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Daily Archives: 02/10/2016

Courier Legals 2-10-16

SPECIAL REFEREE’S SALE

CASE NO.  2015-CP-39-00803

 

BY VIRTUE of a decree heretofore granted in the case of FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY, INC. f/k/a FIRST CITIZENS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, INC. against SANDRA KNIGHT GARDNER, I, the Special Referee for Pickens County, will sell on Monday, March 7, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., at the Pickens County Courthouse, 214 East Main Street, Pickens, SC, to the highest bidder:

 

All that certain piece, parcel or lot of land lying and being situate in the State of South Carolina, County of Pickens, on Campground Road (Highway No. S-39-222), and being known as Tract A containing 6.04 acres, including all r/w; Tract B containing 0.16 acres, including all r/w; and Tract C containing 0.79 acres, including all r/w, as shown on a plat entitled “Survey for Bertha H. Smith,” prepared by Robert R. Spearman, RLS #3615, dated December 13, 1984; reference to said plat is hereby made for a more complete and accurate description.

 

This being the same property conveyed to Sandra K. Gardner by General Warranty Deed from T. Bennett Bunton dated May 3, 2006 and recorded with the Pickens County ROD in Deed Book 1001 at Page 97 on May 5, 2006.

 

Property Address:  385 Campground Road, Liberty, SC 29657

TMS # 4088-14-34-9777

 

TERMS OF SALE:  The successful bidder, other than the Plaintiff, will deposit with the Special Referee at conclusion of the bidding, five percent (5%) of the bid, in cash or equivalent, as evidence of good faith, same to be applied to the purchase price in case of compliance, but to be forfeited and applied first to costs and then to Plaintiff’s debt in the case of non-compliance.  If the Plaintiff’s representative is not in attendance at the scheduled time of the sale, the sale shall be canceled and the property sold on some subsequent sales day after due advertisement.  Should the last and highest bidder fail or refuse to make the required deposit at time of bid or comply with the other terms of the bid within thirty (30) days, then the Special Referee may re-sell the property on the same terms and conditions on some subsequent Sales Day (at the risk of the said highest bidder).

 

As a deficiency judgment is not being waived, the bidding will remain open thirty (30) days after the date of sale.

 

Purchaser to pay for preparation of deed, documentary stamps on the deed, and recording of the deed. The successful bidder will be required to pay interest on the amount of the bid from date of sale to date of compliance with the bid at the rate of 4.74% per annum. Subject to assessments, Pickens County taxes, easements, easements and restrictions of record, and other senior encumbrances.

 

  1. Murray Hughes, III,

Special Referee

for Pickens County

 

  1. Lee Prickett, III – Holder,

Padgett, Littlejohn + Prickett, LLC,

1204 A E. Washington St., Greenville, SC 29601 (864) 335-8808

 

Feb. 10, 17, 24

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NOTICE

The Keowee Springs Fire Department will hold a Budget Review Meeting to review fire department activities in 2015 and the budget to be submitted to the Pickens County Commission for the fiscal year 2016-2017 at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at the fire station located at 159 Keowee Baptist Church Road, Six Mile, SC.

 

Feb. 10, 17

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NOTICE OF FILING OF COMPLAINT

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF PICKENS

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

C/A NO.:  2015-CP-39-1353

 

AgSouth Farm Credit, ACA, Plaintiff, v. Zeta Alyana Gardner; Zachariah Gardner; Jane Doe, representing the unknown heirs, devisees, distributees, personal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, assigns and all other persons entitled to claim through Vivian H. Debnam, deceased;  John Doe, representing the unknown heirs, devisees, distributees, personal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, assigns and all other persons entitled to claim through Christopher J. Debnam, deceased; Richard Roe, representing any and all unknown, minors, incompetents, persons in the military service of the United States of America, persons imprisoned, and persons under a legal disability; Bank of America; Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC. Defendants.

 

TO: DEFENDANTS ZETA ALYANA GARDNER, ZACHARIAH GARDNER, JANE DOE, JOHN DOE AND RICHARD ROE

 

NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT the Lis Pendens, Summons and Complaint in the above-titled action were filed with the Clerk of Court for Pickens County, South Carolina on November 11, 2015.  The object and prayer of which is set forth in the Complaint.

 

 

 

TURNER PADGET GRAHAM & LANEY, P.A.

Ian D. McVey (SC Bar No. 71196)

Post Office Box 1473

Columbia, South Carolina 29202

Telephone: 803-227-4267

Facsimile: 803-400-1564

E-mail: imcvey@turnerpadget.com

 

Attorneys for the Plaintiff

 

December, 2015

Columbia, South Carolina

 

Feb. 10, 17, 24

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LIS PENDENS

(Suit on Note)

(Foreclosure of Mortgage)

(Deficiency Judgment Waived)

(Non-Jury)

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF PICKENS

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

C/A NO.:  2015-CP-39-1353

 

 

AgSouth Farm Credit, ACA, Plaintiff, v. Zeta Alyana Gardner; Zachariah Gardner; Jane Doe, representing the unknown heirs, devisees, distributees, personal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, assigns and all other persons entitled to claim through Vivian H. Debnam, deceased;  John Doe, representing the unknown heirs, devisees, distributees, personal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, assigns and all other persons entitled to claim through Christopher J. Debnam, deceased; Richard Roe, representing any and all unknown, minors, incompetents, persons in the military service of the United States of America, persons imprisoned, and persons under a legal disability; Bank of America; Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC. Defendants.

 

TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE NAMED:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT an action is being commenced and is now pending in the Court of Common Pleas for Pickens County, South Carolina, upon a complaint of the above-named Plaintiff against the above-named Defendants for the purposes of foreclosing upon Plaintiff’s Mortgage by and between Christopher J. Debnam and Vivian H. Debnam and AgSouth Farm Credit, ACA, dated June 4, 2008, and recorded on June 5, 2008, in Book 3856 at Page 76 in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Pickens County, in the below described real property which, at the time of the filing of this Notice, was situate in the County of Pickens, State of South Carolina, was more fully described as:

All that certain piece, parcel or lot of land lying and being situate in the State of South Carolina, County of Pickens, about seven miles Northeast of the Town of Pickens, on the South side of S.C. Road 109, (Connelly Road), and according to a plat of C.E. Shehan, Surveyor, dated May 24, 1982, of plat of John D. Smith, and containing 10 acres, more or less, reference to which is hereby made for a more complete and accurate description.

 

Beginning at a railroad spike in center  of road at northwestern corner, and running thence along center of road N73-4E 700 feet to a point; thence continuing along center of road N66-3E 26.37 feet to a railroad spike; thence leaving center of road and running along property of Wilson and Kay Browning S20-58E 540.15 feet to a concrete monument; thence along property now or formerly of Medlin-Williams Estate S63-37W 737.5 feet to an iron pin’ thence N20-08W 657.7 feet to a railroad spike in center of road, the point of Beginning.

 

TMS No.: 5114-00-22-6871

 

TURNER PADGET GRAHAM & LANEY, P.A.

Ian D. McVey (SC Bar No. 71196)

Post Office Box 1473

Columbia, South Carolina 29202

Telephone: 803-227-4267

Facsimile: 803-400-1564

E-mail: imcvey@turnerpadget.com

 

Attorneys for the Plaintiff

 

November 2, 2015

Columbia, South Carolina

 

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

 

Feb. 10, 17, 24

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SUMMONS

(Suit on Note)

(Foreclosure of Mortgage)

(Deficiency Judgment Waived)

(Non-Jury)

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF PICKENS

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

C/A NO.:  2015-CP-39-1353

 

AgSouth Farm Credit, ACA, Plaintiff, v. Zeta Alyana Gardner; Zachariah Gardner; Jane Doe, representing the unknown heirs, devisees, distributees, personal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, assigns and all other persons entitled to claim through Vivian H. Debnam, deceased;  John Doe, representing the unknown heirs, devisees, distributees, personal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, assigns and all other persons entitled to claim through Christopher J. Debnam, deceased; Richard Roe, representing any and all unknown, minors, incompetents, persons in the military service of the United States of America, persons imprisoned, and persons under a legal disability; Bank of America; Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC. Defendants.

 

TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE NAMED:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to appear and defend by answering the Complaint in this action, of which a copy is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer on the subscribers at their offices, 1901 Main Street, 17th Floor, P.O. Box 1473, Columbia, South Carolina 29202, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, except that the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to do so, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

YOU WILL ALSO TAKE NOTICE that Plaintiff(s) will move for an order of reference or that the Court may issue a general order of reference of this action to a Master in Equity/Special Referee, pursuant to Rule 53, of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.

TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, AND/OR TO MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDES, AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY:

YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a guardian ad litem within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by the Plaintiff(s).

 

 

TURNER PADGET GRAHAM & LANEY, P.A.

Ian D. McVey (SC Bar No. 71196)

Post Office Box 1473

Columbia, South Carolina 29202

Telephone: 803-227-4267

Facsimile: 803-400-1564

E-mail: imcvey@turnerpadget.com

Attorneys for the Plaintiff

 

November 2, 2015

Columbia, South Carolina

 

 

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

 

Feb. 10, 17, 24

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NOTICE

Shady Grove

The Shady Grove Fire District board will hold their budget meeting Tuesday February 23, 2016 at 7pm at the fire station located at 299 Pine Grove Church Road, Sunset, SC.

Feb. 10, 17

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NOTICE

Pickens Rural

The Pickens Rural Fire District board will hold their budget meeting Thursday February 25, 2016 at 7pm at the fire station located at 756 Concord Church Road, Pickens, SC.

Feb. 10, 17, 24

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Public meetings scheduled for Wednesday at Ambler, AR Lewis and Holly Springs

By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal

goliver@upstatetoday.com

PICKENS — First, the good news for Pickens residents. The doors of Hagood Elementary School, subject of consolidation rumors in recent months, will remain open.

The bad news? Three Pickens County elementary schools apparently won’t be as fortunate, as the facilities committee of the school board of trustees voted 3-1 Monday night, with Henry Wilson opposed, to a consolidation plan that would close A.R. Lewis, Holly Springs and Ambler elementary schools instead of approving a tax increase.

Although a final decision won’t be made by the full school board until a special called meeting next Monday night, the consolidation plan allows Hagood Elementary to become a K-2 school that would also house students from A.R. Lewis and Holly Springs. Meanwhile, Ambler students would attend Dacusville, whose elementary school would house kindergarten through fourth grade, while Dacusville Middle would house students from fifth through eighth grade.

Both options, either of which would go into effect next academic year, were presented to the committee by Pickens County superintendent Danny Merck. At the conclusion of its special called meeting on Saturday, the facilities committee asked Merck to use the efficiency study information evaluated by the board and committee over the past eight months and present options. The options are to achieve the following objectives: a merger plan for Pickens-area elementary schools to increase student opportunities and reduce operating costs, implement a primary/intermediate format in the Pickens-area elementary schools and relocate the alternative education program from the Career and Technology Center to another facility, such as an unused portion of the food service building on Breazeale Road, near the school district office.

Merck told the committee he has worked feverishly on both options before presenting the final versions.

“At this point, I’ve changed it so much and listened so much, it gets hard to put more on or take more off,” Merck said. “No matter what happens, at the end, we have to agree on one of these two budgets.”

Under the five-year capital improvement plan proposing the consolidation option, no additional millage would be required with operations funds for 2016-17. The non-consolidation option would result in an additional 2.81 mills for that same period (the value of a mill is $444,448).

Facilities committee chairman Phillip Bowers acknowledged as much as $37 million could be required without consolidation. Bowers added that rumors regarding the closing of Hagood Elementary were just that and that the reconfiguration proposal proves that.

“It makes no sense to close Hagood, because you would be sending students up (U.S. Highway) 178 to Shady Grove Road,” Bowers said. “But it makes more sense to bring those students to Hagood.”

Bowers said the committee determined that school facilities and mergers were top priorities. But Wilson said he felt closing schools wasn’t the best solution.

“It’s a difficult thing to close schools,” Wilson said.

What bothered Wilson, as well as trustee Alex Saitta, is the timeline given to the board for making such a decision. Both feel that next Monday night isn’t ample enough time for an issue that will dramatically affect students from three elementary schools, as well as the schools the displaced students will attend.

“In one week, you’re going to ask parents to come and give their input,” Wilson said. “I think we could impact the community in a better way.”

Saitta agreed, adding, “I think one week is too short. A variety of things have been talked about, and one week is too short.”

But school board chair Judy Edwards disagreed.

“There is a timeline, and the senior leadership team has been working on this for months, trying to determine where teachers will go,” Edwards said. “It’s extra space we’re not using, and it’s draining our budget.”

The school district will hold meetings for public input on the merger proposal at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at A.R. Lewis Elementary School, Holly Springs Elementary School and Ambler Elementary School. Members of the school district administration and board of trustees will be present at each meeting to present details of the merger proposal and hear concerns from the public.

 

Burgess General Store now open in Pickens

PICKENS — The Burgess General Store celebrated its grand opening on Saturday with a ribbon-cutting event featuring Pickens mayor David Owens and store owners Mark and Krystal Burgess.

Mark Burgess’ parents, Jack and Juanita, were also on hand for the event, along with a crowd of anxiously awaiting customers.

GeneralInset

Rocky Nimmons/Courier
Saturday marked the first chance for customers to get a look inside the Burgess General Store in Pickens.

For many years, the “big box” stores have pulled business away from small shop owners across America. This trend has resulted in countless family-run businesses closing their doors after decades of servicing their communities. Old-fashioned general stores were once where the locals traded everything from stories, eggs and rabbits to nails and fertilizer, and everything in between.

The general store business is a long-standing heritage for the Burgess family. Beginning in 1918, Mark’s great-grandfather, John Lawrence Burgess, opened the first “Burgess Store” in the Pumpkintown area. The original store was first located beside the old home place on Pleasant Grove Road and later moved to the intersection with S.C. Highway 11, where it remains today as “Cendy’s Grocery.” The original store had a large bell out front that customers would ring to bring John Burgess out of the field, where he was working. After he finished trading with them, he would again return to work in the fields, until the next customer repeated the process. The Pumpkintown General Store and Cafe was also bought in 1938, and is still owned and operated by the Burgess family. For almost a century, Burgess family members have owned and operated many general stores, restaurants and grocery stores in Pickens and surrounding counties.

There is much history tied to the Burgess family here in the Upstate. The first Burgess family member came to the United States in 1732. In 1789, Joshua Burgess was traveling with his family through the Matthews Creek area near Pickens and met a Cherokee Indian who wanted to trade Joshua 880 acres for his Appaloosa horse. Joshua did indeed make that trade, later marrying a young lady and this began the Burgess family in the Upstate.

Burgess family members have also fought for their country in every war since the Revolutionary War, including recipients with honors such as the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. There is a town in Virginia named for the participant of the Revolutionary War. Other Burgess family members have settled in states all across the country, such as Tennessee, Texas and even a small place in Wyoming called Burgess Junction.

Whatever your history, or your story, the Burgess General Store is sure to be a place where the Pickens community and even passers-by can return to that slower pace of by-gone years. Whether you want to sit in the store’s “book nook” and sip on a cup of one of their large selections of organic coffees, fill up a bag or two of non-GMO bulk foods, leisurely browse through the do-it-yourself section, or maybe you just want to satisfy that sweet tooth and pick up a pound or so of old-fashioned candies, there is a little something for everyone.

“We want to extend a warm welcome to The Burgess General Store,” Mark Burgess said.

 

Man arrested in Clemson thefts

CLEMSON — Clemson University announced Monday police arrested an Anderson man in connection with several thefts at R.M. Cooper Library on campus.

Garrison

Richard Todd Garrison, 41, was charged with five felony counts of financial transaction card theft and five counts of petit larceny less than $2,000. He is not a Clemson student or employee.

Police said items were taken from unsupervised backpacks owned by four victims and the desk of a fifth during the evening of Feb. 1 and the morning of Feb. 2. A purse, wallets with bank and ID cards and cash, an iPhone and other personal items were taken. Some of the bankcards were used at area stores.

Garrison was arraigned Friday and was being held on a $35,650 surety bond.

 

Coal ash meeting planned Thursday

By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal

goliver@upstatetoday.com

LIBERTY — Residents upset over the possibility of coal ash being dumped in Pickens County will have an opportunity to let their voices be heard Thursday evening.

A forum titled “No Coal Ash” will take place from 6-8 p.m. in the Liberty Civic Auditorium, located at the site of the old Liberty High School at 310 W. Main St.

Local businesswoman Pree Hamilton said nearly 3,000 signatures in opposition have already been turned in to Pickens County Council, and another petition will also be on hand that evening to sign.

“We’re trying to bring more awareness to the issue,” Hamilton told The Journal this week. “I want the public to show up so we can show how united we are.”

Elected officials invited to attend and address the audience include South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, U.S. Rep. Lindsey Graham, State Sen. Larry Martin and State Rep. Davey Hiott, as well as state Department of Health and Environmental Control director Catherine Heigel.

Hamilton said she is trying to get in touch with municipalities throughout Pickens County to see if they can set signs out in their communities opposing coal ash.

Late last year, the Pickens County Legislative Delegation sent a letter to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control expressing opposition to the application of a variance made in connection with an existing permit for a construction and debris landfill near Liberty. If approved, the variance would allow the permit holder to dispose of coal ash in the landfill.

The letter requested that DHEC deny the request, stating that Pickens County Council entered into an agreement with an out-of-state company to create a construction and debris landfill at the site in 2007.

But the letter also said county council “never contemplated that this company would attempt to convert the landfill for the disposal of coal ash as this toxic waste material is not produced in the county and is not a typical C and D material.”

The delegation added that the site is “much too close” to the city of Liberty and the Pickens County Industrial Park.

“We oppose Pickens County becoming a dumping ground for this out-of-state company,” it read.

Martin and Hiott have each introduced bills in their respective chambers in response to the issue. Senate Bill 1061, introduced last Thursday, would require any utility that disposes of coal ash in a South Carolina landfill to use a Class 3 landfill.

“It’s my understanding that South Carolina utilities are using Class 3 landfills, and there’s no reason why this out-of-state company can’t use a Class 3 landfill as well,” Martin said. “The legislation has one purpose — to keep the disposal of coal ash out of Pickens County, but also to keep it out of other communities.”

In his legislation, Martin included a five-year “sunset” provision that would require the Senate to go back and revisit when that time arrives.

“There’s a lot of technology when it comes to coal ash and recycling,” Martin said. “It might be easier to get through by having a sunset provision where it could be revisited.”

Martin said the bill would go to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which he chairs, this week, and he hopes it will reach the Senate floor in about three weeks. While he feels the bill, if ultimately passed, will definitely keep coal ash out of Pickens and other counties throughout the state, the Senator said Pickens County Council also has some legal options it can explore.

Hiott characterized his bill as an effort to slow down the process, though he isn’t sure it will completely stop it.

“It’s the county’s problem, but it’s obviously our problem, too, as members of the delegation,” Hiott said. “We’re trying to make sure we do it the right way and do what’s best for the citizens of Pickens County and continue making the county the beautiful place it is.”

One thing is for sure — Martin said that as diverse as Pickens County is politically, the coal ash issue has united the county unlike anything he has ever seen before.

“No one wants coal ash in Pickens County, and we all need to do our respective part to keep it out,” Martin said. “But this is a good object lesson for other counties across the state in that while it may be economically advantageous to farm it (construction and debris disposal) out, you lose control over it. Once you make a contractual arrangement with someone like that, you start to lose control.”

goliver@upstatetoday.com | (864) 973-6687

Follow on Twitter @JournalGO

 

Rubio to appear in Easley Sunday

By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter

brobinson@thepccourier.com

EASLEY — Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican presidential candidate, will host a Town Hall event at Easley High School on Sunday.

Easley City Councilman Chris Mann made the announcement during Monday night’s meeting of Easley City Council.

The event will be held at the school’s gym from 1:30-2:45 p.m. Sunday, and a barbecue lunch will be provided. Guests must RSVP by visiting http://www.eventbrite.com/e/easley-town-hall-with-marco-rubio-tickets-21386597890. Those unable to RSVP online will be able to sign up at the door, depending on capacity.

Mann said he and Easley Mayor Larry Bagwell plan to attend.

Rubio is currently polling third in the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. president behind billionaire Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

The South Carolina Republican Primary is scheduled for Feb. 20.

Absentee voting is now underway for Pickens County voters, according to county officials. Voters may cast their ballots either in person at the county voter registration and elections office in Pickens or by mail. For more information about how to cast an absentee ballot, visit pickenselections.org or call (864) 898-5948.

If Rubio, who finished third in last week’s Iowa caucus, is successful in his campaign for the Republican nomination, he will face the Democratic candidate, either former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or Sen. Bernie Sanders, in the November general election.

Rubio was first elected as a city commissioner in Miami. In 2000, he was elected to the Florida State House, where he served for eight years. In 2010, he ran as a long-shot candidate for the U.S. Senate and upset Florida Gov. Charlie Crist for the seat.

Rubio’s wife, Jeanette, is a former Miami Dolphins cheerleader, and they have four children.

 

50 years of service

50YrsAt a recent communication of Keowee Lodge No. 79, A.F.M., two local men were honored for having completed 50 years of membership. Tony H. Patterson and Doyle R. Peace were presented special awards from the Grand Lodge of South Carolina by Grand Master William B. Rogers of Easley.
Pictured, from left, are Patterson, Rogers, Peace and Doyle R. Black, Worshipful Master.

 

Morgan announces sheriff bid

By Greg Oliver

Courtesy The Journal

goliver@upstatetoday.com

COUNTY — Former Pickens County assistant sheriff Tim Morgan, who served in law enforcement for 35 years and waged an unsuccessful bid for sheriff four years ago, announced plans Monday to again seek the office.

Morgan said the decision came after much thought and prayerful consideration, along with support from his family.

Morgan“I will be taking a leave of absence from my employer to devote my efforts to this race,” Morgan said. “If I believed the leadership of the sheriff’s office was doing an adequate job in managing the office and serving the public, I would not be seeking this office. I am running on my record of demonstrated service and results — not just campaign rhetoric.”

In 2012, Morgan ran as a petition candidate following the June primary defeat of longtime Sheriff David Stone, who was also Morgan’s boss. Morgan, who declined to run against Stone when the latter was a candidate, collected the necessary 3,600 signatures to become eligible. However, Rick Clark won the general election, which also included candidate Stan Whitten, and is also seeking re-election this year.

Morgan, who is a 1970 graduate of Pickens High School and earned a business degree from Erskine College in 1974, said ensuring that deputies “have the equipment, training and necessary technology they need to safely and efficiently do their jobs” is one of his goals.

In addition, Morgan said deputies “will have my full faith and support, making decisions based on the right thing to do, not on what is best for me politically” and will end “needless work to artificially skew statistics.”

Another area Morgan will work toward is ending the departure of personnel that he said has occurred during Clark’s administration. Instead, the former assistant sheriff said he wants to restore the sheriff’s office “to the high-quality, premier law enforcement agency where employees enjoy working.”

“People generally do not leave good jobs — they leave bad managers,” Morgan said, pointing out that county personnel records show 54 employees, or approximately 40 percent of the total number of full-time workforce, have left employment with the sheriff’s office or transferred out in the last three years. Morgan also said the sheriff’s office has lost its previously held status as an Accredited Law Enforcement Agency.

The sheriff’s office, according to Morgan, is one that he would like to see become “more proactive all across the board” — taking steps to make Pickens County “a more uncomfortable place for those who choose to break society’s laws.”

Morgan also feels the sheriff’s office belongs to the citizens and that a greater emphasis on service to citizens in the county should be emphasized.

“The interaction between a deputy and citizen is not much different than that between a business owner and customer,” he said.

Morgan said during his career as assistant sheriff, he has worked with “dozens of county councils” to provide for the needs of the sheriff’s office while being fiscally responsible to the citizens.

“A leader who refuses to work with others when he doesn’t get his way does a disservice both to those he leads and the community for which he is responsible,” Morgan said. “I understand it takes everyone working together as a team to achieve a common goal.”

 

Easley pastor asks council for support

By Ben Robinson

Staff Reporter

brobinson@thepccourier.com

EASLEY — The Rev. Tracy Gantt and his wife, Sunshine, of New Deliverance Baptist Church appeared before Easley City Council on Monday night hoping to find a location for a homeless shelter in Easley.

“We want to keep the homeless off the street,” Gantt said. “Half of our congregation is homeless. They have nowhere to go, nowhere to get something to eat.”

Gantt said a similar mission, Haven of Rest in Anderson, helped turn his life around when ha faced a similar situation.

“I’m from here, right down the street,” Gantt said. “It used to be a beautiful place. But now there are drug dealers preying on the people. It’s not fair to people. It’s not fair to my mother.”

Mayor Larry Bagwell said he had done research on Gantt’s mission.

“I found out a lot of things,” Bagwell said. “Things I did not know about. But y’all have given to those people generously.”

Bagwell said he was told years ago that any effort to help the homeless needed to come from the county level.

“But we just need to find a way to take care of our own rather than go outside to try to find a place for the homeless,” Bagwell said. “We don’t want to turn our head on anything.”

Gantt reported that many of the families he works with have children and are looking to do whatever it takes to take care of their children.

“We want to help these families from turning from homeless to criminal,” Gantt said.

Bagwell promised his help in solving the problem.

“My door is always open,” Bagwell said.

 

Romance and chocolate for all from Birchwood

PICKENS — The poetry of romance and the perfume of chocolate await all at Birchwood Center’s annual Valentine’s Program, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18, at the Pickens County Museum’s LaVonne Nalley Piper Auditorium at 307 Johnson St. in Pickens.

Celebrated writers-readers Tom Johnson and Harriett Richie will present about an hour of short and widely-varied poetic works, from ancient texts to first-reading new.

Though the collection is curiously tagged “All Out of Love,” the promise is for the usual fine reading, good humor and the abundance of chocolate — and it’s all free. Everyone is invited.