COUNTY — After more than four decades as Pickens County Sheriff, David Stone’s time in office is officially coming to an end after his quest for a 12th term ended in a primary run-off against Rick Clark Tuesday.
Clark, a former sheriff’s deputy and Clemson University police officer and current Liberty city councilman, defeated Stone by a wide margin, garnering nearly 60 percent of the vote, with 6,230 ballots to Stone’s 4,590, with 54 of 57 precincts reporting and provisional, failsafe provisional and emergency ballots not yet reported.

AFGHANISTAN — Tragedy continues in the international war on terror as three members of the National Guard were killed by a suicide bomber in Khowst Province, Afghanistan, June 20.
Among the dead was 30-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas of Easley.

COUNTY — Sitting among the School District of Pickens County’s board of trustees, Dr. Kelly Pew was center stage for her first SDPC board meeting as acting superintendent for the district on Monday evening.
As has been previously reported, officials in the SDPC have set out as one of their primary goals to reach an 80 percent graduation rate within the next five years. Toward this end, the SDPC has assembled a committee of people working together to develop graduation initiatives for the district.

COUNTY — Pickens and Easley will each celebrate Independence Day next week in their own ways.