Monthly Archives: July 2014
Ousted: Local Big League team eliminated in semifinals
Kerry Gilstrap/The Courier
S.C. District 1 shortstop Jacob Childress tosses the ball to second base to try to put out Florida’s Brenden Overton during their U.S. semifinal game Tuesday evening at the J.B. “Red” Owens Complex in Easley. Florida won 6-0 to advance to Wednesday’s championship game against Puerto Rico.
EASLEY — Facing off against a pitcher on a mission to send his team to the championship game of the Big League
BLWS
World Series, there wasn’t much the South Carolina District 1 host team could do to help its own cause Tuesday night.
Florida pitcher Bradford Deppermann turned in a one-hit gem, as he struck out eight batters against just one walk in a complete-game effort to lift Florida — representing the Southeast region — to a 6-0 victory and into Wednesday’s championship game against Puerto Rico.
The game between Florida and Puerto Rico — which defeated Latin America by a final score of 3-0 in the other semifinal game Tuesday — will be televised live by ESPN2 from the J.B. “Red” Owens Complex at 6:30 p.m.
Local official to help shape new math standards
COUNTY — A Pickens County educator will be part of the team that shapes South Carolina’s new math standards.
Janice Ward, the coordinator of secondary education for the School District of Pickens County, was one of 19 educators selected by the South Carolina Department of Education to help write the new state math standards.
Janice Ward
A total of 365 educators were nominated to serve on the teams to write the new English and math standards, and the SCDE chose applicants based on their level of expertise and ensured the team represented the diversity found across the state and in its schools.
“I was honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve,” Ward said. “We had a very positive and productive first meeting on July 21, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the writing process.”
“This team represents the best and brightest in the field of math around our state,” said Dr. Mick Zais, South Carolina Superintendent of Education. “The charge of the General Assembly was tough, but clear: develop new, high-level, college- and career-ready standards that meet the needs of South Carolina students. Given the level of talent and experience these educators have, I am confident they are up to the task.”
The new standards are scheduled to go before the State Board of Education for final approval in March 2015. They will be implemented starting in the 2015-2016 school year. South Carolina will still use Common Core State Standards during the upcoming 2014-2015 school year.
GOLD STANDARD: Easley resident earns medals at National Special Olympics
By Nikki Rutledge
For The Courier
nrutledge@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Easley resident Todd McKinney, 48, won big at this year’s National Special Olympics last month in New Jersey, bringing home two medals for bowling.
Special to The Courier
Easley resident Todd McKinney poses with his recently earned National Special Olympics medals for bowling and a past trophy for softball.
Todd and his partner, David Wolf, won the gold medal in the Unified Doubles division, coming in with a score of 297. McKinney also won a bronze medal in the Singles division with a score of 370 points.
McKinney, a past gold medal winner in softball unified and bocce, said he has been bowling for about four years, and picked up the sport just to try something new.
“I like to play bocce, too, but bowling is my favorite now,” he said.
McKinney uses a different technique than most when he holds his bowling ball, using his index and middle fingers instead of the typical middle-and-ring-finger approach.
Help sought from public to identify suspects
PICKENS – The Pickens Police Department is looking for any information that will lead to the identification of three suspects shown in the pictures above. Just before 6 a.m. on June 11 a debit/visa card was stolen from The Hideout Club in Easley and later used by suspect #1 at the Pickens Wal-Mart located on Gentry Memorial Highway. A second suspect, shown above as suspect #2, is believed to be working with suspect #1. Suspect #3 appears to be the driver of a dark colored SUV the three were driving. If you have any information regarding the incident or the suspects, please contact the Pickens Police Department. At 878-6366.
County hires Delk as new administrator
COUNTY — Pickens County Council members voted unanimously last week to hire Matthew Delk as the new county administrator.
Matthew Delk
Delk, who will join the staff on Aug. 25, will replace Chappell Hurst, who served as administrator for eight years before his retirement at the end of last year. County finance director Ralph Guarino has been serving as interim administrator.
Council voted at a special called meeting last Thursday to hire Delk, who has served as the assistant county administrator in Union County, N.C., since 2007.
Prior to his time in Union County, Delk served as the county manager for Halifax County, N.C.
According to a Pickens County news release, Delk’s service in North Carolina was focused on economic development, financial stabilization and working with a myriad of public boards and commissions.
Delk also has experience in South Carolina, serving as county administrator for Bamberg County for five years and as deputy county administrator of Allendale County prior to his move to North Carolina.
Tax holiday set for this weekend
COUNTY — With the beginning of a new school year fast approaching, there’s no better time to get started with back-to-school shopping than this weekend.
Retailers around the state will charge no sales tax from 12:01 a.m. Friday to midnight on Sunday as South Carolina observes its annual sales tax holiday.
A wealth of items will be exempt from tax throughout the weekend, including clothing, accessories such as hats,
Clemson retirement community hires Robinson as new wellness director
CLEMSON — Clemson Downs Retirement Community announced recently it is investing heavily in the active lifestyles of its residents by hiring a wellness director with broad experience in crafting personalized fitness plans geared toward engaging seniors with a best-in-class holistic approach.
Nikki Robinson will work to engage seniors with fitness regimens aimed at maximizing mobility, mental acuity and
Pickens Rescue 7 Rodeo set to feature local talent
Local barrel racer Holly Scruggs will be one of the area participants in the Pickens Rescue 7 Rodeo, to be held at the Pickens Bargain Exchange Flea Market on August 8 and 9.
PICKENS — Are you ready to see some barrel racing, trick roping and bronco busting? If the answer is yes, then the Pickens Bargain Exchange Flea Market is the place for you, as Pickens Rescue 7 will host a championship rodeo on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 8 and 9. The event will kick off both days at 8 p.m.
The rodeo will be a fundraiser for Pickens Rescue Squad 7 to help with operating expenses. Many local cowboys and cowgirls will participate in the rodeo, including Holly Scruggs of Pickens in cowgirl barrel racing.
Scruggs started riding at age 12 and running barrels around age 14. She participated in the High School Rodeo for the state of South Carolina in both her freshman and sophomore years while attending Pickens High School. She raced in barrels and poles and participated in goat tying, breakaway roping and team roping events.
Since that time she has ridden in many professional rodeo association events. Scruggs currently holds membership in the NBHA (National Barrel Horse Association) and, the SRA (Southern Rodeo Association), NCA (National Cowboy Association) and WPRA (Womens Professional Rodeo Association).
Scruggs has qualified for the National High School Rodeo Association Finals twice, the NBHA numerous times as a youth and open competitor. She is the 2008 State Champion and the 2008 District Reserve Champion. She made the SAR finals, Longhorn Rodeo Association finals and has qualified two times in the International Professional Rodeo Association.
Rodeo fans will also get the chance to see a special exhibition by nationally renowned roper Jack Fullbright. Fullbright specializes in trick and fancy roping. The Mountain View Baptist Church Youth will be selling concessions.
The rodeo will be produced by the Ernie Treadway Rodeo Company and will be great fun for the entire family.
Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children 6-12. Children under 6 get in free. For more information, call (864) 608-3807. The Bargain Exchange Flea Market is located at 1449 Walhalla Highway in Pickens. The rodeo will start at 8 p.m each night.
Oyster Roast fundraiser set for PIckens County Guardian ad Litem
COUNTY — Friends of Pickens County Guardian ad Litem has been providing financial assistance since 2002 to neglected and abused children of Pickens County and the Guardian ad Litem Program of Pickens County. Annually our program touches the lives of these children through annual Heart and Sole Back to School Shopping day, Annual Spring Fling (a fun carefree day for the children), clothes closet (new clothes) at Pickens County DSS office (for children coming in to custody), camps, tutoring, medical assistance, training and support of Guardian ad Litem
Hunter named employee of the quarter
COUNTY — The Pickens County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs recently announced Patsy Hunter as its employee of the quarter.
Patsy Hunter
Hunter has been an employee with the agency for seven years.
Hunter handles herself extremely well under all situations, according to PCBDSN officials. She is always pleasant, helpful, patient, follows the rules, positive with consumers and co-workers, a good example, works harder than most employees, takes a lot of responsibilities without complaint, and can work with anyone without conflict.
She is a model employee, can be trusted to show you the right way when asked for help, and she is a trooper.
