COUNTY — A new wrinkle developed last week in the race to become Pickens County’s first new sheriff in more than 40 years.
Keith Culbreath, who has been on the ticket from day one as the Independence Party candidate, said last week that he will withdraw his bid for the sheriff’s position and plans to throw his support toward petition candidate Tim Morgan. Culbreath cited the choice as a personal decision.

The race has been full of changes since the beginning, when four candidates sought the Republican nomination. A South Carolina Supreme Court decision on filing procedures left two candidates, Stan Whitten and Kerry Avery, off the ballot. The republican nomination was then down to two — 40-year incumbent C. David Stone and Rick Clark.
Clark defeated Stone and looked to be set to battle it out with Culbreath in the November General Election, but following Stone’s loss Whitten and long-time assistant sheriff Tim Morgan got to work to get their names on the November ballot as petition candidates. Both got the needed signatures verified and will be included.

At that point the ballot had four, until last week’s announcement by Culbreath.

“This has certainly been an interesting year,” Pickens County Election Commission director Rodney Allen said.

By Ben Robinson
For the Courier

EASLEY — Puerto Rico delivered the Big League World Series host team its first loss in a finals game at Easley last Wednesday, defeating the locals 7-3 to win its third BLWS title since the tournament moved to Easley in 2001.

S.C. District 1 led early in the game, only to see the Puerto Rican team score seven unanswered runs to take the win and its second championship in the last three years.

It was the first time S.C. District 1 had lost in the championship game after winning in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.

S.C. District 1 took the lead in the top half of the first inning.
Tanner Lollis hit a single into right field, the moved to third on Ereven Roper’s double. Trey Hayes was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Lollis then scored as the runners advanced on a passed ball. Hayes then scored on a single hit by Stephen McKnight, giving the host squad a 2-0 lead after half an inning.

S.C. District 1 added to its lead in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Roper drew a walk, and Colby Loggins came in to pinch run for the S.C. District 1 catcher. Hayes then drew a walk, and McKnight hit a single to load the bases.

Chase Day then drew a walk, bringing Loggins in for District 1’s third run. Facing a 3-0 deficit after 2 1/2 innings, Puerto Rico starting pitcher Joe Jimenez was replaced by Yamil Rivera. Rivera faced McKnight and gave up a hit, then was replaced by Yadeil Cruz, who finished the inning, then pitched the rest of the game until the final out. Cruz got the inning’s third out, then Puerto Rico began its comeback in the bottom of the third inning.

Michael Clinton opened the inning with a single, then Rafeal Olivaras reached base after being hit by a pitch. The runners advanced when Jonathan Morales was out at first, then were driven in by a home run hit by Alexis Cruz, tying the game at 3-3.

Arnoldo Matros then reached base on a single. Armaldo Olmeda then hit a double, scoring Maltros and giving Puerto Rico a 4-3 lead.
Puerto Rico increased their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Morales singled. Kevin Santa came in to pinch run, then advanced to second when Alexis Cruz was thrown out at first.

Santa stole third base, then scored when Victor Caratina singled into right field.

In the bottom of the sixth, Alexis Olmeda and Giovante Lugo each singled, then advanced on a fly out by Randy Ventura. Olivaras then singled, driving in Olmelda and Lugo to wrap up Puerto Rico’s scoring for the night.

In the top of the seventh, S.C. District 1 players knew they had to at least tie the score or the game was over. With two outs, Roper hit a single, then advanced to second base on a single hit by Hayes.
Francisco Rosa came in to pitch for Puerto Rico, but hit McKnight with a pitch to load the bases.

Rivera then came in to face Beau Strickland. Rivera got a strikeout, and ended the game.

Puerto Rico had reached the championship game by defeating Venezuela 10-1 in the International finals. S.C. District 1 had defeated previously unbeaten Indiana District 10 by a 6-2 final in the U.S. finals. Hayes picked up the win with a complete game in the semi-finals.

COUNTY — Two women have been arrested after a string of burglaries stretching throughout multiple counties, according to Pickens County Sheriff’s deputies.

According to a release from the PCSO, deputies arrested Brenda Gail Branham of 2833 Pumpkintown Highway in Pickens on July 13, charging her with multiple counts of burglary in Pickens County.

During the course of their investigation, sheriff’s office detectives discovered that Branham, along with Carolyn Jean Rodriguez, were suspects in burglaries committed in multiple counties across South Carolina. Rodriguez was found inside a home in Horry County during a burglary and arrested, deputies said.

A variety of items were stolen during the burglaries, including jewelry, money, televisions and more than 30 firearms. Nearly half of the stolen firearms were handguns.

Most of the weapons were taken from the counties of Pickens, Newberry, Saluda, Aiken and Marlboro, deputies said. The stolen weapons have been recovered by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office.
Branham is currently incarcerated at the Pickens County Detention Center awaiting bond. Rodriguez is in custody at the Horry County Detention Center on burglary charges. She faces additional charges in Pickens County and other jurisdictions around the state. The case is still under investigation.

EASLEY — The Parenting Place has several families with school-age children who need help with school supplies. The organization will be hosting a school supplies drive at The Parenting Place located between Easley and Pickens on S.C. 8 until school starts. 

In addition to traditional school supplies, some of the organization’s families’ children will be attending schools like McKissick who require uniforms and need help providing the uniforms.
 
If you would like to sponsor a family or help purchase a uniform or two, please let the Parenting Place know. Items needed include: glue sticks, No. 2 pencils, blunt end scissors, crayons, wide ruled spiral notebooks, Tissues, three-ring binders with clear view front, sheet protectors, notebook paper, erasers, hand sanitizer, two-pocket folders, colored pencils, highlighters and tabbed dividers.

PICKENS — Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 2138 finished strong at the South Carolina Association of Law Enforcement Explorers (SCALE) competition. This year’s SCALE competition was hosted by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department on July 23-28. Competition was open to Explorer Posts throughout the Southeast.

Post 2138 was awarded trophies in the following team events: First Place — Team Firearms Competition, Second Place — High Risk Traffic Stop, Second Place — Drug Search Warrant Execution, Second Place — Criminal Domestic Violence Intervention, Third Place — Arrest Warrant Service, and Third Place in the Overall Competition.

Post 2138 was also honored by being named the 2012 SCALE Post of the Year. In addition, Explorer Sgt. Brandon Brewer was individually awarded Third Place in the Individual Firearms Competition. Post Associate Advisor, Master Deputy Robert Porter, was named the 2012 SCALE Advisor of the Year.

Students between ages 14 and 20 interested in learning more about Law Enforcement Exploring and how to become a member of Post 2138 can contact Associate Advisor Master Deputy Danon Gilstrap via email at danons@co.pickens.sc.us

UPSTATE — Duke Energy is beginning improvement work at the Stamp Creek Access Area, Keowee Town Access Area and South Cove County Park on Lake Keowee.

Improvements to the sites include adding courtesy docks to existing boat ramps, installing handicap accessible vault toilets and handicap accessible picnic sites. All three access areas will also see lighting upgrades.

“This is a continuation of the work we began last year making public access improvements on Lake Keowee. These new amenities are going to make a visit to Lake Keowee easier and more pleasurable for the public,” said Scott Jolley, project manager for Duke Energy.
The Stamp Creek Access Area will also gain additional vehicle parking with handicap accessible spaces and a new, paved entrance road to the new parking area. Remote picnic sites and a handicap accessible fish-friendly fishing pier will also be built.

All three public access areas will temporarily close beginning the week of October 1, 2012, so courtesy docks can be installed at the existing boat ramps. The closing of the access areas will be for the safety and protection of the public and the construction crews.

The access areas will remain closed until January 2013 when construction is scheduled to be complete. At South Cove County Park, one set of boat ramps will remain open while the other set is temporarily closed.

During the temporary closings, guests may access Lake Keowee via the Cane Creek Access Area on Cane Creek Road off Highway 188, the High Falls County Park on High Falls Road off Hwy. 183, the Fall Creek Access Area on Shallow Ford Road or South Cove County Park where the second set of boat ramps will remain open.

The Stamp Creek Access Area is located off Stamp Creek Landing Road, Keowee Town Access Area is located off of Keowee Town Landing Road and South Cove County Park is located off of South Cove Road.

Guests with additional questions can call 800-443-5193 or check the Lake Access website http://www.duke-energy.com/lakes/access-information.asp for updated ramp access and closure information.

PICKENS — Gospel Lighthouse Prison Evangelism will hold its sixth annual Victims Advocate Day program on Saturday, August 11, at Graceway Baptist Church. The church is located at 1615 Gentry Memorial Highway (beside Grant Body Shop). The event will start at 10 a.m. and will conclude with a free spaghetti lunch for all who attend.

The event will be filled with great information and good Christian fellowship. Senator Larry Martin will be the guest speaker.

This year, the ministry will be providing items for Helping Hands of Clemson and the Rape Crisis Pickens County Council. The ministry will be helping 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 will also be providing teddy bears for the Pickens Police Department.

Dr. J.W. Stansell, the founder and president of Gospel Lighthouse Prison Evangelism, extends an invitation to the public to attend this year’s event. For more information, contact the GLPE office at (864) 507-0041.

DACUSVILLE — Dacusville Fire Chief Charles Hamilton has announced the Dacusville Volunteer Fire Department was recently awarded a new ISO rating of 5/9.

Records show it has been 26 years since the department received its first ISO rating of 6/9. Insurance companies use the Insurance Service Organization (ISO) rating to evaluate risk to homeowners and set their premiums. The rating scale ranges from 10 (the biggest risk) to one (the least risk).

The Dacusville Fire Department has worked diligently for the last few years to upgrade their ISO rating. The improved rating means a reduction in home insurance premiums for homeowners who reside within five road miles of the fire department. Approximately 90 percent of fire district homes will fall within this range and savings are estimated to be about $50 reduction on home valued at $150,000. Affected homeowners should contact their insurance company and/or call the Fire Department at 855-4241.

A representative of the ISO, which gives points for meeting certain criteria, conducts an evaluation. Challenges which were met included insuring a better water supply throughout the fire district, adding more and better firefighting equipment, expanding training for firefighters, updating maps and water source locations, improving call response times, keeping records on training and testing of equipment and firefighters, and establishing a library. Having a full-time paid fire chief also helped reduce the rating.

The Dacusville Fire Department has 50 square miles of coverage area and 29 highly trained volunteer firefighters who serve the fire district. Fourteen of these firefighters also work full time for other area fire departments. The department averages having 9-11 volunteers report for each fire call. All the firefighters are dedicated and understand the importance of protecting their neighbors and friends, rural homes and businesses. Community support for the fire department continues to be outstanding.

The Dacusville Fire Department has the only fire training facility in Pickens County that is certified by the State Fire Academy. The training facility was built by the Dacusville volunteer firefighters. It is available to be utilized by other fire departments for training.

The Dacusville Fire Department pledges to continue working to improve their ISO rating so that everyone in the fire district may realize benefits. For example, one of the next challenges will be to show the department can provide water supply for two hours, thus improving their response to more distant areas of the district.

“I’m sure this fire department is capable of meeting the challenges of the future,” board chairman Dennis Bauknight said. “Our outstanding volunteer firefighters, facilities, and equipment are second to none. This community is blessed and we are appreciative of their dedication. This department is proof that by working together at the grassroots level we are able to insure a better quality of life.”