News briefs: Veterans group to meet Sept. 8 in Lake Wylie

Deputy honored with top award at academy

Deputy Jhonnatan Ramirez won the J.P. Strom Award at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.

Ramirez graduated Aug. 28 from the SCCJA Basic Law Enforcement Class 636.

The award is the highest honor given to a graduate of the SCCJA. Ramirez had the highest academic average of 57 classmates throughout the 12-week Basic Law Enforcement Certification program at the academy.

Ramirez has been employed at the York County Sheriff’s Office since 2013. He previously worked in the Detention Division before transitioning to the Enforcement Division. In 2013, Ramirez won the Bert Friday award at the SCCJA for having the highest academic average at Basic Jail Training.

Ramirez shared top honors with Rock Hill Police Department Officer Christopher Revels.

Sheriff’s office earns perfect inspection

The York County Sheriff’s Office ICE 287(g) Immigration Jail Enforcement Officers received a rating of No Deficiencies, meaning the 287(g) program received a perfect inspection from the Internal Affairs Division of Unites States Homeland Security.

Every two years the York County Detention Center Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) program has an Office of Professional Responsibility Inspection/Audit of the actual 287(g) program and its functions. This is the second consecutive audit York County Sheriff’s Office ICE 287(g) officers have received this rating. The York County program is one of two agencies in the United States to receive this rating. The other agency is in Tulsa, Okla.

Group for veterans to meet

The Point Man International Ministries group will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at The Journey church.

Point Man is a veteran-to-veteran ministry with a primary service to offer spiritual healing from PTSD. Point Man also is involved in group meetings, hospital visits, conferences, supplying speakers for churches and veteran groups, welcome home projects and community support.

The organization, which includes more than 200 local outposts, reaches spiritually and emotionally wounded veterans.

The local group will meet the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

For more information, call 704-451-2682 or visit BudStrope@Point-Man-Ministries.org.

Give blood, get hair cut coupon

The American Red Cross and Sport Clips Haircuts will offer a free haircut to anyone who donates blood or platelets this month.

Donors will receive a coupon for a free haircut via email a few days after the donation. The coupon is valid through Nov. 8.

To make an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org/sport-clips or call 1-800-733-2767.

York County drives scheduled:

▪ 2-6:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 130 Tom Hall St., Fort Mill.

▪ 2-6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Oakland Presbyterian Activities Center, 421 W. Oakland Ave., Rock Hill.

▪ 2:30-7 p.m. Sept. 14 at Bright Light Free Will Baptist Church, 1085 N. Congress St., York.

Blood center posts September drives

Community Blood Center of the Carolinas will hold the following blood drives:

▪  11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 13 at College Park Baptist Church, 1209 Eisenhower Road, Rock Hill.

▪  10:30 a.m-12:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at Eastview Baptist Church, 1430 Gordon Road, Rock Hill.

▪  4-7:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at Regal Manchester Stadium 14, 1935 Cinema Drive, Rock Hill. Free ticket voucher.

▪  9 a.m.-noon, Sept. 26, Lauren Miller Student Drive, at Lake Ridge Community Center, 1040 Angelica Lane, Tega Cay.

▪  9 a.m.-1 p.m., Sept. 27 at Carolinas Cornerstone Church, 1790 Gardendale Road, Fort Mill.

▪  9 a.m.-noon Sept. 30, Jack Lowe Student Drive, at 1353 Del Webb Blvd., Fort Mill.

Call 704-972-4700 or go to cbcc.us to make an appointment at any location.

Vendors sought for barbecue festival

The Sept. 12 Butts & Bluegrass BBQ Festival in Clover is looking for vendors.

Those interested in vending for this festival should contact event organizer Lisa Thornburg at 704-214-2892 or buttsandbluegrassbbqfestival@yahoo.com.

This event is held in Clover every year to raise awareness of hunger issues within the community. Proceeds will benefit the Clover Area Assistance Center.

Dance classes start Sept. 14

St John’s United Methodist Church, 321 S. Oakland Ave., will offer dance classes on Mondays beginning Sept. 14.

Line Dancing will be held 7-8 p.m. Sept. 14, 21 and 28. Cost is $15 a person for the three classes.

Country and Texas Two-Step will be 7:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 5, 12, 19 and 26. Cost is $20 a person for the four sessions.

Beginner Waltz is 7:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 9 and 16. Cost is $15 a person for the three sessions.

Proceeds go to the youth of the church. No partner needed, but registration is required. Call 803-372-1315.

Volunteers wanted for Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish South Carolina is seeking volunteers to help make wishes come true for children.

A volunteer meeting is at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Baxter Village YMCA. Bilingual volunteers are especially needed.

Call 864-250-0702 or email bbrown@sc.wish.org for more information.

CAAC seeks donations

Clover Area Assistance Center seeks food and supply donations.

Items needed are canned fruits, boxed cereal and toilet paper.

Donations are accepted 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday at 1130 Highway 55 E.

For more information or to arrange other drop-off times, call 803-222-4837.

Winners of Juried Competition announced

The winners of the 26th annual Juried Competition winners, open internationally to artists 18 and older, have been announced.

Only original work, created in the last two years, and not previously shown at the Center for the Arts, Dalton Gallery was accepted. All forms of media were eligible, including video.

The winners are: Best of Show: “My Home II” by Dallas Austin; first: “From Series: Erosion” by Rebecca Jacobs; second: “Appendage” by Julia Rossman Perez; third: “Confronting Dimension” by Libby Stewart; and honorable mentions: “Meditate” by Leah Mulligan Cabinum, “Questioning the Cause & Sense” by Paul Martyka and “If I Only: the series” by Cory Unkart.

For information, call 803-328-2787, or visit yorkcountyarts.org.

Tickets on sale for garden’s music festival

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden’s first Lost Hollow Music Fest will be held Oct. 17-18 featuring six performances by old time, bluegrass and Americana bands including Grammy winner David Holt and Nashville mandolin prodigy Sierra Hull.

The festival kicks off at 10 a.m. Oct. 17 with Riverbend, David Childers & the Serpents at noon, and headliner Sierra Hull at 2 p.m. On Oct. 18, the event starts at noon with Darin & Brooke Aldridge, followed by Underhill Rose at 2 p.m., and headliner David Holt & Josh Goforth at 4 p.m.

The Catawba River Bluegrass Association also will hold jam sessions throughout the weekend on the acoustic stage. Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina will provide information about music born in the mountains of the Carolinas. Other highlights include a cornhole tournament and children’s events. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

The festival is free with garden admission. A One-Day Hillside Theatre Package includes a concert blanket, a bottle of wine or six beer tickets and a $10 voucher for membership $47.25. A Two-Day Hillside Theatre Package also includes two food vouchers for $74.99.

Tickets and limited-time packages are available in advance at DSBG.org. Hillside Theatre Packages may be purchased by calling 704-829-1252. Tickets will be available at the door.

This story was originally published September 4, 2015 at 1:04 PM with the headline "News briefs: Veterans group to meet Sept. 8 in Lake Wylie."