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Monthly Archives: December 2010

Obituaries for week of December 29

 
J. Watt Stewart, Sr.

Easley — J. Watt Stewart, Sr., 84, of 103 Fairway Oaks Lane, husband of the late Dorothy Satterfield Stewart to whom he was married for 49 years, died Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010, at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Born in Pickens County, a son of the late Rev. Oscar Baker and Gertie Watt Stewart, Mr. Stewart played football for Easley High School where he was the most valuable player in 1942 and 1943.  He lettered in football at Clemson University in 1944, then entered the U.S. Army and was stationed in Manila during World War II.  Mr. Stewart then graduated from Presbyterian College where he also played football. Mr. Stewart retired as a supervisor with the Glenwood Plant of Mayfair Mills and was former owner of Stewart Jewelers. He later retired from Verdae Greens after 17 years of service. Mr. Stewart was a member of Easley First United Methodist Church where he sang in the church choir for more than 60 years.  He was an accomplished vocalist and sang at many weddings and funerals.
Surviving are a son, J. Watt Stewart, Jr., (Cindy) of Liberty; a daughter, Kitty Loggins (David) of Easley; a son-in-law, Michael Lawrence of Easley; a brother, Gene Stewart (Sarah) of Easley; a sister, Margaret Edgar (Bob) of Easley; grandchildren, Ashley Ann Caddigan (Kevin) of Nashville, Tenn.;  Stewart David Loggins of Atlanta, Christina Jean Lawrence and Michael Joseph Lawrence, both of Orlando, Fla.; a great-grandgrandson, Ryan David Caddigan of Nashville, Tenn.; and special companion, Mary Winslett Bagwell of Easley. 
In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Stewart was predeceased by a daughter, Barrie Jean Lawrence; three brothers, Dewey, Isom and Henry Stewart; and by two sisters, Evelyn Watson and Mildred Kirk.
Memorial services were 2 p.m. Thursday at Easley First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Correll, the Rev. Ben Barnett and the Rev. Ron Bently officiating.  Entombment was private in Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Former employees of Verdae Greens were asked to serve as Honorary Escorts.
Memorials may be made to Easley First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 582, Easley, SC 29641 or to the cancer charity of one’s choice.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.

Effie Simmons
Pendleton — Effie Lauraie Simmons, 78, of Pendleton and formerly of Pickens Garden Apartments, died after years of declining health Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 at Cannon Memorial Hospital in Pickens.
Mrs. Simmons was born in Pickens County, daughter of the late Valley and Grace Crumpton Simmons. She was formerly employed with Southern Weaving Company and she was of the Baptist Faith.
Survivors include sons, George Edwin Simmons of Pendleton, Clarence Valley Simmons and daughter Vida Regina Hughes of Pickens. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. She is also survived by her special friends Martha Lance, Bessie Lollis and Mary Nix.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Simmons was preceded in death by her husband George Guy Simmons, a son Clyde David Simmons, brothers Elmer Houston Simmons, J. L. “Jack” Simmons, and Ernest Simmons and sister, Millie Elizabeth Simmons.
Funeral services were conducted 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23 in the Chapel of Dillard Funeral Home in Pickens with the Rev. Jack Connelly and the Rev. Doug Saylors officiating. Burial followed at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens.
A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com.

Ruby Lee Adams
Pickens — Ruby Lee Patterson Adams, 83, of 117 Cemetery Street, died Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010.
Mrs. Adams was born in Pickens County, a daughter of the late Freeman and Kizzie Powell Patterson. She was a homemaker and had formerly worked at Singer and Sangamo in Pickens. Mrs. Adams was of the Baptist Faith.
Survivors include her brother Freeman Patterson, Jr. (Connie) of Pickens, nieces and nephews, Mike Mooneyham, Kay Allen, Patti Welborn, Marsha Patterson and Mark Patterson and great nieces and great nephews Kaycee Collins, Kevin and Kelley Welborn, Michael Allen, Brandon and Colin Patterson and also a great great nephew Isaiah Hamby.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Adams was preceded in death by her sister Leona Patterson Mooneyham.
Funeral services were conducted 3 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Dillard Funeral Home in Pickens with the Rev. H. C. Couch and the Rev. Mark Krieger officiating. Burial followed at Holly Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.
A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com.

Jack E. Corbin

Liberty — Jack Eugene Corbin, 81, of 8227 Liberty Highway, died at his home, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010.
Born in Richmond, Va. he was a son of the late Daniel and Madeline Euting Corbin. Mr. Corbin was retired from Russell Corporation where he worked as a mechanical engineer, and was a U.S. Air Force Veteran of the Korean War. He was formerly a member of Easley First United Methodist Church, and currently had been a member of Liberty United Methodist Church since his retirement.
Surviving are two daughters, Suzanne Rice and Patti Watson both of Liberty; a son and daughter in law, Steve and Ann Corbin of New Orleans, La.; three sisters, Dorothy White and Gladys Dagenhart both of Richmond, Va., and Shirley Menendez of Gaithersburg, Md.; three grandchildren and their spouses, Robert and Jessica Rice, Jessica and Josh James, Ryan and Lisa Corbin; a great granddaughter, Haley James; two nieces, Barbara Dagenhart, and Nancy Choudry.
In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his wife, Betty Lou Fleisher Corbin, a son, Bruce Corbin, a brother, Bob Corbin, and a niece, Anne Turner.
Funeral services to honor the life of Mr. Corbin were 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27 in the Liberty Mortuary Chapel. Burial was at Liberty Memorial Garden.
In lieu of flowers memorials are requested to Liberty United Methodist Church, 310 Mae Street, Liberty SC 29657.
Memorial messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.libertymortuary.com Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

Delores Lundquist
Liberty — Delores Worrell Lundquist, 66, wife of Donald L. Lunquist, Sr. of 145 Huntington Drive, Liberty, died Friday, Dec. 24, 2010.
Delores was born in Burgaw, N.C. a daughter of the late Frank and Annie Rivenbark Worrell. She was a homemaker and a member of Liberty United Methodist Church where she participated in the Bible Study Group.
Surviving in addition to her husband Donald are sons, Donald Lunquist, Jr. Fountain Inn, and Donald Lunquist, III of the home and brothers and sisters Franklin Worrell of Norfolk, Va., Terry Worrell of Rocky Point, N.C., Kitty Adkins and Arlene Worrell both of Greenville.
In addition to her parents, Delores was preceded in death by her son Douglas Lundquist.
Funeral services were conducted 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28 in the Chapel of Dillard Funeral Home in Pickens. Burial followed at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens.
A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com.
Those desiring may make memorials to the Salvation Army – Easley, 501 Old Liberty Road, Easley, SC 29640, http://www.salvationarmycarolinas.org/commands/easley

Bonnie W. Whitlock
Liberty — Bonnie Welborn Whitlock, 68, of 102 Norwood Street, died, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010 at Greenville Memorial Medical Center.
Born in Pendleton, she was the wife of Gary E. Whitlock of the home and a daughter of the late Claude J. and Emmie Wardlaw Welborn, Sr. She was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother and was a member of East Side Baptist Church where she taught the Preschool Sunday School class for 40 years.
Surviving in addition to her husband are two daughters, Kelley Cox, and Jan Brown and her husband Rick, and a son, Scott Whitlock and his wife Teresa all of Liberty; four sisters, Sybil Andis of Mauldin, Ann Garrett of Greenwood, Linda Bracken, Brenda Atkinson and a brother, Thomas Welborn all of Easley; grandchildren, Hailey and Kayla Whitlock, Kristen Cox, Ethan Brown, and Alexis and Samantha Holliday.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by five sisters, Grace Albertson, Betty Black, Louise Nantz, Edna Awl and Martha Welborn; and three brothers, Charlie Welborn, John Welborn and Claude Welborn, Jr.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to Dr. Catherine Chang and Amy for the care that they have given to Bonnie for the past 5 ½ years.
Funeral services to honor the life of Mrs. Whitlock will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at East Side Baptist Church. Burial will be at Flat Rock Baptist Church Cemetery.
Floral arrangements are appreciated but memorials may also be made to East Side Baptist Church Youth Fund: 920 Anderson Drive Liberty, SC 29657.
The family will be at the home. Memorial messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.libertymortuary.com Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

Brown Bowie
Sunset — Brown Robertson Bowie, 97, of Eastatoee Valley in Sunset, died on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2010.
Born in Eastatoee on Dec. 15, 1913, Mr. Bowie was the son of the late E. Calhoun and Janie Robertson Bowie. Mr. Bowie was self-employed in the home improvement business. His hobbies were farming and gardening. He enjoyed rooting camellias and azaleas and delighted in giving them to friends who shared his appreciation for nature’s beauty.
Surviving are daughter Nancy Martin and husband David of Sunset, niece Linda Bowie and nephews Larry Bowie (Sheri) of Sunset and John Bowie (Linda, son Alex) of Pickens. He is greatly missed by his loving family and devoted friends, all of whom commend to him “a gentle peace for a gentle man”.
He was predeceased by his wife Grace Farr, brothers Boone and Paul C. Bowie, and sisters Pearl McCrary and Maude Bowie.
The family would like to thank the doctor, nurses and attendants at St. Francis Hospital Downtown who for four days cared for Mr. Bowie as if he were their own father.
Graveside service 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 30, at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 2410 Gentry Memorial Hwy., Pickens. Visitation will follow at the gravesite. The Rev. Rance Sprayberry will officiate with eulogy by Dustin Atkins.
As Mr. Bowie was a dedicated Christian man all of his life, the family asks that memorials be made to the church where he was a member for more than 60 years, St. Mark United Methodist Church, 306 North Franklin Rd., Greenville, SC 29609.
A message of condolence may be expressed at DillardFunerals.com.

Matt Dransfield
Six Mile — Matthew Wayne “Matt” Dransfield, 49, of 250 Whippoorwill Trail, died Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010.
Born in Pottstown, Pa. he was a son of the late Wesley Dransfield. He was a marine technician at Strickland Marine in Anderson, and was a member of New Image Outreach in Easley.
Surviving are his wife, Janie Matthews Dransfield of the home; a daughter, Molly Jane Dransfield of the home; two sons, Tyler and Zachary Dransfield both of the home; his mother, Grace Price and step father Harry B. Price of Ackworth, Georgia; a sister, Sandy Gerhart; three brothers, Steve, Glenn, & CJ Dransfield.
Memorial services to celebrate Matt’s life were held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010 at New Image Outreach.
In lieu of flowers the family respectfully asks for memorials to be made to New Image Outreach, Building Fund, PO Box 1844, Easley SC 29642.
Memorial messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.libertymortuary.com Liberty Mortuary and Cremation Services is handling arrangements.

Classifieds for week of December 29

Vacation/Travel
ADVERTISE your vacation home, condo or apartment to more than 2.7 million South Carolina newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 108 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Jimmie Haynes at the South Carolina Newspaper Network at 1-888-727-7377. SW
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Help Wanted
LAID OFF? PLANT CLOSING? Need that new job? Call Xtra Mile & enroll in CDL Class-A training today! Several locations in SC, including Charleston. 1-866-484-6313 / www.xtramiledrivertraining.com. SW
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DRIVERS-CDL: A Team with Total! Great miles & great weekly pay. Paid loaded or empty. Teams, solos & CDL grads welcome. 800-942-2104 ext. 238 or 243 www.totalms.com. SW
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DRIVERS: Hornady Transportation, Miles, money & home time! Start up to 0.42 cpm, Sign on bonus available. Great benefits!! Great hometime!! OTR experience req’d. No felonies. Lease purchase available, 1-800-441-4271 x SC-100. SW
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DRIVERS- FOOD TANKER DRIVERS NEEDED. OTR positions available now! CDL-A w/tanker req’d. Outstanding pay & benefits! Call a recruiter today! 877-882-6537 www.oakleytransport.com. SW
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EXPERIENCED OTR FLATBED DRIVERS EARN 47.5 up to 50 cpm loaded. 52.3 to 55 cpm for O.D. loads. $1000 sign on to Qualified drivers. Call: 843-266-3731 bulldoghiway.com EOE. SW
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ADVERTISE YOUR DRIVER JOBS in 111 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.7 million readers. Call Jimmie Haynes at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377. SW
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Miscellanous
AIRLINES ARE HIRING: Train for high paying Aviation Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified- Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (866) 367-2513. SW
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ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal,*Accounting,*Criminal justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 888-220-3872 www.CenturaOnline.com.
SW
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For Sale
FOR SALE: 1974 Honda CR250 Elsinore Motor cross bike. Excellent condition. New motor. $2,200 firm. 864-506-3009. 12-29
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FREE HD FOR LIFE! Only on DISH Network! Lowest price in America! $24.99/mo for over 120 channels! $500 Bonus! 1-888-713-3172. SW
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Auctions/Shows
NEED BIDDERS? Advertise your auction in 111 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.7 million readers. Call Jimmie Haynes at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377. SW
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Wanted
WANTED: Ben Winchester hardwood flooring to repair the floors at the old Hagood Elementary School. Please call Ted Shehan at 864-508-0878. TFC
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For Rent
FOR RENT: Nice office space, 316 West Main street. 6 room, 3 Bath, conference room, private w/entrance for CEO. Reasonable price. 878-2281, 506-1719.
TFC

For Rent: Furnished Apt. W/W- D. utilities optional. 878-2281, 506-1719. TFC
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For Rent: Nice house, city limit, 2-3 BR, 2 BA, washer, dryer, stove, refrigerator. Call 878-2281. TFC
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House For Rent: 3BR 1BA, $550 month, $200 deposit. References required. 878-9502. TFC
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For Rent: 3BR, 1.5 BA brick house close to Pickens, 878-6291. TFC
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For Rent: 2BR house near Pickens Co. Airport. New carpet and paint. No pets. $400 month plus deposit. 843-2235. 12/29

Homes For Sale
House For Sale: Easley 5BR 2.5BA, over 2500 sq ft, 2 story, 2003 Model. In attractive Edenberry Subdivision. Near new condition, convenient to Greenville. $189,900. 864-810-0075. 12/15, 12/22, 12/29
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CLEMSON POLICE SEEK SUSPECT IN BURGLARY CASES

The Clemson City Police Department is actively seeking the arrest of Stevie Donavan Bennett, Jr.

During the night of Tuesday, December 21, several apartments were found to have been broken into within the Clemson area. Warrants for three counts of burglary second degree have been signed for Bennett’s arrest and are on file with the Clemson City Police Department.

Bennett is the suspected of other burglaries in the area. Any information on the whereabouts of Bennett can be called in to the Clemson City Police Department at 864-624-2000; or to Lt. Robert Crooks at 864-643-6226.

Weather service calls for possible Pickens County White Christmas

COUNTY — Are you dreaming of a White Christmas, the kind Bing Crosby croons so tenderly in his version of Irving Berlin’s famous song?

If so, it appears as though you may get your wish. December 25, 2010, will be a date recorded in Pickens County history if National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts are accurate.

According to the NWS, precipitation in the form of snow could begin falling at its heaviest point on Friday night for Christmas Eve. The snow would continue into Christmas morning with an accumulation of 3-4 inches expected, according to a NWS representative.

Latest forecasts predict a 50 percent chance of precipitation on Christmas Eve night and a 60 percent chance of precipitation on Christmas Day, with highs around 32 degrees.

Records indicate that the only documented White Christmases in South Carolina’s upstate occurred in the Greenville-Spartanburg area in 1909 and 1947.

On December 25 of these years, Greenville had a record two-inch snowfall.

In 1962, a recorded one inch of snow fell in Greenville on Christmas day; however, it all melted before it reached the ground.

Sources at the National Weather Service have no records of there ever being snow in Pickens County on Christmas Day.

May your day be merry and bright, and may your Christmas 2010 be white!

‘A modern Christmas miracle’, Huge donations pour in following food pantry theft

PICKENS — At a time of year when people the world over are celebrating the miracle of Jesus’ birth, Tracy James and the folks at Midway Baptist Church are celebrating their very own modern-day Christmas miracle.
Last Friday morning, a week before Christmas Eve, James arrived at Midway to begin preparing for the church’s weekly Thursday Meals Ministry (icy weather had delayed them a day) when she discovered that the three-month supply of food, valued at approximately $1,000, had been cleared out of the freezers outside the church’s fellowship building.
James was shocked.
“I couldn’t believe that anyone would steal something they could have had anyway,” she said. “If they would have asked, not only would we have given it to them, we probably would have prepared it too.”
The Thursday Meals Ministry, coordinated by James, began four years ago. Every Thursday, James and a group of dedicated volunteers come together to prepare and deliver hot meals to shut-ins and hungry people throughout Pickens County.
“For many of these folks, the Thursday nights we deliver hot meals is the only time they have visitors — someone to talk with — to know someone cares about them,” said James.
In the four years that Midway Baptist has been ministering to Pickens County through its Thursday Meals program, the freezers outside the fellowship hall have never been locked.
Most of the food Midway uses for its ministry comes to them by way of donation. The freezers have always been left unlocked so that people could make donations at their convenience.
“Anyone who knows our church or knows about our ministry should know that we would gladly help anyone in need,” said James.
James also said that Midway has always dreamed of operating a larger, more full-scale food pantry to meet the needs of the Pickens community.
It looks as though when one door closes, another does indeed open.
“And it isn’t any little door,” said James. “It is a great big garage-sized door.”
Since news of the food theft has made its way into the media, James and the dedicated volunteers at Midway Baptist have received an overabundance of donations.
Bi-Lo and BMW charities donated 65 turkeys and $1,000 in Bi-Lo gift cards; Ingles and Hormel also gave a $1,000 donation, as did a men’s ministry out of Spartanburg. Mysterious Grandpas, another charitable organization, donated three freezers to the ministry, which are at present packed with food.
“They say everything is bigger in Texas, but I think the hearts of people in the Carolinas are bigger than anything they’ve got in Texas,” James said.
“I knew the hearts of the people in Pickens County were big, but I really had no idea how big until all of this happened. We’ve had people in and out of here, non-stop, leaving donations of food.”
While discovering how big the hearts of Pickens County residents are, James has also realized how great the need is in Pickens as well.
“God has blessed us,” she said. “Not only do we have huge donations of food to give away to those in need, but we also have people in need calling for food.”
James received a call from a mother who has four children. With her children out of school for the holiday vacation, they are not receiving breakfast and lunch, and she does not have enough food to feed them while they are at home.
“It was indescribable to see the look on that child’s face when they got the boxes of food,” James said. “These kids were more tickled to see what was in those boxes than what Santa might bring them.”
Had someone not stolen all the food out of those freezers, Midway Baptist would not have the enormous surplus of food to give to families, like this, in desperate need.
Sadly, there are more families like the one James described here in Pickens County.
People are struggling and hurting more than ever before, as evidenced by the desperation that drove someone to steal food from a church that would have generously given the food away.
Tracy James and the people of Midway Baptist church feel truly blessed by this unsuspected Christmas miracle. Anyone interested in making donations or anyone in need of food donations can contact James at (864) 878-1550.
“Our church phone has been flooded with calls,” said James. “Anyone who calls should leave a message and we will get back to them as soon as we possibly can. We’ve got volunteers making sure every phone call is returned.”

N.C. woman killed; Pickens man faces felony DUI charge

COUNTY — A Pickens man is behind bars, charged with felony driving under the influence with death and hit and run with death, after a North Carolina woman was hit and killed on Saturday near S.C. 11.
Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley reported that Anna Marie Lail, 32, of North Carolina, was hit while walking down a long dirt driveway with the driver of the vehicle that hit her leaving the scene of the accident.
Kelley said that Lail was transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol investigated the incident and made the arrest, charging Samuel James Saxon of 206 Harris Road in Pickens on Monday.
An $80,000 dollar surety bond was set for Saxon, and according to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, as of press time Saxon was still in jail and had not met bond.

Simpsonville police arrest Easley man after bank robbery

SIMPSONVILLE — A bank robbery in Simpsonville last Thursday has led to the arrest of an Easley man, according to authorities.
Simpsonville police say the Main Street Branch of the SunTrust Bank was robbed on Thursday at 11:22 a.m. when a man entered and passed a note to a teller demanding money.
Warrants say witnesses saw the man leave the bank and walk to a red truck about two blocks away and drive away.
Officers say they spotted a truck that matched the description about 15 minutes later and stopped the vehicle, arresting Curtis William Arms, 25, of 108 South Rhome Court in Easley, on charges not connected to the bank robbery.
In an investigation by both the Simpsonville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the arrest led to warrants being obtained for Arms charging him with bank robbery.
Officers say they did not find the stolen money in the vehicle, but after questioning Arms, police found the $5,000 reported stolen from SunTrust.
As of press time, police say that Arms is being held in the Greenville County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond.

CU student killed in single-car wreck

COUNTY — A 22-year-old Pennsylvania woman, who was a Clemson student set to graduate in May, was killed in a single-car accident while traveling on U.S. 123 on Thursday.
Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley reported that at about 10:10 p.m. Jasmine Danielle Dykes was heading toward Clemson near the Ruhamah road (Road 27) exit when the car she was driving, a 2005 Toyota, left the right side of the interstate and hit a tree.
Dykes was trapped in the car wreckage and was freed by emergency workers.
Kelley said that the victim was pronounced dead at the scene and died of blunt force trauma to the head and the chest.
She was wearing a seat belt, according to Kelley.
The accident is being investigated by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Hot drinks carry on holiday traditions

If you’re having a family get-together or a party for friends, almost everyone will enjoy at least one of these hot drink recipes.
The hot crock pot cocoa is one of those effortless recipes that looks work intensive, but isn’t, and brings real elegance to a traditional treat.
Having hot drinks on hand, keeping warm in a crock pot keeps out cold weather chills and also makes the entire house smell like the holidays.
I hope you all enjoy these and wish you a wonderful Christmas.

Hot Crock Pot Cocoa
2 cups whipping cream
6 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 (12 ounce) package white chocolate chips
Garnish:
Whipped cream
Candy canes

Stir together the whipping cream, milk, vanilla, and white chocolate chips in a slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally, until mixture is hot and chocolate chips are melted. Stir again before serving. Garnish with whipped cream and candy canes, as desired.

Hot Mulled Cider
1/2 gallon of fresh, unfiltered apple cider
1 orange
15 cloves
4 3-inch sticks of cinnamon
15 allspice berries
1 teaspoon of nutmeg
7 pods of cardamon
1/4 cup brown sugar

Pour apple cider into a 3-quart saucepan, cover, turn the heat on medium-high. While cider is heating up, take a vegetable peeler and peel away a couple thick strips of peel from the orange.
Press about half of the cloves into the peeled part of the orange. (You can also just quarter the orange and add the slices and cloves separately. Place orange, orange peel strips, the remaining cloves, and the rest of the ingredients into the sauce pan with the cider.
Keep covered and heat the mulled cider mixture to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes on low heat.
Strain to remove orange, cloves, and other spices.. Serve hot. Add a cinnamon stick to each cup if desired.

Wassail
1 can (1 qt 14 oz size) pineapple juice
1 quart orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
5 tea bags
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks

Combine fruit juices. Steep tea in 2 1/2 qts boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Remove tea bags. In sauce pan combine remaining ingredients with 1 qt cold water – bring to a boil and boil 3 minutes. Strain. Just before serving combine juices, tea and spiced water and bring to a boil.

Old-fashioned Hot Buttered Rum
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
2 cups vanilla ice cream
Rum
Water
Nutmeg

Combine sugar, brown sugar and butter in a 2-quart saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted (6-8 min).
Combine cooked mixture with ice-cream in a large mixing bowl, and beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often until smooth (1-2 min). Store refrigerated up to 2 weeks or frozen up to one month.
For each serving, fill one-quarter of a mug with mixture, add one ounce rum and three-quarters of a cup of boiling water. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Rejoice in the reason for the season

The word “Christmas” can literally be interpreted as Christ’s Mass and originates from the Middle English ‘Christemasse’ and Old English ‘Cristes mæsse,’ a phrase that was first recorded in 1038.
A ‘Mass’ is a religious celebration, and the title ‘Christ’ refers to an ‘anointed one’ or one set apart for a special purpose ordained by God.
Jesus, the Christ, is the central figure and foundation upon which Christianity rests. According to Biblical tradition, Christmas is the day that Christ was born. His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, were arranged to be married, when an angel of the Lord appeared and announced that Mary, who was still a virgin, would give birth to the Son of God — a holy child who was God, coming to earth to walk with man, so that human beings would have the opportunity to receive eternal life through faith in Christ.
In the New Testament of the Bible, the book of Luke records how Mary and Joseph left their home in Nazareth to travel to Joseph’s ancestral home in Bethlehem to be counted in the census ordered by the Roman Emperor Augustus. When they arrived in Bethlehem, there was no room to be found in any of the inns, so Mary and Joseph set up some make-shift lodgings in an animal-filled stable.
It was on Christmas Day that Mary gave birth to a baby, who was called Jesus, and He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, the home of the house of King David from which Joseph was descended, fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. This is confirmed to Mary by a visit from angels, shepherds, and the three Wise-men who brought gifts to the Christ child.
For people of Christian faiths and denominations, the birth of Jesus is the true reason we celebrate Christmas. In the eyes of believers, the Immaculate Conception and virgin birth are not merely a “story” offering an explanation for why Christmas is a significant holiday. These events are the epitome of hope, unconditional love and the salvation of mankind.