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News

Derik Vanderford|Daily Times

Lockhart Power senior electronic specialist Cyle Coker, right, discusses the new minimum-flow hydro turbine with Lockhart Mayor Ailene Ashe, left.

Harnessing green energy to produce green energy
LOCKHART — Events in Lockhart and Pacolet gave local residents a close-up look at the production of green energy in action. Lockhart Power held open houses in Lockhart and Pacolet on Thursday, hosting tours of new minimum-flow hydro turbines in each town. Lockhart Power Senior Electronic Specialist Cyle Coker said the turbine in Lockhart is an 800-kilowatt generator which will power around 400 homes. The turbine — located on the site of t...
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Photo courtesy of the Union County Chamber of Commerce

New chamber member

Impressions Outreach is the newest member of the Union County Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Executive Director Torance Inman present Impressions owner and CEO Lakesha McKissick with her membership plaque. Impressions Outreach is an outreach program that focuses on the whole person. This includes bible study, tutoring, counseling, and life skills. Working with teens since 2003 this program is now available here in Union County.

New chamber member
UNION — The Union County Chamber of Commerce’s newest member is Impressions Outreach.
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Library Notes
Library Hours Monday – Friday 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday – 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Upcoming Events Ceramic Plate Painting A Ceramic Plate Painting will be held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on May 2. Cost for material is $3. Registration required so call 864-427-7140, ext. 301. New Books/CDs/DVDs — all new books are by donation Adult Fiction The Hit by David Baldacci Adult Large Print Fiction Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts...
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Photo courtesy of Foster Park Elementary School

Earth Day celebration

Foster Park Elementary School celebrated Earth Day by cultivating the garden site and planting the school’s spring vegetable garden. Under the guidance of Jackie Johnson (garden coordinator) and Susan Adams (custodian), the students planted corn, green beans, squash, okra, and white potatoes. Mrs. Vinson’s class, with the help of assistants, planted tomato plants. The students enjoy watching the plants grow and eventually, harvesting the vegetables.

Community Calendar
Saturday, May 4 • Mary B. Thomas Girls Youth Circle Unit #16 holds a Krazy Klown Kar Wash at the Jonesville Municipal Complex Parking lot from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Come out and support these girls. • The Union Lions Club sells brooms at Jimmy’s Fresh Air Galaxy from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and at the Lions Club Building at 134 E. Main St. from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. All proceeds benefit hearing and vision conservation, eye glasses, hearing aids and surgeries for...
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Charles Warner|Daily Times
What can't be taken back
If you say something, make sure that it is something you won't regret, especially if it hurts another person. All too often, out of anger or frustration or aggravation or even out of a sadistic desire to hurt, cheapen and abuse someone, we use words as our weapons. In such instances we may feel a bit of relief from getting something off our chest or even temporary sense of power, of pleasure that comes from wounding someone with what we say, especially when they can't or won't respond in kind. Such sensations, however, do not last and we are left with the reality that we have done someone wrong and, no matter how much we may apologize and atone for it, we can never take it back. The wound we have inflicted, both on our victims and ourselves, will always be there, ready to be reopened in another foolish moment.

Church Calendar
Saturday, May 4 8 a.m.-Until : Jonesville Baptist Church, Church Street, Jonesville, holds a yard sale at the church parsonage at 536 South Main Street. Lots of household items, also very nice men and ladies clothing and shoes. Proceeds will go to Jonesville Baptist Church’s Nicaragua mission trip. Rain or shine. Sunday, May 5 11 a.m.: Victory Baptist Church holds Homecoming with Rev. Jack Bratton from Newport, Tenn. preaching th...
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Scott to address UCHS students Friday
UNION — South Carolina’s junior senator will address an assembly at Union County High School Friday morning. Sean Smith, communications director for Sen. Tim Scott, announced Wednesday that Scott will address UCHS students during an assembly at 10:15 a.m. Smith said that Scott will speak on his life experiences and the importance of education and then take questions from the students. He said that Scott will also meet with local officials f...
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Photos courtesy of Becky Quinn
Children in Salinas Grandes, Nicaragua, eat a meal provided by the the members of Jonesville Baptist Church during a mission trip to the country in 2011.

Church raising funds for mission trip to Nicaragua
JONESVILLE — A local church will hold a yard sale Saturday to raise funds for its latest mission trip to Nicaragua where, according to one member, they will minister to the physical and spiritual needs of the Nicaraguan people. Jonesville Baptist Church, 301 Church St., Jonesville, will hold a yard sale at the church parsonage on South Main Street beginning at 8 a.m. The yard sale will include household items, men’s and women’s clothing, sh...
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Charles Warner|Daily Times
Students in Diane Drum and Doris Johnson's 4K class at Monarch Elementary School are hard at work reading and writing Tuesday morning. The class is part of the Union County School District's Pre-K educational programs.

School district’s Pre-K programs flourishing
UNION COUNTY — While State Pre-K programs have stalled in South Carolina and other states across the country, the Union County School District’s pre-kindergarten educational and parenting programs are continuing to grow according to Title I Director and Monarch Elementary School Principal Anita Maness. A recent study by the National Institute for Early Education Research found that state funding for Pre-K educational programs decreased by m...
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Crime Report
The Union Public Safety Department reported the following arrests : — Jeffery Martin Cranford, 49, of 408 Meansville Road, Union, was charged with interference with animal control around 11:45 a.m. on April 30. — Jasper Jennings III, 33, of 107 Gage Avenue, Union, was charged with ill treatment of animals around 3:05 p.m. on April 30. According to the arrest warrant, Jennings deprived his pit bulldog of the necessary sustenance of food, ...
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Woman charged with attempted murder
UNION — A local woman faces charges including attempted murder after an incident police say was filmed with the cell phone of a witness. Sherry Coleman McMorris, 49, 305 Columbus St., Union, was charged May 1 with attempted murder, possession of a weapon during commission of a violent crime, and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent crime. According to arrest warrants, McMorris attempted to murder a woman by shooting ...
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Photos by Harold Senn

Grades K-5 Art Show winners

The grades K-5 winners of the Union County Arts Council’s Youth Art Show are (first row) Kyleigh Allen, third grade, UCDS — Honorable Mention; Gracie Messer, first grade UCDS — first place; Averie Lewis, second grade UCDS — second place; (second row) Cayden Horne, kindergarten, Lockhart — first place; Ryan Seeman, lindergarten, Lockhart — second place; Julianna Egge, third grade, UCDS — first place; Emma Garner, first grade, Monarch — third place; Mia Sherbert, kindergarten, Monarch — third place; (third row) Westley Robinson, third grade, Monarch — third place; Devin Sprouse, fourth grade, Buffalo — first place; Olivia Matthews, second grade, Monarch — third place; Anna Caroline Alexander, fifth grade, Monarch — Honorable Mention; Anna Rose Sawyer, fifth grade, Foster Park — third; Morgan Petit, fifth grade, UCDS — second place. In the fourth row is Ana Godinez (Featured Artist), Carmen Jeter (Show Judge), Bennie Giles (UCAC President), Susan Becksted (Gestamp).

UCAC announces Youth Art Show winners
UNION — The Union County Arts Council recently announced the winners in all classifications of the 2013 Youth Art Show sponsored by Gestamp. Students representing all of Union County’s schools took part in the show which will close on May 10. Cash awards were given to each first, second and third place finisher and honorable mention. The show was divided into two halves with the K-5 exhibit consisting of over 75 pieces. The 6th through 12th...
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Photo courtesy of Foster Park Elementary School

Getting ready for PASS

At Foster Park Elementary School, K-2 classes adopt 3-5 classes to motivate them to do well on the PASS test. Mrs. Roark’s second graders created a “PASS Quilt” for Mrs. Inman’s fifth graders. Each quilt square has an illustrated test taking tip on it. Mrs. Roark’s class has also prepared “candy grams” to give Mrs. Inman’s class each day during the week of PASS as a daily reminder that they are cheering for them. This project not only strongly encourages the students taking the PASS test, but also makes the younger students aware of how important it is to prepare for the PASS test now. Mrs. Roark’s second graders are pictured with their “PASS Quilt.”

Community Calendar
Thursday, May 2 • The Union County Arts Council’s “Jam With Lunch” meets from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the UCAC Gallery on Main Street in Union. All musicians, as well as audience members, are welcome. Call UCAC at 864-429-2817 for more information. • The community is invited to gather at noon at the USC Union gazebo to observe The National Day of Prayer. The national committee challenges us to commit to pray for our country, remembering that...
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U.S. Department of Education investigating school district
UNION — The Union County School District is working with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights to review its athletic program after being informed of a federal investigation into allegations that the district discriminated against female athletes. In December 2012, Jessica Sherbert held a press conference in the hallway outside a meeting of the Union County Board of School Trustees. She decided to hold the conference aft...
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Lawson’s suit against Gault moved to federal court
UNION — A lawsuit filed against the Clerk of Court by a former employee who claims he wrongfully dismissed her and violated her civil rights has been moved to federal court. Melanie Lawson ran for Clerk of Court in the Nov. 6, 2012 general election and was defeated by incumbent Freddie Gault. A little over a week after she was defeated, Lawson met with Gault and was informed by him that she was being fired from her job as Family Court Deput...
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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times

Tyger Enoree River Alliance (TERA) co-founder Jon Durham, left, and Mayor Billy Hollingsworth, right, stand in front of a building leased to TERA by the Town of Whitmire.

Non-profit gets building in exchange for renovations
WHITMIRE — A local non-profit organization has gained an office building by agreeing to make renovations. On the website for the Tyger Enoree River Alliance (TERA), the group’s mission statement is a list of eight ways in which they promote the health of the local rivers: By discouraging litter. General litter pick up and awareness along the rivers. Those using the rivers and corridor are asked to first, “leave only foot prints.” By en...
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Public urged to dress appropriately for job fair
SPARTANBURG — Fifty companies will be looking to hire workers at a regional job fair sponsored by SCWorks and people who attend the fair hoping to he hired by those companies are urged to dress appropriately. The annual SCWorks Upstate Job Fair will be held from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday at Summit Point in Spartanburg. Veterans will be admitted beginning at 8 a.m. Holders of the SCWorks Preferred Pass will be admitted beginning at 9 a.m. The g...
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Crime Report
The Union Public Safety Department reported the following arrests : — Melissa Lynn Jones, 33, 309 Lakewood Drive, Union, was charged with breach of trust around 10:30 a.m. on April 29. According to the arrest warrant, Jones bagged an estimated $300 worth of merchandise at Jimmy’s Dollar Store on January 6 and allowed two other women to take it and leave the store without paying for it. — Melissa Gail Clark, 44, 200 Francis Avenue, Union,...
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Charles Warner|Daily Times
Kim Kalb serves up the noodles while Debbie Buchanan adds the sauce during Augsburg Lutheran Church's spaghetti supper fundraiser Thursday evening. The fundraiser was the second of four the church holds during the year to raise funds to support local food pantries, take part in the Secret Santa program at Grace United Methodist Church, and provide other assistance to the needy in the community.

Church’s spaghetti supper serves up success
UNION — The spaghetti supper served up by the members of Augsburg Luther Church will help them serve the needy of the community both directly and through other local organizations. Church members prepared and served up spaghetti with meat sauce along with salad, garlic bread, dessert, and drinks Thursday evening during the second of four fundraisers the church plans to hold this year. Among those preparing and serving the food was church me...
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Evin Fowler promoted in the South Carolina Corps of Cadets
CHARLESTON — Evin Ross Fowler has been selected for a leadership position at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. The announcement was made this spring by Commandant of Cadets Col. Leo Mercado, USMC retired. The promotion list includes the regimental commander, the top ranking member of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, and company and battalion commanders. The student military officers assume their new roles in the fall. ...
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OK What exactly is DAR?
Amy Bruce For The Union Daily Times UNION — The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution is a volunteer service organization made up of approximately 170,000 members with 3,000 chapters. These chapters are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Australia, Canada, France, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Italy and Spain. What Does DAR Do? DAR awards scholarships and financial aid each year ...
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Pacolet Milliken donates land in Hartsville
SPARTANBURG — Pacolet Milliken Enterprises, Inc. announced Monday at a public presentation in Hartsville, S.C. that the company has donated 24 acres of land to the Community Foundation for a Better Hartsville for its ongoing community revitalization efforts. The land has been donated in the Oakdale neighborhood, a historic mill village in Hartsville, and includes 34 residential lots and 17 acres of undeveloped land, which will be used to furt...
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Charles Warner|Daily Times
Melody Crank waits to get her pizza which is being held by Pizza Hut employee Jamekia Jeter as Restaurant Assistant Manager Lisa Brannon makes a note while employee Terrell Dillard watches. Pizza Hut donated 10 percent of all its profits made during a four-hour period Thursday evening to the Team Leroy Relay For Life team.

Team Leroy just $1,700 short of goal
UNION — Some diners at Pizza Hut helped the Team Leroy Relay For Life team move closer to its goal of raising $10,000 for the fight against cancer. The team is named for Leroy “Little Man” Belue, special projects manager for the Union Housing Authority, who died from cancer on Jan. 13, 2013. Team Leroy, which includes Belue’s widow, Beth, is working to raise $10,000 for Relay For Life through a series of fund raising events. The most recent...
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Photo courtesy of Sims Middle School

More Bubbles

Sixth grade students at Sims Middle School were recently “bubbling” over with excitement while doing their math work. Students in Mrs. Susan Gilstrap’s math class have been studying circumference and area of circles. As part of the study, students blew bubbles on their desk tops, and measured the diameter and radius of each circle. Then, they calculated the area and circumference of each. Savannah Smith's bubble is about to burst, leaving a ring for her to measure the diameter and radius.

Community Calendar
Wednesday, May 1 • Lockhart Town Council meets in special session at 1 p.m. in the Lockhart Town Hall. Thursday, May 2 • The Union County Arts Council’s “Jam With Lunch” meets from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the UCAC Gallery on Main Street in Union. All musicians, as well as audience members, are welcome. Call UCAC at 864-429-2817 for more information. • The community is invited to gather at noon at the USC Union gazebo to observe The Nat...
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City employees to see increased health care, retirement costs
UNION — Even as they get a cost-of-living increase city employees will see their health insurance and retirement costs increase in fiscal 2013-2014. The proposed 2013-2014 municipal budget being considered by Union City Council includes a number of personnel and capital expenditures in both the general fund and the utility fund. Finance Director Walker Gallman said the proposed budget includes $214,000 for a two percent cost-of-living inc...
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