News briefs: York County Council OKs $5M road improvements
County council OKs $5M for road improvements
York County Council on April 6 committed nearly $5 million dollars in C-funds toward transportation improvements in York County and area municipalities.
Projects included more than 20 miles of roadway resurfacing, gravel road paving, sidewalks, economic development, safety improvements and dust suppression on gravel roads.
C-funds are derived from a 2.66 cent portion of a gasoline tax on all gasoline purchased in South Carolina. Funding is apportioned monthly to each of the 46 counties in the state, relative to each county’s size, population density and rural road mileage.
York County solicits requests year-round from area municipalities, SCDOT and residents.
The projects requested for this past year equals $40 million and more than 121 miles of roadway improvements. With $5 million available, only about 10 percent of these requests were considered. County staff evaluates each request to prioritize project selections based on need.
Many of these projects will be ready for construction this summer, while others may be completed at a later because of additional preparations including survey, engineering design, testing and right-of-way acquisition.
For more about the projects or to request transportation improvements for consideration of C-funds, call York County Engineering at 803-684-8571 or visit yorkcountygov.com/departments/engineering/Transportation.
Tourist tax application deadline April 15
York County is accepting grant applications for Accommodations and Hospitality Tax projects.
The application deadline for advertising and marketing projects is April 15 for FY 2016 funding. The grants may be accessed at yorkcountygov.com/departments/manager/Grants/default.aspx.
All applicants will need to provide projection of how tourism would be impacted from the project in the application.
Call 803-684-8503 for more information.
Wylie woman joining Pet Palooza
Carol Butler of Lake Wylie will be Madam Catalyst at the Humane Society of Charlotte’s biggest fundraiser Pet Palooza 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 18 at Independence Park.
Butler will read animal cards, and sell handcrafted wands and staffs.
Butler has studied animal cards since the 1980s for personal entertainment. She began Madam Catalyst in 2012 in a series of short plays at Theatre Charlotte as a playwright and to raise money for feral cats she cares for in her Lake Wylie neighborhood for 15 years. She has spayed and neutered more than 45 cat.
Readings cost $25 for a three-card reading.
County recycling, elections staff awarded
Alysen Woodruff of York County Collection and Recycling received the Group Leadership Award from the South Carolina Litter Control Association, according to a York County manager’s office report.
Leslie Hatchell and the recycling staff received Sen. David L. Thomas Award from the South Carolina Litter Control Association for outstanding service in recycling, education and litter abatement.
Also, Wanda Hemphill, director of York County Voter Registration & Elections, has been sworn in for a two-year term as president of the South Carolina Association of Registration and Election Officials, the statewide professional organization for elections officials.
York County Voter Registration and Elections Office was awarded Outstanding County of the Year by state office at the annual meeting in March. The award recognizes the county voter registration and elections office that has established an innovative best practice, initiative or program benefiting voter registration and election process in that county.
Deputy Director Alan Helms was awarded Outstanding Staff Person of the Year for contributions above and beyond the normal course of job duties.
These awards were based on letters of recommendation from the membership and voted on by the awards committee. This is the first time in 10 years these awarded were given.
For more information, call 803-684-8511 or visit yorkcountygov.com.
CAAC Gala April 23 at garden
Clover Area Assistance Center’s major fundraiser gala is 6-10 p.m. April 23 at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, 6500 S. New Hope Road.
This year’s theme is Red, White, Blue, and You. The event includes an open bar, and live and silent auctions including Memory Foam mattress set, Disney, Panthers and Knights tickets, plane rides and Lake Wylie sunset cruises.
Tickets cost $150 each. Call 803-222-4837 or email karencaac@bellsouth.net to request an invitation. The event is limited to 200.
Boating safety classes scheduled
The York County Sheriff’s Office Lake Enforcement Unit and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources have scheduled several boating safety courses to be held 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Law Enforcement Training Center, 92 Stoneybrook Drive.
Dates are April 25, June 20, July 18 and May 16.
There is no charge for the class. The minimum age for participants is 12. Instructors suggest bringing a No. 2 pencil, a highlighter pen, plus snacks and a beverage.
To register for the class, visit dnr.sc.gov.
Register for writers workshop
The Rock Hill Chapter of the South Carolina Writers Workshop will present the ninth annual Writers Intensive Workshop April 25 at Grace Lutheran Church, 426 Oakland Ave. This year’s theme is Writers’ Secrets Uncovered.
Each participant may choose four of 24 sessions, a panel discussion and optional critiques. Sessions are presented for beginning writers through published authors and include many genres. As an added bonus, participants will get the opportunity to meet other writers and professionals in the industry.
Registration is 8:30-9 a.m. Cost is $30 for nonmembers, and $25 for SCWW members and students age 16 and older. Lunch is included in this daylong event. Space is limited.
Visit rockhillscww.org to select your sessions.
Walk for Wishes April 25
Make-A-Wish South Carolina will host its third annual Walk For Wishes on April 25 at Cherry Park.
The event opens at 9 a.m., with a walk beginning at 10 a.m. Following the walk, participants are encouraged to stay and enjoy the local entertainment.
In addition, Walk For Wishes will offer music and snacks. Children will be able to take part in activities from balloon animals to face painting to glitter tattoos. Star Wars Storm Troopers will be on site for photo opportunities.
Walkers who raise $100 or more will receive a Walk For Wishes T-shirt. Top fundraisers and teams will be recognized and awarded prizes at the awards ceremony.
For more information, visit walkforwishessc.org or call 864-250-0702.
Police holding Operation Medicine Drop
The York County Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement agencies in York County are teaming up with the York County All On Board Coalition for Operation Medicine Drop 2015.
Residents are asked to drop off unwanted or unused medications this month at any of these locations: York County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Mill, Clover, Tega Cay, Rock Hill or York police departments.
Heat bill help available
Carolina Community Actions is taking applications through April 30 to assist families with home heating bills, and other programs and services through Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and General Emergency Assistance Program.
The LIHEAP program helps households twice each year to pay home energy bills up to $1,000 in addition to assisting with HVAC unit repair or replacement.
The GEAP program assists households with rent or mortgage bills, GED education, job training, tuition for Certified Nursing Assistant training and child care.
Applications are taken 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday at 546 S. Cherry Road, Rock Hill. Appointments are available Wednesdays for applicants 60 and older, or disabled.
Household monthly income for one person cannot exceed $1,471.25 and for two person households cannot exceed $1,991.25. Add $520 for each additional person in the household to help determine eligibility. Income varies for LIHEAP and GEAP programs.
For more information and requirement information, call 803-329-5195.
Walk to End Lupus needs volunteers
The Lupus Foundation of America North Carolina Chapter needs 100 volunteers to help at its 14th annual Walk to End Lupus Now: Charlotte May 16 at Central Piedmont Community College – Belk Plaza, 425 N. Kings Drive.
Volunteers are needed anytime between noon-9:30 p.m. Event-day roles include: site set-up, registration, parking, kids area, first aid, support and gear vehicles, food and beverage, finish line cheerleaders and breakdown. Volunteers will be given a T-shirt and meal.
Visit lupusnc.org or call 877-849-8271, ext. 4.
Register for Boat Poker Run
Lake Wylie Rotary Club’s annual Boat Poker Run will be May 16.
Registration and first stop is at T-Bones on the Lake area 11 a.m.-noon. Second stop is Harbortowne Marina noon-1 p.m. Third stop is Long Cove Marina 1-2 p.m. Fourth stop is Commodore Yacht Club 2-3 p.m. The fifth and final stop is T-Bones on the Lake with all boats back by 4 p.m.
Each hand costs $15. You do not need a boat to play. You may go to T-Bones and buy a complete hand to participate.
There will be prizes for first and second best hands, and for worst hand. Proceeds go to Alzheimer’s research. Rain date May 30.
For more information, call 704-674-2525 or 704-968-8844, or visit lakewyliepokerrun.org to register.
CHS class of ’85 plans reunion
Clover High School class of 1985 is looking for classmates for the 30-year reunion.
Classmates can send contact information to cloverclassof1985@yahoo.com or call 704-582-0781.
Artists may apply for exhibitions
The Arts Council of York County is accepting applications for 2016 gallery exhibitions.
Each year the council presents eight exhibits. Artists wishing to be considered may submit the following to Mike Gentry, gallery manager for the Arts Council: $20 application fee (nonrefundable); 10 hi-res jpeg images submitted on CD or DVD (Mac or PC formatted discs); inventory lists, with titles, sizes and mediums; resume; and written proposal for exhibition and/or artist statement.
All entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. May 1. Artists may submit work as a group or individually. Notification of acceptance will be provided via email. Submission packets will not be returned. Works that sell while on exhibit at the Center for the Arts are subject to a 40 percent commission fee by the Arts Council of York County.
For information, call 803-328-2787, email arts@yorkcountyarts.org, or visit yorkcountyarts.org.
Film festival accepting entries
Underexposed Film Festival yc invites independent filmmakers to submit professionally presented short films, with a run time of 45 minutes or less, to participate in this juried competition.
Categories are narrative/fictional, animation, experimental and documentary.
Awards for best of show and in each category totaling $2,250 will be presented at the festival Nov. 5-7 at Community Performance Center, 249 E. Main St. Other awards include Cinema Carolina, Best Female Director, Best Student Film and Terry Roueche Audience Choice.
Entry fees and deadlines, beginning in May, vary. For festival guidelines and entry information, visit withoutabox.com/login/12361.
Entries submitted via withoutabox.com may be eligible for a $5 discount. Entries submitted via FilmFreeway.com are automatically granted a $5 online discount. For those who do not wish to submit their films online, festival guidelines and entry information are available at underexposedfilmfestivalyc.org. Mailed and hand delivered entries will not be accepted.
For more information, call 803-328-2787 or visit yorkcountyarts.org.
This story was originally published April 10, 2015 at 10:34 AM with the headline "News briefs: York County Council OKs $5M road improvements."