Monthly Archives: June 2014
Weekend plane crash kills Liberty man, Pickens teen
PAGE, Ariz.. — A Pickens High School student and a Liberty man lost their lives in a plane crash in Arizona over the weekend.
According to their families, the victims were pilot Charles Michael Trotter, 47, and Dakota Jacks, 15.
Trotter and Jacks were headed home from a sightseeing trip when the plane crashed, according to reports.
Authorities said the plane left Las Vegas sometime early Friday, landed in Page, Ariz., and then left Page at 1:30 p.m. Arizona time headed for South Carolina before
Sheriff’s office looking for help to ID burglars
EASLEY — Investigators are turning to the public for help in identifying two men caught on camera during a burglary at a home in Easley Sunday morning.
Images of the two men were captured on a trail camera outside the home, located at 743 Thomas Mill Road.
Officers said one of the men can be seen leaving the home with the victim’s property.
In one image, a medical boot can be seen being worn on the left foot of one of the two men.
The vehicle driven by the suspects may have also been photographed, according to Pickens County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy Creed Hashe. It is believed to be a lat
School board OKs budget
Employees get raises; Clemson TIF issue settled
COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County’s Board of Trustees approved the district’s 2014-2015 budget and a settlement in a long-fought lawsuit with the City of Clemson on Monday night.
In the budget, which received third and final reading, certified employees will receive a 2 percent increase through the STEP program. Non-certified employees will also get a 2 percent increase.
The board approved the budget with a 6-0 vote.
Both the school board and Pickens County Council voted Monday night to agree to a settlement in the tax increment financing (TIF) suit with Clemson.
Although details of the settlement were not available at press time, school board
Woman airlifted after slip at falls
PICKENS — A woman was airlifted to the hospital following a fall at Twin Falls on Monday afternoon.
According to Pickens County emergency management director Chuck Haynes, the woman was with a group of people and fell around 12:45 p.m.
Haynes said the woman slipped and fell, although the exact distance was unclear.
It took emergency responders an hour and a half to rescue the woman. Pickens County Emergency Management, Pickens Rescue Squad, Pickens EMS, Vineyard
Math camp for girls aims to narrow the gender gap
CLEMSON — A group of high school girls were at Clemson University last week to attend a new summer camp that aims to boost their math skills and give them a better shot at landing some of the nation’s fastest-growing jobs.
The inaugural offering of “We Do Math!” targeted girls who will be in ninth and 10th grades when fall semester starts.
Organizers hope to lay the foundation that females will need to close the gender gap in jobs that involve STEM — science, technology, engineering and math.
“Math is the gatekeeper for all STEM careers,” said Serita Acker, the director
9Round opening soon in Pickens
PICKENS — 9Round, a kickboxing gym, will open for business in Pickens on July 1.
One of the fastest-growing fitness kickboxing franchises in the nation, 9Round offers clients a one-of-a-kind kickboxing fitness class that can be done in just 30 minutes. Owners Michelle Money and Graydon Lockard — a sister and brother duo — said they can’t wait to get their business up and running and start having fitness fun with the people of Pickens.
“We are a brother and sister team who have always wanted to have a career we’re
Pickens Senior Center plans fiber room tours
PICKENS — The Hagood Community Center will soon be the place for those interested in the fiber arts.
The center is home to the Pickens Senior Center and will soon be hosting welcome tours for a room dedicated to fiber arts. The room will be available to individuals of all ages, small groups and fiber arts organizations for both casual get-togethers and instructional programs. The dedication is set for June 25 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and June 26 starting at 5 p.m.
The dedication will be a chance to tour the facility, view the newly acquired Grange
Clemson mayor Cook helps raise awareness for PTSD
Pictured are Clemson mayor J.C. Cook and Mari Noorai.
CLEMSON — Clemson mayor J.C. Cook recently signed a proclamation to promote June 27 as the fourth annual National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day.
The proclamation signed by the mayor focuses attention on a medical condition that needs to be understood since it often affects our service men and women, veterans and victims of physical and sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, accidents and natural or man-made disasters.
The stigma they often suffer needs to be understood and in turn eliminated.
“Many do not realize that PTSD affects twice as many women as it does men, and not just those who serve in combat zones,” said Mari Noorai, who wrote th
World of Energy hosts kids’ water safety day
UPSTATE — The World of Energy at the Oconee Nuclear Station recently hosted a water/boating safety day for children in the community in partnership with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and The Oconee Pilot’s Association.
Hadley Cooper gets fitted for a life jacket by SCDNR officer Gabriel Gilmore.
The event featured a puppet show demonstrating the importance of being safe while swimming, plus each attendee received a “Josh the Otter” book and CD, compliments of the Walhalla and Seneca Rotary and a free T-shirt and life jacket fitting by SCDNR.
The event was part of the World of Energy’s summer program called Wednesdays at the World of Energy. Each Wednesday at 10 a.m., children 12 and under are invited to attend various fun, free, educational programs at the center. For more information or for a complete schedule of events, call 1-800-777-1004 or log onto www.duke-energy.com\worldofenergy.
