Daily Archives: 12/24/2014
REASON FOR THE SEASON
Pickens First Baptist Church brought community members together on Sunday, Dec. 14, for a live Nativity, reenacting the very first Christmas in Bethlehem. The Nativity, held at Legacy Square, was complete with live animals and featured free food, games for children and music. Rocky Nimmons/Courier
Police: Woman caused death of grandson
Oxycodone found in sippy cup, investigators say
PICKENS — Police allege a Pickens woman caused her grandson’s death in October by putting oxycodone in the toddler’s sippy cup.
Angela Denise Brewer, 43, of 225 Swiss Entrance, was arrested last Thursday and charged with homicide by child abuse in the October death of 13-month-old Brentley Kolbin Lane Lusk.
According to a report from Pickens County coroner Kandy Kelley, Lusk died of acute oxycodone
Martin leading push for state FOIA reform
Senator sponsoring bills on agenda, autopsy rules
COLUMBIA — State Sen. Larry Martin says recent events have made it clear “we’re living in a different world today,” and that world requires greater transparency in both government and law enforcement.
Martin, along with other likeminded senators, is sponsoring for the upcoming legislative session two Freedom of Information Act reform bills — one that would open up autopsy records and another to amend the rules regarding agendas for public meetings.
A subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee met in late October to review those FOIA
Man sentenced to 30 years for sexually abusing girl
CENTRAL — A Central man was sentenced to 30 years in prison last week after being found guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
A Pickens County jury found Vernon Glen Evans, of 221 Bluejay Road, guilty last week. He will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, imposed by judge Clifton B. Newman, before he is eligible for parole.
Witnesses, including the victim, testified against Evans at trial. According to testimony, Evans
1 dead in Easley wreck
EASLEY — A Liberty man was killed in a single-vehicle wreck in Easley last Wednesday.
According to Pickens County coroner Kandy Kelley, William Herman Anderson, 61, of 209 E. Main St., died from blunt force trauma to the torso and thigh.
S.C. Highway Patrol officials said Anderson’s 2015 Mitsubishi was headed south on S.C. Highway 93 about two miles south of Easley when it went off the right side of the road and overturned shortly after 9:30 p.m.
Anderson, who was wearing a seatbelt, had to be cut from the vehicle. He was transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital, where he died around 3 a.m., Kelley said.
S.C. Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.
Clemson ribbon cutting
Patrick Square hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony in conjunction with the Clemson Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 5 to commemorate the grand opening of several local businesses in the Patrick Square Town Center. The newly constructed building, located at 133 Thomas Green Boulevard, is home to: Greer State Bank Mortgage and Business Lending, Financial Dynamics, Aaron & Aaron Attorneys at Law, Jacob Dean Photography, Southern Traditions Window Fashions, and Collins Building Group. Rick Erwin’s Clemson, a fine dining restaurant, occupies the ground floor of the same building and has been open since October. Pictured, from left, are David Lane of the Clemson Chamber of Commerce, Patrick Square’s Chris Hodge, Jacob Dean, Michael Ivey of Rick Erwin’s Dining Group and Art Wray of Greer State Bank Mortgage.
Clemson president announces diversity initiatives at meeting
CLEMSON — One year after becoming Clemson University’s 15th president, James P. Clements reflected on 2014 as faculty and staff gathered to close the fall semester.
“We have enjoyed many significant achievements in 2014 — as we reached our goal of being one of the nation’s top 20 public universities, set new records in fundraising, enrolled another great freshman class and welcomed hundreds of new faculty and staff to the Clemson Family,” he said.
Clements announced that the school’s The Will to Lead capital campaign has just surpassed the
Winter art classes planned at Pickens County Museum
PICKENS — The Pickens County Museum of Art announced this week that registration is now open for the winter studio art sessions for youngsters and adults.
Renee Gillespie will be the instructor for the two classes.
The winter is a great time to work in the studio exploring all the possibilities at your fingertips when it comes to sketching, painting and creating one.
Classes begin January 13.
Youth Art Class (Ages 12-16) with Renee Gillespie — Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Jan.
Courier Letters to the Editor 12-24-14
No to Pickens County tax increase
Dear Editor,
In 2005, the residents of Pickens County voted down a $197 million building plan. The next year the school board did an end run around the voters and voted for a $387 million plan and a 39-mill property tax increase. School taxes have risen three times since then.
The school administration aims to increase property taxes 13.3 mills to continue excessive spending.
This tax was being pushed through on the fast track during the holidays when no one is watching.
The school buildings are in excellent condition, and the county taxpayer is already in debt for
Something to feel good about
Although some countries think Americans are only concerned with profit and material possessions, that isn’t true. Not according to data from recent reports by Chronicle of 
Philanthropy, which ranks giving by state and The World Giving Index (WGI), which ranks 103 countries worldwide based on charitable contributions of money, time and willingness to help other.
America tied for first place with the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Canada, Ireland and New Zealand were ranked second, third and fourth, respectively.
Surprisingly, at least to me, is that the Chronicle of Philanthropy report found the wealthiest
