PICKENS — Pickens County officers are on the lookout for a pair of suspects they believe carjacked a vehicle near Furman University and later rammed the vehicle through the door of a pawn shop on S.C. 8 between Pickens and Easley.
According to Pickens County deputies, officers were dispatched to Pace’s Pawn on Friday at 9:25 p.m. after a car backed through the front doors of the business in an apparent attempted burglary.
The store owner, who was inside the closed business at the time, said he saw a dark-colored small vehicle back up to the doors, rev its engine and smashed through the glass doors, collapsing the metal door frame, according to the police report. The owner then said a subject wearing a black hoodie or mask got out of the car’s passenger side and enter the store.
The shop’s owner said he then fired approximately five shots from a .44 special handgun toward the intruder and the vehicle, which he believed he hit with some of the rounds. The suspect then re-entered the vehicle, which left the scene heading towards Easley.
An eyewitness who was driving on S.C. 8 towards Easley said he turned his vehicle around after he saw the car back into the storefront, believing the driver was “up to no good.” As the car fled, the witness followed, giving the license plate number to police dispatchers. According to the report, the witness continued on S.C. 8 after the vehicle turned into the Rutledge St. subdivision.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers immediately continued toward Easley, attempting to find the vehicle. Officers searched the Rutledge St. subdivision and alerted surrounding agencies to be on the lookout for the car, but had no success.
Officers then returned to scene to take statements from the shop owner and witnesses.
When the tag number was reported, deputies were informed that the vehicle was believed to be one that was carjacked earlier in the evening from a woman in Greenville County.
According to officials, the car was stolen from the woman in her driveway on Watkins Bridge Road near Furman University by two men at gunpoint around 7:35 p.m.
Authorities say the woman’s two children were in the vehicle when the carjacking occurred, but were released and were unhurt.
The car stolen was a 2007 Toyota Camry, grey in color with South Carolina license plate CXF 527.
While still on scene at the pawn shop, radio traffic indicated that the vehicle was possibly involved in an attempted carjacking at the Austin Woods Apartment Complex in Easley, according to the police report.
The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the Camry, which is likely to have significant rear-end damage. If you have any information, please contact the the PCSO at 898-5500.

COUNTY — Following the momentous snow storm that began early Sunday, Jan. 9, schools throughout the Pickens County district remained closed all week last week.
The 7-9 inch snow accumulation created hazardous icy conditions on roadways, making it unsafe to operate school buses, and the S.C. Department of Transportation urged drivers to stay off the roads unless there was an emergency situation.
In celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, school remained closed this Monday as well.
Many parents throughout Pickens County were surely elated to be sending their children back to school yesterday; however, many students and parents are left wondering how the inclement weather hiatus from school is going to be made up.
According to Julie Thompson, Director of Communication Services for the School District of Pickens County (SDPC), three of the days missed because of inclement weather will be made up as scheduled on Friday, March 18, Monday, April 25, and Friday, June 3. These will be regular school days for all Pickens County students.
The district has yet to make a decision on making up the remaining days. Since the snowstorm affected so many school districts, the state General Assembly may consider forgiving some of the missed days, Thompson said.
SDPC superintendent Dr. Henry Hunt will also discuss alternatives with the Pickens County Delegation. If the days are not forgiven, the district will consider various options for making up the missed days.
Thompson said the district may consider using some of its spring break days to make up for days lost as a result of the unfavorable weather conditions.
As last week was a scheduled exam week, school district officials were forced to develop a contingency plan for exams. That plan was announced to students and posted on school websites.
Exams are proceeding as scheduled this week Tuesday through Thursday. 
Further adjustments to the 2010-2011 SDPC School Calendar are as follows:
Second nine weeks will end on Thursday, January 20.
Second semester will begin Friday, January 21.
High schools will transition to the new semester with A-day on Friday, January 21.
Report cards will be issued on Thursday, January 27.
No further adjustments will be made to the remaining 2010-2011 dates until the SDPC has more information about making up inclement weather days.

PICKENS — The Pickens County Legislative Delegation’s annual public meeting has been rescheduled due to last week’s inclement weather.
The meeting is scheduled to be held in the auditorium at the Pickens County Administration Building at 222 McDaniel Avenue in Pickens on Monday, January 31, at 5:30 p.m.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend the meeting.
Citizens will have an opportunity to ask questions of and make comments to members of the Pickens County Legislative Delegation.
The Legislative Delegation consists of Senators Thomas C. Alexander and Larry A. Martin, and Representatives Eric Bikas, Davey Hiott, Phillip Owens, and B. R. Skelton. The members of the Delegation will comment on various issues that may be introduced in the upcoming session of the General Assembly, which convened on Tuesday, January 11. For further information, please contact the Delegation Office at 850-7070.

Community members gathered on the steps of the Pickens County Courthouse on Monday to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Above, former members of the armed forces lead the National Anthem. Below, the Rev. James Williams gives the message at the event, and at right, two young ladies unite in celebration of Dr. King. Griffin Bbenezer Baptist and Pickens Presbyterian Church hosted the event.

EASLEY — An Easley man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after being indicted on murder and first-degree arson charges in his wife’s death in July 2010.
According to a release from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Don Kinsela, 49, was indicted by a Pickens County grand jury for murder and first-degree arson in the July 3, 2010, death of his wife Cheryl.
According to the indictments, authorities believe Kinsela “unlawfully and with malice and aforethought” killed his wife by setting a storage building on fire while she was inside. The building was located at the Kinsela home at 131 Beverly Drive in Easley.
As the Courier reported last year, firefighters arrived at the couple’s home at around 1:30 p.m. July 3, where they were able to free Cheryl Kinsela from an outbuilding that had caught fire behind the home. She was pronounced dead at Baptist Easley Hospital, according to Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley.
Don Kinsela was also transported to the hospital following the fire, but was later discharged.
Officials said the fire was contained in about 15 minutes, and no other structures were threatened.
Firefighters believed at the time that the fire was caused by the malfunction of a piece of equipment in the structure.
The incident remained under investigation, however, with SLED investigating at the request of the Easley Fire Department.
SLED, the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, the Easley Police Department, the Easley Fire Department, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) announced Kinsela’s arrest Tuesday afternoon.
Kinsela was arrested without incident by SLED, the Easley Police Department and BATFE.
The case will be prosecuted by the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

SIX MILE — On Monday, January 10, at 5:57 p.m., the Six Mile Fire Department received a phone call about a fire in progress at the home of Junior Shove, located on Willow Spring Road.
Ronnie Duncan, chief of the entirely volunteer department, dispatched trucks one minute later. By 6:19 p.m., Six Mile F.D. crews, aided by the Keowee Springs Fire Department arrived on the scene.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
“With all the snow and ice on the roads, it took a little longer than it normally would (to get to the scene),” Duncan said. “But I am really proud of the job we did, especially considering the weather conditions.”
Making it all the more difficult to get the trucks up to Shove’s home was an impervious gravel drive, impassible because of the ice, snow and mud that even chains could not over-come.
“People need to make sure that the driveways to their homes are clear during and after a major storm,” Duncan said. “EMS, fire trucks and other emergency response units can’t do anything to help when they can’t get to where help is needed.”
During winter storms, grocery stores are buzzing with people stocking up on milk and bread in preparation for being stuck at home; however, many people might not consider how invaluable it could be to have in place a plan that enables people — like emergency response workers — to be able to access them in their homes.
Fire department access to his home had not been a concern for Shove until that Monday evening.
Not unlike any other winter evening, Shove added a few logs to the fire already burning in his fire place before heading in to take a shower. He noticed some popping sounds during his shower, but it was not until he had dressed and walked out toward the living room that he realized his home was on fire.
Duncan said Shove is lucky to have made it out alive, and based on Shove’s account of the events, both men are correct. Within seconds of his escape from the burning house, Shove said he heard a whooshing sound and turned around to see the entire roof collapse onto his home.
“I stood there in my pajamas and socks and watched my house burn,” said Shove. “There was nothing I could do.”
The Six Mile Fire Department had three trucks on the scene — all of which contained water and were used to shuttle water back and forth as approximately 23 volunteers worked to extinguish the fire. Because trucks were unable to get up to the house, hoses were stretched some 75-100 feet from the main road to the burning structure. According to reports, firefighters were on the scene until 10:09 p.m. battling the blaze.
“It was terrifying to watch,” said Shove, who, along with his parents, helped extinguish the fire by shoveling heaps of snow onto it until fire department volunteers arrived.
Perhaps the worst irony of this tragedy is that Shove had been working diligently for the last three years to remodel and renovate his home so that he could qualify for homeowners insurance. At the time of the fire, he was only days away from meeting the requirements. Shove had flashing to install on the roof, but he was waiting for better weather to begin the last project.
Shove is no stranger to adversity in life. Currently staying in his parents’ home, which is adjacent to where his home once stood, Shove has been helping care for his father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. In 2008, doctors discovered a tumor growing on Shove’s heart that has to be surgically excised. He has steadily worked part time for Ryan and Tommy Norris at Toyota of Easley, sending money to a sister in Germany that was recently diagnosed with cancer.
Shove literally escaped from the fire with only the clothes on his back. He lost everything he owned in the fire. The greatest loss, he said, are childhood pictures of his family — his brothers and sisters.
“I just stood there and watched it burn. There was no hope,” said Shove.
While he may have momentarily been without hope, thankfully Shove has not been without help. The American Red Cross was able to give Shove $265 to purchase food and other necessities. In addition, Ryan and Tommy Norris from Toyota of Easley called Shove into the dealership and gave him some much-needed clothing.
“This has all been very difficult for me,” said Shove. “I am usually the one who helps other people.”
Shove worked as a private contractor for the U.S. Military for approximately 14 years and is currently a member of a local Veterans’ Club. He volunteers and participates in all sorts of Veteran related parades and activities — including the upcoming Pickens Azalea Festival.
Pat Granger, owner of The Village Inn in Pickens, describes Shove as “a sweet, nice, open-hearted person. He always does things for other people. I can’t tell you how many times he has brought toys up here so that some of our struggling moms would have Christmas for their children.”
As a way of giving back for all that Shove does for the Pickens County community, Granger will be hosting a benefit at The Village Inn in Shove’s honor. She says one of her greatest joys in life is doing things for other people, and it is Granger’s hope that this benefit will help Shove. All of the benefit details have yet to be determined, but Granger estimates it will take place around February 18.
In the meantime, Shove has started cleaning up the burned rubble of his home so that he can rebuild and start over.
“I’ve been driving around trying to find a medium-sized camper I can live in temporarily while I am cleaning up,” said Shove. He is still trying to process all of the events of the last week and said that he is thankful for all the people who have offered him help.
An account has been set up at People’s Bank in Pickens for donations to Shove. The name on the account is David Shove, Jr. Donations can be mailed to the bank at P.O. Box 406, Pickens, SC 29671, attn: Glenda E. Finley.

CENTRAL — A suspicious ticking package caused a scare at the Central Post Office last Thursday.
According to reports from the Central Police Department, officers were dispatched around 8:55 a.m. to the post office, located at 1205 West Main Street, about a suspicious package.
Once on the scene, officers were told the package was outside in the rear of the post office. Officers were told by postal employees that the package was emitting an audible ticking sound and seemed to weigh about one pound, wrapped in normal post office packaging, according to the report.
Following standard procedures to ensure the personal safety and proper investigation of the package, the office immediately contacted Central Police Chief Kerry Avery. The entire area around the post office was secured and the Central Fire Department was called to assist. The Anderson County Bomb squad was also called to assist.
After a complete investigation, the package was deemed no threat. According to officials, the package contained a clock.
A follow-up investigation is planned by the United States Postal Inspector concerning the package recipients.

COUNTY — Music of the Southern Appalachian Mountains and stories of Upcountry South Carolina will be featured in a series of entertaining ‘down home’ sessions to help support the Young Appalachian Musician program. On Saturday, January 29, Betty and Ed McDaniel will welcome the community to their 140-year-old Pickens County farmhouse for an afternoon and evening of traditional music, storytelling, home baked goodies and visiting with friends around the fireplace.
Musical roots run deep here. Papa Roy Lewis, the late patriarch of the ever popular Lewis Family, hails from these hills. Long considered the “icon of Bluegrass Gospel Music,” The Lewis Family began their celebrated career in gospel music in the early 1950s.
Their weekly Sunday afternoon show appeared on WJBF-TV in Augusta, Ga., for 38 years. They were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2005) and the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Hall of Honor in Nashville (2006). The group retired in 2009 after performing together for more than a half century throughout the United States and Canada.
Papa Roy Lewis was only five years old when the family moved from Pickens to Lincolnton, Ga., in 1910. Ben McDaniel, Ed McDaniel’s granddaddy, married Rosa Lee Lewis, a cousin of Papa Roy.
“The homestead has been in the Lewis family since the early 1800s when Jacob Lewis settled here,” said McDaniel, husband of Betty McDaniel, YAM Executive Director.
“My brother and I bought the place in the ‘60s and renovated the house in 1978,” McDaniel said. “Prior to World War II the house served as a post office for the community and square dances were once held here.”
Some of the very best musicians in the Upcountry are also YAM instructors. Traditional music will be performed by these and others including SC Heritage Award Winner, Steve McGaha, Russ and Billie Jordan, and members of the performing YAM band, Sweet Potato Pie Kids. Those spinning yarns about mountain spirits, mountain creatures and other tales about life in the Southern Appalachian Mountains include renowned author Dot Jackson, award-winning outdoor writer and naturalist Dennis Chastain, and Nick Hallman, an extraordinary musician whose hilarious stories are brought to life through music.
Sessions will include 35 minutes of storytelling, 35 minutes of music, and of course, home-baked goodies. The 90-minute sessions are scheduled for Saturday, January 29 at 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.
The McDaniel place is located at 792 Holly Springs School Road in Pickens.
To reserve a place in one of these sessions contact Ed or Betty McDaniel at 864.878-4257, or purchase a ticket from a YAM member school.
Donations of $10 or more are encouraged and all contributions will be used to support the Young Appalachian Musician program. For further information e-mail POSAM_Info@yahoo.com, or visit and join our YAM (Young Appalachian Musicians) page on Facebook.

CLEMSON — Clemson University’s Conference Center and Inn complex has a $14 million average annual impact on the local economy and maintains more than 345 jobs through operations and patron spending in South Carolina, according to a study.
The study, by the Regional Dynamics and Economic Modeling Laboratory at the Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs, looked at the economic impact the complex had on Pickens, Oconee, Anderson and Greenville counties each year from 2006 to 2010. It studied the impact of the operations of the Madren Center, Walker Golf Course and Martin Inn, as well as the impact of dollars spent by visitors to the complex.
The $14 million includes the direct, indirect and induced impacts of the Conference Center and Inn. Direct impact includes the jobs and incomes of Conference Center and Inn employees and purchases of goods and services from local suppliers. Indirect impact counts the jobs and incomes created by those suppliers. Induced impact is the increased economic activity in the local economy through consumer spending resulting from income generated by the Conference Center and Inn’s economic activity.
“Ripples in a pond is a good illustration to describe indirect and induced effects,” said Rob Carey, interim director of the Regional Dynamics and Economic Modeling Laboratory at the Strom Thurmond Institute. “Every time someone spends money at a business, then that business is able to turn around and spend money somewhere else, and so on.”