► Polk County School Board re-elects chairman and vice-chairman

In the December 11 Polk County School Board meeting the board re-elected Geoffrey M. Tennant as the chairman and Sherry H. Page as Vice Chairman. The board also approved a two-year roll in model for teacher contracts and adopted the 2016-2017 audit.

► Polk to hold public hearing on shared parking Dec. 18

The Polk County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18 to hear comments regarding a potential text amendment to the zoning ordinance Section 4.7 to include a shared parking option. Tryon International Equestrian Center requested the text amendment, which would use a formula to determine required parking spaces in developments with more than one business.

► Saluda police receives new vehicle

The City of Saluda recently received a new 2018 Dodge Charger the city budgeted to purchase this year. The city will spend approximately $30,000 on the vehicle, including the $24,000 purchase price and another $6,000 for lights and equipment. The black charger is currently getting equipped so it is not yet in use.

► Saluda public works commended for snow removal

During the City of Saluda’s Dec. 11 meeting, commissioner Leon Morgan commended the city public works department for its work getting the snow removed last weekend. Saluda received between 8-12 inches of snow on Dec. 8-9. Morgan said three employees worked 41 hours for a total expense of $1,256 to clear the roads.

► 503 graduates to receive degrees from USC Upstate 

On Tuesday, Dec. 19, the University of South Carolina Upstate will award 503 degrees at its Convocation Honoring December Graduates starting at 6:45 p.m. at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. Seven are earning master’s degrees. Tuesday’s graduation ceremony will have an especially patriotic element to it as the university, which was designated a Military Friendly Campus in 2016, recognizes 13 active-duty/military veterans and five military dependents among its graduates. In addition, three graduates who are receiving bachelor’s degrees will take the Oath of Office and be commissioned as officers in the U.S. Army. USC Upstate has 30,000 alumni.