Monthly Archives: May 2011
Tragedy in the Jocassee Gorges
The Jocassee Gorges include a multitude of waterfalls and cascades, because the gorges are on the Blue Ridge Escarpment, where elevation changes drastically and the land falls 2,000 feet in just four miles. The Toxaway, Horsepasture, Thompson, and Whitewater rivers have cut scenic valleys. Settlement down in these valleys near the North and South Carolina state line never really was heavy. It is steep and rough, home to many black bears, wild turkeys, all three species of trout, whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, bobcats and many other types of wildlife. Prior to damming of the Savannah River Basin, eels would migrate all the way up to the Jocassee Gorges and were frequently seined or caught on hooks and eaten as table fare by the mountain people.
Bring on the beans
Green beans can be delicious, and it’s hard to find anyone that doesn’t enjoy them cooked like Grandma used to. However, there is nothing wrong with stepping out of that comfort zone and trying other ways.
Don’t shy away from other beans. And if you don’t like beans, or think you don’t, it may mean you haven’t found the right bean cooked the right way. There’s a bean out there with your name on it.
Feel free to tweak these recipes any way you like. If you can improve upon them please e-mail your version and I’ll let readers know. Thanks for the feedback.
Obituaries for the week of May 18
Preston T. Rackley
Pickens – Preston Thomas Rackley, 60, of 289 Juniper Lane, died Monday May 9, 2011 at his home.
Preston was born in Pickens County, a son of the late Homer and Lucille Hawkins Rackley. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Viet Nam War and was formerly an electrician while living in Savannah, Ga.
Surviving is his brother Marvin E. Rackley and his wife Lisa of Pelzer and his sister Nancy Crymes of Cowpens.
Graveside services were conducted 11 a.m. Friday at the M. J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery in Anderson.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com.
Classified Ads for the week of May 18
Vacation/Travel
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Deputies: 3 arrested after shootout with homeowner
LIBERTY — Three Central men face kidnapping and weapons charges after police say they held a Liberty man at gunpoint before trading shots with him.
According to a report from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, a Liberty man told them he heard a vehicle with a loud muffler drive slowly by his home on Teri Drive, then turn around and come back to stop in front of his house at about 2 a.m. last Friday morning.
Pickens police chief placed on leave
PICKENS — According to city of Pickens officials, police chief Tommy Ellenburg has been suspended without pay for making “racially insensitive and derogatory remarks.”
“Such conduct is not acceptable to the city and will not be tolerated,” read a release from Pickens officials Thursday afternoon.
Ellenburg was given a “final warning” and placed on an unpaid 15-day suspension.
“Chief Ellenburg understands the seriousness of his actions and has apologized,” the release said.
Assistant Police Chief Rodney Gregory will be in charge of the department during Ellenburg’s absence.
2 charged in string of business burglaries
COUNTY — Two have been arrested in a string of business burglaries last Wednesday night in Pickens, Liberty, Norris and Pendleton.
Investigators with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office have charged Jerry “Cotton” Raymond Gillespie, of 281 Dublin Lane in Pickens, with seven counts of second-degree burglary, nine counts of simple larceny and one count of malicious damage to property.
Pickin’ in Papa John’s memory
Bluegrass music echoed throughout the grounds of the historic Hagood Mill all day on Saturday as the fourth annual Papa John Foster Memorial Music Festival drew hundreds to the site, located off U.S. 178 north of Pickens. The festival is a benefit for the Young Appalachian Musicians (YAM) program, which teaches traditional southern Appalachian music to Pickens County students in the third through eighth grade. Above, a YAM student plays the fiddle while a group of fellow young musicians pluck their instruments in the background.
Easley considers options for ward reorganization
EASLEY — Recent 2010 Census data shows an increase in the population of Pickens County by nearly 10,000, from 110,757 in 2000 to 119,224 current residents.
In Easley, the population has grown from 17,754 in 2000 to 19,993 today. This 12.61 percent growth in population has given Easley city officials cause to consider redistricting voting wards.
County YMCA aiding tornado-ravaged Alabama counterparts
COUNTY — After the recent deadly storms that ravaged the Southeast, the Pickens County YMCA is working to help a sister YMCA in need.
