Anderson Independent Mail

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URL: http://www.independentmail.com/and/home/article/0,1886,AND_8195_3500783,00.html

Gov. Sanford might take in the Chattooga

By STEPHANIE TRACY
Anderson Independent-Mail
January 26, 2005

COLUMBIA — Instead of biking his way through the asphalt network of South Carolina’s highways, Republican Gov. Mark Sanford has decided to try his hand at taming the rapids of the Upstate’s Chattooga River, and some local lawmakers may join him.

"There’s no better place to experience the quality of life of South Carolina than the Upstate," said Sen. Thomas Alexander, R-Walhalla. "I’ve done river rafting before, so we’ll see what happens."

Freshman Sen. Kevin Bryant, R-Anderson, said he would join the governor on a rafting trip and said the river was as good as anything else that might bring Gov. Sanford to the Upstate.

In a world where most people forget how to function without cellular phones, the Internet and digital cable, and with a looming health crisis in adult and childhood obesity, the governor’s call to increase physical activity levels pleased Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens.

"I really admire his emphasis on that type of activity," he said. "If he comes, I’ll do it."

While he admitted to not realizing what he got himself into during his bicycle trek across the state last year, Gov. Sanford said he would travel all over the state again to support people willing to make changes in their lives.

"I’ll go as many places as I have time to join South Carolinians willing to invest the energy into making a difference in their health," he said.

Stephanie Tracy can be reached at (800) 859-6397, Ext. 342 or by e-mail at tracysk@IndependentMail.com.