Monthly Archives: December 2014
PRA plans ‘Main Street Challenge’
Competition offers new downtown
businesses chance to earn incentives
PICKENS — The Pickens Revitalization Association has launched a competition that gives new businesses a chance to earn thousands of dollars in incentives.
The “Main Street Challenge,” based on a successful program of the same name in Spartanburg, is billed as “an entrepreneurial startup competition for the purpose of generating additional retail occupancy in downtown Pickens.”
Officials said the challenge provides a means by which local, area and regional entrepreneurs
Christmas wreck kills Easley man
EASLEY — A 24-year-old Easley man lost his life in a single-car wreck on Christmas Day.
According to Pickens County coroner Kandy Kelley, Jordan Robinson, of 102 Booker T Circle, was not wearing a seat belt when his vehicle overturned shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Breazeale Road in Easley.
Robinson was pronounced dead at Baptist Easley Hospital from blunt force trauma to the head.
According to the S.C. Highway Patrol, the vehicle ran off the right side of the road, struck a culvert and crashed near a tree. Robinson was partially ejected, officials said.
The accident is still under investigation.
STOUDT ON TOP – Senior quarterback, Tigers dominate Oklahoma in bowl
Photo by David Platt/Courtesy Clemson Athletic Communications
Clemson quarterback Cole Stoudt celebrates with offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain during the Tigers’ 40-6 win over Oklahoma Monday night in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Stoudt earned MVP honors for his performance.
Clemson caps fourth straight 10-win season
By Jonathan Gantt and Colby Lanham
Clemson Athletic Comm.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Three-point underdog before the game, 34-point victor after.
Clemson dominated all aspects of the Russell Athletic Bowl in an impressive 40-6 win over the favored and No. 24-ranked Oklahoma Sooners on Monday night.
For the Tigers and head coach Dabo Swinney, the victory marked a third straight year with an impressive bowl win against a storied opponent.
Clemson capped 2012 with a win over LSU and head coach Les Miles, took down Ohio State and head coach Urban Meyer to close 2013, and beat Oklahoma and head coach Bob Stoops this season.
The win also gave the Clemson seniors 42 for their careers, extending a school record. The Tigers
Country Santa delivers despite rain
Despite rainy weather, Country Santa Buddy Cox and his team of volunteers delivered gifts for more than 3,200 children on Christmas Eve last week.
PICKENS — Nelle Cox knew she and her husband faced a challenge as volunteers delivered gifts this year for Country Santa.
The weather was rainy Dec. 23 as volunteers went to Country Santa’s headquarters in Pumpkintown and was worse on Christmas Eve as hundreds of volunteers showed up to pick up the gifts for delivery.
Many who normally volunteer for Country Santa were unable to this year due to a bad round of
County to begin serving from new fire stations
PICKENS — While your fire protection may be changing this week, the number you call won’t.
“Just call 911 and our offices will find the people closest to you to help you,” Pickens County administrator Matthew Delk said.
With Pickens County opening some new fire stations on Jan. 1, Delk said residents should be pleased with the new coverage.
“There’s not that many truly volunteer fire departments any more,” Delk said. “A lot of this is due to increasing requirements and needs.
“We still have some volunteer departments with people volunteering for firefighter I or firefighter II, all the way up to people volunteering to serve on advisory boards, even just community departments coming to help from time to time. It’’s truly a volunteer-born system.”
Delk said the county has been working toward covering unincorporated areas.
County Council to elect new officers
PICKENS — Pickens County Council will elect new officers at its first meeting of the new year on Monday.
Liberty-area representative Neil Smith has just completed his term as chairman. Council will elect a new chairman and vice-chairman at the meeting.
In addition, new councilman Ensley Feemster will recite the oath of office. Feemster is replacing former councilman Jeff Martin.
The meeting is set to begin at 5:30 p.m.
Local athletes sign to play football at College of Faith
DACUSVILLE — The College of Faith had a good day recently, signing 10 players from the Upstate.
Seven of those players came from the Carolina Wildcats, an independent high school team from Dacusville which has players from home-school, private school and public schools. College of Faith is a Bible-centered college located in Charlotte, N.C.
College of Faith coach LeDell Richardson was on hand to witness the signing and expressed his
Pickens grad named All-American
By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter
brobinson@thepccourier.com
Former Pickens High School standout Justin Gravely was recently named a First-Team USA College Football Division II All-American after wrapping up a record-setting senior season for the Crusaders by helping his team win the NCCAA Victory Bowl. Photo courtesy North Greenville University
GREENVILLE — Former Pickens standout Justin Gravely earned All-American honors after helping lead the North Greenville University football team to a 7-5 record, capped by a 42-16 victory over Shorter University in the NCCAA Victory Bowl.
Gravely, a senior punter and placekicker for the Crusaders, was a First-Team USA College Football Division II All-American.
As a kicker, Gravely set a school record with 15 made field goals this season, including a long of
Appalachian music lessons now enrolling around Upstate
UPSTATE — Would you like to learn how to play the guitar, banjo, fiddle or mandolin? New students are being accepted and enrollment is now underway for the winter session of the Appalachian Evening Music Program. The next session will begin the week of Monday, Jan. 26.
This program is open to students from 3rd grade through adults of all ages. It is designed to teach students to play Appalachian music with the guitar, mandolin, fiddle and banjo. The cost is $60 for a six-week session and if needed, instrument rental is available for $25 for the six-week session.
The enrollment period will run through Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015. Anyone interested in signing
SWU ‘making tracks’ with new recording studio
Mark Mealy, right, manager of user services at Southern Wesleyan University’s IT Department, makes adjustments to equipment in a new recording facility as music professor Greg Day looks on. The digital multitrack facility will be initially used by the Fine Arts Division and by Media Communication majors in the Humanities Division for training in recording technology and recording of performances in the adjacent rehearsal hall.
CENTRAL — Southern Wesleyan University is moving a step closer to equipping students to better understand the technology that connects musicians’ performances with their audience, regardless of whether it’s by download or by disc.
A new recording facility, located in the Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center, was equipped by the university’s IT department and designed by Mark Mealy, manager of user services at the university’s IT Department. Space for a recording facility was initially planned
