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News

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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Photos by Kenny Jones
The Bogansville United Method Church Relay For Life Team held it’s 2nd Annual Race With The Leprechauns For a Cure 5K/10K on Saturday March 16. The race began at 9 a.m. at the West Springs Community Club and proceeded down John Hart Road. The winners in the respective categories were David Kirkland, overall winner of 5k; Barbara Kirkland, female winner in the 10k; Sebastian Kirkland, Youth Divison winner of 10k; David Kitchens, overall winner of 10k; Trey Best, Male Youth Division Winner of 5k; Anna Harris, Female Youth Division winner of 5k; and Stephanie Kitchens, female winner of 5k.

Leprechauns run raises $1,300
WEST SPRINGS — A race sponsored by a local church’s Relay For Life team drew 55 runners and raised approximately $1,300 for the fight against cancer. Lee and Missy Gentry, co-captains of the Bogansville UMC Relay For Life Team, said Thursday that the team held it’s 2nd Annual Race With The Leprechauns For a Cure 5K/10K on Saturday March 16. The Gentrys said the event drew a total of 55 children and adults who each paid a fee to run in the e...
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Photo courtesy of Monarch Elementary School

The SCDOT visits Monarch Elementary

Jason Childers and Terry Greene from the South Carolina Department of Transportation visited second-graders at Monarch Elementary. Students learned about how roads and bridges are built and maintained. Pictured here are Kiara Smith, Gabriel Parker, Daniel Clark, Greene, and Childers.

Community Calendar
Saturday, March 23 • The Corinth Baptist Church RFL Team holds a Chittlering Dinner Sale at 11 a.m. for $8 per plate “until they sell out” at the home of Sallie B. Bowser located at 109 Windbush Lane in Union. For information contact Sallie B. Bowser at 427-4289. • The S.C. Stingers will premier its first Boys Traveling Basketball Team in Union County from noon to 2 p.m. Tryouts will be held at Union County High School for boys between ...
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Charles Warner|Daily Times
Avoiding payday
None of us would ever thinking about leaving our place of employment without collecting the money we're owed on payday. There is, however, one payday and one set of wages we should never want to show up for. That's the payday when the wages of sin are paid for and the price of getting those wages is an eternity without Jesus Christ. For those who have decided to follow Him, Jesus has already paid the wages of their sin and spared them that most terrible of paydays.

Church Calendar
Saturday, March 23 7 a.m.: Victory Baptist Church holds yard sale and hot dog sale. The hot dog sale will start at 10:30 a.m. Hot dog plates are $5. Call 426-4624 to order ahead. All proceed go to playground equipment for the church. 11 a.m.-Until: First Unity Baptist Church holds fish fry at the PWA Building on Standpipe Street in Union. 11 a.m.-Until: Monarch Baptist Church, 212 Richard St., holds a youth fundraiser. Hot dog p...
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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times

Union County Economic Development Board Executive Director Andrena Powell-Baker speaks to members of Union County Council and Union City Council about the need for development of local sites and buildings for industrial recruitment.

Board proposing $3.3 million in site improvements
UNION COUNTY — The Union County Development Board is proposing that Union County make itself more attractive to industry by making $3.3 million worth of improvements at three industrial sites. On Thursday afternoon, the Union County Advanced Technology Center hosted a meeting which included members of Union County Council, Union City Council and the development board. During the meeting, Development Board Executive Director Andrena Powell-B...
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Charles Warner|Daily Times
The spur that will link the Gonvauto manufacturing facility with the Norfolk & Southern Railroad line running along S.C. 18 will be connected to the line with a switching system that will be installed within the next 30 days.

Spur, railroad to be linked within 30 days
BONHAM — The switching system that will link the railroad line running along S.C. 18 with the spur that will serve the new Gonvauto facility is expected to be installed within the next 30 days but won’t actually be used until the facility begins receiving the raw materials it will use in its manufacturing process. Gonvauto South Carolina, LLC is a metal fabrication manufacturing facility currently under construction on a 24-acre site in the...
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Easter Egg Scramble moved inside
UNION — With a chance of rain and low temperatures predicted to be around 40 degrees, Saturday’s second annual Easter Egg Scramble — sponsored by the Union County Recreation Department and Woodmen of the World — will be held indoors. The Easter Egg Scramble event will be held from 5-7 p.m. in the main exhibit hall of the Union County Fairgrounds. The only fairgrounds gate that will be open is the one located on Old Buffalo Road, across from...
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Council approves sign placement amendment
UNION — Limits on the number free standing signs in a given area and the amount of time they can remain in place are part of an amendment to the City of Union zoning ordinance. Robby Moody, senior planner for the Catawba Regional Council of Governments, presented the proposed amendment to Union City Council earlier this week. Moody told council that the amendment would establish “reasonable and uniform” regulations for the placement of “Spe...
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County sees slight increase in commercial, industrial permits in 2012
UNION COUNTY — The number of building permits issued for commercial and industrial construction in Union County increased slightly between 2011 and 2012 while the number of permits issued for single-family dwellings decreased slightly according to the Catawba Regional Council of Governments. Since 1996, the CRCG has maintained a building permit tracking system for the four counties — Chester, Lancaster, Union, and York — that make up the Ca...
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Crime Report
The Union Public Safety Department reported the following arrests : — Kelly Lee Crawford, 31, of 121 Sullivan Circle, Union, was charged with two counts of shoplifting around 7 p.m. on March 20. According to arrest warrants, Crawford removed a Plantronics Bluetooth from its package, concealing it on his person while at Walmart, located at 513 N. Duncan Bypass in Union on March 10. Warrants also state Crawford removed 10 Lifeproof iPhone ca...
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Library Notes
Library Hours Monday – Friday 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday – 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The library will be closed on Good Friday, March 29, and will reopen on Saturday, March 30. Upcoming Events Book Donations The Friends of the Library will have mini-sales and accept book donations from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on April 1 at 112 E. Main St. Friends of the Library receive a 50 percent discount during sales. Book Sale Another fantasti...
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Photo courtesy of Monarch Elementary School

Celebrating with the Cat in the Hat

Monarch Elementary School students with outstanding positive behavior celebrated Dr. Seuss’ Birthday with a party featuring the Cat in the Hat. Students enjoyed refreshments and a story read by the main character.

Thurman E. Pendergrass
SHARON — Mr. Thurman E. Pendergrass, 73, 4534 George Bridge Road, Sharon, passed away Saturday, Mar. 16, 2013 at his home. Born June 26, 1939 in York County, he was a son of the late Clarence and Maybell Thompson Pendergrass. Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23, 2013 at Mt. Hopewell Baptist Church in Sharon, S.C. with Rev. George Shears officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The body may be viewed from...
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Photo submitted

Union native David Jenkins (third from left) plays the leading role of Hans Poley in "Return to the Hiding Place," and he was joined by (left to right) his father, Ellis Jenkins; his sister, Erin Jenkins Smith; and his mother, Nanette Jenkins for the showing of the film during the Projecting Hope Film Festival in Charlotte.

Jenkins stars in ‘Return To The Hiding Place’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Friends and family of a Union native thoroughly enjoyed seeing him on the big screen — and in person — during a recent film festival. Those who know Union native and current Venice Beach, Ca. resident David Thomas Jenkins have enjoyed following his acting career and seeing him in such roles as a painter in a popular Coors Light commercial, a bully in a Pepsi Max commercial which gained popularity during the Super Bowl in 2...
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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times

Meansville Riley Road Water Company Operations Manager Charlie Wilson speaks to county council members about the possibility of council sponsoring the non-profit company in the application for a South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority grant.

County to help water company obtain $350,000 grant
UNION COUNTY — Union County will sponsor the Meansville Riley Water Company in its application for grant funding to improve water line function and quality of water. During a meeting of the Union County Council Committee on Administration and Finance earlier this week, Meansville Riley Water Company Operations Manager Charlie Wilson spoke to committee members regarding MRWC’s potential application for grant funding through the South Carolin...
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Charles Warner|Daily Times
Dressed as Confederate Gen. A.P. Hill, reenactor Roy McRorie addresses the Union Rotary Club about Hill, Civil War reenactment, and the experience of taking part in the Living History Event reenactments at the Cross Keys House.

Living History Event returns to the Cross Keys House
CROSS KEYS — A story from the final days of the Civil War will be reenacted during Living History Event VI at the Cross Keys House in April. For the past six years, the Union County Historical Society has sponsored the Living History Events which includes a reenactment of Confederate President Jefferson Davis’ visit to the Cross Keys House on April 30, 1865. Davis, four members of his cabinet including Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin, ...
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Charles Warner|Daily Times
Robby Moody, senior planner for Catawba Regional Council of Governments, addresses Union City Council about the 2013 Needs Assessment process which identified and prioritized community needs. The assessment is required in order for the city to be eligible for Community Development Block Grants.

City council approves 2013 Needs Assessment
UNION — Infrastructure improvements, the demolition of dilapidated houses, and continued efforts to create economic opportunities for low- to moderate-income residents are among the needs listed in the City of Union’s 2013 Needs Assessment. Robby Moody, senior planner for Catawba Regional Council of Governments, presented Union City Council with the 2013 Needs Assessment earlier this week. Moody explained that in order to apply for Communit...
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Crime Report
The Union Public Safety Department reported the following arrests : — Donald Steven Harris, 30, of 302 W. Henrietta St., Union, was charged with burglary and grand larceny around 10:55 a.m. on March 19. According to the arrest warrant, Harris drove and provided transportation to two men while they committed the crime of grand larceny in a residence located at Lakewood Drive, Union. — Deasia Monet Neal, 7, of 203 Erwin Ave., Union, was ch...
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