City rolls out the welcome mat for Limestone students

Limestone students line up at one of many vendor tents. Dr. Ronn Radcliff was in Florence when he heard Thursday the City of Gaffney was holding a first-ever welcome celebration for new and returning Limestone College students.

He immediately curtailed his plans and came back to Gaffney to set up temporary shop outside Gaffney City Hall on Friday night for Limestone on Limestone. "I love doing stuff like this," said Radcliff, a chiropractor and parent of a Limestone College student. Between demonstrations of his chiropractic skills with some free services for students, the owner of Radcliff Family Chiropractic was enthused about the opportunities for Gaffney to work more closely with the college.

"I think we need to reach out more to them," he said, "not just as business owners but also as a community."

The city took a major step in that direction on Friday by holding the Limestone on Limestone event, a welcome celebration sponsored by the city and several local businesses.

The event stemmed directly from economic development studies by Clemson University and the Urban Land Institute, both of which said the city, its downtown, and its merchants, could benefit from closer relationships with the college and its students.

Many of the students, especially upperclassmen, who came out Friday night said they appreciated the city's efforts.

"I kind of felt when I first came here they (the city) didn't accept Limestone," said Shawn Hetz, a Limestone junior from Maryland studying sports management and business. Friday night's event impressed him and he said he'd likely come back downtown to see if he could support the city's merchants.

"I love it," said Stacy Riggins, a Limestone junior from Anderson studying social work. "It made me feel like Gaffney is my home."

Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly told the students that Friday night's event was just a start and that Limestone on Limestone would become an annual event.

"We want to entice these students to come downtown and participate in everything we have," he said, as the event wound down Friday night. Overall, he said he was pleased with the first Limestone on Limestone and said efforts already were underway to plan next year's event, which most likely will be held earlier during freshman orientation.

Pat Throneburg, the city's project coordinator, estimated it cost the city about $1,000, which included the fees for two bands and banners, as well as a portion of the costs for Limestone on Limestone T-shirts that were given out to all the students.

Limestone College's food services department took care of the food preparation. All of the students who came out Friday night received free servings of hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob and funnel cake.

Lauren Barker, a Limestone junior from Charleston studying biology, served as emcee for the event. "I think it's a great idea," she said of Limestone on Limestone. "I think (the students) all appreciated it."