COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County’s board of trustees convened before an estimated audience of 400-500 principals, assistant principals, guidance counselors and teachers at Monday night’s meeting to discuss the district’s fiscal year 2011-2012 budget.

The hilarious Southern comedy ‘The Hallelujah Girls’ will end its run at the Foothills Playhouse this weekend, with shows Friday and Saturday evening at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. Adult tickets are $13, seniors are $11 and student and chilren tickets are $6 and can be reserved by calling (864) 855-1817 or visiting www.easleyfoothillsplayhouse.com. For more on the play, check out a review by Daniel Graybeal on Page 8A of this week’s Courier.

COUNTY — Some citizen concerns about the School District of Pickens County’s 2011-2012 budget focus on more than just finances and figures.

Sheila Crawford, president of the Pickens County chapter of the NAACP, believes that the elimination of Simpson Academy as the district’s center for alternative educational programs would not only be harmful to students, but would obliterate an invaluable piece of Pickens County History.

John T. Simpson Academy was the first and only accredited African American school in Pickens County.

SIX MILE — A Pickens man lost his life after being involved in a motorcycle accident last Thursday in Six Mile.

COUNTY — A man facing abuse charges after police say a 5-year-old child was forced to burn himself could be deported, according to Pickens County assistant sheriff Tim Morgan.

An investigation by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency has been initiated to determine if Ernesto Gonzalez Sanchez, 31, is in the United States illegally, Morgan said.

PICKENS — Pickens County Council, Alliance Pickens and area chambers of commerce will hold a joint small business symposium from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, at the Tri-County Technical College Easley Campus.

Willis with a check for $101,286, returning to Pickens County 911 fees collected on telephone bills. Rep. Davey Hiott joined Sen. Martin in the presentation.

NORRIS — Local attorney Ken Roper of the Roper Law Firm in Liberty recently announced that he is stepping down from his position as Municipal Judge for the town of Norris, a position he has held since January of 2008.

Recently on a Tuesday night at the Hagood Center, 22 musicians and vocalist entertained the large number of seniors and guest with 2 hours of gospel and country music. The center is open on Tuesday nights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., meals are served on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., and snacks are served other times. Everyone is welcome to come and join the band in an open jam session, which is open to all musicians and vocalist. Special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays are celebrated each year. A small donation of $2 is accepted at the door. The Senior Center is located at the former Hagood Elementary School in the Pickens Mill Village at 129 School House Street, with the most recent renovation of new windows throughout the school, the building has taken on a new look. Phase 3 will begin soon in restoring classrooms 1-5 and they are looking for volunteers to help with demolition and clean-up. Please Call the senior center at 864-878-6000 and leave a message if you can help. The date will be announced later.

CENTRAL — Daniel High School’s absolute report card rating, announced earlier this month by the South Carolina Department of Education, was reported as lower than it should have been, state officials said.
State DOE officials announced last Thursday that the school was one of 15 across the state that will see their scores increase due to a “rounding error.”

Daniel’s Absolute rating on the 2010 report card has been upgraded from Good to Excellent, officials said.
DOE officials said the school’s rating of 3.399, along with 14 others around the state, should have been rounded up to 3.40, the minimum score to obtain an Excellent mark.