AdvertiseHereH

Monthly Archives: August 2014

Police capture assault suspect

CLEMSON — Police arrested a man suspected of assaulting a woman and trying to steal from her apartment after asking for the public’s help in finding him.

Clemson police chief Jimmy Dixon issued a news release last week saying officers were “desperately” looking for Charnel Wayne Johnson, 35, of Pickens.

Shortly after midnight on Aug. 20, Pickens County sheriff’s deputies were able to find and arrest Johnson.

“The assistance of (sheriff Rick Clark) and his personnel cannot go understated in searching for Johnson,” Dixon

Bus purchase creates debate

Board OKs buying buses despite discord

By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter

brobinson@thepccourier.com

COUNTY — After considerable debate and disagreement, the Pickens County School Board voted 4-2 Monday night to purchase two new activity buses for around $250,000.

8-27 Page 1A.inddBoard chairman Alex Saitta objected because the proposed money for the buses would come from the district’s general fund.

“That’s education dollars,” he said.

Board member Judy Edwards said the buses are needed.

“The activity buses don’t just go to sports,” Edwards said. “These buses are important to our children’s safety.”

Edwards pointed out that the buses are often used for field trips and educational experiences.

“Activity buses don’t just go to sports. We take children to aquariums (and) we take children to the museums,” Edwards said. “There are educational activities. It’s not just to go play a sport. These activities are very, very important in our children’s education. And just sitting in a classroom is not the only way to educate children.”

Saitta suggested that the board search the budget and find items not as important as the activity buses and cut them

Cold for a cause

Rocky Nimmons/Courier

Pickens County Courthouse employees joined the cold-water challenge for charity craze that is sweeping the nation last week. Employees gathered behind the courthouse and got sprayed by a Pickens fire truck to raise money and awareness for the Pickens County Guardian ad Litem program.

 

Woman involved in chase arrested

COUNTY — The woman police said eluded capture after a two-county car chase earlier this month was arrested last 8-27 Page 1A.inddweek in Greenville County.

Pickens County deputies arrested Tracy Renee Scivedge, 43, last Monday after receiving an anonymous tip that she was at a home on Carolina Court in Taylors.

According to a news release from Pickens County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy Creed Hashe, deputies assigned to the office’s Community Action Team were in the Fish Trap Road area near Easley on Aug. 7 evening investigating

Farm Days planned for weekend

By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter

brobinson@thepccourier.com

DACUSVILLE — For years, the Dacusville Pioneer Farm Days were held at the home farm of Jimmy Robinson. Friends and family members helped operate the event, saluting the area’s farm heritage.

But when Jimmy’s son Randy died unexpectedly in 2011, Robinson lost his passion for the event. While Randy had always been passionate about the event, Jimmy’s other son Frankie never developed as passion for the farm life. Although his youngest son, Danny, participated in the event each year, he never assumed a leadership role and had no interest in controlling the event.

So reluctantly, Jimmy decided to cancel the event, finding the pressure of such a big event was too much for his

Six Mile woman celebrates 100 years

Courtesy James M. Pitts

Lillian Cook Stewart recently celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends at Six Mile Town Hall.

SIX MILE — Hundreds of family and friends gathered in the community room at Six Mile Town Hall recently to celebrate Lillian Cook Stewart’s 100th birthday.

Courtesy James M. Pitts Lillian Cook Stewart is pictured with her husband to be, J. Furman Stewart, on the running board of his new Chevrolet many years ago.

Courtesy James M. Pitts
Lillian Cook Stewart is pictured with her husband to be, J. Furman Stewart, on the running board of his new Chevrolet many years ago.

Born on Aug. 21, 1914, she was one of eleven children born to Claude and Minnie Cook of Norris. Lillian married J. Furman Stewart of Six Mile, and the two were the parents of two daughters — Nancy and Doris. Lillian and Furman operated the Six Mile Cotton Gin and a fertilizer and feed dealership.

During the celebration, Lee Cook of Washington, D.C., presented his “Aunt Lillian” with a U.S. flag flown over the Capitol building and a letter from the president.

Surrounded by the love and laughter of family and friends, Stewart heard the presidential letter proclaim “Over the course of a century, you have made extraordinary memories and woven your own unique story into the American narrative. You are part of a generation who summoned the compassion and strength to guide our nation through some of our greatest challenges and triumphs, and we trust you take pride in your contribution to the life of our country.”

In addition to the rest of her family, Stewart enjoyed hte company of her

County students score high on ACT

COUNTY — ACT scores improved for the School District of Pickens County last year.

8-27 Page 2A.inddPickens remained the top county-wide district in the state for ACT scores and had the fourth-highest scores of any traditional public school district in the state.

“The ACT results are a great reflection on what our district does to make sure our students are ready for college,” superintendent Danny Merck said. “Improving on last year’s scores took a lot of dedication from our high school staff, and I’m very proud of what they’ve accomplished.”

The district’s composite score rose to 22.4 from 21.8 in the previous year, and Pickens County outpaced the state

Green Wave take Food Fight Bowl, fundraising continues

Kerry Gilstrap/Courier

Sam Wyche presents Easley High School football coach Grayson Howell with the Food Fight trophy after the Green Wave beat rival Pickens on Friday night.

PICKENS — On Friday, the Easley and Pickens high school football teams faced off for their 75th rivalry showdown.

The teams were pumped as they hit the field competing for the “Food Fight” trophy, and Easley dominated throughout to take home the “Food Fight” trophy for the fourth year in a row with a 52-7 win.

Kerry Gilstrap/Courier Officials and students pose with a check from Save-A-Lot of Pickens owner Dwayne Goodwin, left, to Pickens County Meals on Wheels at the annual Food Fight Bowl on Friday night.

Kerry Gilstrap/Courier
Officials and students pose with a check from Save-A-Lot of Pickens owner Dwayne Goodwin, left, to Pickens County Meals on Wheels at the annual Food Fight Bowl on Friday night.

Save-A-Lot of Pickens kicked off the event with a pre-game check presentation for $5,000.

For a third straight year, the company has contributed to the schools’ combined fundraising totals, aiding them in their support of Pickens County Meals on Wheels (PCMOW). Since its inception in 2008, the event has grown to be the largest fundraising event for PCMOW, having raised a total of $156,604, the equivalent of 31,321 meals.

Now that school is back in session, competition for the “Ultimate Food Fight” trophy is heating up. From now until 4 p.m. on Sept. 18, The Meals on Wheels Sam Wyche Food Fight Bowl will continue as students from Daniel, Easley, Liberty and Pickens high schools compete to see who can raise the most money for Meals on Wheels.

SWU staff take part in ‘ice bucket challenge

Members of Southern Wesleyan University’s admissions staff grimace as they are drenched by more than a hundred gallons of ice water as part of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. When the department was challenged, they took things up a notch with a little help from the university’s grounds crew. The challenge is raising awareness and support for the ALS Association in its fight against the illness known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” Pictured from left (front) are admissions counselor Jared Trudel, office manager Donna Wood, admissions counselor Stephanie Rodriguez, (back) assistant director of admissions Melissa Vess, director of admissions Amanda Young and admissions counselor Emily Bloxdorf. Operating the front-end loader is landscape manager Byron Shirley.

Members of Southern Wesleyan University’s admissions staff grimace as they are drenched by more than a hundred gallons of ice water as part of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. When the department was challenged, they took things up a notch with a little help from the university’s grounds crew. The challenge is raising awareness and support for the ALS Association in its fight against the illness known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” Pictured from left (front) are admissions counselor Jared Trudel, office manager Donna Wood, admissions counselor Stephanie Rodriguez, (back) assistant director of admissions Melissa Vess, director of admissions Amanda Young and admissions counselor Emily Bloxdorf. Operating the front-end loader is landscape manager Byron Shirley.

 

Easley looking for help with garden

EASLEY — The city of Easley is looking for volunteers to oversee the operation of the Easley Community Garden.

The garden is located behind city hall, where the former courtesy drop-off was once located.

There are 24 raised beds and a utility shed. Food raised in the garden is being distributed to local food banks and needy families.

Interested parties should contact Lisa Chapman or Fox Simons at 855-7900.