By Stan Welch
The Anderson County Council passed several resolutions Tuesday night, including one honoring Powdersville High School senior Tara Jordan Moore.
Moore was recently named the Distinguished Young Woman of South Carolina for the Year 2016. The Distinguished Young Woman competition was formerly known by the America’s Junior Miss designation.
Moore was judged on five criteria: scholarship, physical fitness, talent, self-expression, and an interview process. She won the Anderson County title in March, and on June 25, after a week long competition in Columbia, she was named the South Carolina state winner. She will compete next June for the national title, which could earn her one hundred thousand dollars in scholarship funds. Her current achievements have resulted in $6600 in scholarships so far.
Moore is very active in a variety of activities and organizations, as cited in the resolution, which was introduced by District Six Councilman Ken Waters. She is on the Powdersville High School student council, is a member of the Beta Club, and is also a Patriot Scholar, Junior Marshal, and a member of Palmetto Girls’ State.
She is also a nationally recognized jazz dancer, and is active in the FUSE group at New Spring Church. Her parents are Gordon and Patty Moore.
District Seven Councilwoman Cindy Wilson also introduced a resolution recognizing the 175th anniversary of the Whitefield Baptist Church, which was founded in a log cabin by Elder Robert King, in a log cabin.
In other business, Mr. Steve Lambert made a lengthy presentation on the economic and quality of life impacts that the annual hot air balloon festival which he spearheads has on the county. Since former administrator Joey Preston left the county’s employment, the county funding of the festival has diminished from six figures to a much smaller amount.
District Two Councilwoman Gracie Floyd,who met privately with Lambert recently championed the cause, challenging her fellow Council members to provide funding from their own district funds. Lambert and Floyd both pointed out that the Anderson Balloon Festival is the only one of its kind in South Carolina.
Council also gave final approval to an easement for future maintenance and repairs along Wren School Road to the Powdersville Water District. They also gave second reading approval to an ordinance approving an amended infrastructure credit agreement for the proposed Coca Cola on Hwy. 86.
