Archive for December, 2009
Thieves hit local school, church
By Rocky Nimmons
Publisher
COUNTY — Three people face charges after authorities say they dismantled and resold parts of air conditioning units from Crosswell Elementary School, two Easley-area businesses, a local church and a residence.
Between October and December of this year, the PCSO received numerous reports of the theft of air conditioning units from buildings located on or near U.S. 123.
Eight roof-mounted air conditioning units at Crosswell Elementary, valued at $72,000, were stripped of condensers and evaporator coils Dec. 14, according to police reports. Deputies believe that a vehicle was driven to the rear of the school and the metal coils had been tossed from the roof.
Units were also taken from Service Master and the First Assembly of God located on Saco Lowell Road, as well as from Sassy Pooch & Kits Pet Grooming and a residence located on U.S. 123, according to police.
The investigation into the incidents led to warrants being issued on Harley Ray Thomas, 20, Christina B. Merritt, 34, and Shannon Earl Garland, 37, all of Greenville.
On Dec. 28, Thomas was arrested and charged with two counts of grand larceny and one count of malicious damage more than $5,000. Also that day, Merritt was arrested and charged with five counts of grand larceny and one count of third-degree burglary. Seven warrants have been issued on Garland charging him with five counts of grand larceny, one count of third-degree burglary and one count of malicious damage more than $5,000. Garland has not yet been arrested.
Thomas has been released on a $15,000 personal recognizance bond, while Merritt is currently incarcerated at the Pickens County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.
Authorities said the three suspects have possibly been involved in incidents in Greenville County and Anderson County as well.
If you have information on the case, please contact the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office at (864) 898-5500.
Homeless children have place in schools
By Olivia Fowler
Associate Editor
COUNTY — There are currently 746 homeless children attending school in Pickens County, according to Sharon Duffy who as the school district’s Coordinator of Federal Programs/GT/Humanities is the district liaison for homeless students.
And the numbers are expected to increase.
A federal stimulus grant helps local schools educate these students.
“Although we have had some students living in motels or cars, that is not the norm,” Duffy said. “Usually, the families live in substandard housing, often without reliable sources of heat or running water.
“Also, the district has McKinney stimulus funds based upon the number of children we served in FY ‘09. At that time, the district served 682 homeless students. As of December 18, 2009 the district had served 746 students who met the federal definition of homelessness. With the current economy, I would not be surprised to see the number of children who qualify for McKinney-Vento services to reach 900 for this year.”
The school district is one of 12 districts in the state providing services to homeless students with funding from the $60,000 federal stimulus grant.
On the local level, a liaison administrator is required to make school and transportation services available to homeless students, and to keep staff and faculty up to date with information about rights and responsibilities. In addition, the liaison must make sure homeless families know about available services.
The service is made possible through provisions in the McKinney-Vento Act passed under the Regan Administration requiring that education be made available to homeless children.
Services include free round trip transportation to school, school choice, and the ability to register for school without immunization records. Participating states are required to have a statewide homeless coordinator to make sure homeless children are receiving a public education.
In the Act, the homeless are defines as those “who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” The act goes on to give examples of children who would fall under this definition:
(a) Children sharing housing due to economic hardship or loss of housing;
(b) Children living in “motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations”
(c) Children living in “emergency or transitional shelters”
(d) Children “awaiting foster care placement”
(e) Children whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc)
(f) Children living in “cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
2009 is the second of the three year funding period of the McKinney subgrant, a competitive grant that is funded for three years at a time to the grantee.
Duffy said the grant money is also used to buy school clothing, school supplies and field trip fees.
She said local schools notify her when student need is identified.
Changing of the vane
Every year since 1994, Hillcrest Memorial Park and Dillard Funerals and Cremations have traditionally mounted a weathervane atop their offices to commemorate the winner of the rivalry football game between Clemson and South Carolina, which the Gamecocks won this season, 34-17. Above, Dillard’s Robert Pinkston holds the tiger weathervane as Dennis Porter places the gamecock vane atop the office on Tuesday.
High-speed chase ends in drug arrests
By Rocky Nimmons
Publisher
EASLEY — Two men have been charged following a chase that covered two counties and almost entered North Carolina, according to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies say the chase, which occurred on Sunday at approximately 11:30 p.m., at times saw speeds of 80-110 miles per hour.
According to an incident report, the chase began when deputies observed a red Ford Mustang swerve across the center-line and into the path of oncoming traffic on Hamburg Road near Easley.
Deputies tried to stop the car on Antioch Road, but after pulling into a parking lot, the car accelerated as deputies pulled in behind it, the report says.
The car continued on Antioch Road and onto Saluda Dam Road, heading toward Greenville County. PCSO deputies pursued the car into Greenville County onto U.S. 25, traveling toward the North Carolina state line. Deputies say the car continued to accelerate and disregarded traffic lights.
The car slowed and came to a stop near the state line, apparently as a result of a blown engine, the report stated.
Deputies say the driver fled the car and attempted to enter into the woods before he was apprehended. Upon arrest, deputies said they found a large amount of cash and what was believed to be marijuana and unidentified pills.
Travelers Rest officers were on the scene to assist, and following the apprehension of the driver, a search of the passenger uncovered a small pipe.
As officers prepared to leave the scene, a bag was discovered with 22.7 grams of a crystal-like substance on the ground adjacent to the Mustang.
Both Gary Jason Griffin, 33, of 106 Reece Lane in Pickens, and a passenger, Christopher Michael Simmons, 32, of 904 Old Vinland School Road in Easley, were arrested at the scene.
Griffin was charged with one count of failure to stop for a blue light and drug trafficking of ice, crank or crack, 10 grams or more, but less than 28 grams, third or subsequent offense. Griffin is at the Pickens County Detention Center with bond set at $25,000.
Simmons was charged with simple possession of marijuana and drug trafficking of ice, crank or crack, 10 grams or more, but less than 28 grams, first offense. An $8,000 bond has been set for Simmons.
Library helps feed hungry with food for fines project
By Olivia Fowler
Associate Editor
COUNTY — The Pickens County library system’s annual food for fines program has been an overwhelming success.
It’s the 15th year library patrons have brought in cans of food in exchange for having fines on overdue library materials forgiven.
So far, patrons have brought in 6,182 food items. Library system public services manager Jennifer Crenshaw said the food has been distributed to Gleaning House Ministries, Clemson Community Care, the Pickens Food Pantry and United Christian Ministries.
Crenshaw said the program began the Monday after Thanksgiving and will end December 31.
“One of the nicest things is when people that don’t owe anything bring in cans,” Crenshaw said.
About 7,000 patrons have had $12,000 in fines removed from the books.
“It’s an opportunity for people to help,” said Crenshaw.
A second food for fines program is planned for early summer.
It is tentatively scheduled to be one week long and may be held near the end of May or early part of June.