers started chasing Rodgers, who didn't stop for three miles. Once he pulled over, he tried to attack an officer, Dudley said.

Rodgers, whose child was on the float, faces more than three dozen charges, including DUI, 18 counts of kidnapping and assaulting an officer, authorities said.

A woman who answered the phone at Rodgers' home would not talk to a reporter and a message left at the dance studio was not returned Monday.

Rodgers will have a bond hearing on the kidnapping charge Tuesday. He has a prior traffic offense, but Anderson Police officials could not elaborate on the charge.

Welcome Center Taking Shape

I was out at the  Welcome Center on Sniders Highway today for an interview when I noticed how much it no longer looks like a Huddle House.

When finished, the former restaurant will be a place where I-95 tourists can go to get information about the town.

There's also a firetruck bay in the back to service the recently annexed area of the city.

Goodbye, Colleton

I'm sad to report that as of next week I'll no longer be covering Colleton County for the Post and Courier.

The newspaper is transferring me to Berkeley County. My family and I are moving to the tri-county area next week.

Your first question probably is: what will happen to Colleton? From what I understand, who and when have still not been determined. The newspaper is still considering all options.

Personally, I hope the newspaper finds a solid replacement quickly. Colleton County is on the brink of something big and everyone will benefit if the paper is there to witness it.

I know good things await me in Berkeley but  I will miss it here. My family and I have lived here for two years and we've grown attached to this place and the people.

You've always made me feel welcome here. Never have I been criticized for being "from off."

It's easily the best beat I've had in 10 years of reporting.

Together, we've pioneered one of the newspaper's first news blogs. The newspaper considers it a success and I anticipate it will serve as a model for future blogs, including one in Berkeley.

We're going to leave the blog up indefinitely. I'll try to post a few more times this week.

In a week or two, we will suspend the comment section. Eventually, past posts will be available on the Post and Courier website.

Thank you for everything and keep in touch.

Andy

New Colleton Library Blog

Actually, the site has been up for two weeks but I'm only finding out about it now. I also included it under blogs in the left hand column.

It'll be useful in keeping up with the exceptional amount of events they have over there.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hi everyone,

I'm sorry to have gone so long without a post. It's been a busy holiday week.

We should be rolling with more posts by Monday if not sooner. Who knows what tomorrow holds?

No Decision Yet

Wednesday came and went without a state Supreme Court decision on the schools' alternative financing plan.

But we will have a story in tomorrow's paper letting you know whether Moody's Investors Service believes a negative ruling would have an impact on the $2.5 billion of revenue borrowed through similar programs by districts across the state.

Check it out.

Veterans Victory House Honored

You all know by now that the Veterans Day parade and the dedication of the Veterans Victory House went off without a hitch Saturday in Walterboro.

I heard everything went great. I'm sorry I was out of state and couldn't be there.

Notable attendees were, of course, Gov. Mark Sanford and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

The photo above, taken by Staff Writer Tenisha Waldo, ran in Sunday's paper. As did this story.

Tick, Tick, Tick

Wednesday is the 15th, which is when the school district hopes the state Supreme Court will render an opinion on its financing plan.

The district says it needs to know by then whether the plan is constitutional before selling the bonds that will pay for $90 million worth of school improvements, including a $70 million high school and a $10 million elementary school in Cottageville.

No one's heard anything yet, so we'll just have to wait and see. I'll keep you updated so keep checking back here.

If you'd like some background on the issue, here's a thread of all the school posts. The most recent is at the top.

A Lesson In Persimmons

The Clemson Extension Office is keeping busy.

The following essay is from Shawn Jadrnicek, an extension service agent for Colleton and Jasper counties. Shawn teaches a popular master gardener class.

A contact number for him is listed below:

Food of the Gods

If you’ve ever bitten into an unripe persimmon it’s unlikely you’ll ever forget the experience. 

The memory of puckered lips and a pasty mouth restrain you from partaking of the fruit when it’s ripe. However, a ripe persimmon easily lives up to its Greek scientific name Diospyros or “food of the gods.” 

If you’ve had the unripe persimmon experience you’re not alone. The early American colonists didn’t know how to eat the persimmon. The Native Americans had to explain the blet or rotting of the fruit that must occur to realize the juicy sweetness. Once the fruit was ripe the early colonists were amazed, Captain John Smith described the fruit as delicious as an apricot.

Holiday House Wed. & Thurs.

Clemson Extension's annual Holiday House fundraiser will take place Wednesday and Thursday.

The office and its Family and Community Leaders (FCL) is having the event  at the Coastal Electric Outback Building on 2269 Jefferies Highway for the third straight year. Officials say the building accomodates more exhibits and allows more people to participate in the presentations, workshops and luncheons.

“We have a great line-up of speakers and demonstrations,” Marilyn Peters, Clemson Extension FCL Advisor said in a press release, “and the FCL clubs members have been busy making holiday crafts to sell.”

On Wednesday, FCL Craft Sales will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday's events:

• Wills, Trusts & More by Bert Duffie (local attorney) from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Announcement of Bake-off Winners at 10:30 a.m.
• Growing Camellias in South Carolina by Peggy Thomas and Miles Beach, Coastal Carolina Camellia Society from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.
• Holiday Gifts & Crafts by Jackie Scarborough from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
• Merle Selvy will conduct a Kewpie Doll Pin Cushion (demo and workshop) from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (Cost: $10).

Thursday's events

• FCL Craft Sales will be from 9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m.
• Personal Safety by Otis Rhodes, Walterboro Police chief, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
• Companion Planting by Tim Kelly of Fayeth Design from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.

“Of course, one of the highlights of Holiday House is the food,” said FCL president Sallie Stephens. “We offer lunches at 12 noon both days---soup, chili, and cornbread on Wednesday and BBQ on Thursday. Holiday sweets will be offered both days.” The lunches sell for $3.50 and take-out is available on both days.

More from the press release:

Pye, 84, dies

Paskel Pye, the first resident of the Veterans Victory House, died Monday. He was 84.

A smiling Pye graced this site and also appeared in the newspaper just two weeks ago during the opening of the new state nursing home.

Here's the obituary that ran in today's Post and Courier.  I do not have updated information at this time. If anyone does, I'll be happy to print it here.

PYE, Paskel Paul, 84, of Walterboro, retired owner of Pye's Recreation Center and widower of Marian Polk Pye, died Monday. Arrangements by Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home.