PICKENS — An overflow crowd of around 200 people spilled out of Pickens City Hall last Thursday evening, where council chambers were standing room only, to wait for the results of a special called meeting between Pickens city council members and Shelia Crawford, president of the Pickens County Chapter of the NAACP.
“We are here in search of the whole truth, because the community deserves the whole truth,” said Crawford.
The truth residents of the Pickens County community were looking to uncover centered on former chief of police Tommy Ellenburg and his use of the N-word in the presence of multiple Pickens police officers and in relationship to the two African-American elected councilmen who serve as members of the city of Pickens’ governing body.

Rocky Nimmons/Courier

Members of American Legion Post 11 raise the American and South Carolina Flags to half-mast at a Monday morning Sunrise Cemetery Event in honor of Memorial Day. Dozens of people were on hand at the event, which featured guest speaker Lt. Col. Ron Webber.

PICKENS — With the opening of his company’s third Save-A-Lot food store in the Upstate Wednesday, Dwayne Goodwin is fulfilling a lifetime dream of owning his own community grocery stores.

PICKENS — The city of Pickens’ Cruise’n and Music on Main will kick off this Saturday night with custom cars and live music by the Side Men.
The event, which runs every Saturday night in June, will run from 7-10 p.m. on Main Street in Pickens.
The event will feature music, dancing, children’s inflatables, food vendors and live music each week.
Saturday, June 11, will feature Jeeps and the Katlin Owen Band. June 18’s event will feature motorcycles and music by the Marvin King Band. Saturday, June 25, will be highlighted by classic cars and the sounds of the Fifth String Band.
Cruisers are asked to check in from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Garvin Street each Saturday. For more information, visit www.discoverpickens.com.

Courtesy Lib Tickle/Saluda River Roots

A group of landowners along the South Saluda River is speaking out against a plan that would include 335 dump truck loads of boulders poured into the river for fish habitat. Turn to the Courier’s Opinion section on page 4A to read more, including an editorial and letters to the editor.

EASLEY — DHEC was called after a business fire in Easley last Friday, although no one was injured and the public was never thought to be in any sort of danger.
At around 5:13 a.m., the Easley Fire Department was dispatched to answer the call of a reported structure fire at Palmetto Plating, located at 117 Folger Avenue, according to Lt. Kevin R. Maxey.
At the time of the fire, the business was not operating and there was no need to perform any sort of evacuation.

PICKENS — Cannon Memorial Hospital recently celebrated National Hospital Week by recognizing employees who have given years of service to the organization. 
31 employees gave a combined total of 360 years of service. Included in the recognitions was the Department Manager of the Year, which was awarded to Joyce Abercrombie, Director of Materials Management, and fellow employees voted Lola Rowland, Ward Secretary for Med/Surg as the Employee of the Year.

EASLEY — The Samaritan Health Clinic in Easley will be hosting a 20th birthday celebration on June 11.
The birthday bash for the free clinic will take place from 4-7 p.m. The celebration will take place on a lot right next to the clinic, located at 303 Dacusville Highway.

CENTRAL — Southern Wesleyan University’s board of trustees unanimously voted last weekto approve Dr. Todd Voss to become the 18th president of the institution.
Voss will take office on July 1, according to university board chairman Dr. Charles Joiner, who also led the presidential search committee.

PICKENS — In late April, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative made a general refund of capital credits to its members. Checks totaling $1 million were mailed to those who received electric service from the cooperative in 1984 and 1985.
Blue Ridge has made 29 consecutive annual capital-credit refunds. Through the years, the cooperative has returned more than $19.2 million to its members.