Monthly Archives: August 2013
Trotter resigns, reconsiders
By Nicole Guttermuth
Courier Staff
COUNTY — In a surprise ending to what appeared to be a business-as-usual School District of Pickens County board of trustees meeting on Monday night, Liberty-area representative Ben Trotter announced his resignation from the board.
By the next morning, however, Trotter had changed his mind and decided to finish out what is left of his term, which is roughly one year.
“I’ve had about 133 calls this morning from people asking me not to resign,” said Trotter. “I reckon if it is that important to people, I can go through another year of hell on the board. There are other people who’ve been through a lot worse. I’m not going to say anything bad about the board or the district; we just don’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of things.”
School board passes nutrition services budget with new hire
By Nicole Guttermuth
Courier Staff
COUNTY — When School District of Pickens County student nutrition services director Sally Nicholson originally presented her budget to SDPC board trustees during the April 22 meeting, the board would not approve her budget for fiscal year 2014 based on surveys conducted throughout the district that rated the overall food quality and quantity poorly.
Nicholson was given a directive by board trustees to create a plan to improve food taste, quantity and quality before they would approve her budget.
“When you look at the employee surveys, employee satisfaction with the taste and quality of the food served in our cafeterias is very low (50 percent or below satisfaction). The issue was not being addressed by food services,” board trustee Alex Saitta said. “Sally has done a great job managing her department’s finances, but she has squeezed the system so hard that people are not satisfied with the services or the product.”
Former sheriff Stone honored
Former Pickens County Sheriff David Stone was honored last Friday by his successor, as a special ceremony was held to rename LEC Road to C. David Stone Road. “This is a small token of our appreciation for his years of service in Pickens County,” current sheriff Rick Clark said. “The sign will be there permanently to communicate what he’s done.” Stone was congratulated by state and local representatives, as well as fellow law enforcement professionals who claim Stone as their mentor. Pictured above, standing from left, are Rep. Davey Hiott, Clark, Stone, Stone’s wife Donna, Sen. Larry Martin and Rep. Phil Owens at the ceremony.
Missing Indiana teenager found in county
COUNTY — A missing Indiana 16-year-old was returned to her parents earlier this week after being found in Pickens County.
According to Pickens County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy Creed Hashe, no charges have been filed in the case, as the girl told detectives she had told a Pickens man she met online that she was 18. The man, with whom the girl had an online relationship for several months, according to reports, had driven to Indiana to pick her up.
Pickens County deputies are working in a support role to Indiana authorities, Hashe said. He said though no crimes appear to have been committed in South Carolina at this stage in the investigation, Indiana authorities are still investigating and determining what, if any, charges will be filed.
Police: Woman tried to furnish prisoner drugs
LIBERTY — Liberty police arrested an Anderson woman last week after they said she tried to provide a prisoner with drugs at the Pickens County Airport.
Jill Marie Holter, of Kauffman Drive in Anderson, was charged with conspiring to distribute a controlled substance and furnishing a prisoner with a controlled substance. Arrest warrants accuse Holter of furnishing a prisoner on work detail at the airport with 15 Hydrocodone tablets.
According to a release from Liberty police chief Adam Gilstrap, officers were called to the airport on Aug. 15 to investigate suspicious activity. An airport employee told officers a woman had been in the office asking about flying lessons and acting strangely, according to an incident report.
Pickens, Easley raise nearly $30K for Meals on Wheels
Kerry Gilstrap/Courier
Pickens was awarded with the Ultimate Food Fight Trophy for raising $18,626 for Pickens County Meals on Wheels. The two schools combined to raise almost $30,000 for the charity.Above, first-year Easley coach Grayson Howell and his team pose with the Food Fight Bowl Trophy after winning the game, 30-14.
Easley — The sixth annual Meals on Wheels Sam Wyche Food Fight Bowl was a night to remember, and will be one that students and fans will reminisce about for years to come. Weather delays could not dampen the crowd’s excitement, as the teams faced off for their first rivalry game at Easley High’s new stadium.
The storms that had delayed the start of the game until 9:20 p.m. continued to loom in the night sky, but it did not affect the players’ determination as they took to the field to compete for the “Food Fight” trophy. Easley dominated in the first half and never wavered, even through a power outage seven minutes into the second quarter, winning 30-14.
A shortened halftime and wet conditions did not allow for the traditional half-time Grasshopper lawnmower race. Instead, cheerleaders and members of the student bodies gathered at the 50-yard line, waiting to see who would take home this year’s “Ultimate Food Fight” trophy.
Appalachian music lessons offered for youth and adults
UPSTATE — Enrollment is now under way for Appalachian music lessons. The next session of the Evening Music Program will begin the week of Sept. 9.
This program is open to all ages (third grade through adults) and is designed to teach students to play Appalachian music with acoustic instruments. Instruments include guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and banjo.
The six-week sessions will be held at the following locations:
Easley First Baptist Church in Easley (Tuesday nights); Pickens Senior Center (Monday and Thursday nights); Saint Paul United Methodist Church, downtown Greenville (Thursday nights); Clemson (new location and day to be determined)
Liberty planning fall events
Liberty Festivals and Events
LIBERTY — The Liberty Festivals and Events Committee has recently announced several events for the coming fall season for the city of Liberty.
Starting Sept. 7 and running through Oct. 19, every Saturday the Depot Street Market will be open. If you have something to sell, bring it space are $5, All food vendors must preregister, so the LFEC will avoid duplication. Register at http://www.libertyscevents.com/p/depot-street-market.html. The market runs from 8 a.m. until 1 pm.
Habitat ReStore seeks donations of furniture and household goods
EASLEY — The Habitat ReStore, sponsored by Pickens County Habitat for Humanity, is seeking donations of furniture, functional and decorative household goods, and building supplies. The best sellers are furniture, appliances, kitchen items, electronics, framed art, and items for every room in your house.
This is a win/win situation for both the donors and the program. People looking to dispose of unwanted home items can get a tax deduction for their donations since Habitat for Humanity is a tax exempt agency, and the agency benefits by using the income from store sales to help construct new homes with low to very-low income families throughout Pickens County.
East Pickens Baptist Church holds KidCity grand opening
East Pickens Baptist Church held the formal ribbon cutting of Kid City last Sunday. Shown are The Rev. Jamie Duncan, Building Team Chairman Jeff Wood, Deacon Team Don Webb, the Rev. Bobby Craig, and KidCity Planning Team Members Heather Craig and Debra Graybeal, along with many smiling children from the church.
PICKENS — On Aug. 25, East Pickens Baptist Church celebrated the grand opening of a new facility for the children and youth of Pickens County.
The new facility features children’s Sunday School space and a multi-media theatre for Sunday morning Kids Worship and the Wednesday night youth service.
The entire church gathered for the ribbon cutting ceremony before touring the new space. From a construction lift, the Rev. Jamie Duncan offered scripture and led the church in a corporate prayer of dedication.
The entire church prayed that hundreds, if not thousands, of children and teenagers be impacted by the new facility. The design and construction team for the KidCity project cut the grand opening ribbon, allowing the excited children to walk through the facility first.
