Daily Archives: 07/22/2015
Man arrested in deadly shooting
LIBERTY — A Liberty man was arrested following a deadly shooting last week.
According to Pickens County coroner Kandy Kelley, 22-year-old Mitchell Aaron Bradley of Duncan was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting.
The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office arrested John William McCarty, 46, of 237 Watts Road in Liberty, on charges of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
The sheriff’s office received reports through the 911 center of a shooting that had occurred at the residence on July 15.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene at approximately 11:45 p.m.
According to a release from chief deputy Creed Hashe, Bradley was found dead on the back porch with visible injuries consistent with at least one gunshot.
The Big Mac is back
After months of construction and mouth-watering anticipation, dignitaries, officials and local residents took part in a grand-opening ceremony for the new Pickens McDonald’s last week. The restaurant, which opened to the public on Thursday, opened at the same site of the former McDonald’s building at the corner of S.C. Highways 8 and 183. Franchise owner Mo Collins thanked those in attendance and recognized building contractor Jeremy Nichols, who said he included a Bible in the foundation of the restaurant, just as he does in all his projects. Pickens High School JROTC students raised the American flag outside the restaurant.
Former officer arrested
PICKENS — A former Pickens County Detention Center officer has been arrested and charged in connection with providing contraband items to inmates.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division charged Justin Lee Kelley, 22, with furnishing contraband to prisoners. If convicted, Kelley faces one to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
Kelley was also charged with misconduct in office, a common law violation, and was
Area house mover killed on job
PICKENS — The owner of an area house-moving service was killed in an accident on the job last week.
Dan Ward
Dan Ward, owner of Dan Ward House Movers, was injured while attempting to move a portable classroom at the Clemson Institute of Learning, located at 640 Concord Church Road in Pickens.
According to Pickens County coroner Kandy Kelley, Ward was in the process of moving the classroom from the top of a hill at the facility to the bottom. During the process, Kelley said, it is believed a hydraulic jack that was being used shifted and pinned Ward between the classroom and the hauling vehicle. Kelley said the accident happened around 7:45 a.m. on July 13.
Ward was taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital, where he died at around 6:30 p.m., Kelley said.
According to a Pickens County Sheriff’s Office incident report, Clemson University
Highway 11 wreck kills teen
CLEVELAND — An 18-year-old Travelers Rest man is dead after his car ran a stop sign and was hit by another car north of Table Rock State Park late Sunday night, according to S.C. Highway Patrol officials.
Joseph Allen Gillespie was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision, which occurred on S.C. Highway 11 around 9:20 p.m., Lance Cpl. David Jones said.
A four-door 2003 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Gillespie was going west on Talley
Pickens mayor moves to rid city hall of dumpsters
By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter
brobinson@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Mayor David Owens asked members of Pickens City Council to start considering plans to rid the city of the dumpsters behind city hall.
“Think about doing away with the recycling bins out here,” Owens said during a city council work session Monday night. “It’s an eyesore — there’s just stuff all over. It takes these guys many hours to clean up around there. That’s why they’re running late
Sheriff’s office turns camp death investigation over
PICKENS — The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office has turned its investigation into the death of a 16-year-old Florida girl who fell 100-120 feet from a swing at a youth camp earlier this week over to state authorities.
Chief deputy Creed Hashe said Friday the sheriff’s office has completed its initial criminal inquiry into the death of Olivia Paige Grimes of Lakeland, Florida, and turned
Enrollment period underway for Appalachian evening music lessons
COUNTY — 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 summer session of the Appalachian Evening Music Program. The next session will begin the week of Monday, July 27, at various locations. The enrollment period will run through Thursday, July 30.
The program is open to students from third grade through adults of all ages. It is designed to teach students to play Appalachian music with the guitar, mandolin, fiddle
BHSPC announces pair of scholarship winners
COUNTY — Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County recently announced two 2015 Pickens County high school graduates as scholarship award winners.
The Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County board recently invited scholarship recipients Marcus Thomas Hood and Kristen Rae Bridges, along with Cathy Breazeale, director of prevention services, to the monthly board luncheon. Behavioral Health Services board chairman Douglas Clamp presented awards to both recipients. Pictured are Bob Hiott, Hood, Breazeale, Clamp and Bridges.
The Dan Sharpe Scholarship and the Charlie Hagood Scholarship total $2,000 each and are awarded to high school seniors pursuing a Bachelor’s degree majoring in the human services field. Easley High School graduate Marcus Thomas Hood was awarded the Dan Sharpe Scholarship and Daniel High School graduate Kristen Rae Bridges was awarded the Charlie Hagood Scholarship.
The Dan Sharpe scholarship is awarded to any high school senior serving on the Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County Youth Board member and is named for the agency’s former executive director, Dan Sharpe. Sharpe served as the executive director of Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County for more than 30 years. Hood has served on the Youth Board for three years and will be attending
Pickens chamber plans cookout for members
PICKENS — The Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce is planning a way to say thank you for the support its members and invites all to a time of fellowship with a hamburger and hot dog cookout, along with a night of entrainment at the Pickens Amphitheater with the YAMS.
The Gatehouse Restaurant will cater the meal. The cookout is scheduled for Saturday,
