Daily Archives: 10/22/2014
Rally held to fight domestic violence
Ben Robinson/Courier
Pickens County sheriff Rick Clark speaks at a rally held in honor of domestic violence victims on the steps of the Pickens County Courthouse last week.
PICKENS — Representatives and friends of MARY’S House gathered in front of the Pickens County Courthouse Thursday for a rally against domestic violence.
“We’re not going to give up the fight against domestic violence,” said Pickens County sheriff Rick Clark, who has spoken against domestic violence for many years.
Sen. Larry Martin, another longtime opponent of domestic violence, was one of the speakers.
Martin said he hopes to work to get South Carolina out of the top five states in domestic violence.
“This is a new day in South Carolina,” Martin said. “We have aggressive prosecutors, committed members of law
SDPC improves on federal report card
COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County saw improvement on the 2014 federal report card, with a score of 86.2.
The score is up from 83.7 in 2013.
The increase was largely due to significant improvement in the district’s high school score, which rose from 75.1 to 87.
“Our schools did an incredible job increasing the graduation rate last year, and that is reflected in the district’s score,” district superintendent Danny Merck said.
Out of the district’s 26 schools, 10 earned an “A” score, 12 earned a “B,” and four earned a “C.” Letter grades are
2014 Pickens High School Athletic Hall of Fame, a night to remember…
John Bolton/BoltonPhoto.com
Hamp Summey
Pickens High School inducted another class into its Athletic Hall of Fame during Friday night’s game against county rival Daniel. Pictured above with PHS athletic director Stan Butler, brother and sister Chas and Chelsea Anthony, former multiple-sport stars for the Blue Flame, were inducted into the prestigious group, as well as longtime PHS coach Hamp Summey (inset).
School board candidates discuss issues
By Nicole Daughhetee
For The Courier
nicole@thepccourier.com
SIX MILE — Candidates for the School District of Pickens County school board District 2 seat participated in a presidential-style debate hosted by the Pickens County Taxpayers Association last week at Six Mile Town Hall.
Moderated by Dan Winchester, school board hopefuls Kevin McKenzie, Tony Qualkinbush and Phillip Bowers answered questions from a panel of newspaper media and then from a large pool of audience members, who weathered driving rain storms to hear the candidates speak on a variety of educational issues last Tuesday.
The District 2 seat is currently held by Jimmy Gillespie, who decided not to seek reelection. The seat will be up for
Trick or Treat on Main planned for Saturday
PICKENS — The annual Trick or Treat on Main, co-sponsored by Cannon Memorial Hospital and the City of Pickens, is set for this Saturday from 5-8 p.m. in Pickens.
Last year more thousands of children and parents attended the event, and organizers expect to match or exceed those numbers this year.
Trick or Treat on Main provides a safe, fun environment for children and parents to enjoy a night of free trick or treating, as well as a costume contest.
Organizations and businesses are invited to sponsor a booth, and there is no charge to be a sponsor. Organizers ask
Former Pickens mayor Shehan airs concerns to county council
By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter
brobinson@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Former Pickens mayor Ted Shehan had an opportunity to address Pickens County Council during the public input session of its meeting Monay night to share his concern about the county’s plan to take over fire protection duties currently assigned to cities.
In Pickens, the city’s fee to taxpayers has been $50 per home, the lowest in Pickens County, except for Rocky Bottom, which charges $40 annually. Under the county’s new plan, Pickens city residents will pay $100 annually.
The county has built three new fire stations. Those stations will be unmanned most days.
Shehan said the residents in these areas could be covered by the city fire department as long as the homes fall within a
Quench your landscape’s thirst for natural rainwater
COUNTY — It’s been a long, hot season, and your landscape needs water, according to officials.
Quench your plant’s thirst (and save money on your water bill) with natural rainwater from your own rain barrel. Recycle your food scraps and yard waste and feed your plants with rich, natural compost.
On Clemson’s Solid Green Day, Oct. 29, Anderson and Pickens Counties Stormwater Partners (APCSP) will help area
‘An Upcountry Boil’ set for Pickens County Museum on November 8
PICKENS — The Pickens County Museum of Art and History and the Pickens County Cultural Commission will host “An Upcountry Boil,” a good-time fundraising event, on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 6-9 p.m.
The event will include a silent auction along with a pick-a-prize featuring creative creations, exciting getaways and an array of gifts from regional businesses.
The after-hours, family friendly, event brings art, music and history lovers together for one night to celebrate in the
Pickens Rotary Club collecting money to help end threat of polio
PICKENS — When Rotary began the fight in 1985 to eliminate polio worldwide polio affected 350,000 people, mostly children, in 125 countries every year. Since then, polio cases have dropped by more than 99 percent.
Since 1988, the number of polio cases has been reduced from 350,000 a year to fewer than 700 cases in 2011. The Americas were declared free from polio in 1994, the Western Pacific region in 2000, and Europe in 2002. A highly
Courier Letters To the Editor
God’s Law vs. Man’s Law
Dear Editor,
God created the Heavens, the Earth, all living things and created man in His own image. He created male and female and charged them with replenishing the Earth — not male and male or female and female to do the job, but male and female.
He said He would be their God and they would be His people. In Deuteronomy Chapter 28 verses 1-14, He tells how He
