Category Archives: Local News
Harden Scholarship application deadline approaching April 14
PICKENS — The Cannon Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior or other member of the community entering or furthering their career in a medical field.
Recipients will have their scholarship money paid directly to the school of their choice.
To be eligible to apply for the John Harden Scholarship,
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Soapstone Baptist Church fish fry fundraiser set to return on April 1
PICKENS — A popular fish fry fundraiser that benefits a historic church is returning at least one more time.
Soapstone Baptist Church will hold a fish fry fundraiser from 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1, according to a news release from John Boyanoski with Complete
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Community Calendar 3-22-23
• Pickens canning workshop planned
Canning is a practical, safe and enjoyable method of food preservation when done properly. Participants in an upcoming workshop in Pickens will be able to engage in the full canning process from preparation to processing using current USDA recommended techniques.
The workshop will highlight pressure canning, and participants will take home a jar of the product they produced. Anyone with or without previous canning
Officials talk train wreck preparedness
With all the train wrecks in the news lately — most of them involving Norfolk Southern, the railroad that slices through Pickens County — it seemed like a good time to check and see what kind of risk we may be facing if a train were to derail here.
“It could happen to any of us, anywhere in the United States,” said Denise Kwiatek, emergency management director for Pickens County.
“We never know when that moment’s going to happen.”
Many of you probably remember a multi-car derailment in Liberty back in 2010 in which two Norfolk Southern tank cars spilled 18,000 gallons of isopropanol and three others discharged 19,000 gallons of a substance referred to only as “hazardous waste liquid.”
The accident forced the evacuation of 536 homes for
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School district moving toward competency-based learning
By Andrea Kelley
Courtesy The Journal
akelley@upstatetoday.com
COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County will soon be working toward a more personalized learning approach for students thanks to a proviso from the South Carolina Department of Education.
In August, the SCDE released Proviso 1.116, allowing districts seeking to implement competency-based education to submit a waiver to the State Board of Education allowing them to create their own standards.
The proviso defined competency-based education as “a comprehensive learning approach for a student to master competencies and related standards along a personalized, self-paced and flexible pathway.”
SDPC director of secondary education Lori Gwinn asked school board trustees during a recent meeting to
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Certified SAFE
Pickens County EMS training officer Dietrich Easter and director Michael Dunaway hold the county’s SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Excellence) designation certification. Pickens County recently became the second agency in South Carolina to receive specialized training to provide care to victims in the county. SAFE is created in partnership with South Carolina Victim Assistance Network, the S.C. Attorney General’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and South Carolina Hospital Association. “This is a victim’s worst day of their life, and to ensure an easy transition, we educated ourselves on how to talk with the victim, pursue evidence and to walk them through the process,” Easter said. Jessica Mackey/Courier
Liberty lands decorated SC band director
LIBERTY — After Matt Smith resigned as Liberty High School’s director of bands last month, administrators swung for the fences in their search for his replacement.
And the school undoubtedly hit a home run, as School District of Pickens County spokesman Darian Byrd announced last week that Bryan Bone will become Liberty’s new director of bands.
Bone brings three decades of experience leading award-winning middle school and high school bands, including leading large 5A programs at Boiling Springs and Byrnes High School for the past 16 years, according to Byrd.
Bone is the only director in state history to lead high school bands to the South Carolina state marching finals in all five classes (1A Ben Lippen, 2A Swansea, 3A Camden, 4A Berkeley, 5A Boiling Springs and Byrnes). In addition, his bands have won
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Kidsfest 2023 planned Saturday at Hagood Mill
PICKENS — KidsFest is a cherished collaboration between two beloved Pickens County nonprofits — the Hagood Mill Historic Site and the Young Appalachian Musicians.
The annual event is set for this Saturday, March 18, at Hagood Mill Historic Site, promising a fun-filled day featuring performances from all the participating YAMs
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Bagwell receives Quilt of Valor
On Sunday, Feb. 12, James Alvin Bagwell was honored for his military service in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era by the Pickens-Oconee Quilt of Valor Committee. Bagwell was the honoree in a patriotic service during the worship hour of his home church, Shady Grove Baptist, where the pastor is Rev. Joe Pace. The Quilt of Valor team is led by Ronny and Linda Hall and Nancy Porter. Pictured, from left, are Alvin Bagwell, Linda Hall (behind quilt), Nancy Porter and Ronny Hall.
Courier Community Calendar 3-15-23
• Veterans invited to American Legion
Veterans in the Liberty area are invited to the next meeting of American Legion Post 67 in Liberty.
The Legion meets on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Scout Hut, circle off North Palmetto Street. All veterans are invited.
• Craft Supply Swap Meet is March 18
That thing taking up space in your craft closet might be just what another crafter is looking for. Bring your unwanted craft supplies to the Captain Kimberly
