This week brings meetings from the Anderson County Board of Education, Anderson County Council and a number of school district boards. Should be interesting to see how tight budgets are manifest in those agendas.
It is Sunshine Week, not a weather phenomena, but a week to laud the benefits of openess and transparency in government; national, state and local. Public cynicism that the federal government operates in an atmosphere of secrecy is as strong as ever, despite President Barack Obama's promises to make government information more easily available to the public. A new survey of 1,001 adult residents of the United States found that 70 percent believe that the federal government is either “very secretive” or “somewhat secretive.” The largest portion of respondents, 44 percent, said it is “very secretive.”
Though spearheaded by journalists, Sunshine Week is about the public's right to know what its government is doing, and why. Sunshine Week seeks to enlighten and empower people to play an active role in their government at all levels, and to give them access to information that makes their lives better and their communities stronger.
Sunshine Week is a nonpartisan initiative whose supporters are conservative, liberal and everything in between.
Anderson County government is doing what they can to buck the trend, receiving the highest possible marks from the national Sunshine Week organizers. See more details here. And here.
More than 3,000 church leaders from all over the country will be at Newspring Church today for the annual Unleash conference. The one-day conference designed to challenge, encourage and equip church leaders to fulfill the Great Commission in their communities. More than 650 volunteers from Newspring will also be at the conference.
A judge could decide as early as Thursday whether to proceed with a grand jury investigation into the situation surrounding former Anderson County Administrator Joey Preston. If the judge decides not to convene a grand jury, does that mean it's over once and for all? Stay tuned.
County Council rejected a settlement bid from former Administrator Joey Preston in a day which saw 10th Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams say it’s up to the South Carolina Attorney General’s office to pursue any further inquiry. Meanwhile reports that Anderson County Sheriff John Skipper has requested a grand jury look into the situation means that it looks like it is now up to Fifth Circuit Judge G. Thomas Cooper to decide what happens next. That decision could come as early as this week.
The snow was heavy and wet, but warm ground temperatures and even the sun peeking through some of the clouds took the light dusting Anderson received before lunch out of the picture just as schools were being dismissed early due to the snowfall. Some Andersonians recall March has brought many heavy snowfalls to the area including one in the early 1970s which brought more than a foot to the region.
If you haven’t been to the Anderson County Museum lately, Spring is a good time to visit. Lots of activities scheduled, beginning Saturday. Details at www.andersoncountymuseum.org
Who knows which way to interpret 10th Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams’ statement concerning the Joey Preston investigation. Whether it’s just that she was never given information, or enough information, to “evaluate” charges or just that passing it on to the South Carolina Attorney General’s office looked like the clearest path to bringing the whole thing to a close we may never know.
We can only hope that the last part of Adams’ statement comes to pass: “After several months and hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars spent on this investigation, I hope that the involvement of the attorney general’s office can finally bring the taxpayers of Anderson County the answers they deserve.”
Snow is falling but so far it does not look like it will produce much in the way of ice or traffic issues. Temperatures are still well above freezing in and around the city of Anderson and are expected to hold steady in the mid-30s throughout the day.
No word of any closings in the county other than La France Elementary which closed do to a power outage.
Welcome to the News Blog, a daily rambling look at what is going on in the community and beyond if it affects folks here. This week will be a busy and eventful one as County Council looks at, among other things bringing the few remaining independent municipal elections authority under the Election Commission and a hard look at county vehicle policies. Last year council cut the number of county employees who were allowed to drive county vehicles home as part of their jobs. No word if those cuts have been looked at in detail and are saving the county money. For example, is mileage reimbursement more costly than using county vehicles in some cases? Is the use of county vehicles a de facto cut in employee benefits? Questions worth answering. Come on out to the meeting and ask that quesiton. Meanwhile, Anderson County School District Five Board of Trustees will hold at least two meetings this month, an executive session March 15 and the building committee meeting March 16. After the last regular meeting turned into something pretty ugly, perhaps bordering on race baiting, will be interesting to see if they can turn down the temperature as they look at record budget cuts. The district has already absorbed huge cuts at the main office, and it will be interesting to see where else the board thinks cuts can be made. So far no word on whether TERI employees will be looked at first, since they have served out their years and have a retirement income waiting. At least two principals and the superintendent are part of the TERI program.
In case you missed it, Dr. Don Garrison died over the weekend. Garrison was President of Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton, SC, from November 1971 through June 2003. In 2002, the Tri-County Technical College Commission recognized Dr. Garrison by naming the Pendleton campus in his honor. His obituary is here. Busy week ahead, and now they are saying it might just snow Tuesday….
Friday & Saturday, Oct. 9th & 10th at Toadily Fun. $5 per child entry fee (no charge for parents) from 5p – 9pm. Carnival to benefit AIM! Jumping on inflatables included. Additional attractions available for tickets (25 cents each). Visit their website for more information: www.toadilyfun.com
Saturday, October 10th at St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church – 1821 White Street, Anderson. BBQ dinner plates - $10. Please purchase tickets at AIM or call the church prior to give them a count (226-8621). BBQ donated by The Pompous Pig.
AUCTION THIS WEEKEND with percentage of the proceeds benefitting AIM! Beginning at 12 noon on Saturday, October 10th. Storage Multi-Unit Auction Under One Roof Sat. 10/10 12 pm Hundreds of items have accumulated over several months & have been moved to our facility. Portion of net proceeds to be donated to Anderson Interfaith Ministries. View listing & terms at auctionzip.com ID #5504 Bob Stutler's Auction SCAL #3553 235 Polaris St. Anderson, 933-2965