Left to right: Jakob Brewer, Caleb Talley, Amanda Prater, Kayla Chapman, and Brett Williams.
STUDENTS ATTEND
Each year the Oconee Soil and Water Conservation
District sponsors two students from
The students stayed at the Somerset Facility/Wammpee
Conference Center on
OCONEE SWCD SELECTED AS ……...
2009 SC CONSERVATION DISTRICT OF THE YEAR
In
January of each year the South Carolina Association of Conservation
Districts (SCACD), South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR)
and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) meet for the SC
Conservation Partnership
Conference. During the
conference, conservation issues are discussed, ideas exchanged and awards
presented.
One such award, presented by the South Carolina Association of Conservation
Districts, is the Outstanding Soil and
Water Conservation District
of the Year . This year
the SCACD Awards Judging Committee selected Oconee SWCD to receive the
Outstanding Conservation District of the Year Award
based on exemplary efforts to protect and enhance the natural resources in
our county. OSWCD will
represent South Carolina in the
Best of the Best
at the Southeast National Association of Conservation Districts’ meeting in
2010.
In the above photo, members of the Oconee SWCD Board of Commissioners and
staff received the 2009 Outstanding Conservation District Award, “The
Traveling Pump,” at the conference in Hilton Head on January 20th.
This the second time Oconee has received the award.
We are extremely proud to have been chosen for this prestigious
award. The pump is an old-time
water pump, mounted and restored, and is passed on each year to the next
winning district, in exchange for a plaque.
Through local support from our affiliate members, landowners, schools, and other conservation agencies, the Oconee SWCD has been able to expand its services over the years to address natural resource concerns. It is with these individuals that we share this recognition. We wish to thank you for your support and invite to drop by our office where we proudly have “The Traveling Pump” on display!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
February 15, 2010, Office Closed, Presidents' Day
February 23, 2010 Legislative Reception & Dinner
March 4, 2010, 9:00 a.m., OSWCD Board of Commissioners Meeting*
*For persons requiring accommodations such as sign language interpreters, Braille, Large Print or Alternative Formats - please contact Ann Herron at 638-2213, Ext. 101 at least seven days prior to board meeting date.
Constructed in 1908, Oak Grove School, located 3.5 miles southwest of
Walhalla, is a beloved landmark for the quiet rural community near Five
Forks. Former students have
gathered annually for fourteen years to share special memories of their days
at Oak Grove School.
Unfortunately, their reunions have taken place in an alternate location
because the school has
fallen
into disrepair. Broken windows
and a leaking roof threaten the still structurally sound building.
Without
immediate weatherization efforts, rehabilitation costs may not be feasible.
Early
in 2008 the Oconee Soil & Water Conservation District (OSWCD) learned that
the School District of Oconee County (SDOC) was planning to divest itself of
unused properties owned by the School District.
The Oak Grove School building sits on one of those properties.
Oconee
Clemson Extension Service hosts Farm City Days at the Oak Grove 4-H Center
located on the adjacent property, also owned by SDOC.
The yearly event educates hundreds of school children about farms,
conservation, and rural living.
Because of the success of this event and the need to preserve
this historic treasure, the OSWCD is actively pursuing the acquisition of
the school property for purposes of renovation.
The SDOC has indicated that they would be receptive to the transfer
of the property to a government organization or a 501 C-3 (non-profit)
organization having a definite and workable plan for public use of the
property. OSWCD
is a government organization with a board composed of 5 members,
3 elected and 2 appointed.
The
SDOC and the OSWCD have been discussing and negotiating the transfer of the
school building and property to OSWCD during the past year.
Please read on to learn about the vision OSWCD has for Oak Grove
School. We hope you will
support this endeavor for the benefit of the community and to preserve the
heritage of this important landmark!
