Sheriff receives Order of the Silver Crescent

By PHILIP LORD Senior writer

GRANITEVILLE – Aiken County Sheriff Mike Hunt moved things around on his calendar at the last-minute Monday in order to handle a problem at Leavelle McCampbell Middle School.

Assistant Principal Cecil Atchley told the sheriff he needed his help with a "school problem."

Hunt showed up at the school at 4 p.m. and was led into the school's gymnasium, where he was one of the guests of honor at a ceremony hosted by the Aiken County Legislative Delegation.

"I came here to fight a fire," Hunt said of the personal issues he only assumed he would face once arriving at the school.

During the ceremony, Hunt was awarded the Order of the Silver Crescent, the state's highest honor for community service, for his role in leading Aiken County's response to the train tragedy in Graniteville on Jan. 6.

The award was presented to Hunt by Gov. Mark Sanford, who sent a letter informing the sheriff of the honor, which was supported by all the members of the Aiken County Legislative Delegation, the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce, the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce, the Midland Valley Chamber of Commerce and by other law enforcement agencies.

"I don't know what to say other than 'thank you,'" Hunt said after receiving the award. "I am successful because of the people I surround myself with," Hunt said in praising his staff.

The sheriff was honored for his efforts to guarantee the health and well-being of the residents of Aiken County following the train collision, which killed nine people.

"I just feel fortunate to witness one of the greatest human stories ever demonstrated in this county," said Rep. Bill Clyburn, D-Aiken, in honoring Hunt.

Hunt was also informed by Rep. James Roland Smith, R-Warrenville, and Clyburn also informed Hunt that a line item had been placed in the S.C. House budget last week that would provide his department with $240,000 to aid in emergency response efforts.

Also honored Monday were the members of the Graniteville-Vaucluse-Warrenville Volunteer Fire Department and Avondale Mills Chairman Stephen Felker.

GVW was honored with a House resolution for its emergency response and for saving lives, which might have been otherwise lost when 90 tons of chlorine gas was released from a Norfolk Southern rail car when it collided with a locomotive on a siding rail.

Sen. Tommy Moore, D-Clearwater, presented Felker with a resolution from the House, which has also been adopted by the S.C. Senate, honoring him for his commitment to the Valley and the approximately 2,500 employees Avondale has in the area.

"Mr. Felker could have easily walked away by closing the damaged plants," Moore said.

Instead, Avondale worked to reopen its plants and to return employees to work as soon as possible, Moore said.

"I am committed and Avondale is committed to see these operations restored," Felker said after receiving the resolutions.

He added, "We are a little bent, but not broken and we are bouncing back."

Hunt said if the additional funding is approved as part of the state's budget process that he could purchase between seven to eight new patrol cars with the funds.

To date, the Aiken County Council has enabled him to purchase 37 new cars for his fleet of approximately 140 vehicles. Hunt said he has hopes that one day the County will be able to set up a system that will replace vehicles on a regular basis.

"I am very appreciative for what the Council has done for me," Hunt said. "The Council has been very good in assisting us."

Smith and Clyburn, who serve on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which must approve all state spending, said they felt the line item for the sheriff's office was needed after the response to the train wreck.

"There is absolutely no way we could say thank you for your leadership of our county," Smith said.

Hunt said his officers reported 4,700 hours of overtime as a result of the Graniteville train wreck. The issue has been turned over to the County's finance department, which will in turn bill Norfolk Southern for the overtime.

Contact Philip Lord at plord@aikenstandard.com.

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