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News

Lawson’s suit against Gault moved to federal court
UNION — A lawsuit filed against the Clerk of Court by a former employee who claims he wrongfully dismissed her and violated her civil rights has been moved to federal court. Melanie Lawson ran for Clerk of Court in the Nov. 6, 2012 general election and was defeated by incumbent Freddie Gault. A little over a week after she was defeated, Lawson met with Gault and was informed by him that she was being fired from her job as Family Court Deput...
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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times

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

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

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

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

More Bubbles

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

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

Kenny Puckett serves hot dogs during Saturday's event.

Autism event raises $2,300
UNION — More than $2,000 was raised Saturday during a fundraiser to fight autism. Saturday’s fundraiser at the Union National Guard Armory included sales of hot dogs as well as Union County Supervisor Tommy Sinclair’s famous chicken stew, baked goods, and an array of items which were sold by way of a silent auction. Those who attended enjoyed browsing and placing bids, sampling various culinary treats, and dancing to the music provided by D...
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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times
Thomas Simpson

Simpson retiring from teaching
UNION — This is Professor Thomas Simpson’s last week teaching at USC Union, and he plans to go out with a bang. Simpson began teaching math at USC Union in 2000. In 2004, he became the university’s Institutional Effectiveness Officer. During an interview in 2010, then-USC Union Campus Dean Dr. Hugh Rowland credited Simpson with being instrumental in helping him create a strategic five-year plan in 2006, which led the university to break stu...
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Charles Warner|Daily Times
Friends of the Library member Debby Greene and Union County Carnegie Library Director Ben Loftis box up books for waiting customers at the Friends' annual book sale fundraiser Saturday afternoon. Due to the success of the book sale this past weekend, the Friends have decided to continue the sale this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Friends of the Library book sale raises more than $800
UNION — The Friends of the Library’s annual book sale fundraiser has been so successful that the group plans to continue it later this week. The book sale is the largest fundraiser the group holds during the year with all funds going to support the Union County Carnegie Library. This year’s book sale was held Thursday, April 25-Saturday, April 27 at the Union Lions Club building, 134 E. Main St., Union, just down the street from the FOL’s r...
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Report: South Carolina State Pre-K lost ground over past decade
WASHINGTON, D.C. Washington, D.C. — Across the country, state funding for pre-K decreased by more than half a billion dollars in 2011-2012, the largest one-year drop ever, says a new study from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), which has tracked state pre-K since 2002. The State of Preschool 2012 yearbook cited two other “firsts”: After a decade of growth, enrollment in state pre-K has stalled. And despite stagnan...
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Photo courtesy of the Cherokee County History and Arts Museum
Quartermaster Edward Bright is a member of the Charles Towne Few, South Carolina’s largest Pirate Crew. The crew will be at the Cherokee County History and Arts Museum on May 18.

Area museum announces fifth anniversay celebration activities
GAFFNEY — Five years ago this May the Cherokee County History and Arts Museum at 301 College Drive, Gaffney, opened its doors to the public. The museum, a goal of the Cherokee Historical & Preservation Society, Inc. since 1969, has now been visited by approximately 15,000 guests and has become one of the most sought after rental facilities in the area. This year, the museum is preparing a series of activities to celebrate this milestone and w...
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Crime Report
The Union Public Safety Department reported the following arrests : — Michael Christopher Gaffney, 40, of 235 Coley Gray Road, Union, was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct around 6:40 p.m. on April 27. According to the arrest warrant, Gaffney went to an address on Monroe Street in Union, was loud and boisterous, and threatened a woman which caused a disturbance to the neighborhood. — Theodore Rogers, 58, of 218 East Main St.,...
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Photo courtesy of Sims Middle School

Bubbles

Sixth grade students at Sims Middle School were recently "bubbling" over with excitement while doing their math work. Students in Mrs. Susan Gilstrap's math class have been studying circumference and area of circles. As part of the study, students blew bubbles on their desk tops, and measured the diameter and radius of each circle. Then, they calculated the area and circumference of each. During class Alijajuan Rice blows a huge bubble as Trey Lyles looks on.

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Lockhart Power holding open houses for new turbines
Charles Warner Editor LOCKHART — The completion of two projects that make the already green Lockhart Power even greener while having a positive impact on the economies of two counties will be celebrated Thursday with open houses at the company’s facilities in Lockhart and Pacolet. Bryan Stone, Chief Operating Officer for Lockhart Power, said Friday that the open houses will be held to celebrate the completion and start of commercial ope...
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Crime Report
The Union Public Safety Department reported the following arrests : — Melissa Hamby Millwood, 49, of 118 Old English Road, Union, was charged with shoplifting around 11:55 a.m. on April 25. According to the arrest warrant, Millwood took $300 worth of merchandise from Jimmy’s Dollar Store, located at 907 E. Main St., Union. — Daisia Kalisha Gallman, 17, of 100 Smithville Lane, Union, was charged with disorderly conduct around 12:35 p.m....
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Charles Warner|Daily Times
Audrey Robinson holds a copy of the "Most Beautiful Issue 2013" of "Supermodels Unlimited." Robinson's photos of three aspiring local models are in the issue. It is the first time Robinson's work has been published in a nationaL magazine.

Robinson’s pictures published in ‘Supermodels Unlimited’
Charles Warner Editor UNION — The “Most Beautiful Issue 2013” of “Supermodels Unlimited” includes three photos taken by a Union woman whose interest in photography began with a photo taken by her cousin. “I saw a picture that my cousin Scott Hartley took years ago of an old store,” Audrey Robinson said. “Something about that picture made me want to start taking pictures.” While the picture taken by her cousin inspired her interest in ...
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Rogers to speak at USC Union Commencement Exercises
UNION — USC Union will welcome Dr. Curtis R. Rogers as the keynote speaker for the university’s Commencement Exercises. They will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4, in the Truluck Activity Center. Dr. Rogers is the director of communications for the South Carolina State Library and coordinates the South Carolina Center for the Book. After attending USC Union in 1986, he transferred to USC’s Columbia campus where he received a Bachelor of...
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Lowe honored by the South Carolina History Association
Staff Report UNION — USC Union Interim Dean Dr. Steve Lowe has been recognized for his dedication to the South Carolina History Association. In 1933, a group was founded by several people who taught, wrote about, and studied the history of South Carolina. The was the South Carolina History Association, which continues to meet to further the teachings and understanding of history in South Carolina. Group members are mostly from South Car...
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City mulls 12.5-mill tax increase
UNION — Revenue from one of two separate tax increases being considered by Union City Council would be used to balance the proposed 2013-2014 budget while revenue from the other would be used to recoup a prior year deficit. The general fund portion of the proposed 2013-2014 budget projects expenditures totaling $5,742,370 but revenues of only $4,789,670 leaving a projected deficit of $952,700. The budget would be balanced through a combinat...
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Photo courtesy of Monarch Elementary School

Supporting summer enrichment programs

The Parent/Teacher Organizations from the elementary schools in Union County have donated a total of $1,000 to the Carnegie Library to use for summer enrichment programs. This money will be used for Porkchop Productions, The Critter Keeper, and other educational programs this summer. Pictured making the presentation to Ben Loftis, the Carnegie Librarian, are principals Rene Pryor, Jonesville Elementary/Middle; Betsy Trakas, Lockhart Elementary/Middle; Melissa Inman, Buffalo Elementary; Barbara Palmer, Foster Park Elementary; and Anita Maness, Carnegie Board member and Monarch Elementary principal.

Community Calendar
Saturday, April 27 • Fairforest Baptist Church, 1917 Jonesville Highway, hosts a yard sale from 8 a.m-2 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Proceeds will benefit the House of Choice Ministry. • The Friends of the Union County Carnegie Library holds its annual book sale fundraiser on April 25-27 at the Lions Club building on Main Street. The sale will run Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. If you are a memb...
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