Doris Cole

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WILLIAMSTON — Williamston moved forward during the past year with progress on many fronts. Town business was conducted with openness, volunteerism for town events rose, and the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors became more evident than ever.

Following several years of disappointment in our elected leadership and public discovery of our town’s serious financial crises, the citizens of Williamston became aware of their role in restoring confidence and improving our town. During 2007, the dedicated citizens of Williamston have done exactly that.

Groups of local volunteers demonstrated civic pride by restoring facilities in the Williamston Mineral Spring Park. Members of Calvary Baptist Church’s Mission Jerusalem recruited volunteers from a number of Williamston churches for repairs and putting fresh paint on every picnic shelter, the outdoor stage and even the park’s footbridge. Volunteer leadership of town events provided an excellent 26th annual Springwater Festival, improved the presentation of the Christmas Park and expanded the Halloween event, “Boo in the Park.”

Strong Communities, a Clemson University initiative to strengthen families with children under age 6, facilitated volunteer projects such as parent/child events, Mother’s Morning Out and Blue Ribbon Sunday — held in churches to raise awareness of the importance of child protection. Strong Communities even encouraged neighbors to learn the names of the children in the 10 homes closest to theirs.

Accolades for our public schools came in the announcement that Anderson School District 1 ranked fifth in academic excellence out of the 86 school districts in our state. PACT test scores for grades three to eight earned Anderson District 1 the honor of being second-highest in the entire state for language arts. Anderson District 1 teachers received an unprecedented amount of grant funds totaling more than $130,000. A service learning project was separately funded for Palmetto Middle School students to study and preserve several historic cemeteries.

Families supported their community schools and appreciated the school board’s efforts to support excellence while remaining one of the most financially efficient systems in the state. Dr. Wayne Fowler, superintendent in Anderson School District 1, stated, “Our schools attained high educational achievement while operating under an efficient, lean district budget.”

Anderson School District 1 also was noted as the fastest-growing district in the Upstate.

Churches increased outreach to children and families while new groups of volunteers formed to address concerns. The Palmetto Soccer Club held a ribbon cutting on its new soccer field on Main Street. This grassroots movement has led to youth soccer programs and has supported competitive teams both in independent and school leagues.

The work of Williamston police officers drew praise as they persevered under difficult circumstances after severe cutbacks because of the town’s financial trouble a year earlier.

Police Chief David Baker efficiently reorganized the staff to cover multiple responsibilities with fewer officers. Williamston’s volunteer fire department continued its excellent work under the direction of Fire Chief Steve Ellison. Thanks to the generosity of the volunteer firemen, the Williamston Fire Department participated in civic projects, including the maintenance on an antique fire engine that is used for rides during the town festival.

The Williamston Action Community Club signed a contract providing space at the Caroline Community Center for an active Senior Solutions group. Volunteers built a picnic shelter on the playground of the center while state grant money paid for final renovations for the family room and restrooms inside.

In the face of other mill towns’ demise with the textile industry leaving the country, Williamston’s textile manufacturing plants of Milliken’s Cushman Mill and Mt. Vernon Mills continued on with production of goods and the provision of jobs for residents.

Amid the positive strides in our town the past year, our branch library stands as a symbol of needed improvement. There is a growing concern over the services and building provided for our library versus the investments in the Powdersville, Belton, Pendleton, Piedmont and Honea Path branches. More pressure on the County Council to distribute library funding equally to every community will become an issue in the near future.

While our town has learned many hard lessons in the past several years, we are moving forward with creating a caring community that is small enough to be personal and wise enough to appreciate our unique qualities. Williamston remains a good place to live, work and raise a family.

Doris Cole is a Williamston resident.