PICKENS — The sights and sounds of spring are in the air, and the 28th annual Pickens Azalea Festival is scheduled for this Friday and Saturday, April 20-21.

COUNTY — A benign budget workshop with SDPC board trustees and district administration became heated last week when former board chairman Jim Shelton inquired how the board’s recent vote to end the TAP program impacted teacher contracts.

CENTRAL — Dr. Danny Merck, SDPC Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, has been named principal of Daniel High School. His official start date at the school is July 1.
Merck began his education career in SDPC in 1991, teaching at Simpson Academy, Gettys Middle School and Liberty High School before being named an assistant principal at Easley High School in 2000. He became principal at Pendleton High School in 2005 and then returned to Easley High as principal in 2009.
Merck has been assistant superintendent of administrative services since August 2011.

The third annual Wings and Wheels for Meals fundraiser was a great success last Saturday at the Pickens County airport, with a large crowd turning out to take in the sights and sounds and raise money for Pickens County Meals on Wheels. Above, officer A.C. Gilstrap of the Liberty Police Department teaches kids about firearms, while at right, a pair of visitors check out a line of historic cars.

DACUSVILLE — Two teenagers face vandalism-related charges after being caught inside the old Dacusville Elementary School last Friday, Pickens County Sheriff’s deputies said Monday.

PICKENS — The world’s newest Wendy’s is now open in Pickens.
Clemson-based First Sun Management Corporation (FSMX), a 51-unit franchisee of Wendy’s company, opened a brand new Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers restaurant earlier this week in Pickens. The new restaurant is located on Ann Street.

SIX MILE — After more than a quarter of a century at the helm, Ronnie Duncan will officially end his duties as Six Mile Fire Chief on May 1.

EUGENE, Ore. — Pickens County athlete Jonathan Hallman has earned a spot on the U.S. national track and field team that will compete in Saransk, Russia, May 12 for the World Cup of Race Walking.
Every two years the World Cup brings together the top athletes in the sport from more than 40 countries to compete in races of 10, 20 and 50 kilometers (6.2, 12.4 and 31.1 miles).

PICKENS — The Pickens Historical Society, along with art teacher Avis Fisher and history teacher William Wagner, recently offered Pickens Middle School students both an amazing challenge and opportunity in the form of a historical watercolor painting competition.

PICKENS — Ralph Anderson, owner of Anderson’s Portrait Photography Studio in Pickens, has announced his retirement and the closure of his practice.