Daily Archives: 11/08/2016
‘Sip, Stroll, Shop’ planned in Pickens
PICKENS — The Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce is inviting residents to shop locally for its first-ever “Sip, Stroll, Shop” event.
Officials hope “Sip, Stroll, Shop” will become an annual event.
A tasty trail full of appetizers, sweets and refreshments will lead participants through downtown Pickens while highlighting more than 15 local chamber member businesses.
The event will be held from 2-6 p.m. Nov. 19 and will be a great opportunity for Christmas shopping. In addition, in honor of American Education Week, the chamber will be offering complimentary trail tickets to all Pickens County school employees who bring their employee ID.
Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance online at pickenschamberofcommerce.com or at the chamber office. All proceeds collected will be reinvested in downtown revitalization efforts.
If you are a chamber member and would like to be involved, contact Kim Smagala at greaterpickenschamber@gmail.com.
Those looking to join or find out more about the Greater Pickens Area Chamber of Commerce may stop by the chamber office at 222 W. Main St. in Pickens, call (864) 878-3258, visit pickenschamberofcommerce.com or e-mail greaterpickenschamber@gmail.com.
Six Mile ‘Feast-O-Plenty’ planned to feed community
SIX MILE — Six Mile Baptist Church and Praters Creek Baptist Church are joining together to host the eighth annual “Feast-O-Plenty” on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Last year, approximately 300 people joined in for the dinner, and this year there are hopes to share with even more. The meal will be served in the Roper Building, located at 150 N. Main St. in Six Mile.
The event is a free Thanksgiving meal for anyone living in and around the town of Six Mile. A traditional holiday meal of turkey, dressing and gravy, vegetables, cranberry sauce, desserts and drinks will be served dine-in.
The churches look forward to getting to know those in attendance and their needs, and what better way to do that than over a hot plate of home-cooked Thanksgiving food?
Additionally, delivery is available for local home-bound persons by calling in at 868-2392 or 506-0410. A maximum of two meals will be delivered to a single residence/address.
The meal is being sponsored by Six Mile Baptist Church and Praters Creek Baptist Church as an outreach caring for the people in the community.
If someone needs a ride to the meal, they may call the numbers listed above to arrange transportation. Call the Rev. Ray Longenecker of Six Mile Baptist Church at 506-0410 with questions.
County literacy association plans annual used book sale
PICKENS — The Pickens County Literacy Association continues to collect books for its upcoming book sale scheduled for Nov. 18-19 in Pickens. The two-day event will be held in the All Saints Hall of Pickens Presbyterian Church, located at 311 W. Main St. The sale will open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.
There are always hundreds of hardback and paperback books, children’s books, cookbooks, self-help books and coffee table books to choose from. Audio books, CDs, DVDs, cassettes and tapes will also be on sale.
The PCLA is a nonprofit organization that trains volunteer tutors to teach reading skills to non- or low-reading adults, including those needing help reading English. For more than 10 years, the semi-annual event has served as the PCLA’s major fundraiser.
The success of the project is due to the generosity of those who continue to donate books and those that shop at the twice-a-year sales, according to program director Everett Curl. In addition, she credited the PCLA volunteers that put together the event twice a year.
The following local businesses assist the PCLA by serving as collection points for donors.
In Pickens, you can bring items to the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative office, Grace United Methodist Church, Pickens First Baptist Church, Pickens Savings and Loan and Pickens Federal Credit Union.
In Easley, donations can be brought to Custom Cleaners, Kelly’s Pharmacy and Robin’s Laundromat. Donations can also be brought to Central Town Hall or the Central-Clemson Recreation Center and Family Medicine Associates in Clemson.
Proceeds from the fundraiser help the PCLA continue its programs helping adults improve their reading skills. If you know an adult who would benefit from the program, contact (864) 639-2925 or 878-9642.
YMCA launches largest member drive in years
EASLEY — The YMCA of Easley, Pickens and Powdersville recently announced its largest membership drive in more than 15 years.
While membership at the YMCA is currently at an all-time high at 10,061 members, the YMCA wants to ensure that everyone has access to the organization through membership.
The YMCA will be offering two ways to join. The first allows new members to pay no money when they join and pay nothing until January 2017. The second is for new members to pay $50 when they join and receive a $100 voucher for programs and/or merchandise, as well as pay nothing in membership until January 2017.
Additionally, the YMCA is offering a 20/20 partnership discount for existing and new members. Get a friend to join and both the member and new member will get a 20 percent discount for life as long as they both keep their membership active. This encourages accountability for partnering members to stay active and reach their health and wellness goals.
For those wanting to learn more about the YMCA, each Sunday in November the YMCA will have an open house to the community from 2-5 p.m. Each branch will have group wellness classes to try and allow those interested to use the YMCA for the day at no charge.
“We are excited to invite the community to the YMCA,” CEO Sid Collins said. “We are not just a gym. We are a community nonprofit focused on impacting lives with youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. While we are at an all time high of members, we want everyone to discover why the YMCA is so popular. More importantly, we want to give the community a unique opportunity to come be a part of the YMCA. This is truly a special time to join.”
The YMCA of Easley, Pickens and Powdersville is a mission-driven organization that is focused on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For 56 years, the YMCA has been the preeminent leader in the community for health and wellness and childcare programs.
The YMCA is a charitable, nonprofit organization that offers programs and services to all. Financial assistance is available for membership and programs for those who qualify.
Courier Community Calendar 11-9-16
• ‘Mountain Nature’ to be presented
The South Carolina Native Plant Society invites the public to attend a free presentation on “Mountain Nature” and the Southern Appalachians’ vast biodiversity, presented by Dr. Jennifer Frick-Ruppert of Brevard College.
The presentation will be held Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m., in the dining commons at Founders Hall on Southern Wesleyan University’s campus in Central.
• OPG Society’s next meeting set Nov. 15
The Old Pendleton Genealogical Society will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Wesleyan Church, located at 700 Issaqueena Trail in Central.
The speaker will be Mike Becknell, president of the S.C. Genealogical Society, who will speak on “Researching your Methodist Ancestors.” The public is invited. For more information, call Barbara Clark at (864) 417-0811
• Norris to host event with Santa
The Christmas season is right around the corner, and with it comes chances for youngsters to visit with the jolly old elf himself — Santa Claus.
This year the town of Norris is offering just such an opportunity with a special event called “Cookies and Milk with Santa.” The meet and greet with St. Nick will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Norris Community Building at the park located at 612 Norris Highway. It all starts at 10 a.m. and continues until noon.
Parents are encouraged to bring a camera or cellphone to capture the moment when their little one is in Santa’s lap telling him what they would like for Christmas. For more information on the event, call Norris City Hall at (864) 639-2033.
• St. Andrew to host Christmas Bazaar
The St. Andrew Holiday Bazaar will take place Saturday, Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Andrew Catholic Church, at the corner of Edgewood and Sloan in Clemson. It will feature a wide variety of handmade crafts and gifts for all occasions, including wearables, home décor, note and greeting cards, wall art, and stocking stuffers. In addition, home-baked treats and desserts will be for sale and shoppers may enjoy homemade chili for lunch (eat-in or carry out). No professional vendors are included.
The buzzards are circling
I was driving into town on a familiar route and came upon a tree on the side of the road I’ve passed maybe a thousand times. But this time I saw it.
Why? Because on each limb on both sides were perched a flock of buzzards with their backs turned to the road. They are large birds, but seldom seen in such numbers. It looked like a picture from a horror story or maybe a scene from Hitchcock’s “The Birds.”
Exciting times for Six Mile
The Town of Six Mile is experiencing some exciting times as of late. During the town’s monthly council meeting held last Tuesday, Nov. 1, council enjoyed an opportunity to celebrate with the Six Mile Cubs 8-and-under baseball team. The Cubs won the 2016 Tri-County Coaches Pitch tournament. Members of the team include Gavin Elrod, Evan Tribble, Eli Stewart, Luke Turner, T.J. Borow, Colten Turner, Sam Blondeau, Mac Bartels, Noah Martinez, Ryan Hendricks and Braidon Galloway. The team is coached by Justin Holliday, Benny Hendricks, Rusty Elrod, Tim Borow and Travis Tribble.
Pictured at left, Six Mile mayor Roy Stoddard presents a proclomation to the team. Council was also pleased to receive a check from Duke Energy’s Emily DeRoberts, shown with Stoddard at right, that will go toward further development of plans for downtown near the recently purchased John Dillard House on Main Street.
Burgess wins Billy Wilkins Award
COUNTY — On Nov. 2, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Rita Burgess was presented the Billy Wilkins Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement.
Tigers crush Orange
Kerry Gilstrap/Courier
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson smiles as he cruises into the end zone for a touchdown against Syracuse on Saturday.
By Scott Adamson
Courtesy The Journal
scott@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — After Clemson football fans had to sweat out the final moments of their team’s last two games, the Tigers decided they owed the faithful a drama-free afternoon.
And they gave Solid Orange Nation just that — thanks in large part to a redshirt graduate quarterback who took a star turn.
Devils go down in back-and-forth affair
Team still gets to host postseason opener
By Jimmy Kirby
Courier Sports
jkirby@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Southside Christian scored the go-ahead touchdown with only two minutes remaining against Liberty on Friday night, winning an exciting back-and-forth game for two teams battling it out for a playoff home game by the score of 29-27.
The Red Devils had just taken the lead on the previous possession as Nick Reeves hooked up with Kevon Tabron from 30 yards on fourth down to give the Red Devils a short-lived 27-23 lead and apparent victory, but the scoring strike of 62 yards by Colton Coulter to Connor Fowler sealed the win for the Sabres.
Both teams finished the regular season with 1-2 region records and a three-way tie with Ninety Six High School. The Red Devils gained second place in the region based on order of tiebreaker rules. Fewest points allowed determined the outcome of the region standings.
Turnovers were a big key to the game, as the Sabres scored 14 points off of two Red Devil miscues. Short scoring drives starting from the Liberty 24- and 37-yard lines put the Red Devil defense in tough situations.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils were only able to turn a single Southside Christian fumble into points with a second-quarter touchdown drive of 49 yards.
The total yards were almost identical, with Southside Christian holding a 19-yard advantage, 286 to 267. The Red Devils led in rushing yardage, 156 to 65, while the Sabres led in passing yardage, 221 to 111 yards.
After a fairly quiet first quarter, the Sabres were first to get on the board with a 38-yard Charlie Paciocco field goal.
Kevon Tabron scored on a two-yard run early in the second quarter to put the Red Devils up 7-3.
Jonathan Alexander scored from four yards out to complete a four-play, 24-yard drive to put the Sabres back up 10-7. That was the first Red Devil turnover that led to points for the Sabres.
Doug Tate/Photo
Liberty running back Cavaugio Butler tries to get past a Southside Christian defender during their game Friday night.
The Red Devils took the lead into the half with a seven-play, 72-yard drive. Reeves found Michael Spruill open in the back of the end zone for a 14-10 lead at the break.
Southside Christian took the lead with a touchdown in the third quarter as Coulter found Brayden Bennett for a 17-yard scoring strike.
The Red Devil offense was stagnant in the third quarter and unable to put points on the board.
Liberty came to life just as the quarter ended and started a drive that went into the fourth quarter for the lead once again 20-17. The one-yard scoring run by Tabron capped off a 12-play, 70-yard drive.
Doug Tate/Photo
Liberty running back Shaun Karr prepares for a collision with a Southside Christian defender during their game Friday night.
The Sabres scored two series later after Hudson King picked off a Reeves pass in the right flat and returned it three yards to the Liberty 37-yard line. Coulter completed passes of 16 yards to Jacob Najambadi, 15 yards to Alexander and nine yards to John Taylor for the score on the drive to put the Sabres back in front, 23-20.
The Red Devil defense stood despite losing the starting field position battle. The Sabres’ average starting field position was the midfield stripe, while the Red Devils’ starting field position was their own 29-yard line.
Except for the long scoring toss just over the outstretched hands of the Liberty defense, the Sabres found the going tough on the ground. Aaron Bates had a huge defensive game for the Red Devils in the loss, as he had 15 tackles, two assists, two tackles for loss and one sack.
Cavaugio Butler led the Red Devils on offense with 91 yards on 16 carries. Tabron followed with 42 yards and the two scores. Most of his yardage came out of the wildcat formation, taking the snaps directly from center.
Reeves finished with 111 yards passing on 6-of-16, with two touchdowns and two costly interceptions.
Doug Tate/Photo
Liberty’s Ethan Harris takes down a Southside Christian ballcarrier during their game Friday night.
The Red Devils now have a week off as they wait for lower state teams to complete regular-season play following the cancellation of games due to Hurricane Matthew.
Although the brackets have not been finalized, the Red Devils appear to have a home game in the first round of the playoffs on Nov. 18 against the Central High School Eagles from Pageland. This would be a rematch of a 2011 second-round game in which Central won 29-7. The Eagles went on to play for the Class 2A state championship that year, losing 10-0 to Bishop England.
