Over the next several issues, we will publish our annual look back at some of the top stories, newsmakers and images that shaped the year.

The following are several of the top stories published in the Bulletin in February.

Columbus to cancel security agreement with St. Luke’s

The town of Columbus ended its security agreement with St. Luke’s Hospital.

For the past few years, the town and hospital had an agreement where St. Luke’s paid for a Columbus police officer to be on duty at the hospital at night.

The Columbus Town Council met in February and approved leaving the agreement.

The town gave the hospital six months notice of its intent to leave the agreement.

Breaking ground

The Harry Dallara Foundatin Project at Harmon Field broke ground in February with a ceremony to commemorate the project’s beginning.

Dr. Charles Dallara, chairman of the Harry Dallara Foundation spoke of his father, Harry, as well as Tryon Mayor Alan Peoples, Harmon Field Board of Supervisor Chair Benny Smith and Gordon Hamilton with the board of directors of the Harry Dallara Foundation. The foundation is placing a statue of the late Harry Dallara and making improvements to the baseball field.

Saluda ends 2016-2017 with healthy fund balance

The city of Saluda ended fiscal year 2016-2017 with a healthy fund balance of almost 44 percent, according to the annual audit report.

The Saluda City Council heard its audit report from Carter, PL, during its February meeting.

At the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2017, Saluda had an unassigned fund balance for the general fund of $493,770, or 43.97 percent of its general fund expenditures for the year.

Beddingfield resigns as Columbus Police Chief

A familiar face in law enforcement is hanging up his hat in Polk County after spending almost 20 years working in the area.

Columbus Police Chief Chris Beddingfield resigned recently to take the police chief position for the town of Biltmore Forest. 

Beddingfield began working in Polk County as a law enforcement officer 19 years ago, as the first school resource officer at Polk County High School, under then Polk County Sheriff David Satterfield.

Columbus zones 136 acres as traditional neighborhood for mixed use 

The Town of Columbus zoned 136.85 acres recently annexed as a Traditional Neighborhood District as the developer hopes to sell the property for a mix of uses.

The property is still for sale and located adjacent to the Milliken Plant right outside Columbus on Highway 108.

Car runs through Cocula Mexican Grill 

A car ran through the side of the building of the Cocula Mexican Grill in Columbus. 

There were two people who suffered minor injuries, according to the Columbus Fire Department. The restaurant was evacuated and closed for the night.

Polk’s population has grown by 1,600 in last decade

Polk County’s population has seen increases over the last few years and has grown by more than 1,600 residents over the last decade.

In 2008, Polk County’s population was 19,402, according to the audit report and in 2017, the population was 21,020.

Remains of Landrum woman found in Polk

Law enforcement found the remains of a missing Landrum woman in Columbus.

The remains were found on Old Highway 19, just outside.

Karen Denise Jenkins, who was 46 when she went missing in November 2017, lived on Oak Grove Road in Landrum.

Polk detectives learned that Jenkins was in a relationship with Polk County resident Jeremy Bradshaw, 34, of Winwood Drive, Columbus.

Bradshaw was charged with concealing a death and obstruction of justice initially, then later charged with first-degree murder. He has not yet gone to trial.

In Memoriam

Jerry A. Jackson

Carrol Reid Jones

Elizabeth D. Landrum

Horace A. Smith

William Joseph “Joe” Corn

Millard Fillmore Wofford

John D. Gray

Dianne Napier

Sgt. Roger D. Mills

Johnny Ray Walker

Adam Harris

Wilma Pack Jolley

Dorothy Louise Hansen

Karl Avery Williams Jr.

David Carmichael

Johnny Tallent

William D. Gwinn

Stephen A. Byers

Clyde David Metcalf

Betty Jean Bishop

Lucy King

Michael Charles Adams

John Arthur Dahlgren

John D. Mills

Linda Johnson

Barbara Batchler

Susan Carol Morales

James Crockett McPherson