Santee Mayor Silas Seabrooks appealed to citizens of Santee and surrounding areas to dig deep in their pockets to aid the tsunami victims in Asia during a Santee Town Council meeting on Wednesday night.

The town of Santee has organized a committee which is raising money to help those affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami disaster. Santee resident George Schneider is chairman of the committee.

"To help our fellow brothers and sisters is taught by all religions in the world," Seabrook stated in a letter to community members.

The Santee Tsunami Relief Fund has a goal of $10,000.

The goal is being tracked with a progress board at the Santee Fire Department. The fund is being held at the Bank of Clarendon and has currently reached $ 4,450. That amount is still climbing.

Schneider stressed that there is no donation too large or too small. "We need the ones, the fives, anything you can give," he said.

He recognized the United Holiness Church and the Kiwanis Club of Santee for their generous donations and encouraged other businesses to do the same.

Anyone interested in making a donation should contact Santee Town Hall or George Schneider at 854-2152. Donations can also be dropped off at the Santee Town Hall or mailed to: Santee Tsunami Relief Fund, Attention: Olivia, Bank of Clarendon, P.O. Box 487, Santee, SC 29142.

During the meeting, Seabrooks also thanked council members for their participation in a recent retreat. Council members participated to brainstorm ways to better serve the town and its residents.

In other matters, Santee Police Chief Robert Williams reported that recent drug raids were a success because of the hard work of the Santee Police Department and members of the North Charleston Narcotics Unit.

Williams stressed the need for greater accountability among landlords. He said an ordinance needs to be created to better regulate properties which are being used for drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

Santee Tourism Director Joanie Schneider informed council members that plans are under way for this the 2005 Maize Days festival. She reminded council that the town's Easter egg hunt is being held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at the Town Hall Complex.

Schneider also read a letter from Catherine Irish, the wife of Bill Irish for whom the town's William C. Irish Partners in Participation Award is named.

Mrs. Irish thanked the town for the honor bestowed upon her husband and encouraged the town to continue its progressive nature.

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