Daily Archives: 07/08/2015
Celebrating the 4th
Pickens County was a buzz on Saturday as 4th of July celebrations got underway all over the county. Above, Liberty Mayor Eric Boughman is shown as bikers race by during the first-ever Emma KAPP Bike Parade named in honor of his daughter at the “Love My Liberty” event. Right, Elise Pottergerg, dressed in stars and stripes clings tightly to her mom Tiffany during Easley’s July 4th event and below are some of the beautiful fireworks that were enjoyed by all those lined up along Main Street in Pickens. To see many more pictures of the events check out Lifestyles, page 1B.
Arrests made in sex crime
COUNTY – Two Pickens County men face criminal charges following contact with two juvenile females on Facebook.
Alec Grant Holder, 20 of 206 Forest Drive in Liberty was arrested on June 26, at a residence in Pickens without any incident and charged with Criminal sexual conduct with a minor second degree and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Joshua Aaron Dale Haney, 21 of 117 24th Street in Easley was also arrested on June 26 without any incident after he was located in Easley and charged with contributing to
2 charged in theft ring
COUNTY The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into a string of reported incidents where homeowners discovered that their vehicles had been broken into during the nighttime hours while the victims were asleep.
As reported to various media outlets in April and May, the Sheriff’s Office attempted to alert other potential victims within Pickens County that thieves appeared to be looking for specific targets of opportunity.
Utilizing “Intelligence Led Policing” tools implemented by Sheriff Clark, Detectives were able to more quickly identify the similarity in the items that were being stolen
PCSO crackdown on auto breakings nets Georgia man
COUNTY — The Pickens County Sheriff’s office continued their crack down on Auto breakings last week with the third arrest in a non-releated crime last Friday.
The PCSO located a suspicious male in the area of Central during the early morning hours on July 3.
In a release Pickens County Chief deputy Creed Hashe said, “As Deputies interviewed the man identified as Andre Jaquez Warren of Augusta, GA, they quickly learned that
Confederate flag protestors not allowed at local Wal-Marts
Drew Stevens/photo
Protestor perpares for a recent Confederate flag protest.
By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter
brobinson@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — A planned protest at the Easley Wal-Mart was halted before it could get started Sunday morning. Easley and other law enforcement officers ended the protest, that had centered around issues with the Confederate battle flag, peacefully.
Anyone entering the parking lot with a Confederate battle flag or other controversial emblems was stopped as they drove into the parking lot and told they were welcome to
Senate votes remove flag
By Pamela Dodson
Staff Reporter
pdodson@thepccourier.com
COLUMBIA – The Confederate flag may soon be taken down from Capitol grounds in Columbia. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley asked that the flag be removed following the grisly murders of nine church parishioners at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, on June 17.
In a statement Monday, Haley applauding the Senate’s passing vote of 37-3 in the second of three readings of the bill. “The South Carolina Senate today rose to this historic occasion, with a large majority of members from both parties coming together
Local Dance Teacher Wins National Award
Suzanne Goodman
EASLEY — Suzanne Goodman, owner and artistic director of Easley Dance Arts, Couch Lane, Easley was awarded National Dance Teacher of the Year through Boogie Fever USA.
Goodman is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA in Dance. Goodman is a member of Dance Masters of America Chapter 44. With SCDM, Suzanne is certified in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and acro and is also a Nationally Certified Examiner in those areas.
Goodman is the chapter treasurer for SCDM as well as the Exam and Membership Chairs.
She is the current President of the Arts Council of Pickens
Banjo Extravaganza is July 18 at the Hagood Mill Historic Site
Charles Wood
PICKENS — Come join your friends at Hagood Mill on Saturday, July 18 as “Music in the Mountains 2015” continues, as the mill hosts a “Banjo Extravaganza” featuring Charles Wood with Nitrograss. This sonically unique Asheville based band creates a carefree and exciting atmosphere of pure acoustic pleasure. The percussion rhythms of two time national banjo champion Charles Wood lay the foundation for the band’s unique style. Wood is a veteran showman with appearances on “The Late Show with David Letterman” and “A Prairie Home Companion” with Garrison Keillor. Wood has toured in Austria and Germany with The Lonesome Road Band and taught at the esteemed Munich, Germany Banjo Camp in 2009. Wood has also starred at many regional and national Bluegrass festivals. Other members of
Courier Letters to the Editor
The evil of recent days
Dear Editor,
I am a very patriotic American and love my country. Many men and women have paid the ultimate price defending our Constitution, freedom and our flag.
Our Constitution was written in three weeks by Godly Christian men who put God first in their lives and then their love for America. These men lived by the very words from the Bible, God’s Holy Word.
Our Constitution has served our country well for 239 years, and we have thrived as a nation because we honored God and supported Israel (Genesis 12:3).
Today, we have politicians who abuse their power, and I wonder how many of them would be willing to pray and seek God’s wisdom as our forefathers did.
Over the last few weeks, we have had tragedies to hit our state. Nine lives were gruesomely taken on a Wednesday night, during a Bible service in Charleston. My prayers are with the families of each victim, the shooter and his family as well.
My problem is with many calling this a hate crime. I like what Dr. Martin Luther King’s granddaughter said: “This was not a hate crime — my grandma was shot in church by a black man. This isn’t a crime of hate — it’s just pure evil.”
I agree with Dr. King’s granddaughter and applaud her for wise statement.
The Confederate flag stands for Southern heritage, not hate. We, the people of South Carolina, compromised in the year 2000 when the flag came down from the top of the Capitol.
One individual’s evil crime can’t be prejudiced toward an entire state. Rap singers can brag about killing cops, and our liberal media will blame the officers who protect our families. Look up authenticenlightenment.com/2015/06/28/how-does-your-silly-flag-outrage-feel-now/ and decide for yourself who you trust.
America, we better wake up and repent from our evil ways and stand up for our rights while we still have them (2 Chronicles 7:14).
One last thing — you can’t sing about the amazing grace of Jesus and hours later ignore His definition of marriage (Ephesians 5:31, Matthew 6:24 and Leviticus 18:22), more of God’s words that describe His amazing grace.
Recent days truly have been some of the most evil our land has seen. We need you, Jesus, to heal our land. Our hope is in you alone, and may God bless America again!
Brad Dover
Liberty
PCSO says no foul play in hikers death
PICKENS — Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Investigation into a Greenville County teen who was killed June 28, when he slipped and fell down a waterfall at Table Rock State Park, found no evidence of foul play in his death.
In a release the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office said they have found no evidence or any other indication that Jonathan Michael McKenzie’s death was anything other than a tragic accident.
“Interviews with the witness and preliminary results from the autopsy are all
