Clinton City Planner Preston Stokes looks over documents after a meeting. - Ben Pounds
At its meeting on Monday, Feb. 9, the Clinton Regional Planning Commission unanimously recommended a new set of regulations for vape and cannabis-derivative shops to the Clinton City Council.
City Planner Preston Stokes said it will likely be up for a vote at the upcoming meeting at Clinton City Hall on Monday Feb. 23 if City Manager Roger Houck and other staff approve.
The regulations would only allow for three such shops per 10,000 residents, and defines them as stores dedicating 25% or more of their floor space to “electronic cigarettes/vaping devices, E-liquids/cartridges, edibles, concentrates, or oil containing cannabis derivatives (including but not limited to CBD, Delta-8, Delta-9 or similar compounds permitted by law) Kratom, glassware, pipes, vaporizers and other smoking or inhalation devices.”
As of late Monday, with the Feb. 19 deadline looming next Thursday, several would-be candidates who picked up petitions had not yet filed them to get their names on the ballot for the Anderson County May 5 primary and Aug. 6 county general election.
There were changes in the past week for two candidates for County Commission who initially filed to run as Republicans, but have now listed themselves as Independents. They are Tina Graham Targonski, running in District 2, and Kevin Craig, running in District 7.
Of the main countywide positions up for election this year, only Carl Bailey, one of four who picked up petitions to run for sheriff, had not yet filed his petition as of late Monday.
County Trustee Regina Copeland was the last of the countywide incumbent candidates to file a petition, which she did on Feb. 5.
The candidates, including two seeking the Republican nomination for Anderson County mayor, began filing for the various county positions when registration officially opened Dec. 22, with the primary election coming up May 5. Filing deadline is Feb. 19.
District 3 Commissioner Joshua Anderson has filed to run against incumbent Mayor Terry Frank in the GOP primary.
Norris Mayor Chris Mitchell presents his “strategic vision” for the city prior to the start of the City Council meeting on Monday night. - G. Chambers Williams III
Norris should be a safe, livable community for its residents, with leadership that helps promote a good quality of life, Mayor Chris Mitchell told City Council members and residents during a presentation preceding Monday night’s council meeting.
He noted up front that he was presenting a “vision,” rather than a plan, and that plans to implement his vision would be rolled out in stages, beginning soon.
Mitchell, who has been mayor for nearly 18 years, spoke at length about Norris’ sidewalks, saying that “We want a walkable community,” and suggesting that a top priority of a strategic plan should be to make sidewalks available throughout the city, and that those already in place should be better maintained.
“I will be calling for a formal plan for sidewalks,” he said.
The Anderson County Emergency Management Agency stopped a truck’s diesel fuel leak last week, allowing for Interstate 75 North past Exit 122 to reopen.
An agency Facebook post announced the accident when it occurred on Thursday, Feb. 5.
Joseph Mead, the agency’s director, told The Courier News that his agency was notified at 4:11 a.m.
A tractor-trailer traveling northbound on I-75 struck an unknown object, which pierced a hole in the fuel tank causing about 125-150 gallons of fuel to leak onto the roadway, blocking both lanes, Mead said.
Damage to the truck’s air system reportedly worsened the problem.
Mead said emergency management personnel contained the leak in about 45 minutes.
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank will deliver a “State of the County” address at the start of the February meeting of the County Commission at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Because of the Monday, Feb. 16, Presidents Day holiday, the regular commission meeting has been moved to Tuesday this month.
According to the mayor’s office, Frank’s address “will provide an opportunity to reflect on Anderson County’s progress over the past year, highlight key accomplishments, and outline priorities for the year ahead.
It also serves as an important moment of transparency and communication between county leadership and the public.”
“During strategic planning workshops, commissioners expressed the desire to help residents gain insight into county operations and long-term planning efforts that will impact the county’s growth and quality of life,” Commission Chairwoman Denise Palmer said Monday.
“In an effort to mitigate misinformation, this address provides an opportunity for residents to hear directly from county leadership about many different issues affecting Anderson County,” Palmer said.
The State of the County address will be delivered during the “Presentations” portion of the commission meeting in Room 312 at the courthouse.
The Clinton Police Department announced the Feb. 9 passing of K9 Tonto, marking his End of Watch. Tonto served as a partner to Sgt. Matthew Howell and was known for his loyalty, bravery and role in protecting the Clinton community. Department officials said Tonto was instrumental in keeping city streets safe, and carried out his duties with courage.
Anderson County is waiting for federal approval of a grant application that would expand broadband service in parts of the county.
The County Commission approved a $10,000 local match for the grant in December 2024, contingent on approval.
County Mayor Terry Frank said the project would add a little more than 1,000 new broadband-serviceable locations.
Frank said the county supported both Frontier Communications and Comcast, but Comcast received notice that it was preliminarily awarded Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment funding for three project areas in Anderson County.
