Progress 2015

The Journal

SPECIAL SECTION | SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2015

INSIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

page 2

Progress has been the name of the game for Oconee County’s economic development in 2015.

LEADERSHIP

page 3

The landscape of local government undergoes changes while Scott Moulder celebrates fifth anniversary as county boss.

EDUCATION

page 3

F O E DG

W E O R R O M O T and l o o h sc , high r growthL l i a j , new poised fo DLEY | THE JOURNA n o i s i A c e V E N BR elin de ave Ocone

BY STE h c i M waits l merger h a t i s A a hospit house with registered nurses and a contract

conee will soon have a new jail, its hospital already has a new name, Walhalla has a new high school, and the county is awaiting final word on what would be the largest single investment in Oconee County since Duke Energy.

While recent years have seen The Journal take a look back at the changes in the Golden Corner over the past five or 10 years, this year’s “Progress” edition looks at the massive facelift the county has seen since this time last year — and how those changes have the county poised for not just growth, but progress, as it looks to the future.

Greenville Health System began operating Oconee Memorial Hospital on Oct. 1, and the change also brought expanded roles for the top two administrators at the former Oconee Medical Center.

Jeanne Ward, previously the Oconee hospital’s president and CEO, was named the first regional president at GHS , while former hospital chief operating officer Hunter Kome was named president of the Oconee campus.

“As we looked at how we’ve gotten geographically spread out, it really is important to have coordination on wider regions,” GHS president and CEO Michael Riordan said in explaining Ward’s new role. “She’ll have a strong presence here, but Hunter’s been terrific; he’ll report up to Jeanne. We want to maintain the connection to this community.

While understanding that some challenging times await, there is plenty to be excited about in looking ahead to the future of school districts.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

page 4

Students of today are being prepped for technical jobs of tomorrow.

FESTIVALS

page 5

Local festivals are driving small businesses and building tourism.

We have to see if we can leverage (Ward’s) experience over a larger group.”

The announcement of the new positions for Ward and Kome came during an event unveiling the new sign at the hospital signifying the first day of the lease agreement between OMH and GHS. The agreement calls for Greenville to operate the Oconee hospital for the next 50 years with two potential 25-year renewals after that. GHS has agreed to take on about $90 million in debt and liabilities at the Oconee hospital.

In March, GHS announced it had refinanced about $76.5 million in debt it incurred from OMH to help save its patients money. With roughly $12 million in interest-rate swaps included, the total debt approaches $90 million.

Treasurer Larry Gosnell said most of the debt was incurred when Oconee expanded in recent years.

GHS has already been able to save about $500,000 per year on the debt through an interest rate reduction that occurred in October, Gosnell said, with more savings to come with the latest action — about $140,000 this fiscal year, which ends Sept.

30.

Oconee’s new $16.25 million detention

with a local medical doctor,” Crenshaw said. “The county also incurred the cost for center is expected to begin operating later prescription drugs, doctor’s appointments this summer, and the jail will allow the and hospital visits on sentenced inmates. If county to house 242 inmates — nearly twice someone comes in presentenced, they are as many as the current facility’s capacity responsible for their own medical care. for 126 inmates.

“Southern Health Providers will be But while the existing jail operates with providing their own staff as far as nursing 26 security officers and a support staff of 10 staff and a contract doctor, as well as dental employees, the state Department of Correcservices.” tions told the county it must hire 16 new The new Walhalla High School, located on security officers for the new facility.

S.C. Highway 11, officially opened its doors When the county contemplated building June 8 — first to staff who reported to work, a larger jail that later was scaled back in and later that afternoon to parents, alumni size, administrator Scott Moulder told The and community supporters attending a ribJournal at the time an additional 20 to 30 bon cutting and open house. employees would be needed at the new jail “The opening of this building has been and cost the county more than $1 million a long time coming,” said Rosemary annually when wages, benefits, uniforms Bailes, who represents the Walhalla area and retirement were factored in. in District 2 on the Oconee County School In April, Moulder told county council it Board. “This is a school that will support would cost approximately $880,000 more this community for many, many decades to each year to hire 16 new security officers come. We have a strong principal here, an that would meet the number mandated by outstanding faculty, students and families the DOC. That figure was cut even further who are among South Carolina’s finest. by farming out the medical services for the “This physical plant will support the outjail, allowing the county to cut two fullstanding learning program we’ve come to time nursing positions — making for an expect at Walhalla High School and all our effective addition of only 14 employees.

Oconee County schools.”

In addition, outsourcing inmate health But Bailes emphasized that the $54 milcare at the Oconee Detention Center will lion school will also be something the comsave the county more than $100,000, accordmunity as a whole can have the opportunity ing to Sheriff Mike Crenshaw. to experience.

District superintendent Michael Thorsland agreed the process of planning and constructing the new Walhalla High School was a long one, though well worth it in the end.

The county was still awaiting word as of midJune from Michelin North America on a $175 million high-bay distribution center that would be the first — and only — tenant of the Golden Corner Commerce Park near Fair Play. The capital investment would be the largest single investment in the FILE county since Duke Energy.

Above: Oconee’s new $16.25 milOconee Economic Allion detention center is expected to liance executive director begin operating later this summer, Richard Blackwell said and the jail will allow the county to in May that the county house 242 inmates — nearly twice expects Michelin to make a as many as the current facility’s final decision this summer. capacity for 126 inmates.

Michelin would invest up to $250 million over a At left: The new Walhalla High five-year period and hire School on S.C. Highway 11 received up to 150 or 170 employees its certificate of occupancy in late Crenshaw said the — 30 of them full time — at county tried to “explore May and officially opened its doors an average wage of $22.50 this month — with preparations every cost associated” per hour. now underway to welcome students with the detention Moulder has said it could to their new home upon their return be a major step toward center’s operations in hopes of saving taxpay- in August. quelling the uncertainty er money. over the long-term future Below: Greenville Health System The sheriff said he of Duke Energy’s Oconee will operate Oconee Memorial believes the contract Nuclear Station in the Hospital for the next 50 years, with with Southern Health county. two potential 25-year renewals after Partners, which has “Everybody keeps talkthat. GHS agreed to take on about a history of providing ing about life after Duke $90 million in debt and liabilities at — and this would be a huge health care in correctional facilities, will do the Oconee hospital. boost to filling that numjust that. ber for life after Duke,” he The amount of the said. “So each one of these contract approved for Southern Health we win, you’re building additional indusPartners was $254,820. When compared trial assessments in the county.” with the cost for inmate health care last year at the jail, Crenshaw projects the savings will amount to around $112,000.

In last year’s budget for the OCDC, the combined costs for medical services — including employee pay, prescriptions, medical supplies, doctor and hospital visits — totaled more than $366,000.

“Historically, the county jail has provided medical services in

2

THE JOURNAL | PROGRESS

| EDGE OF TOMORROW |

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2015

economic development Oconee economy blows away banner pace of 2014 County has announced $51M in investments, 385 new jobs by midyear

BY STEVEN BRADLEY THE JOURNAL With $51.88 million in capital investments already announced and 385 new jobs at roughly the halfway point of the year, progress has been the name of the game for Oconee County’s economic development in 2015.

Those capital investment figures come from four announcements: ITT ($2.5 million), BorgWarner ($13.35 million, 51 jobs), ITECH South ($6.03 million, 34 jobs) and Casto Southeast Realty Services ($30 million, 300 jobs).

Oconee had a banner year in 2014 with 309 new jobs from economic development efforts — more than the previous four years combined — and has surpassed that figure by the midpoint of 2015.

Those figures don’t even account for the potential of $175 million and 30 more jobs from a state-of-the-art, high-bay distribution center Michelin North America is considering building at the Golden Corner Commerce Park near Fair Play.

While there has been hand-wringing as Michelin’s decision has been delayed since the early part of the year — and still had not been announced as of midJune — Oconee Economic Alliance executive director Richard Blackwell has continued to express confidence that it will come to fruition.

The company has a purchase option on the property, the entirety of GCCP, through the end of the year.

Blackwell’s report at an OEA board meeting in May said the county is “hearing June from the company as the timeframe as to which they would go to the next step in this process.”

In the last 36 months, Blackwell said the county has seen $150 million in capital investments.

“That is very, very strong for Oconee County,” he said. “The strongest it’s ever been, and we’re not satisfied. We want more.”

Blackwell also noted it was important not to overlook some of the smaller economic announcements, such as ITT’s $2.5 million expansion, in the grand scheme.

“I know that’s not a big number, but that is significant,” he said.

“It’s significant to them, it’s significant for the county; it’s significant for their continued presence in this county. So we were happy that county council and the administrator (Scott Moulder) worked with them to make them happy and make the point why they need to grow here rather than California.”

Council finalized an incentive package for ITT in February that includes reduced 6-percent tax assessment and fixed millage for a 30-year term.

Located at 105 Commerce Way in Westminster, the expansion of ITT’s operations in Westminster features a new specialized testing facility for natural gas vehicle components, which are part of the company’s highly engineered Conoflow brand of products.

“We have been a member of the Oconee County community for more than 25 years and are pleased to be able to grow our presence here,” ITT Corporation Westminster plant manager Rob Hartman said. “This facility expansion will give us enhanced capabilities to test natural gas vehicle components, which are an integral part of the strategic plan for the control technologies business.”

ITECH South, the Palmetto State operations of Injection Technology Corporation, is expanding its existing plant off S.C. Highway 11.

The expansion includes a 32,000-square-foot addition to the company’s existing building. ITECH will also be adding seven new molding machines and two new shipping doors to the facility.

“We are proud to be the home of ITECH South in South Carolina and are very pleased with the decision to create additional jobs here, as it demonstrates we have the workforce and business climate to meet the needs of our industry,” Oconee County Council chairman Wayne McCall said when the expansion was announced in April. “We believe that ITECH South will continue to be a great success story for our community.”

In addition to locked millage and a reduced assessment, the county also provided infrastructure tax credits of 15 percent of the company’s FILOT liability for 10 years once the agreed-upon investment in new, taxable property has been met.

Blackwell said the ITECH South expansion “basically” doubled the size of its facility, and the expansion had been secured in no small part because ITECH South landed a contract with Husqvarna to make the plastic parts for its snowblowers.

BorgWarner’s $13.3 million invest-

Below: Seneca plant manager Chris Walsh, of BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems, center, accepts a 2015 Silver Crescent Award for Manufacturing Excellence from South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, left, and H. Lynn Harton, president of United Community Bank, during the South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo.

Middle: Local officials participate in a groundbreaking ceremony at TDC Cutting Tools in June 2014. TDC and its subsidiary Greenfield Industries are investing more than $8 million and adding 38 new salaried positions as part of the expansion.

PHOTOS SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL

ment is aimed at increasing the facility’s transfer case production, and the expansion will be achieved with the purchase of new machinery and the expected hiring of 50 new employees, which will bring its total local employment to more than 750.

In April, county council finalized an incentive package related to the expansion that gives the company a 6-percent assessment and fixed millage for a term of 30 years in return for the promised investment and jobs.

BorgWarner has been among Oconee County’s fastest-growing companies in recent years, and its facility on Wells Highway in Seneca is already the company’s largest manufacturing facility in the world. Since 2008, it has created more than 540 manufacturing jobs at its Seneca plant.

“BorgWarner, that’s one that has been very, very good to the community,” Blackwell said.

In addition to the expansion, BorgWarner has recently reached an agreement with the city of Seneca to lease approximately 100,000 square feet within the Seneca Commerce Center, located at 320 Shiloh Road. The company will use the newly leased facility as warehouse space.

“On behalf of the city of Seneca, it is great to have BorgWarner call our area home and to have them not only conduct another expansion that will create a ripple effect throughout our community, but to also have them lease space at the city-owned Seneca Commerce Center, this is quite the winning combination,” Seneca mayor Dan Alexander said.

Casto plans to develop 275,000 to 350,000 square feet of space for a movie theater, retail stores and restaurants, resulting in a total capital investment of $35 million to $45 million and creating 300 to 400 jobs.

“It’ll make a different facet of the community (other than industry) very happy with new eating choices and new retail coming online,” Blackwell said.

The company will make a $2.4-million investment in infrastructure — roughly $1.8 million on road construction and $600,000 to match the funds provided by the county and city of Seneca sewer upgrades.

“We are beefing up the infrastructure in that corridor to allow more growth around the Food Lion, around Greenfield Industries — to help that whole corridor as it changes over the next five to 20 years,” Blackwell said.

It hasn’t been all good news, however, as Oconee has lost 357 jobs to closures and layoffs between 2012 and 2015 with about 100 more set to leave the county when Covidien closes its doors in September.

Covidien, a medical products manufacturer, announced plans in late 2012 to close its plant on S.C. Highway 28 in Seneca and move those jobs to Costa Rica. The plant, which had about 595 employees at the time of the announcement, is down to about 100 — and will soon be down to zero.

TaylorMade Golf Company also announced in April 2013 that it would build a $13 million facility in Liberty — shutting down the former Dunlop plant in Westminster.

There were 90 TaylorMade employees at the facility, each of whom were offered positions at the new facility, at the time of the announcement. But while no jobs were lost by those workers — and for that reason the move didn’t even rate an announcement from the S.C. Department of Commerce — they were lost for Oconee County to neighboring Pickens.

However, there have been no economic development announcements in Pickens since then, according to a recent report by The Greenville News, which stated the county’s most recent economic development announcement, by TechTronic Industries, involved a net loss for Pickens, with the company moving jobs from the old Singer plant in Pickens to a new distribution center in Anderson.

As of May, both Oconee and Pickens had seen unemployment rise — with both having a 6.3 percent unemployment rate, according to the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce — over the past year.

But while Pickens increased from 5.6 to 6.3 percent, Oconee’s increase was only from 6.1 to 6.3 percent, and the county actually set an all-time high for total employment of 33,255 workers.

“There are more people working today than ever before — even during the heyday of the textiles,” Blackwell said, “and that’s something to celebrate.”

Blackwell said a primary reason for that is the county has brought in 813 new jobs, primarily in manufacturing, since 2012 — and that didn’t even tell the whole story.

“The rule of thumb is for every manufacturing job, there’s a two-job spinoff,” he said, “so we’ve done great — but then again we’re not satisfied. You can always do better.”

“We’ve done great — but then again we’re not satisfied. You can always do better.”

— Oconee Economic Alliance executive director Richard Blackwell

Below: State Sen. Thomas Alexander talks with Scott Hamilton, the executive director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, on a tour of Oconee County earlier this year. The ARC is a federal program that has provided the county with grants for multiple projects, including the Sewer South project and new Walhalla High School.

SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL

| EDGE OF TOMORROW |

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2015

PROGRESS | THE JOURNAL

3

LEADERSHIP Landscape of local government undergoes changes as Moulder celebrates fifth anniversary as county boss

BY CARLOS GALARZA-VEVE THE JOURNAL So much has happened in Oconee County government throughout the past five years that it’s enough to make anyone’s head spin.

In 2009, a new majority on Oconee County Council had cleaned house and shown the door to the sitting county administrator and attorney. In the spring of 2010, council announced the hiring of Scott Moulder as county administrator after advertising the position, combing Moulder through resumes, interviewing top candidates and receiving input from community leaders.

Moulder left a similar position in Abbeville County to tackle the Oconee job.

Rosemary Bailes, a school board member, was one of the community leaders to give input on who should be hired. She cast her lot for Moulder, not only for his credentials and positive impression he made during interviews, but also because she liked the idea of a young family establishing in Oconee, which over time has become a haven for retirees.

Five years later, Moulder is still at it, executing policy and turning ideas into reality. He’s been on the job longer than any of his predecessors — a seemingly revolving door of five administrators and interim administrators that came and went, included Ron Rabun, Tom Hendricks, Phyllis Lombard, Dale Surrett and Gene Klugh — over a four-year stretch.

The turnover rate made Oconee the butt of jokes, deflated staff morale, made prospective businesses thinking of locating in Oconee think twice and kept essential capital projects on the back burner.

As soon as he arrived to assume his new responsibilities in June 2010, council heaped a plateful of priorities for Moulder to deal with — getting a problem-plagued jail project back on track, restructuring fire-rescue services, overseeing the purchase and development of 400 acres on S.C. Highway 11 between Westminster and Walhalla, teaming up with the school district to get sewer to the new Walhalla High School and successfully putting a referendum on the ballot approved by voters allowing the county to do whatever it takes to establish sewer in unincorporated areas, which paved the way for the $10 million Sewer South project.

On top of these initiatives, Moulder also dealt with his share of unpleasant surprises, including a forged permit by an engineering contractor’s employee that snarled a runway extension at the county airport leading to litigation, a highly controversial outsourced reassessment of property arranged at a cost of $1.7 million prior to his hiring and getting pulled into partnering with the city of Seneca to entice the building of a Hampton Inn & Suites hotel in Seneca with generous incentives, which included cash outlays of $1 million each by the city and county.

Thanks in large part to Moulder’s relentless pursuit of

council’s objectives, a new jail is built and Sheriff Mike Crenshaw is only waiting for a certificate of occupancy from state regulators. The S.C. 11 property is now a state certified industrial site called Oconee Industry and Technology Park, and Michelin is on the brink of announcing it will set up a distribution facility at the once forlorn Golden Corner Commerce Park, which is well on the way to getting retrofitted by the Sewer South project.

A new council majority, forged by the election last year of newcomers Edda Cammick and Paul Cain, and council’s selection of Wayne McCall as chairman, has placed a new set of priorities on MouldCammick Cain McCall er’s plate.

Following the will of voters who rejected a referendum initiative for a sales tax increase to raise more than $42 million for capital projects, the fiscally conservative majority on council wants to slow down on spending, stop with the costly lawsuits, reduce legal fees, hire an in-house county attorney and hold the line on taxes.

SHAKEUP IN PICKENS COUNTY The stability brought by Moulder to the county administrator position is something that neighboring Pickens County took for granted when Chap Hurst held the title of county boss for many years until his retirement a year ago.

After hiring Matthew Delk last summer, Pickens County Council chair Jennifer Willis delivered the bombshell announcement that Delk resigned six months into the job.

Willis declined to give a reason other than to say, “It’s a personnel matter.” Delk too said he couldn’t say why he resigned.

Now that it’s been learned through a Freedom of Information Act request that council and Delk entered into a secret agreement that paid him one full year’s salary of $148,000 in return for his silence and promise not to sue the county for breach of contract, the two sides are acrimoniously giving their public spin of what led to their fall out.

In comments made to the Greenville News after he was turned down for the Easley city administrator’s job, Delk said he was not treated professionally by county council and warned that Pickens County faces “crushing challenges.”

The search for a new county administrator continues while Ralph Guarino holds the job on an interim basis.

Only time will tell if voters take exception to how council handled the situation with Delk. Four of six council members face re-election in 2016 — Willis, former chair-

man G. Neil Smith, Randy Crenshaw and Tom Ponder.

TOUGH DECISION IN WALHALLA In the coming weeks, Walhalla mayor Danny Edwards will decide whether he wants to seek a second term in office. If he decides not to run, councilman Tjay Bagwell has let it be known he would like the job.

Edwards is not tipping his hand one Edwards way or another. Friends say Edwards is stretched juggling his duties as mayor with the rigors of running the car dealership that bears his family’s name.

When Edwards ran for office four years ago, he campaigned on delivering a long-talked-about downtown revitalization project called “streetscape,” and overhauling the city’s old and deteriorating water system.

Now that the $2.1 million streetscape project is underway, the city is moving forward with options to address the water situation that could cost as much as more than $15 million. Edwards supporters say it’s a toss-up whether Edwards is satisfied with the progress already made toward accomplishing the city’s top objectives and feels he can step away from public service, or whether he wants to see those projects through to completion.

Also facing elections in Walhalla are Bagwell and councilman David Underwood.

CHANGES IN WESTMINSTER Health issues prompted long-time Westminster administrator David Smith to relinquish his job last year. Jeff Lord, the former Walterboro town manager, promised to focus in the short term on improving delivery of city services and customer service, and continue to make Lord downtown more attractive and appealing to visitors.

Long term, Lord will assess Westminster’s membership in the Piedmont Municipal Power Authority and the high and increasing power rates paid by city residents and businesses.

Up for re-election in the fall are mayor Rick McCormick, and council members R.T. Harris, Jimmy Powell and Donna Sheriff.

GOING FOR A MILESTONE Seneca mayor Dan Alexander plans to seek re-election in 2016 to reportedly become the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history. Alexander has held the position 17 years since 1998, and if he seeksre-election next year, Alexander will try to win an unprecedented fifth term.

Alexander “I really have appreciated the opportunity voters have given me, and it’s been a blessing to serve,” Alexander said

EDUCATION Oconee, Pickens school officials pleased with school year, excited about future

BY GREG OLIVER THE JOURNAL Oconee County district superintendent Michael Thorsland and Pickens County school superintendent Danny Merck share more in common than the fact they’re brother-in-laws, with Merck married to Thorsland’s sister Suzanne.

The other very important bond the two men share is that both have completed their first year as superintendents in which they’ve overseen a number of positive developments. While understanding that some challenging times await, both men understand there is plenty to be excited about in looking ahead to the future.

One of the major achievements of which Thorsland is understandably proud is the long-awaited completion of the new Walhalla High School on S.C. Highway 11. The school received its Certificate of Occupancy in late May and officially opened its doors in June — with preparations now underway to welcome students to their new home upon their return in August.

“It’s a great feeling to have that occupancy certificate,” Thorsland said. “We are moving in as Mr. (Steve) Garrett (principal) and his staff are opening June 8 in the new building. Therefore, if a parent has a question about their child’s schedule or anyone else has questions, they will be able to go to the new school.”

But the new superintendent added that the mindset of the Oconee County School Board of Trustees is to never rest upon one’s laurels. Instead, he said the maintenance department — led by director Richard Alexander along with guidance from assistant superintendent Steve Hanvey — will now fully concentrate on renovations to Fair-Oak and Ravenel elementary schools.

“I like the way our capital program is set up to where we’re working on a couple of things and don’t get overwhelmed with construction,” he said. “We’re slow but consistent, and that means the maintenance is easier since the buildings age at different schedules and we don’t get ourselves in a financial pinch.”

Beyond those projects, the superintendent said he expects administration and the board to begin prioritizing other projects. Those could include an Oconee site for Tri-County Technical College and a new Seneca Middle School.

In addition, Thorsland said work is needed at WestOak High School’s football stadium in order to bring it up to the standard of Seneca and Walhalla as well as a second gym on the level of Seneca and Walhalla High — both of which have a practice gym. There is also the need for additional space at James M. Brown Elementary School.

“There’s plenty to keep us busy,” Thorsland said.

Some other changes in store for the school district during the upcoming year involve the first year that the alternative school will be located in what had been Walhalla Middle School, with the latter moving to the former Walhalla High facility, as well as the final year for Oakway Intermediate School.

As far as the alternative school is concerned, back in the district’s charge after being under Clemson University last year through a contract with Oconee County, Thorsland said the facility would be able to house up to 90 students — 60 from the high school and 30 from the middle school. However, he said the numbers are normally not that high.

Thorsland said Tracy Long will be in charge of the day-to-day operations while Evie Hughes, director of student services, safety and security, will provide oversight.

“We’re kind of rethinking what we’re doing there and, for the first time, are offering a stipend to teachers who want to teach there,” he said.

Oakway Intermediate School, which houses fourthand fifth-grade students, will close after the 2015-16 academic year as those grades will move to Fair-Oak Elementary School once its expansion is complete.

As far as what will happen to the Oakway Intermediate School building, which once served as the home of Oakway High School prior to its 1983 consolidation with Westminster High School to form West-Oak High School, the superintendent said nothing has been determined.

“There’s been no final decision,” he said. “The school board could decide to sell that property and there’s quite a bit of property there. In addition to the school site, there’s 30 additional acres. We could hold on to it as a site for a future school down the road, but it’s not a great location traffic-wise, so it will probably be evaluated.

“Another option is that the school district could trade property with someone who has an equivalent value of property.”

When it comes to technology, Thorsland said the school district has continued to evolve and doesn’t expect that to end.

“As a society as well as a school district, we’re becoming more dependent on technology,” Thorsland said.

“I can see a day in the near future when students are not having to carry book bags,” he added, “but that books will be loaded on their phones and they can look and study at home with communication with the Internet.”

At the same time, the superintendent said the district

must be sensitive to the fact that some students still don’t possess computers at home.

“That is something we continue to see,” he said.

When it comes to computers, the superintendent said one area that has especially been impacted is the Adult Education program. Thorsland said the transformation from pencil and paper tests to computerized has made the test more difficult for those seeking the GED. As a result, there have been more individuals failing the test.

“That follows a national trend,but I think there’s an adjustment period and the teachers will adjust (in teaching individuals in Adult Ed),” Thorsland said. “I think our numbers will improve as adjustments are made in Oconee County that are reflective of the rest of the nation.”

Another area Thorsland said the district has dealt with during the past year and will continue to address during the upcoming year is finances.

The superintendent said the board has stressed the importance of having a balanced budget within the next couple of years so having to dip into the fund balance to meet that goal is a thing of the past.

While Thorsland said reductions proposed for meeting that goal would most likely involve reducing positions through attrition, he said the recent discussion of consolidating Tamassee-Salem High School with Walhalla High School is at least a possibility.

“That is something we will have to consider,” he said, adding the district is hopeful that finances can be improved as the value of a mill in Oconee County grows.

In recent years, the school district’s relationship with Oconee County Council, which was once as rancorous as you could find, has improved considerably. That is a result of what Thorsland feels is a better understanding between both parties regarding school funding and what is acceptable.

“I think the stance they have taken is fair and we understand those expectations and are willing to work within those confines — which means work within a millage value that is consistent,” he said. “I think we can operate at 110 mills and will continue to do that.

“But there’s talk of completely reforming school funding, and most schools would see significant reduction impacts in Oconee County. If the funding formula changes, we may need to have conversations with county council to maintain the schools we have in the district. As long as state funding remains consistent, 110 mills is something we can live with.”

EDUCATION CONTINUES ON PAGE 4

4

| EDGE OF TOMORROW |

THE JOURNAL | PROGRESS

EDUCATION, FROM PAGE 3 Looking ahead to the future, Thorsland said changes in testing, in which the state standardized test has been put out for bid, could take place, and teacher evaluation changes will be other areas that school districts, like Oconee, will be examining.

Thorsland added he doesn’t believe the impact of the change in teacher evaluations will impact the School District of Oconee County.

“Oconee County has a history of treating teachers as professionals and like family and that won’t change no matter what measure we’re looking at,” he said.

As for Pickens, Merck, who has spent most of his 20-plus years in education in the county, said there have been a lot of positives in his school district during the past year.

For example, SAT scores in Pickens as well as Oconee were higher than the state and national average and that more Pickens County students took Advanced Placement exams than the previous year. In addition, Clemson Elementary, Ambler Elementary and Holly Springs Elementary all ranked in the Top 100 statewide, according to statistics provided by Schooldigger.com, while Orchard Park Elementary and Walhalla Elementary represented Oconee County among the Top 100 schools in PASS testing.

Daniel High was ranked 16th among the high schools in the state as far as HSAP results while Seneca High School was 45th, Walhalla High, 59th, Tamassee-Salem Middle and High, 77th; and West-Oak High, 96th “This demonstrates a commitment to excellence and continuous improvement from students, parents, teachers and administrators,” Merck said.

Another honor was bestowed on Daniel High during the past year as it was ranked ninth by Niche.com among the 100 Best Public High Schools in South Carolina, and it was also named in May as the 13th best high school in South Carolina by U.S. News and World Report.

In March, Pickens County was officially designated as part of South Carolina Certified Work Ready Communities.

The designation, certified by the ACT, is based on four criteria: the National Career Readiness Certificate, business support, high school graduation rate and soft skills.

Oconee County received its Work Ready designation shortly thereafter.

Merck said that while the district has enjoyed numerous achievements, he acknowledged the increasing demands being placed upon students and teachers alike.

“Every state in America is going

through the same period of assessment, evaluation and the like,” Merck said shortly after taking office. “We need to take a deep breath and realize what is coming at so many people.”

The Pickens County superintendent also has a unique perspective in that he also serves on the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee. He likes the WorkKeys and College Readiness assessments that were administered to students in the spring and that all students are now required to take it.

Keeping students on a career path is another change Merck said has been good for education, adding that more internships, more dual enrollment and more Advanced Placement courses are ways to keep students engaged in order to achieve that goal.

During the past year, the school district approved $4.6 million in funding for Capital Needs and Technology initiatives for the coming school year. The plan includes $3.2 million in recurring funds from a refinancing of the bonds for the building program.

Included in the Capital Needs plan were replacements for several roofs and heating, ventilation and cooling systems that were out of date.

Technology enhancements have included replacement by the district of teacher laptops, putting newer desktop computers in labs and adding laptop labs to schools with more than 400 students.

School district officials say the district is also ready to begin replacing projectors in many classrooms and will be able to purchase what they say are needed computers for many support staff members such as nurses, secretaries, bookkeepers and data entry clerks.

The recipient of the inaugural School District of Pickens County’s Scholar Technician of the Year Award was recently announced in partnership with Alliance Pickens and the business community. Hoke Durham, a student at Daniel High School and the Career and Technology Center, was the winner of the award presented at the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Celebration.

When it comes to finances, Merck is pleased that the school district’s proposed FY ’16 budget includes one state-mandated step increase for certified teachers and a step increase for bus drivers while catching up one step for certified teachers (bringing the school district up one step behind the statemandated minimum teacher salary schedule) and catching up one step for eligible classified positions.

“Our teachers have been two step behind other districts,” Merck said. “I’ve got to treat my people right and fairly if I expect more.”

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2015

workforce development Students of today being prepped for technical jobs of tomorrow

BY GREG OLIVER THE JOURNAL The mindset that once existed where high school students had to attend a fouryear college in order to achieve any hopes of a meaningful, well-paying career has changed during the past several years and that change appears here to stay.

School officials say teachers are now expected to emphasize the importance of a technical college degree more so than at any time during their career in the classroom.

“There are teachers who have graduated from four-year colleges who feel if they tell their kids they should go to (Tri-County) Tech that they’re doing a disservice,” Oconee County district superintendent Michael Thorsland told school board members less than a year ago. “That’s a bad thing.

There are good jobs out there because of technical schools, and we need to encourage teachers to get away from that type of thinking.”

Fortunately, schools throughout the tri-county area are evolving as evidenced by the Career Fair held each fall. Eighth-graders from Anderson, Pickens and Oconee counties have visited Littlejohn Coliseum on the Clemson University campus in recent years to learn more about career options. Local firms have set up booths to spread the news about good-paying jobs that students can achieve through technical education and training.

During a recent visit to the School District of Pickens County, State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman spent nearly an hour at the Career and TechFILE nology Center visiting classrooms that included not Along with the Pickens only traditional offerings such as cosmetology, but County Career and Techalso mechatronics and machine tool technology. nology Center, the Fred P. “These manufacturing jobs are not the old assemHamilton Career Center is also doing its part to bly line, mill or dirty jobs, but are high-salaried, caprepare today’s workers reer jobs we encourage kids to go into for a career,” for tomorrow’s jobs.

Spearman said during her visit.

Great banking starts with great bankers.

At South State Bank, our southern roots run deep. We’ve been serving the financial needs of individuals and businesses since 1934.

We know that every great relationship starts with a conversation. Whether you need a new checking or savings account, a loan1 for a new car or home, or a robust retirement plan, we begin by getting to know you first. Only then can we recommend the right products and services for you now, as well as what you may need in the future.

Stop by our Seneca office so we can start your conversation today. That’s relationship banking.

That’s the South State Way. Susan Kilby Personal Banker (864) 985-5231

Seneca | 201 Bypass 123 | (864) 888-2265 SouthStateBank.com Member FDIC. 1. All loans subject to credit approval.

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2015

| EDGE OF TOMORROW |

PROGRESS | THE JOURNAL

5

FILE

Carla Whitlock, a Pickens County native and apprenticeship consultant with the South Carolina Technical College System, said last year that a survey conducted among business and industries reported that 60 percent responding said they would have key employees retiring over the next five to seven years.

Those jobs included machine technicians, production associates, electricians, toolmakers, nursing assistants, construction foremen, realtors, mechanics and service technicians.

She said the number of positions that will be filled over the next two to three years include machinists, CNC programmers, electricians, maintenance technicians and production associates and operators. “(You need to) think about how you’re going to fill these positions and how you’re going to get (the workers) knowledgeable,” Whitlock said.

Since 2012, the School-to-Registered Apprenticeship Program has been offered to Pickens County students, offering on-the-job training to those in 10th through 12th grade combined with specialized classes at the Career and Technology Center.

“Our placement for students that graduate was 99.6 percent.”

— Director of Fred P. Hamilton Career Center Mike Pearson Jeremy Arnett, production administration manager and coordinator of apprenticeships for United Tool and Mold, said on-the-job training is one facet of the apprenticeship program.

“Juniors in high school receive the opportunity to apply, do interviews, come in, learn about the business and develop the skill set they need to develop during their senior year at the career center,” Arnett said.

“They will then co-op their senior year, go to Tri-County Technical College to earn their associate degree, graduate and then come back to us through the adult apprenticeship program.”

Along with the Pickens County Career and Technology Center, the Fred P. Hamilton Career Center is also doing its part to prepare today’s workers for tomorrow’s jobs.

Director Mike Pearson said the graduation rate for his students was 99.2 percent over the past year.

“That exceeded the state average for other career centers,” Pearson said. “Our placement for students that graduate (in which a student is working in the field they studied at the career center, are in college or have joined the military) was 99.6 percent, which also exceeded the state average for other career centers.”

Next year, Pearson said the HCC would offer dualenrollment classes through Tri-County Technical College on the career center campus, with classes taught in English 101, Math 120 and Biology 101. He said the career center is also looking to offer dual credit classes

through Tech in mechatronics and industrial electronics and is working closely with Oconee Economic Alliance executive director Richard Blackwell to develop some apprenticeship possibilities for students and local industries.

“Students who go into mechatronics usually start out making $50,000 a year,” Pearson said.

Blackwell said it is important that students be trained for the right types of jobs, particularly in automation since workers are still needed to program and repair robotics equipment.

“At the end of the day, companies are here to make money, to put money in your 401K and it’s important they have the talent in place to be successful — not just for 10 to 15 years, but for longer,” Blackwell said. “If they can’t get a workforce here, I guarantee you they can get a workforce somewhere else. So if your child wants to go (to a two-year technical college), encourage him or her to take a specific skill set.”

Another program in which the career center is working with is GEM, or Girls in Engineering and Manufacturing. GEM sessions are offered for rising ninth- and 10th-grade girls in Oconee County, with participants working individually and in groups using the engineering process.

Participants take part in hands-on projects that include completing an MIG welding project and using a PlasmaCam cutting system to design and build a project, learning to solder and build their own MP3 chargers, learn about CNC machining, laser engrave phone cases and 3-D print their own designs.

In addition, they observe FIRST Robotics Team 343 demonstrate their robot and participants having the opportunity to drive and operate the robot and tour local industries to allow participants the opportunity to see how all they have learned is used in the real world.

At each industry, a female presenter that is in the engineering and manufacturing field guides the tours.

Participants are allowed to ask any questions while the female presenter discusses the rewards and challenges of her non-traditional career.

Tri-County Technical College has been an active participant with local school districts since the Career Pathways program was passed by the state several years ago.

Technical career pathways allow high school students to earn a Tri-County certificate, or higher, in a technical field before they graduate from high school.

The students are equipped to go directly in the workforce and or continue in college with a head start in completing an associate degree.

More than 50 students enrolled in the fields of Industrial Electronics, Mechatronics and Heating, Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC) during 2014-15.

Building on the success of last year’s pilot program, Tech officials said the South Carolina General Assembly passed a proviso to provide funding for the Technical Career Pathways programs with all seven school districts in the Tri-County Technical College Service Area.

Tech spokesperson Rebecca Eidson said the college has also revamped and renamed its Industrial Supervision program and introduced a completely updated Manufacturing Management and Leadership program

Technical career pathways allow high school students to earn a Tri-County certificate — or higher — in a technical field before they graduate from high school. The students are equipped to go directly into the workforce or continue in college with a head start in completing an associate degree.

“to better reflect the skills of a first-line manager in today’s modern manufacturing facilities.”

“The program offers students the technical expertise and the leadership training and skills required of today’s industry team leaders,” Eidson said. “Curriculum updates and customized technical courses are two changes to the program that make it more relevant for future team leaders in today’s workplace.”

In April, Tech sought to put a little fun in its efforts to recruit students by becoming one of 14 community colleges nationwide to participate as a partner in Country Music Television’s Empowering Education campaign.

The event was designed to help students understand the value of a technical college education by spotlighting student success stories and providing college and financial aid information.

Looking ahead to the future, Eidson said Tech not only is seeking to finalize a plan for an Oconee County campus, but also achieve other major priorities that include obtaining funding and all necessary approvals for the Student Success Center on the Pendleton campus.

Another program the School District of Oconee County is hoping to implement with local businesses and industries this fall is badging.

“It enables employers to identify individuals who have the specific skills they are seeking and to get a better understanding of the skills the individual brings to the job and enables employers to identify attributes,” said Ginger Hopkins, assistant superintendent for instructional services for the School District of Oconee County. “This is a bridge between formal and informal school settings, competency vs. skill, with skill being proficiency, facility and dexterity required through training and experience.”

Hopkins said the badges are also interoperable, portable, stackable to demonstrate multiple achievements, verifiable and endorseable. She said three parties are a key to the process — badge issuers, who tells what the badge is and what it takes to earn it; badge earners, who could be adults as well as students; and badge consumers, or employers asking for badges.

“It takes all three of these for badges to be a successful solution,” she said. “It’s more than just setting students up to work out there. There are more things that employers want students to do as they move into the job market.”

FESTIVALS Local festivals: driving small business, building tourism

BY CHRISTINA CLEVELAND THE JOURNAL Ray Burroughs, owner and operator of the Westminster Music Hall, said each year he has to keep one thing in mind when helping plan the city’s annual Mayberry Comes To Westminster festival: How do we keep it fresh?

In mid-June, months after the fifth annual MCTW had passed, Burroughs was already back in planning mode and brainstorming with Westminster Chamber of Commerce director Sandra Powell and festival director Tom Rusk.

Burroughs said since MCTW has become a mainstay over the past five years, bringing in a bit of something new has become a priority.

“I think with all festivals that’s a real important part,” Burroughs said. “You do want to draw new people every year and we will, but then there’s a base group of people that’s going to attend, and if you don’t keep it fresh and interesting to them, sooner or later they say ‘Well, OK. We’ve done that, seen that.’”

“We try to come up with ideas and switch things around just to keep it fresh enough for people who our ardent visitors.”

Each year, festivals draw in grinning children ready to fill their hands with popcorn or candy apples and vendors that line blocked-off streets and grassy lawns selling crafts and homemade food.

Most cities and small towns have grown to expect thousands of kids — and adults — for the annual events and in the Golden Corner is no exception.

In fact, many of the festivals in local municipalities have only multiplied in the recent years and from 2014 to 2015, the numbers and attractions have continued to grow.

With that in mind, the idea of “keeping it fresh” only helps as festivals can mean more business for local merchants and can foster tourism.

The city of Seneca’s Seneca Fest incorporated some new events this spring and brought back some old ones.

The festival headed back downtown to Norton Thompson Park from Gignilliat Field, allowing the city to also bring back its annual barbecue cook off.

There was the first-ever fun run with around 500 runners and kid’s fair rides at the Seneca Library.

But the music was still a crowd pleaser and another big named band, Jefferson Starship, was the headliner.

The festival previously hosted Charlie Daniels.

“It was just a party from Friday night all the way till Saturday night,” events coordinator Riley Johnson said.

However, the Mayberry festival is a little less rock ‘n’ roll. It acts as a nod to The Andy Griffith Show and its fictional town of Mayberry with a series of scheduled events and tribute artists.

Rusk said Mayberry in its uniqueness has become a way for locals and TAGS watchers to can connect.

FILE “I think its stretched beyond Westminster’s Apple regional reach,” Rusk said.

Festival brings about “We had seven or eight states 20,000 people to this year. Because you not only the city and its Main Street during the reach the locals and the Upweeklong event. state, but the Mayberry fans, there’s not that many events.

FESTIVALS CONTINUES ON PAGE 8

6

| EDGE OF TOMORROW |

THE JOURNAL | PROGRESS

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2015

Gignilliat Field at 5pm

Huge

Firework s Di splay!

Charlie Brown’s Tribute to the Coasters

Y L U J l a Speci ion t inn Locsia Maai nM on n no uii si CCr ru FFiieelldd t a t i a l i l l i l n i gn G Giig .m.. p.m 0p 00 33::0

Chasin the Blues Bruce Hegleson Trio

For more info..www.seneca.sc.us 1st Saturday of Every Month 3 P.M. - Until Thru October 5.

DOWNTOWN

| EDGE OF TOMORROW |

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2015

PROGRESS | THE JOURNAL

City of

Seneca VISIT WWW.SENECA.SC.US FOR DETAILS

EVERY THURSDAY 6:30PM RAM CAT ALLEY

Featuring: America’s Touring Jazz Musicians

ns a e l r O ew N f O e s Ro s r a t s l l A Jazz July 2nd

Sonic Bac on July 9th

Leisha J d July 23r Funk F actory July 16 th Sponsored by:

Whitney Walters • July 30th

7

8

| EDGE OF TOMORROW |

THE JOURNAL | PROGRESS

FESTIVALS, FROM PAGE 5 They’ll drive 200 miles and that’s good for the economy to stay overnight.”

This year, MCTW hosted around 10,000 people — quickly catching up to the city’s annual state sanctioned Apple Festival, which brings twice as many to the city and its Main Street during the weeklong event.

FESTIVALS AND LOCAL ECONOMY Westminster’s organizers believe the repeat business for downtown merchants can be credited to festivals.

Powell, who co-owns Dad’s and Lad’s with her husband, Jimmy, has seen it time and time again.

“I can speak personally, we may not sell that much during the week at Dad’s and Lad’s, but then we have repeat customers,” she said. “I think it has a huge economic impact just like Oktoberfest and Seneca Fest and I think … the impact of festivals statewide, nationwide — they’re what drive small towns.”

Burroughs agrees, and said Mayberry pretty much brought his music venue alive.

“My thing is to make people aware that I’m even here.

It’s difficult nowadays in the traditional marketing that you used to have like newspaper ads or radio ads or TV ads to really have an impact on people because social media has stolen so much of that,” Burroughs said.

“When you have 10,000 people in a matter of two days come through your town, there’s going to be a lot of people that had no idea, I would say, or never have had any idea that I was there. So, festivals, I think, are a big part of that.”

The pair of festivals that come through Walhalla are a prime example. Both the Mayfest Art of Living festival and the city’s Oktoberfest — which showcases the community’s German heritage — brings just enough people downtown for art, food and drink to experience what the county seat offers.

Vanessa Penton, executive director of the Greater Walhalla Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber responsible for the Mayfest and Oktoberfest on Main Street festivals, which are co-sponsored by the city.

Penton said last year’s Oktoberfest on Main Street was a “huge success” with more than 90 booth spaces selling everything from the typical funnel cake to custom made leather shoes.

A Kraft Bier Garden was added to last year’s event and, as always, the crowds came.

“We had approximately 8,000 to 8,500 visitors come through this festival,” Penton said. “They came from all over the country including Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and some arrived from Germany.”

“One comment we heard from a resident was he had not seen that many local people in town as he had that day. That’s a good thing when the residents come out and support the festival.“ Around 2,000 people come through for the Mayfest weekend that had attractions that included the addition of a classic car show and live music from the green space on Main.

All in all, the two continue to generate business.

“Our downtown businesses’ bottom lines are positively impacted during these festivals,” Penton said. “So many of the businesses really look to the festivals to help them reach their goals for the year.

They are the reason we do this and we are glad to partner with them in accomplishing their goals.”

Oktoberfest also hosts events on Sertoma Field, and councilwoman Jennifer Crawford said it seems to be getting “bigger and better each year.”

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2015

forward she hopes the event will continue a local focus and more university students who on campus during the summer will join the thousands who come each year.

Even smaller Clemson festivals in are making a tradition like Festival of the Arts, which celebrated its fifth year in 2015. The previous year hosted 1,000 people, according to Clemson Arts Center Tommye Hurst, who said it stands out from other around it.

“This is different from most festivals, because there’s so many hands-on activities as well as art to buy,” Hurst said.

And smaller towns, like West Union, are easing their way into the festival game. The Fun in the Sun festival offers food, music and shopping in the town park on Highway 11.

Mayor Linda Oliver said the idea of the event was to bring attention to West Union by way of attracting the local community.

She said she’s hoping to see it grow from its largest crowd of 500 in 2012.

“I’m hoping to see 1,500 or 2,000,” Oliver said.

So how is the amount of visitors measured? Through street surveys and hotel bookings though it’s hardly to accurately get an exact figure.

Seneca city events coordinator Riley Johnson looked for the amount of people who stayed in The Best Western and the city’s new Hampton Inn to get a gage of the numbers from this year’s Seneca Fest that is held on Memorial Day weekend. And the Best Western was full, he said.

And more tourism helps, according to Rusk, who said organizers apply for accommodations tax revenue to use for advertising.

But the boost from the counties’ festivals almost always comes from to those who live in and around the cities as well as the industries that support them.

Powell remembers working at the packinghouses for her hometown’s local apple farms and has seen the apple industry change and in turn, has experienced

GIVING BACK But festivals don’t just generate traffic for downtowns — they can also give back in a big way.

Blue Ridge Fest, a large classic car cruise in held and put on by Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and its subsidiary, Blue Ridge Security Solutions, has raised more than $2 million for local charities over its 18year stint.

The idea for the festival simply grew from the hobby of a few Blue Ridge employees, and has rolled into Pickits affect ens each spring for more than a decade. on the Apple And in Clemson, Spittoono celebrated 34 years in Festival.

2014. The festival began with a group of friends who At 54 years, it is the oldwanted to support Clemson’s Esso Club during football est continuous running festival in season and it later became a way to pour back into the the state. community.

She believes there’s a resurgence of interest The festival traditionally comes to the National in the industry, which be credited to the popularity Guard Armory in Clemson the first full week of classes of organic foods and local farmers, like Ed and Kitty for Clemson University. It’s chock-full of students, venLand and farmers at Ables Orchard and others, who are dors and, of course, music. pulling people back into the greater areas of the county.

“It’s a big party,” organizer Justin Rakey said. “It’s a “In the ’60s when I was a teenager growing up, you lot of fun. A lot of families come out early in the evehad the celebrity orchards up there and the families ning. As the sun goes down and once it gets dark, we’re that had been up there for years that were growing usually booming pretty quickly.” apples and you had the migrant workers come in,” PowAfter the party, The Redneck Performing Arts Asell said. “Then the apple industry kind of died back, but sociation, which hosts the festival and gives a majority there were still a few that continued to grow and now I of the funds collected to children and animal charities, think you’re seeing a resurgence of it more and more.” specifically groups in the Tri-County area.

MCTW also gives funds to local non-profits such as We Care and Oconee CrimeStoppers, fitting in well with the ideals of Mayberry.

“It puts out the values that we are looking for — the family values of Mayberry to begin with — and sharing what we ur success as a bank comes from understanding do instead of worrying about what kind of profit what matters to our customers. we make at the end,” Little things, such as being greeted by name, Burroughs said. “To go receiving quick responses to requests and enjoying forward, we share what we have with people in friendly, professional service. Big things, such the spirit of Mayberry.”

“Our downtown businesses’ bottom lines are positively impacted during these festivals. So many of the businesses really look to the festivals to help them reach their goals for the year.”

— Greater Walhalla Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vanessa Penton

FILE

Many of the festivals in local municipalities, such as Mayfest, Apple Festival, Oktoberfest, SenecaFest and Mayberry, have only multiplied in the recent years and from 2014 to 2015, the numbers and attractions have continued to grow.

At Community First, we know what matters.

O

LARGE OR SMALL: FESTIVALS BECOME LOCAL TRADITION At 22 years, Clemsonfest, which is put on by Clemson’s Chamber of Commerce, has been a long-standing tradition thanks to the scenic fireworks scene over the lake and activities at Clemson University Beach and Outdoor Recreation Area, formerly known as Y Beach.

Ashley Denny, who works with the chamber, said locals expect the event, which comes day before July 4.

Denny just started work with the chamber last year, but said going

as local decision making, sound advice and a strong commitment to the community.

And the most important thing – knowing their bankers are always willing to go the extra mile.

What matters to us is serving our customers the way they want to be served.

At Community First, we know what matters.

We hope you’ll allow us to prove it to you.

Member

FDIC

www.c1stbank.com

SENECA

WALHALL A

WESTMINSTER

ANDERSON

WILLIAMSTON