NEWBERRY — The way to build stronger communities is by working together.
That was the message Rep. Walt McLeod delivered to the mayors of Newberry County during the annual Chamber Mayoral Breakfast that brought the mayors from Little Mountain, Newberry, Pomaria, Prosperity, Silverstreet and Whitmire together to update the Chamber of Commerce on their towns.
Whitmire
Mayor Billy Hollingsworth presented updates on new attractions in Whitmire as well as past events. Whitmire hosted its first Community Better Together Event, Hollingsworth said, and there was a good crowd and good participation.
“This was a step in the right direction, for us to work together,” he said. “This event helped create unity and allowing for one mind in Whitmire.”
In February Whitmire held a state of the town address and around 100 people attended.
“The only way to move forward is with people, the more involved the people are the more we progress,” he said.
Ted Smith, executive director of the Newberry Chamber of Commerce, and Scott Cain, Newberry County councilman, also attended. Hollingsworth invited them to increase unity across the town, county and state.
During the past year Whitmire Town Council had to make the tough decision to terminate the position of the Whitmire recreation director, due to money constraints.
“We continue to push programs and grow our town. As long as we are carrying kids in the right direction, we are doing well,” Hollingsworth said.
Construction on a public volleyball court was finished and is ready for public use plus three new business — South Carolina Bottle and Whitmire Museum, Sissy’s Boutique and Pieces of Time Boutique — have also been added to the downtown area.
Prosperity
Mayor Derek Underwood discussed the town’s purchase of the old Park Sterling Bank building. Town hall will be relocated there.
“It is the intention of the town to make our current building a full civic center, which will allow for grant money for the front of the building that is in need of repair,” Underwood said. “This is good for the future of the town.”
He said that about six years ago Prosperity was known as the town that applied for grants, but never got them because Prosperity was above the income eligibility level to receive grants. But Underwood said that is not true for all of Prosperity.
To help those parts of Prosperity, the council sectioned the town, which allows them to receive community development grants for those areas.
Underwood also said that Police Chief David Beddingfield has been doing what Underwood called community policing by going out and engaging the community. Most recently he spoke at a church about what to do if you are approached by a police officer or pulled over.
Little Mountain
Mayor Jana Jayroe was excited to discuss the events Little Mountain hosted in the past year. The Little Mountain Reunion was held last weekend making it the second year it was back after a two-year hiatus. The event lasted all weekend, with a lot of volunteers.
“We also had our first Movies in the Park and it was very successful. There were 150 people in attendance and one family with three generations attending,” Jayroe said.
The town recently completed annexation of 60 acres, from one piece of property, to the town. There are also plans being drawn for a dentist’s office that should be completed by the end of the year.
“We are also excited for Chapin as well. A Publix is being built there, and it will be five miles from our town,” Jayroe said.
Pomaria
The town of Pomaria continues to have a strong recreation baseball, according to Mayor Darryl Hentz. This year they had 80 participants.
This year was the fourth year for the Pomaria Old School Reunion and the third for the parade. This year’s parade honored first responders. However, Hentz discussed sad news involving the first grand marshal of the parade.
“Judy Sease was our first grand marshal in the parade, she was the oldest teacher in the town at the time. Sadly she passed away this week,” he said.
Over the past year, Pomaria has increased its online presence. To date, the town’s Facebook page has 502 likes, the article advertising the festival received 1,200 views and the recreation baseball sign up received 950 hits.
Newberry
Mayor Foster Senn gave updates on events and openings that will be taking place in Newberry over the next few months. The first event on Aug. 23 is Deborah Smith Appreciation Day by the Newberry Oprah House.
“Deborah is responsible for a lot of good things in Newberry, and she is retiring soon. This event will recognize what she has done for the community,” Foster said.
Foster announced that Molly Fortune will replace Smith. Fortune comes from the Fox Theater in Atlanta, Ga.
Another big event will be the band A Thousand Horses performing at the Newberry Oprah House on Aug. 27. This event has already sold out. On Aug. 21 the Bank of America will officially transition to South State Bank. On Aug. 14 the city will old Movie Night showing Paul Blart Mall Cop 2. In mid-August the Newberry College students will return.
Silverstreet
Lisha Senn has been serving as mayor for Silverstreet for about a year now. She said that since she has taken over as mayor, two new energetic council members have joined.
“We have a lot of plans that I hope I can come to you next year and tell you all about,” she said.
One of these plans involves the old Silverstreet school. The town recently purchased the building and are planning on tearing it down to build a senior center and recreation center.
Silverstreet also has a Picnic in the Park on Aug. 15. Senn hopes they can continue to expand and one day have it as a festival.
“We are taking baby steps and we are learning as we go,” she said.