Hiking and biking fever raised in Walhalla

The Walhalla Depot was packed last night with enthusiastic supporters of the project to extend the coast to the mountains Palmetto Trail by 14.5 miles, from Stumphouse Tunnel to the grounds of the Depot at Kaufman Square.  Through a video presentation and remarks by four speakers, the crowd learned the construction of the hiking and biking trail, led by a professional trail builder, has started.  They have discovered the wooded mountain property is full of an abundant variety of wildlife and chainsaws are being used to cut thru thickets of rhododendron.  Dan Pollock cautioned that the rough grading of the first two miles of the extension is just the first of three phases and that additional monies, beyond which have already been allocated, will be required.  “This is not paid for by any stretch,” Pollock told the crowd.  There was specific mention of the city of Walhalla, the county of Oconee, and the state of South Carolina as desired sources.  Representatives of all three were part of last night’s audience, and a sampling of opinion by 101.7/WGOG NEWS indicated support for the project.  They see it as an economic development enhancement to the Walhalla area to bring visitors and stimulate vitality within the downtown.  Natalie Britt, executive director of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, credited State Senator Thomas Alexander for already having leveraged state funds