Congratulations.
Before 2021 comes upon us, The Chronicle has some congratulations to extend from a pandemic-stricken 2020.
Congrats to Matthew vandenBerg, vice president for advancement and external relations at Alma College (Alma, Mich.), who has been selected as the 19th president of Presbyterian College. He replaces Bob Staton, who retired after 5 years as PC President.
vandenBerg, a Certified Fund Raising Executive, leads a team responsible for Alma College’s constituent engagement and fundraising programs.
Congrats to the Piedmont Technical College (PTC) Area Commission on its selection of Dr. Hope Rivers, of Whitmire, to serve as the college’s third president, effective January 4, 2021. The decision was made after a nationwide search to fill the position vacated by the pending retirement of longtime president Dr. L. Ray Brooks.
Dr. Rivers will bring to her role at PTC insights and expertise from her five years as executive vice president of the SC Technical College System (SCTCS), where she worked closely with President Dr. Tim Hardee on legislative and governmental affairs, as well as academic and student affairs, institutional research, accountability, dual enrollment, academic partnerships and grant management.
Congrats to the Laurens Academy football team for only playing through Covid, but finding an 8-4 very successful season, as well. We certainly extend our Congratulations to all members of the Laurens County Football All-County Team, honored last Wednesday evening.
Congrats to the new members of the District 56 Board of Trustees:
Rhonda Gary and Charles Stinson who were elected Nov. 3.
Job Well Done to Edna McGee and Patsy Sadler who have retired from the school board.
Congrats to Clovis Mattox Simmons, of Clinton, to a Hall of Fame selection for her accomplishments in tennis.
The Boys’ and Girls’ Tennis Coach at Clinton High School, Simmons has coached for 30 years, and her girls’ team has a record of 435-110 and her boys’ team has a record of 390-104 with the 2000 State Championship.
Her girls’ teams have been to the state championship seven times (1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005). Her boys’ teams have been to the state championship six times (1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2018, 2019).
Simmons has been named Region Coach of the Year 35 times - 21 girls and 14 boys - and she has been SCACA Coach of the Year three times (1996, 2000, 2018).
The South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association made the selection.
Congrats to Lauren Wargo, of Clinton, who was the leading league scorer netting 23 goals on the season, with 5 in the President’s Cup Tournament, as part of the Carolina Football Club (CFC) 2006 Girls Elite soccer team capped off their undefeated league season with a President’s Medal League State Cup Championship Nov. 15 in Greer.
The girls will now be heading to the regional tournament in Decatur, Alabama, June 9-13, 2021.
A “pat on the back” goes to Presbyterian College junior guard Trinity Johnson, selected to the Big South Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Second Team, the league announced as a part of its annual Media Day activities. Johnson’s selection marks the fifth straight season that PC has garnered at least one Preseason All-Conference honoree.
Congrats to a New Laurens County Industry: Setterstix Corporation, a paper stick manufacturer, has announced plans to establish operations in Fountain Inn, Laurens County. The more than $11.7 million investment will create 80 new jobs.
“Fountain Inn, South Carolina is Setterstix’s first U.S. manufacturing location outside of Cattaraugus, New York, where we have been operational for 82 years. We are delighted to be expanding our global footprint in this community and growing our brand from South Carolina. Laurens County, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, SC Ports and readySC have been key partners in us making this location decision. It is our honor to now be a part of the South Carolina manufacturing community!” Setterstix President Eric Pritchard said. The company manufactures paper sticks for candy, cotton swabs, health care and novelty items.
Also, there might be another win for Laurens County in December.
And finally, a much-deserved job well-done to G Ramage, a Clinton businessman for 41 years. December 18, 2020, will be the last official business day for his company, Carolina Automotive. “I greatly appreciate the support we have had over the years, but more importantly, I appreciate the friendships we have made,” Ramage said, in announcing his retirement.
EDITORIAL SIDEBAR
Here are some other Congratulations 2020, and things we are looking forward to being bigger and better in 2021:
Clinton -- Lights display at the Bailey Municipal Center.
Clinton -- Arbor Day plantings at Oak Street park.
Clinton -- city's first-ever recreation complex.
Laurens -- dedication of Back Street park, honoring African-American businesses.
Laurens -- unveiling of mural at Elite Home Care & Day Center building.
Laurens County Museum - successful “soft opening” of The Witherspoon Building and availability of The Magnolia Room (upstairs).
Business -- Clinton - QT convenience store and fueling station Hwy 72 & I-26, interest by Huddle House in Hwy 56 & I-26, new Sadler-Hughes Apothecary on Jacobs Hwy; Laurens - new 7-11 convenience store on Hwy 221 & I-385 and start of work on a new housing development.
The Capital Initiative - 16 community projects financed by $35 million in 1-Cent Sales Tax money.
