Wedding & Event Venue Near Saluda, SC.

SALUDA, S.C. - The National Weather Service addressed the delay in issuing a tornado warning for Saluda County on Saturday when an EF-1 twister touched down.

The Emergency Management Department of Saluda County is not responsible for informing residents of potential storms and emergencies, however, all information sent out by NWS is then automatically sent out through CODE-RED, a mass notification technology that sends the same information to residents again.

Saluda County Director of Emergency Management Joshua Morton said local officials were not informed by the National Weather Service of Columbia until after the storm.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Autoplay

Richard Okulski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said they were not sure if the tornado was going to touch down.

“We weren’t sure if it was going to reach the ground, the signatures looked good, unfortunately we missed it,” Okulski said. “Those things can happen even with the best of technology. What we strive to do is learn from it and do better the next time.”

While Morton claimed Saluda is lucky the damage wasn’t worse, some residents feel they were not properly informed.

“We do have a mass notification system called Code-Red,” Morton said. “You can register for it by going to the Saluda County website, you can also contact our office and we are happy to get you signed up for that. That, along with the National Weather Alert services radios, are the best way to be notified anytime there are watches, or warnings and advisories issued.”

The tornado touched down for approximately three minutes on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 8:19 p.m. to 8:22 p.m. with a path spanning just under a mile and a max width of 150 yards, according to NWS.

While the damage was significant in wooded areas, many homes and businesses were spared.

MORE | 40 pitch in to help clean up storm damage across Bamberg

According to Morton, two homes were damaged during the tornado. One home experienced damage to their car and the side of their home from a fallen tree while the other had siding pieces that flew off.

Many of the trees that did fall, fell on private property. However, those that fell on roads are being taken care of by South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) as well as the Saluda County Roads and Bridges Department, Morton said.

Morton said Saluda did away with tornado sirens around seven years ago and opted for mass notification technology because they said it is more reliable.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

A dark, smelly liquid that drained from a pet food plant has resulted in state enforcement action against the factory after months of investigation and a pile of complaints about polluted creeks in rural South Carolina

The state’s environmental agency has fined SC Pet Food Solutions $20,000 over discharges state inspectors say washed off the property and into a small stream in Saluda County, according to an enforcement document released this week.

The stream is a tributary of larger creeks that state records show were contaminated with harmful bacteria last summer. One large creek below the pet food plant — Mine Creek — was coated in a pea green slime and carried an odor that neighbors said was nauseating. Before the scum formed, the water had turned black, residents said.

Many people said they were concerned about the plant’s impact on the peaceful farming community before the plant opened about five years ago. Despite their reservations, state regulators approved the plant, saying it had proper pollution controls.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control did not answer questions Friday from The State about any link between the pet food plant and pollution in major creeks. But Mine Creek connects with another major stream, Dry Creek, that the enforcement order said received discharges from the site of the pet food plant.

The enforcement action said the company had violated the state’s pollution control law when it allowed polluted runoff to leave approved areas for waste disposal.

SC Pet Food Solutions has paid the fine, a DHEC spokeswoman said. A spokeswoman for 3D Corporate Solutions, a partner in the pet food plant, declined comment. Efforts to reach Amick Farms, the other partner, were not immediately successful. Pet Food Solutions did not admit wrongdoing, but agreed to the enforcement action in an effort to resolve the issue with DHEC, records show.

One area resident whose father lives near Mine Creek said the issue has been an ordeal. But since the state inspected the area and began discussing the problem with Pet Food Solutions late last summer., the slime has disappeared from the creek, he said.

“As somebody who lives downstream, I’m glad DHEC took this seriously enough to look into it,’’ said James Edwards, an area resident whose father’s home backs up to Mine Creek. Since DHEC took action, “I haven’t seen anything close’’ to the creek pollution last summer, he said.

The Pet Food Solutions plant, in the tiny Ward community of Saluda County, is a large factory that processes byproducts from chicken processing plants to make protein meal for pet food. Amick is a major poultry processor in South Carolina and 3D is a national pet food corporation.

DHEC’s action follows multiple inspections and field visits last year by agency staff in response to complaints about creek pollution.

The department’s enforcement order indicated some of the creek pollution was tied to wastewater treatment problems and discharges from the company’s waste disposal system. The agency said it found foamy, turbid wastewater, with large mats of black solids and “globular-like materials.’’ That indicated a problem in the treatment process, the department said.

Pet Food Solutions said it had experienced a surplus of solid material in its waste stream after one of the treatment basins was taken out of service, according to DHEC’s order.

DHEC said some sprayfields where wastewater is spread were saturated when inspectors were on the scene last spring. The area where the wastewater was sprayed also had multiple discharge pipes from the ponds, the enforcement order said.

The idea of spraying wastewater on fields is to let the material soak into the ground, rather than pipe it to a river. But the system will fail when too much wastewater is sprayed or piped onto the land, which can cause it to run off the property and into streams.

During the May 17 visit where the saturated fields and pipes were discovered, agency staffers saw “multiple discharges of the site entering an unnamed tributary to Dry Creek,’’ the enforcement order said. “The discharges were dark in color and had an odor.’’

In addition to the $20,000 fine, DHEC’s enforcement action requires the company to, among other things, submit a plan to correct problems, remove any remaining discharge pipes tied to the waste ponds and evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment system.

Records show the company has hired consultants to help resolve the problems.

This story was originally published March 9, 2024, 6:55 AM.

803-771-8537

Sammy Fretwell has covered the environment beat for The State since 1995. He writes about an array of issues, including wildlife, climate change, energy, state environmental policy, nuclear waste and coastal development. He has won numerous awards, including Journalist of the Year by the S.C. Press Association in 2017. Fretwell is a University of South Carolina graduate who grew up in Anderson County. Reach him at 803 771 8537.

Once the business is open, the owners have to provide jobs to the town and stay there for three years.

More Videos

SALUDA, S.C. — In the hot summer sun, Saluda residents are taking refuge at Nana’s Sweet Shop.

"We’ve been very blessed and supported by the town of Saluda. that's for sure," owner Sharon Metts said.

The shop's home is an old building that sat vacant for decades and then was offered by the town for free.

That's when Metts and her husband literally scooped it up.

"I was the only one that showed up. We’ve been renovating for about two and a half years," said Metts and" it has been a labor of love.:

"It smelled terrible, it smelled so bad," Metts recalled. "We took out four trailerful of just trash and piles of wood."

But, helping to revive the downtown is gratifying.

"I’m hoping that when these kids grow up they say we went to Nana's and watched Disney … so that’s all I care about," said Metts.

Now, in a similar move, the town is selecting another entrepreneur to occupy the former county water and sewer office building, located at 113 E Church St.

Saluda Mayor Milliken Matthews said the building needs substantial remodeling to meet modern building codes. The new owners will have to pay for that as part of the deal.

Also, once the business is open, the new owners would have to provide jobs to the town and stay there for three years.

“We still won't be losing because we’ll be getting a viable tax base and we’re helping to get jobs. So it'll be a win-win situation," said Matthews.

Metts said she sees a bright future for downtown Saluda and is excited to see what business takes the space.

"We support each other and help each other," Metts said. "If there’s a new business in town, it’ll bring new customers."

Applications are available at City Hall.

The building will go to the first qualified applicant.

According to Matthews, three people have applied so far.

The county has no animal shelter or animal control officer but thats about to change on August 15.

More Videos

SALUDA, S.C. — Saluda County is establishing its very first animal control unit following growing concerns from residents related to packs of stray dogs roaming its neighborhoods.

"Usually you can see anywhere from six to upwards of 15, almost 20 dogs that are just roaming," said Founder of Savin Saluda Strays Brittan Padgett.

Lacking a countywide animal shelter or animal control system, there has been no designated place for these strays to find refuge, leaving both the animals and the community in a challenging situation.

"They are not always friendly, and just knowing these dogs are capable of causing harm in such a public location and they're not afraid of people, it really deeply concerns me,” said Padgett.

That’s why she and her 10-year-old daughter founded the nonprofit Savin’ Saluda Strays.

"Since January, we've saved over 200 animals,” said Padgett.

Sheriff Josh Price of Saluda County acknowledged the gravity of the problem, stating, "We have a serious problem to attack, initially."

Starting next week, the county's first-ever animal control officer will begin patrolling the streets, addressing not only the stray dog concern but also broader issues of animal abuse and litter problems.

Animals picked up by the officer will soon find shelter in a new short-term facility expected to open by the end of the month.

This shelter, equipped to house approximately 15 dogs and will provide them with comfortable kennels, ensuring both a cool and dry environment.

"This is a start," Sheriff Josh Price emphasizes while showcasing the construction progress.

Animals that are picked up by the officer and taken there will only be housed until they are claimed by their owners or transported to Edgefield county’s animal shelter.

Her excitement is palpable as she welcomes the county's proactive efforts. "I have been waiting to see for several years now, so I am remaining cautiously hopeful."

Residents who encounter stray animals or nuisances are encouraged to report them to the Saluda County Sheriff's Office at 864-445-2112.

Padgett also voices a desire for the county to take further measures by instituting spay and neuter laws.

"If we can control the number of animals that are repopulating, then we won't have issues like this all across the state," she asserts.

Price added the shelter will not be no-kill.

"If we can’t get them adopted out then eventually they will have to be euthanized. Nobody wants to see that but to tackle this problem it's something that’s inevitably gonna have to happen," said Price.

Over one hundred heaters have been donated to members of the Saluda community as temperatures drop throughout the state.

More Videos

SALUDA COUNTY, S.C. — A recent space heater drive in Saluda County is highlighting the tight-knit community while also bringing attention to adequate housing options.

Cold temperatures are causing concerns for many in the Saluda community according to Saluda Mayor Milliken Matthews. He says, what he's calling 'inadequate housing' is making it hard for some residents to stay warm this year.

"Our availability is scarce, and some of the quality is just not up to par," Matthews adds, "We have such an influx of people that came into the community, so when you have such an influx come in, and we're not building the housing to supply that demand, some of the inadequate housing just has to be used."

It's a need seen by the Saluda County Sheriff's Department too. According to Sherrif Josh Price, community concerns were part of the reason they began a space heater drive.

"We knew we had a few people we wanted to help that we had been in their homes with different service calls- people who had ran out of gas, and they were needing some extra heat. We started up just to help a few people and we've been able to give out over a hundred space heaters to people in the county," the Sheriff says.

Price tells us churches, local businesses, and even individual families have been donating dozens of heaters to give out to the community, which are either picked up by or dropped off to those on the department's waitlist.

RELATED: South Carolina organization supplying heaters to seniors as temperatures drop in Midlands

"We've had people reach out, who've wanted them, reach out through our Facebook messenger page. We've had people calling and asking for them so upfront when they call in, we write their names and numbers down, and their addresses, and when we get sufficient heaters, then we go deliver those to those houses," he adds, "When I came in the office this morning, we had a stack in the secretary's office by the time we talked this afternoon, I went back to look and they were all gone."

He tells us the price of everyday living has some struggling and has been a huge reason people have been reaching out.

"People are hurting to get by. We live in a rural county, and people are hurting and bills are high," says Price.

Mayor Matthews says the town is working to address some of the concerns with housing and working with the community.

"The answer lies somewhere in the middle, we have to try our best to bring in adequate housing, but also have to prepare the people to be able to afford the housing," he adds, "It's not all on the government, it's also on the community."

Both Price and Matthews say those interested in donating or receiving a space heater should reach out to their offices, in person or via the phone.