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Homecoming Activities
The Calhoun Falls Charter School Homecoming activities on October 15-16, 2009,
will begin at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, with a homecoming parade which will go
down Savannah Street. The parade will feature the CFCS senior players and
their sponsors, CFCS band, floats made by the charter school students, members
of the first football team and cheerleaders in Calhoun Falls history, and
a number of former homecoming queens. There will be a pep rally on Cox Avenue
following the parade. The Blue Flash Grill will be selling food.
Beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, the first football team and cheerleaders will be honored at the CFCS homecoming game to celebrate the 60th anniversary of football in Calhoun Falls. All former players, cheerleaders and alumni are encouraged to attend to take a look back at "Football in the Falls".
Coach John Fulmer, the first football coach at Calhoun Falls and the stadium's namesake, will attend the game.
Re-sale Store Located on CFPCS Campus
by Lee Boggs
The re-sale store that helps support the athletic programs at the Calhoun
Falls Public Charter School is located on the school's campus in a portable
building behind the library wing of the school.
All proceeds from the merchandise sold from the store on the school campus supports the Blue Flashes’ athletic programs.
If someone wants to support the Blue Flashes with donated merchandise, the items should be brought to the store on the school campus.
The re-sale store is currently open from 2:30-4 p.m. on Thursday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday.
“We would prefer that items not be left after hours, but if someone wants to bring items other than during open hours, they can be left under the covered walkway in front of the store,” Karen Sorrow said.
“We ask that the donor give us a call and let us know something was left so we can promptly get it inside and protected. If the donor could call us in advance, we may be able to make arrangements to have someone meet them at the store for their drop-off.”
Pick-ups can be arranged, she said.
The re-sale store has a variety of items: clothes, books, curtains, pictures, furniture and other household items. There’s even a chrome truck bumper.
“As you can see there are many items that are acceptable for donation. We do ask however, that the donated items be gently used and something that would appeal to a potential buyer,” Sorrow said.
Household items – rugs, small appliances, bed spreads, pictures, lamps, vacuum cleaners, tables, chairs, light fixtures, benches, bookcases – have sold the best, Sorrow said.
“Right now the store is low on these types of items, and we would appreciate donations of any of the above mentioned or similar items,” Sorrow said.
Donations are currently not tax deductible, she said, but organizers are working on getting approval for it.
Blue Flashes Open Season Friday Night
by 105.1 WSGC
Game time for the CFPCS opening game Friday, August 21, 2009, has been changed
from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Blue Flashes will host the Byrnes School at Fulmer
Stadium.
“We’ve been looking at them on film, and talked to some other coaches that have played them,” Blue Flash Head Coach Mike Cragio said.
Last year, the Byrnes School Trojan were 3-7 overall and 2-4 in their region.
“Overall as a team they’re real athletic. They have a real athletic quarterback. He’s actually a four year starter and is a big strong kid who can throw the ball well and can tuck it and run it. He’s what makes them go,” Craigo said.
Last week, the Blue Flashes played Richard Wynn Academy in a scrimmage in Saluda, tying them 0-0. The Blue Flashes only gave up one first down and managed to get into the red zone four times, but penalties kept them from scoring.
“We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot.” Cragio said.
Senior running back/wide receiver Justin Gilchrist and senior linebacker Jean Martinez are two of the players Craigo is looking for to have big years.
On top of that, a group of sophomores should help anchor the team. They include quarterback Tay Harris, tailback Patrick Bryant, and offensive lineman Ricky Smith. The sophomores are in addition to strong seventh and eighth grade classes.
“Our best football teams may be two or three years away," Craigo said. “We do have some good, young kids coming along.”
Blue Flash Grill
by Stan Cooper
Booster Club President
The Blue Flash Grill will sale hamburger steak plates at 6 p.m., Thursday, August 6, 2009, beside George Broadwell's home on Savannah Street. Plates will cost $7 each and include a hamburger steak, baked potato, and slaw.
A hash and BBQ sale will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 8, at the school. Hash will cost $8 a quart. Whole smoked Boston butts will be $30. The food can be picked up in the school lunch room. All proceeds go to support the Blue Flashes.
Baseball Field Dedication
by Nancy Crocker
Excitement is in the air as final plans are being made to dedicate the Community Baseball Field in honor of Neil Chrisley at 5 p.m., Saturday, July 25. The public is invited and no admission will be charged.
As “Take Me Out To the Ball Game" echoes down Anderson Street, where the ball field is located, many Calhoun Falls residents will remember when the ball field was the home of the Textile Clippers Baseball Team. It was impossible to find a parking place when over 1,000 spectators packed the stands to watch Neil Chrisley and the famous Clippers play baseball.
The naming of the field will be ”Neil Chrisley Community Field." This will be done on behalf of all the living Calhoun Falls Clippers and in memory of all deceased Calhoun Falls Clippers.
This dedication has been planned by local Calhoun Falls citizens with Bill (Hump) Brown serving as chairman of a group of Concerned Citizens who wanted to honor their native son. A marker has been purchased with donations from private citizens. This seven-foot marker will be unveiled on Saturday with two pictures of Neil and the names of the teams he played with in the Major Leagues: Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Braves, New York Mets. The other side will be inscribed with a Blue Flash and the years he played for the Calhoun Falls Blue Flashes and for the Clippers.
According to Brown, this event would not have taken place had it not been for the community coming together to make this happen. Local farmers brought their tractors into town and worked long and hard to prepare the ball field for dedication. Many people have worked hard to make this day special for the Chrisley Family.
Prior to the dedication, a little league baseball game will be played at 1 p.m. with a second game to follow. The actual dedication will begin at 5 p.m., when over 50 people from the Chrisley Family are expected to attend.
The guest speaker will be Mr. John H. Fulmer who was Neil's baseball coach in 1948. Mayor Johnny Waller will give the invocation and the Rev. Barry Bryan will sing the National Anthem. The history of the ball field will be given by J.P. (Chigger) Nelson, who played on the Clipper Team.
Neil Chrisley was born December 16, 1931.
A Legend Returns to the Diamond
by Jamie Taylor
It's been over half a century since Neil Chrisley has stepped onto the Calhoun Falls baseball field. When he steps back on the field in less than two weeks, he will still be the same despite his age: The greatest baseball player these parts has ever seen.
On Saturday, July 25, 2009, at 5 p.m., the Town of Calhoun Falls will be celebrating their local hero by naming the community baseball field in his honor – the same field which brought him local notoriety for multiple championships and ultimately a ticket to baseball’s highest honor – the major leagues.
Chrisley started his career in 1947 with the local mill team and perennial baseball power, the Calhoun Falls Clippers. As a tender aged 16-year old rookie, Chrisley batted his way to fame quickly pelting out an impressive .343 batting average as Governor Strom Thurmond and another 1,000 spectators gazed. A year later in 1948, playing dual roles for the Clippers and Calhoun Falls High School Blue Flashes, Chrisley’s talent for baseball started an onslaught of championships for both teams that never quit.
The high school team captured the district championship in its inaugural year of 1948 with Chrisley leading the way. He would follow suit the same year leading the Clipper’s to the Anderson County League Championship. The following year would repeat itself as Chrisley whopped out an outstanding .439 batting average with 22 doubles and another two district championships for the Flashes and Clippers.
In 1950, his final year of baseball for the Flashes, Chrisley saved his best for last. He opened the high school season hitting three home runs. Later that year would see Chrisley dominate the plate when he crushed a 400 ft. home run in one playoff game, and hit another home run in the final championship game to help the Flashes capture the State Title.
He matched his efforts with the Clippers that final year as well when they downed the Clemson Tigers, 22-17, in an exhibition game at Clemson. In the Clippers first game under the lights that year, Governor Strom Thurmond revisited to watch Chrisley for the last time. Chrisley didn’t disappoint as he hit a home run, 2 triples, single, 2 stolen bases. He also had a three home run game his final year with the Clippers as 9 major league scouts watched the .389 batter in anticipation.
One week after Neil graduated high school, he would be photographed joking around during batting practice with arguably the greatest hitter of all time, Ted Williams. A few years later, in 1957, Chrisley got his chance in the majors with the Washington Senators, hitting a single in his very first at bat.
In the 1958 season, during spring training, Chrisley pelted three home runs in one game, including a grand slam. Later that season, Chrisley had 2 doubles and a single against the powerhouse New York Yankees. He was dubbed “best slugger of the exhibition season” and batted near .500.
When the MLB regular season went into full swing in 1958, so did Chrisley. He stepped in as a pinch hitter on Yankee Stadium on May 12 to hit his first homerun. Neil hit two more homeruns in the next three games. The headlines read: Willie Mays Rampages, Neil Chrisley Finds Power.
In less than two weeks, the headlines will read big once again for Chrisley: A Star Has Come Home! The public is invited and no admission will be charged.
Cheer Camp
by Stan Cooper, Booster Club President
The Calhoun Falls Charter School Cheer Camp will be June 2-5, 2009, at the gym. Cost is $25 per person, plus lunch money on June 4. Times are 3-6 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday. Students will be sized at 3 p.m., June 2. A showcase will be at 1:30 p.m., June 5. Family and friends are invited to the showcase. Girls need to wear t-shirts, shorts, and tennis shoes, and bring a hand towel or bath towel because it will be hot. All participants will learn cheers and dances for the upcoming season. A CD with camp cheers and dances will be provided. All cheerleaders must have a physical as soon as possible.
Football Jamboree
by Stan Cooper, Booster Club President
The Calhoun Falls Blue Flashes football team will play in Saluda on August
12, 2009, in a jamboree with Kings Academy and Saint Josephs. Tickets are
on sale at the school and by the football players. All the money from the
tickets sold by our players and the school will go to the CF football program
to help buy equipment for the team. The tickets will be $5.