PICKENS — A Pickens man faces charges of felony DUI following an accident on Saturday that claimed the life of a passenger in the vehicle he was driving.
Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley said that Cynthia Marie Darty Harrington, 42, of 119 Kami Road in Pickens, was killed after being thrown from the bed of a Ford Ranger on Gravely Road in Pickens at about 8:38 p.m. Saturday night.

EASLEY — A Greenville man has been charged and arrested in connection with sexual crimes against a 12-year-old Easley girl.

Heavy rain Saturday morning was not enough to disrupt one of Pickens County’s largest festivals. The annual Azalea Festival went on after a slight morning delay as thousands swamped Pickens to enjoy food, music, games and all the town had to offer.

Fred’s Discount Store of Liberty recently donated Easter baskets to children in Liberty for the sixth year. Donna Waters, manager at Fred’s, organizes the donations each year. Fred’s staff and loyal customers come through each year and make sure there are enough baskets for each school. Mayor Brian Deese and Barry Chappell distribute the baskets to the schools. “The city of Liberty would like to thank Donna Waters and Fred’s for their generous donations,” Deese said. “They are very community-minded and help with many other charities as well.”

COUNTY — Prevent Child Abuse Pickens County (PCAPC) will hold a make-up rain date for the 15th annual Ride for the Child on Saturday, April 30. 

EASLEY — If traffic and hundreds of parked cars are any indication, the long awaited anticipation of opening day at Easley’s new Walmart was as exciting as Pickens County residents expected.

Easley mayor Larry Bagwell and Easley Chamber of Commerce president Kent Dykes were among those present at the April 13 grand opening celebration, which began at 7:30 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Our city has been eagerly awaiting the opening of our ‘new look’ Walmart here in Easley, especially with the addition of 200 new jobs and the services it will provide,” Bagwell said.

COUNTY — The fourth annual Papa John Foster Memorial Music Festival will be held Saturday, May 7 at Hagood Mill near Pickens. The festival is a benefit for the Young Appalachian Musicians (YAM) program, which teaches traditional Southern Appalachian music to students in the third through eighth grades.
The festival, a fun-filled family event that will feature a variety of food concessions, will begin at 10:30 a.m. and last until 7 p.m. at Hagood Mill north of Pickens on US 178

CENTRAL — Janelle Beamer, director of communications at Southern Wesleyan University, recently graduated from Leadership South Carolina.

The leadership program educates 50 class members each year from throughout South Carolina. Class sessions include presentations, panels, experiential learning and a great deal of interaction between class members and presenters.