PICKENS — It is that time of year again. Downtown Pickens will be filled with ghosts, ghouls and goblins — as well as plenty of princesses, ninja turtles and more — when Trick or Treat on Main returns on Oct. 31.

The event, hosted by Cannon Memorial Hospital and the City of Pickens, will be held on West Main Street from 5-8 p.m.

Families can enter the event through a marked entrance on the corner of Main Street and Ann Street. Trick or Treat on Main invites all families and the local community to come out for a fun night of trick or treating, free candy and a children’s costume contest, which will be set up near the end of the trail. Prizes will be awarded in several age divisions, and winners will be contacted by phone on Monday, Nov. 2.

“It’s great that the community comes out and works together to make a safe place for kids to trick or treat,” Cannon community relations assistant Amanda Cooper said. “Last year was our first costume contest, and with over 3,000 kids attending, this year we hope it to be even bigger and better. An event like this really shows how remarkable Pickens is.”

A variety of local businesses and agencies are teaming up to make this year the best yet. Spaces are still available for groups to join in the trick or treat trail. If interested, contact Cooper at Cannon Memorial Hospital at (864) 898-1334.

Free parking is available at the Pickens County Museum, the Pickens County Courthouse or Legacy Square. As a reminder, because of liability concerns, the event will be smoke- and alcohol-free. Due to the nature of the event, pets will also not be allowed. In the event of inclement weather, call (864) 898-1334 for more information.

In addition, the Pickens County Museum of Art and History 3:30-5 p.m. will host an event prior to Trick or Treat on Main offering treats, popcorn and a costume contest.

The museum is partnering with Cannon Hospital and the City of Pickens for all of the Halloween fun and festivities.

The costume contest will begin at 4:30 p.m. Prizes will be handed out for all winners.

For more, click on the community events calendar tab at cityofpickens.com.

By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal

goliver@upstatetoday.com

EASLEY — A two-vehicle collision Tuesday afternoon claimed the life of a 37-year-old Easley man and injured two others.

[cointent_lockedcontent]Pickens County coroner Kandy Kelley identified the victim Tuesday evening as Phillip Wayne Bragg of Ridgefield Road.

Kelley said Bragg, who was wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene a little more than an hour after the wreck due to blunt-force trauma.

South Carolina Highway Patrol Cpl. Bill Rhyne said the accident occurred at 5:38 p.m. on S.C. Highway 183.

Rhyne said Joshua Garrison, 35, of Easley, was driving a 2005 Jeep about 3.8 miles north of Easley, while the driver of a 1994 Mercury Supreme, later identified as Bragg, was traveling south.

Bragg’s vehicle went left of center, striking Garrison’s vehicle. While Bragg succumbed to his injuries, Rhyne said Garrison and an unidentified passenger in Bragg’s vehicle were both transported to the hospital for treatment.

The accident remains under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Bragg’s death was the 13th traffic fatality in Pickens County this year, compared to 10 during the same period last year.

[/cointent_lockedcontent]

By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter

brobinson@thepccourier.com

COUNTY — Citing financial difficulties that may arise, [cointent_lockedcontent]the School District of Pickens County’s board of trustees tied 3-3 on a vote to raise the salary for assistant principals, with trustees Dr. Brian Swords, Judy Edwards and Dr. Herbert Cooper approving the measure.

For some board members, it was a matter of not having enough time to consider the measure.

“We shouldn’t vote on things we don’t have information about,” board member Henry Wilson said.

The measure would cost $80,000 to adjust the salaries for assistant principals. The money was suggested to come from the district’s fund balance.

Board member Alex Saitta explained his philosophy on personal spending, as well as school board spending.

“I fully fund and pay for things, and only after I’ve been able to pay for the things that I have bought do I actually go buy something else,” Saitta said. “It’s pretty much common sense.”

Even with an increase of revenue, the board would still have more dollars going out to pay for things than it would have coming in, Saitta said.

“That’s not a good position to be in,” he said.

Saitta said a third teacher pay raise is not fully funded with current budget dollars.

“And that’s a problem if the world stops right now,” Saitta added. “I don’t think it is wise to give assistant principals a second pay raise this year when the district hasn’t figured out how to fully and permanently fund that third teacher pay raise.”

Saitta pointed out that part of the budget includes $1.5 million from some sale of property that fell through.

“Basically we’ve made a commitment for $1.5 million that we don’t have recurring revenue for,” he said.

Saitta said the board should take its time on increasing the assistant principals’ pay, first taking care of what the board has already committed to.

Wilson pointed out that despite the recession, the district remains in good financial shape. Wilson was one of the board members upset over receiving news about the matter so close to the date to vote on it.

“We got the board packet on Friday and haven’t had time to ask questions,” Wilson said.

Wilson suggested the board be careful with obligations to be funded with dollars from the district’s general fund.

“The general fund isn’t a savings account to grab money from when we want to,” Wilson said.

Wilson suggested the board table the issue to give members a chance to better understand it.

“Assistant principals signed a contract to be paid from the teachers’ scale,” school district financial services director Clark Webb said. “They’re not being paid that way.”

Saitta said the district has other needs that will require attention sooner.

“Additionally, the administration is going to present its next building maintenance plan next month,” he said. “The last time I looked, that was $4.6 million, and only $3.5 million is coming in, so it is too facing a $1.1 million shortfall. The district chose to build all these buildings, (and) now those investments must be maintained, so that is a higher priority that must be addressed first.”

After the measure failed, Saitta pointed out that the 3-3 vote effectively tabled the measure for future consideration, which may work out best for school district concerns.

“When you spend money you don’t have, and then you spend more, you get yourself in financial trouble in the long run, and the district needs to avoid that,” he said.

[/cointent_lockedcontent]

COUNTY — Voters around Pickens County will return to the polls next Tuesday, Nov. 3, as municipal elections will be held in cities and towns around Pickens County.

No county, state or national races will be held.

Several mayoral seats will be up for grabs, but none are opposed and all incumbents are running to retain their seats.

In the city of Pickens, three seats will be up for grabs. Fletcher Perry and Patti Welborn are running to retain their seats on council, while newcomer and retired longtime city employee Lois Porter will be on the ballot for one of the three openings. Write-in candidate Edgar Joel Leese has also campaigned for a seat. Incumbent David Owens is running unopposed for mayor.

In the town of Central, three seats are up for election, but incumbents Lynne Chapman, Harry Holladay and Joe Moss are running unopposed.

In the city of Easley, only the Easley Ward 5 seat will be contested, as James Eller, Bob Fedder and Thomas H. Wright Sr. will vie for the seat currently held by Wright. Ward 1’s Brian Garrison, Ward 3’s Chris Mann and Easley mayor Larry Bagwell are all running unopposed.

Liberty City Council will have three seats up for election, with only Brian Petersen being challenged by write-in candidate Mac Gravely in Ward 4. At-large councilman Lavant Padgett and Ward 3 councilman Josh Harrison are running with no opposition.

In Six Mile, two council seats are up for election, with only incumbents Jeff Dennis and David Yongue seeking re-election. Six Mile mayor Roy Stoddard is running with no challenger.

The town of Norris will have two seats open, with Roy Bryant and Kendall Shirley on the ballot. Also campaigning for the seat is write-in candidate Brian Keith Cook. Norris mayor Odell Williams is running unopposed.

City elections will take place Nov. 3 with polls opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 7 p.m.

By Alex Gettys
PS&L president

news@thepccourier.com

PICKENS — As Pickens Savings and Loan approaches the century mark as a community bank, [cointent_lockedcontent]changes are inevitable.

Our bank is different than the other banks in town. We have the normal functions you see in all banks, such as the teller line, drive-in window and loan offices.

However, since we are a full-service bank and Pickens is our only location, we also have an accounting department, an operations department, IT department and an administrative department, all located in our Cedar Rock Street location. We have had key managers retire recently who were very involved in these customer support areas. Fortunately, we were able to promote from within and find our next generation of managers to step up and take leadership roles in our bank.

When Mary Lewis retired two years ago after 35 years of service, we asked Tammy Galbreath to take over our accounting department. Tammy has been employed with PS&L for 11 years and grew up in Pickens. Tammy is married to Frank Galbreath, and they live in Salem. Tammy is the controller of Pickens Savings and Loan.

After Janie Day retired after 30 years of service, Susan Barkley was promoted to vice president and is responsible for deposit services and the administrative functions of our bank. Susan has been employed by PS&L for seven years. Susan grew up in Pickens and is married to Billy Barkley.

Tammy Gillespie has been promoted to vice president and is responsible for our IT department. Tammy has worked in our IT department for five years. Tammy grew up in Pickens and is married to Michael Gillespie.

We try to hire local people and we try to promote from within. It’s important that the leadership of our bank understand our market and the needs of our customers. Our employees have deep roots in this community, as does Pickens Savings and Loan — 95 years strong and counting.

[/cointent_lockedcontent]

Randy Brock of Pickens recently caught a 14 lb., 14 oz., jolt head porgy to set a new North Carolina state record. The fish was caught aboard the “Game On” fishing boat. The old record was 11 lb., 2 oz., in 1978. “He put up a real good fight, and I knew it was good fish when I hooked him,” Brock said. Brock said in 1987 he caught the biggest king mackerel that had ever been caught off the Cherry Grove pier in Myrtle Beach. The fish was the first porgy Brock had ever caught.

PICKENS — Registration is ending this week for the Pickens Recreation Department basketball season.

[cointent_lockedcontent]Registration will be open at the recreation center on Sangamo Road in Pickens through Friday.

The following age divisions are offered: 5-6 coed instructional; 7-8 coed instructional (unless enough girls register to have a single-gender team); 8-10 boys and girls; 11-12 boys and girls; 13-14 boys and girls (provided enough girls register).

Following registration, a skills/evaluation day will be held for each age division. The registration fee provides a jersey to be kept.

The fee is $45 for in-city residents and $55 for out-of-city residents. Birth certificates are required at registration. Birthdate cut-off is Sept. 1, 2015.

Those interested in coaching or who need additional information are asked to call the recreation department at (864) 878-2296.[/cointent_lockedcontent]