LABA plans holiday season events

The Landrum Area Business Association met Tuesday, Sept. 1 to finalize upcoming holiday event times. The Halloween stroll will be held on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m. beginning at Landrum Hardware and ending at the train depot where music will be played. The costume contest winner will be announced at the depot at 6:30 p.m. The winner of the third annual scarecrow contest will also be announced at the Halloween stroll. Those wishing to vote on scarecrows may submit ballots at participating businesses. Businesses not located downtown and willing to participate in the stroll will set up to pass out candy along Trade Avenue. Their scarecrows will also be located along Trade Avenue in the adjacent park throughout October. Light Up Landrum will take place on Friday, Nov. 27 at 6 p.m., following the citizen of the year announcement. The Christmas stroll and parade will be held on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m.

Polk’s Gasperson recognized by NCACC

Polk County Commissioner Ray Gasperson was recently recognized by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) for meeting the requirements for the Practitioner level in the Local Elected Leaders Academy. Gasperson completed a minimum of 48 hours of credits with the Local Elected Leaders Academy, a partnership with the UNC School of Government.

“LELA recognizes county commissioners who have dedicated themselves to becoming effective local leaders for their communities,” said NCACC Executive Director Kevin Leonard. “The roles and responsibilities of county commissioners are constantly changing and the LELA program helps them keep up with the latest information.”

Polk commissioners approve new meeting schedule

The Polk County Board of Commissioners will not meet as scheduled on Monday, Sept. 14 but will reconvene this month on Monday, Sept. 28. The new schedule includes meetings on Oct. 5, Oct. 19, Nov. 2, Nov. 16 and Dec. 7. All meetings unless otherwise specified begin at 7 p.m. in the R. Jay Foster Hall of Justice of the Womack building in Columbus.

Landrum’s N. Trade/E. Rutherford turn update

Landrum’s mayor Bob Briggs met with SCDOT traffic engineer Eric Dillon to further discuss N. Trade Avenue’s right-in, right-out restriction. Dillon recommended closing the intersection between Trade Ave. and E. Rutherford St. (at Hare & Hound) and creating a new entrance between Architectural Warehouse and Petty Funeral Home that gives access to and from Highway 176. In order to do so, the city must receive permission from Norfolk Southern Railway as the proposed entrance/exit would cross the railroad tracks. Though no decision has been made, the council members voted Tuesday, Sept. 8 to accept the recommendation.