Two Wofford College students, both from Upstate South Carolina, are finalists for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship and are headed to St. Louis, Mo., for interviews for the selection of the scholars the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Brian Novak McCracken of Anderson, S.C., and Rachel Marie Woodlee of Greer, S.C., are both student-athletes at Wofford – McCracken is a member of the varsity track and field team while Woodlee is a volleyball player.

Wofford also had a Rhodes Scholar finalist in 2011 in Joseph Hiram McAbee of Woodruff, S.C.

McCracken and Woodlee are among the dozen finalists selected in District 12 for the scholarship selection, which encompasses South Carolina, Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi and Missouri. They are competing against nearly 200 national finalists from a pool of about 830 applicants from more than 300 American colleges and universities for the oldest and most celebrated international fellowship award in the world.

In the end, 32 students will be selected for the Rhodes Scholar Class of 2013, who will attend the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Rhodes Scholars are chosen not only for their outstanding scholarly achievements, but for their character, commitment to others and to the common good, and for their potential for leadership in whatever domains their careers may lead. The Rhodes Trust, a British charity established to honor the will and bequest of Cecil J. Rhodes, provides full financial support for the Rhodes Scholars to attend Oxford. The first American Rhodes Scholars entered Oxford in 1904.

McCracken is spending this academic year as one of Wofford’s two inaugural Presidential Global Studies Scholars, selected this spring by President Benjamin B. Dunlap. He is taking time off from his overseas travel to attend the interview portion for the Rhodes Scholarship.

A senior with a double major in government and economics, with a minor in religion, McCracken is a graduate of Westside High School in Anderson and is the son of Bob and Sue McCracken of Anderson. He was a Boys State Scholar and a Palmetto Fellow. He has served as assistant director of intramurals at Wofford. He has been an intern in the office of U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and in the law offices of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. He also has been a student assistant on an archaeological dig in Huqoq, Israel, with Dr. Byron McCane, the Albert C. Outler Professor and chair of the department of religion. McCracken also served as a vice president of the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity and is chair and former clerk of court of the Wofford Judicial Commission. This summer, he interned with the Ward Law Firm in Spartanburg and plans to attend law school after graduation. His Global Studies research project focuses on “Good Government at the Grassroots,” focusing first on South Africa and then on Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya. He also is a Dean’s List student.

In track and field, McCracken was 12th in the 2011 and the 2012 Southern Conference Outdoor Championships in the discus and 11th in the 2010 championship. He was named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 and was named to the SoCon Spring and Winter All-Academic Teams in 2011 and 2012. He also made the All-Freshman track and field teams at the SoCon indoor and outdoor championships. He also was nominated as Rookie of the Year in Wofford Athletics during his first year. In high school, he earned varsity letters in soccer, football, and track and field. He also was a member of the Beta Club and was an AP Scholar.

Woodlee, also a senior, is majoring in business economics and Chinese and is a graduate of Mauldin High School. She is the daughter of Timothy and Joan Woodlee of Greer. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

So far in the 2012 volleyball season, Woodlee has started 20 of 26 matches, is third on the team with 289.5 points, and is second with 258 kills. In 2011, she started all 33 of the team’s matches and was second on the team with 266 kills and a 2.40 kills per set average. She was second on the team with 33 points and three points per set. She earned Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll honors in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and was named to the SoCon Fall Academic All-Conference Team in 2010 and 2011.

Woodlee was a four-year varsity started at Mauldin High School and earned 2009 4A All-State honors as well as Region II 4A All-Region. She received the Martin Luther King Award for Excellence in Athletics and was awarded the Maverick Award for Leadership in Volleyball in 2007. She lettered in basketball as well. She was a member of the National Honor Society, was an AP Scholar with Distinction and served as a Junior Marshal in 2007. She was named a Palmetto Fellow in 2008.

The University of South Carolina Upstate recently announced students who have received various academic scholarships. 

University Scholars

University Scholarships are $2,500 scholarships that are awarded annually to entering freshmen who meet the following criteria: present a minimum SAT I score of 1,200 or ACT score of 27, rank in top 20% of their high school class and minimum GPA of 3.5.

• Stephanie Mahaffey of Simpsonville received the University Scholars Award and she plans to pursue a degree in biology. A graduate of Hillcrest High School, she is the daughter of Tonia and Todd Mahaffey.

Metropolitan Scholarships

Metropolitan Scholarships are $1,500 scholarships that are awarded annually to entering freshmen who meet the following criteria: present a minimum SAT I score of *1,100 or ACT score of 24, rank in top 30% of their high school class and minimum GPA of 3.25. 

• Elvis Foli of Greer received the Metropolitan Scholarship. Foli graduated from Riverside High School where he was a member of the Varsity Track and Field Team, the Orchestra, and Tri-M Music Honor Society. He is the son of Kwasi and Perpetual Foli.

• Ashley Brooke Vaughan of Jonesville received the Metropolitan Scholarship and she plans to pursue a degree in nursing. A graduate of Union County High School, she is the daughter of Tammy and John Vaughan.

Valedictorian Scholarships
Valedictorian Scholarships are $7,500 (for boarding students) and $3,500 (for commuting students) and are given annually to entering freshmen who are ranked first in their class at time of admission to the University, or upon high school graduation. In addition, Valedictorian Scholars must present a minimum SAT score of 1100* or ACT score of 24.

• Lee Steele of Cowpens received the Valedictorian Scholarship and plans to pursue a degree in computer science. A graduate of Spartanburg Christian Academy, Steele was a member of the Beta Club, Praise Band, Cross Country Team, and received the Distinguished High School Student Award. He is the son of Edna and Frank Steele.

As part of Patch's continuing effort to provide our readers with consistent coverage of crime in our area, we're happy to provide you with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office's daily activity report. 

A number of incidents were reported in the Golden Strip area between Nov. 9-12. They include:

• Assault and battery, 610 Donaldson Road — Conestee/East Gantt area
• Burglary, 303 Canterbury Street — Simpsonville
• Autobreaking/petit larceny, 1 Ebenway Lane — Simpsonville
• Attempted auto theft, 109 Theresa Drive — Mauldin area
• Petit larceny, 1219 Woodruff Road — Mauldin area
• Lost property, 1 Garden Corners Court — Simpsonville
• Petit larceny, 700 Pawleys Lane — Simpsonville
• Malicious damage, 11 Alvin Drive — Mauldin area
• Breach of trust, 204 Stenhouse Road — Simpsonville
• Trespass notice served, 1117 Woodruff Road — Mauldin area
• Petit larceny, 12 Hackberry Street — Simpsonville
• Petit larceny, 308 Glinda Ann Court — Mauldin/Conestee area
• Autobreaking, 321 Scuffletown Road — Five Forks
• Petit larceny, 9 Roanoke Hills Court — Simpsonville
• Assault and battery, 31 Standing Springs Road — Conestee
• Assault and battery, 116 Chalmers Road — Mauldin area
• Burglary, 3025 Grandview Drive, #423 — Simpsonville
• Burglary, 617 Old Augusta Road — Mauldin area
• Burglary, 2118 Standing Springs Road — Mauldin/Conestee area
• Shoplifting ($2,000 or less), 1520 South Pleasantburg Drive — Mauldin area
• Malicious damage, 318 South Harrison Bridge Road — Simpsonville
• Breach of trust-auto, 1314 South Pleasantburg Drive — Mauldin area
• Burglary, 116 Mooremont Avenue — Conestee area
• Open container, Mauldin Road — Mauldin
• Assault and battery, 316 Echelon Road — Conestee area
• Runaway, 115 New Castle Place — Simpsonville
• Shoplifting/trespass notice, 1451 Woodruff Road — Mauldin area
• Attempted burglary, 324 Standing Springs Court — Simpsonville
• Burglary, 6 Plum Drive — Mauldin area
• Burlglary, 102 High Plains Road — Simpsonville
• Financial transaction card forgery, 1510 Woodruff Road — Mauldin area

To view the full activity report, click on the attached PDF.

The Greenville County School District was given a "Excellent" absolute rating and a "good" growth rating by the S.C. Department of Education for the 2012 report card.

Ninety-four percent of Greenville County schools (78 schools) received Absolute ratings of Excellent, Good, or Average on their 2012 School Report Cards, the same number as in 2011.  Nineteen schools improved their Absolute ratings, 60 maintained their Absolute rating, and three schools earned a lower Absolute rating.

Schools in the Mauldin and Simpsonville area receiving ratings of "Excellent" include Oakview Elementary, Bethel Elementary, Bell's Crossing Elementary, Plain Elementary, and Mauldin High.

Oakview Elementary in Simpsonville, Riverside High, and Sterling School have achieved Excellent Absolute ratings every year that Report Cards have been released.

South Carolina had 42 school districts with an absolute rating of Excellent or Good in 2012, up from 33 in 2011, according to a press release from the SCDE. The state had 629 schools with an absolute rating of Excellent or Good in 2012, up from 529 in 2011, for a 19 percent increase.   

Neil C. Robinson, Jr., Chairman of the Education Oversight Committee, said “teachers, students, principals, school board members, parents, legislators and community leaders should be commended for the results on the 2012 state report cards.”  

Robinson said there are still challenges to be battled and improvements to be made. Among them:

1. Seven in 10 children attending public schools in SC are eligible for the free/reduced price lunch and/or Medicaid programs. Of the 61 school districts with a poverty index above 70 percent, 21 had an absolute rating of Excellent or Good. "This performance is evidence that high academic standards, quality teaching, parental involvement, and community support can mitigate  the negative impact of poverty on students and their successes."

2. There are eight school districts rated At Risk, down from nine in 2011. Thirty schools with an absolute rating of At Risk in 2009 are still rated At Risk in 2012. Nine percent of students in South Carolina attended a school with a rating of at-risk or below average. “We must put our energy into putting an end to persistent underperformance in these schools. The percentage has to come down," Robinson said.

3. Businesses need better-qualified and -educated students, Robinson said. One in four children still do not graduate from high school. And one in five children is not reading on grade level in 3rd grade.

See above or click here to see how Greenville County's schools did in 2012.

Two online petitions at the White House website seek the authority for South Carolina to secede from the United States — a move also attempted by secessionists in 30 other states.

Petitioners can ask the White House anything. In order to get a response from the administration, they'll need 25,000 people to sign on to the petition within a month. The site was launched by the Obama administration in September 2011.

Getting 25,000 signatures is not an easy task, but it's made easier when there's alcohol involved.

One recent petition that found success came from the mystery of the White House Honey Brown Ale. President Barack Obama has frequently been seen sharing a beer with war heroes or visiting dignitaries and news of a new White House specialty inspired enough support for a response from White House Assistant Chef Sam Kass.

The administration's We The People forum allows any citizen to create a petition using your email as your signature. The latest efforts include the secessionists troubled by the president's re-election, but also measures to recognize sign language as a language or to refuse foreign aid to Uganda.

Once a petition reaches 25,000, it's forwarded on to the responsible agency for a writte response that is delivered to the emails of all the petitioners, and posted on the White House website.

The beer recipe is a lighthearted example.

Many of the 82 petitions that have qualified for a response are more serious. You'll see requests for Wall Street reform, Post Office solvency and expanded Green Card access for foreign students in high-tech fields.

It's also a way for petitioners to get the facts on controversial issues. One petition called for an end to the military using monkeys for chemical testing. The Deputy Chief of Army Public Affairs noted in his response that the practice ended as of September 2011.

While the secessionist stories will likely awaken conservative interest in the site as an outlet for their frustrations, know that it is bipartisan.

The administration defended Rush Limbaugh from a recent petition that sought to ban the talk radio entertainer from American Forces Network, which provides programming for the military radio.

UPDATE, Nov. 14: Michael Duane Henderson has been denied bond by a Greenville County magistrate, and will remain in the Greenville County Detention Center on attempted murder charges (see full story below).

Robert Newton, an attorney for Henderson, had asked magistrate judge Leila Foster for a "reasonable bond," telling the judge that Henderson is “not a violent person, not a threat to the community.” Judge Foster was unswayed.

Newton told the judge that Henderson was in the detention center because of a “tragic misunderstanding that almost cost him his life,” according to a Greenville News report.

“The police misinterpreted what happened and what was going on,” Newton told the judge. “We are positioned and trust down the road the jury will arrive at that conclusion.

Original story: A Conestee man faces two charges of attempted murder and two charges of pointing and presenting a firearm following a disturbance last month, according to the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.

Michael Duane Henderson, 33, of Conestee was scheduled to appear at a bond hearing Tuesday afternoon on the charges. He has been recuperating from gunshots he received in the Oct. 7 incident. A pair of deputies shot Henderson after Henderson allegedly grabbed a loaded .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at the deputies and refused to stand down when ordered.

An arrest warrant alleged that Henderson pulled the gun with the intent of killing the deputies before he was shot first. The deputies have since been cleared of the shooting and returned to active duty by Greenville County Sheriff Steve Loftis.

The incident happened last month after the GCSO received a disturbance and loud music call in the area of 6th St., in Conestee. Within ten minutes deputies Brian Lovelace and Michael Downey were in the area and located a large crowd gathered near a bonfire at 712 6th Street, according to a summary of the incident.

While both deputies were speaking with several individuals about the complaint, Henderson allegedly retrieved a handgun from a vehicle, the report said. Lovelace and Downey ordered Henderson to drop the gun multiple times. Henderson did not comply with commands and turned toward the deputies while still in possession of the gun "placing the deputies’ lives in danger," the report said.

Lovelace and Downey fired their service weapons five times striking Henderson in the abdomen and shoulder. Henderson was transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital to be treated for his injuries. 

No South Carolina college made it into U.S. News and World Report's annual list of the hardest colleges in which to be accepted, but there are plenty of schools that are picky about whom they allow entry.

The state's largest schools — Clemson and USC — rank in the middle of the pack, while some of the state's smallest private schools rank among the most selective. Claflin College, which turns away more than 60 percent of applicants, has an enrollment of just 1,961 students.

Surprisingly, the state's public military college, The Citadel, accepts more than three-quarters of its applicants, though it ranks as one of the region's most prestigious institutions of higher learning.

Here's a list of the state's colleges and universities sorted by acceptance rate.

*Not all colleges disclose their acceptance data.

Former Anderson County Councilman Ronnie Gene Wilson has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison on mail fraud charges connected to the multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme investigators say he ran for years.

Wilson was sentenced to 19 and a half years in jail during a hearing held in Greenville this afternoon.

Earlier this year, Wilson entered a guilty plea to two counts of mail fraud filed against him in connection with the Ponzi scheme.

Investigators said Wilson bilked his silver investors about of $60 million in fradulent investments.

Wilson told investors he'd purchased silver holdings for them and that those purchases were being stored in a depository in Delaware.

When contacted by investigators, officials at the depository said they had no holdings for either Wilson or his business, Atlantic Bullion & Coin.

The Ponzi scheme defrauded over 800 investors in 25 states, prosecutors said.

Wilson ran the scheme for 11 years, investigators said.

The mail fraud charges stated Wilson “knowingly devised a scheme or used an artifice to defraud and used the United States mail in executing this scheme.”

Earlier this year, State Attorney General Alan Wilson filed a complaint against Wilson. Wilson also faces lawsuits and a federal civil enforcement action filed by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The action charges Wilson and AB&C with fraud in connection with operating a $90 million Ponzi scheme, and alleges that Wilson and AB&C violated the Commodity Exchange Act and CTFC regulations.

The agency's complaint charges that Section 6(c)1 of the CEA and CTFC's Regulation 180.1 (a), “prohibiting the use of any manipulative or deceptive device, scheme or contrivance to defraud in connection with a sale of contract of any commodity interstate commerce” were violated.

After the sentencing, Wilson was placed in the custody of U.S. Marshals.

Last month, a Mauldin man was indicted in connection with the scheme.

Wallace Lindsey Howell, 60, is alleged to have conspired with Wilson to siphon profits from two investors that Howell brought to Wilson and to Atlantic Bullion & Coin.

Howell’s AB&C account was funded by profits transferred from the victims’ accounts, and, over time, Howell withdrew over $3 million for his own use, according to a release.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office upped the ante against Howell, announcing a grand jury had handed down a 3-count "superseding indictment" against Howell alleging conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

If convicted, Howell could receive 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

With a large gathering of members and friends of the Anglican Church of St. George the Martyr, the Rev. Paul A. Rivard was installed this past weekend as the church’s new Rector, the church announced. 

The Most Rev. Walter H. Grundorf, Presiding Bishop, Anglican Province of America, presided. The Rev. William Martin, of Mills River, NC, and the Rev. Peter Geromel (Diocese of the Holy Cross), in Landrum, SC, assisted during the service. Other APA clergy as well as friends and family of Rivard were also in attendance.

Rivard is a 2010 graduate of Erskine Theological Seminary, located in Due West, S.C. He was previously a Curate at St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Dunwoody, Ga.  His wife, Sarah, and their 4 children reside in Greenville.

As Rector, Rivard will shepherd the congregation of St. George as it reaches out to help area communities in times of need and "to spread the good news to the un-churched," the church said in a release.  

The Parish has strong community outreach and foreign missions teams, as well as Bible studies and Sunday School classes for all ages, with Sunday services at 10 a.m. and weekday services as scheduled to celebrate Church seasons and Feast Days, the church noted.

The Anglican Church of St. George the Martyr welcomes visitors and is located at 427 Batesville Rd., Simpsonville.

College presidents and the heads of state agencies will be getting bigger paychecks from now on.

The Agency Head Salary Commission, a legislative panel in Columbia voted today to approve 7 percent salary raises for the heads of state agencies and technical college directors. The panel also approved 8 percent salary increases for the presidents of 4-year public colleges, according to WLTX.com.

The approval marks the first time since 2007 that raises for those state employees have been approved.

Gov. Nikki Haley updated the media with the latest information on the Department of Revenue security breach last month.

She said 778,268 individuals had signed up for credit protection as had 7,102 businesses.

As questions continue about where blame will lie and the nature of the state government's information security systems, Haley noted the investigation is still ongoing and asked that there not be a rush to judgment.

Several hours after the governor spoke, Inspector General Patrick Maley released a preliminary report on the breach, which is posted below.

See full coverage of the hack HERE.

The Inspector General's report:

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) fully endorses the Governor’s executive order 2012-10 and requesting a “holistic” review of information security (INFOSEC) policy and procedures to minimize the risk of cyber-attacks and protect the personal information of our citizens kept by state agencies. After two weeks engaged on this topic, the central issue is the state does not currently have a state-wide INFOSEC program. There are no mandatory state policies, standards, monitoring, or enforcement for INFOSEC in agencies of state government. The state provides a general INFOSEC policy model, but the state only suggests each agency tailor it to their environment. This INFOSEC policy approach coupled with the state’s decentralized IT environment, creates unique challenges in understanding, controlling, and mitigating the state-wide INFOSEC risk in the over 100 entities in the Executive Branch, as well as the other branches of government.

As the initial step, informal and formal meetings between the OIG, the Division of State Information Technology (DSIT), private sector experts, and individual agency Chief Information Officers (CIO) culminated in a group meeting with CIOs. It was clear, as well as comforting, to see CIOs’ focus and passion on this topic, as well as their self-initiated efforts within their respective agencies to re-examine their own INFOSEC risk since the recent breach. 

With advice from experts and feedback from the CIOs, the OIG, in collaboration with DSIT, launched a tasking to all Agencies. The tasking had every agency, in a systematic manner, do the following: 

• Conduct short term remediation steps: Each agency will “double check” specific INFOSEC procedures having the highest impact on lowering INFOSEC risk. Emphasis will be on reviewing these fundamentals in each agency through the new optic of the post-DOR breach world in which we now operate. 
• Agency self-assessment: Each CIO will complete an electronic INFOSEC self-assessment survey for their agency, as will each Agency Head from their perspective. Then, the Agency Head and CIO will meet to discuss results to ensure Agency Heads are fully engaged in this state-wide issue.
• Data Classification: Locate all high risk data, primarily personal identifying information (PII) and protected health information (PHI). Additionally, request help on any PII or PHI not sufficiently secured. 

A full-time task force has been established to address this state-wide INFOSEC issue. The scope of this effort will focus on the first milestone describing the current conditions “on the ground” of INFOSEC state-wide in a time-sensitive manner, then collect data to develop options and recommendations on governance models to address the state-wide INFOSEC risk. A governance model is the first step to provide a sustainable state-wide INFOSEC platform for leadership, structure/processes, and assurance that INFOSEC risk, policy, and resource needs are coordinated and addressed at the state level. The OIG plans to provide actionable items in the area of governance models upon completion of this first milestone. 

The second milestone will be to develop options on strategy and implementation plans. Given the necessity of subject matter expertise and experience with implementing INFOSEC programs in other state governments, a consultant(s) will be required. The implementation options will likely be a function of time and cost.  Resources will be required to build the governance model selected and mitigate INFOSEC risks identified as agencies systematically conduct risk assessments.     

The OIG’s role is to synthesize data from the INFOSEC arena into a meaningful options and recommendations document to develop a road map for a “holistic” state-wide INFOSEC program in terms of governance, strategy, and costs. The IG’s role is to address organizational issues which will serve as the enabling platform for subject matter experts, armed with a strategy and an implementation plan, to build and mature a state-wide INFOSEC program to lower risks and enhance long-term INFOSEC capabilities. 

The OIG fully understands the stress and impact of this situation on the citizens of South Carolina, which serves as a motivator to all involved in urgently addressing this issue. I can assure every citizen that there is commitment and resolve to ensure the state does everything possible to protect your information.           

Patrick Maley

Inspector General

The following crimes and incidents were reported to the Mauldin Police Department from Nov. 8-13:

• Larceny — 408 North Main Street
• Vandalism of property — 17 International Court
• Simple possession of marijuana — Forrester Drive/U.S. 276
• Simple possession of marijuana/drug paraphernalia — (no address listed)
• Simple possession of marijuana— Bridges/Bethel Road
• Simple possession of marijuana — East Butler Road/Corn Road
• Simple possession of marijuana — Murray Drive and Hyde Circle
• Drug/narcotics violations — 112 Rainbow Circle
• Simple possession of marijuana — 1625 N.E. Main Street
• Possession of drug paraphernalia — Forrester Drive/U.S. 276
• Drug equipment violations — Bridges/Bethel Road
• Possession of drug-related objects — East Butler Road/Corn Road
• Possession of drug paraphernalia — Miller Road/Murray Drive
• Possession of drug paraphernalia — Crestwood Drive near Whatley Circle
• Possession of handgun by prohibited person — Miller Road/Murray Drive
• Attempted suicide — 111 Fernande Drive
• Criminal domestic violence — 126 Manchester Drive
• Emergency protective custody — 35 Windrush Lane

The Greenville County School System has launched a new district-wide website focusing on the school’s athletic programs. 

The website will deliver a single technology hub for all schools’ athletic program management and team communications, District Communications Director Oby Lyles said. 

The technology platform will provide a foundation for automating many athletic administrative tasks required by athletic staff and coaches.  Athletic information and communications will be delivered on the site, providing parents, students and fans with game and practice schedules, scores, team news, events, photos, videos and game highlights in one location.  The website will also provide a venue for highlighting corporate sponsors of Greenville County School athletics.

The site has been launched this month to kick-off the winter athletics season for high school sports.  Middle school sports will be added to the website for the fall season in 2013.

Bill Utsey, Athletic Director for the Greenville County School District states, “The website will allow our athletic personnel to be more proficient in performing their duties," said District Athletic Director Bill Utsey. "In addition, the website will provide budgetary support for our athletic programs by providing a platform to recognize our valued sponsors.”

A thief broke into the Old Time Pottery Store sometime Monday night or Tuesday morning, stealing thousands of dollars and leaving behind structural damage, according to FOX Carolina.

The store, at 2425 Laurens Road, is reportedly closed and the burglary remains under investigation. The store, which suffered unspecified damage, is reportedly closed in the meantime. The report did say the burglar broke into the store through the roof.

RMF, one of the largest electroplating and electrocoating jobshops in the Southeast, announced Wednesday it plans to build a new facility in Piedmont, expanding it's Greenville County operations.

The company said it plans to build a 85,000 square-foot facility in the Matrix Business & Technology Park. The site can be expanded to more than 200,000 square feet if needed, company officials said.

The $13 million investment is expected to generate at least 20 new jobs over the next three years at RMF. 

RMF currently operates two facilities in Greenville County, and may ultimately combine all operations at the new Matrix facility.

RMF’s two current facilities serve many of the Interstate 85 corridor’s 200-plus automotive, heavy truck and industrial equipment suppliers and “many of the nearly-1,000 related suppliers located within 400 miles of this region,” said RMF CEO Cliff Roy.  

“Manufacturing in the Southeast has rebounded recently with the U.S., German, Japanese, and Korean automotive assembly plants all doing well," Roy added. "We also are seeing opportunities within the heavy truck and industrial equipment markets. This new facility will also allow us to increase our presence in the growing aerospace industry.  Our strategy is to reach out into new arenas, and this expansion will certainly enable us to do so.”

Construction on the new Matrix facility, to be located at 1515 Old Grove Road in Piedmont, is under way and is expected to be operational in June, 2013.  

“South Carolina continues to see its reputation in the automotive club grow. When companies like RMF expand, it strengthens our state’s manufacturing renaissance and helps create wealth in our communities. Every one of these new jobs will have impact in Greenville County,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.

Persons interested in being considered for jobs should contact Kristen Beddingfield of Spartan Staffing at 864-553-7073 or via email at kbeddingfield@spartanstaffing.com.

As part of Patch's continuing effort to provide our readers with consistent coverage of crime in our area, we're happy to provide you with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office's daily activity report. 

A number of incidents were reported in the Golden Strip area between Nov. 12-13. They include:

• Autobreaking, 19 Chapel Hill Lane — Simpsonville
• Forgery, 6151 Augusta Road — Mauldin/Conestee area
• Petit larceny, 159 3rd Avenue — Conestee
• Burglary, 234 Log Shoals Road — Mauldin area
• Grand larceny, 436 Scuffletown Road — Simpsonville
• Autobreaking/petit larceny, Bryson Road — Simpsonville
• Assault and battery, 415 Putnam Road — Fountain Inn
• Assault and battery, 205 Doonbeg Court — Simpsonville
• Possession of drug paraphernalia, Donaldson Road/Ace Drive — Mauldin area

To view the full activity report, click on the attached PDF.

Whether you're planning to fry a turkey outside, play football with the family or sleep out for Black Friday deals, the weather can impact your Thanksgiving and Black Friday plans.

Luckily for us in the Upstate, the Weather Channel forecast is lovely.

Sunny skies with high temperatures in the low 60s and lows in the low-40s await us for next Thuesday and Friday.

How do you plan to enjoy the mild late November holidays?

South Carolina's industrial employment rose 2.3 percent over the past year, according to a report by GSA Business.

Among S.C. cities, Greenville and the surrounding area was the top area for manufacturing employment, with 23,885 jobs — up 4.8 percent from the previous year. Greenville was followed by: Spartanburg, 14,656 jobs; North Charleston, 9,900 jobs; and Columbia, 9,604 jobs, the report noted.

The state gained 5,934 manufacturing jobs over the past year and is now home to 4,870 manufacturers employing 262,431 workers, according to GSA Business, which cited figures published in the 2013 South Carolina Manufacturers Register.

More findings: Industrial machinery is the state's largest manufacturing sector by employment with 34,766 jobs, while "transportation equipment manufacturing has overtaken textiles/apparel as the state's second-largest sector following a 19 percent increase from continued hiring at Boeing Co.'s 787 Dreamliner assembly plant in North Charleston and BMW Manufacturing's facility near Greer.

Read more HERE.

On Wednesday, in the latest in a series of media updates since it was revealed that the Department of Revenue’s records had been hacked, Gov. Nikki Haley announced that a new measure has been taken to minimize the possibility of such attacks happening again.

Appearing with Budget and Control Board Executive Director Marcia Adams, Division of State Information Technology (DSIT) Director Jimmy Earley and State Inspector General Patrick Maley, Haley said that she had signed an executive order (see attached) that will direct all 16 Cabinet agencies to work with DSIT for the purpose of implementing network monitoring. The governor also said she hopes that the many non-Cabinet agencies will work with DSIT to improve network security.

The network monitoring device will be provided by Mandiant, the company that helped the Department of Revenue, after the hack. The device from Mandiant is known as The Hand. It provides 24/7 monitoring of networks and files. In the event of an intervention or an unusual event in a network, the device can freeze all data transactions.

The monitoring is meant to be comprehensive, and will have the capacity to identify the “downloading of viruses and malware, collect and monitor network traffic, intercede and interrupt in real time the download of detected viruses and malware to a specific network computer, and collect and correlate this information across all agencies so that they can better identify trends and common IT vulnerabilities” according to a release.

When a threat is identified, DSIT will notify the affected agency and ask that the infected computer or system be removed from the network.

Six DSIT personnel will track the state’s networks.

For a complete look at the hack click HERE.

A key indicator of economic health rose noticeably in South Carolina in October, and most notably in the Greenville area.

Compared to October 2011, sales of residential homes and condos in the area rose 35 percent in October to 660 homes sold, according to the S.C. Association of Realtors.

Statewide, home sales were up 24 percent in October compared to the same period last year, the association reported. The increase was spurred on not only by Greenville sales, but strong upticks in the Charleston area, which saw a 30.7 percent increase, and the Columbia area, which saw sales increase 29.7 percent. 

“Most markets have shed listings, resulting from strong sales and sluggish seller activity. There has been a general easing of foreclosures and short sales, meaning distressed listings are dragging prices down less than in recent years. So it's both about market fundamentals and market composition,” the Realtors association said in releasing the data.

“The economy is slowly growing and economic growth in 2013 is expected to outpace 2012. Mortgage rates are expected to remain near historic lows through 2015; rents are expected to rise due to low vacancy; and financial situations in Europe, China and elsewhere, believe it or not, have an effect on local markets,” the association said, adding that 2012 is shaping up to be a "comeback year."

Compared with October 2011, new listings in the state rose 10.1 percent to 7,888; while pending sales were up 26.7 percent to 4,676. Inventory levels shrank 13.4 percent to 46,776 units, the association reported.

For more details on the Realtors' report, CLICK HERE.