Monthly Archives: May 2012
Liberty man accused of child sexual assault in church parking lot
CENTRAL — A Liberty man has been charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the first degree in a case involving a 3-year-old child. The alleged incident is believed to have occurred in the parking lot of a Central-area church.
Blue Ridge Fest to be a ‘Wild One’
PICKENS — What do you get when you combine a fleet of classic automobiles with a night of music featuring 1960s teen idol Bobby Rydell? Answer: Blue Ridge Fest, the Upcountry’s most anticipated spring festival.
Rydell, known for such hits as “Kissin’ Time,” “Volare,” and“Wild One,” is the headline musical act of the May 11 event in Pickens, which also features one of South Carolina’s largest classic car cruise-ins. Also appearing on stage will be Jimmy Clanton, popular for ‘60s hits “Just a Dream” and “Venus in Blue Jeans.”
Automobile enthusiasts hit Liberty
Hundreds turned out for the first ever Liberty Automotive Showcase and Festival in Liberty last Saturday. The event featured an abundance of classic cars and fun activities for kids, along with a wide variety of arts and crafts vendors from around the state. The festival is expected to become an annual event in downtown Liberty.
Resuming SDPC bond issue talks
Editor’s Note: This is the fourth installment of a multi-part series of interviews conducted between Courier staff reporter Nicole Daughhetee and SDPC board trustee Jim Shelton, a former board chair.
Because there has been a long pause in the “Shelton Interviews” Bond Issue series, I thought it best to refresh the minds of our readers with a brief excerpt from the last installment:
Bob Folkman, an asset to the SDPC about whom Shelton speaks very highly, took the task upon himself and came back to Shelton several weeks later. Folkman said a second middle school in Easley was do-able, but there were some other issues with the building plan that needed to be addressed as well.
It was late July when the SDPC learned about the water and sewer infrastructure issues at both Daniel High School and RC Edwards Middle School.
Haskell spins yarns on Brunswick
PICKENS — Hank Haskell, a former resident of Pickens for more than 30 years and former president and treasurer of Brunswick Yarns, which was based in Pickens for four decades, has written a new book about the company.
Part memoir and part storytelling (yarns), “Brunswick Yarns: An American Family Business” traces how former New Englander Haskell married a southerner, Pat Peacock Haskell, and how they decided together to move Brunswick from Connecticut to the small town of Pickens.
Sheriff warns residents about airline ticket scam
COUNTY — The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office is warning local residents about a scam involving free airline tickets.
According to a release from Sheriff C. David Stone, the sheriff’s office has received multiple complaints from county residents who have received a letter in the mail telling them they have qualified for an award of two round-trip airline tickets from U.S. Airlines.
The letter continues with a sense of urgency, telling recipients “We have attempted contacting you several times without success. This is our last attempt.”
MARYS House in need of supplies
COUNTY — In 2010 in South Carolina, 34 women and 10 men lost their lives as a result of domestic violence. South Carolina is currently ranked seventh in the nation for the prevalence of deaths resulting from criminal domestic violence.
Collins inks with Wofford
EASLEY — Easley High School senior Spencer Collins, a 6’4” former shooting guard for the Green Wave basketball squad, signed earlier this week to take his talents to the next level at Wofford College.
Collins, one of the top prospects in the state and a four-year starter for the Wave, ended the recruiting process Monday, inking his name to a letter of intent to play for the Terriers.
Celebrating the contributions of educators around the globe
From Em and Ella’s notebooks last week, I received a couple of flyers indicating that during the coming week, Forest Acres would be celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week.
Seeing as one of my beats is coverage of the SDPC and board meetings, I thought this would be a great opportunity to devote our Lifestyles page to saying thank you to all of the teachers in Pickens County who help make our community a better place through the work they do with our children.
Obituaries for the week of May 2
Easley Community Leader Barbary Dies
Eddie Barbary
Easley — James Edward “Eddie” Barbary, 67, of Easley, husband of the late Charlene Skelton Barbary, died Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at McCall Hospice House.
Born in Greenville, the son of Betty Hamby Barbary of Simpsonville and the late Donald Odell “Red” Barbary, Eddie was a graduate of Hillcrest High School and Clemson University where he played baseball and where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in English and Education and his Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision. He played professional baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Organization and was a veteran of the U.S. Army having graduated from the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School at Fort Gordon, Ga. and was Post Soldier of the Month in June of 1969. Eddie was formerly principal of Simpson Academy, Gettys Middle School and assistant principal at Easley High School where he was head baseball coach from 1971-1974 and from 1980-1986 and was named head coach of the SC High School League North All-Stars. He was also formerly the Easley High head basketball coach where they won five Region I-4A championships and were 1976 SC Upper-State Champions. As head coach, Eddie had an overall record of 148-86 and was named head coach of the SC High School League Upper-State North All-Stars in 1981. He was also a former Easley High assistant football coach where he was the offensive coordinator from 1979-1986. Eddie organized and coached the Easley American Legion Baseball Team from 1972-1979 and was a coach at the Bill Wilhelm Baseball Camp at Clemson University from 1975-1984.
He organized and served as advisor for the INTERACT Club, which is sponsored by the Rotary Club, and was named Outstanding Young Educator by the Easley Jaycees in 1976. Eddie was a member of Easley Presbyterian Church. He was a former member of the adult choir and served as a Deacon and an Elder.
Surviving, in addition to his mother, are a son, Travis Barbary and wife, Raquel, of Greenville; a daughter, Elizabeth Barbary Nix and husband, Marvin, of Central; a sister, Jane Barbary Jones of Gray Court; three step-sons, Charles McClure King and wife, Mackenzie, of Atlanta, Kendall McCreight King and wife, Sarah Kathryn, of Greenville and Walker McClain King of Charleston; and grandchildren, Chase Barbary, Colton Barbary, Carsyn Leigh Barbary, Cannon Barbary, Garrett Nix and Graydon Nix.
Memorial services were 4 p.m. Thursday at Easley Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Christie Gravely and Stuart Houston officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Easley High Athletic Department, P.O. Box 129, Easley, SC 29641 or to American Legion Post 52, 118A Legion Street, Easley, SC 29642.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown which is assisting the family.
