Daily Archives: 07/09/2019
Courthouse bomb suspect arrested
Police say man may have also
planted explosives at DSS office
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Police have arrested a man suspected of planting two homemade pipe bombs outside the Pickens County Courthouse on 
Sunday night, and authorities say he may have also planted explosives at the Department of Social Services office in Pickens.
Emergency officials closed off the area around the DSS office on McDaniel Avenue on
Tuesday after the suspect mentioned something about the building during his arrest Tuesday morning, according to Pickens Police Department records clerk Susan Kinsey.
DSS workers were evacuated from the building as officials from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI helped Pickens police with the investigation at the scene on Tuesday.
Police had not released information on the suspect’s identity or the results of the search at the DSS office at press time on Tuesday.
Police said two explosive devices were detonated at the courthouse on Sunday night,
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3 charged in drive-by shooting
CLEMSON — Clemson police have arrested three people in connection with a drive-by shooting that injured one person Monday morning.
Clemson Police Chief Jimmy Dixon said in a news release police received a call of shots fired at the Clemson Motel at 835 Old Greenville Highway at approximately 6 a.m.
“Officers arrived to find one victim had been shot in the leg and was transported to Prisma Health–Greenville Memorial Hospital by
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Murder suspect caught in Easley
EASLEY — A man wanted for murder in Florida was arrested Sunday in Easley.
The Miami Herald, citing a release from the U.S. Marshals Service, reported Erick Noe Lopez, 24, was tracked down in Easley several days after authorities allege he shot and killed another man.
Marshals allege Lopez got into a fight with Arturo Arriga, 66, at a mobile home park near West Palm Beach, Fla., on July 4, the paper reported. Marshals allege Lopez shot Arriga and left the scene. Arriga was taken to an area hospital, where he later died.
Lopez is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, the paper reported.
In addition to the U.S. Marshals, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies, Pickens County Sheriff’s deputies, Easley police officers and Department of Homeland Security assisted in the arrest, the paper reported.
Lopez remained in custody at the Pickens County Detention Center as of Tuesday morning.
Wishing Wilson well
Sometime back in the early- to mid-1980s when I was doing a lot of guitar teaching, I had a father and son taking lessons together from me, which was a pretty interesting arrangement.
As I recall they both had the same name: Gerald Wilson.
The younger Gerald Wilson, who must have been 10 or 12 at the time, grew up to be the Pickens County administrator!
Now, I can’t claim much credit for grooming him for this high office, but I knew he had potential even then. For one thing, to be willing to take guitar lessons with your daddy — that’s pretty rare. And he was always very polite and attentive, and smart. Just the nicest little guy in the world.
And he’s still one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet — although not so little anymore.
He came over to me at a county council meeting about five years ago when I started covering Pickens County for the daily newspaper from which I recently retired and told me who he was. Of course, I never would have recognized him, but he knew me. He was heading up the public works department then, I believe.
“If I can ever do anything for you, let me know,” he said.
He still says that every time I see him — and I guess he probably says it to everybody. But you know, I believe he means it.
Maybe that’s why, at the tender age of 48 (but with 31 years in the state retirement system) he has decided to retire. He’s just too nice
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Could Easley ban plastic bags?
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Easley City Council members discussed the possibility of implementing a ban on plastic bags at a meeting this week.
Councilman Kent Dykes raised the issue Monday afternoon during a city council work session. Dykes said a resident asked him about
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Clemson police plan first ‘CAMP 911’ for children
CLEMSON — The City of Clemson Police Department and the Clemson University Police Department have teamed up to create their first annual youth camp. Called CAMP 911, the camp take place in Clemson July 15-26. Thirty area children aged 7-12 are registered to take part in this year’s camp.
The camp is meant to provide students with a positive recreational and educational experience during their summer break, along with mentorship and positive interaction with area police officers.
The departments hope the program will serve as a preventive measure to help children resist the influence of youth crime, drug
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Easley native in service
Electrician’s Mate 1st Class William Gaillard, from Easley, cuts wires on a microwave oven for installation aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96). Bainbridge is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.
Golden anniversary
Gerald and Mary Gravely Powell, formerly of Pickens, will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on July 11. Today, Mr. and Mrs. Powell make their home in Rosman, N.C. They have two grown sons, Scott and Stacy, and five adorable grandchildren.
Courier Calendar of Events 7-10-19
• Youth cheer camp set at Pickens High
The Pickens High School varsity and JV cheerleaders are sponsoring a youth cheer camp set for Saturday, Aug. 3, in the cheer room at PHS from 9 a.m. until noon. The cost is $30 per child, and ages 6-12 may register beginning at 8:30 a.m. Cash or checks made payable to PHS will be accepted. There will be a showcase at 11:30 a.m., and all parents, families and friends are invited to attend. Contact AshleyButler@pickens.k12.sc.us or nicholsonbreann@gmail.com for more information.
• Soapstone set to host fundraiser
Soapstone Church invites everyone to a special fundraiser at the church, located at 296 Liberia Road in Pickens, on Saturday, July 20. The event will feature fine cooking and will be held from noon-8 p.m. Visitors will enjoy true Southern cooking, including a fish fry, barbecue and fried chicken with all the fixings right.
• ‘Hee Haw’ play planned in Pickens
A play based on popular 1970s and ‘80s TV show “Hee Haw” was a smash hit on June 8 at the Pickens Senior Center, and a an encore
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Easley celebrates the 4th
The city of Easley held its annual two-day Celebrate America festival for the Fourth of July
at Old Market Square downtown last week, with fun and games for all ages, including food, live music and, of course, a dynamic fireworks show lighting the night sky. Kerry Gilstrap/Courier
