Published Date : April 16, 2012
Author : admin
BY: Taft Matney
Gwinn Davis takes pictures. He takes really good pictures. His pictures tell stories that would take pages of words to otherwise tell. His pictures evoke emotions and capture events for perpetuity. His pictures chronicle the life and times of the community where he grew up.
For nearly 35 years, Gwinn has been there capturing it all. From high school sporting events to parades to rec league baseball to ribbon-cuttings and everything in between, Gwinn has been the constant. Try to go to an area swim meet without seeing a handwritten sign in the best parking space reserving it for Gwinn Davis. Forget politicians. Gwinn has always been the dignitary at these events.
Turning 40 this year and having lived in the same place almost all of my life, I don’t remember a time when Gwinn wasn’t there. Honestly, I’d bet that if I went through all of the photos he took over the years, I could make a scrapbook of my own life. A lot of other people could say the same thing.
The TRIBUNE-TIMES was our weekly community paper that covered the cities of Mauldin-Simpsonville-Fountain Inn – also known as South Carolina’s “Golden Strip.”
“The Trib,” as we called it, was a family-owned paper dedicated to what was going on around us, what was happening at XYZ church, how Susie got on the honor roll at school, how Johnny scored three goals in soccer, and how Shannon enlisted the Navy and was heading to boot camp. It reported what our neighbors were doing and how their efforts deserved public recognition.
Gwinn was an integral part of that, and when Gannett bought The Trib, the company’s higher-ups were smart enough at the time to make sure they kept Gwinn in the fold because not only has he served as the de facto photographic historian for an entire half of Greenville County, he was and is an amazing photojournalist who can tell any story anywhere with a just shutter click.
I found out last week that Gwinn Davis is about to place the cap on his lens – at least as far as his career with Gannett is concerned.
When I first heard the news, it hit me hard. He and his camera watched us grow up and always caught us at our best – with smiles on our faces and joy at whatever it was that we just accomplished.
He’s what’s good about the newspaper business.
Daily newspapers and their corporate bosses could take a note from the Gwinns of the world. Gwinn and people like him are invested in their communities. They want to tell the local story…not turn page 2A in to a rehash of USA TODAY.
Thank you Gwinn Davis and every journalist (photo or otherwise) like you who still understands the importance of “hometown” reporting. You are why we still read newspapers.
Published Date : April 16, 2012
Author : admin
Kim, you’re the business side, where do you see? What’s your vision?
KIM: My vision is Zack’s vision. I envision us being rivals to Life Is Good. For us to be their biggest competition and for Good Boy Roy to be on anything and everything we can put his characters on. We’ve got them on mugs and some cinch sacks but mainly t-shirt right now. That’s the biggest thing. I’d love to have it to be a big enough company so that we can employ other people with disabilities and give them the opportunity to be independent and do things that give themselves pride, as well. Because the goal for this when we started, or my thoughts were, that perhaps we could make a go of this and this can be how Zack supports himself after school — feeling that things for him…he’s probably not going to be able to have a nine to five job and work for somebody at a regimented time. He’s going to have to be able to work when he’s capable of working. And physically and mentally capable of working and something like this where he’s doing what he loves to do which is create and draw, he could work for himself and work when he’s capable of working. So I just envision something grand. I have big dreams and Zack just being able to draw and have fun and just be happy and bring smiles to other people, which is what he loves to do. When people see his characters, to smile and laugh and say, “That’s like my son” or “That’s like my nephew” or “That looks just like so-and-so.” People relate to the characters because most of the characters have their own personality and a lot of them are pieces of Zack’s personality. When he draws them, I think maybe he draws some of them with the intention of them being a part of him. Like “Rocker Rick” was the rocker dude, the character in Zack drew at the time he was taking drum lessons. And then “Z-Man” is the character that’s Zack’s own character – his nickname has always been Z-Man.
ZACK: Alter ego.
KIM: Alter ego. He likes sports so one of those Z-Man designs is “Decisions. Decisions.” where he’s got a golf club and a football and a soccer ball and that kind of thing.
ZACK: A baseball bat.
KIM: A baseball bat. Like I said. Hippie Heather. He just thinks of names and he likes the first two letters of the names to be the same so there’s Hippie Heather, Handsome Hen, Rocker Rick…
ZACK: Laughin’ Lizzie.
KIM: Laughin’ Lizzie. Everybody’s got a friend who just laughs and giggles all the time. I know I do.
ZACK: The thing about the names, I want them to be catchy. They’re fun and they’re catchy.
You want people to remember them.
ZACK: Yeah.
KIM: And the name Good Boy Roy, Zack, as he was growing up and his illnesses were kind of at their highest and most severe, he often, often had uncontrollable rages. And after the rages, he would settle back down and realize what had been going one because a lot of times, he wouldn’t remember what had happened. There was often destruction around. Things had been broken and such. He’d say, “I really am a good boy, I don’t mean to do these things. I can’t help it but my head’s on fire, but I’m a good boy.” Like I said, the first character he drew after he handed me the stack of papers was Roy that got put on a t-shirt. And he wore it for days. People liked it and said, “If you print any more, I want one.” So the wheels started turning and we talked about it and when we were thinking of a business name we just sort of put the two, Good Boy, which is something Zack always said and Roy, the name of the first character thinking it would be catchy and something people could remember. He’s got stacks and stacks of characters just waiting to get put on shirts. We’ve been kind of passive the first two years because I’m not a business person, so I don’t know how to go about marketing and everything so I’m just kind of been learning as I go. Not really been out actively trying to get placement in retailers such as that. We’ve just sort of been doing carnivals…
That was going to be my next question.
KIM: Festivals and that kind of thing. A lot of social media, a lot of Twitter, which has been a huge success as far as getting people to support him and encourage him through Twitter and Facebook and that kind of thing. Just a little bit of word by mouth. Just slowly and surely, it’s starting to build but this year we’re wanting to focus on getting some retailers to carry his whole line or piece of the line or whatever. I’m working with a girl that’s going to help us do sales and get some product placement and see if we can build it, see what happens.
That’s fantastic.
KIM: So we’ll see what happens.
Now, I read that the illustrations kind of helped you calm down and kind of get back in your head and find yourself.
ZACK: Yes sir.
With the way that Zack’s rages were, I would assume that helped you as a parent, as well, one he found that love to get back in his own head.
KIM: He’s always, even as a toddler, would always draw and I’ve got pages of, after these episodes, he’d often would draw pictures as a way of apologizing to us. He’d draw a picture and you know, “I’m sorry, Mom and Dad. I’m a good boy. I don’t mean to,” and that kind of thing so, as he would start to get agitated, sometimes he would sit down and start to draw characters and that’s when “Angry Allen” came out one time. Just trying to get his feelings and express them out on paper.
Also, one of his teachers was really smart enough to realize that, in the classroom, as he was getting agitated and aggravated, she would let him get up and draw on the whiteboard. It would help to decrease his anxiety and agitation so she started using that as a tool in the classroom, as well, to help him calm down so he could maybe sit back down and complete some work, too. But I just think it’s been a wonder way of self-expression for him and, not only that, the people that we’ve met through the last two years has been incredible. The people have been so kind in wanting to help him and kids coming up to him and saying “That’s cool” or “You’re cool” or “I want to meet Good Boy Roy” or “You’re talented.” So, for a kid that’s used to getting more into trouble than not, to finally start to get some positive feedback has just been wonderful to help him with his self-esteem.
How did that make you feel when people started coming up to you and recognizing all the hard work and creativity that you put into it?
ZACK: It made me feel really good. Proud of myself.
Put a smile on your face?
ZACK: Yes sir.
KIM: I know we’ve done the big Brookwood (Church) Holiday Fair the past two years and one lady came in and she said, “We heard that you were going to be here” because I guess they send out a flyer or email to all their members to let them know what vendors were going to be at the Holiday Christmas Fair to sell stuff. And she said “We came looking for you because we saw one of the magazine articles written on you.” She said, “My son saw it and he used to draw and he quit drawing but we read your article and it inspired him to start drawing again, so we wanted to come just to meet you.” So things like that have been just really great for him.
He was asked to come speak to the kids that are at John de la Howe School in McCormick, which is a school for at-risk youth because of lot of them have the same issues that Zack has. Some of the neurological challenges and things that they struggle with every day, the same way that he does. And they saw one of his interviews and asked him to come speak to them about trying to overcome and trying to find good in whatever you’re trying to deal with. You just have to believe in yourself and do what you love to do. There’s been a lot a lot of really great things.
With the expression of your illustrations, you almost get that feeling of “Finally, everybody understands me.”
ZACK: Uh-huh, yes sir.
What do you want to say to kids who have a dream, who have an idea that they might want to turn into a business?
Zack with Rico Rodriguez -- Manny from ABC's "Modern Family"
ZACK: Just never give up and just keep on pushing and pushing until you get that power to make it come true.
That’s great advice. Now, are y’all going to relocate the business outside of the house into a production facility.
KIM: I sure hope to have that dilemma someday. Right now, we don’t have need for that. Recently, I feel like we are like starting over. We got hooked up, unfortunately, with some scammers and some guys running some fraudulent business activity and we thought that they were going to be the management. They were supposed to be the full in-house firm that could do everything…do the marketing…do the focus groups…do…you know, going to produce the shirts, get retailers, going to do all of that. And I thought I had researched them well enough to know that they were on the up-and-up but I did not. They’re not local so…but after discovering that they are not honest people and that they told Zack they were going to do a lot of things for his company that they were not doing and could not do. It’s been…other than us losing money to them, it’s been a really good leaning lesson for me. Not to trust…I shouldn’t say not to trust anybody because it hasn’t made me not trust people, but to be much more careful with who I do trust his future and his dreams with.
Absolutely.
KIM: Not to feel bad about saying “I’m getting ready to check you out.” Because I do anything, I’m going to check you out really, really good.
If they’re on the up-and-up, they’ll say “Fine, that’s OK, I invite you to do it.”
KIM: Right, they won’t care. But it’s kind of lit a fire back under me to do things now that I probably should have done two years ago when we first started this because I tend to get excited and just do something then go back and probably do it the way I should have done it.
ZACK: She’s impulsive like me.
KIM: Like, you know, they were supposed to be taking care of the trademark and copyright. They didn’t do that so now, I do have an attorney that I have met with that is doing that. And a business attorney that I have talked to and sat down who will, from now on, look over all documents and everything that come in to us. And going to the Small Business Development Center and looking at resources there. And talking to other people that I probably should have talked to two years ago. Like I said, the first two years were just kind of doing and figuring this out, getting his characters on shirts because he just kept coming up with new designs or new characters and saying, “Can we put him on a shirt next?” So, I’m kind of backtracking some but I feel better, I mean I feel more confident with the direction we’re going now with this business.
How far along are you on trademarking the images?
KIM: We’ve just started. Because this was recent, like the beginning of February that we realized this company was fraudulent.
Really?
KIM: Yeah, so it’s been a couple of weeks of me just trying to, first of all, protect all of this stuff. They were going to redo the web site so going back in and changing the password to everything, just that kind of stuff. Getting attorneys to talk to and telling them what had happened. Also trying to see about what I could do as far as maybe pressing charges against them.
I was going to ask…
KIM: They’re in Georgia, so I contacted the DA’s office there, the police department there and contacted a lot of other current clients they had finding out they’d done the same thing to them. They’d all been scammed and swindled so we’ve been working together to get the police department as much information as we could to try to shut these people down.
I hope you can.
KIM: I do too. I do too. Because they’re taking a lot of people dreams and just playing with them. That’s not nice. So the last three or four weeks, it’s just been me trying to re-do things, undo some things, re-do some things and do some things better, safer, I guess.
Is mom doing a good job?
ZACK: Yes. I don’t think I could ask for any better business partner.
KIM: So, we’ll just see…we have big plans and big dreams for it and we’ll just have to see what happens.
Stay tuned for Part 1, Click HERE.
Published Date : April 12, 2012
Author : admin
South Carolina could opt out of many provisions of President Obama’s healthcare plan and be allowed to regulate its own healthcare policy decisions under a bill passed by the state Senate Wednesday.
The bill, S.836, sponsored by Senator Larry Grooms and others, would make South Carolina a part of an interstate compact, with each state joining the compact gaining the right to bypass federal healthcare regulations and allow the states themselves to make those decisions.
On third reading, the Senate added language that keeps intact programs like Medicare.
Similar legislation has already been passed in six states and has been fast-tracked in four others.
Republican Senators said the bill was needed in response to the federal government’s increasing role in healthcare regulation.
“This is a chance to make Washington’s failure South Carolina’s success,” Senator Larry Grooms said. “I encourage other states that believe in the free market to join South Carolina in passing the Healthcare Compact.”
“We need solutions that improve outcomes while lowering costs- and solutions that protect promises made to our seniors,” according to Senator Mike Rose. “Today’s compromise accomplishes those goals.”
“Today is a great example of what happens when the Senate thoroughly debates an issue,” said Senator Jake Knotts. “Through discussions on the floor, we found a solution that works for our state.”
Published Date : April 11, 2012
Author : admin
Ross Stores Inc. will open a new distribution and warehousing facility in York County. Under a five year program, the new 1.2 million square foot facility is expected to generate approximately 600 new jobs over that time period. Ross plans to use the new Rock Hill facility to distribute merchandise to its retail stores located in 30 states. The distribution center is expected to be up and running sometime in 2013.
Michael Wilson, senior vice president of Supply Chain for Ross commented, “Ross has found York County a good place to do business over the past ten years. We currently operate in the county over 1.9 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space as well as our supply chain headquarters. We look forward to adding this new facility to our distribution capabilities.”
“Today’s announcement is another big win for South Carolina. We celebrate Ross’ decision to locate new operations in Rock Hill and create 600 new jobs,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
“Ross’ decision to invest in South Carolina shows how critical good transportation infrastructure is in attracting investments that create jobs,” said Bobby Hitt, Secretary of Commerce.
York County Council Chairman Dr. Britt Blackwell added, “Ross Dress for Less has made several significant investments in York County over the past decade and presently is one of our largest employers with over 1,200 people. This new operation is verification of York County’s focus on the value of existing industry and the benefits they bring to our community. We are excited about the hundreds of new jobs that will be part of this investment as we strive to make York County the most business-friendly county in the nation.”
Published Date : April 10, 2012
Author : admin
Officials with the 12th annual BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation announced 24 celebrity commitments during the tournament’s Media Day today. Included in the list are first-time participants: actor Anthony Anderson of NBC’s Emmy Award-winning drama Law & Order, Rascal Flatts bass guitarist Jay DeMarcus, actor Danny Masterson of That ’70s Show, actor Grant Show of FOX’s Melrose Place, and Holly Sonders, host of Golf Channel’s Morning Drive.
Joining Anderson, DeMarcus, Masterson, Show and Sonders are Steve Azar, Lucas Black, Mark Bryan, Javier Colon, Jeffrey Donovan, David James Elliott, Dean Felber, Bruce Greenwood, Oliver Hudson, Josh Kelley, Greg Kinnear, Cheech Marin, Rob Morrow, Terry O’Quinn, Joe Don Rooney, Wyatt Russell, Kevin Sorbo, Gary Valentine and Patrick Warburton.
“We are so thankful and excited to have this caliber of celebrities travel from across the country to the Upstate to donate their time and talents in support of the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation,” said Tournament Director Darin MacDonald. “This is a signature event for our community and the state of South Carolina, and I can’t stress the importance that it plays for our 27 benefiting charities. We are extremely grateful that they are willing to take time out of their schedules to join us.”
Actor Anthony Anderson is currently a member of NBC’s Emmy Award-winning drama Law & Order. Anderson plays Detective Kevin Bernard opposite Jeremy Sisto as Detective Cyrus Lupo. Anderson has appeared in over 20 films including Transformers and The Departed. This will be Anderson’s first time participating in the tournament.
Musician Steve Azar became a radio sensation with the release of I Don’t Have to Be Me (‘Til Monday) and his video Waitin’ on Joe. His latest CD is Delta Soul: Volume 1. The come-on title refers both to the romance in some of the tunes and to the fact that the record is full of slide-guitar licks. This is Azar’s fourth time participating in the tournament.
Actor Lucas Black is known for his recent roles in Seven Days in Utopia with Robert Duvall and Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. As a child he appeared in Sling Blade with Billy Bob Thorton and The War alongside Kevin Costner. This will be Black’s fourth time playing in the tournament.
Mark Bryan is a founding member, songwriter and the guitar player for multi-platinum Hootie & the Blowfish. This will be Bryan’s fourth time playing in the tournament.
Musician Javier Colon is known for winning Season 1 of NBC’s The Voice. Before winning The Voice, Colon was a member of The Derek Trucks Band and worked with many musicians before going solo. This will be Colon’s eighth appearance.
Jay DeMarcus is the bass guitarist, harmony vocalist, pianist and songwriter in the country trio Rascal Flatts. This will be DeMarcus’ first time participating in the tournament.
Actor Jeffrey Donovan is known for his starring role in USA Network’s Burn Notice as well as supporting roles in movies such as Hitch with Will Smith and J. Edgar with Leonardo DiCaprio. This will be his second appearance.
Actor David James Elliott is known for his starring role on the series JAG, playing lead character Harmon Rabb Jr. from 1995 to 2005. Elliot is currently co-starring as Ripp Cockburn, Kristin Chenoweth’s character husband, on the ABC’s comedy-drama series GCB. This will be Elliott’s third appearance.
Dean Felber is a founding member and bass guitar player for multi-platinum Hootie & the Blowfish. This will be Felber’s fourth time playing in the tournament.
Actor Bruce Greenwood has starred in dozens of films and TV series since the late 70s, including recent roles in Dinner For Schmucks, Star Trek, National Treasure: Book of Secrets and iRobot. This will be Greenwood’s second time playing in the tournament.
Actor Oliver Hudson currently stars in the CBS comedy Rules of Engagement alongside David Spade and fellow tournament participant Patrick Warburton. This will be Hudson’s fifth time playing in the tournament.
Musician Josh Kelley has spent the majority of the past decade as a successful pop and adult contemporary artist. Kelley made his official debut into the country genre in March 2011 with his album Georgia Clay. This will be Kelly’s fourth time playing in the tournament.
Greg Kinnear was the first host of E! Entertainment’s Talk Soup. He’s since had roles in movies such as You’ve Got Mail with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, Little Miss Sunshine with Steve Carell and Toni Collette and As Good As It Gets for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. This will be Kinnear’s fourth time playing in the tournament.
Cheech Marin is best known as one half of the hilariously irreverent, satirical, counter-culture, no-holds-barred duo Cheech and Chong. Marin’s television credits include Judging Amy and co-starring with Don Johnson in Nash Bridges. This will be Marin’s eighth time playing in the tournament.
Actor Danny Masterson is best known for his role as Steven Hyde in That ‘70s Show. After the show concluded, Masterson starred in several movies and made guest appearances on television shows including Punk’d and MADtv. He also had a part in the 2008 comedy Yes Man, and Masterson stars with his real-life wife, Bijou Phillips, in the 2009 drama The Bridge To Nowhere. This will be Masterson’s first appearance.
As an Emmy and Golden Globe nominee, Rob Morrow is a critically acclaimed actor, writer, and director with an established career in television spanning more than three decades. He is well known for his role on the early 90s TV series Northern Exposure and for his recent role on CBS’s Numb3rs. This will be Morrow’s second time playing in the tournament.
Terry O’Quinn is most famous for his role as John Locke on the TV series LOST, for which he won an Emmy in 2007. He currently stars in CBS’s Hawaii Five-0. O’Quinn has also had minor supporting roles in many films and TV movies including Young Guns, as well as guest roles on TV shows such as The West Wing and JAG. This will be O’Quinn’s fourth time playing in the tournament.
Joe Don Rooney is the lead guitarist and harmony singer in the multi-platinum-selling country-pop group Rascal Flatts. This will be Rooney’s fifth time playing in the tournament.
Actor Wyatt Russell can be seen in 2011’s Cowboys and Aliens. Russell is also a talented hockey player, playing for teams in the United States, Canada and the Netherlands. Russell is the son of actor Kurt Russell and actress Goldie Hawn. This will be Russell’s third time playing in the tournament.
Actor Grant Show is best known for his role on FOX’s Melrose Place as Jake Hanson, which he played from 1992 to 1997. He can also be seen on the TV series CSI, Burn Notice, Private Practice and Big Love. This will be Show’s first time participating in the tournament.
Holly Sonders is one of the hosts of Golf Channels’ Morning Drive along with Erik Kuselias and Gary Williams. This will be Sonders’ first time participating in the tournament
Actor Kevin Sorbo is most famous for his role in the hit series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Sorbo has also appeared on several hit television shows such as Dharma & Greg and Murder, She Wrote. In 2008, Sorbo appeared in the spoof film Meet the Spartans, which opened at No. 1 at the U.S. box office charts. This will be Sorbo’s seventh time playing in the tournament.
Actor and comedian Gary Valentine has appeared in films such as Paul Blart: Mall Cop and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Valentine had a recurring role on the CBS comedy The King of Queens alongside his real-life brother Kevin James. This is Valentine’s sixth time participating in the tournament.
Actor Patrick Warburton currently stars alongside David Spade and fellow tournament participant Oliver Hudson in the CBS comedy Rules of Engagement. He is also famous for his role as David Puddy on the hit TV series Seinfeld. This is Warburton’s fourth time participating in the tournament.
The 2012 tournament will take place May 17-20, 2012 at Thornblade Club, The Carolina Country Club and Greenville Country Club’s Chanticleer course.
The BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation is the only tournament on the PGA TOUR’s Nationwide Tour where amateurs and celebrities are grouped with Nationwide Tour professionals in a four-day better-ball competition over three courses. Amateurs, celebrities and pros rotate between three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the 14 lowest scoring pro-amateur/pro-celebrity teams advancing to play Sunday’s final round at Thornblade Club. Celebrities play once at each course on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The professional winner of the overall 72-hole event takes home $108,000 from the total purse of $600,000. Amateurs and celebrities compete for individual prizes and cash donations to the charity of their choice out of the beneficiaries selected by South Carolina Charities, Inc.
A live broadcast of the tournament can be seen on Golf Channel® Thursday, May 17 and Friday, May 18 from 12:30-2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 19 from 1-3 p.m. and on Sunday, May 20 from 2-4 p.m.
Playing and sponsorship opportunities for the 2012 tournament are available at www.bmwproam.com.
For more information about the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation call (864) 297-1660, visit the tournament’s website http://www.bmwcharitygolf.com or follow the tournament on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BMWCharityProAm
To order tickets, visit www.buybmwtickets.com. One-hundred percent of the purchase price of Daily, Patron and Clubhouse Credentials may be donated to one of the tournament’s 27 charitable partners. Parking is included with all tickets.
*NEW FOR 2012* DAILY GROUNDS CREDENTIAL – $10 – Grants access to the grounds at one of the tournament courses one day during tournament play
PATRON CREDENTIAL – $25 – Grants access to the grounds at all three tournament courses Thursday, 5/17 thru Saturday, 5/19 and at Thornblade Club on Sunday, 5/20.
CLUBHOUSE CREDENTIAL – $50 – Grants access to the grounds at all three courses and access to the clubhouse at Thornblade Club and The Carolina Country Club Thursday, 5/17 thru Saturday, 5/19. This credential also grants access to the grounds and clubhouse at Thornblade Club on Sunday, 5/20. Clubhouse Credential holders may purchase breakfast, lunch and beverages in the clubhouse at Thornblade Club and The Carolina Country Club.
TWO-MEAL CLUBHOUSE CREDENTIAL – $75 – Includes the same privileges as a Clubhouse Credential plus two meals in the clubhouse dining room at Thornblade Club or The Carolina Country Club.
FOUR-MEAL CLUBHOUSE CREDENTIAL – $100 – Includes the same privileges as a Clubhouse Credential plus four meals in the clubhouse dining room at Thornblade Club or The Carolina Country Club.
Published Date : April 10, 2012
Author : admin
Michelin North America, Inc. today announced that the company will expand its Earthmover tire production in South Carolina with a $750 million investment expected to generate 500 new jobs.
“There is unprecedented demand for Michelin Earthmover tires throughout the world,” said Michelin Chairman and President Pete Selleck. “It’s a tribute to the productivity of our employees and the pro-business environment in South Carolina that the company is expanding its Earthmover capacity in the state where we first began manufacturing in the United States.”
When added to the $200 million announced last May in Lexington, this announcement brings the total Michelin investment in South Carolina to almost $1 billion in the last year.
“Michelin has been part of the economic and social fabric of South Carolina since the first tire rolled off the line in 1975 and has been one of our finest corporate citizens,” said South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. “It really is a great day in South Carolina when our largest manufacturer reaffirms its commitment to the state.”
“It’s always rewarding when new companies locate in South Carolina, but it’s even better when companies like Michelin that have been here for decades decide to expand and grow,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. “It is a tribute to Michelin and its 8,000 employees in the state that the company has decided to grow their presence here.”
“We are pleased to recognize the achievements of Michelin North America. The recent expansion of Lexington plants US#5 and US#7 greatly strengthened the economic activity in our area and helped to foster the growth that we are currently experiencing. Today we are excited about the two announcements and delighted to be able to celebrate this milestone achievement by Michelin North America. We are pleased that they are a part of our community and wish them continued success,” said Lexington County Council Chairman Bill Banning.
“We are extremely proud to continue and strengthen the long running relationship between Michelin, the SC Department of Commerce and Anderson County,” said Tommy Dunn, Anderson County councilman, District 5. “I’m grateful for the hard work and dedication of Burriss Nelson and his economic development team in their efforts to cultivate relationships that can benefit from Anderson County’s unique mix of a skilled and willing workforce, the support of Tri-County Technical College and our area’s outstanding quality of life. This is another great day in Anderson County.”
Central SC Alliance Chairman Jim B. Apple said, “Michelin’s announcement today of continued expansion in Lexington County, S.C. reaffirms the pro-business environment, quality workforce and strategic location of Lexington County and Central South Carolina. We congratulate Michelin Corporation on their continued success and we congratulate Lexington County on the continued growth of this great corporate citizen.”
“Michelin’s increased investment in the Upstate speaks volumes to their belief in the South Carolina workforce and its business climate. We are grateful for their contributions to our region and for the jobs they bring to our citizens,” said Upstate SC Alliance President and CEO Hal Johnson.
“Michelin is currently one of the Port of Charleston’s largest customers, and I am very pleased to learn of their plans to expand their manufacturing footprint in South Carolina. Michelin has been a consistent partner and ardent supporter of the deepening of the Charleston Harbor to accommodate the new, larger cargo vessels. This announcement today solidifies the company’s relationship with our port and our state,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority.
State and local incentives were approved for Michelin’s expansion.
Michelin North America
Published Date : April 8, 2012
Author : admin
Don’t forget to take time to catch up on some stories you may have missed or reread some of the pieces you really liked. Please take a minute and give us your feedback, too.
Published Date : April 6, 2012
Author : admin
BY: Taft Matney
Driving back from Columbia last week, the phone rang. I looked down and noticed the 843 area code. I thought about it for a minute and decided to answer. Don’t worry. I went hands-free and hit the Bluetooth button on the steering wheel.
The voice on the other end began, “Mr. Matney?” “Oh, great,” I thought to myself. “Another telemarketer.”
“This is _______________ with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Do you have a minute to talk?”
“Of course,” I responded, not sure where this was going.
“Our records show that you attended a game last year. Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“Was it your first time at our ballpark?”
“No. We’d been there before. We try to come to at least a game a year.”
“Oh, great. How many people were in your party?”
“It’s always my son and me.”
“Did he have a good time? Did he get to spend any time with Splash, our mascot?”
“He had a great time. We both always do, but no. He didn’t spend any time with Splash. He ran the bases after the game, though, and that’s even better.”
“Oh. Great. If you don’t mind, where were your seats?”
“We always sit as close to field level as possible along the First Base line.”
“Do you plan on coming back this season?”
“Absolutely. We’re just looking at our schedules to figure out when.”
“Great, Mr. Matney. I’m really glad to hear that. We’re just working to better personalize fan experiences, so I wanted to call you today and let you know if there’s anything we can do better, we really want you to tell us.”
What came out of my mouth was, “OK. I appreciate that. We go to a lot of Greenville Drive games, but we always look forward to our annual visit to Pelicans Ballpark.” What was going through my mind was more like, “You really wanna personalize this fan’s experience? We’ll be there in late May/early June. What night should I throw out the first pitch?”
OK. I probably won’t be on the mound any time soon (I’m also open to taking over PA announce duties for the night.), but a boy can dream.
It’s opening weekend for baseball — including our state’s minor league teams. The Greenville Drive opened at home last night with a 4-2 win. Charleston’s RiverDogs got rained out last night, so fans have to wait an extra day. The Pelicans open their park for the season tonight at 7:05.
That just leaves one more thing to say. Play ball!
UPDATE: From TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark, Myrtle Beach beat the Wilmington (DE) Blue Rocks with a 6-0 final. The RiverDogs won their rain delayed season opener at home in Charleston over the Rome (GA) Braves by a score of 1-0.
Published Date : April 6, 2012
Author : admin
South Carolina Public Railways announced demolition plans of old, unsafe buildings located on the former Navy base in Charleston.
“In an ongoing effort to clean up and promote redevelopment efforts on the former Navy base we have begun demolishing buildings that are either unsafe or unsightly to those who work on and visit the base,” said Jeff McWhorter, president and CEO of South Carolina Public Railways.
Since acquiring a majority of the Noisette property on the former Navy base in 2010, South Carolina Public Railways has invested in infrastructure and improvements to help spur additional economic development activity on the base.
Demolition work is currently underway at the former Navy base security headquarters building and the federal credit union offices located near the old McMillan Avenue gate in North Charleston. The security headquarters building has been razed, and demolition work will start soon for the credit union building. Total cost of the demolition project is roughly $30,000.
“South Carolina has to set the table for economic development success. Commerce helps cities and towns improve their product and is doing the same by way of our division of Railways,” said Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt. “Inventory, such as buildings and sites for economic development, and making way for improvements that will support progress, are vitally important.”
In March 2011, Public Railways received a federal grant of almost $249,000 to improve the alignment of existing rail and the safety of train operations. The realignment will enable Public Railways to safely accommodate larger rail cars on the Navy base, according to officials. These changes will better serve businesses on the base, including Clemson University’s new wind turbine drivetrain testing facility. These upgrades could also create additional economic opportunity for others considering a location on the base.
“Improvements to the rail ‘S-curve’ will enable Clemson to provide the best service possible to customers of its wind turbine drivetrain testing facility under construction on part of the former Navy base in North Charleston,” said Clemson University Vice President for Economic Development John Kelly.
Public Railways recently completed a $1.5 million renovation on one of the base’s most prominent buildings at Quarters H and I. This building, like much of the property on the base, has been neglected and vacant for more than 10 years. Railways has found a tenant for the building.
South Carolina Public Railways is currently developing a $126 million single Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) on its North Charleston site on the former Navy base. The ICTF will provide equal dual rail access at one site, which will ensure competition among the Class 1 railroads, and will benefit all shippers using South Carolina’s port facilities. Other benefits include reduced truck traffic and highway congestion by creating efficient freight rail transportation.
Published Date : April 6, 2012
Author : admin
SEE UPDATE BELOW.
Two South African golfers – Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini have committed to the 44th annual RBC Heritage. They are joined by David Duval and Joe Durant, who both received sponsor’s exemptions to compete at the Harbour Town Golf Links April 9-15, 2012.
Immelman has earned 2 PGA TOUR victories and 6 international championships since he turned professional in 1999 including the 2008 Masters. After wrist surgery in 2009, Immelman spent 2010 working on his game and earned 2 top ten finishes in 2011. He will be teeing off at the RBC Heritage for the 7th time.
Sabbatini, who was born in Durban, South Africa, now calls Fort Worth, Texas home. He has earned 6 wins on the PGA TOUR including the 2011 Honda Classic. He is making his 4th appearance at Harbour Town. He has previously carded 2 top 20 finishes here.
A former #1 in the world golfer, Duval has won 13 times on the PGA TOUR. His last win was in 2001 at the British Open Championship. Despite a few lean seasons, the Georgia Tech golfer has won over $18 million. He’ll be returning to Harbour Town for the first time in 15 years.
Durant has been competing on TOUR since 1987 and has earned four victories. The Pensacola, Florida native has made 12 starts at Harbour Town and has earned more than $13 million throughout his career.
These latest commitments join an earlier group that includes defending champion Brandt Snedeker, plus other RBC Heritage champions – Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Boo Weekley, Brian Gay and Justin Leonard.
Daily tickets and weeklong badges for this year’s tournament are still on sale online at www.rbcheritage.com or by visiting the tournament office located in the parking lot of the Harbour Town Golf Links. The Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce is selling tickets at their mid-island location and at the Hilton Head Island Welcome Center. The Town of Bluffton Office at 20 Bridge Street is also a Ticket Outlet.
UPDATE: Five-time Past Champion Davis Love III along with Australians Aaron Baddeley and Geoff Ogilvy have now committed to play in the 44th annual RBC Heritage.
Love has a record five wins at Harbour Town and he has never missed a RBC Heritage since his first in 1986. It was feared that a cracked rib would prevent him from playing this year. The injury caused him to withdraw before his final round at Bay Hill and he hasn’t competed since. Love, from nearby Sea Island, GA, has won 20 times on the PGA TOUR. He was awarded a Tartan Plaid Jacket in 1987, 1991, 1992, 1998 and most recently in 2003 and has earned more than $2.5 million here.
Baddeley was born in New Hampshire, but his family moved back to Australia when he was two. He holds dual American and Australian citizenship. He earned his first win on the PGA TOUR in 2006 at Harbour Town. He has won two more times, most recently at the 2011 Northern Trust Open. He also holds four International championships. He has competed in the RBC Heritage seven times and has only missed finishing in the top 25 once.
Ogilvy has seven wins on the PGA TOUR and has earned more than $24 million. The South Australia native also has two International victories, both in his home country. He has not played Harbour Town since 2007.
Published Date : April 4, 2012
Author : admin
Preparing for a season opener at home on Friday, April 6th against the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans announced today that the team’s park has a new name under a one-year naming rights agreement. For the 2012 season, the stadium formerly known as BB&T Coastal Field will now be known as “TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.”
TicketReturn.com has partnered with the Pelicans since 2006 to provide behind-the-scenes “Powered By” software services for the team’s Ticket Office, web site, and ballpark access controls. The Charlotte (NC)-based company serves more than 130 sports and entertainment venues across 40 states and British Columbia, which issue more than 22 million tickets annually. TicketReturn.com also ranks as the largest provider of ticketing services in Minor League Baseball nationwide.
“TicketReturn.com has been an integral part of our success since our ownership group acquired the Pelicans,” remarked team chairman Chuck Greenberg. “We look forward to strengthening the partnership through this arrangement and better familiarizing the Grand Strand community and visitors with a pioneer company that represents the best in American ingenuity.”
“The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Chuck Greenberg, and TicketReturn.com have always enjoyed a creative partnership in the world of ticketing technology,” said R. Leroy Denton, President of TicketReturn.com. “We wanted to bring that creative energy to the forefront with ‘TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark’. It’s a win-win opportunity for everyone – and a great way to start telling people more about what we have to offer.”
“With this naming rights partnership with TicketReturn.com, the Pelicans can continue to invest in the facility and fan experience that makes the Pelicans the best entertainment value at the Beach,” commented Pelicans GM Scott Brown.
Pelicans single game tickets, season tickets, flex Books and mini-plans for the 2012 season are now on sale at the Pelicans Ballpark offices or by calling (843) 918-6000. Tickets are available anytime online at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com, powered by TicketReturn.com. Normal box office hours are Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm.
Published Date : April 3, 2012
Author : admin
With the 44th annual RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing taking place April 9-15, 2012 on Hilton Head Island’s Harbour Town Golf Links, tournament spectators will experience one of South Carolina’s most talked about new exports.
At Noon on Friday, April 13, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner will make a low-altitude flyover approaching from the South from tee to green over the 18th fairway (pending FAA final approval and clear weather).
The flyover will be during the second round of the PGA TOUR event.
“The RBC Heritage offers the perfect spot to showcase the 787 Dreamliner in South Carolina,” said Jack Jones, Boeing South Carolina Vice President and General Manager. “I’m always excited to offer an opportunity for people to view first-hand our company’s most technologically advanced airplane.”
“This is the same airplane model that South Carolinians are building at Boeing’s South Carolina facility. We are so excited to be able to showcase the tremendous work that people in the Palmetto State are now accomplishing,” said Tournament Director Steve Wilmot. “We are equally as excited for our spectators and PGA TOUR golfers to be able to witness this amazing sight.”
Daily tickets and weeklong badges for this year’s tournament are still on sale online at www.rbcheritage.com or by visiting the tournament office in the parking lot of the Harbour Town Golf Links. The Hilton Head/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce is selling tickets at their mid-island location and at the Hilton Head Island Welcome Center. The Town of Bluffton Office at 20 Bridge Street is also a Ticket Outlet.
Published Date : April 3, 2012
Author : admin
Officials at Ionic Technologies Inc. announced today that they will double the size of the company’s existing operations in Greenville County with a $10 million investment that is expected to generate at least 13 new jobs as the new facility becomes fully operational.
Ionic Technologies provides heat treating and coating services to manufacturers to improve wear resistance on metal surfaces.
“We are extremely pleased to move forward with our plans to expand operations here in Greenville County, as this initiative will allow us to grow in size, service capabilities and profitability while delivering industry-leading coating capabilities to our customers,” said Ray Monahan, president of Ionic Technologies. “Greenville County and South Carolina have provided an excellent home for our growing business, and we appreciate all the support we have received from the Greenville Area Development Corporation, Department of Commerce, the City of Greenville and other officials.”
Ionic Technologies will expand its current facility at 207 Fairforest Way from 18,000 square feet to approximately 38,000 square feet, completely updating and upfitting the space to a state-of-the-art heat treating and surface engineering facility in the process. The expanded space will also encompass an expanded distribution facility, as well as sales, marketing and administrative operations for the company.
“It’s exciting to see a company like Ionic Technologies increase its footprint and create new jobs in Greenville,” said Gov. Nikki Haley. “Making sure South Carolina’s business climate fosters growth among our existing companies is a top priority for us.”
In 2011, South Carolina recruited more than $4.7 billion in investment and more than 13,000 new jobs in the manufacturing sector.
“Ionic Technologies’ decision to expand in Greenville is another sign that our state’s manufacturing renaissance continues to proceed. We appreciate the company’s commitment to South Carolina and look forward to Ionic Technologies’ continued growth here,” said Bobby Hitt, Secretary of Commerce.
Ionic Technologies expanded operations will allow the company to provide the highest quality ion nitriding, PVD (physical vapor deposition) coating, vacuum hardening and heat treating, and cryogenic services for improving wear resistance on all types of metal surfaces.
“We are pleased that Ionic Technologies has chosen to expand their successful operations here in Greenville County,” said Chris Riley, chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation. “Their decision to add quality new jobs here is an important affirmation of one of the county’s focus areas – growing our advanced manufacturing base. Ionic is an innovation-driven enterprise with deep Upstate roots, and a prized member of our business community.”
The company’s client list includes GE Aviation, GE Power, Siemens, Rolls Royce, Michelin, Alcoa, US Engine Valve and Boeing. The organization works extensively with multiple NASCAR racing teams, conducts research and development work with Clemson University, provides bearings for every Airbus jetliner, and even has provided heat-treated parts for NASA’s Mars lunar rover.
The company will begin hiring for new positions in July.
Published Date : April 3, 2012
Author : admin
It was evident from the very beginning that this year’s NCAA Men’s basketball championship tournament would be filled with the agony of defeat. Top seeded teams dropped like flies. Brackets were broken in rapid succession.
Last night in New Orleans, the University of Kentucky Wildcats were the last team standing as the new national champions with their 67-59 win over the Kansas Jayhawks.
At the same time, there was a single victor in CRESCENT’s March Madness contest. Even though none of the submissions we received were 100% right, the winning entry came from Carrie Scott (@carrieannscott on Twitter).
Congratulations, Carrie.
Thanks to everyone who submitted an entry, and stay tuned for a new contest not too far down the road.
DISCLAIMER: Contest is free to enter. Winner(s) and prize(s) is/are determined by CRESCENT. Contest is applicable to the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament. Contest ends at the conclusion of the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament. All decisions are final. Any times referenced should be considered as Eastern Daylight Savings time unless otherwise noted. CRESCENT, its officers, agents, and/or employees are not liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from claims against this contest even if CRESCENT, its officers, agents, and/or employees has/have been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Published Date : April 3, 2012
Author : admin
Officials announced today that the Lake City Farmers’ Market, a “Certified SC” community-based farmers’ market, will celebrate its reopening on Thursday, April 5, 2012 at the National Bean Market, 111 Henry Street, Lake City, S.C. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and farm bell ringing at 2:00 p.m. will mark the beginning of the market season in the fully-restored, enclosed facility.
SC Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers will join Lake City Farmers’ Market manager Phil Huber, Mayor Lovith Anderson, Senator Yancey McGill, Representative Lester Branham, Florence County Council Chairman K.G. “Rusty” Smith, and other dignitaries at the reopening ceremony. Special guests will be Amanda McNulty and Tony Melton from SCETV’s “Making It Grow.”
The expanded Lake City Farmers’ Market will feature over 40 vendors offering items for sale including: conventionally- and organically-grown produce; plants and flowers; citrus plants; barbecue sauces, heritage pork, sausages, eggs, cane syrup, grass-fed beef, honey, herbs, and other specialty food items; handmade soap products; crafts; fresh seafood; baked goods; and much more.
The Lake City Farmers’ Market will not only feature locally grown produce and products, but it will also feature locally grown music from Blue Ridge Junction a regional bluegrass band of area performing artists.
The children’s activities will include a wooden cut-out of Mr. and Mrs. Farmer Jones, a scavenger hunt, balloons, and face painting. The Lake City Community Hospital will be on hand to offer FREE blood pressure screenings, and visitors will have an opportunity to play Bargain Bingo from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. for gift cards from locally-grown supermarket retailer IGA. Chef Kathy Fridl of the local fly-in restaurant Foodscapes will take the overages of produce and products from the market and prepare “What’s for dinner.” Horticulturalists from local Moore Botanical Farms, Ethan Kauffman and Madison Turnblad, will provide demonstrations on container gardening. There will be activities for everyone.
Commissioner Weathers said, “Every spring and fall, the Lake City Farmers’ Market becomes the center of community activities. Farmers and non-farmers have an opportunity to interact and consumers have convenient access to farm-fresh healthy produce and products at affordable prices. The Lake City Farmers’ Market defines local – locally grown produce, products, people, and places. It’s all about supporting the community.”
The Lake City Farmers’ Market will be open for business on Thursdays from 2 p.m.-7 p.m.., April-June and September-October at the National Bean Market in Lake City.
Published Date : March 30, 2012
Author : admin
Yesterday, the South Carolina Senate passed S.1125, a bill to prevent workers fired for misconduct from collecting unemployment benefits – a move that could save the unemployment system $50 million per year.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Lee Bright, Senator Kevin Bryant, and others is aimed at protecting businesses from having to pay out benefits for workers fired under these circumstances. It also protects consumers by keeping costs low and protects taxpayers at a time when the state is still working to pay back loans made to the unemployment trust fund, according to Senate Republicans.
Some senators contend that changes to current law are necessary because legislative intent has not been followed, and the broad interpretation of the law resulted in $50 million in benefits awarded to people fired for misconduct last year alone. The bill brings state law in line with federal law by strictly defining how to deal with these types of claims.
“South Carolina businesses shouldn’t be on the hook for firing workers that have been let go for any type or wrongdoing,” Sen. Lee Bright said. “This bill will not only protect businesses, but it protects the benefits of workers who make a claim for legitimate reasons.”
“We have to keep the cost of business as low as possible in South Carolina, both for the business owners and the consumers,” Sen. Bryant said. “This bill keeps illegitimate costs from being passed along to consumers or taxpayers.”
Published Date : March 30, 2012
Author : admin
The RAP Index, Inc., a software service designed to identify who can best advocate decision-makers on an organization’s behalf, announced today that it secured an investment from Crest Capital Ventures. The multi-year funding allows the RAP Index to aggressively expand its sales and marketing efforts nationwide, add additional software programmers to continually develop new features, and execute its strategy to make RAP Index 3.0 the must-have software solution for advocacy.
“In public affairs, every group knows what their message is, but often they have no idea who the best person might be to deliver that message. We find their very best messengers,” said Chip Felkel, RAP Index CEO. “RAP 3.0 is an effective, cutting-edge software service that uncovers key relationships which are invaluable for affecting change. By identifying, quantifying and qualifying key relationships with influential policy makers, an organization can make a bigger impact in the world of advocacy. In short, we give our clients,” said Felkel, “a competitive advantage over all the voices clamoring to be heard.”
“The RAP Index is a unique and valuable solution giving companies and organizations the ability to discover and leverage previously unknown personal relationships,” said Jason Woods, President of Crest Capital Ventures. “We are excited to offer multi-year financial support to the RAP Index. This software has tremendous growth potential as they change, for the better, the way advocacy works.”
Published Date : March 30, 2012
Author : admin
A joint legislative panel is accepting notice from residents living in South Carolina’s 1st, 3rd, and 5th Congressional districts who are interested in applying for a seat on the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission. Notice of intent to apply will be accepted until Noon on Thursday, April 26, 2012.
Applicants must meet statutorily prescribed eligibility requirements and must possess certain qualifications in order to serve. Applicants will undergo a thorough review process. The review process includes a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division background check, a credit check, completion of comprehensive personal data questionnaires, financial disclosures, and a South Carolina Ethics Commission Statement of Economic Interests form.
Applicants will also undergo an investigation, interviews, and a public screening by the ten-member Joint Transportation Review Committee and its staff. Those found qualified then stand for election by members of the General Assembly who reside in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Congressional districts. The terms expire February 15, 2016.
Prospective candidates living within South Carolina’s 1st, 3rd, and 5th Congressional districts must notify the Joint Transportation Review Committee in writing of their intent to apply. The letter must include the person’s original signature, county of residence, physical home address, email, and daytime phone number. Notice of intent will not be accepted after 12:00 noon on Thursday, April 26, 2011.
Notice of intent and questions related to the screening process should be sent to:
David Owens
Joint Transportation Review Committee P.O. Box 142
Columbia, S.C. 29202
803-212-6402
More information is available at www.scstatehouse.gov under ‘Committee Information’, then ‘Joint Transportation Review Committee’.
Published Date : March 30, 2012
Author : admin
On Wednesday, LowCountry Biomass, a recycler of wood residues, announced plans to expand its existing wood pellet manufacturing operations in Jasper County. The $16 million investment is expected to generate 26 new jobs.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to grow our company in Jasper County. South Carolina offers us an excellent business environment and a skilled workforce. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials,” said Rhett Harwell, vice president of LowCountry Biomass.
LowCountry Biomass recently took over the operations of Champion Wood Pellets, a manufacturer of wood pellets used in home heating fuel, alternative industrial energy and equine bedding, located at 523 Nimmer Turf Road in Ridgeland. The company is currently operating the pellet manufacturing facility and is in the process of increasing the production capacity at the plant to 200,000 metric tons per year.
“It’s always exciting to see one of our existing businesses grow and create new jobs, and that’s especially true when it’s in one of our rural areas. We celebrate LowCountry Biomass’ decision to expand and create 26 new jobs in Ridgeland,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
In 2011, South Carolina recruited more than $4.7 billion in investment and more than 13,000 new jobs in the manufacturing sector.
Wednesday’s announcement “by LowCountry Biomass certainly helps boost our state’s manufacturing sector and brings new jobs to one of South Carolina’s rural areas. This announcement also adds to the investments made in the state’s agribusiness sector,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.
“We are very pleased to welcome LowCountry Biomass to Jasper County. New jobs mean more opportunities for our community and our young people,” said Jasper County Council Chairman Samuel Gregory.
“It is great to see industry investment again and especially in our community. The natural landscape and workforce of this county and region are well suited for green industry like LowCountry Biomass,” said Ridgeland Mayor Joey Malphrus.
Published Date : March 30, 2012
Author : admin
Fifteen outstanding Beaufort County seniors were named Heritage Classic Foundation Scholars on Tuesday.
The Verizon Foundation awarded the Heritage Classic Foundation a $1.5 million three-year grant in 2011. Half of the dollars support 12 nonprofits that focus on education, literacy and safety & health. The other half is used to continue the Heritage Scholar Program.
In making the announcement for the Heritage Classic Foundation, Scholar Chairman Ward Kirby said, “This is always an exciting day for our Foundation. We believe that the records of these young adults are better than ever. The teachers and administrators of our school systems, as well as the award winners deserve special praise.”
Thirteen of the newly-named Scholars will receive an $18,000 scholarship over the next four years. Two additional awards carry a $22,000 opportunity. These latter scholarships honor the past Scholar Committee chairmen, John Zimmerman and the late Mike Malanick.
Next fall, 59 Beaufort County collegians will be receiving Foundation grants at an expenditure of $273,500. A grand total of $2,724,500 will have been awarded to 237 students after the 2012 distribution since the program was launched in 1993.
Kirby pointed out at Tuesday’s luncheon, sponsored by Palmetto Electric Cooperative, “These scholars are not just straight A students. They are leaders in their schools, communities and churches. They have interests that vary from athletics to theater to music.”
The following graduating seniors were selected:
Highlights of this year’s Scholars: