EASLEY — An South Carolina Highway Patrol Officer is recovering at Greenville Memorial Hospitial after crashing his patrol car in pursuit of a motorcycle on Brushy Creek Road.

Work began this week to prepare the historic water tower behind Main Street in Pickens for its repainting. Above, a worker works around the edges of the walk outside the tank in anticipation of the painting of the city’s new logo on the side of the structure.

COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County’s board of trustees has named Sharon Messer Huff, principal of Daniel High School, as the district’s assistant superintendent of instructional services. Huff will officially assume her new duties on July 1.

EASLEY — An overflow crowd showed up for Monday night’s meeting of Easley city council, with many people openly speaking against the new ordinance that will allow sale of beer and wine at selected events in Old Market Square.

CLEMSON — Clemson University police charged a student last week with assaulting another student and issued a trespass notice to keep him from returning to campus.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — After a year that has included hosting summer camps, fundraising at Clemson football games and countless hours building their robot, members of Pickens County FIRST Robotics Team 2751 were excited to finally see their robot in action at the Smoky Mountains Regional Competition held in Knoxville, Tenn.

LIBERTY — In an emotional address to Liberty city council Monday night, former council member Eric Boughman spoke of his family’s loss and his reasons for resigning his seat on council.
Boughman and his family suffered the tragic loss of their 7-year-old daughter Emma Elizabeth on February 2 when she was struck by an SUV as she rode her scooter across Odell Street near the intersection with Willard Street in Liberty.

PICKENS — After 42 years of serving Pickens’ jewelry needs, Pace Jewelers’ Riley Garrick is ready to give retirement a try. Pace is closing its store on Main Street Friday, though the doors will remain open at its Greenville location.
Garrick and and his wife Judy work at the Pickens store. After Friday, Judy will transfer to the Greenville store full-time, while Riley will work two days a week there.

PICKENS — A Pickens County jury decided last Friday that an Easley man is entitled to $2.4 million in a civil case against an Easley doctor.
A jury in the Pickens County Court of Common Pleas unanimously found in favor of Michael Charles Blair, representative of the estate of Rita Carol Blair individually and on behalf of statutory beneficiaries of Rita Blair for wrongful death, survival action and loss of consortium claims against Dr. John M. Warren and Easley OB-GYN Associates, P.A.

GREENWOOD — Pickens County was presented with the Rural Education Award for the Business and Industry Showcase by Governor Nikki Haley at the 22nd annual Rural Summit sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Commerce.