Welcome to Central and our annual Railroad Festival. Please look over this insert for all the festival activities and sponsors. Some of the additions to this year’s festival are our local Southern Wesleyan University Jazz Band, Randy “Elvis” Bonneval an Elvis Impersonator direct from New Orleans and the Flying Saucers, a 1955-1965 oldies band. For the kids we have added a musical and magic show and a dance group from Pickens. For the kids we will again have inflatables, a tractor train ride, games, trains, plus lots more. Returning to this year’s railroad festival is the free Railroad Festival tour. Clemson Area Transit buses will run continuously for off-site parking areas plus taking festival-goers to nearby historical sites including the Central Heritage Museum and Collins Ole Towne, a 1920’s-era village recreation. The Central Railway Museum will also be open for free tours during the festival, which wraps up at 7 p.m.
Central’s railroad heritage is unique because its name came about because it is located at the midway point between Atlanta and Charlotte on the main railroad line. The town grew because of the railroad company’s investment in maintenance activities in Central. The railroad company eventually moved out of Central and textiles moved in. Central’s history still evolved around the railroad, and to this day it still runs through the heart of downtown. With a variety of restaurants, shops and businesses, and the Railway Museum Central has plenty of reasons to celebrate and to toot its own horn.
We all hope you enjoy all the activities and have a great day. We look forward to seeing you again in 2013!
The Central Railroad Festival Committee thanks all who have donated, participated, volunteered and attended the 2011 Central Railroad Festival.

Mission Statement
To conduct an annual festival to celebrate the town’s railroad heritage by featuring and promoting the Central Railway Museum, the Central Model Railway and Historical Association, the Central Heritage Society, the Town of Central, and local businesses by attracting residents, visitors and tourists for the showcase of Central’s past, present and future.

SIX MILE — Just days after the death of a Liberty High School teacher from injuries sustained in a horseback riding accident, tragedy once again struck the School District of Pickens County Monday night, as a 16-year-old Daniel High student was killed in a single-vehicle wreck in Six Mile.
Justin Eric Roach, 16, of Central, died following the accident, which occurred around 7 p.m. Monday evening on Ponderosa Drive near Six Mile.

COUNTY — Despite continuing public outcry over allegations he made derogatory statements in reference to special needs children in county schools, Pickens County school board trustee Ben Trotter remains steadfast in his denial of the accusations.

LIBERTY — A Liberty High School teacher within weeks of retirement died after a horseback riding accident in Anderson County last Thursday night.
Pam Scott, 63, was wearing a helmet when the horse she was riding stumbled at Wilson Farms in Anderson. According to Anderson County coroner Greg Shore, Scott hit her head after flipping over the horse and died from a spinal injury later after being airlifted to Greenville Memorial Hospital

Young Dannell Whitaker pretends to ride a motorcycle as Pickens County Councilman Sam Wyche cheers him on at the booth for Pickens County Meals on Wheels’ motorcycle giveaway at Saturday’s Azalea Festival in Pickens. For more photos from Saturday’s Azalea Festival, turn to page 1B.

COUNTY — School board trustees authorized the board chairman and superintendent to commence a legal action on behalf of the district, in conjunction with Pickens County, to protect the legal interest of the district concerning the city of Clemson’s Tax Increment Financing Plan, in a 5-1 vote during Monday night’s meeting.
Attorney William Halligan, of the law firm Childs & Halligan, offered the public an explanation of Tax Increment Financing as well as the disputes that both the SDPC and the county have with the city of Clemson.

PICKENS — Glenn Brock, owner of Brock’s Department Store in uptown Pickens, was presented with the second I Fan The Flame award on stage at the Azalea Festival over the weekend.
Created by the city of Pickens and the Pickens Revitalization Association, the award recognizes individuals that have supported and contributed to the community in extraordinary ways — those who have demonstrated a passion for helping make Pickens a great place to live, work and play.

LIBERTY — The city of Liberty will host its first Liberty Automotive Showcase and Festival this Saturday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Depot Street will feature arts, crafts, a community yard sale and children’s activities. Inflatables are free for children. Children will enjoy free face painting, balloon animals, colored hair streaks, and other games from local businesses and churches. Kids can also enjoy gem mining.

LIBERTY — As Liberty High School pauses for a moment to catch its breath the day before Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella opens, thoughts turn to Pam Scott, the Liberty High English teacher who passed away last week.