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Have Lake Secession residents hired an attorney? At Wednesday night's Abbeville City Council meeting, the City Council chamber was packed with people, as it was for the April City Council meeting - although the crowd was slightly smaller than the one for the April meeting, as no one Wednesday night had to sit in the hall. At the very end of the meeting, there was a public comment section, for people to express concerns. Selena Goodwin-Hay spoke about the speed limit on North Main, and then Mayor Trey Edwards closed the public comment section. At this point, a lady from the audience stood up and expressed concerns, indicating that Lake Secession residents had at the previous City Council meeting been promised half an hour in which to express their views. The Lake Secession residents had been upset over a $150 annual dock fee which the City of Abbeville is instituting. Wednesday night, Trey Edwards indicated to the audience that a group of Lake Secession residents had already conferred with City of Abbeville representatives on the dock fee matter. He also indicated that the closure of the public comment section was due to "ongoing litigation." The City Council then voted to go into executive session, and during the break in the meeting before executive session, one disgruntled Lake resident approached Mayor Edwards to express his dissatisfaction. He and the other members of the audience left the Chamber amid a heavy police presence. During a break in the meeting, Mayor Trey Edwards said that a number of Lake property owners are working with an attorney on the matter. The following message was posted on the Friends of Lake Secession Facebook page: "After attending the scheduled meeting and arriving at 6:30 for discussions, as promised by the distinguished (now very debatable) Mayor Trey Edwards, we were shunned and eluded. One community member asked would we be allowed to ask questions/discuss the dock fee topic at 6:45 and was told we would have to wait to the end, and we did, only to be told there would be NO discussion!"

Below is the digital edition of the 2024 Spring Festival magazine! For paper subscribers, a hard copy will arrive in the mail with your newspaper. Alternatively, you may view the magazine here.

A woman who was attacked by dogs in the Honea Path area in 2022 and suffered devastating wounds has filed suit against Abbeville County, according to published reports. Kyleen Waltman indicates that the county could have prevented the attack and the loss of both arms. In the lawsuit that was filed on Feb. 15, Waltman's attorneys Tombo Hite and T. Matthew Bradley cite gross negligence on the county's part in the handling of prior complaints about the aggressive and dangerous behavior of dogs involved in the attack. Waltman was attacked by a pack of dogs on Ball Road in Honea Path on March 21, 2022, and she received life-threatening injuries and the loss of both arms, according to published reports. According to a release from Waltman's attorneys, multiple complaints were made to Abbeville County Animal Services about the nature of the dogs, but appropriate measures were not taken to make sure the community was safe. The lawsuit said that Animal Services had received notice that there were vicious dogs unrestrained in the Ball Road area, published reports continue. The release said that Abbeville County Animal Services failed to perform an adequate investigation, and failed to remove the dogs from the property to protect the public. The attorneys went on to say that if proper action had been taken in response, the attack on Waltman could have been prevented.

The Town of Calhoun Falls owes Dominion Energy more than $100,000, the Town reported. "We currently owe Dominion Energy $155,240.51," according to information provided by the Town of Calhoun Falls Tuesday. The Town also owes the City of Abbeville money with regard to its water payments. The City of Abbeville sells the Town water, and the Town is behind in its payments - the Town and the City are in the midst of efforts to resolve the issue. "The City accounts for all water sold to Calhoun Falls through a meter on the Hwy 72 waterline," according to the City of Abbeville. "The Town of Calhoun Falls is only billed for water which passes through that meter. Once the water passes through that meter, it is the responsibility of the Town of Calhoun Falls to account for and track. "The Town of Calhoun Falls is currently $171,190.11 in arrears on water payments. Much of the money owed to Dominion Energy, meanwhile, is in connection with the energy costs associated with the Town's wastewater treatment plant," Town of Calhoun Falls officials have said.

The South Carolina Republican Presidential Preference Primary will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24, in Abbeville County and the remainder of South Carolina as well. The three candidates on the ballot who are still in the running for the Presidency will be former President Donald Trump, and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and Ryan L. Binkley. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the primary, the second Presidential preference primary held in South Carolina this month. "Early voting continues through Thursday here at the County Complex," said Randy Curtis, Abbeville County voter registration director. To vote early, one needs to go to the voter office in the complex between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. The Abbeville County Administrative Complex is located at 903 West Greenwood Street, Abbeville. President Joseph Biden won the Democratic Party Presidential primary held on Saturday, Feb. 3. Voters may cast their ballots in one primary or the other, but not both. Thus, those who voted in the Democratic Primary may not vote in the Republican Primary. Advisory questions There will be three advisory questions on the Republican Presidential primary ballot. Question One: Should South Carolina law be changed to give people the right to register to vote with the political party of their choice? Question Two: Should South Carolina adopt reforms to increase the independence and accountability of our judiciary by improving transparency and reducing conflicts of interest in the process of reviewing judicial qualifications, and electing judges? Question Three: Should it be an immediate legislative priority to protect South Carolina's competitiveness and small businesses by changing state law so that a person's responsibility for financial damages in a lawsuit is based on that person's actual share of responsibility? Polling places For the Republican primary, some of the polling places in Abbeville County will be combined, according to Abbeville County voter registration director Randy Curtis. "The state political parties requested counties to combine polling locations for the primaries since the parties bear the expense," Curtis said. Combined polling locations include the following: Abbeville 1, Abbeville 2, Abbeville 3, Abbeville 4 and Lebanon will vote at the Abbeville Administrative Complex, 903 West Greenwood Street. Donalds and Due West precincts will vote at the Due West Fire Department, 13 Church Street, in Due West. Broadmouth and Halls Store precincts will vote at Calvary Baptist Church, 5551 Hwy 242 Ware Shoals. "All other polling locations will be open," said Curtis. "An advisory question is a type of ballot measure that is non-binding, meaning the outcome of the ballot measure has no legal effect on a state's laws," according to Ballotpedia.

Abbeville County Council met Monday night, approving a resolution that will create a Department of Public Safety within Abbeville County government. County Council chairman Bryan McClain asked for Resolution 2024-04 to be moved on the agenda until after executive session, because there was a personnel matter related to the resolution that needed to be discussed in executive session. When Council came back into open session, Council voted to pass Resolution 2024-04 unanimously by all Council members present. Council member Billy Norris was absent from the meeting. The resolution was tabled at the January meeting for further study. The new Department would combine E911, the County fire services, and EMS. The County is planning to hire a department head for the new department. “We’ll advertise immediately for it,” Abbeville County Director David Garner said Tuesday. In other matters Monday night, the incoming Abbeville County Clerk to Council, Heather Martin, was introduced. The current Clerk to Council, Lynn Sopolosky, is going to retire at the end of February. Council also approved Resolution 2024--06 authorizing the County Director to enter into a purchase agreement with Love Chevrolet for the purchase of a 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe Pursuit not to exceed $51,988. Council also passed Resolution 2024-07 authorizing the County Director to enter into a purchase agreement with O.C. Welch for the purchase of a 2023 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor not to exceed $43,915. In his County Director’s report, County Director David Garner told Council that the first budget workshop in preparation for the 24-25 fiscal year is slated for Feb. 26. He thanked Sopolosky for her years of service. Council also approved the members of the County fire commission, as nominated by the various County fire departments. During the public comment period, Mack Beaty of Abbeville spoke, and talked about the need for more open discussion among County Council members during Council meetings. Before the Council meeting, there was a County Transportation Committee meeting, and the Committee agreed to a request from the Abbeville County roads and bridges department requesting $250,000 for road materials such as gravel, crusher run, pipe, signage for maintenance and rehabilitation projects throughout the county. The members of the Transportation Committee are the same as those as those on County Council. Council also heard a report from Stephen Taylor on WCTEL’s efforts to bring broadband to under-served areas of Abbeville County.

Abbeville County will join the rest of South Carolina next month in presenting the Presidential Preference Primaries, with Presidential candidates on the ballots. "The Democratic Party Presidential Primary will be held Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, with polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.," said Abbeville County voter registration and election director Randy Curtis. Early voting will be Monday, January 22 through Friday, February 2, at the Abbeville County Complex at 903 W Greenwood Street. Voting will be 8:30 until 6:00 Monday through the Saturday prior to the primary. The last day to apply for an absentee by mail ballot is January 23. The Republican Party Presidential Primary, meanwhile, will be on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The early voting period will last from Monday, Feb. 12, through Feb. 22 at the Abbeville County Complex at 903 W Greenwood Street. There will be no early voting on Sunday, Feb. 18, and Monday, Feb. 19, or Feb. 23. The last day to apply for an absentee by mail ballot is Feb. 13, 2024. The Complex will be closed on Sunday, Feb. 18, and Monday, Feb. 19. Polling Locations for Election Day "The state political parties requested counties to combine polling locations for the primaries since the parties bear the expense," Curtis said. Combined polling locations include the following: Abbeville 1, Abbeville 2, Abbeville 3, Abbeville 4, and Lebanon will vote at the Abbeville Administrative Complex, 903 West Greenwood Street. Donalds and Due West precincts will vote at the Due West Fire Department, 13 Church Street, Abbeville, SC 29620. Broadmouth and Halls Store precincts will vote at Calvary Baptist Church, 5551 Hwy 252 Ware Shoals. One may vote in either Presidential preference primary, but not in both. The Presidential primaries in South Carolina are among the early markers in the national campaign season - among the others are the Iowa Republican caucus on Monday, Jan. 15, and the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, Jan. 23. For more information, one may call the Abbeville County voter registration office at 864-366-6690, extension 53.

County Council The Press and Banner obtained a copy of the resolution for establishing a Department of Public Safety within Abbeville County government. The County is charged with the overall delivery of public safety services, and it currently delivers those services through E-911, Rural Fire, EMS, and the Sheriff's Office. "In order to ensure the most efficient and accountable method of delivery of these services and increase the flow of information and communication, the County desires to restructure E-911, Rural Fire, and EMS under a singular department and united mission." Thus, the County seeks to establish a Department of Public Safety, to be comprised of E-911, Rural Fire, and EMS. This department would be comprised of a Director, a Deputy Director, Training Coordinator, EMS Coordinator, Fire Coordinator, E-911 Coordinator, and Office Manager. All other positions "will remain subject to modification of job descriptions and titles." "All budgets and funds will remain separated in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices and funding on those functions approved by County Council in the annual budget," the resolution states. "The County Director is directed to make all necessary modifications to current organizational charts and job description titles to accomplish this directive." "A detailed report evaluating the progress and outcomes will be provided to County Council by the County Director at the 30-day, 90-day, 180-day, and one year mark of this implementation." During a break in the meeting, we spoke with firefighters Jesse Karls and Bryan Parnell about their concerns regarding the proposed resolution. Parnell indicated that the County's fire commission had had concerns about the proposal. The County firefighters operate under the Abbeville County rural fire commission, Parnell said. "We've been acting under this structure since 1977," he said. The firefighters are 100 percent volunteer, he said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "The fire commission is our governing body," he said, explaining that the 11 members of the commission are elected by the firefighters, and each commissioner represents a fire department. County Council approves the budges for the fire commission, Parnell said. "We're just not clear about what they want to do," said Jesse Karls, the chairman of the rural fire commission, Monday night. County Council chairman Bryan McClain said Tuesday that the fire commission had sent County Council a letter asking that any action on the matter be postponed until they could get more information.

Will MAT Trans cease service for Abbeville County as of Dec. 31? Mat Trans is a public transportation system which, since November, 2021, has transported passengers in Abbeville County. People without any other means of transportation have been using it for transportation to medical appointments, to get groceries, and other, similar things. The system was being funded by Abbeville County and SCDOT in a 50/50 split. Now it appears that the “match funds” that Abbeville County has been using to fund the project are about to run out, and the system will cease as of Dec. 31. Celeste Reed of Sawmill Acres in Abbeville spoke during the public comment segment during Monday night’s County Council meeting. She said that the system transports dialysis patients, and cancer patients and other kinds of patients to their medical appointments. “We who have transportation take that for granted,” she said. She said she has spoken with a number of County Council members about the problem. “If you could, find a way,” she said, noting that the public transit system serves a purpose in Abbeville County. It allows the elderly to maintain a degree of independence, for example. “If you don’t have a car, you’re lost,” she said. During a break in the meeting, she said she uses MAT Trans herself, since her car has been having to be repaired. “Mat Trans has transported me to and from my job daily,” she said. In the audience for the County Council meeting was Becky Moon, who provided some figures, noting that from Jan. 1, 2023 to Nov. 30, 2023, the system has transported 4,341 residents of Abbeville County. Moon is the executive director of the McCormick Senior Center and McCormick Area Transit. “I’m the executive director for the agency that operates MAT Trans,” she said Tuesday. She said that if the system ceases to operate in Abbeville County, it will continue to operate in Greenwood and McCormick counties. Currently, in Abbeville County people do not pay to use it. “It’s a demand response transportation system,” she said. An individual will call MAT Trans, and the bus will pick up that individual and take him or her to their destination. “We go to medical offices, dialysis, essential shopping, such as Ingles and Walmart,” she said. “We go to Abbeville Area Medical, Calhoun Falls family practice, dental appointments, drugstores, work and school.” “It is a non emergency system,” she said. “Abbeville County only agreed to up to $150,000, or a one year contract, whichever one of those came first,” said Abbeville County Director David Garner Tuesday. The funding so far from the County came from funds generated through ARPA, federally generated funds in response to the pandemic. The county does not have any plans to fund it for another year. “It was not a budgeted expense,” he said. “We notified MAT of this back in September, and met with them in October,” he said, noting that in October he and other County representatives encouraged MAT Trans to seek other community partners to utilize the service. “We can’t continue to fund it with County funding alone,” he said, adding that he believes other community partners should share in the funding. “I am very concerned that we will lose this public transportation,” said Dr. Bill Boone, executive director of United Christian Ministries of Abbeville County Tuesday. This system is used by many people to go to physicians’ appointments, and similar destinations, he said. Many people in Abbeville County who are on dialysis use it to go to Self Regional in Greenwood for their dialysis needs. “Without this transportation we’re back to Square One,” he said. “One of the few counties in South Carolina without public transportation.”

The Abbeville County voter registration and elections office will be consolidating some Abbeville County precincts for the GOP and Democratic Presidential primaries in February, said Abbeville County voter registration and elections director Randy Curtis Tuesday. This is being done at the request of state Democratic and GOP parties, he said. The precincts to be consolidated include the following: Abbeville 1, 2, 3, and Lebanon will be voting at the Abbeville County complex at 903 West Greenwood Street in Abbeville. Due West and Donalds will be voting at the Due West fire department at 13 Church Street, Due West. Hall's Store and Broadmouth precincts will be voting at Calvary Baptist Church, at 5551 Highway 525, Ware Shoals. "That's all our combinations," he said. The Abbeville Civic Center will not be available as a polling place because of renovations going on there, Curtis went on to say. The Democratic primary date is Saturday, Feb. 3, and the Republican primary, Saturday, Feb. 24. "You can only vote in one primary," Curtis said. "We will have early voting available here at the County complex," he went on to say. More details about the primaries will be provided in coming weeks. For more information, one may call the Abbeville County voter registration and elections office at 864-366-6690, extension 53.

Dr. Lori Brownlee-Brewton was hired Monday night as the new Superintendent of the Abbeville County School District. Brewton had been serving as interim superintendent since July 1, after former superintendent Dr. Mason Gary stepped down at the end of June. The Abbeville County School District Board of Trustees, meeting Monday night, took the action to hire Brewton following an executive session to discuss contractual matters. The daughter of retired District administrator Joseph Brownlee, Brewton had been serving as assistant superintendent under Dr. Gary, and she has many years of experience as a District educator, including a stint as Dixie High School principal. The School District provided a press release after Monday night's meeting. "The Abbeville County School District Board of Trustees is pleased to announce Dr. Lori Brownlee-Brewton as Superintendent, effective January 1, 2024. This decision was made by unanimous vote of the Trustees at a special called meeting on December 4, 2023. Dr. Brewton has been a part of the Abbeville County School District for the past 24 years; as a teacher and an administrator. She also has deep roots throughout the county, having grown up in Antreville and having attended schools in both the Due West and Abbeville areas." The press release also included a statement from Dr. Brewton: "I am honored and humbled to have been selected as the next superintendent to lead Abbeville County School District. As a proud product of the Abbeville County School System, I can attest firsthand to the excellent quality of our educational system. All of our employees work extremely hard in ensuring the success of our students. I plan to listen and learn from staff, parents, students, community, and business stakeholders about the strengths, challenges, and opportunities for the Abbeville County School District. I am looking forward to working alongside the Board of Trustees as we work together for the betterment of our students, schools, educators, and community. This is indeed a great honor!" There was also a statement from school board chairman Keith Dunn. "On behalf of the board of trustees, I would like to congratulate Dr. Brewton on becoming the new superintendent of the Abbeville County School District. After going through a formal search process, vetting, and interviewing many qualified candidates to reach this decision, the board is confident Dr. Brewton is the best person to lead our district forward. Under Dr. Brewton's leadership, we look forward not only to the continued success of Abbeville County schools, but reaching new heights for the benefit of our students, staff, and community. "I thank our Board for their time, hard work with phenomenal attendance and contributions in meetings. We thank all of the candidates who participated as their futures are bright. We also would like to extend our thanks to the South Carolina School Board Association and our Attorney, White & Story, for their incredible work helping guide the board through this process." Dr. Brewton was one of three finalists for the Superintedent's post, and the South Carolina School Boards Association aided in the search for a new superintendent.

The City of Abbeville has been busy investing in water and sewer infrastructure, according to the City's Deputy Administrative Officer Mike Clary. Clary said that a total of $14,444,599.23 has been invested into the City's Water and Sewer System since 2018. Of that total, $10,976,580 has been funded through grants, and $2,067,448 was funded through ARPA funds. ARPA funds are generated through the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, designed to help address the effects on the economy of the pandemic. The City contributed operating funds of $1,400,571.23 across all projects. "For North Main specifically, no funds came from the City's operating funds," he said. "The City received a $500,000 grant from the Rural Infrastructure Authority and the remaining funds ($2,067,448) were ARPA dollars." The choice of projects reflects a blend of comprehensive planning, and flexible responses to more immediate needs. "So the City uses its Comprehensive Plan as a guide for planned projects, including infrastructure. The order of planned projects for infrastructure is typically based on need factors such as age, condition, economic development potential, and continued compliance with state and federal guidelines. However, the order of projects can be subject to change due to a number of other factors. These include funding availability, specific grants that are available, timing with other improvements such as DOT's planned repaving of North Main, etc. For example, North Main was one of the oldest lines in the City and that, combined with the scheduled DOT repaving, made it a priority project (this saved the City millions of dollars in repaving costs). Other projects like the Wastewater Treatment Facility Renovation were completed in order to remain in compliance with state guidelines regarding sewage treatment." Clary was asked how the City of Abbeville compares with other communities in its water and sewer infrastructure projects. "I would say that for a community of this size we are extremely active in terms of infrastructure projects."

Abbeville City Council, meeting Wednesday night, took a step toward tackling concerns associated with vacant buildings. Council passed first reading on an ordinance of the City, amending Chapter 5 of the City Code of Ordinances by creating Article III, Registration and Regulation of vacant buildings within the historic overlay district. Vacant buildings are a major source of blight in the City's Historic Overlay District, and, when not properly maintained, become a liability to residents, visitors, and other property owners in the District. "Neglect of vacant buildings creates a risk of fire, explosion, or flooding for the vacant building and adjacent properties," the proposed ordinance states. The proposed ordinance helps provide a program for the identification and regulation of vacant buildings in the district. It lays out the responsibilities of the owners of vacant buildings, and provides for administration, enforcement, and penalties in conjunction with those responsibilities. "Owners of vacant buildings within the City's Historic Overlay District will be required to register their building as vacant with the City of Abbeville Building Official by July 31st of each year," the proposed ordinance states. "An inspection fee of $50 will be due at the time of registration." The interiors of vacant buildings, when visible to passersby through storefront windows, "shall be maintained in a way that does not exhibit evidence of vacancy," the proposal states, adding that all awnings and signs must not appear worn, tattered, or having missing areas," and broken windows must be replaced or re-glazed. Properties undergoing active renovations would be exempt from the annual vacant building fee. Also, a one year grace period from the vacant building fee will be given to any building purchased after Jan. 1, 2024, the proposed ordinance states. Council members Louise Aikens, John Sutherland, and Benji Greeson were absent from the meeting. "Currently, out of the 111 Buildings in the Downtown area, 86 are occupied and 25 are vacant," said Mike Clary, Deputy Administrative Officer with the City, Thursday. "This comes to an occupancy rate of roughly 77%. For reference, this is up from about 60% of the buildings being occupied back in 2016, so a good bit of progress has been made to fill buildings." This blog post brought to you by

Self Regional Healthcare is buying the Abbeville Nursing Home. Nursing home president/administrator Alan L. Hughes sent out an Oct. 26 memorandum to "residents, resident representatives, and family members." "I would like to inform you of a change that is being made regarding the ownership of Abbeville Nursing Home (ANH)," Hughes wrote. "My mother built this facility 55 years ago when I was 10 years old. She saw a need and had a vision of helping seniors in Abbeville County who could no longer take care of themselves. Her legacy has always been extremely important to me personally. Approximately six years ago, Abbeville Nursing Home and Abbeville Area Medical Center (AAMC) entered into a letter of intent for purchase of ANH by AAMC. Earlier this year, AAMC and Self Regional Hospital were in negotiations and have now merged together. Self Regional Hospital is now managing AAMC. Throughout this year, the 'Letter of Intent' was discussed. After much thought and prayer, on or about Jan. 1, 2025, Abbeville Nursing Home will be purchased, owned, and operated by Self Regional Hospital. This purchase will bring many needed resources to our staff, our residents, and community." Self Regional released the following statement: "Self Regional Healthcare is happy to announce plans to acquire Abbeville Nursing Home, Inc., in Abbeville, SC, and expects the deal to close by the end of December 2023. Abbeville Nursing Home has 94 licensed beds; a dedicated, compassionate group of over 80 staff members, and has the distinction of being 5-star rated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Alan L. Hughes, President of Abbeville Nursing Home, Inc., said, "This investment in our nursing home by SRH, along with the recent partnership with AAMC, is a testament to Self's commitment to meeting the Abbeville community's healthcare needs." "Dr. Matthew Logan, President and CEO at Self Regional Healthcare, said, "We're excited to bring Abbeville Nursing Home into the SRH family, as it will allow us to work collaboratively with AAMC to bring the same high-quality care we provide throughout our healthcare system to the skilled nursing and rehab environment."

By Henry E. Green Abbeville County School District Superintendent Dr. Mason Gary announced his resignation Tuesday night at the Abbeville County School District Board of Trustees meeting. Dr. Gary read a statement in which he said he would be stepping down in June, a statement in which he praised the District team with which he worked to accomplish a number of good things, including increasing the District’s fund balance, and having the District receive a high rating from an accreditation organization, for example. The District ranks among the top in the state in terms of academics, he indicated. “There’s still much good work to do,” he said. The District is poised to make construction upgrades at Dixie and Abbeville high schools and the Career Center a reality. School board chairman Tim Rhodes expressed his appreciation for Dr. Gary’s service, and wished him well in his retirement. Also Tuesday night, the Abbeville County School District passed first reading on a proposed budget for 2023-24 Tuesday night, a budget for which a 10 mill tax increase is proposed. In a budget workshop before the meeting, District finance director Adam Cann said that the state is proposing a step increase for teachers, pay increases for school bus drivers, a one percent increase in the employer’s (the District’s) portion of retirement expenditures, and an increase in the employer’s (District’s) portion of health insurance. To help meet these increases, a 10 mill increase is being suggested, as well as taking some money from the District’s fund balance. The trustees also formed a committee including board members Charles Angel, David Brooks and Brad Evans to study the proposed budget and make recommendations between first and second readings. Also Tuesday night, Ginni Kirk from the firm of Thompson Turner told the board that preparations for construction are expected to begin in early June at Abbeville and Dixie high schools. In other matters, the trustees approved a District and school renewal plan, and followed the District administration’s recommendation in approving three induction contracts and one “annual II” contract. Also Tuesday night, the District honored a number of people during the Gold Star Highlights segment. Following the budget workshop, the board went into executive session, and then came back into open session for Gold Star Highlights, and then went back into executive session. This time the executive session lasted about an hour and a half, and the board discussed the Superintendent’s contract, and other contractual matters. Also, Thursday night, a new school board member, Stephen Scott, was sworn in at the beginning of a special school board meeting which took place mostly in executive session.

Dear Editor, As President of the Abbeville County Humane Society, I would like the citizens of Abbeville County to be aware of a situation that is growing more critical every day and that you as citizens are not receiving the animal services for which you are paying taxes. Every one of us is paying at present $9 on our tax bill that funds the operation of the Abbeville County Animal Shelter. Would you not assume that the Shelter is providing services for both dogs and cats? Last fall the Animal Shelter stopped providing services for cats. Also, Animal Control will not trap cats or provide any assistance for citizens who need help if it is related to cats. As mentioned earlier, the situation that is critical due to the shelter’s refusal to take cats, is the stray cat situation in the county. Many times, stray cats have kittens and people could catch the kittens before they became feral and wild and they would bring those kittens to the Animal Shelter where they could be adopted. Now those kittens have to grow up and become wild and have MORE kittens. You can’t imagine how fast cats can multiply. Therefore, Abbeville County has a terrible stray cat problem and it is getting much worse with NO HELP from the County. We are not getting the Animal Services that were promised when the County took over Animal Services from the City and the services for which we are being taxed. Now they are requesting to raise that tax to $15. I don’t have a problem with the $15 if we were receiving the services for both dogs and cats as was originally planned. Meanwhile the stray cat problem continues to increase. To clarify a point of confusion with many, the Abbeville County Humane Society and the Abbeville County Animal Shelter are two totally separate organizations. The Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is funded solely from donations from supporters and animal lovers. The Abbeville County Humane Society provides TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) services to citizens who have stray cats or stray cat colonies that they may be feeding. These are the only services for cats in Abbeville County and our services are very limited due to lack of veterinary services and volunteers to help with the trapping and transporting of these cats. As you might expect, we have a long waiting list. When the Humane Society traps cats we, many times, find mama cats with several babies that can be caught and domesticated and adopted into loving homes. At this point, we have nowhere to take them so they have to be left to grow up wild and have more babies unless we can TNR them before they have had more kittens. Citizens of Abbeville County please speak up and reach out to your County Council. Tell them that they should not raise our Animal Shelter Tax unless they provide the services they made a commitment to provide. Write letters to your Councilman and visit County Council Meetings and speak for the CATS and for the families that are trying to take care of cats. Let the Council know you are outraged by them making the cat problem worse if they continue to refuse to provide cat services. Please become outspoken on this issue. Demand that your voices be heard. Ann Davis, President Abbeville County Humane Society abbevillecountyhumanesociety@gmail.com

Below is the digital edition of the 2023 Spring Festival magazine! For paper subscribers, a hard copy will arrive in the mail with your newspaper. Alternatively, you may view the magazine here.

Abbeville County voters went to the polls yesterday for a variety of races, and the local winners included Jason Edwards, Lisa Alewine, Brad Evans, Tim Rhodes, and Christine Long, according to unofficial vote totals provided by the Abbeville County voter registration office. A number of local races were on the ballot, including one County Council race, and nonpartisan school board and Abbeville City Council races. In Abbeville County Council District Two, Democrat Christine Long and Republican Bebe Wesson were vying for a seat long held by John Calhoun, who had opted not to run for reelection. Long defeated Wesson by a margin of 598 votes to 458 for Wesson. In Abbeville County School District Area Six, incumbent Brad Evans faced challenger Erin Gambrell, and Evans won, by a margin of 616 votes to 443 for Gambrell. In Area One, Tracy Lindler challenged incumbent Tim Rhodes, and Rhodes won, by a margin of 324 votes to 289 for Lindler. In Area Nine, Lisa Alewine and Bryan Glace battled for the seat which had been held by Marvin Peoples, who had opted not to run for reelection. Alewine prevailed, with 666 votes to 274 for Glace. In Abbeville City Council District Four, Deanna Ashley, Venture Belton challenged incumbent Chris Crawford. Ashley received 66 votes, Belton 55, and Crawford 62, and there will be a runoff election, at a date to be announced. In City Council District Six, incumbent Jason Edwards faced challengers Jon E. Porter and Jason Walker. Edwards prevailed, with 112 votes, while Porter received 13, and Jason Walker 46. According to Abbeville County voter registration director Randy Curtis, 2,670 registered voters in Abbeville County--16.7 percent--participated in early voting. The elections were part of the vast package of elections that include ‘midterm battles for both houses of Congress. The Republicans were trying to wrest control of both the US House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate from the Democrats, whose control of both chambers was razor-thin. Here in South Carolina, incumbent Republican Governor Henry McMaster was fighting off a challenge from Democrat Joe Cunningham. McMaster was projected early in the evening to win reelection, and so was U.S. Senator Tim Scott, according to WYFF-TV. In Abbeville County, McMaster received 6,003 votes, to 2,497 for Cunningham. A number of candidates were running unopposed, such as State Representative Craig Gagnon, a Republican who represents House District 11 in the General Assembly. Voter turnout in Abbeville County came to about 54 percent, with 8,658 voters turning out to cast ballots, according to unofficial totals.

Will Abbeville County animal shelter have to start euthanizing animals? “We want to alarm the public.” So said Greater Abbeville Humane Society president Ann Davis Wednesday in reference to the situation at the Abbeville County Animal Shelter. “Overcrowding at the shelter is getting so serious that difficult decisions may have to be made,” she said. “They have dogs at the shelter that have been there over a year.” “The longer they stay in this kennel situation, locked up, the more behavior problems develop,” she continued. “They don’t get the amount of time with adults or exercise to get out their energy.” An excess of energy sometimes creates aggression, and dogs are by nature very loving creatures. They are enormously social animals, needing to have interaction with human beings and with other animals. Without this interaction, they can develop bad behavior problems. “They go ‘kennel crazy’ after a long period of time,” she said. Just imagine staying in solitary confinement for at least a year, she said. Wouldn’t that drive you just a little crazy? Dogs are no different, according to Davis. “This is the equivalent of being in doggie prison,” she said. The Abbeville County animal shelter is a “no kill” shelter, meaning that Shelter personnel typically do not euthanize animals solely because of overcrowded conditions. However, under “dire circumstances,” the Shelter may have to euthanize them. The community “is just not stepping up to adopt these animals,” she said. Davis is welcoming the community to either adopt the animals or foster them. You may foster the animals by agreeing to take them home and keep them for a few days, getting them out of the shelter for a short time. The numbers are simply not good. The shelter currently has 44 dogs, far above a capacity of 23. “Please get out and help the shelter get the numbers down,” she said. Davis described the adoption process. You pay a $50 fee to adopt an animal from the Shelter, with the money going to Abbeville County, which operates the shelter. The animal you adopt is already either spayed or neutered, and it has been vaccinated for rabies and other conditions, and has been dewormed as well. All in all, you pay $50 for about $300 worth of services. “Adopting a shelter pet is a real bargain,” said Davis. Pictures of Shelter dogs are on Petango.com, said Davis, noting that you do not necessarily have to adopt an animal immediately. You can take an animal home for a couple of days to try it out. “This is called ‘foster to adopt,’” she said. More than 2,000 animal statewide were adopted during the recent Pick Me! event, designed to encourage adoptions. Here in Abbeville County, Davis said, five dogs and four cats were adopted. While the shelter is enormously overcrowded, Abbeville County is also home to just too many animals on the loose. “The stray problem in Abbeville County is just atrocious,” Davis said. Above are three featured pets of the month of August from the shelter, available for adoption: (left to right) Snoopy, Trixi, and Mama Jazz.

The Abbeville County Coroner, Dr. Mark Dorn, is warning the public about an illicit drug. It’s a new, illicit drug that is infiltrating the Upstate region, he said. “It’s called protonitazene,” he said. “It’s 20 times more potent than fentanyl. There is no field test for it, making it more dangerous for first responders and the public in general.” NARCAN is still an antidote for it, but it would take four to six doses of it to counteract it. Has he seen it in Abbeville County? “Not yet, he said. “But there have been three deaths in Oconee County.” Increasing the public awareness about the fatal consequences of this drug is a good thing. “It usually comes in a powder mixed with other drugs, or in a stamped pill form,” he said. “It’s usually manufactured in China or Mexico,” he said. It began making an appearance in the Upstate in early 2021, Dorn continued. The drug is classified as a synthetic opioid, and users are typically seeking a high, as with other illicit opioid drugs. “Just a minute amount is enough to be fatal,” he said. That amount could be as small as something fitting on the head of a straight pin. “If you have a family member suffering from some addiction problem that may be seeking purchasing of an illicit drug, treatment services should be sought out,” he continued. Cornerstone is a community distributor of NARCAN nasal spray, and people are encouraged to call the agency for further information--366-9661--according to Betsy Royal, prevention specialist with Cornerstone. It is distributed free of charge, thanks to a grant from DAODAS, a state agency, she said. Royal gives presentations to businesses, churches and other community groups about current drug trends and prevention, including overdose death prevention through the use of NARCAN.