Where credit is due ...

Tesla Motors Model S Sedan

Not ALL news in the "green world" is bad.

To be fair, credit must be given where credit is due:

Tesla Repays Federal Loan Nearly 10 Years Early

From CNN Money: 

Tesla Motors announced Wednesday that it has repaid a $465 million loan from the government nearly a decade before it was scheduled to do so. 

The electric-car maker received the loan from the Department of Energy in January 2010, and it made its first payment this past December. That began what was supposed to be a 10-year repayment program, but plans have changed.

So what's the difference between Tesla and the likes of Solyndra?

Tesla is truly private enterprise and truly making innovative high quality "green" products not only desirable, but profitable for them.

While most electric cars suffer from what's known as "range anxiety" - only getting 40-120 miles per charge. The Tesla Model S gets 265 miles per charge!

Last night, the South Carolina State Senate, in a historic vote, finally took up school choice. The amendment was defeated.

Senator Larry Grooms, who authored this amendment, explained how his amendment would not take money away from government schools, and would help low income families give their children a quality education.

Nine “Republican” Senators voted to table the amendment, keeping school choice out of South Carolina.

South Carolina is one of the only states in the South where children cannot get tax credits for sending their children to a private school.

"Republicans" voting against school choice:

Senator Thomas Alexander District 1 - Oconee & Pickens Counties

Senator Paul Campbell

Senator John Courson

Senator Ronnie Cromer

Senator Wes Hayes

Senator Hugh Leatherman

Senator Larry Martin District 2 - Pickens County

Senator Billy O’Dell

Senator Luke Rankin

Last week, nine Republicans voted for an expansion of pre-kindergarten – the same universal program that President Obama pushed for in his 2013 State of the Union address.

Yesterday, eight of the same "Republicans" that voted against school choice, voted for pre-kindergarten expansion.

Eight Senators for Pre-K:

Senator Thomas Alexander District 1 - Oconee & Pickens Counties

Senator Paul Campbell

Senator John Courson

Senator Ronnie Cromer

Senator Wes Hayes

Senator Hugh Leatherman

Senator Larry Martin District 2 - Pickens County

Senator Luke Rankin

Senators will have the chance to pass school choice on Friday May 24, 2013.

* Revised from Club For Growth newsletter

When was the last time we heard ...

Supreme Court To Hear New Case On Prayer At Public Meetings

The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a new case on the intersection of religion and government in a dispute over prayers used to open public meetings.

Read More:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/20/supreme-court-legislative-prayers_n_3306312.html

Considering the attack on our faith made recently by atheist organizations, it's always good to remember to have a cheerful heart and a good sense of humor.

An atheist explorer who is in the deepest part of the Amazon suddenly finds himself surrounded by a bloodthirsty group of natives. Upon surveying the situation, he says quietly to himself,

"Oh God, I'm going to die."

A ray of light shines down from heaven and a voice booms out:

"No, you are NOT going to die. Pick up that stone at your feet and throw it at the head of the chief standing in front of you."

So the explorer picks up the stone and throws it at the head of the chief.

The chief keels over and dies.

As he stands above the lifeless body, breathing heavily and surrounded by 100's of natives with a look of shock on their faces … God's voice booms from the sky again ...

"NOW youʻre going to die."

Bible back & forth ...

Georgia parks officials say they ordered that Bibles be removed from guest rooms at state lodges and cabins across the state.

WAGA-TV reports that the order came after a resident expressed concerns.

What "concerns" these were are unclear. It is also unclear why Ga DNR takes orders from one resident who is an unelected official.

A Georgia Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman said that after the resident expressed concerns, management directed the staff to remove the Bibles from cabins and lodge rooms until managers can fully investigate the issue and make an informed decision.

Within hours, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal ordered the Bibles be put back.

Pickens County Council Meeting Schedule

Pickens County Council 2013 Summer/Fall schedule for regular council meetings, this does not include special called meetings, committees and/or work sessions:

Monday, June 10th, 2013

July OFF

Monday, August 19th, 2013

Monday, September 16th, 2013

Monday, October 21st , 2013

Monday, November 18th, 2013

An Ally?

Lebanese man gets 300 lashes, 6 years for helping woman convert to Christianity

More on Fox News:

A Lebanese man was sentenced to 300 lashes with a whip and six years in prison for his role in helping a Saudi woman convert to Christianity and flee the kingdom in the latest example of the religious intolerance that grips the region.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/05/13/saudi-man-gets-300-lashes-6-years-for-helping-woman-convert-to-christianity

Pelosi Can't Thank Troops Because Of Sequestration?

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The Price Per Gallon = Your Food Bill

Maine, considered a "blue state" carried by Democrats in all 4 of the last U.S. Presidential elections has made a more conservative move lately regarding ethanol gasoline …

At issue is the corn-based biofuel; ethanol, which the state legislature is taking a strong stand against. Citing potential engine and environmental damages, Maine's state legislature has taken another step to rid itself of ethanol blends into its gasoline inventory.

Legislators have approved a bill by more than a 3-to-1 margin that would ban ethanol blends in Maine – as long as two other nearby states do the same, the Bangor Daily News reports.

Maine legislators also supported a resolution urging the government to ban gasoline with a 15% ethanol blend (known as E15), altogether. Most gasoline in the US contains up to a 10% ethanol blend.

Maine regulators started talking about a statewide E15 ban early this year. The state said at the time that at least two other New England states would have to go along so that Maine refiners wouldn't have to make a custom blend for the state only, which would cause the state's fuel prices to jump.

Last June, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially allowed for public sales of E15 as part of an effort to that claimed to cut foreign oil dependency.

Groups such as AAA have since been critical of the EPA's decision, citing studies that indicate that E15 causes engine damage as well as food shortages.

Pickens County School Board Changes Meeting Agenda

From The School District Of Pickens County:

The public portion of the Pickens County school board meeting will start immediately following the executive session, which starts at 6PM on the 4th Monday of the month at Curtis A. Sidden Administration Building, 1348 Griffin Mill Road, Easley.

In the past, the public portion started at 7PM. According to a release, the change will allow the board to start the public meeting without pause if the executive session portion of the meeting is brief.

The board will next meet Tuesday May 28, 2013 which was rescheduled due to Memorial Day falling on the 4th Monday.

Also …

The Pickens County School District will hold a public hearing from 5PM-7PM Wednesday May 8, 2013 in the Curtis Sidden Administrative Building, 1348 Griffin Mill Road, Easley, to gain input about its 2013-14 federal projects.

The meeting will focus on the Title II project on Teacher Quality, the Title III project regarding English Speakers of Other Languages and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational-Technical Education Act and the McKinney-Vento legislation regarding homeless children.

The meeting will also focus on the Title 1 project titled “Improving the Achievement of the Disadvantaged.”

Written comments can be sent to:

Sharon Huff
1348 Griffin Mill Rd
Easley, SC 29640

or email: sharonhuff@pickens.k12.sc.us

Agenda 21 Being Challenged By New Bill In SC Legislature

On April 30, 2013 several South Carolina Senators stepped up to the plate for South Carolinians and sponsored Senate Bill 661.

Senate Bill 661 is to amend Title 44 of the 1976 Code, relating to Health, to enact the "AGENDA 21 PROTECTION ACT.

Senators Shane Martin of Spartanburg (District 13), Kevin Bryant of Anderson (District 3), Lee Bright of Spartanburg (District 12), and Larry Grooms of Berkley (District 37) have sponsored this bill.

Many of us know how various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are influencing our State, County and Municipal governments by "vision programs and green agendas including:

• Neglect of private property rights by supporting zoning,

• Eminent domain

• Conservation easements

• Environmental issues

• Endangered species

These programs, organizations, and "movements" are supporters of the United Nations program known as Agenda 21

If you have heard of organizations who support Sustainable Development, Smart Growth, and Agenda 21, these organizations are supporting the United Nations Agenda 21 program.

Some of the organizations who are behind Agenda 21 in Pickens and Oconee Counties are Upstate Forever, Ten at the Top, Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS), Pickens County Vision 2025 and Oconee Alliance. All of these NGOs receive either County funding, Federal funding or both. They also leach local business of advertising dollars that could be supporting communities directly.

Senate Bill 661 states that …

"… no political subdivision of this State may enter into any agreement, expend or receive funds, contract for service, or provide financial aid to or from those non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations as defined in Agenda 21 accredited and enlisted by the United Nations to assist in the implementation of its policies relative to Agenda 21 around the world".

The definition of "political subdivision" above means any Municipality, City, County, State, Public body, Public-private partnership, and any other governmental body of this State.

If you want to keep the United Nations out of South Carolina, then you are going to have to help in this cause!

The Bill was introduced at the last minute before the legislature adjourned, but there is still a possibility that it may be re-introduced in January of 2014 when the legislature reconvenes. We will have several months to round up support for this proposed legislation, put pressure on our elected officials in the Statehouse, and inform the citizens across the state about the dangers of Agenda 21.

Please review the proposed Senate Bill 661:

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/661.htm

Please be sure to forward this information to everyone you know across the State of South Carolina and get the word out.

Agenda 21 needs to be stopped in South Carolina!

National Day Of Prayer

✟ Today is National Day of Prayer ✟

The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation".

Each year since its inception, the President of the United States has signed a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.

The modern law formalizing its annual observance was enacted in 1952.

* Information gathered from wikipedia

Christianity; The New "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

You can now openly proclaim and even promote homosexuality in today's military, but don't openly proclaim or promote Christianity.

In article on breitbart.com:

The Pentagon has released a statement confirming that soldiers could be prosecuted for promoting their faith:

"Religious proselytization is not permitted within the Department of Defense...Court martials and non-judicial punishments are decided on a case-by-case basis…”.

The statement, released to Fox News, follows a Breitbart News report on Obama administration Pentagon appointees meeting with anti-Christian extremist Mikey Weinstein to develop court-martial procedures to punish Christians in the military who express or share their faith.

Read the full story here:

PENTAGON MAY COURT MARTIAL SOLDIERS WHO SHARE CHRISTIAN FAITH