EASLEY — Oyster season is back and St. Michael’s Episcopal Church will host its annual Oyster Roast at the church on Saturday, March 5, 3:00-6:00 p.m. Enjoy all the oysters, Brunswick stew, and side dishes that you can eat at this fundraiser to benefit the church and its outreach programs, including numerous Pickens County charities. Beverages are included and the cost is $25 for adults, $10 for children 6-12, and children 5 and under are free.

EASLEY — A 10-year-old fourth grader at Crosswell Elementary lost his life early Sunday morning following a car accident on U.S. 178 in Anderson County that left his father in intensive care.
Keelan Preston Cruz Odom was pronounced dead at Greenville Memorial Hospital, while his father, 32-year-old Joey Kelley, was transported to AnMed Health in Anderson and placed in ICU.

According to S.C. Highway Patrol officers, Kelley’s Jeep veered off the road, before he overcorrected and crossed into the path of an oncoming SUV. After the collision, the Jeep careened down an embankment and both of the vehicles occupants were ejected.

Neither Odom nor Kelley were wearing seatbelts, according to troopers.

The driver of the SUV was also taken to AnMed, where he was treated and released.
No charges have been filed in the accident, but highway patrol officers are investigating whether alcohol played a role in the wreck.

“Along with everyone in our district, I am greatly saddened over the tragic death of a Crosswell Elementary student over the weekend,” School District of Pickens County Superintendent Henry Hunt said in a release Monday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Keelan’s family and friends.  We are also keeping the many Crosswell students and staff in our prayers.”

Counselors from other local elementary schools were at Crosswell on Monday to help students and staff deal with the grief and loss.

“The Crosswell community is deeply saddened by the loss of Keelan,” said Traci T. Boyles, Keelan’s principal at Crosswell. “He was a beautiful student inside and out and he will truly be missed by his classmates and teachers.”

His fourth-grade teacher, Nicki Cothran, described Keelan as a hardworking student who always gave his best effort.

“He was well-liked by his classmates and always had a smile for everyone,” Cothran said.
The memorial service for Keelan will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Oak Hill United Methodist Church. His family will receive friends at the church following the memorial service.

Besides his father, Keelan is survived by his mother, Sabrina Michelle Fuller, two brothers, James Nicholas Jordan, Jr. and Chase Odom, and grandparents Clay and Pat Cantrell.

LIBERTY — Law enforcement officials and School District of Pickens County administrators are still keeping quiet about the ongoing investigation into financial records at Liberty High School.
According to a statement released by the SDPC last Thursday, the investigation has been turned over to the Liberty Police Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). 
The district is cooperating with the agencies in the investigation, said SDPC communications director Julie Thompson.
Neither the Liberty Police Department nor SLED has issued any statement regarding the investigation.
“We really cannot release any information at this time,” said Liberty Police Chief Leland Miller. “There are a whole lot of financial records we still have to sift through to determine what is actually going on.”
Liberty High School principal Randy Gilstrap and secretary/bookkeeper Buea DeNard remain on paid administrative leave while the investigation of LHS financial records continues.

CLEMSON — Clemson University police charged a Westminster man in connection with the robbery of the pharmacy at Redfern Health Center.
Thomas Carl Wyatt, 24, of 183 Creekwood Lane, was charged with robbery. Wyatt, who was accompanied by his lawyer, surrendered at the Clemson University Police Department last Wednesday.
Wyatt is a former Clemson student who is not currently enrolled.
The robbery was reported Feb. 14 after a man handed a note to pharmacists demanding drugs. He left with some pills.
Police said Wyatt was identified as a suspect after they released a composite sketch of the robber Friday.
Wyatt was released on a $15,000 personal recognizance bond.

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church will hold its annual oyster roast this Saturday from 3-6 p.m. at the church, located on Powdersville Road in Easley. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 6-12. For more information, check out the full story on page 2B.

PICKENS — Yes, gold has been found not only in Pickens County but within the city limits of Pickens itself. At the current price of nearly $1,300 per ounce, just finding a little of the precious glitter would please most people.

COUNTY — A penny saved is a penny earned, and facing budget shortfalls, it appears as though board members at the SDPC are doing everything they can to stretch the insufficient funds available for the 2011-2012 FY.

PICKENS — Hagood Mill was awarded the prestigious Bundy Award by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism during the 46th annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism and Travel on Tuesday, February 22.

COUNTY — Ten SDPC students will be among a select group of South Carolina’s finest young authors at the 2011 Young Writers’ Conference.

PICKENS —   In an effort to kick off the “Get Fit Pickens County” initiative, Cannon Hospital has teamed up to offer a diabetes health fair on Thursday, March 3, from 7:30-11:30 a.m. at Pickens First Baptist Church.