COUNTY — Following a lengthy executive session during which candidates for the School District of Pickens County’s superintendent job were interviewed, Dr. Kelly Pew was named the new SDPC superintendent in a unanimous vote by board trustees Monday night.
Pew will replace Dr. Henry Hunt, who is retiring at the end of June.
“I appreciate the board’s confidence in me as the school district’s new leader,” Pew said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with our students, teachers, support staff, and administrators over the last three and a half years and am excited to continue in a different role.
“Both my mother and grandmother are Easley High School graduates, so I have a true connection to Pickens County.”

COUNTY — A nearly year-long joint investigation into drug activities in the county by agents of the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the Easley Police Department has resulted in a 26 arrests, and more are expected as the investigation continues.

EASLEY — Last Thursday, Easley Mayor Larry Bagwell presented attendees of an Easley Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Dunburks Premier Events with his state of the city address.
Public Works Director Lamar Hunnicutt, in addition to department representatives from Easley’s Municipal Court and Recreation Department, offered presentations on the community wide services they provide for Easley residents.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH — Gail Few, a victim advocate with the Pickens Police Department, was recently honored with a selection as the South Carolina Law Enforcement Victim Advocate of the Year.

Editor’s Note: This is the fifth of a multi-part series of interviews conducted between Courier staff reporter Nicole Daughhetee and SDPC board trustee Jim Shelton, a former board chair.

“Experience taught me a few things. One is to listen to your gut, no matter how good something sounds on paper. The second is that you’re generally better off sticking with what you know. And the third is that sometimes your best investments are the ones you don’t make.” — Donald Trump
Jim Shelton had that gut feeling that something just wasn’t right. And he was about to find out just how accurate his gut instinct would prove to be.

EASLEY — An exchange of gunfire with police at a home near Easley has led to attempted murder charges being filed against an Easley man.
According to a release from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Department, Jason Lee Chance, of 209 Vista Circle in Easley, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, as well as first-degree assault and battery, two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, two counts of discharging a firearm into a dwelling, a count of malicious injury and four counts of pointing and presenting a firearm at a person.

PICKENS — The finals of Pickens County Has Talent, a county-wide talent show that showcases the best of the best within Pickens County, are scheduled for this Saturday night, Feb. 25, at Pickens High School.
The top acts from each area of the county will perform at the show, with all proceeds going to the School District of Pickens County. Thanks to a sponsorship from Ingles, the show will be filmed in its entirety to air on Charter TV-10 on Saturday nights at 7 p.m. beginning March 10.

PICKENS — Senior citizens in the Pickens area will get a chance to get help with their tax preparation at the Pickens Senior Center on February 24.
The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide will offer free tax help for taxpayers with low and moderate income, with special attention to residents age 60 and older.