Editor’s note: With another memorable year winding down, the Bulletin chose to reflect on those stories that kept the community talking. Over the next several issues, we’ll present highlights of those stories.
JULY
• Principal Walker Williams made his retirement from TES official at the Polk County Board of Education meeting June 27. His last day was June 30.
• The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office busted a moonshine still near Landrum June 30 that Sheriff Chuck Wright said was one of the largest in the county’s history. The sheriff’s office seized $150,000 in cash, four vehicles and approximately 1,500 to 2,000 gallons of illegal white liquor.
• Chad Ware, 26, of Deerfield, Ill., won the Firecracker 5K in Columbus 15 seconds ahead of last year’s winning time. Ware finished at 15:13.2.
• William Ott Sizemore took on the role of principal at Tryon Elementary School July 1, following the retirement of longtime principal Walker Williams.
• In July, unemployment rates for the month of May were released showing Polk County’s unemployment rate as the fifth lowest in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Employment Security Commission (ESC). Polk’s rate was 7.1 percent compared to North Carolina’s 9.7.
• Tryon resident Carol Jean Vosburgh swam, biked and ran her way to two gold medals at the National Senior Olympics in Houston.
• The Town of Columbus has contracted with Emergency Communications Network (ECN) to license its CodeRED high-speed notification system. The cost to the town was $2,520. The system allows the town to send out messaged to residents in an emergency.
• The Polk County Recreation Advisory Board began the task of creating a new recreation master plan expected to recommend recreation improvements in the area for the next 10 years.
• Polk County Sheriff’s Officers arrested Dennis Martin, of 1182 John Shehan Road, Tryon and charged him with selling/delivering a schedule IV controlled substance. Tracy Martin, of the same address, was also charged with selling/delivering a schedule IV controlled substance and maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for a controlled substance. Both arrests were part of the office’s Operation Pill Sweep.
• Bear sightings became a common occurrence.
• Sixteen-month-old Farrah Rose Huff died in Saluda on July 13 after she fell from a truck traveling on Greenville Street, according to Saluda officials.
• Polk commissioners approved a new policy July 11 offering raises to some sheriff’s officers who complete Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET). The controversial policy was approved by a 3-2 vote.
• Dr. Mary Margret Ingle retired after 13 years as associate superintendent, PCHS principal Aaron Greene became director of curriculum and instruction and Mary Feagan became PCHS principal.
• The Polk County Sheriff’s Office discovered more than 3 pounds of marijuana July 15 and arrested David Warren, of 4600 Hwy. 9 South, Tryon. Warren was charged with three counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule VI controlled substance and two counts of maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for a controlled substance, both felonies.
• All seven Polk County schools achieved their federally mandated Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) goals this year.
• A 35-40 member herd of feral pigs destroyed properties on Hogback Mountain Road.
• Information from a search warrant and probable cause documents were released in the investigation of Vanessa Mintz’ murder. Mintz was found shot to death on Feb. 19, 2011.
• Officials use helicopters to find 286 marijuana plants in Polk County. The plants were estimated at a total value of more than $286,000.
• A stolen car was found set on fire atop White Oak Mountain July 25. The 2009 Subaru Imprezza had been stolen from the Fox Mountain Road area.
• Giardini Trattoria, an Italian restaurant located between Columbus and Mill Spring, sought annexation into the town of Columbus.
• Tryon hosts Art Trek and Tryon Gallery Trot events.
• Green Creek resident Keisha Mae Harris was arrested for being suspected of shaking her 2-month-old baby and giving it Xanax.

In Memoriam
Maggie Lee Gibbs Conner
Doreen Pearson
Maurine V. Crandall
Ralph Adams
Caitlin Mauney
Ruby W. Ravan
James ‘Jim’ Rose
John Hanley Gibbs
Flora Bell Arledge
Stanley Huddleston
Ann Nix
Rosalie Martin
Dorothy Waymon Simmons
Helen Revan Berry
Princess J. Ransom
Margaret Bradley Hodge