It’s time for our annual “Senior Citizens Valentine’s Day Lunch” for widows and widowers ages 65 and older You must live in Anderson County Districts 2 & 5 © Anderson County, 2025 | Privacy Policy Oklahoma becomes the first SEC baseball program to feature an on-field logo Homeland — Oklahoma’s largest locally owned grocery chain — and Learfield’s Sooner Sports Properties have announced an expansion of their partnership bringing the Homeland brand in front of OU baseball fans this season Homeland will debut its logo on the field at L The logo will be prominently displayed in two locations along the first- and third-base lines for all remaining Oklahoma baseball home games this season making OU the first Southeastern Conference baseball program to feature an on-field logo sponsorship “Homeland’s commitment to supporting our athletes off the field through our extensive nutrition program play an important role in our ongoing success,” said OU Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione Homeland will also work with our student-athletes through NIL opportunities to further bring this to life As the first SEC baseball program to showcase an on-field logo sponsorship Oklahoma continues to lead the way in creating new opportunities for its athletics programs.” A key component of this partnership is Homeland’s involvement in fueling student-athletes through the OU Athletics Department’s nutrition program As a supporter of the Red Card digital platform Homeland helps ensure OU student-athletes have access to funds that allow them to purchase groceries and meals from local Homeland stores and partner restaurants in addition to team-provided meals we are excited to support and deepen our roots with the Norman community while supporting OU baseball,” said Tom Dahlen “Our commitment to fueling student-athletes through the Red Card program is a testament to the importance we place on supporting initiatives that make a meaningful impact Homeland has always been dedicated to quality and we’re thrilled to bring these values to the heart of University of Oklahoma Athletics.” Homeland will also gain extensive visibility through its logo’s placement on the field across digital platforms and in-venue LED signage at L “Homeland has been a tremendous partner to Oklahoma Athletics for over 20 years and this expanded partnership is a great opportunity to do even more together,” said Sooner Sports Properties Vice President and General Manager Kelly Collyar we’ve identified emerging sponsorship opportunities like the on-field logos that drive incremental revenue strengthen the competitive edge for the Sooners and increase brand visibility for our partners.” the Norman-based team of Learfield – the media and technology company powering college sports – is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Oklahoma Athletics and oversees all sponsorships in-venue signage and advertising on behalf of the Sooners Join Our Mailing List © Learfield.  All Rights Reserved.  | 5400 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, Suite 100, Dallas, TX  75240 | Phone: 469-241-9191 Privacy Policy | Advertising Policy | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information the State of Georgia and local businessmen gather to discuss the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Act “This hearing was further progress in making history by establishing Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve I appreciate the Federal Lands Subcommittee listening to Middle Georgians about this greatly supported effort to preserve the Ocmulgee Mounds and surrounding areas for generations to come.” – U.S MACON, GA – The wheels keep turning on the legislative process in deeming the Ocmulgee Mounds a National Park. Most recently on Nov. 19, the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing where they reviewed the Ocmulgee Mounds Park and Preserve Establishment Act Representatives Austin Scott and Sanford D this would establish the Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve and the 64th in the United States The bill has backing from the Greater Macon and Georgia Chambers of Commerce and the Intertribal Council of removed Southeastern Tribes he sees the potential in what it could mean for Georgia it means the story of their homelands and forced removal could be amplified through the National Parks system “This is another step forward towards realizing a longstanding dream that has broad bipartisan support – not only in Middle Georgia “Not only will this historically create Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve but it will also raise the profile of Ocmulgee Mounds and welcome more Georgians and Americans to enjoy its rich cultural and natural beauty.” Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources voted unanimously to approve the Senate companion of the Ocmulgee Mounds Park and Preserve Establishment Act Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff applauded the bipartisan strides made in the Ocmulgee Mounds’ journey in joining the National Park system “This historic and unprecedented progress toward establishing Georgia’s first National Park but more work remains ahead,” Senator Ossoff said as well as the extraordinary efforts of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Macon-Bibb County Mayor Pro Tem Seth Clark and local leaders for their years of hard work MCN Principal Chief David Hill echoed his excitement for the bill and what it means for the Nation He views this as an opportunity for others to learn about the history of the Mvskoke homelands “The impact of this bipartisan and bicameral bill to create Georgia’s first national park and preserve will allow our ancestral Muscogee descendants to help tell the story of our homelands,” Chief Hill said “We know the importance of the cultural lands and are excited to partner with Middle Georgians to help reconcile our lands and our stories I am always humbled to be back in the lands of our people and know that we are still here today carrying on our Muscogee ways.” According to a statement from the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative (ONPPI) supporters in both parties and chambers of congress intend to send the bill to President Biden’s desk before the Dec the area that was once known as “close to the heart of Anderson County,” is now known as having some of the lowest household incomes in the state The 29624 zip code, of which Homeland Park is a part, was identified in a zip code-level analysis of census data released last month as having a median annual household income of $23,867 behind only the 29810 zip code in Allendale But Homeland Park residents and leadership remember a time when things were different Earl Davis has lived in Homeland Park for 35 years and has seen it become nearly unrecognizable “I’ve seen it go from an area where kids play in the street a community member working with County Councilwoman Gracie Floyd to improve the community you used to see cars riding up and down the road with kids People are scared to death to have their kids come out and play in the streets or do Halloween That’s what we’re trying to get the community back to: a safe place for the kids to grow up.” Harold Holland has owned In the Cut barbershop in Homeland Park for 20 years He thinks the economic changes have happened because of a lack of resources — government or otherwise specifically for the people within the community struggling with mental illness or substance abuse issues “Tax dollars don’t make it way down here,” Holland said the county’s expansion — particularly along the State 81 corridor — has played a major role in Homeland Park's economic decline “What we have done in Anderson on (State) 81 is something wonderful," Floyd And we have a lot of amenities up there that people like and they’re coming here for “Don’t turn your back on it while you’re doing all this up It should be a law that if you do something nice up here you gotta do something nice for the lowest part.” Davis and Holland all agree that when local major employers like Orr Mill and Owens Corning Fiberglas left the community It was a difference between day and night." where the bulk of the 29624 population resides 18.6% of the population was unemployed in 2017 according to the American Community Survey That's compared to 4% in the city of Anderson in 2017 according to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce “We’ve had businesses that actually left after a long time and nothing’s replacing it,” Davis said “One of the things we really want to strive to get is the businesses to come back in.” "But what I see and experience on a daily basis Statistics are according to the 2017 American Community Survey In addition to In the Cut being a barbershop Holland has held information sessions on voting rights voter education and the Affordable Care Act.  He said a few times a day a homeless person will come into the barbershop and they just want someone who will listen to them He doesn’t have anyone removed from the shop “I wouldn’t leave here because I do service work here,” Holland said Holland’s barbershop is in Watson Village the planned location for a new substation for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office that’s been talked about for years Holland thinks the additional law enforcement presence can help curb the “petty” crime but isn’t convinced that it’s not just another promise being made to Homeland Park “We don’t have a substation today as you and I speak,” Holland said this is a forgotten area of Anderson.” Holland said increased police presence won't give the community all the help it needs “It ain’t gonna create no jobs for nobody," Holland said. "It ain’t gonna do nothing for the people suffering from mental illness … I’m looking at a humanitarian basis it’s not gonna contribute nothing to help a man that’s struggling.” Anderson County Special Projects Director told the Independent Mail that increased police presence will begin to improve things for the entire community “There’s no one magic bullet,” Newton said “There’s no panacea for a community like Homeland Park or Morningside or the Alphabet Streets but several steps taken together in a unified effort basically to just show the community — what we’re trying to demonstrate to the community is that we actually do give a damn and we’re going to do what we can to help them out." Councilwoman Floyd’s latest project will have a direct impact on Homeland Park residents buildings demolished using grant funds in hopes of seeing widespread benefits Newton said substandard housing can negatively affect the entire community the whole market value for housing in the community really begins to roll downhill,” Newton said “You start to run into problems with infrastructure said he believes the county's plans will help homeowners like him “It’s going to help the other homeowners keep their property value up it’s going to bring in new business,” Davis said Through local journalism we help keep you informed about sometimes difficult issues in the community. Become a subscriber and access all our stories. Here's our special offer. Floyd is holding kickoff meetings for the South Anderson Community Development Planning Initiative The Morningside and Orr Mill neighborhood meeting will be at 6 p.m 22 at South Fant Early Childhood Development Center The Homeland Park community meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m “We’re not going to dictate to them what they need done,” Newton said they tell us what they want and we’ll find a way to execute it if it’s at all possible “Homeland Park’s not the only community that goes through it That’s one thing that gives me encouragement as a staff person is knowing there’s been plenty of success stories around other communities that have been down this road.” “It’s not changed as much as I’d like it to as quick as it could There wouldn’t be people that’s willing to stand up and fight.” Holland doesn't plan to give up on Homeland Park but he wonders if these changes will ever happen “I don’t ever wanna think nothing is hopeless because that means you threw it away,” he said I don’t see nothing getting better here.” Kathy Pierre covers all things Anderson from its growth to its people. You can email her at kathy.pierre@independentmail.com or reach out on Twitter @kpierrejourno people celebrate with family and friends and honor the birth of independence If you want to celebrate Independence Day in the Upstate from fireworks displays to celebrations and barbecue cookouts Here are a few ways to celebrate Independence Day in the Upstate The Greer Freedom Blast will take place on Saturday The fireworks show begins at around 9:50 p.m The festival features food and beverage vendors Visit www.freedomblast.org for more information The city of Fountain Inn is hosting a Fourth of July fireworks show on Saturday Visit fountaininn.org/393/Fireworks-Spectacular for more information Fourth of July Celebration & Fireworks ShowOn Saturday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., at 320 Big Water Road, in Starr, at the Big Water Marina & Campground, there will be a Fourth of July Celebration and Fireworks Show. The live entertainment schedule: Jason Trueluck from 11 a.m and Aden Webb and the Palmetto Whiskeys from 6 p.m The town of Williamston is throwing a free fireworks and concert celebration in the downtown area on Saturday The event will feature live performances from Tracielynn There will be family-friendly activities throughout the day such as the Patriotic Golf Cart Parade at noon the Classic Car Cruise-in starting at 3 p.m. and Jukebox 45 performing in the park from 3 p.m The kids' fun zone will also be available from 3 p.m The Simpsonville Simply Freedom Festival will be held on Sunday There will be live entertainment from pop icons Smash Mouth Food and adult beverages will be available for purchase and a free fireworks display will close out the show Visit the official event page for more details The town of Iva will kick off its free 4th of July celebration on Sunday Wednesday, July 3Laurens Freedom FestivalThe town of Laurens is hosting a Freedom Fest Independence Day concert downtown on Wednesday Visit laurenslightsthenight.com for more information Clemson University and the City of Clemson are partnering to host the Light the Lake Free Firework show over Lake Hartwell at 298 Pendleton Road on Wednesday Here are some things you should know before heading out, provided by Clemson University. A free Fourth of July Cookout and Field Day will be held at 611 Centerville Road in Anderson on Thursday Life jackets will be available for children Fireworks on the Fourth at Unity ParkClemson MBA Fireworks on the Fourth will occur at Unity Park in Greenville on July 4 from 6 p.m The fireworks display will begin at 9:30 p.m Attendees are encouraged to park in one of the downtown garages and use the free downtown trolley Live entertainment will take place at 6 p.m. Attendees are welcome to bring food and drink; however Visit greenvillesc.gov/2006/Clemson-MBA-Fireworks-on-the-Fourth for more information On July 4th, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., runners, cyclists, and fitness enthusiasts will participate in a 5k/1k run/walk marathon at Grady's Great Outdoors on the East-West Connector Parkway in Anderson If you're looking for a free, family-friendly 4th of July celebration, consider joining the Whitney 4th of July event hosted by 3Deemed Ministries at 847 Iron Ore Road The Great American Throwdown Independence Day event This event will showcase live music by Reedy River String Band the best American get-up costume contest with prizes The City of Spartanburg will present its annual Red, White, and Boom celebration at Barnet Park The event will feature food and a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m Parking garages will be open, and there will be plenty of free parking. Click here to learn more about the parking options Ciclops Cyderi & BreweryIs it a date? Are you looking for someplace to grab a beer on the Fourth of July? Check out Ciclops Cyderi & Brewery at 197 E St John St The bar specializes in crafting a wide variety of ciders and beers Are you a foodie looking for a place to eat and have fun? Consider checking out the Meat & Greet July 4th Cookout & Pitmaster Party. The food on site will include various options such as ribs There will be live entertainment from the local band Highway 25 from 3 p.m If you want to participate in a 5k run/walk consider checking out the Pickens Historic Hampton House event on Thursday The race will start and finish at the house The first 1/8th of a mile is on grass and a sandy trail The run heads north on Hagood Street and then crosses East Cedar Rock Street to access the Doodle Trail Participants must reach the designated turnaround point on the Doodle Trail to receive a finisher medal Age group awards will be given at 10-year intervals T-shirts are guaranteed for anyone who registers before Tuesday Parking will be available at 120 Hagood St Participants can pick up their packets on Wednesday Packets can also be picked up on Thursday from 7:30 a.m Fourth of July Family CookoutIf you're looking for a cookout, consider attending this Fourth of July Family Cookout at 3069 Wade Hampton Blvd in Taylors on Thursday The Greenville Drive will host a Military Appreciation Day event at Fluor Field Ticket information is available at the Main Street Box Office Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go women became the leaders of the Timbisha Shoshone’s fight for federal acknowledgement they resisted attempts by the National Park Service to evict them from their ancestral homelands in Death Valley National Park It was through the political activism of Tribal members and Tribal elders such as Pauline Esteves and Barbara Durham that President Clinton signed into law the Timbisha Shoshone Homeland Act in 2000 The act transferred nearly 7,800 acres of land back to the Tribe The law made Death Valley the first and only U.S park to return lands and create an Indian reservation within its boundaries.1 Though the Homeland Act was a pivotal step in tribal sovereignty "The Timbisha people have lived in our Homeland forever and we will live here forever."2 No piece of paper could tell her people that their history is in Death Valley "The term 'Death Valley' is unfortunate," Pauline stated in a draft report to Congress in 1999.4 The name supposedly originated with a lost party of forty-niners during the California Gold Rush despite generations of people thriving in the desert landscape.5 a word that refers to the red ochre found in the Black Mountains which the "Old Ones" used for spiritual purposes.6 The Timbisha Shonshone learned to live with the heat rather than in spite of it they moved with the seasons between mountain and valley enjoying the game and harvests each offered As non-Indian settlements became more common the Timbisha Shoshone began to incorporate seasonal wage labor into their way of life Local industries such as mining began to influence where the Timbisha Shoshone could reside Then everything changed in 1933 when President Hoover created Death Valley National Monument.7 Pauline remembers when the men in uniform appeared Her people believed they were soldiers up to "no good."8 The new monument's first acting superintendent saw the Timbisha Shoshone as a "problem." Contrary to Timbisha Shoshone beliefs he did not think they were part of the land and ideally needed to be removed to preserve the landscape Another "problem" was that the Timbisha Shoshone had never been forced onto a reservation they were not officially recognized as a federal tribe and thus lacked federal oversight and assistance.9 These circumstances birthed the "Indian Village" plan the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the NPS signed an agreement in which the Civilian Conservation Corps built eleven adobe houses that served about sixty Timbisha Shoshone of the park's ranger station where visitors congregated and the upscale Furnace Creek Inn The houses had no plumbing or electricity and only a single tap provided a water source for the village.10 The houses quickly fell into disrepair without any of the planned maintenance work the NPS had agreed to perform The NPS also increasingly restricted Timbisha traditional subsistence activities within the monument forcing many men to leave the village to find wage work enacted a new "Indian resident housing policy." The policy supported the systematic destruction of the village homes in hopes of pushing out the Timbisha Shoshone Tribal members still living within the monument Binnewies ordered rangers to destroy any vacant houses When the Timbisha Shoshone people left during the hottest months the rangers hosed down the empty adobe houses to the shock and dismay of village residents.11 Historian Theodore Catton explains that federal officials operated from the mistaken assumption that the Timbisha Shoshone "would move away or assimilate into the non-Indian population."12 They were not expecting the tenacity and political savvy of the Tribe women remained and formed the heart of the resistance allowing the Timbisha Shoshone to persist in the village.13 AILO Timbisha Shoshone Homeland Act Records Pauline Esteves and Barbara Durham continued in the footsteps of these women When their village was surrounded by barbed wire and guided tours came by to look at them Barbara explained their reaction was to laugh "put a stop to that."14 Pauline and Barbara skillfully used this strategy – humor action – as the Tribe shifted its focus to gaining a land base within Timbisha They realized the first step was gaining federal recognition as a Tribe if they hoped to benefit from a slew of legislation that passed in the 1970s that supported "Indian self-determination."15 the Timbisha Shoshone won federal tribal recognition but were not granted a reservation as they hoped they could not practice their sovereign rights such as securing their future at Furnace Creek and qualifying for various government grants the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe continued to fight for a formal reservation through legal action A turning point came in the form of the 1994 California Desert Protection Act The act included a mandate to identify suitable lands for a Timbisha Shoshone reservation through consultation with the Tribe When negotiations with the NPS broke down in 1996 They organized with neighboring tribes and environmental groups like Greenpeace to walk a half mile in the sweltering heat toward the park visitor center One of the protestors held a sign that read "Cultural Respect Not Cultural Genocide," an argument they expanded on in front of the United Nations – without a land base in their homeland their culture would disperse and cease to exist.16 The second round of negotiations were far more productive The NPS returned to the table with a willingness to give up land at Furnace Creek The end result was the Timbisha Shoshone Homeland Act The novel act not only provided the Tribe with a formal reservation within the park but also over 7,000 noncontiguous acres of land outside the park the act designated special use areas where the Timbisha Shoshone people can pursue traditional gathering practices the act allows for modest residential and commercial development at Furnace Creek The Timbisha Shoshone people endured despite decades of harassment at the hands of white settlers and the U.S Though they were forced to live within the boundaries of a small village or carry on traditional use or sacred practices on their ancestral lands Powerful women like Pauline and Barbara were tireless leaders they reclaimed a permanent homeland within a national park a homeland they knew had always been theirs.18 the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe forced the park service to live up to the promise of America’s "best idea" by affirming Indigenous land rights within shared public lands They also built a foundation for the public to reconsider their relationship to national parks Rather than being places we visit and recreate in This project was made possible through the National Park Service in part by a grant from the National Park Foundation The Homeland Park Volunteer Fire Department has broken ground on a new $800,000 fire station to help serve one of the busiest fire districts in Anderson County The new station is set to be completed by spring the chairman of the station's board of directors OTHER NEWS: Electrolux, looking to expand Frigidaire plant in Anderson, applies for tariff exemption Firefighters and volunteers have spent the last eight years raising $250,000 to help build the station said the station will have to take out a $300,000 loan as the building process continues Rodgers said the station will repay the loan through fundraising Neither Rodgers or Fire Chief Ronald Wood would say how the department will pay the remainder of the balance of about $250,000 for the new building Rodgers said the station wouldn't be sharing the specifics of the loan or the repayment plan OTHER NEWS: Anderson County firefighters battling mobile home blaze The Independent Mail has filed a Freedom of Information request to the station to learn more about the department's finances and how it plans to pay for the new station "all governing and financial documentation is available upon request." The phone number included on the form to request the documentation from Wood has since been disconnected "We get very limited funds from [Anderson County Fire Protection Commission] so we really have to work for it," Rodgers said Homeland Park received a $25,000 department allowance in addition to an $8,483.75 gas allowance The station bought the land for $13,130 in 2009 The station will grow from being able to house five pieces of equipment to eight pieces of equipment it will also feature 1,000 square feet of community room space that can be rented out Nubern said some community and industry leaders came together to help Station 3 with a focused strategy to raise the money it was really disheartening because we had a ticker board sign that showed the level of how much fundraising was; it was there so long it rotted and fell apart," Nubern said. "It was like 'This ain't never going to happen.' Everybody had the heart and the desire to do it There are no plans to get any new equipment immediately because the station just got a new truck two years ago OTHER NEWS: Anderson Chamber and county Republican Party differ on meals-tax referendum The station's 26 volunteer firefighters have sold food and cookbooks solicited donations with firefighter boots at street intersections mailed out letters asking for donations and used their well-known Independence Day fireworks show to raise money co-founder and president of the Homeland Park Community Watch said the fire station is a major part of the Homeland Park community It's kind of left to the fire department and churches to put on things like festivals and firework shows."  who was a firefighter-in-training several years ago said he's happy the new building will be coming in and appreciates the level of commitment the firefighters have but he would've wanted the funding process to be much faster considering how busy the station is and how many calls it answers OTHER NEWS: Anderson County native opens boutique dog supply store in downtown Anderson Officials at the station estimate that they answer more than 500 calls each year — a number they say is the highest in the county despite the size of its district "I think it took too long for this fire department to get what they needed," Lanier said the founding secretary and current board member of the Community Watch echoed the idea that the new fire station is overdue for station 3 they’ve outgrown this one,” he said “They have really done a lot for the community; most people just don’t see it.” owner of Leroy Auto Sales in Homeland Park had her first personal experience with Station 3 on Valentine’s Day 2016 when the building on her car lot caught fire She remembers it being so cold that the water the firefighters sprayed onto the building froze but they put the fire out and even managed to save some of her paperwork “That was the first thing I did: I thanked them,” Phillips said Phillips echoed thoughts Swilling and Lanier had about changing the way the county funds fire stations so that Homeland Park's funding can be on par with the number of calls they answer each year Nubern hopes the new station means they’ll be able to serve Homeland Park with industry-standard equipment and a larger community space for people to rent out for private events "We've been cramped up over there for years," Nubern said. "Every time you wanna do something you've gotta modify the station to fit your need Homeland Park residents want to stop an affordable-housing development from being built beside Anderson County's animal shelter But their efforts have run into a stumbling block: the Cottages of Anderson was approved by a county panel months before almost anyone in Homeland Park heard about it the development's foes have gained some encouragement from delays caused by a court dispute and a lack of water and sewer service, as well as the coronavirus pandemic The project, which was originally described as an RV park got the go-ahead from the Anderson County Planning Commission on a 4-2 vote during a meeting last November The decision came after a public hearing in which no residents spoke People in Homeland Park have had plenty to say since the Anderson Independent Mail published a story in February about plans to place 100 small dwellings on 77 acres on US 29 South. The units which are less than one-fourth the size of an average home in South Carolina are expected to rent for $800 per month.  "This is nothing but a future slum," said Homeland Park resident Don King at a County Council meeting last month who lives in the nearby Cherokee Farms neighborhood said the rental units are "going to destroy my property values." Developers for the Cottages of Anderson contend that it will be an ideal place to live for tenants who work at nearby plants like Electrolux, First Quality Enterprises and Michelin "Anderson's need for housing is pretty immense," said Tony Bonitati of NAI Earl Furman's commercial housing solutions division in Greenville He is the broker in charge of the development South Pointe Baptist Church pastor David Neal said the proposed development across the street from his church is not the right solution for the area's housing needs "We are not opposed at all to people having a place to live — that is not a problem," Neal said "But we know that these are going to be temporary dwellings that are going to probably be used by folks that have no ties in our community They are not going to be long-term residents." He said he worries that the Cottages of Anderson will be known for illegal drug sales and traffic jams "We don't want someone in our front yard bringing crime," Neal said Bonitati submitted plans for the Cottages of Anderson to county officials in October Those plans included details about the "park model" RVs that would serve as the development's rental homes They were described as a "unique trailer-type RV" built on a single chassis and mounted on wheels with a maximum size of 400 square feet "Our use is designed to benefit the community safely by creating space for (a) lower stress lifestyle for the area with the long term goal of keeping more people in the greater Anderson areas as permanent residents." A few weeks after the development was approved by the planning commission a Florida-based business entity called HSO Holdings 1 LLC spent $215,000 to buy the brushy tract of property for the Cottages of Anderson who had donated an adjacent 12-acre parcel to Anderson County in 2009 That land is now home to the county animal shelter HSO Holdings 1 plans to spend up to $3 million on developing the Cottages of Anderson The project is attractive to investors because it is located in what is known as an opportunity zone As part of a federal initiative to aid economically struggling areas that was pushed by Republican US Sen people can receive significant tax breaks by investing capital gains in opportunity-zone projects for a decade There are 8,700 opportunity zones across the nation including 135 in South Carolina and four in Anderson County "This is a long-term investment for the investors involved," Faulkner said "And the only way to preserve that investment is to make sure it remains a first-class community." who has been the pastor at South Pointe Baptist for 25 years, sees the situation differently "It's horrible to think that someone with money can come in and lay it on the table in the name of development and literally take over your neighborhood," he said Why Homeland Park residents didn't know about proposed developmentThere are a couple of reasons why most Homeland Park residents were unaware of the proposed development last year the tract of land by the animal shelter is unzoned there is no requirement to notify neighboring residents about projects that don't involve rezoning requests That policy will likely be revised as a result of the furor over the Cottages of Anderson County Councilwoman Gracie Floyd said she was unaware that the proposed development was in her district when she reviewed the agenda for the November meeting of the planning commission The agenda listed the development's location but did not specify which district it was in planning commission agendas now list the district where all proposed projects are located "I didn't find out about this until February," Floyd said In an effort to appease her constituents in Homeland Park Floyd suggested that the county impose a six-month moratorium on RV parks and tiny homes "A moratorium will give us more time to figure out what happened," Floyd said at a July 7 council meeting But Council Chairman Tommy Dunn said Floyd was giving "false hope" to the development's opponents He said the moratorium would not affect the Cottages of Anderson because it had already won approval from the planning commission there was nothing that the County Council could do to overturn the planning commission's decision "There is always something you can do about it," Floyd said Council members rejected the moratorium on a 4-2 vote Neal hosted a meeting at his church in May that was attended by about 50 Homeland Park residents and one of the developers for the Cottages of Anderson He said the residents provided written questions to the developer on an array of topics ranging from how the rental properties would be managed to concerns about crime and traffic "None of his answers satisfied any of us," Neal said Bonitati said he has sought to address concerns about the development We've provided details to those who have asked," he said Bonitati submitted a new site plan for the Cottages of Anderson After hearing complaints from Homeland Park residents the planning commission voted unanimously June 9 to reject the plan HSO Holdings 1 filed an appeal two weeks ago asking a state judge to overturn the commission's decision there was no engineering reason to deny that revised site plan The staff recommended it be approved," Faulkner said He said the new plan is a better fit for the contours of the property It is unclear when a ruling will be issued in the case The Cottages of Anderson also must reach an agreement with the Homeland Park Water to receive water and sewer service Two of the utility's publicly elected board members offered contrasting opinions about this issue in recent interviews Dennis Chastain said he wants to provide service to the Cottages of Anderson. "We're going to try to help them if we can," he said who is unofficially known as "the mayor of Homeland Park," said he has mixed feelings because he knows that many residents oppose the proposed development "I feel obligated to do what the people tell me to," he said "But I also have an obligation to keep the water district from being sued into oblivion." Even though he's been Homeland Park Primary School's principal for about a day Gary Bruhjell already feels quite at home.  "I actually taught fifth grade here years ago at Homeland Park," Bruhjell said. "One of my first jobs in District 5 was teaching here at Homeland Park — so it's kind of like coming home." who has worked in education for the last 35 years was most recently Midway Elementary School's principal though when the opportunity arose to head one of District 5's elementary schools in need of strong leadership "I have a few years left in me — and I could have stayed at Midway and it's a wonderful school — but I would have retired," Bruhjell said "But I can come to Homeland Park and I can leave with a bang I want to make sure that the last few years are really impactful and that I do something spectacular." Bruhjell stood in the elementary school's gymnasium with a large group of several dozen first- and second-graders.  More: Back to school: Anderson County students' first day underway With the picture book "Smelly Socks" by Robert Munsch projected on a large screen at the front of the gym the children sat on the floor in rows listening intently as Bruhjell read the story to them "After Tina wore the socks for 10 more days his expressions becoming more and more animated as he went on practically leaping around the room at times others leaned forward in anticipation of Bruhjell's next dramatic outburst.  Tension built up as they waited patiently for his next move prompting students to dance along with the characters in it already warm from dancing around in the air-conditioned gym Despite wearing a button-down shirt and dress pants Bruhjell didn't hesitate to dance right along with them.  your mindset and how you approach children dictates their behavior and their attitudes toward school. So if you go into it and you start a school year like we're doing this morning they're wanting to come back tomorrow," Bruhjell said "I think it's all the way you approach children Though he's got high expectations for student success Bruhjell understands Homeland Park Primary has some issues to work through Bruhjell said he isn't shying away from difficult conversations — whether that's student success or parent involvement is building up relationships with parents.  Homeland Park Primary will be holding events where parents are invited to come to the school simply to engage with their child see where their kids are being educated and to have a little fun in the process Creating a friendly bond with parents comes first he said. Once everyone's on a first-name basis "It's a little different approach — it's more of building a relationship and then working on the work," Bruhjell said. "Rather than he needs to go home.' That should not be the first contact that we have with parents." who was just announced as District 5's teacher of the year will be leading Homeland Park Elementary's STEAM (science art and math) education and also working as a math coach Traynum left Midway Elementary School after the 2016-17 school year to accompany Bruhjell on his jump to Homeland Park and is looking forward to bringing parents in on a weekly basis to work on engineering projects with their children Bruhjell told me there might be a possibility of this position being at Homeland Park it was a no-brainer for me," Traynum said. "I felt like God was telling me this is where I needed to be this is where I needed to come to make a difference." Traynum is entering her 21st year as a teacher with Anderson County's District 5 and has spent several of those years working with Bruhjell at Midway. The positive change Bruhjell hopes to create is something she's already witnessed — and something she believes he'll be able to develop at Homeland Park he is definitely capable," Traynum said. "I'm just excited to see where we're going to be able to take it here at Homeland park To kick off his first school year as Homeland Park's leader — and to start off his (presumably) final gig as a school principal — Bruhjell said having fun and making students feel important is vital to getting them engaged with their learning.  and they're going to get to know me," Bruhjell said "To change this school and change this community is just a dream for me Follow Georgie Silvarole on Twitter @gsilvarole.  An evening fire damaged several apartments and sent one person to the hospital in Anderson County Monday evening.  The Anderson County Fire Department responded to a fire at 6:30 p.m Monday at Meadow Run Apartments in Homeland Park according to fire chief Jimmy Ray Sutherland.  responders saw fire coming out of one of the upper apartments but were able to get the fire under control in about 20 minutes An additional seven other apartments suffered smoke and water damage.  One person went to the hospital with smoke inhalation injuries Sutherland believes they were the occupant of the apartment that was on fire.  The cause of the fire is yet unknown but that it is suspicious "We've got some people we've got to talk to and some leads we got to follow up on right now it's suspicious," Sutherland said Homeland Park Fire Department and Centerville Fire Department responded to the fire Justine Lookenott covers breaking news for the Independent Mail Reach out to her at jlookenott@gannett.com on Twitter at @justalookenott or through Facebook.  This story has been updated since it was first posted A young man died early Friday morning in Homeland Park after going back into a burning mobile home for his cell phone according to Anderson County Deputy Coroner Charlie Boseman Boseman said the 22-year-old man and two women managed to escape the fire that broke out around 3 a.m The victim quickly realized he didn't have his phone and decided to go back into the single-wide to retrieve it "We're pretty sure the fire started in a front bedroom and then spread throughout the trailer," Boseman said "He went back in there for his phone and was overcome by smoke inhalation Flat Rock-Bowen and Homeland Park fire department responded to the blaze Anderson County Assistant Fire Chief Brian Moon said foul play is not suspected most likely from smoking materials," Moon said Boseman has not released the victim's name because he is still looking for family The deputy coroner did say that smoke inhalation is most likely the cause of death scores of Anderson County firefighters spent hours Friday battling a major blaze at the site of a former tire-recycling business in Homeland Park Crews from seven fire stations were called to the defunct Viva Recycling site on Abbeville Highway The fire on the property was reported about 7:30 p.m and firefighters remained on the scene at 1 p.m There was another fire on the same property last month and County Administrator Rusty Burns said Friday that the time has come for "drastic measures." Burns said the property's owners rejected a request to voluntarily turn over the site to the county "They even had the audacity to ask us to pay for it — we’re not going to do that," he said. “Our goal is to condemn the site take this site forcibly and clean it up and never allow anything else to go here Viva Recycling announced it would invest $6.9 million in its Anderson County tire processing facility in 2014 The company said it would use rubber from old tires to create products such as landscape mulch But Homeland Park residents living near the business soon started complaining about dust Viva Recycling paid $83,000 in fines in 2017 for violating state rules Despite a permit that limited the business to keeping 4,000 tires on its seven-acre site inspectors had found nearly 70,000 tires on the property In September 2017, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control revoked the operating permits at Viva Recycling's sites in Anderson and Monks Corner The state agency spent $3.3 million to clean up the Monks Corner facility where more than 1 million tires were left to rot Anderson County officials have estimated that the cleanup of the Viva Recycling property in Homeland Park will cost more than $1 million Burns said Friday that DHEC officials have agreed to help cover this expense The phone number for Viva Recycling in Homeland Park has been disconnected An 18-year-old was shot in the chest shortly after midnight Thursday and another Anderson teen was charged with involuntary manslaughter in his death was charged with involuntary manslaughter after a shooting in the 700 block of Sterling Drive in the Homeland Park area Tydre Shyheim Hailey died of his injuries around 1:30 a.m. Witnesses said Brown was with Hailey at the time of the shooting She told investigators she "didn't mean to" and she "didn't know it was real," according to the warrant Boseman said Hailey was shot once in the chest His brother and two other people drove him to AnMed Health Medical Center emergency room where he was pronounced dead Cayden Dennis' family bought the 5-year-old a yellow bicycle just a few months ago It was stolen from the porch of his Homeland Park home this week Members of the Homeland Park Community Watch said they've been looking for it and have even seen it on surveillence videos from homes in the area But they weren't able to track it down and get it back for Dennis So they decided to spend some of the watch group money to buy Cayden a new bike and gave it to him Wednesday night Her father died earlier this month in a wreck in Texas when his motorcycle was struck by a car whose driver has been charged with driving drunk The new bike will help Cayden feel a lot safer to know that neighbors are looking out for him and stepping up to help Follow Mike Ellis on Twitter @MikeEllis_AIM Homeland Park resident Steve Allen's wife suffers from respiratory problems But he said she can breathe better now that the tire recycling business near their home has closed who also lives close to the now-defunct Viva Recycling on Abbeville Highway fumes and noise created by business were a "catastrophe." Viva Recycling's facilities in Anderson County and Monck's Corner north of Charleston both shut down a few months ago The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control revoked the operating permits for both sites in September Jesus," Homesley said in reaction to the agency's actions The closure of Viva Recycling's facility in Anderson County and the revocation of its permit are "fantastic," said Homeland Park resident Ken Swilling He has spearheaded the community's opposition to Viva Recycling since the company started recycling tires last year The used tires that remain on the company's Anderson site are still serving as a breeding area for mosquitoes But Scott said the deafening noise from tire-grinding equipment is no longer a problem "It is nice and quiet like it used to be," he said No one answered the phone at Viva Recycling's facility in Anderson County on Friday The phone number for the company's facility in Monck's Corner is no longer in service. Viva Recycling President Martin Sergi did not respond to an email from the Independent Mail DHEC's revocation of Viva Recycling's operating permits for its facilities in Anderson County and Monck's Corner came after the company was cited for numerous violations including exceeding limits on the amount of tires that were supposed to be stored at both sites there were an estimated 65,800 tires at the Anderson site more than three times the state-imposed limit.  More: Anderson tire recycler pays $83,000 in state fines Viva Recycling paid $83,000 in state fines stemming from violations at its facility on Abbeville Highway which was the only tire recycling operation in Anderson County DHEC officials said the company also refused to comply with a ban on accepting additional shipments of used tires DHEC stated that the company demonstrated a "disregard for and inability to comply with applicable laws Under terms of its permit revocation order that took effect last week DHEC gave Viva Recycling five days to hire a mosquito-control firm and post closure signs at its facility in Anderson County The company also must submit a closure plan for the facility and pay $4,000 in outstanding fines within a month DHEC will impose additional fines totaling $52,500 DHEC is also threatening to levy more than $1.6 million in fines against Viva Recycling if it fails to follow orders involving the permanent closure of its facility in Monck's Corner announced plans for a $28 million facility in St Stephen to manufacture products out of recycled rubber and plastic.  St "Our plant expects to employ up to 200 people creating products that will be sold in the U.S and exported to China," said Sergi in a statement announcing the project He was identified in the statement as CEO of Viva Holdings Group Inc The same statement also included comments from then-Gov who said she "couldn't be more excited" about the project which she described as a "huge win for everyone involved." But problems developed at the site and within the company DHEC had cited the business for illegally storing used tires at its facility in St Although records indicate that Sergi met with DHEC officials about the issue in February an agency spokeswoman said Friday that Viva Recycling is not affiliated with the site in St The business there is now known as EnviroGreen St Stephen facility and ordered the removal of all used tires from the site has filed a lawsuit in Anderson County accusing Viva Recycling and Sergi of refusing to turn over possession of a tire-shredding machine and Bobcast skid loader with a combined value of $272,000 A judge ordered the Anderson County Sheriff's Office in June to seize the equipment from the Viva Recycling facility on Abbeville Highway New targetsNow that his crusade against Viva Recycling's facility on Abbeville Highway has succeeded Swilling is urging officials to do something about other areas in Homeland Park where he says tires are being stored illegally He said these tires have led to a proliferation of mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus and other diseases Anderson County Solid Waste Director Greg Smith is pressuring one tire business to remove piles of old tires Smith said another business has agreed to build a shed that will serve as an indoor storage area for its tires Smith said an illegal junkyard on State 81 in Homeland Park also has been shut down Swilling is a member of the Homeland Park Community Watch said Swilling "is one of the greatest assets in our community." "He is a great guy to go after all of these problems," Lanier said Contact Kirk Brown via email at kirk.brown@independentmail.com and follow him on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM Kristy Drees' current water bill is more than twice her monthly rent A leak in the toilet of the home she's renting in Homeland Park has brought her bill to $911.86 for February and March She said she understands the bill is her responsibility and it is proving difficult to find assistance because of maintenance problems with her rental home and policies of the local water district has lived in her Homeland Park home with her two sons for the past five years but she said he couldn’t afford to pay the taxes for it and it was auctioned He moved to Washington State shortly after Her last steady job was about three years ago but she had to quit to care for her sick mother has diabetes and can't see out of his left eye He also applied for disability and is waiting for a decision Drees' 20-year-old son works at Publix and uses those checks to support the family "I've gone and held a sign asking for money and used that and my son's check," she said quietly when the water bills were around $40 each month Drees often still paid a late fee or occasionally had service disconnected because she couldn't pay for it Landlord-tenant issuesThe root of Drees' water bill issues is a leak running from her toilet She believes that's an issue her landlord needs to fix because he owns the home but she doesn't dispute the bills Homeland Park Water are sending her most recently that November to a company called Cash Flow LLC Drees doesn't remember if she's ever met Jonathan Knight all of her communication about the house has been with Matthew Knight who Drees refers to as Jonathan's partner.  Drees said she and her landlord have had issues for more than a year with various things not being properly maintained in the home such as a hole in the bathroom floor that she and her son say insects and rodents use to get inside and nonfunctioning appliances She stopped paying the $400 rent in October because the repairs weren't being made. Fidelity Investments LLC — which is not the national financial services corporation with headquarters in Boston — attempted to evict Drees in November over a failure to pay $860 in rent Fidelity Investments LLC is registered to Jonathan Knight Sr she checked that she accepted responsibility but disputes the amount Fidelity Investments claimed.  6 court date where Drees and Matthew Knight were present Fidelity Investments LLC is again attempting to evict Drees saying she failed to pay $1,770 in rent payments Drees wrote: "There are repairs that the landlord needed to do She wrote: "The utilities are extremely high because of the plaintiff's refusal to repair dangerous flammable electricity and water leaks that I repeatedly asked to be repaired for over a year appliances and other things are destroyed because of the power not working." A March 2017 lease included in the filings lists CD Properties LLC and Fidelity Investments LLC as the landlord the lease states: "Landlord will maintain the premises so as to comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety Tenant shall maintain in reasonably good and safe working order and condition all electrical and other facilities and appliances within the premises." Matthew Knight said: "Tenant is six months past due and under standard eviction All known repairs have been addressed." He didn't want to speak on the phone or comment any further Listed phone numbers for Jonathan Knight Sr Support investigative stories like this by supporting local journalism. Become a subscriber. Here's how. said his client has repaired everything that the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act says he would be required to repair "It's our position that this is a person who wants to live in this home — has lived in this home — and doesn't want to pay for it," Cole said. "Anything else that she's bringing up is a distraction from that fact." Knight owns more than 30 properties in Anderson County between Cash Flow LLC and Fidelity Investments LLC the landlord is required to "make all repairs and do whatever is reasonably necessary to put and keep the rental unit in a fit and livable condition." A line from Drees' lease that is listed as her responsibility is included in the Act as the landlord's responsibility the landlord must keep in reasonably good and safe working order and condition all electrical air conditioning and other facilities and appliances supplied head of the housing unit at South Carolina Legal Services said that generally the Landlord and Tenant Act supersedes a lease but single-family homes are listed as an exception to that line Fessler said whether the lease and the transaction was entered in "good faith," or no ulterior purposes, is important "If they agreed in writing that the tenant will perform those things and if the transaction is entered in good faith it looks like the landlord of a single-family residence does have some flexibility to cast onto the tenants the responsibility to care for those things," he said Fessler said ultimately a judge will have to make the decision as to whether it's allowed or not Drees' efforts to get help have been complicated because Homeland Park Water is a special purpose district Special purpose districts are districts that provide "any governmental power or function water or natural gas distribution or recreation," according to chapter six of the South Carolina Code of Laws.  a majority of property owners in the proposed district would have to sign a written petition in favor of it a volunteer board is chosen to govern the newly created district The Secretary of State's office compiles a list of Special Purpose Districts but it doesn't govern them in any way.  Drees didn't know Homeland Park Water was a special purpose district until she called the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff for help and couldn't get any "I did call the other day to try to make arrangements to pay it because our bill is almost $500," Drees said before realizing the March bill had been added to her account balance If Drees' home was served by a city water district the Office of Regulatory Staff's Water Bill of Rights would govern the district and its policies the Water Bill of Rights would require the water company to set her up with a deferred payment plan once she was able to prove she couldn't afford the full payment Homeland Park Water General Manager David Hall said a maintenance employee went to the home to reread the meter and use a flow finder tool to see if there were any leaks when Drees' October usage was 3,000 gallons higher than the previous months The work order from maintenance found that the leak was coming from the toilet Customers at Homeland Park Water get the bills by the 2nd of each month and they are due by the 15th there’s a $75 late fee and the service is subject to being cut off said he retired from working at the water department at the City of Belton where their policies are similar but the fees for delinquent accounts can reach up to $650 for repeat offenders “You don’t want to turn no one off,” Harrell said Harrell said the district would be happy to work with Drees to create a payment plan He said "quite a few" people are on payment plans right now. Drees just needs to have the leak fixed first "They gotta have the problem fixed before you can work with them," he said. "Because it'll continue running 200,000 gallons of water because of stuff like this." Drees used 17,226 gallons of water from Dec according to a ledger the water district gave her That's nearly four times the highest amount it had been in the past two years Drees said Homeland Park Water employees told her she was on track to use at least 30,000 gallons for February through March Harrell said the average bill for a customer of the water district who doesn’t have a leak is somewhere between $20 to $25 Geological Survey estimates that the average person uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water each day the family of three would only use about 9,000 gallons each month "I'll pay a guy I know out of my own pocket if it'll help the lady out if that's all that's wrong with her toilet," Harrell said "But the landlord's gotta step up somewhere Something's gotta be done about the landlord Just because we live in a little district like this that don't mean they (the residents) ain't human beings RELATED: These are your rights as a tenant under the SC Residential Landlord and Tenant Act Drees knows what she needs to do to prepare for her water being disconnected She and her sons will fill water bottles and gallons that they can use during that time She probably won't cook because washing dishes and pots in cold water won't clean them as well Drees’ water service was disconnected March 25 She’s never sure when the service will get disconnected because Homeland Park Water doesn’t send out final notices The bill simply states that after nonpayment on the 22nd customers are subject to have their service disconnected She said she’s looked into getting help from community organizations like AIM which helps with utility assistance when people are facing disconnections through the pivotal support program But the water service isn’t in Drees’ name It’s in her brother’s name from when he lived in the home the utility service needs to be in the name of the person who is asking AIM for help paying it He said there are exceptions and the rule isn’t “black and white,” but the reasons would need to be things AIM could verify Getting new service in Drees’ name would require a $150 deposit to Homeland Park Water which is something else she takes issue with The Water Bill of Rights says a cash deposit shouldn’t exceed more than the estimated amount of two billing cycles or “an amount equal to the total actual bills of the 2 highest consecutive months based on your billing history.” She said back before the leak when her bills were a maximum of $50 that deposit would’ve been much more manageable Drees was recently approved by the Anderson Housing Authority for a monthly housing voucher Eaton said he spends several hours each day searching for an approved place for them to move A Century of Impact is a 192-page hardbound treasure celebrating NPCA’s first 100 years of protecting America’s national parks Former Principal Chief James Floyd of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation speaks about his connection to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and the need to further preserve the site first visited Ocmulgee Mounds in central Georgia his experience was “almost overwhelming,” he said the mountains,” he said of his visit in 2016 “It was like going to a place and feeling it was meant for me.” Floyd speaks at the 2017 Ocmulgee Indian Celebration Ocmulgee National Monument was established in 1936 and the site was upgraded to national historical park status in 2019 — thanks in large part to Floyd’s advocacy The land contains earth mounds as high as 55 feet while others were used to support buildings or perform ceremonies They were built by the people archaeologists call Mississippians The area was home to many different American Indian cultures during the last 17,000 years and is considered the cradle of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Thousands of people come to the park annually for the Ocmulgee Indian Celebration one of the largest Native American gatherings in the Southeast which passed after three unsuccessful iterations of the bill redesignated the site as a national historical park and quadrupled its size to 3,000 acres; it also authorized a study of a 50-mile section of the Ocmulgee River between Macon and Hawkinsville a corridor that includes undeveloped hills wetlands and 85,000 acres of contiguous bottomland hardwood swamp That stretch provides habitat to more than 200 species of birds and 50 species of mammals including central Georgia’s isolated black bear population which will continue until the fall of 2022 could pave the way for an even larger park Floyd served as principal chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation — a self-governed Native American tribe located in Okmulgee and one of the largest federally recognized tribes in the United States — from 2016 to 2020 he managed the first tribal-owned hospital in the country and worked for a decade at the Portland Area Indian Health Service in Oregon before working in an executive role at the Department of Veterans Affairs finding peace on ancestral lands and fitting together the puzzle pieces of Muscogee history When was the first time you visited your ancestors’ lands Floyd (right) stands near the entrance of Earth Lodge with his son Jacob (left) and his wife My wife and I went with our parents around 1980 and visited some sites in Florida and Alabama Muscogee (Creek) people have always been in the Southeast metals and small animals for arms and ammunition you see the absence of our influence and our culture back there What happened to the Creek people who disappeared They were forced out [through a series of coerced and brutal relocations to the west by the U.S The mission now is to communicate that we are not extinct What do you remember about your first trip to Ocmulgee Mounds It wasn’t until I was elected as principal chief — when I felt a strong obligation to preserve and protect — that I took the opportunity to go I learned about the bill to expand the park that hadn’t passed in several sessions of Congress my family was there along with other members of the tribe and employees of the Muscogee Nation The spirits that exist there from ancient times were so powerful to me and there was a strong sense of peace and belonging — like you needed no introduction You read about these different significant places in the East — Ocmulgee Mounds Horseshoe Bend in Alabama — and you begin to feel the connection You feel a sense of peace and attachment that’s immediate We need to put the pieces into place as best we can to form a picture so others can see it as well knowing their ancestors either traveled those routes or lived in those areas what role did you play in the expansion of the park and tried to keep this in front of congressional members I coordinated visits from folks at NPCA and in the Georgia area The tribe would send chartered buses from Oklahoma and both youth and elders would go down and have ceremonies and set up interactive displays for the public we had the opportunity to purchase and preserve land in the area known as Brown’s Mount which lies in the historic Ocmulgee River corridor where our ancestors lived and the purchase was the first reacquisition by the Muscogee of land in their historic homeland in Georgia since the time of Indian Removal in the 1830s.] It’s invaluable to the Muscogee people as evidence of the lifestyle of our ancestral people the park hosts the Ocmulgee Indian Celebration From left: Junior Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation Iesha Phillips Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation Amberly Proctor Floyd and former Superintendent Jim David at the 2017 celebration What was your family’s connection to the land where you were raised my parents moved back to their hometown in McIntosh County There was an Army Corps of Engineers project in the ‘60s to build the largest manmade lake in the state within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and it uprooted many Muscogee people from their allotted lands It erased historic towns and relocated many burial sites My third great-grandparents established Fishertown in 1847 but all traces of its existence were covered over by the lake The lake is important for flood control and tourism How much did you learn about your ancestors as a child and my mom taught us about our family history My mom still volunteers in the school system Had you ever run for anything before you ran for the office of principal chief of the Muscogee Nation My whole career has been in public service Part of my platform was to protect and preserve our past and this land in Georgia is an important part of our history that I’d hate to see disappear We need to preserve these places because they strengthen our people and give them an anchor — knowing this is where we used to be You’ve served on the NPCA Board of Trustees since April 2020 What drew you to NPCA and what do you hope to achieve on the board most importantly because of its mission to preserve protect and expand land in and around national parks throughout the country that I could bring a voice of Native people and their histories into the national parks that are in Indian Country — Ocmulgee Mounds being an outstanding example I hope my role on the board will also serve to enhance collaboration and participation of tribal governments in the management of national parks You can read this and other stories about history science and more in National Parks magazine Your tax-deductible membership donation of $25 or more entitles… Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland is the first Native American to serve as Cabinet secretary What are the challenges and opportunities she faces in advancing Native American priorities Secretary Haaland has the opportunity to establish policies that reflect the needs of Native people such as the ability to balance national parks and oil and gas drilling We hope we can work with her so she can understand the benefits of the park’s proposed expansion to tribal members How different is the Native American approach to land The mounds are evidence of our religious ceremonies The Ocmulgee River basin is being preserved in a way that multiple groups can come into the area and enjoy it and tribal members can visit their ancestral land I imagine the public learning more about the Muscogee (Creek) people and understanding that we may have left that area There are a lot of disparate interests in this land This Q&A has been edited for brevity and clarity "LAB DOG: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research," will be published by Hachette in 2025 is an exclusive benefit of membership in the National Parks Conservation Association “We're ready to work with Congress to keep this funding going tackle more repairs and leave a legacy worthy of these treasured places." - Theresa Pierno These women became part of public lands history as they demonstrated the principles of equality and justice celebrated each May during Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month threatened conservation rules and censored our nation’s history But we think there’s still time to reverse course You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience NewsVoirMohali (Chandigarh) [India], April 9: Homeland Group, Punjab's most revered real estate developer, continues to achieve new heights of success, as they conduct the Bhumi Pujan ceremony for Homeland Global Park an upcoming mixed-use development located in Sector 75 ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Wrench Solutions and IIIC Launch Centre of Excellence to Upskill Engineers from Core Industries A New Dawn in Management Education: GRV School of Management (GRVSOM) Launched in Bengaluru Valedictory Ceremony Marks the Conclusion of 6th International Saiva Siddhanta Conference at SRMIST Lifelong expands Home Improvement category with the fun relatable 'Nok Jhok' campaign featuring Archana Puran Singh & Parmeet Sethi Adani Power bags 1,500 MW power contract from UP government: UP Energy Minister HarperCollins is delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of 'Stars Will Guide You Home' By Stuti Changle copyrights © aninews.in | All rights Reserved Jhon McCollum spent two weeks living on the streets of Homeland Park before he came to the Salvation Army homeless shelter in Anderson Now he is trying to put his life back on track He said he has lined up a job at a fast-food restaurant that he hopes will provide better income than donating plasma said as he stood outside the shelter on a sunny afternoon last week who grew up in Iva, said he was 19 when he went to prison for 13 years for armed robbery “I had to go pay the price. But what people fail to realize is that will follow you," he said. “When you come back people are still going to label you as the same person but what they don’t know is your heart is bigger than the mistakes you made when you (were) in childhood.” who oversees all operations for the Anderson County chapter of the Salvation Army strives to help people such as McCollum overcome the challenges and chaos of homelessness three meals a day —not have to wander around in the heat trying to find water or use a restroom — you remove all of those external stressors and all of the sudden the conversation that you can have with someone changes," Dolby said “Our goal is for every single person in Anderson County who needs a bed to have one." Achieving that goal has become more difficult at a time when there are signs that the county's homeless population is increasing The influx has stoked concerns about vagrants and panhandlers in downtown Anderson The recent deaths of a 57-year-old woman at a bus stop and a 41-year-old man behind a business also have led to heightened awareness of homelessness in the community More: Another homeless person has been found dead in Anderson as efforts to help have increased More: Homeless woman who died at bus stop had 'good spirit.' County officials and three nonprofits have decided to provide the Salvation Army with $42,500 to add another 20 permanent beds to its overnight shelter complex on Tolly Street The Salvation Army also has agreed to host homeless people during daytime hours A total of 148 homeless people in Anderson County were counted during a one-night statewide survey in 2017 an increase of nearly 53 percent over the previous year That increase contrasts with the rest of South Carolina which saw an overall 28-percent reduction in homeless people in the 2017 survey compared to the 2016 count Figures from the 2018 survey are expected soon The Upstate has the largest proportion of homeless residents in South Carolina The 2017 count found 627 homeless people in Greenville County the second-highest total in the state behind Richland County the average number of people spending nights at the Salvation Army shelter in Anderson has soared from 11 or 12 to 50 or more Last week the facility had more than 30 people on its waiting list The Salvation Army isn't the only group that has seen a higher demand for services which works with churches to care for homeless families has served as many people through July as all of last year His group will host its annual Homeless for the Homeless awareness and fundraising event next month at the Anderson County Recycling and Education Center one reason for the increase in homelessness is that more people are being drawn to Anderson in search of jobs that don't always pan out “Our county and our city have done a tremendous job at attracting employment opportunities here," Dolby said "People will move here hoping for one of those great jobs “Sometimes they get here and they don’t have a place to stay. They get here and all of the sudden they are living in a bush So how is someone supposed to get one of these great jobs?” More: When the woods are home Dolby also is seeing more 18 to 25-year-olds wind up at the shelter Last week 11 of the people staying there were in that age group "We've never seen those numbers as high," he said waited two weeks for a bed to become available at the shelter He had lost his job and was living on the streets He credits the shelter's staff for helping arrange an upcoming job interview at a restaurant "The Salvation Army does wonderful things," he said was standing near Hampton outside the shelter last week She said she was brought to the shelter from Oconee County after she started using methamphetamine again Woodring said she was molested as a child and that her family gave up on her She said she has a 3-year-old daughter who "looks just like Shirley Temple" that her grandmother is raising she is "doing a lot better" because she is around people who are willing to help her Dolby said Anderson city officials appealed to the Salvation Army for assistance earlier this year after business owners voiced concerns about an increasing number of homeless people in the downtown The homeless tend to gather in a three-block area around the Anderson County Courthouse and also at the main Anderson County Library president of the Main Street program of Anderson who has led efforts to place donated clothing around the William Whitner statue in front of the courthouse during winter cold snaps said he has mixed feelings about homeless people in downtown Anderson "all of us are just one bad decision away from being one of them." But Jones also realizes that panhandlers can hurt the downtown who owns CocoBon Chocolatier near the courthouse said "there is definitely an issue" with homeless people downtown While homeless residents haven't interfered with his customers he and his employees often encounter them behind his business and near the downtown parking garage during the winter the Salvation Army created a day-shelter program in March "Businesses downtown were not designed to take of the needs of the homeless population," he said Dolby said the Salvation Army has spent $40,000 so far serving homeless residents during the day.  "We haven't received anything from the city," he said "We are very hopeful that they will contribute in any way that they are able to.” See also: Downtown Anderson scores $12 million hotel for 'tipping point' in revitalization The Independent Mail left a phone message with Assistant City Manager David McCuen seeking an interview regarding the homeless issue in downtown Anderson McCuen responded with an email stating that the Salvation Army's day-shelter program "has been been a positive move." He did not respond to follow-up questions Making room at the shelter for more bedsBunk beds fill large rooms and former offices throughout two buildings at the Salvation Army shelter complex Five recently obtained beds soon will be set up in another room near the main entrance but it gets people off the streets," said Dolby another 20 beds will be permanently placed in a now-empty building that was once part of the West Market Elementary School The space will be used as a stabilization area for homeless people struggling with addictions and mental health problems the Salvation Army received $20,000 from the Gambrill Foundation which was created in 1966 by Anderson County resident Anne Grambrill as well as a $2,000 Walmart Community Grant The Anderson County Council approved another $15,500 for the project last week at the urging of Councilman Craig Wooten who also persuaded the United Way of Anderson County to allocate $5,000 After hearing about issues with homeless residents from friends who live and own businesses in downtown Anderson Wooten said he wanted to offer financial assistance to the Salvation Army to address the problem "Day and night they are providing programs to help folks to take steps to get back on their feet," said Wooten whose father was a former principal at West Market Elementary School County Administrator Rusty Burns and United Way President Carol Burdette each said they were glad their organizations could help support the Salvation Army which has  been sheltering homeless people in Anderson since 1910 "I am so happy and so pleased we are able to do this," Burns said Burdette said the United Way realizes that there a number of people in the community who are in "desperate need." Dolby said the Salvation Army appreciates the contributions and he believes the new beds will make a big difference But he also said further steps must be taken we really haven’t had a strategic plan on how we are going to get people off the streets," he said Dolby said he will continue to focus on helping people who come to the shelter achieve a healthy and self-sufficient future through providing them with access to medical professionals and job training "We want to give somebody the tools to be successful," he said adding that the shelter "is not a destination — it is part of the journey." Follow Kirk Brown on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM and email him at kirk.brown@independentmail.com.