By Nicole Daughhetee
Staff Reporter
COUNTY — With school scheduled to begin next Tuesday, August 21, some residents in the School District of Pickens County are concerned about start delays, traffic troubles and parking hassles resulting from the opening of the new high schools in Central and Easley.

Bob Folkman, the building program director for the School District of Pickens County, says that any rumors about failed inspections and delayed start times for the new Daniel High School are unfounded and entirely untrue.

PICKENS — On September 22, nine great bands will entertain throughout the day at the first annual Founders Day Music Festival on Main Street in Pickens.

“We were honestly amazed at the response — the number of great bands, from all over the area, that asked to be included in this event,” said music events chairman Daniel Brazinski.

PICKENS — The archrival Pickens Blue Flame and Easley Green Wave will clash this Friday night in the fifth annual Pickens County Meals on Wheels Sam Wyche Food Fight Bowl, scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. at Pickens High School.

COUNTY — Former prominent local businessman and county council member Mac Welborn passed away Sunday at the age of 76.
Welborn, husband of Marie Oliver Welborn, was the owner of Welborn Furniture and Welborn Carpet and Flooring for 55 years. He served on county council for eight years.

PICKENS — American Legion Pickens Post 11 and the US MTM club invite members of all branches of the U.S. Military, fire departments, EMS, police departments and Search and Rescue to participate in a 9/11 Remembrance Tuesday, Sep. 11, at Legacy Square in Pickens.

Activities begin at 3 p.m. with a static display of U.S. Military, police, fire, EMS and search and rescue vehicles.

Hot dog plate dinners will be for sale to raise funds for EMS, police, fire and the Wounded Warrior Project.

At 6 p.m. a color guard from the U.S. Marine Corp will present the colors.

Activities will conclude around 7 p.m.

By Rocky Nimmons
Publisher

PICKENS — The Gospel Lighthouse Prison Evangelism ministry held its sixth annual Victims Advocate Day program on Saturday.

The ministry helps children and women who have been involved in abusive homes, children who have been taken from meth lab homes and children who have been sexually abused. The ministry also provided more than 100 teddy bears for the Pickens Police Department this year.

This year’s service was dedicated to the memory of Jessica Parnell Tronetti, who was a victim of violent crime and lost her life earlier this year. Her family was in attendance as the ministry’s founder Dr. J.W. Stansell announced that the annual drive to provide teddy bears to the Pickens Police Department has been renamed “Jessica’s Sunshine Fund.”
The teddy bears are used by the PPD to give to children during times of trauma and traffic stops.

EASLEY — The Easley Business and Professional Women’s Organization recently awarded three $500 scholarships to deserving young students who either live or attend school in Pickens County. Scholarship applications address academic and extra-curricular achievement as well as written essays addressing the student’s biography, education, career goals and vision of future achievements.

Award recipients were Aubrey Blalock, Anna Qualkinbush and Danielle York.

PICKENS — The public is invited to enjoy an informative and entertaining presentation and book signing by author Suzi Parron. The event will be held Saturday, August 25, starting at 1 p.m. in the LaVonne Nalley Piper Auditorium of the Pickens County Museum, located at 307 Johnson Street in Pickens.

By Eugene Jolley
Courier Sports

PICKENS — In their final tune-up before this Friday night’s week zero opener against rival Easley in the annual Sam Wyche Meals on Wheels Food Fight Bowl, the Pickens Blue Flame hosted their annual jamboree last week, falling 20-0 to county rival Daniel.