Fish Festival to include new band
By Nancy Parsons
The 27th annual Flopeye Fish Festival is just around the corner.
Scheduled from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 29, the festival will
feature arts and crafts, a variety of food vendors and entertainment. There
is no admission charge.
“We've got quite a few vendors already registered,” festival organizer
Sallie Hudson said.
The Memorial Day weekend celebration will be held in the industrial park on
U.S. 21/S.C. 200.
The Flopeye Fish Festival brings about a community-wide recreational
highlight. With the enthusiasm of a homecoming atmosphere, the festival
attracts visitors from other states. The event brings people together and
preserves the saying, “After all, life is to enjoy.”
Live bands will perform during the day, offering a wide variety of music
sure to include something everyone will enjoy. Included will be local talent
from Ruthie's School of Dance. The dancers will perform at 10 a.m. Too Much
Sylvia will take the stage at 10:30 a.m. Easy Pickin will begin playing at 1
p.m. and Andrea Bailey will perform at 2 p.m.
Hudson said a new country band will be included in this year's musical
line-up.
“Most Wanted” will begin playing at 2:30 p.m.
“I think everybody will enjoy them,” Hudson said.
The Great Falls Fire Department will sponsor the car show again this year.
“And there are more things to come,” Hudson said.
For more information regarding the festival or for a vendor/crafter
application, contact Sallie Hudson or Amy Bair at 803-482-6029, at P.O. Box
453, Great Falls, SC 29055 or by email at sallieh@truvista.net.
Hudson said the festival's website,
www.flopeyefishfestival.com
is up and running and offers information on the annual festival.
Vendors will set up festival morning between 7 and 8 a.m. Spaces will be
spread out across the area to avoid congestion. Spaces will be 15-feet x
20-feet. If you need additional space, please purchase additional spaces. If
you need electricity, you must furnish your own generator. All crafters and
vendors will be responsible for tents, tables or other items necessary for
their display. A copy of your South Carolina Sales Tax license, if
applicable, must be displayed and a copy returned with the application.
Flopeye got its name more than 75 years ago. The story says that one of the
local merchants, Andy Morrison, was sitting in front of his general store
and having a hard time keeping his prominent eye lids from flopping over his
eyes. One of three ladies passing by and one, having not seen him before,
blurted out, “Who is that old flop-eyed man?”
Several by-standers heard her and news traveled fast over the grapevine to
Republic Cotton Mills President Rob Mebane. “Flopeye, a good name for that
part of town,” Mebane said. The name was promoted by mill management and
took hold. People liked saying they had been to Flopeye. And they still do.
Flopeye.net News
14 April 2010 Completely redesigning flopeye.net web site.
voters elect new mayor and council members
By Nancy Parsons
Voters in Great Falls made a clean sweep in last Tuesday's general election
when they elected a new mayor and three new council members.
Former councilman Don Camp was elected to serve as mayor. Camp received over
60-percent of the votes with 148 votes. Mayor H.C. “Speedy” Starnes Jr. got
93 votes.
Camp carried all three precincts and got 51 votes in precincts 1 and 2, 41
in precinct 3, 48 in Beckhamville and 7 absentee votes. He also received 1
provisional vote.
Starnes brought in 33 votes in precincts 1 and 2, 17 in precinct 3, 42 in
Beckhamville and 1 absentee vote.
Starnes, along with his son, Hank, and grandson, Clayton, waited at Town
Hall for the results.
Starnes said he had no comment about the election.
“I wish Don well,” was his only statement.
Candidate Kenny Mobley also waited at Town Hall with family and friends.
Councilman Kenny Johnson left before the results were called in.
Mobley expressed thanks to his supporters after learning of his win.
“I'm looking forward to getting sworn in and getting started,” Mobley said.
Camp, joined by his wife, Jean; daughter, Allison Brooks; granddaughter,
Angelina Brooks; and other family members waited outside the War Memorial
Building.
“It has been a lot of work getting here but we plan on doing more work when
we take office,” Camp said.
Candidates Glenn Smith, Todd Smith and Dean Runion were also at the War
Memorial Building.
Glenn Smith also thanked his supporters.
“Thanks to all the people of Great Falls for supporting me and coming out to
vote,” Glenn Smith said. “I look forward to serving them in the future.”
Runion said he was overwhelmed with the results.
“I prayed hard about this,” Runion said. “I'm looking forward to getting a
new team in there and hopefully making some changes.”
Glenn Smith was the top vote-getter with 153 votes. He brought in almost
23-percent of the votes. In second place with over 20-percent of the votes
was Dean Runion with 137 votes and in third place with over 15-percent of
the votes was Kenny Mobley with 103 votes.
Smith got 50 votes in precincts 1 and 2, 38 in precinct 3, 58 in
Beckhamville and 7 absentee votes. Smith carried precincts 1 and 2 and
Beckhamville. He tied Runion with 38 votes in precinct 3. Smith also had the
most absentee votes.
Runion received 44 votes in precincts 1 and 2, 38 in precinct 3, 49 in
Beckhamville and 6 absentee votes.
Mobley brought in 36 votes in precincts 1 and 2, 29 in precinct 3, 34 in
Beckhamville and 4 absentee votes.
Councilmen Kenny Johnson and H.C. Wright tied for fourth place with 85 votes
each. Each gained almost 13-percent of the votes.
Johnson had 29 votes in precincts 1 and 2, 25 in precinct 3, 30 in
Beckhamville and 1 absentee vote.
Wright tallied 30 votes in precincts 1 and 2, 14 in precinct 3, 40 in
Beckhamville and 1 absentee vote.
Councilman Todd Smith received 21 votes in precinct 1 and 2, 17 in precinct
3, 38 in Beckhamville and 2 absentee votes, bringing his total to 78 votes.
He gained almost 12-percent of the votes.
Jarrod Skinner had less than 4-percent of the votes with 14 votes in
precincts 1 and 2, 5 in precinct 3, 6 in Beckhamville and 1 absentee vote
for a total of 26 votes.
Election results were called in to the Great Falls Town Hall 20 minutes
after the polls closed. Results were also posted on the doors of all voting
locations.
There are 987 registered voters in the Town of Great Falls, according to the
Chester County Voter Registration and Election Commission. Less than
25-percent of the voters turned out to vote. There were 246 ballots cast in
the election.
There were two write-in votes for mayor – Donald R. Privett received 1 vote
and Chip Abernathy received 1 vote.
Jennifer Bigham received 1 vote as a write-in candidate for council. There
was also an open ballot where no name was written in.
The new council will be sworn into office on June 1.
Results show voters want change
By Nancy Parsons
Last week's general election showed a lack of interest
by voters in Great Falls.
Less than 25-percent of the town's 987 registered voters came out to vote in
the election.
There were 246 ballots cast in the election to name a new mayor and three
councilmen.
On June 1, Don Camp will be sworn in as mayor. He defeated Mayor H.C.
“Speedy” Starnes Jr. by 55 votes.
Incumbents Kenny Johnson, H.C. Wright and Todd Smith were also unseated in
the election. Glenn Smith, Dean Runion and Kenny Mobley will be sworn in as
councilmen.
The election upset showed that voters who took part in the election want
change.
“All governments need to be changed out after a while,” Mickey Bailey said.
“They get too complacent.”
Bailey said he voted for the all-new council.
Charles Wieland said he was satisfied with the current council and did not
vote for change.
“I voted for change,” Steve Case said. “It was the only time in my life I
was ever 100 percent. I voted like they won. I'm real happy with the
results.”
Case said he made up his mind that “new blood” was needed on the council.
“It was nothing against any of the ones on the council,” Case said.
Larry Loflin also expressed pleasure with the election results.
“I'm very happy,” Loflin said. “People wanted change. They wanted a
government that listened. People want answers about government since they're
spending their money. They have a right to know.”
Loflin said he did not think the current governmental body was functioning
as a government body should.
Jeannie McCowan said she voted to keep the current council in place. She
said she was satisfied with the council.
“Sometimes change is not good,” McCowan said.