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ISSUE NUMBER 161 NOVEMBER 2016
THE TOWN CRIER

The Sandifer Update: Coming together in tragedy
By Bill Sandifer

“Townville strong” has become much more than a hashtag we’ve seen around the Internet.
Instead, it’s the reaction of our neighbors in the face of tragedy.

Many of you, like me, are probably still trying to make sense of the devastating school
shooting recently. Many of us have been rocked to the core. We never in a million years
thought something like this could happen so close by. Townville, in fact, is my wife San-
dra’s hometown.

We have lost a precious six year-old boy, Jacob Hall. We won’t quickly forget the way Jacob loved superheroes and
how people donned costumes and capes for his Celebration of Life. Even though he is gone from this earth, I believe
his work here is not done. The community and our state will continue to remember.

Clearly, this tragedy has brought the community together, revealing its character and its faith. What can we learn from
Townville’s strength during incredible loss? Three things come to mind.

First, we can learn that helping is vital to a community’s healing.

Many have felt a deep need to help and they have. One example is the blood drive honoring Jacob. The response was
so large that additional workers had to be called to handle the willing donors. Donors came from all parts of the state
and as far away as Georgia and North Carolina. Others have brought piles and piles of stuffed toys to comfort Town-
ville Elementary students. These are just two examples of the hundreds of ways people have stepped in to help. The
outpouring has come from within the Townville community, and from around our state and country.

Second, we can learn from Townville’s strength the importance of “gathering round.” In other words, people have of-
fered themselves as a tangible support to allow grieving and to help the victims and community heal. The people of
Townville continue to rally around the families, the students, and the teachers.

Third, we can learn from Townville’s example of gratefulness shown to first responders who put their lives on the line
for us every day. After the tragedy, it came to light that the shooter was tackled by a volunteer firefighter Jamie Brock
before officers arrived. In addition, teachers, principals, and the school staff acted calmly and quickly, also putting
their lives on the lines. There were many heroic efforts and many selfless acts that day. To all first-responding agen-
cies, Townville VFD, Fork Rescue Squad, Oconee Fire, and Oconee EMS, let us all join the people of Townville in
saying thank you.

Please continue to pray for our neighbors in Townville. The strength they have shown truly is an inspiration, and they
will continue to need our support in the days ahead.
Lastly, many parts of our state still are dealing with devastation from Hurricane Matthew. Major rivers in the Low-
country are flooded, and many roads and bridges are closed, along with school districts. In our part of the state, the
storm was a minor event, but others have lost homes and belongings. Their lives have been turned upside down. To
find ways you can help by volunteering or donating, please check out the website for the S.C. Emergency Manage-
ment Division at SCEMD.org.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in state government. I am here to help you any time and would love to
know how I can. My door is always open!

Bill Sandifer represents Oconee County’s District 2 in the South Carolina House. Sandifer can be reached at (864)
885-2240 or bill@sandifer.us. You also can connect with him on Facebook.

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