Do they listen?

We toured Lake Jocassee Thursday evening with Kay Wade, a master naturalist who conducts tours of the lake on a pontoon boat. When we began, it was still a little warm and the sun was beginning to set in the west over the mountain peaks.

Then, as dusk fell, we saw the moon rise on the other side. It was the harvest moon, round and golden, the last full moon before the first day of fall, and it was beautiful.

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It lit a pathway below across the water, and instead of seeing the man in the moon, we saw what appeared to be the woman in the moon, which made sense as it was the harvest moon, and a time of fertility and fruitfulness.

As darkness fell on the lake, there was something mystical about it. There’s this great bowl of water surrounded by mountain peaks with steep rock walls reaching far into the sky. In places, there are large trees which appear to be growing right out of the rock face.

It’s a unique part of the world.

The Jocassee Gorge is home to the most diverse collection of flora and fauna in the world, with the exception of Japan.

It is a national treasure, and by some fluke of luck it has not been raped and pillage but allowed, in part, to continue. The falls were there long before any of us breathed the air, and they will be there long after we are all gone.

Far beneath the water are petroglyphs from ancient peoples etched upon the rock. No one knows what the petroglyphs say. Are they directions to sacred places? Or messages from one tribe to another? And then, from a more recent time, there are the remnants of farms, pastures, houses and barns.

We live in a place of unrivaled geographic beauty. It is nothing short of a miracle that it still exists in a fairly pristine condition.

This entire area was once a valley between the mountains and was home to many families who had lived in the area for generations.

But when the decision was made to dam the rivers and create a source of electrical power under the domain of Duke Energy, families left their homes, cemeteries were relocated and what once was vanished forever except in the memories of their descendants.

Our tour guide was knowledgeable about all aspects of the lake. Especially interesting to me was the earthquake fault that runs underneath the lake. I’ve heard about it for years, but to actually get to see it amazed me.

It can be clearly seen on the rock face on the edge of the lake. The fault line descends at an angle, then there’s a shift and it continues a foot or so in distance away and goes down into the water. The rock is layered vertically, not horizontally, and the striations which tell geologists details of its formation are just interesting patterns to my unschooled eye.

I don’t know why the lake was formed over an earthquake fault. Nor why the nuclear reactors are where they are. Perhaps there was incomplete knowledge at the time of construction, or perhaps the decision-makers were gambling, hoping for the best-case scenario. It really doesn’t matter now, because it is part of our reality.

For today, I am thankful that it was my privilege to float across the surface of this beautiful awe-inspiring body of water, no matter how it was created. To see the darkness creep across the water until the surrounding mountains were absorbed by it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The stillness, the solitude and the earth itself was a great gift.

And that was Lake Jocassee by the light of the harvest moon.

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Bonnie,

My husband always “wants to go home.” He has been living in our home that we’ve shared and owned for 30 years. However, night after night he tries to pack his bag to go “home.” I try patiently to explain that we are home. It doesn’t help. He just becomes agitated.

Answer: For so many people with Alzheimer’s disease, “going home” means “feeling normal.” It is a place where they can feel comfort and security. Their world is confusing and frustrating. They just want to simplify their life and feel safe and loved.

As caregivers we are tempted to explain that their parents are deceased and home is here. That makes us feel better, but doesn’t help your loved one at all. It will only sadden your husband to hear the facts, over and over. Instead, answer the question with compassion. Get into his world (trend of thought) and then “redirect” his thoughts and energy. For instance, you might take him for a ride to go get ice cream; you might take him for a walk outside, looking at the beautiful flowers in your garden; or you might say, “We will go, but first let’s fold laundry.” Any wholesome activity will do. It will redirect him in a soothing, compassionate manner.

Bonnie,

My mama wants to set the table each night for all of her five children and her husband, and she wants to cook dinner for them as well. She still seems to think her children are young and will be coming home from school, and that her husband will be coming home from work. In fact her other children are all married with their own families and her husband is deceased. Setting the table and cooking a lot of food is just a waste. How can I make her realize the truth?

Answer: Our objective for people with Alzheimer’s is to be positive and loving so they experience happiness. Although her wanting to set the table for a large group of people is frustrating and possibly irritating to you, it is not a harmful or unsafe activity for her. In fact, setting the table is a meaningful activity to her. You might consider letting her set the table for as many as she’d like. On the other hand, if your mama is doing something that is dangerous or unhealthy, you might want to step in and redirect. Cooking dinner might be dangerous for her, for others and for your home. Fires could be sparked — people could get hurt or burned. You might consider telling her that you’ll cook for the two of you. As others come home you’ll cook food for them so that their food will be nice and warm. When the two of you have finished dinner, your mama might unset the table and save the settings for another day. Finding ways your mama can feel helpful around the kitchen should be encouraged. She could mix ingredients, or wash the dishes, or put clean dishes away with your supervision and help. These activities would help her feel worthy and useful.

Email your questions concerning dementia to Bonnie at askbonnie@outlook.com. Questions are answered by Bonnie and her advisory committee from the local community.

Bonnie Holmes is president of Loving Health Care, Inc. Although the well qualified caregivers care for clients with many different types of needs, the specialty of this company is clients with dementia. For more information, call (864) 916-9204.

The Pickens County Courier gladly accepts letters to the editor. Letters must be no longer than 500 words. All letters must be signed, including first and last name, address and phone number in order to be considered for publication. Only the name and city where you reside will be printed. Submission does not guarantee publication. we reserve the right to edit for content and length. No slanderous or obscene material will be accepted. Letters to the Editor and columns do not necessarily reflect the Courier’s opinion.

We were on vacation on Edisto Island last week when Hermine came through. She visited on Friday, and we’d been there since Sunday afternoon.

We’d listened to the weather report throughout Thursday. It didn’t look as though anybody knew for certain what was going to happen, but I hoped for the best. We knew Hermine had been downgraded to a tropical storm and she was expected to hit at low tide, which was very good news. So we waited.

Katherine and Fleta set up what they called a hurricane watch. That dragged bar stools next to the windows on the ocean front and watched the wind and waves. My brother, Fowler and Henry watched the weather until the electricity went off. Then Henry paced and checked for updates on his phone.

We’d already gone to the store and bought jug water and a candle, and we had flashlights and ice.

Michael and I sat at the kitchen table and played gin rummy. We decided to play to 250, and it was very close. I won the first hand, Michael won the second and then Matt joined us and we played a third hand.

We’d fastened the screen doors on the porch but saw the wind pull the screen door hook out of the wooden frame, so Fowler secured the door. We put kitchen chairs beneath the door knobs on the ocean side after the wind popped a door open.

Henry’s phone was telling us the wind was gusting up to 55 mph and the waves were around 10 feet high. I got up for a glass of water and saw a piece of siding blow over top of the house and land in the yard street side. Other things flew through the air.

Then there was a lull as the eye passed over before the wind started again. During the lull, we walked outside. The waves were still very high, so I took pictures. Then the wind and rain resumed and we all went in.

This went on until about 5 p.m., when it finally seemed to blow itself out. It was still raining, but Katherine and Fleta and I walked down to the beach to see what we could see.

It looked as though a dump truck had come through and piled load after load of sea shells along the high water mark on the shore. We begin picking up sand dollars, which littered the beach. And conchs were abundant.

Fleta ran up and got us some 10-gallon trash bags, and we began a shell collecting frenzy. It was unbelievable. I’ve never experienced anything like it. You could walk along and reach down into the water and easily pull out two conchs at a time. We were soaking wet, but oblivious to the discomfort. For years we’ve combed the beach each morning searching for shells, but usually have only found fragments of conchs, shattered sand dollars and a few unbroken bivalves. We’d never seen bounty such as this.

As it grew darker, I realized I had so many shells in my bag I could barely lift it. Fleta had another bag. At some point she’d gone back to the house and retrieved more. I slowly made my way up the beach back to the house, stopping at intervals to rest.

I was suddenly aware that I was both wet and cold and could do no more. I left them to it and made my way up, heading for the outdoor shower.

I stepped inside the shower stall and stood under the hot water with all my clothes on until I felt warm, hung my wet clothes on a hook, wrapped myself in a beach towel and walked upstairs to count my loot.

Fleta gathered more than 130 conchs. Most of them were whole. I didn’t have as many because I couldn’t carry that much, and also she went back out.

My shells have been washed and are now back home spread out on the grass in the hot sun. They’ll be a constant reminder of our great adventure and a permanent memento of Edisto Island. It was a vacation to remember.

9/11: My mother’s experience

Dear Editor,

One of the most horrifying terrorist acts in the U.S.A. happened on a clear day on Sept. 11, 2001. Two hijacked planes crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center. A third plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Most people can remember what they were doing and where they were when it happened.

I asked my mother to find out what her experience was on that day. She said, “I was at work and heard over my headphones while listening to the radio that an airplane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers.”

“I was in shock,” she said. “I told everyone around me to go to CNN.com, that an airplane had struck one of the Twin Towers.”

She and her coworkers continued to discuss and watch online as they saw the second plane hit the other tower.

“We couldn’t believe our eyes. We were horrified,” she said.

For the rest of the day, she said that everyone was uneasy and concerned.

Where were you on Sept. 11, 2001? Can you remember? How did YOU feel about it? What was your reaction? I’m sure that you remember that historic day.

Troy Shealy

Edwards Middle School student

School board should pray

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to a letter in last week’s issue of the Pickens County Courier.

It appears that the current school board has forgotten their obligation to the citizens, including the children of the county, by failing to stand up for Christian values by kowtowing to the activist group that fights against religion in public places.

The writer states that she is aware that our community has a strong Christian faith and is wholeheartedly in favor of Christian prayer anywhere or at any time, yet the action of the school board does not bear this out. God expects us to stand up and speak out against the work of the devil.

The writer calls Alex Saitta a troublemaker, but it seems he is the only one speaking out against the immoral values taking hold in our country.

The current school board should get on their knees and beg God for forgiveness. They are setting a bad example for our children.

J G Taylor

Sunset

Christians need to vote

Dear Editor,

I love Pickens. I love the weather, the landscape, but I love the people most. I love that you can walk into a restaurant, or a retail store, and hear Christian music. I love that words of affirmation, grounded in scripture, are spoken in the marketplace. I love that Pickens has NOT forgotten our Christian roots, in our homes, in our community, and in our nation.

Last week’s Pickens County Courier featured an article that I am sure drums some emotion. It certainly did in me. The article .. “School board tables prayer motion” stated, “For a number of years the school board meetings were led in prayer by students. However, after receiving a letter in 2012 from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation threatening legal action, the board ended that practice.”

Is a “threat of legal action” all it takes to relinquish a solid, holistic, practice of Christian public prayer, especially by students? Wow .. what is the message that our students are receiving? Seriously, do we fear “man” more than God? In addition, when we submit to pressure (instead of choice) does not the one applying pressure become our Lord?

So can it be said, that unwittingly, in this decision, the FFRF is now god over the school board??

The FFRF now decides what we can or cannot say and do?!

We have elected officials in this country .. not czars, not rulers .. people elected to represent the people — not fringe cults, or ego .. or threats.

Did you know that 25 million professed Christians did NOT vote in the 2012 presidential election?

Did you know that Obama won the 2012 presidential election by 5 million votes? Do the math.

We ask for God’s blessing, but we are not engaged in our civic duty.

We have many testimonies of God’s providence in our nation, but friends, God will not stuff the ballot boxes.

For the past couple of weeks, I have been dropping by area churches asking if they would conduct a voter registration drive — with dismal results. “We don’t mix church and politics” seems to be the go-to line.

Pastors, please lead the charge: Promote, and host a voter registration drive. It is easy, and TOTALLY legit. But remember that Oct. 1 is the last Sunday before registration ends!

Some have said that they will not vote because they do not like either candidate. I hear that. Remember that each candidate represents a “platform”; a foundation. As Psalm 11:3 says, “When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Your vote IS your voice!

There will be a voter registration table at Café Connections in downtown Pickens each Wednesday through Oct. 5 from noon-2 p.m. Stop by to register .. or to chat.

We can do more than just imagine what our nation would look like IF Christians, in EVERY election, exercised our right to vote AND our votes were cast based on God’s principles. We can be the people!

Kathleen Campbell

Pickens

Alex Saitta responds

Dear Editor,

I’m responding to a letter last week opposing my efforts to bring Christian prayer back to school board meetings.

First, the writer is missing the big picture. There is an element of society aiming to sanitize the public square of all religious expression. The Deep South is the last stronghold of such expression, so it is the focus of groups like the ACLU and Freedom From Religion Foundation. We need more leaders who know the prayer laws and have the courage to stand up for faith and against these anti-religion zealots. While the writer doesn’t realize it, she has aligned herself with their cause and needs to take a look at the big picture.

The writer asked why I am the only trustee fighting for this. I don’t know, and frankly I’m shocked Pickens County trustees have twice blocked efforts to bring Christian prayer back to our board meetings. Closing schools, eliminating classroom teaching positions/raising class sizes and blocking Christian prayer, they are on the wrong side of all these issues.

The writer speculated I brought the issue up again for political reasons. No. Unbeknownst to her, the law recently changed and now supports Christian prayer at board meetings.

In 2004, the Federal 4th Circuit Court ruled in Wynne v. the Town of Great Falls that prayers at the opening of government meetings must be non-sectarian (to God, Lord, Father). Accordingly, our school board policy states the opening prayer, given by rotating board members, must be non-sectarian.

The writer doesn’t realize in late 2014 the U.S. Supreme Court struck down that 4th Circuit ruling, said the non-sectarian requirement was unconstitutional, and stated government bodies like the school board can’t tell the prayer givers whom to pray to and how.

I then supported crafting a new policy to bring Christian prayer back to the board meetings. The policy was written by the school district’s attorney and was reviewed and deemed legal by the state attorney general.

The board voted down the policy in early 2015. All the trustees agreed the policy was legal, but half still feared the ACLU and FFRF.

Eighteen months later, on June 9, 2016, the legislature passed and Gov. Nikki Haley signed a law recognizing the Supreme Court’s ruling the prayers could be sectarian or in Jesus’ name.

With that Supreme Court ruling and the new state law in hand, at the June 27 meeting I requested the chairman ask our attorney for legal advice. Breaking with school board practice, chairman Judy Edwards refused. I asked again at the August meeting. Edwards said she had asked for advice, but would not hear back until January. Normally that takes two or three days. Realizing she was stonewalling, the press reported the story.

When it is my turn to give the prayer, I pray in Jesus’ name. School board policy forbids that, but the Supreme Court and new state law says I can. The law has changed, and board members need to join me in taking a stand.

Alex Saitta

School board trustee

Pickens

In defense of Saitta

Dear Editor,

This is in response to the letter written last week where the writer was against Alex Saitta’s efforts to return Christian prayer to school board meetings. The writer says she favors prayer, but wants Saitta to drop the subject. That doesn’t make sense. The letter claims his motivation is political. The letter talks about money being tight and schools being closed in order to save money. Really? The board just spent $5 million for extra pay raises. Saitta was the only one who voted against handing out all those extra pay raises and instead wanted to use some of that money to keep the mountain schools open.

I know Alex Saitta. His motivation is to do the right thing for the people he represents, even when it means standing alone or losing an election. Desperate to win the school board seat? He came from poverty and worked hard to make a fortune on Wall Street. The motivation to do that was watching his single mom suffer over wondering where the money would come from to pay the bills. He loves his family and takes care of them. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. A hundred dollars a year in taxes won’t change his lifestyle. But it will hurt the poor parents of this county and their children, who are now living hand to mouth. Those are the folks he tries to help. Saitta won’t rob from the poor to give to the rich. He’s the only board member with a spine. He’s confident in who he is and what his motives are. Losing an election won’t wound his ego, nor dent his self-confidence. If you want the best representative you can get, vote for him. He will not stand with the good ol’ boy, do me a favor, pat on the back politics of South Carolina. If that’s what you want, vote for the other guy. He has good ol’ boy connections, will do favors, will raise your taxes, etc. Should I go on?

So, to reiterate, Saitta is tied of bowing down to liberal outside groups and wants Christian prayer brought back to school board meetings, uses sanity when it comes to budgeting, spending and taxing, and he opposed closing the mountain schools and using that money for extra pay raises. The letter says that the writer favors all of those things, except maybe spending tax revenue for raises for SDPC employees. I think the writer wants more raises, if in fact they work for the SDPC. What do you think?

All of this leads me to speculate about the motives and occupation of the writer of the letter. I can only speculate. Probably an SDPC employee, sore about Saitta’s vote on salary, probably not even registered to vote. Am I wrong? Don’t know, don’t care.

I’m going to miss Neil Smith. Smith worked very hard to bring the Pickens County Commerce Park to fruition. He brought hundreds of jobs into the county. He was instrumental in buying the old Liberty Middle School and building new municipal offices there. He also bought the old football stadium for the town. Thanks, Neil, for all your good work. Can’t wait to see how much taxes will increase because of the expertise of the two new “experienced replacements” on county council. Maybe they’ll stimulate Pickens County’s economy. LOL.

Jimmy Gillespie

Central

Caregiving is an act of love. You put so much of yourself in caring for your loved one, especially if he or she has dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the average span of the disease is seven years and it can go on as long as 20 years. The challenges only increase with time.

For most, the progression of the disease is slow. In the beginning, it offers a time for shared laughter, intimacy and social experiences. You will have opportunities to manage legal and financial issues in advance, and to adjust to the diagnosis so that you can make the most of your time together.

This is also a good time to form a support team from your family, friends and perhaps professionals. Getting respite and taking care of yourself leads to being a good caregiver. Friends and family are glad to help if they help in a way that makes them feel comfortable.

Not everyone in your family will be good caregivers. However, everyone in your family can help when you need a break. Some members of your family may be financially fit and can help with expenses. Others may be great at doing research and helping you solve problems and find the resources you need. Everyone can certainly come, even if only a few times a year, and give you respite.

I was fortunate enough to take care of my dad in his last seven years of life. My brother and nieces each took turns spending a weekend with him. They got to spend quality time with their dad/grandfather. My family is small. Yet, I got away for a weekend break once a month. That was sufficient so that I could give my all to my dad when I returned home.

Friends, neighbors and my church family lived much closer to me than my biological family. They would bring dinners, run errands and visit when they had a chance. Many churches offer a ministry where they bring dinners on a regular basis.

In some instances you may also need to hire professional care. I did. I was still working while I took care of my dad. If you hire a trustworthy agency, they offer expertise that you may not have. Many agencies have certified nurse’s aides who have taken courses on dealing with clients who have dementia.

Caregiving is an act of love and a 24/7 commitment. You can heighten your experience if you form your support group early. People want to help. They just need to be asked and to give in a way they feel comfortable. It makes them feel good. It makes you and your loved one receiving care realize how much you both are loved.

So many people have asked if they can ask me questions or tell me concerns regarding dementia. The answer is yes. Please email them to me at askbonnie@outlook.com. While you remain anonymous, answers to your questions will be revealed in the newspaper so that you and others can benefit. I look forward to hearing from you.

Bonnie Holmes is president of Loving Health Care, Inc. Although the well qualified caregivers care for clients with many different types of needs, the specialty of this company is clients with dementia. For more information, call (864) 916-9204.

Pickens United?

Dear Editor,

I attended the first of four “Pickens United ” meetings organized by Rep. Neal Collins in Easley on Monday, Aug. 29, from noon-1:30 p.m.

How many of you were even aware this meeting was scheduled? Not anyone I talked to at the YMCA today was aware there was one scheduled, which had representatives of city, county and state government present.

It is sad that only a handful of citizens were in the audience. What was even more sad is the citizens couldn’t ask questions or make comments.

I videoed the event because I knew there wouldn’t be very many of us taxpayers there due to the lack of advertisement of the meeting and the fact it was held during a weekday and most citizens are at work during that time frame. You can view the video by going to conservativesoftheupstate.com if you want to hear what was said by the elected leaders who are making decisions about your tax dollars.

In summary, I have to say the overall meeting could be called a love fest of progressives. They are definitely united … united on the fact that government is woefully underfunded and if they just had more of your money they could solve all the problems in our city, county and state.

So get ready for a tax increase, citizens … it’s coming — a possible gas tax increase, a possible property tax increase, maybe another sales tax increase, who knows? But according to one of the elected officials now that we have all these new people in elected positions … the “sky’s the limit.”

The only way you the taxpayer can stop an inevitable increase in the amount of taxes you already pay is to get involved! Come to the next Conservatives of the Upstate meeting, held on the second Thursday of each month. Go to conservativesoftheupstate.com for more information.

If you don’t stand up and voice that you are taxed enough already and tell these elected officials they need to live within their means just like you, then you will find yourself struggling to make ends meet and pay your property tax, and the government will seize it.

The next scheduled meeting of the “Pickens United” elected officials to give you updates on their agenda of what I call “tax ‘em some more” will be Oct. 31 in Clemson. Halloween, very appropriate — scary stuff. Maybe you should attend dressed as a farmer with a pitchfork.

Johnnelle Raines

Pickens

What is a true hero?

Dear Editor,

First of all, true heroes are made, not born.

They may wear uniforms or capes, but don’t have to to be a hero. True heroes can be a man that works long hours even when he is so sick he can hardly move to see that his family is taken care of.

A hero can be a woman who struggles to survive after her husband passes away, leaving her and their five children alone. Yet she manages to raise them to adult life. A true hero can be a person who risks their life to save those in danger, never thinking of their own life being lost. No age, size or social standing has anything to do with being a true hero.

True heroes don’t brag on themselves or talk about how much they themselves have sacrificed. Narcissism has no place in a true hero’s life. True heroes are givers who sacrifice their very lives if need be, yet they will never mention it or any other things they have done.

True heroes let others mouths praise them, not their own. True heroes never let the praise go to their heads. They are grateful for any attention they receive. Those who talk about themselves all the time and their greatness are nothing but braggarts, and braggarts are a dime a dozen. I’ve always heard it said, “those who have the least of anything or have done the least always talk the most about it.” Nothing but a bore, nothing more. They are a nuisance to the ears. True heroes deserve praise — braggarts should be ignored by all means. Do you know someone that you consider a true hero ? Why not show them you care?

A kind word can be worth more than silver or gold if spoken at the right time. True heroes thank God for them.

Eddie Boggs

Westminster

Vote against Saitta’s act of desperation

Dear Editor,

Recent news accounts about prayer at Pickens County school board meetings raise some serious questions about the motives of a certain school board member who is, once again, stirring up controversy at a critical time for our school district.

Many of us remember that our school board debated and held open forums about public prayer at its meetings (not in our schools) more than a year ago in response to receiving a threatening letter from an activist group that fights against religion in public spaces.

So here’s my question: Why, then, is a single board member bringing up this long-resolved issue when there are far more pressing items on the table?

It seems obvious that this is a desperation move as District 3 school board trustee Alex Saitta begins his campaign for re-election, where for the first time in years he is facing a formidable opponent. Having been defeated in his bid for county council, Saitta has now begun to draw attention from more serious matters to try to win votes (or at the very least, free publicity) by playing on our community’s strong Christian faith.

While I am wholeheartedly in favor of Christian prayer anywhere or at any time, a decision was made to change the guidelines at board meetings due to the threat of lawsuits, among other things. And we all know how tight money is. After all, we closed two great schools last year because there wasn’t enough money to keep them open. Given that the District 3 trustee favors spending cuts and tax rollbacks over funding our schools, it’s curious that he would be willing to waste it on a frivolous lawsuit.

We all are aware that this is a strong faith-based community. We also agree that prayer does change things. Why then is only one person continuing to bring this up? The answer is simple: political shenanigans.

This community is smarter than this one board member gives us credit for. So voters, look closely. Listen intently. And know that the answer to ‘Why is prayer coming up again now?’ is simple: At best, it’s a distraction. At worst, it’s an injustice to our students.

Personal political aspirations should not be achieved at the expense of our kids. It’s time for us to speak up and vote on Nov. 8 — against Alex Saitta.

Terri Cassell

Pickens

No Sunday alcohol sales

Dear Editor,

Elected officials in Easley and Central have place a Sunday alcohol sales question on the November ballot. They are excited about additional revenue generated by yet another day of alcohol sales. How long have Easley and Central survived without Sunday alcohol sales? Quite a while.

Estimates are that alcohol-related costs to society are in the billions. Auto accidents kill more than 40,000 people in the U.S. each year and are the No. 1 cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 34. We are more likely to die in auto accidents on weekends than any other time, and the most dangerous day on the highway is Saturday. Do you think that’s a coincidence? I don’t.

Getting in a car is the riskiest thing most people do every day, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Eighteen percent of fatal crashes during the day are alcohol-related, while 54 percent of crashes at night are alcohol-related. The average American is at the legal limit after four drinks. 22 percent admit they often drink too much.

 Some say this change will only allow sales at special events and restaurants — what can that hurt? I say the risk is too great.  Think about your children and grandchildren as you read below the events of the evening of Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. Events resulting in the deaths of three young people and the hospitalization of two more at the hands of a drunk driver. They were on their way to their grandparents’ house.

Jessica, 20, Hope, 17, and Cory, 22, died that day. According to press reports, the drunk driver visited multiple restaurants and minutes after leaving the last he killed three innocent youngsters. He has since been sentenced to 18 years in prison. This is just one alcohol horror story. There are hundreds.

At 6:51 p.m.: Ate chicken wings and split a pitcher of beer with a friend at Hooters on Interstate Boulevard in Anderson, with the driver drinking about three 12 oz. beers in an hour. At 8:15 p.m.: Left Hooters and went to The Bench on Electric City Boulevard. At 8:20 p.m.: Started drinking, drinking four 16 oz. beers and at least two Royal Flush shots (Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey, Peach Schnapps and Chambord). At 11:07 p.m.: Left The Bench and returned to Hooters to retrieve a bank card he had left behind. He stayed and drank three more beers from a 64 oz. pitcher. At 12:02 a.m.: The man, who a lawsuit says was stumbling and having difficulty walking, left Hooters. Approximately 12:15 a.m.: three lives ended.

Who has blood on their hands? Easley and Central, you decide Nov. 8.

Phillip Bowers

Chairman, Pickens County Republican Party

Trustee, School District of Pickens County

Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare website now has the long-awaited star ratings. Announced months ago, the site has added six more quality measurements and has added the star features, making it easier to do comparisons when the time comes to pick out a nursing home.[cointent_lockedcontent]

To find the nursing home ratings, go online to www.medicare.gov and put “nursing home compare” in the search box. Put in your ZIP code, and you can compare up to three at a time.

The devil is in the details, as always. Look for tiny items like the number of minutes of physical therapy per resident per day, dates of last inspections, residents rights deficiencies, any mistreatment complaints, pharmacy service deficiencies and any penalties and fines in the past three years. Be sure to click and read the actual inspection reports. You might find that cleaning materials and foods were comingled, or that food was left uncovered in the freezer.

What’s concerning is that not all the inspection reports are there. You’ll need to know if a facility has eight fire-code deficiencies, or that the ceiling over the food-prep area has peeling paint, or that insulin wasn’t kept at the correct cold temperature or had expired.

One thing lacking in the ratings is that nowhere will you find resident or family satisfaction. The data is mostly self-reported by the nursing homes themselves and the measures aren’t necessarily comparable between facilities, especially the ratings that don’t include full inspection reports.

While the star rating is a good place to begin, it shouldn’t be the end of your research into a good nursing home. Ask for recommendations from your doctor or people you know.

(c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

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There’s a lot of talk going around about people leaving the country for Canada if their candidate loses the presidential election. People can do that if they want to. But I don’t want to leave no matter who gets elected.

I doubt Congress would cooperate with anybody elected to the office, so unless every single thing passed was an executive order, it would be hard for either candidate to run the country.

If people make good on their threats, it may be the Canadians who will be building a wall.

I hope that all this is just loose talk, because we need our citizens here at home.

Even if things look hopeless to you, please remember they never really are.

If you want to feel more optimistic about the future, there is a simple solution. Stop watching the news. But, if you’re serious, according to a report from “60 Minutes” it is recommended that you visit Canada before moving.

To become a Canadian citizen, you must pledge your allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, because Canada is part of the English Commonwealth.

Also, you must learn their national anthem and learn something about their history. Another important thing to know is that French is the primary language of 7.3 million Canadians, and it’s useful to speak and understand it.

Winter sports are big in Canada. If you plan to relocate, it’s a good idea to learn how to ice skate. You would have to buy a new wardrobe and accustom yourself to wearing toboggans and boots for many days each year.

There are different kinds of festivals and foods there, and the weather is much colder than what we are used to.

There are many pluses enjoyed by Canadian citizens. Their prescription medicine and health care is affordable and good. They have socialized medicine.

Ice hockey is hugely popular there, and if you have children they will probably be in a hockey league.

Lacrosse has been the national game of Canada since 1859, and Parliament passed an act in 1994 officially declaring lacrosse the national summer game and ice hockey the national winter sport.

What about the education system? Well, this may surprise you, but out of 700 countries, Canada is ranked sixth in the world for its education system. America is number 12. There is little difference in the performance of low-income and high-income students. Teachers are better prepared, paid and secure than those in America. They are unionized.

Also, there doesn’t seem to be an obesity problem with Canadian children. Their school lunches don’t contain nearly as much salt, starch, fat or sugar as American school lunches. Also, the national government stays out of education. There is little difference in funding among school districts, unlike here.

But, although Canada is a wonderful country with very nice people, I don’t plan to relocate there.

I’m an American even if I don’t always like our political system and don’t always agree with everything that is done.

But I don’t plan on deserting my country in its time of need. It’s important to stay at home and write critical letters to all our elected officials. If I leave, it will not be by choice. They’ll have to deport me. I suppose they’d send me to Wales, as that’s where most of my ancestors lived. The only problem with that is the fact that I don’t speak the language, probably can’t learn it and would never be able to drive on the wrong side of the road. If they come to get me I guess I’ll just have to hide out in the Horse Pasture. That might work.