Daily Archives: 10/05/2016
County council votes down TCTC ballot question
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Pickens County Council again discussed the idea of allowing voters to decide if county funds should be used to pay for improvements at Tri-County Technical College.
But the feeling among council was that a referendum would appear on ballots “way too late.”
Earlier this year, council members hoped to place that issue before voters on the November general election ballots.
But the county missed a deadline for ballot questions by mere hours.
On Monday night, during their October meeting, council took up the referendum issue again, discussing whether to pass an ordinance allowing for a non-binding advisory question to be put to voters.
Pickens County Council members have long maintained that the county’s obligation to the technical college is only in operations and maintenance — and have argued that new or improved facilities do not fall under those categories.
“Our part is maintenance and operations, and we completely satisfy and fulfill that every year,” Councilman Tom Ponder said.
The question, after being amended by Councilman Neil Smith, would have read, “Do you support spending $6,750,000 of Pickens County property tax funds for the Tri-County Technical College Student Activities Center versus the funds being provided by education funds of the State of South Carolina?”
Council members have often voiced their belief that the state is responsible for funding facilities at technical colleges, not counties.
Councilman Trey Whitehurst wondered if the wording made it clear to voters that they had a choice.
“They really do,” Smith said. “We’re not obligated to do it — but we can do it. That’s the real question, do the voters want us to go ahead and spend property tax on an issue that the state should do?”
“Would you be willing to spend money out of your pocket for something that the state of South Carolina should take care of?” Ponder asked.
“We’re not really against the total project,” Smith said. “We were just against the fact that we have to pick up the check.”
County attorney Ken Roper said he saw no issues with the wording of the ballot question. The amendment passed 5-1, with Ponder opposing.
Speaking during the public forum session, Dan Winchester of the Pickens County Taxpayers Association had urged council to hold a special referendum on the issue before the end of the year.
Council chair Jennifer Willis said that was not possible.
“Based on state law as it relates to elections, if we pass this ordinance, then it’s like 60 or 90 days after that the language is drafted and the voting machines are put out,” she said.
County administrator Gerald Wilson said the earliest the question could go before voters would be Feb. 17, 2017.
Most council members agreed that was too long to wait.
“There’s not going to be a good turnout,” Ponder said of the special referendum, if one was held.
“I think the turnout would be dismal,” Willis agreed. “Being completely off the radar, being the only thing on the ballot.”
Council also balked at the cost of the referendum — an estimated $56,000.
“On a good day, on a major election, we hit 10 percent turnout,” Willis said. “And we pat ourselves on the back, and quite frankly that’s an embarrassment. I have real reservations about spending $60,000 in February to get the answer to a question that I don’t really think is going to be representative of what most people think, because I don’t think most people will show up and participate.”
“We’re trying to give the new council some maneuvering room,” Smith said. “This is not going to give them any maneuvering room at all.”
Smith said election costs have gotten out of control, stating he believed the referendum should cost half of the estimated $56,000.
Ponder asked Roper if there was anyone in Columbia who could definitively rule on who was responsible for funding the facilities.
“It’s either right or it’s wrong,” he said. “If state law says that this is something that’s our responsibility, it’s our responsibility. I know the state law says we can, it gives us the option of doing it, but is it required? In my opinion, we’re not (required).”
Roper said the S.C. attorney general could answer that question.
Smith said he believes the only building among the project that the county is responsible for funding is the college’s physical plant.
Second reading of the referendum ordinance failed 1-5, with Councilman Ensley Feemster casting the only vote in favor.
“I’m interested in what my people think about it,” Feemster said.
SDPC in top 5 school districts in State
COUNTY — SAT scores for students in the School District of Pickens County in 2016 beat national averages and rose once again from the previous year.
SDPC’s mean composite score was 1515, an improvement from its previous score of 1501, above the national mean score of 1484, and well above the South Carolina Public School mean score of 1446. The score places SDPC in the top five school districts in the state on the SAT again.
“Our goal continues for us to be a top-five district in the state academically, and I’m proud of our students for hitting that mark on the SAT,” SDPC superintendent Dr. Danny Merck said. “Strong SAT scores show how well our college-bound students are for the next step in their academic careers.”
In the three tested areas of critical reading, math and writing, SDPC’s mean scores were 513, 514 and 488, respectively. Students improved in all three areas from 2015 and scored above the national average in all three areas.
“Last year, I remarked on how we hoped to rise above the national average in the math portion of the test, so I’m very pleased to see that happen this year,” assistant superintendent of instructional services Sharon Huff said. “Going forward, we’re going to focus not just on raising our scores, but also increasing the number of students taking the test.”
The percentage of 2016 SDPC seniors who took the test fell to 34 percent from 48 percent the year before.
“Expanding the circle of students included in SAT, ACT and AP testing is very important to setting high expectations and having a successful high school culture,” Merck said. “The state has provided ACT testing for all students, and we are rapidly increasing the number of students included in AP. A good SAT score is very helpful for college admissions, so it will be a goal going forward to make sure as many students as possible can have that opportunity.”
The district continued to expand Advanced Placement participation in 2016, accelerating a trend from prior years. 815 SDPC students took AP exams last year, up from 721 the year before. The percentage of students with a passing score of 3 or higher fell to 61.5 percent from 68.1 percent the prior year, but remained above the state average of 57 percent, and the national average of 56 percent.
“The benefits of increased participation far outweigh concerns about the passage rate, especially when our rate stays above the national average,” Huff said.. “More students taking AP classes results in more students being prepared for the rigors of college. It opens the doors to higher education and shows our students what they are capable of achieving.”
The number of exams taken by SDPC students increased sharply as well, from 1,121 in 2015 to 1,348 in 2016.
“This expansion in AP enrollment is a very intentional philosophical choice for us,” Merck said. “Looking ahead, we expect about 1,700 AP exams to be taken this year, and we will continue adding to that number as long as our passage rate stays near the national average. Approximately 65 percent of our students attend 2 or 4 year colleges after graduating. We are attempting to provide all students with the rigor that is needed to be college and career ready. Increasing AP participation without compromising rigor is one of the keys to achieving that goal.”
“SDPC middle and high school teachers recently received training from the College Board on instructional strategies for pre-AP courses aimed at helping us build a strong foundation of preparation for our students,” Huff added. “We’re thankful that so many of our teachers have accepted the challenge of teaching AP courses, and are working hard to make sure more students can succeed at the highest level than ever before.”
An appreciation for the classics
John Thomas Childress Jr., better known simply as Chill, was born at home in Pumpkintown on March 14, 1939. Doctor Tripp from Easley delivered him.
Chill attended Maynard Elementary School and graduated from Dacusville High School in 1957.
He went to work at Union Bleachery Mill on Sept. 8, 1955, at the age of 16. He was still in school, so he worked on the second shift. He worked there until the plant burned down Nov. 7, 2003. His first job there was inspecting cloth. He was later transferred to do maintenance. He continued to work on the second shift.
Chill has always had the talent and the knowledge to work on automobiles and tractors. From early childhood, he has been interested in cars. He is a person who can repair almost anything.
He said he owned a 1936 Ford automobile when he was 13 years old. He earned the money to buy the car by plowing the field one summer for John Finley. He was paid $2 a day. He also worked for Roy Finley at the dairy farm in Dacusville.
Carol Baker/Courier
John Thomas “Chill” Childress’ first car was a 1936 Ford he bought when he was 13 years old. He now owns a handful of antique cars and 13 antique tractors.
The Ford Chill bought would not run, but even at the age of 13, he repaired the engine. He said he drove the car some, but had to wait until he was 14 years old to get his driver’s license.
In 1961, Chill built a small garage in Dacusville near his parents’ house and started working on cars. He had a larger garage built in 1988. He said he never named the garage or advertised it, but he has always had a good business. He worked on cars in the mornings before going to his job at the Union Bleachery,
Chill was drafted into the Army in December 1961. He took basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and was transferred to Fort Leonard Wood Base in Missouri. From there he was sent to Frankfurt, Germany, where he was in combat engineering.
While Chill was stationed in Frankfurt, his cousin, Ramona Childress Bolderson, was working in Wiesbaden, Germany, about 26 miles from Frankfurt. She was working for the Peace Corps, teaching school. She drove to Frankfurt to see Chill off the day he left Germany to come back to the United States on Nov. 22, 1963. He said he remembers that date because it was the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Chill served in the Army for two years and was discharged with the rank of E4.
Chill met his wife, Betty Seay, at Pete’s Café on Main Street in Easley. They were married March 20, 1965. They have one daughter, Karen Enderle, who lives in Bedford, Pa. They also have one grandson and one granddaughter. Chill and Betty were married for 50 years. Betty died Jan. 14, 2015.
In July 1976, Chill drove his 1930 Model A Roadster in the bicentennial parade in Easley. Strom Thurmond and his wife, daughter and son were seated in the rumble seat. Strom’s secretary rode in the front seat with Chill.
Courtesy Chill Childress
Sen. Strom Thurmond and his family rode in the rumble seat of Chill Childress’ 1930 Model A Roadster in the 1976 bicentennial parade in Easley.
Chill has a pet dog that just showed up at his house about five years ago. He said he named the dog Lucky because it was lucky to have found a home.
Chill owns five antique cars and 13 antique tractors. He said he has no intention of ever selling them. He used to own motorcycles, and he regrets that he sold them.
He used to participate in antique tractor pulls at Robinson Field in Dacusville. He won numerous times. He still has all the trophies that he was awarded on display that. He also enjoys going to car shows and cruise-ins.
Chill said he doesn’t do as much work in his garage now as he used to, but he enjoys being there. Every morning of the week a group of men come by the garage to hang out and catch up on the latest news. They are all good friends.
Easley resident Carol Baker highlights interesting local residents and helps us get to know more about the fascinating people who call Pickens County home. If you have someone somewhere who you think people should know about, contact us at news@thepccourier.com.
Pickens Rec Report
By Cheri Anthony
Pickens Recreation Director
canthony@pickenscity.com
I want to begin by thanking our football and cheerleading participants who came to Rec Night at the Pickens High School vs. West-Oak game on Friday, Sept. 9. The kids who attended received a miniature football as a thank you. Parents, thank you for bringing your children and supporting our events!
A huge thank you to all the volunteers who made Super Saturday so successful! The weather was perfect, which made the festivities fun for all! Also, thanks to all the parents who were so supportive of the children and to our neighbors from Easley and Westminster who came to play football!
I would like to commend the Spirit Queen participants. The combined efforts of these 11 young ladies raised $1,431.27, which will go toward our scholarship program. Way to go, ladies! The Spirit Queen contestants and their escorts were as follows: Lydia Fuller was escorted by her brother, Isaac Fuller; Bailey Whitehead was escorted by her father, Travis Whitehead; Aubrie Smith was escorted by Landon Brissey; Hannah Chapman was escorted by her brother, Trevor McAlister; Kierstin Jackson was escorted by Zalen Tompkins; Hannah Hall was escorted by her father, Corey Hall; Allison Morgan was escorted by her father, Mickey Morgan; Jillian Gilstrap was escorted by her brother, Elijah Taylor; Lucy Nix was escorted by her father, Kiley Nix; Makayla Miller was escorted by her father, Bryan Miller; and Amrie’lee Elrod was escorted by her brother, Tanner Elrod. Congratulations ladies on a job well done!!!
Pickens Recreation Spirit Queen winners, from left — Princesses Miss Hannah Hall, Miss Amrie’lee Elrod and Miss Allison Morgan, Spirit Queen Miss Jillian Gilstrap, and Princesses Miss Aubrie Smith and Miss Kierstin Jackson.
Princess winners this year were Miss Allison Morgan, Miss Amrie’lee Elrod, Miss Hannah Hall, Miss Kierstin Jackson, Miss Aubrie Smith and Miss Hannah Chapman. The 2016 Pickens Recreation Spirit Queen was Miss Jillian Gilstrap!!!
Sponsoring a day-long event of this magnitude requires the support of many volunteers. We would like to thank the following individuals for helping to make Super Saturday a success. We will try and acknowledge those who were so instrumental, but please forgive us in advance for any oversights! A tremendous thank you to our concession gang: Robin Gilstrap, Lisa Burgess, Karen Maw, Shonna Cobb, Tina and Eston Noah Bergholm, Tristen Harris and Lauren Dow; gate-keepers: Robin Gilstrap, Chris Pridmore, Wes and Tricia Raby; press box duties: Marty Harris; clock operator: Robert Patterson; Spirit Queen Pageant helpers: Joyce Mock and Ally Willis; chain crew: Chris Pridmore, Brad Wimpey and Josh Burgess; and a special thank you to all those who stayed to help with trash detail. Thanks to Lowes of Easley for the beautiful flowers that were used in our Spirit Queen presentation. Finally, last but not least, thanks to Stan Butler and Pickens High School for the use of the stadium. As always, thank you parents for being such a great support group! We appreciate you allowing us to “have fun with” and know your beautiful children!
Come visit our booth this year at the 2016 Pumpkin Festival. We will again be serving hot dogs, nachos, sno-cones and pickles with all proceeds going toward Rec Department projects. This year’s festival is planned for this Saturday, Oct. 8. See you there!
Happy birthday
Happy birthday Freddy, we appreciate all you have done to make our lives better. We hope you have a wonderful birthday. We love you, forever.
Love,
Elijah, Israel, Zoe,
Malachi, Rebekah
and Pamela Dodson
Founders Day
Rocky Nimmons/Courier
The newly covered amphitheater off Main Street in Pickens hosted the city’s annual Founders Day Festival on Saturday. The East Tennessee University Bluegrass Band kicked off the festivities, which ran from 3-10 p.m. and featured plenty of live music, food vendors and arts and crafts.
Farmers market plans tailgate event
CLEMSON — The Clemson Farmers Market is adding a new event to First Friday at the Market activities on Oct. 7, from 3-6 p.m., at Patrick Square at 578 Issaqueena Trail.
The market is teaming up with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute – Clemson (OLLI) for the Gourmet Tailgate Market. Clemson is famous for it›s tailgate parties, and the Gourmet Tailgate Market will feature caterers, specialty food vendors, restaurants, tailgate-related service providers, and cooking demonstrations. If you like to tailgate or if you’re looking for new party ideas, make plans to attend this unique event!
Visitors to the Clemson Farmers Market will also have the opportunity to shop for fresh, locally grown produce, fresh blueberries and grapes, local honey, beef and chicken, dog treats, natural bath and body products, and handmade arts and crafts.
The market is open rain or shine and all activities are free.
38th Annual Pumpkin Festival set Saturday
PUMPKINTOWN — The 38th annual Pumpkin Festival will be held this Saturday, Oct. 8 in and around the Oolenoy Community Building in Pumpkintown. Festival hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
“It’s probably one of the largest one-day festivals in the state,” festival chairman Buddy Cox said.
The theme of this year’s festival is “A place of beauty, a place of plenty and a place we love to live.”
The festival draws a huge crowd every year.
“We’ll probably have 35,000 people visit the festival,” Cox said.
It’s also one of the largest arts and crafts shows in the state, Cox said. This year’s fest is set to be a shopper’s paradise, with 150 arts and crafts booths.
Each year, the festival kicks off with a community parade. The parade is set to begin at 9 a.m. Participants will line up on Wilma Lane, next to the Pumpkintown Fire Department, then travel down Pumpkintown Highway (Highway 8) to Highway 135, past the Oolenoy Community Building.
Coffee, cold drinks, biscuits and pumpkin pie will be for sale inside the Oolenoy building beginning at 6 a.m.
This year’s festival features a wide variety of entertainment.
“We have six different bluegrass groups lined up this year,” Cox said.
After the parade, Dogwood Hill Bluegrass will take the stage at 9:30 a.m. They’ll be followed by Rowdy Mountain Boys at 10:30 a.m.
At 11:15 a.m., talented young musicians from the area will strut their stuff as the Sweet Potato Pie Kids, the performing group of the Young Appalachians Musicians program, take the stage.
At 11:45 a.m., the Hot Foot Cloggers will take the stage for the first of their two shows. They’ll perform again at 2:15 p.m.
Tugalo Holler will take the stage at 12:15 p.m. They’ll be followed by Last Road at 1:15 p.m.
Following the Hot Foot Cloggers’ second show, Cane Creek will perform at 2:45 p.m.
The annual greased pole climb is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.
Backline will close out the day’s entertainment at 4 p.m.
Visitors can bring chairs or blankets to sit on during the entertainment, Cox said.
There will also be plenty of amusement rides and activities for the kids.
Cox also said those headed to the Pumpkin Festival should bring an appetite. Once again, barbecued chicken plates will be for sale at the festival, beginning at noon.
In addition to the barbecued chicken lunch plates, there will be hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes, sausage dogs from the Knights of Columbus and much, much more.
“You name it, we’ve pretty well got it on the grounds,” Cox said.
Each year, the festival raffles off a Pumpkintown-themed quilt made by local quilters.
The drawing for the 2016 Pumpkin Quilt will be held at 4 p.m. the day of the festival. You do not have to be present to win. Tickets are $1.
If you would like to purchase raffle tickets prior to the festival, Cox said, send your name, address, phone number and the amount of tickets you’d like to purchase, along with a check for that amount, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Pumpkintown Community Club, ATTN: Raffle, P.O. Box 221, Pickens, SC 29671. Your tickets will be mailed to you, and you’ll be notified if you’re the lucky winner.
The festival is sponsored by the Pumpkintown Community Club.
Never give up, never surrender
It began as a simple, everyday thing. It began when we shipped a birthday gift to our daughter in July.
We used a shipping company that uses initials as a name. We’ll say no more than that.
The gift was a pair of sterling silver earrings valued at $60, plus a $4.95 Hallmark birthday card. It was gift wrapped and placed into a $1.80 bubble envelope. The shipping cost was a little more than $9.
We sent it off and went merrily on our way. It was supposed to arrive in three days. But it did not.
When I went online to track the package, the information posted stated the package had not been delivered. It was never delivered. Finally, the online website informed me that the package was lost.
I was disappointed, but didn’t worry because the package was insured with the company. For some obscure reason, I thought foolishly that the company policy saying they were responsible for the loss would be followed by the company itself. Alas, alack and woe is me. I drove eight miles to the local store and spoke to the manager. He verified that the package was indeed lost and told me I’ve have to send in a claim form, which would be sent to the local store and then given to me.
I stood next to him in the store and listened to him call the main office and request a claim form be sent. A week passed, and nothing happened. I went back after trying and failing to get a claim form from corporate. They told me the form had been sent to the local store. Agent One told me the local store would have to reimburse me for the loss, as corporate wasn’t responsible. I drove to the store and asked the manager if this was true. He said it was not. He also said no claim form had been sent. He gave me a toll-free number to call for more information.
I went home and called the number and spoke to Agent Two, who said the company wasn’t responsible and there was nothing he could do. I asked to speak to his supervisor, Agent Three, who said nothing could be done until they received the claim form. I said the claim form had not been sent. They said it had.
I went online and read a long statement on the company website that said the matter would take seven to 10 days to resolve. Really? I called again and told Agent Four no claim form had been sent. I said I didn’t believe what he was telling me and said I wanted a check for $64.95 mailed to me. He said they weren’t responsible. I said they lost the package and they were responsible. I asked if being trained to lie to customers was part of the general customer service training program. He said he was sorry for any inconvenience. I said it wasn’t an inconvenience, it was an outrage, and asked to speak to his supervisor. His supervisor, Agent Five, came on the line and said there was nothing she could do to help me because she had no authority to do so. I asked who did have authority and asked who her supervisor was. She said her supervisor was on another line and would I like to hold. I said I’d hold for 45 seconds, after which I’d hang up and they could call me back. I waited 45 seconds and hung up.
Sometime later there was a message on my voicemail (I’d been up at Table Rock out of service range) giving me another number to call and telling me to give the tracking number which, of course I’d already given to Agents One, Two, Three, Four and Five.
I waited a few days to cool down before calling and then called the number. I spoke to Agent Six and was told they could do nothing until they received an authorization number from the local store. I said the local store had yet to receive anything from them, and Agent Six said a form had been sent in July. I said it had not, as I’d been to the store and heard the conversation the manager had with corporate.
I asked why they had to receive notification from the local store that the package had been lost when they were the ones who had notified me and the local store that the package had been lost. Agent Six said that was their policy. I said I didn’t believe it.
I said I didn’t lose the package, write the policy terms or do anything wrong. They lost the package, and it was their responsibility to pay for the loss.
I said if they refused to comply with their own policy, I would turn them in to the Better Business Bureau in Atlanta, where their corporate office is located, and also to the Consumer Protection Agency. It would be my pleasure to do so, as it had been 66 days since the package was lost.
Agent Six said she’d resend the form. I asked if she’d copy me the email with the form so I would know she’d really sent it. She said company policy wouldn’t allow her to do that. I said that I had no reason to believe anything she said and without a copy I had only her word that it had been sent and I considered her word worthless. She said she was sending it as we spoke and to call the local store tomorrow.
The next morning I called the local store and was told by the manager that he’d actually received the requested form. I couldn’t believe it. Of course, I haven’t received a check yet, but do feel some progress was made. After all, three visits, five phone calls, four online research sessions and 71 days later, they may actually do what they promised. Time will tell.
Cannon Family Practice welcomes Dr. Christine Lawrence to Pickens
PICKENS — This month, the Cannon Family Practice will welcome Dr. Christine Jeanette Lawrence to the Cannon family.
Lawrence will be accepting new patients at the Pickens office beginning this month.
“We welcome Christine to our Cannon family — with her background in social work, she will be a welcome addition to our Pickens practice,” Dr. Daniel Dahlhausen said.
Lawrence recently completed her family medicine residency with the Greenville Health System. She began her medical education at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 2013. Her undergraduate work was at Lander University, where she received a B.D. in psychology with a counseling emphasis. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the South Carolina Medical Association. She has been active in a variety of volunteer work and advocacy programs centered on health care in South Carolina. In her spare time, Lawrence enjoys mountain biking, hiking, fishing and time in the outdoors.
“I am excited to be joining the Cannon family,” Lawrence said. “I am honored to serve as a physician within my own community. I love that family medicine allows me to build a relationship with and work to keep the whole family healthy. I look forward to serving pediatrics, adolescents, adults and geriatrics in Pickens County.”
To schedule an appointment with Lawrence or with Cannon Family Practices, call (864) 898-1152.
