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News

Hilarity for Charity raises $16,600 for Jerusalem Project
GAFFNEY — Broad River Electric Charities’ annual benefit comedy show raised $16,600 for The Jerusalem Project ministries in Cherokee, Union and Spartanburg counties. Over 1,000 attended the fourth edition of the event, which took place at Broad River Electric Auditorium on February 21 and featured Christian skit comedy by The Skit Guys. In addition to ticket sales, the event also received support through corporate sponsorships. Hee-Haw Spon...
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Photos by Torance Inman
When they toured Union Services the members of the Leadership Union Class of 2013 were told that the facility needed a new sign. The members of the Adult Program of Leadership Union made Union Services their class project and not only gave the facility a new sign, but also made a number of other improvements to the front of the building and its grounds.

Leadership Union promotes community involvement
UNION COUNTY — What started out as a request for a sign became a much larger series of improvements to the front and grounds of Union Services when the adult members of the Leadership Union Class of 2013 made it their community project. Sponsored by the Union County Chamber of Commerce and supported by Union County and the City of Union, the Leadership Union program has for more than a decade educated its adult and high school participants ...
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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times

Volunteers painted the Union County Animal Shelter - inside and out - on Saturday.

Volunteers renovating Union County Animal Shelter
UNION — A group of more than 50 volunteers spent an entire day renovating the Union County Animal Shelter. Sarah Lewis — founder of Halfway There Rescue — has worked in partnership with the animal shelter for the past eight months, and she realized that Animal Control Officer Heather Sealy had quite a heavy load for one person. “I’ve never worked with a shelter that was in such need,” Lewis said Tuesday. “They just don’t get the attention...
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Photo submitted

Overall winners Maggie Rhodes and Stephen Russell pose with the King of Free and Homer.

Junior Board raises more than $7,500 for Miracle League
UNION — Despite cold and rainy weather, the Arthur State Bank Junior Board of Directors made its most recent fundraiser a success, surpassing its overall goal. The board hosted the “Miracle League 5K Walk, Run, or Roll” which started and finished at Timken Sports Complex — the future home of The Miracle League of Union County. There were 80 participants registered for Saturday’s event, and despite the weather, there were still 41 particip...
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Crime Report
The Union Public Safety Department reported the following arrests : —Terry Lorenzo Smith, 37, of 304 Rice Avenue, Union, was charged with second-degree harassment around 9:50 a.m. on March 25. According to the arrest warrant, Smith repeatedly texted and called a woman — while she was at the Union Public Safety Department — after being advised not to call her. The Union County Sheriff’s Office reported the following arrest : — Michael ...
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Four Union County Schools receive state recognition
UNION COUNTY — The South Carolina State Department of Education announced Tuesday that four Union County Schools are recipients of the prestigious Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards. Foster Park Elementary School has received the Palmetto Gold Award while Buffalo Elementary School, Lockhart School, and Sims Middle School have received the Palmetto Silver Award. All four schools have received the award for outstanding general performance. Est...
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Charles Warner|Daily Times
Give Christ our all
We have nothing to give Christ that can ever match what He gave, but just as He gave His all for us, we can give our all to Him, starting with our hearts. Christ loves us so much that He not only gave His life on the cross, He triumphed over death for us. To share in that triumph, we must give our lives to Him starting with the commitment of our hearts and letting Him dwell there and guide us throughout life so that when we leave this earth we join Him in eternity.

Church Calendar
Wednesday, March 27 Noon: Grace United Methodist Church, 201 S. Church St. in Union, holds a Lenten Service. Music will be provided by Sybil Crow. The Rev. A. L. Bracket of St. Paul Baptist Church is the speaker. A Lenten Luncheon will be held at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.: Grace United Methodist Church, 201 S. Church St. in Union, holds a Special Maundy Thursday Service in the Fellowship Hall. The service will be the ...
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Photo courtesy of Monarch Elementary School

Winner

Mr. Gerald Gregory (left) was the winner of a $100 gas certificate from a drawing held at Monarch Elementary School. This fundraiser helped raise money for the fourth grade field trip to Atlanta. Mr. Gregory is pictured with his grandson, Dalton Gregory, and Mr. Andy Bailey, who graciously donated the gas certificate from Bell Exxon. Also pictured is Mr. Bailey’s daughter, Julia Bailey, who is also a fourth-grader at Monarch Elementary School.

Community Calendar
Wednesday, March 27 • The Union County Disabilities and Special Needs Board will have their monthly meeting at noon. The meeting will be held at 226 S. Gadberry St. Lunch will be provided. Thursday, March 28 • The Union County Arts Council holds an awards reception for the 2013 Youth Art Show Grades 6-12 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the UCAC gallery on Main Street in Union. Call UCAC at 864-429-2817 for more information. Friday, March ...
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Unemployment rate climbs to 14.3 percent in January
UNION COUNTY — The combination of an increase in the size of the county’s workforce and layoffs due to the end of the holiday shopping season caused Union County’s unemployment rate to rise by nearly one percent in January even as the number of persons with jobs increased. The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce announced earlier this month that South Carolina’s unemployment rate increased slightly from 8.6 percent in Dece...
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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times

Adrian Boulware is excited to look through the eggs he picked up during the Easter Egg Scramble.

Easter Egg Scramble draws 150 children
UNION — The second-annual Union County Recreation Department Easter Egg Scramble was a success despite a lower turnout due to cold weather. Although there was not an official head count, recreation department Program Director Jessica Gallman estimated that approximately 150 children participated in this year’s Easter Egg Scramble at Union County Fairgrounds. Gallman said the turnout was about half the size of last year’s scramble due to it ...
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Board briefed on writing program, new math books
UNION COUNTY — A writing project, new math books, a field trip, and the school district’s finances were among the subjects discussed during a meeting of the Union County Board of School Trustees Monday evening. Director of Secondary Education Cindy Langley presented the board with an update regarding several activities. Langley announced that Union County Schools is one of three districts in the state selected to work with the Upstate Writi...
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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times

Bestselling author Robert Morgan signs books after giving the keynote address at the 2013 Upcountry Literary Festival on Saturday.

Festival concludes with keynote address
UNION — USC Union’s third-annual Upcountry Literary Festival closed on Saturday after two days filled with presentations from authors, poets, storytellers, playwrights and musicians. The Upcountry Litererary Festival culminated with a keynote address from Hendersonville, N.C. native Robert Morgan. Morgan is a novelist, poet, biographer and short story writer who has taught at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. since 1971. Along with prize...
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District to participate in NWP College-Ready Writers Program
UNION COUNTY — Union County Schools is one of three SC School Districts selected to work with the Upstate Writing Project at Clemson University on the NWP College-Ready Writers Program. In a statement released Monday, Cindy Langley, director of Secondary Education for the district, announced that Union along with Greenwood 51 and Florence 2 will be part of a 10-state project focused on rural districts funded by a competitive award from the ...
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Photos courtesy of Foster Park Elementary School

Foster Park students meet Cocky

Foster Park Elementary completed its “Reading with the Gamecocks” Program and Mrs. Craig’s second grade class was selected as one of the top ten reading classes throughout the entire state with her class reading 9,817 pages. The class was recognized during USC’s March 3 basketball game against the University of Florida. Each student who participated received two free tickets to the game. Eighteen students and along with their parents attended the game and had their picture taken with Cocky.

Community Calendar
Tuesday, March 26 • The Union County Council will holds a budget work session beginning at 8 a.m. in the Conference Room at the Union County Annex. The public is invited to attend. • The Union County Democratic Party attends the meeting of the Fairfield County Democratic Party at 6 p.m. at Christ Central Community Center, 235 S. Congress St., Winnsboro. Sen. Vincent Sheheen will be the special guest. • The Union County Senior Citizens...
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Photos courtesy of Foster Park Elementary School

Dictionary recipients

Foster Park Elementary School students in Mrs. Candler’s and Mrs. Ivey’s classes recently received their personal dictionaries as a part of The Dictionary Project, a non-profit charitable organization based in Charleston, South Carolina. The Dictionary Project was founded by Mary French in 1995 to provide personal copies of a dictionary for third grade students in the South Carolina public school system. The dictionaries are funded through individual donations and by sponsors who implement the program in their local schools.

Foster Park Elementary students receive dictionaries
UNION — Third grade students at Foster Park Elementary School recently received a very special gift when they were each given their own dictionary through The Dictionary Project.
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Photos courtesy of Foster Park Elementary School

Once an Eagle always an Eagle

Dr. Natasha Jeter visited Foster Park students recently. She talked not only about her profession, but expressed the importance of staying in school and doing their best. Dr. Jeter attended Foster Park Elementary during her elementary school years. She asked the children to choose a profession that they really enjoy because it takes dedication and hard work to achieve goals. Students lined up as Dr. Jeter asked them what they want to do when they grow up. Some of the chosen professions included: veterinarian, doctor, lawyer, policeman, football player and army career. Dr. Jeter’s accomplishments were especially encouraging and inspiring to the students since she grew up and attended school at Foster Park Elementary School. Dr. Jeter is a classic example of how working hard and staying positive can help you reach your dreams. Dr. Natasha Jeter is a wonderful example of a” Foster Park Eagle” flying away and achieving a successful career. We at Foster Park are proud that she started her journey here.

Jeter returns to Foster Park Elementary
UNION — Former Foster Park Elementary School student Dr. Natasha Jeter recently visited her old school and addressed students about her career and the importance of having goals and being dedicated and working hard to achieve them.
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Photos courtesy of Foster Park Elementary School

Board Appreciation

Foster Park Elementary School invited school board member Jane Wilkes to visit the school. She was greeted by Student Council Presidents Anna Rose Sawyer and Chaniah Brown. She enjoyed a spaghetti lunch and visited some of the classrooms. She is pictured with Mrs. Robbins’ first grade students. We appreciate our board members and everything that they do for our school system.

Board member special guest at FPES
UNION — Union County School Board member Jane Wilkes was the invited guest of Foster Park Elementary School recently.
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Crime Report
The Union County Sheriff’s Office reported the following arrests : — Christina Michaela Watts, 17, of 229 Fairmont St., Union; Joseph Matthew Henderson, 17, of 1203 Old Buncombe Road, Union; Shannon Leigh Edwards, 26, of 228 Fairmont St., Union; and Donna Kaye Watts, 54, of 229 Fairmont St., Union, were each charged with disorderly conduct around 10:35 p.m. on March 21. According to the incident report, all parties were involved in an alte...
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Charles Warner|Daily Times

Union Services Horticulturalist Paul Burgess (right) and services client Robert Wells (left) inspect some bell pepper plants being cultivated in the McCormick Greenhouse behind Union Services. After being closed for a year the greenhouse is again open with clients growing an array of vegetables and flowers for sale.

‘Excellent things happening’ at Union Services
UNION — After being closed for a year, McCormick’s Greenhouse is open once again with extended hours for Good Friday and free plants for children accompanied by their parents. Owned and operated by the Union County Disabilities and Special Needs Board, the greenhouse, located at 737 Industrial Park Road behind Union Services, is staffed by board clients who plant and cultivate a variety of flowers and vegetables under the supervision of boa...
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Photo by Harold Senn

“Elephant,” a new work by Ana Godinez, will be on display in the lobby of thethe City of Union Municipal Building through May 10.

UCAC to feature young artists in 2013 Youth Art Show
UNION — The Union County Arts Council will be opening up its gallery to the talented young artists in Union County with the exhibition of the 2013 Youth Art Show. The show features art by area students chosen for display by the art teachers from each school in the county. The first half of the show will be comprised of works by students in sixth through 12th grades. That exhibit will hang from March 25 through April 12 with an awards recept...
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Merritt looks back at years as hospital district CEO
UNION — Outgoing Union Hospital District CEO Tim Merritt praised the hard work of the district’s staff and physicians for helping make his two years in office a success. Merritt tendered his resignation as CEO to the Union Hospital District Board on March 14 t0 take advantage of an employment opportunity in Atlanta which would be nearer to his home in Georgia. Another factor in Merritt’s decision to resign is that his wife is taking special...
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Photos courtesy of Foster Park Elementary School

Change the World

Foster Park Elementary began its annual Black History Program with two of their Cub Scouts, Kaleb Williams and Hunter Senn, presenting the flag. Mrs. Key’s orchestra class played two songs. Brianna Bailey, a fourth-grader in Mrs. Hughes’ class, sang a solo. Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Balkum assisted as the fifth graders presented an African-American Timeline. The Sunrise Singers were special guests at Foster Park. The students and staff enjoyed several of their songs and Mr. Ernest Talley presented a portion of Martin Luther King’s speech. The Sunrise Singers are Mr. Donnie Fowler, Mr. Joseph Harper, Mr. Morris Bobo, Mr. Carl Duncan, Judge Wade Hampton , and Mr. Ernest Talley and Ms. Leslie Garner at the piano.

Foster Park Elementary holds celebration
UNION — The theme of Foster Park Elementary School’s Black History Month program was “Change the World.”
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Photos courtesy of Foster Park Elementary School

Reading with the Gamecocks

Foster Park Elementary completed its “Reading with the Gamecocks” program with great results. The entire school reported reading 41,538 pages over a two-week span. Second graders Annie Wang and Mehki Wilson both tied for being the highest readers in the school with 701 pages each. Mrs. Craig’s second grade class was also selected as one of the top ten reading classes throughout the entire state with her class reading 9,817 pages. The class was recognized during USC’s March 3 basketball game against the University of Florida. Each student who participated in the program also received two free tickets to the game.

Foster Park Elementary completes reading program
UNION — Foster Park Elementary recently completed its “Reading with the Gamecocks” program with the entire school reading 41,538 pages over a two-week span.
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Photos courtesy of Foster Park Elementary School
Touchdown!
Mrs. Teresa Candler’s 5K classroom scored a touchdown when Coach Tanneyhill, former USC Quarterback, and Monty Means, former USC receiver, visited their classroom at Foster Park Elementary. Coach Tanneyhill spoke with Mrs. Candler's class and some of Mrs. Hodges fifth grade boys about staying in school and the importance of making good grades. Coach Tanneyhill also stated that “education comes first then sports.” Monty Means also stressed the importance of academics in school and, “always doing your best in the classroom and on the field.” Coach Tanneyhill and Monty Means also went by Mrs. Inman's fifth grade class and then joined the kindergarten class for recess. The students and staff enjoyed the visit and inspirational words.

Foster Park Elementary has special visitors
UNION — Some students at Foster Park Elementary School recently had some special visitors when Coach Tanneyhill, a former USC Quarterback, and Monty Means, a former USC receiver, visited their classrooms.
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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times

Professor Randy Ivey, right, presents Karen Stokes, left, with the Tandy R. Willis Award for Most Promising Writer.

Literary Festival opens with awards
UNION — The third-annual USC Union Upcountry Literary Festival kicked off on Friday morning, and festivities will continue today from 9 a.m.-noon. Those who attended the festival on Friday were treated to an array of stories, poems, history, theatre and music in the USC Union Auditorium. Between Friday’s presentations, two awards were presented by the festival’s chief organizer, Professor Randy Ivey. The first award was the second-annual ...
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