Editorials

Editorial—Karpick and Ramsay will be missed, especially Karpick

01/31/2012

For a reason evident to us, Chairman Bill Howiler of the board at Oconee Medical Center wasn’t kidding when he said the hospital will miss Rex Ramsay and Russ Karpick. Under the association rules, members of the board of directors who complete two straight, four-year terms are not eligible to be elected to a third term. It’s the hospital’s version of term limits which we think serves the institution well.

But that’s not to say seasoned experience of individuals such as Ramsay and Karpick is any less valuable. Ramsay knows hospital business. His late father, W.T. Ramsay, donated his time to hospital business locally and regionally.

When Karpick joined the board, he brought an aptitude cultivated by years of corporate work. But what we liked especially about way Karpick comported himself during OMC meetings—and what he think will be sorely missed there—is a knack to ask the right question in a way designed to better the hospital. In other words, Karpick didn’t hold back, even if it meant ruffling a feather. And that’s what management responsible to boards of directors needs. Management doesn’t need sugar-coating and platitudes. It needs an occasional jostling, for the overall public good.

That’s our view. What’s yours?

Editorial—You can help your community hospital

01/23/2012

Oconee Medical Center is a private, not for profit hospital serving the community. And in these times when the cost of medical care skyrockets, the community is fortunate that it still has a community hospital, whose policies are dictated by individuals who pay a small dues to be members of the hospital association. You can be members, also. And we think you should, even if you don’t carry the highest opinion of the hospital. By paying a $2 dollar a year membership or by buying a $10 dollar life membership, you get the right to show up at annual meeting . . . and hear the financial business, the physicians report, and you also get the chance to stand and nominate a community member for the board of directors. Who knows? Maybe you are a board member in the making.

If nothing else, sad was the way to describe what happened last week when on a cold night the Oconee Memorial Hospital Association struggled to reach a 35-member quorum so that annual meeting business could officially be conducted.

And we are not simply whistling Dixie about this. At least one member of our staff has made a New Year resolution to join. If you want to join, all you have to do is contact Debbie at Jeanne Ward’s office at the hospital.

That’s our view. What’s yours?

Editorial—Repairs Allow for Public Bathrooms to Reopen

01/17/2012

Walhalla is once again more accommodating to its visitors. City crews have repaired the burst water pipes in the Main Street public bathrooms . . . and that has allowed the city to reopen the bathrooms on a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. schedule.

John Thomas would be happy. The late Mr. Thomas was tireless in his efforts as a true civic leader, and he worked hard to make those bathrooms a reality.

The new city administration is giving indications that it will pay a lot more attention to how outsiders see and experience all that is Walhalla. Textile manufacturing has forever disappeared from the corporate limits and a town such as Walhalla should take advantage of its quaintness and uniqueness that attracts outsiders, who are willing to spend money locally.

That’s our view. What’s yours?

Editorial - Daughters of the American Revolution

01/11/2012

 
This week's editorial is the first in a series of P.S.A.'s courtesy of the Andrew Pickens Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

Editorial—January 21 will be the first of several 2012 elections

01/04/2012

The nation’s attention will be focused on South Carolina this month when voters select their preferred nominee to be Republican candidate for President. But a fair question being asked by the League of Women Voters is how do we know for certain that each ballot cast is counted. Archaic as it might sound, for accuracy purposes, the League supports a return to the slow process of hand-marked paper ballots. For an understanding of what’s involved here, we recommend that you stayed tuned for Sunday’s “Community Sound Off” featuring Eleanor Hare of the Clemson League of Women Voters and a member of the League’s state board.

In a sense, one election is out of the way. Joel Thrift of District Four will retain the gavel to chair council meetings for a second year. But the announcement of a larger decision by Thrift and two of his colleagues will determine the candidate field for County Council Seats 2, 4, and 5. Those positions, in addition to President, Sheriff, Congress and many more are all to be filled during 2012 elections.

That’s our view. What’s yours?

Editorial—Our Worst Fears Realized?

12/13/2011

We’ve long preached the need for open government, coupled with the fear of the potential that our elected leaders will find themselves straying from the narrow and straight . . . and violate our state’s public information law. Now it appears something odorous has hit the fan. And we pray that some of the coarse words said to have been uttered during the December 6 meeting weren’t said or, at the least, a big misunderstanding. Yet, these are high-stake times with decisions important to our future, decisions made by strong-willed individuals. And, so, yes, Dorothy, a four-letter word some times captures the essence of it. But a coarse word is not what’s at play here, according to the county councilman Wayne McCall. He alleges that some comments made during the council’s executive session violated the South Carolina Freedom of Information Law. And, for that, McCall is pursuing a formal complaint to the South Carolina Ethics Commission.

Any one accused by McCall, under the state ethics rules, will get a chance to formally respond, as the process should allow. And we understand that at least one of McCall’s colleagues is intending a vigorous defense.

Let’s hope this is resolved satisfactorily . . . and our leaders can get on with the difficult, but necessary job of county governance in these times.

That’s our view. What’s yours?

Editorial—Budding partnership

11/15/2011

A meeting this week holds great promise that the Oconee School District and those planning a 9-11 memorial in the county are two ships headed in the right direction . . . and those aboard are rowing together. When the news broke here on 96.3/WGOG this year that the Salem Lions Club and the Keowee fire Department had identified the planned location for the new Walhalla High an ideal spot to pay tribute to Americans killed on 9-11 it seemed, at first, that from the school district vantage point the 9-11 memorial project was incompatible and, we dare say, not welcome. But all of that seems resolved, judging by the comments and the body language from all parties during Monday’s meeting. And Superintendent Dr. Mike Lucas issued a poignant reminder that both the Lions Club, through its generous donations of computers to schools, and the Fire Department, as a favorite spot for student field trips, have a history of promoting good education.

So, in a sense, if there is to be a formal agreement to allow a 9-11 memorial on the S.C. 11 northeast corner of the property where the new high school is to be built, then this is somewhat of a payback by the School District to the Lions Club and the Fire Department.

Dr. Lucas and the board of trustees are smart to realize that, besides a tourist stop, this memorial, featuring actual steel debris from the Twin Towers, is going to serve as a teaching tool for generations of students to come.

That’s our view. What’s yours?

Editorial—“Alert Oconee”

11/01/2011

Doesn’t it make sense that you want to be notified ASAP during an emergency or disaster? Oconee County recently implemented a new line of communication, taking advantage of 21st century technology. It’s called AlertOconee and is being used by emergency response personnel to notify those homes and businesses at risk. The system uses the region’s 9-1-1 database, provided by the local telephone companies . . . and is able to contact land-line phones whether listed or unlisted. And it is TTY/TDD capable.

You can register your VoIP, cellular telephone or email address, at www.alertoconee.com. Each number or email provided will be added to the database. You’ll get a confirming email message to the address entered. And the number you register will be called only when the address is impacted by a disaster or emergency.

That’s our view. What’s yours?

Editorial---Oktoberfest Weekend

10/17/2011

Walhalla offers fall weather, tree-lined streets, and beautiful Sertoma Field. And, at this time of the year, the droves of visitors who can be counted on to make their way this weekend to Walhalla couldn’t come at a better time. If early indications prove true the downtown merchants and the sidewalk vendors can count on a number of visitors comparable to all of the young and old who will frequent the tent, the games, and the rides on the recreation fields out along N. Katherine Street.

Oktoberfest is a special Walhalla tradition, to remember the city’s origins dating back to that group of settlers who made their way out of Charleston and set up shop here in 1850.

See you at the festival. And don’t forget the big luncheon under the tent at 1 o’clock tomorrow afternoon.

That’s our view. What’s yours?

Editorial— Yes, to a new district and maybe to a bigger county council

10/12/2011

It’s a swell idea for the creation of an Oconee County district.

Many of its people share a common interest for the land and beauty, heritage and values that make Oconee County unique.

And, as the theory goes, with the establishment of a River Mountain district, its residents would expect to be able to elect one of their own to both the county council and the school board, because each district gets one of each.

As outlined in the map presented by Mountain Rest resident Susie Cornelius, part of District Five would added to a new District One ---- the proposed River Mountain district.

District Five is now represented by Reg Dexter on the County Council and Buddy Herring on the School Board. Dexter worries that the creation of new county districts with divided interests could make worse the problem of us versus them attitudes.

The truth is us-versus-them is today already a big problem for government from Walhalla to Washington.

Mr. Dexter’s concern is worth talking about. And it offers an opening to a larger discussion Oconee residents and leaders need to have.

We see that part of the problem is that our county has grown and gotten more diverse. This has led to a lot more issues and complexities than we have had in the past. The controversy over zoning and the building a of a new jail point out how much time and attention is takes for five part-time officials to study and decide the best course of action to take. And the great number of voices that want to weigh in on the matter makes it all the more difficult to deliberate.

We believe five heads working on Oconee’s problems aren’t enough. We like the idea of expanding the council to seven members, maybe nine members.

To address Mr. Dexter’s concern about narrow interests, let two or three of the new council posts be at-large. And ask those two or three council members to serve with a broad view of everyone and everything countywide.

Let the remaining councilmen represent districts and reflect the needs and desires their constituents.

A seven or nine-member council can divvy up the workload, seeing that issues get the attention they deserve, and have recently to burdened this five member council.

That’s our view. What’s yours?

Editorial—GCCP and how it affects Fair Play

10/11/2011

Although Oconee’s Golden Corner Commerce Park is located outside Fair Play’s overlay district, what eventually is built there is a concern to those who like the idea of a village concept for their community in and around Fair Play’s cross roads. Undoubtedly, to some people, anything that’ll provide a steady pay check will be welcomed. To others, however, a certain type of employer would not be conducive to Fair Play’s stature as a community of single-family homes, small stores, and farming. That means no to the big box stores and no to distribution centers that would clog their two-lane roads with tractor-trailer trucks.

But Jim Alexander, the Oconee County economic development recruiter, gave last week’s community meeting a sobering taste of reality when he said that it will be money that drives what goes in the commerce park. And, by that, Alexander means a particular employer who offers enough in the way of investment, taxes, and payroll likely will get his way.

That’s true unless Fair Play develops the kind of zoning or standards needed for its protection. Now, however, those rules for sufficient protection are not in place.

That’s our view. What’s yours?

Editorial---Changes at S.C. 11-Mountain Road are telling

09/27/2011

Next time you maneuver through the improved S.C. 11-Mountain Road intersection, savor the thought that the work there is an example of well-spent public funds that have enhanced safety. You can tell by the wider approach to the intersection and those traffic lights that slow down or stop traffic from all directions.

It sure didn’t used to be that way. Many of us will remember the days when S.C. 11 and Mountain Road was a simple stop intersection for Mountain Road traffic . . . and, sadly, the carnage that occurred there.

But, through all the improvement there, we think there’s a sign that we’ve lost a part of a good past. The larger intersection is typical when an area grows so much so fast that, for safety reasons, must undergo major change. We were reminded of something that the late Marshall Parker said during a public meeting for the Sheep Farm Road project. Parker was all for the project, but wistful that the four-laning would eliminate a pretty, country road. And he said we don’t have many of them left, even in Oconee County.

That’s our view. What’s yours?

Editorial---Artery is key to Seneca’s future

09/13/2011

If ever Seneca was a dull place to live, an idea that City Hall is moving forward will ensure the city as a vibrant place in the future. Ed Halbig admits that, for long, he has held dear to the potential to give North First Street, up and down, east and west, a terrific, new look. We say a terrific look because that’s what it could add up to. And the benefits can be shared by visitors and resident alike.

The thinking goes something like this. If Seneca spends big money to re-do the downtown, what about the approach to the downtown? And there’s no more major of an approach than the three-mile length of North First. The Seneca planning and community development director has started to introduce the city to a major project that is going to require patience, cooperation, time and, not least of all, money.

Here are the potential benefits, as we understand them: four lanes of highway reduced to two, with turning lanes. Underground electric lines. The move of other lines so that pavement doesn’t have to be broken when making repairs. A safer North First Street to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. For example, the elimination of the angle juncture of Old Salem Road into E. North First Street, by squaring Old Salem Road into a “T” junction with E. North First. Sounds good? Sounds progressive. We like it.

That’s our view. What’s yours?

Editorial---SC DOT not as broke as reports suggest

09/07/2011

The folks at the South Carolina Department of Transportation are not as broke as some news reports have suggested. The DOT has begun weekly communications to try to keep the record straight and react to information that the DOT says has been distorted or confusing.

In this venue, we’re happy to pass on information straight from Secretary of Transportation Robert St. Onge:

1) SCDOT’s immediate cash flow challenge has been resolved with the cooperation of the FWHA (the Federal Highway Administration) and the accelerated reimbursements.

2) SCDOT will more closely review the financial impact each project will have on the agency’s cash flow before the contractors are given the green light to begin work….

3) Despite the cash flow issues, SCDOT is following its mandate to maintain and improve the safety of the state highway system and a great deal of work has been accomplished.

4) SCDOT is a major contributor to the economy. Providing work for the highway construction industry keeps thousands of people in South Carolina working, earning paychecks and paying taxes instead of creating a drain on the state through making unemployment payouts.

5) The work done by our contractors and consultants improves the safety and efficiency of the highways and provides information infrastructure for economic development. That’s our view what’s yours?

Editorial---Strategizing for what’s ahead

08/23/2011

Oh, how it would be for us to be a fly on the wall August 29 during a private meeting of the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority. On that date, we are told, the sewer commissioners are going to discuss among them what they’ll be discussing later when they meet with the County Council to bat around another way to bring sewer service to the county’s undeveloped Golden Corner Commerce Park.

Look for an attempt by the Sewer Authority to emerge from its August 29 executive session with a united front. However, from what we hear, there are a couple of lines of thought within the JRSA when it comes to just how the industrial park sewer service question is resolved . . . and just who foots the bill.

For the good of Oconee County, it’s unfortunate that the County Council and the Sewer Authority don’t always appear to be rowing the same boat when it comes to navigating the wastewater channels. The rub sometimes is that, although both have service to Oconee as their duty, they are two separate entities, notwithstanding some of their interconnections, such as an annual $600 thousand payment by the county to the JRSA.

Economic development progress at the southern end of the county that’ll help the entire county is overdue.

That’s our view. What’s yours?