COUNTY — Students in the School District of Pickens County are scheduled to begin classes August 21, and SDPC operations director Bob Folkman is confident that both the new Easley and Daniel high schools will be completed and ready to receive students on that date, if not before.

EASLEY — At press time, five of the 10 teams who will participate in the 2012 Big League World Series were officially qualified for the tournament, with the remaining five to earn their way by Sunday night.
Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Italy, and Texas West have joined the SC District One host team on the BLWS dance card, with more teams qualifying every day.

PICKENS — “Our roots are here, and I never wanted to live anywhere else,” said Jack Black, Pickens’ fifth recipient of the I Fan The Flame award. “I love the people, the friendliness and the town itself.”
Born in Pickens County in 1928, Black has spent his lifetime in Pickens. Married 58 years to wife Della, they have lived in the same home for 56 years. A graduate of Pickens schools, Black “played a little football in high school.” His two sons and grandchildren live in the area.

COUNTY — Six local candidates filing petitions to be placed on the November ballots beat Monday’s deadline with enough signatures to do the trick.

CLEMSON — Clemson police have made an arrest in a recent string of auto break-ins after questioning a woman arrested on unrelated forgery charges.
According to a release from Clemson Police Chief Jimmy Dixon, Leslie Ann Ross, 33, of Westminster, was recently arrested and charged with forgery.

PICKENS — The Pickens County Courier and the South Carolina Press Association are proud to announce that the Courier has again been recognized by its peers for excellence.

PICKENS — Pickens resident Ronnie Mauldin will be allowed to continue using City of Pickens property near City Lake as pasture for his horses following a vote on Monday night by the Pickens City Council.

COUNTY — The board of trustees of the School District of Pickens County recently approved the final reading and passage of the fiscal year 2012-2013 general fund budget at approximately $98.9 million, which includes a 2 percent pay increase for employees.

UPSTATE — Throughout the spring, United Christian Ministries board member Suzanne Burns conducted a food drive for the agency as part of the Feinstein Foundation Challenge.