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[00:00:39]

AND GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE 2021 BUFORD COUNTY VETERANS DAY PARADE.

I'M SCOTT GROOVES FROM THE COUNTY CIAO, CHRIS OAK PARK, THE PIO OF BUFORD COUNTY.

WELCOME.

HEY SCOTT, HOW ARE YOU DOING? I AM DOING GREAT.

AND JUST FOR OUR LISTENERS, YOU ARE TENANT COLONEL RETIRED, UH, OUT OF THE ARMY.

CHRIS PARK.

GLAD TO BE HERE IN BUFORD, GOT HERE IN JUNE AND I'M EXCITED.

I'LL TELL YOU.

WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US HERE AT THE COUNTY CHANNEL AND LOTS OF GREAT THINGS IN STORE, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT A PARADE COMING DOWN THIS WEEK.

GREAT PARADE FOR YOU.

WE GOT ABOUT, UH, ALMOST 40 ENTRIES THIS YEAR.

IT'S GREAT.

I THINK EVERYONE WAS TIRED OF COVID AND I THINK THE READY TO CELEBRATE OUR BETTER.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND WHAT A CELEBRATION IS GOING TO BE.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FLOATS IN HERE.

WE'VE GOT THE POLICE COMING RIGHT DOWN THE STREET RIGHT NOW, PARIS ARMY MARINE CORPS BAN RIGHT BEHIND THEM.

SO I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WE'D BETTER GET OUT OF THE WAY WE SHOW WE'RE GOING TO GET RUN OVER.

RIGHT? AND LIKE WE SAID, JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO OR A FEW SECONDS AGO, ACTUALLY PRAYER CIRCLE AND MARINE CORPS BANDS COMING DOWN THE STREETS LED BY OUR BUFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MARINE CORPS BAND SCOTT.

THEY STARTED OVER IN THE NATIONAL CEMETERY.

THE NATIONAL CEMETERY HERE IS A BUFORD LANDMARK, STARTED 158 YEARS AGO WITH ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

AND IT HAS BOTH CONFEDERATE AND BLACK ALONG WITH UNION SOLDIERS.

MY FAVORITE PEOPLE FROM NEW YORK, UH, BURIED THERE.

AND IT HAS ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH THE AFGHAN WAR.

SO IT IS A TRUE LANDMARK HERE IN AND BUFORD.

AND WE HAD DONE THE CEREMONY IN THE CEMETERY FOR YEARS, AND IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO GO SEE A BEAR RESPECTFUL.

BUT RIGHT NOW THE PARIS ALLEN MARINE CORPS BAND PLAY, LET'S GIVE IT A LISTEN.

I BELIEVE THIS IS OUR BRAND MORE, UH, GRAND MARSHALL THIS YEAR FOR THE VETERANS DAY PARADE IS 10 OF COLONEL AIR FORCE RETIRED, RAYMOND STOCKS.

HE WOULD JOIN THE AIR FORCE IN 1943 AS A NAVEL, AS A RADAR NAVIGATION OFFICER, UNTIL HE RETIRED IN 1964.

HE FOUGHT IN THREE WARS, SCOTT.

WOW.

THAT'S JUST TREMENDOUS.

A LOT OF RESPECT FOR HIM.

A LOT OF RESPECT HE'S ON B 50 TWOS AND HE FINISHED UP TEACHING OTHER NAVIGATORS AND THE AIR FORCE BASE.

AND HERE'S OUR COMMANDER FROM THE NAVAL HOSPITAL.

THEY HAVE A HOSPITAL BUFORT VERY IMPORTANT.

PART OF THE BEAVER COMMUNITY, SERVICING PARRIS ISLAND AIR STATION BUFORD, ALONG WITH ALL OUR VETERANS HERE, AS THE VA IS ALSO LOCATED THERE.

OH, AND NEXT IN LINE, WE'VE GOT DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, CHAPTER 12, THAT WAS DISABLED VETERANS OF AMERICA, THOUGH.

A LOT FOR VETERANS THAT COME BACK WITH DIFFERENT DISABILITIES, THEY REALLY HELPED THEM OUT, UH, HELPING OUT THEIR FAMILIES, MEN AND WOMEN OVER THE LAST TWO WARS AND MORE FROM THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS AND COMING UP, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER VEHICLE AGAIN FROM DISABLED VETERANS IN THE PARADE.

NOW JUST A REMINDER PARASOL MARINE CORPS BAND.

YOU JUST SAW THEM.

THEY'LL THERE CAN BE A PORT ROYAL AT THE PARK THIS AFTERNOON AND WHAT YOUR CARROT LAB RIGHT HERE IN THE COUNTY CHANNEL AS WELL.

AND NOW I'M HERE.

HERE'S PROVIDED VISION FOR OUR VETS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, THEIR, THEIR MOTTO IS LEGACY OF TIME, HONOR, AND VALUES THAT DRIVE THEM FORWARD.

THAT HAS A GREAT FLOW.

[00:05:04]

NEXT.

WE HAVE THE APP THAT'S FOR POST 70 AND BEST REPRESENT OVER 20 20 MILLION VETERANS THAT FOUGHT AND SERVED HONORABLY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.

AND WE ALSO HAVE THE PATRIOT GUARD RIGHT HERE ON PEDRO YOUR RIGHT BEHIND.

IT'S ALSO AMAZING TO SEE THEM UP IN DC AND TO DO THE DIFFERENT FUNERALS THAT THEY DO.

INCREDIBLE AND GREAT BIKES TO BOTH GOT HARLEY DAVIDSON'S THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11 IS VETERAN'S DAY.

UNLIKE MEMORIAL DAY VETERANS DAY PAYS TRIBUTE TO ALL AMERICAN VETERANS LIVING OR DEAD, BUT ESPECIALLY HE GIVES THANKS TO THE VETERANS WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY, HONORABLY DOING WAR AND PEACE TIME WITH ALL THE CONFUSION TODAY AND ALL THE PAIN TODAY, YOU WENT TO KUBOTA DRIVERS.

WE ESPECIALLY, OH, THANKS THIS YEAR TO ONE VETERANS WHO HAVE PROTECTED OUR LIFESTYLE AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND GOD BLESS YOU.

OF COURSE, THE MILITARY, A GREAT PART OF THE AREA WITH THE PARIS ISLAND, THE AIR STATION AND THE NAVAL HOSPITAL HERE.

SO IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE ALL OF THEM.

THE PARADE, OF COURSE, THE CAN'T FORGET HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD AND FORT STEWART JUST DOWN THE ROAD, BECAUSE FOR THOSE ARMY PEOPLE AND JOINT BASED CHARLESTON AND JOINT BASED CHARLESTON AS WELL.

AND MY HOMETOWN OF WALTERBORO, WE HAD AN OLD ARMY AIRFIELD.

THERE WAS JUST GET AIRMAN, ACTUALLY ACTUALLY TRAINED.

WE GOT THE, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE TWO GREAT TWO STORIES, THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN AND THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS AND THAT THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS AROUND THE, THE COUNTRY THAT THEY'RE SERVED AT.

YEAH, IF YOU'RE EVER UP IN WALTERBORO, STOP BY THE AIRPORT AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A NICE MONUMENT THERE AND THEY JUST UNVEILED THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS MEMORIAL AD THIS YEAR.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

AND BOY, THE REPRESENTATION OF THEM ALSO COMING UP VERY IMPORTANT KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ON BEHALF OF BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL AND TO THE SEA ISLAND SOUND, WE HONOR OUR VETERANS WITH PATRIOTIC PARADE SEQUENCE

[00:10:29]

SO AS WE'RE WAITING FOR THE NEXT, UH, SET TO COME UP, HUH? SO HOW ARE YOU LIKING SO FAR? I'LL BE YOUR FIRST BEEN AMAZING.

UH, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO COME AND LIVE AND WORK AND PLAY.

UH, YOU SEE A LOT OF CHANGES COMING.

I KNOW EVERYONE, AS SOON AS I SHOWED UP WAS LIKE, OH, WE'VE MORE CHANGES, MORE NEW ROADS, MORE NEW THINGS TO DO, UH, HISTORICAL AREAS.

WE JUST HAD FOUR FREMONT OPENED YESTERDAY.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL ON TUESDAY.

ABSOLUTELY.

BE IF WE HAVEN'T BEEN OUT TO ST.

HELENA NEED TO CHECK OUT FOR FREMONT, IT'S A SPANISH AMERICAN FOR THAT IS STILL INTACT.

YOUR KIDS CAN CLIMB AROUND.

IT CAN DO ALL THESE AMAZING THINGS.

AND THERE'S A VISITOR CENTER NOW.

YEAH.

THE VISITOR CENTER, IT'S GOT SOME GREAT DON AROMAS OF HOW IT LOOKED WHEN IT ORIGINALLY WAS BUILT AS WELL AS GROWING UP THROUGH ITS IT'S YEAR.

I MEAN, AND IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY TOO, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID THE ARMY BUILD IT, BUT THE LOCALS OUT ON ST.

HELENA PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN HELPED BUILD THAT AS WELL.

IT'S AN AMAZING COURT.

SO YES, PLEASE.

IT'S A LONG DRIVE OUT, BUT DON'T GIVE UP, YOU'LL GET THERE.

AND THIS IS OUR ROTC AND THAT'S A GREAT WAY IN SCHOOL TO GET SOME MILITARY TRAINING.

HERE'S B KIND BUFORD.

I WAS JUST HANDED THIS BY THE BUFORD HIGH THEATER.

THEY'RE HAVING TO SHOW FOR THE MILITARY ON DECEMBER FOUR.

SO AT FOUR O'CLOCK.

SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK THAT A SOBRIETY RIGHT AT THE VIEW FOR HIGH SCHOOL.

YEAH.

AND WE HAVE THE OLD HUMVEE IS NOW BEEN RETIRED.

THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED RIGHT THERE.

PARASAILING YOUNG MARINE COLOR GUARD COMING OUR WAY.

I THINK IT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HUMVEE HAD A GARBAGE DECAL ON IT.

SO MAKE SURE YOU GO SIGN UP FOR YOUR GARBAGE.

IT'D BE ANY CENTER DECAL, GOOD POINT.

YOU CARRY A LOT OF GARBAGE IN A HUMPY, GOOD RATE.

MARINE CORPS, LEAGUE, YELLOW FOOTPRINTS, AND THE YOUNG MARINES, UH, COLOR GUARD COMING DOWN THE STREET.

THEY WERE JUST HONORED AT THE, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

AND, UH, COUNCILMAN MCKELLEN GAVE HIM, UH, SOME COINS AND STUFF FROM THE DEA FOR RED RIBBON WEEK.

A VERY POOR PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE HELPING KIDS, UH, TO AVOID, UH, DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AT A YOUNG AGE, UH, AS THEY GROW UP.

AND THE ROTC TRAINING IS A GREAT WAY TO GET DISCIPLINED IN YOUR, AND WORK ON THE FUTURE AS WELL.

I WORK ON A FUTURE, YOU KNOW, HELPS GET DISPLAYED AT HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THEN YOU CAN TRANSLATE THAT TO COLLEGE ROTC OR EVEN ENLIST ANY WAY YOU WANT TO GO.

ABSOLUTELY.

I DIDN'T HAVE ROTC WHEN I WAS COMING.

I HAD MARCHING BAND, SO THERE'S SOME DISCIPLINE THERE, BUT I ACTUALLY WENT TO A GERALD TC HIGH SCHOOL.

I WORE A UNIFORM ALL THE TIME.

CHRISTIAN BOSE ACADEMY UP IN NEW YORK.

I GOT THREATENED WITH MILITARY SCHOOL A COUPLE OF TIMES WHILE SCOTT.

GOOD MORNING, MORNING, SUNS OF THE UNION VETERANS.

YEP.

AND THIS WOULD BE SEVEN AMERICAN MUSEUM AND ANOTHER CAR FROM THEM.

THIS IS DAUGHTERS OF THE UNION MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

AND NOW WE HAVE THE CITY OF BUFORD'S COUNCIL AND MAYOR, WE DO HAVE ONE, A LIEUTENANT GENERAL RETIRED.

AND WHAT HAVE WE GOT COMING UP HERE AT CHRIS? I CAN'T, I CANNOT SEE AROUND THE TRUCK.

WE GOT THE PATRIOTS PATRIOTS COALITION.

I WAS RIGHT.

LOOK AT THAT MORNING THAT STATUE OF LIBERTY AND COMING UP IS WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA RATES.

OF COURSE, AMERICA.

AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE NAVAL CENTER, METAIRIE, IF YOU'VE SEEN RATES ACROSS AMERICA, THEY POST WREATHS AT THE NATIONAL CEMETERY EVERY YEAR.

AND

[00:15:01]

IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.

GO OUT IN THIS.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.

THEY DO IT ACROSS.

THEY DO IT AT ARLINGTON WEST POINT ANY NATIONAL CEMETERY.

THEY CROSS THE COUNTRY ORGANIZATION AS WELL WORTH IT TO REMEMBER DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF OUR SOLDIERS DID NOT COME BACK THE 18TH WREATH ACROSS AMERICA.

AND HERE'S MY FAVORITE CHANNEL RIGHT HERE.

HERE'S THE COUNTY CHANNEL DROVE BY OUR FAMOUS ANGELICA AND WE GOT A MOUNT CARMEL BAPTIST CHURCH RIGHT UP IN SEABROOK.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHILE YOU'RE WATCHING THE COUNTY CHANNEL RIGHT NOW, MOST PROBABLY, BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THE COUNTY CHANNEL, YOU CAN CATCH ALL YOUR MEETINGS LIVE.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WILDLIFE, EVERYTHING ON THAT ON THE COUNTY, COASTAL KINGDOM COASTLINE, BRINGING YOU ALL THE NEWS ACROSS BUFORD THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AND A LOT MORE TO COME HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE'VE GOT A GOOD GROUP OF VETERANS.

I THINK THEY REPRESENT ALL THE BRANCHES UP THERE.

NEXT IS THE SOME, SOME GREAT BAND MUSIC WE GOT COMING DOWN HERE, BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL BAND, WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THEM TO GET HERE.

JUST A REMINDER, WE'RE GOING TO BE AT PORT ROYAL THIS AFTERNOON, BROADCASTING THE MARINE CORPS BAND CONCERT.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY.

THEY GOT HOT DOGS, HAMBURGERS, JUST A GREAT FAMILY EVENT.

NO, I BELIEVE WITH A MILITARY ID, YOU GET SOME FREE STUFF TOO.

SO FOR OUR, UH, THOSE STILL SERVING GO DOWN THERE THIS AFTERNOON, GET SOME FREE STUFF FOR YOUR KIDS.

NOW I HAVE A FEELING YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENJOY A TREAT.

SO LET'S LISTEN TO THIS BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND.

SO WERE YOU EVER IN A DRUNK DRUMLINE, FULL MARCHING BAND ALL THE WAY THROUGH COLLEGE BALL GAMES AT ALL, BUT JUST FOR OUR VIEWERS ON CREEK HIGH SCHOOL IS TRYING TO GO TO DC ENDED DEPENDENCE DAY PARADE NEXT YEAR.

IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO GET UP THERE AND GO TO THE BATTERY CREEK, LOOK UP THE BAND AND YOU PROBABLY FIND WAYS TO DONATE.

HERE'S THE CUB SCOUT PACK AND BOY SCOUT TROOP THREE AND HERE'S KNOTTY 4.5, PRAISE RADIO, BRINGING YOU INSPIRATION STATION.

WE HAVE THE SENATOR CHIP.

CAMPSEN REPRESENTING THE A HUNDRED AND THE OLD JEEP.

THIS IS THE MARINE.

AND THIS THING IS GREAT.

WE GOT THAT BELIEVE WORLD WAR ONE, UNIFORM UNIFORM, AMERICAN LEGION, POST 2 0 7.

GOOD MORNING.

SO IT'S NAMED AFTER THE BUSH BROTHERS, UM, THEY WENT OVER TO PEARL HARBOR.

WE'RE STARTING ON THE USS CALIFORNIA WHEN THEY WERE ATTACKED AND ONE OF THE BROTHERS PASSED AWAY AND THEN ONE WAS ABLE TO COME BACK.

SHANNON ERICKSON, A FRIEND OF THE COUNTY CHANNEL.

GOOD MORNING, MORNING.

AND OUR CLERK OF COURT, JERRY ROSA.

NOW SHE'S ALWAYS OVER

[00:20:01]

IN THE COURTHOUSE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO VISIT HER? NO.

DO NOT VISIT HER AS A GREAT CAR RIGHT THERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT MODEL THAT IS.

DOESN'T HAVE ANY PLATES ON IT, BUT I'M SURE SOMEBODY HAD CALLED IN AND LET US KNOW ALL STAR PARENTS, GOLD STAR.

SO YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER HAS PASSED AWAY.

I HAD OVERSEAS OPERATIONS.

WE TRULY OWE THEM A DEDICATION OF GRATITUDE.

SCOTT.

ABSOLUTELY DO YOU HAVE A JASPER COMP HELP? DEFINITELY TAKING CARE OF HEALTHCARE NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE LOW COUNTRY.

WE ARE RURAL REGIONS THAT JUST CAN'T GET TO THE HOSPITALS, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS CAN, OR CAN'T GET TO THE DOCTOR STUFF.

CITIZENS AGAINST VIOLENCE, EVERYWHERE.

OUR CAVE CHAPTER, MR. GLAZE, DRIVING THEIR FORMER COUNCILMAN.

HERE'S OUR COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS STAFF, THE CAR, A WELLER DRIVING.

WE'VE GOT SOME MORE MOTORCYCLES COMING UP.

THERE WE GO.

THIS IS AWESOME.

NEXT, WE GOT THE BURTON FIRE AND RESCUE.

AND OF COURSE WE ALSO WANT TO HONOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ON VETERAN STAFF, ESPECIALLY THE LAST TWO YEARS.

SO THEY'VE BEEN BATTLING AND TRY TO SAVE OUR LIVES.

FIRES, NURSES, DOCTORS, EMS. I MEAN, YOU NAME IT RIGHT THERE ON THE FRONT LINES.

WE'RE RUNNING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND THEY'RE HEADING INTO, INTO IT.

SO YOU ALWAYS WANT TO THANK THEM ANYTIME YOU SEE THEM, ALWAYS A KID PROPERLY FIRETRUCK.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND DON'T BE AFRAID.

STOP.

LADIES ISLAND ST.

HELENA.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT FIRE DISTRICTS HERE IN BEAVER COUNTY, SINCE WE'RE SUCH A SPREAD OUT COUNTY, BUT ALWAYS THERE TO HELP EACH OTHER.

IF NEED BE IT'S MORE ST.

HELENA LADY'S ISLAND, FIRE DISTRICT, MARINE CORPS, AIR STATION, FIRE, BUFORD, TRULY A COMMUNITY EFFORT WHEN IT COMES TO FIREFIGHTING.

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU NEVER CAN HAVE TOO MUCH EQUIPMENT AT CERTAIN TIMES.

AND OF COURSE IT HAS TO COME UP.

ALWAYS GIVE THEM THE, IN THE ROAD WHEN THEY'RE COMING UP BEHIND YOU.

THAT'S RIGHT.

PULL OVER.

YUP.

ALWAYS PULL OVER TO YOUR RIGHT FIRE DEPARTMENT ON A GUARD COMING UP.

THIS IS BUFORD, DIFFERENT FIRE DEPARTMENT.

GOOD MORNING.

MORE HER NAME FORT ROYAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THIS'LL BE TRUCK NUMBER FOUR AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST IN OUR PORT WALL SNORKEL.

AND OF COURSE YOU'LL SEE THAT ONE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

AND THEN FINISHING UP OUR PARADE.

OF COURSE WE HAVE THE PLACE WHICH WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT THEM.

THEY BLOCK THE STREETS FOR US.

THEY PROTECT US EVERY DAY.

AND SO IT'S JUST A GREAT WAY TO HAVE AROUND

[00:25:01]

AND THAT'S WRAPPING UP.

IT WAS GREAT.

IT WAS A GREAT FIRST STEP FOR ME.

I KNOW THIS IS PRETTY MUCH, PRETTY MUCH 50TH PARADE, GREAT PARTICIPATION.

I THINK THE, THE FAMILIES AND THE KIDS ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.

UM, AND I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED IT AT HOME.

THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON THE COUNTY CHILD.

DON'T FORGET THIS AFTERNOON.

WE'VE GOT THE EVENT DOWN IN PORT RAUL.

WE'LL BE BROADCASTING, THE MARINE CORPS BAND LIVE, BUT WE'LL SEE YOU SOON RIGHT HERE ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL.

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BUFORD COUNTY.

A NEW TRAFFIC LIGHT NOW HANGS ABOVE A BUSY BUFORD COUNTY ROADWAY, BUT IT HAS A BIRDSEYE FOR SAFETY.

THE HAWK SIGNAL IS INSTALLED ON ROBERTS MOLES PARKWAY AND BUFORD BETWEEN NEW ROAD AND SALEM ROAD.

IT'S PART OF THE LATEST SECTION OF THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL IN SOMETHING THAT COUNTY'S TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT SAYS WAS NEEDED.

AND THIS IS A SIGNAL DESIGN SPECIFICALLY FOR PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE CROSSINGS.

IT'S IN A LOCATION WHERE WE'VE GOT HEAVY, EXPECTED PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS THAT NEED TO GET ACROSS A BUSY ROAD.

HAWK STANDS FOR HIGH INTENSITY ACTIVATED CROSSWALK.

THE BEACON SIGNAL IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS.

WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO BE CROSSING THIS SPANISH TRAIL ACT GRADE, YOU KNOW, ACROSS ROBERT SMALLS PARKWAY.

WE REALIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE PEDESTRIANS.

THE CONCEPT FIRST CAME ABOUT IN 2000 AND ARIZONA AND UNTIL LATE 2009 WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL DEVICE.

IT'S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN BUFORD COUNTY AND ONLY THE SECOND IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

YEAH, THEY ARE DESIGNED FOR MORE OF A MID-BLOCK LOCATION WHERE YOU HAVE HIGH PEDESTRIANS, BUT DON'T HAVE A, AN ADJACENT TRAFFIC SIGNAL FROM, WITH NORMAL ROADWAY TRAFFIC.

WE'VE GOT A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AND WE'VE GOT A TRAIL CROSSING.

IT THAT'S A VERY POPULAR TRAIL.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEDESTRIANS, A LOT OF CYCLISTS ARE USING IT.

AND WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT A WAY FOR THEM TO SAFELY GET ACROSS THE HAWK DOES NOT OPERATE LIKE A NORMAL TRAFFIC LIGHT.

SO HERE'S HOW IT WORKS.

A PEDESTRIAN OR CYCLIST ON SPANISH MOSS TRAIL PRESSES THE BUTTON AT THE INTERSECTION, TRIGGERING A SERIES OF RED AND YELLOW LIGHTS FOR DRIVERS.

FIRST IS THE FLASHING YELLOW THEN SOLID YELLOW LETTING DRIVERS KNOW TO SLOW DOWN SOLID RED AS DOES ANY OTHER TRAFFIC LIGHT MEANS STOP.

THE PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL INITIALLY SHOWS A SOLID RED HAND AND ONCE TRAFFIC HAS STOPPED, WE'LL DISPLAY THE USUAL WALK SIGN.

AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS, IT CHANGES TO A BLINKING HAND AND DRIVERS SEE A FLASHING RED LIGHT.

WHEN THE LIGHT IS FLASHING RED, YOU HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, BUT THEN IF IT'S CLEAR, THEN YOU CAN MOVE ON.

WHEN IT'S SOLID RED, YOU HAVE TO COME TO A STOP AND WAIT, BUT WITH FLASHING RED, COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.

AND IF IT'S CLEAR, THEN YOU CAN MOVE ON.

AND FOR ANYONE LOOKING FOR ANY EXTRA INFORMATION, IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ON THE PROPER METHOD FOR CYCLISTS OR PEDESTRIANS ACROSS, OR FOR WHAT MOTORS CAN EXPECT, YOU CAN GO TO THE BEAVER COUNTY WEBSITE, WHICH IS BC GOV.NET.

AND THERE'S A BROCHURE AVAILABLE ON THAT WEBSITE FOR THE COUNTY CHANNEL.

I'M STEPHANIE FRENCH, AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BUFORD COUNTY.