Oconee Forever donates to County Conservation Bank

Local conservation group Oconee Forever gave $1,000 to the Oconee County Conservation Bank at the Bank’s monthly meeting in the Pine Street administration building.  Eddie Martin, long-time area conservationist and District Manager of the Oconee Soil and Water Conservation District, presented the check on behalf of Oconee Forever to Shea Airey, OCCB chair. “Preserving Oconee County’s way of life first means conserving its land, farms and forests,” said Martin.  “That’s why Oconee Forever is contributing $1,000 to the Oconee County Conservation Bank to support its mission of preservation on the local level.”  The donation consisted of proceeds from Oconee Forever’s second annual bicycling and barbeque event, Rally in the Valley, as well as other fund-raising activities. The third Rally will be held May 24 at Calyx Farm off SR 11. Oconee Forever is associated with Upstate Forever, a conservation organization headquartered in Greenville.  The OCCB was created in 2011 by the Oconee County Council as an independent government body whose mission is to use available funds to protect important conservation lands in the county.  Funding allows the OCCB to provide grants and financial assistance to landowners to conserve working farms, scenic areas, important wildlife habitat and historic sites.  Persons interested in donating to the OCCB may do so by mailing their tax-deductible contribution to: Oconee County Administrative Offices, ATTN: Conservation Bank, 415 S. Pine Street, Walhalla, SC, 29691. “It’s all about preserving special properties in Oconee County,” said Martin, “So our children and their children can continue to enjoy our area’s unique environment.”