Category Archives: Lifestyles
Adult coed volleyball leagues now forming
PICKENS — The Pickens Recreation Department is now holding registration for adult coed volleyball, formally known as the “Backyard League.”
Players must be 21 years of age (ID required). The registration fee will be $45 per couple in-city or $55 out-of-city and is due at time of sign-up. Individual fees are $22.50 in-city or $27.50 out-of-city. Due date for registration fees is April 1 at the Recreation Department on Sangamo Road. Fees are non-refundable.
Once registration is concluded, players will be placed on teams by the league director. Practice dates will be announced. Games are on Sunday afternoons and will begin April 24 (approximate start date). Call (864) 878-2296 with any additional questions.
Staples presents $1K grant to United Way of Pickens County
EASLEY — United Way of Pickens County has been awarded $1,000 by Staples Foundation, the charitable arm of Staples Inc. under a program that lets Staples associates direct donations.
“United Way of Pickens County is excited that Staples has directed their grant to Camp iRock, our partnership with the School District of Pickens County and the Pickens County YMCA to address summer learning loss,” said Julie Capaldi, President. “We are so honored that Teresa Carroll, assistant manager of Staples in Easley, nominated Camp iRock for grant funding. It’s exciting that she shares our passion for early literacy education.”
Julie Capaldi, president of United Way of Pickens County, is present a check from Staples of Easley assistant manager Teresa Carroll and general manager Ed Meade.
The grant is part of a philanthropic initiative created by Staples Foundation which allows Staples associates around the world to direct funding to non-profit organizations that are focused on education or job skills. The program, called 2 Million and Change, encourages local community engagement by awarding larger grants to organizations where associates are highly engaged in volunteering or fundraising up to $25,000 per organization.
In 2014, Staples awarded more than $2.4 million in grants to 1,056 local organizations in support of education, and job skills programs, including tutoring for pediatric cancer patients, job skills development for individuals with disabilities, school supplies, mentoring and more.
“Staples Foundation is committed to encouraging associates around the globe to make a difference in their local communities and through 2 Million and Change, we enable them to directly support the programs where they can personally see the greatest need,” said Emily McCann, senior manager of community and giving for Staples, Inc.
United Way of Pickens County is about advancing the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Their focus is on education, financial stability and community basic services-the building blocks for a good quality of life.
Staples contributes to educational and job-related community efforts with a primary focus on disadvantaged youth, from literacy and mentoring to career skills development, through in-kind and monetary donations and grants from Staples Foundation, the charitable arm of Staples, Inc. Through its community and giving efforts, Staples and Staples Foundation have helped more than 7,000 organizations in 26 countries.
Clemson Farmers Market seeks vendors
Special activities planned for opening day May 13
CLEMSON — The Clemson Farmers Market is accepting applications for vendors for the 2016 market season. The market is open Fridays from 3-6 p.m. on the Village Green at Patrick Square in Clemson.
People enjoying a warm day at the Clemson Farmers Market last year. The market will be open from May 13-Oct. 14 this year.
The regular season is May 13 to Oct. 14, with a harvest market set for Nov. 4 and holiday market on Dec. 2.
Open rain or shine, the market features fresh, local produce, farm products, specialty food items and homemade arts and crafts. Special activities are planned for opening day on Friday, May 13.
In addition to regular market vendors, the market will host the second annual Healthy Living Expo. The expo features businesses and organizations who offer healthy living products and services.
Join us for an afternoon of family-friendly activities including live entertainment, cooking demonstrations, demonstrations and product sampling by market vendors, a giant inflatable for the kids, and much, much more. For vendor guidelines, application and forms, visit the market’s website at http://www.clemsonfarmersmarket.org./
Courier Community Calendar 3-9-16
• East Side Baptist plans fishing clinic
East Side Baptist Church will host a free bass fishing clinic on Saturday, March 12, at 1 p.m. The speaker will be Bassmaster Terry Chupp.
East Side is located at 920 Anderson Drive in Liberty. For more information, call the church office at (864) 843-6481.
• Classes offered at Hagood Center
New Fiber Room Center activities at the Hagood Center in Pickens have been scheduled for March and April.
On Tuesday, March 15, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. a one-day Fabric covered Mats with Beverly McCulty. Samples are available in Granger Fiber Arts. Supplies needed include one pkg. cotton covered clothesline (ACE has 7/32 inches x 50 feet), one or one and half inch wide strips of fabric, glue stick and a ig-zag sewing machine.
On Friday, April 8, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. there will be a one-day Water Color Butterflies workshop with Preston Rausch. Supplies will be provided. Charge is $25. Sample is available in Granger Fiber Arts. To insure an adequate number of supplies is available, please pre-register.
The fiber room committee plans in late March or early April a Sheer Delight Jacket (chenille) classs. Supply list and a sample will be available at a later date.
Below is a list of the center’s regular activities:
Monday: 10-11:30 a.m. — cathedral window quilts with Jacquie. Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. — weaving with Pat; 9-11:30 a.m. — doll clothes with Jacquie; 10-11:30 a.m. — yo-yos with Irene and prayer shawls and cancer caps with Sharon (in the library). Wednesday: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. — weaving with Pat (in the heritage room); 10-11:30 a.m. — knitting with Tally. Thursday: 10-11:30 a.m. quilting with Sara; 1:30-3:30 p.m. — rug hooking with Cheryl.
Contact Lucy Harward, (864) 419-1794 or daleandlucy@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments.
• Six Mile Farmers Market seeks vendors
The town of Six Mile is looking for vendors at the Six Mile Farmers Depot for the 2016 season. The market starts the third Thursday in April and runs through the last Thursday in September.
Vendors may sell plants, flowers, vegetables, fruit and arts and crafts. Cakes, pies, jams and jellies produced in a DHEC-approved kitchen may also be sold. The Six Mile Farmers Market is located on Main Street in Six Mile in the old fire department building next to Town Hall. The market features 18 vendor stations inside and has room outside for several more. If interested, contact market manager Jim Hayes at (864) 650-5078 or james_hayes@sixmilesc.org.
• PHS class of 1956 set to hold reunion
The Pickens High School Class of 1956 is planning a reunion for April 9. It will be a dutch lunch at The Gatehouse Restaurant at the corner of Ann and Griffin streets in Pickens. It will begin at noon.
Make your reservations by calling Allison Dalton at (864) 859-4396, Marie Welborn at (864) 878-9124 or Tunkie Stokes at (864) 878-6101.
Coal ash bill gets OK in SC Senate, House
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
COUNTY — It appears the controversy over coal ash entering Pickens County is over, as the South Carolina Senate last week approved final reading of a bill designed to keep it from being dumped in Class 2 landfills statewide.
State Sen. Larry Martin, who along with state Rep. Davey Hiott introduced bills that passed each of their respective legislative bodies, said Monday that only a signature from Gov. Nikki Haley is required before the bill officially becomes law.
A source close to the governor said Tuesday the signing was expected to take place the following day.
“All we talked about was getting her up here (in Pickens County) to sign it, but she had a very busy schedule and, regretfully, couldn’t make it,” Martin said. “We hope to have a ceremonial signing with the delegation later this week (in Columbia).”
The Pickens County Legislative Delegation has expressed opposition to out-of-state company MRR Pickens LLC’s application for a variance to DHEC. That variance, the delegation said, would allow the company to dispose of coal ash in the landfill they said is “much too close” to the city of Liberty and Pickens County Industrial Park.
Martin and Hiott’s bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee, with language added by Martin to the House version.
The Pickens County senator said South Carolina utilities use Class 3 landfills and doesn’t see why that also can’t apply to MRR Pickens. Martin’s legislation also includes a five-year “sunset” provision that would require the Senate to go back and revisit when the time comes.
“We made a few technical changes to make sure we were covering the issue as thoroughly as we needed to without imposing on DHEC’s existing regulations that were in place,” Martin said. “You have some areas in the lower part of the state that are disposing of lower-grade coal ash, but those areas have agreed to place their coal ash in a Class 3 landfill.
“In essence, we stopped all out-of-state items from coming in and (mandated) that anything that comes in would have to be placed in a Class 3 landfill.”
Martin said there are 67 Class D landfills across the state, which means there is more than one in each of the 46 counties — none of which are using Class 2 licenses to dispose of coal ash.
Unless legislation is passed, the senator said any of those landfills could be converted to coal ash by placing a liner inside.
Martin said he is appreciative of the 39-0 vote the Senate provided in passing the coal ash legislation.
“They realize that, without this legislation, they could face the same thing,” Martin said.
MRR Pickens had filed a $25 million lawsuit against Pickens County, claiming the county could not prevent them from using the Class 2 landfill for coal ash. Judge Robin Stillwell denied the motion and ruled MRR could not dump any coal ash while the case moves through the legal process.
Pickens High to host concert
PCKENS — The Pickens High School Athletic Department will present the second annual Pickin’ in Pickens fundraiser concert to help support Blue Flame athletics this week.
Due to popular demand, renowned bluegrass band Balsam Range will return on Friday, March 4, at 7 p.m. in the PHS auditorium.
Balsam Range has been called the best bluegrass band on the planet. The group is made up of five outstanding acoustic musicians and singers who all hail from Western North Carolina.
Tickets will be $25 at the door, whil student tickets will be $10. A valid high school ID must be presented at the door for student pricing. All proceeds from the event will go to help the student-athletes at Pickens High School.
Call PHS athletic director Stan Butler at (864) 397-3702 for more information.
Lenten services set at Pickens-area churches
PICKENS — Enhance your journey to the cross this Lenten season by attending a brief service each Tuesday starting at noon, followed by a light lunch.
These ecumenical events are sponsored by the Pickens Ministerial Association and are open to the entire community.
Lenten noon services will continue March 8 Lenten services will be at Seventh Day Adventist Church, and the final service of the season will take place on March 15 at Faith Lutheran Church. All the services will be held in Pickens.
Reunion of Upcountry Families planned around Pickens County
By Lynda Abegg
For the Courier
news@thepccourier.com
SENECA — Want to find out if there are any skeletons hiding in the closet? Mildred Brewer not only knows how to find out, she provides instructions on how to start the quest.
As a certified Daughters of the American Revolution genealogist, Brewer considers it her mission to help people find their Revolutionary War ancestors.
“Of course, you may run into all sorts of interesting relatives along the way,” Brewer said.
Her presentation is part of the Reunion of Upcountry Families. In its sixth year, the three-day event is for families whose heritage goes back to the Old Pendleton District, which is comprised of the present-day counties of Anderson, Oconee and Pickens.
The free event will include genealogy workshops and cemetery tours. The final day, Saturday, will be devoted to family history, with a large display of family photos, old family Bibles and other items from local families at Southern Wesleyan University in Central.
The event will kick off on March 10 at the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library in Easley. Brewer will present a seminar entitled “Finding your Revolutionary War Ancestor with DAR Resources.”
“The DAR Library has one of the best collections of genealogical records, and there is so much history in this area,” Brewer said.
Brewer will explain how to use pension records, birth certificates and the census to locate ancestors. To register for Brewer’s seminar, call (864) 850-7077, ext. 112.
The DAR Library collection contains more than 225,000 books, 10,000 research files, thousands of manuscript items and special collections of African American, Native American and women’s history, genealogy and culture.
In its sixth year, the Reunion of Upcountry Families helps folks explore their heritage through a genealogical journey.
Nearly 40,000 family histories and genealogies comprise a major portion of the book collection, many of which are rare or available in only a few libraries in the country.
As part of the Reunion of Upcountry Families, Quientell Walker will conduct a seminar entitled “Heritage Quest and Revolutionary War Records.” Walker has a master’s degree in library science and is in charge of the historical room at the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library.
He has been interested in genealogy since he was a kid and takes pride in the historical room that contains more than 3,000 books, church histories, family histories and 1,500 rolls of microfilm from local newspapers. To register for Walker’s seminar, call (864) 850-7077, ext. 112.
“The thing I like most about my job is that I get to spend my time doing historical research, and history has always fascinated me,” Walker said.
Walker located the deed dated 1888 for land in Oconee County that was given to his ancestor, a former slave, as payment for his labor.
“That land is still being passed down by my family,” Walker added.
The Friday session will begin with a tour of the Eastatoe Valley.
“We will meet at McKinney Chapel and tour the Anderson and Nimmons cemeteries, as well as the Old Pickens Church and cemetery, ending with dinner at Collins Ole Town in Central,” event co-chair Anne Sheriff said.
Sheriff is also curator of the Clayton Genealogical Room at SWU, as well as curator of the Central History Museum.
The Saturday session will be held at SWU, with historic displays from area families and local genealogical and historical associations.
“That’s when people set up tables to display the old family Bibles and photographs and maps,” Sheriff said.
According to SWU assistant director of communications Ed Welch, Sheriff is a dedicated local historian and has been a guiding force, not only for the Clayton room, but with making the Reunion of Upcountry families the success it is today.
For information on any of the specific events, contact Kenny Blakeney at (864) 898-0840 or kblakeney@live.com.
Courier Community Calendar3-2-16
• East Side Baptist plans fishing clinic
East Side Baptist Church will host a free bass fishing clinic on Saturday, March 12, at 1 p.m. The speaker will be Bassmaster Terry Chupp.
East Side is located at 920 Anderson Drive in Liberty. For more information, call the church office at (864) 843-6481.
• PHS class of 1956 set to hold reunion
The Pickens High School Class of 1956 is planning a reunion for April 9. It will be a dutch lunch at The Gatehouse Restaurant at the corner of Ann and Griffin streets in Pickens. It will begin at noon.
Make your reservations by calling Allison Dalton at (864) 859-4396, Marie Welborn at (864) 878-9124 or Tunkie Stokes at (864) 878-6101.
• Azalea Fest pancake breakfast scheduled
For the second year in a row, the Pickens Azalea Festival Committee will be hosting its annual pancake breakfast.
The event will be held at the Pickens Senior Center on Saturday, March 5, with all proceeds going to support the 32nd annual Pickens Azalea Festival, set for April.
Tickets can be purchased for $6 from 7-11 a.m. for plates including eggs, bacon or sausage, pancakes, grits, or biscuit and gravy, coffee or orange juice.
• Classes offered at Hagood Center
New Fiber Room Center activities at the Hagood Center in Pickens have been scheduled for February.
Below is a list of the center’s regular activities:
Monday: 10-11:30 a.m. — cathedral window quilts with Jacquie. Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. — weaving with Pat; 9-11:30 a.m. — doll clothes with Jacquie; 10-11:30 a.m. — yo-yos with Irene and prayer shawls and cancer caps with Sharon (in the library). Wednesday: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. — weaving with Pat (in the heritage room); 10-11:30 a.m. — knitting with Tally. Thursday: 10-11:30 a.m. quilting with Sara; 1:30-3:30 p.m. — rug hooking with Cheryl.
• Six Mile Farmers Market seeks vendors
The town of Six Mile is looking for vendors at the Six Mile Farmers Depot for the 2016 season. The market starts the third Thursday in April and runs through the last Thursday in September.
Vendors may sell plants, flowers, vegetables, fruit and arts and crafts. Cakes, pies, jams and jellies produced in a DHEC-approved kitchen may also be sold. The Six Mile Farmers Market is located on Main Street in Six Mile in the old fire department building next to Town Hall. The market features 18 vendor stations inside and has room outside for several more.
If interested, contact market manager Jim Hayes at (864) 650-5078 or james_hayes@sixmilesc.org.
• Hannah-Patterson Reunion planned
The annual Hannah-Patterson Reunion will be held at Mountain Grove Baptist Church near Pickens this Saturday at noon and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Descendants of Oliver Monroe Hannah and Henry Jackson Patterson are encouraged to bring a well-filled lunch basket and enjoy fellowship with family. Paper products will be provided. Join either day or both days.
Local voters pick Trump
COUNTY — Billionaire businessman Donald Trump continued his march toward the Republican Party’s 2016 presidential nomination continued in the Palmetto State on Saturday, and Pickens County voters were a microcosm of the state, picking the frontrunner as their choice to represent the party in this year’s race for president.
[cointent_lockedcontent] In a six-man race, Trump garnered nearly a third of all ballots cast statewide in the GOP primary, with 239,851 (32.5 percent), well ahead of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who finished in a dead heat for second with 165,881 votes (22.5 percent) and 164,790 (22.3 percent), respectively. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush dropped out of the race after a disappointingly distant fourth-place showing, earning just 57,863 votes (7.8 percent), while Ohio Gov. John Kasich (56,206 votes, 7.6 percent) and Dr. Ben Carson (53,326 votes, 7.2 percent) brought up the rear.
In Pickens County the race was tighter between Trump and second-place finisher Cruz, with 30.13 percent of voters (7,136) picking Trump and 26.99 percent (6,393) casting their ballots for Cruz. Rubio finished third with 20.95 percent of the vote (4,961), followed by Bush’s 8.58 percent (2,033), Carson’s 7.24 percent (1,714) and Kasich’s 6.11 percent (1,448).
A little more than 36 percent of the county’s 65,599 registered voters made their way to the polls for Saturday’s primary, a much higher rate than the 25 percent of voters statewide who cast their ballots.
With the win in South Carolina, Trump won two of the first three states to go to the polls. After Cruz won in the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1, Trump took first place in New Hampshire on Feb. 9. No Republican candidate who has won two of the first three states has ever fallen short of the party’s presidential nomination.
Nevada’s Republican voters held their caucus on Tuesday, with results unavailable at press time, while a dozen more states will go to the polls next Tuesday.
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