LIBERTY — A Pickens County Warrants Officer barely escaped being shot at point-blank range on Monday, after he was confronted by a man at the M-Mart on U.S. 178 between Pickens and Liberty.

Pickens Assistant Sheriff Tim Morgan told the Courier on Tuesday that Trenton James Black, 28, of 1007 Saluda Dam Road in Easley, was arrested after attempting to shoot an officer in plain clothes at the convenience store.

COUNTY — Some of the recent days of September have brought with them a wonderful, fall-like feeling in their breezes. Pickens County certainly has a lot of natural beauty to boast during this time of year, and with cooler temperatures, fall seems the perfect time to be enjoying the outdoors.

COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County is considering a policy that could allow teachers and students to utilize cell phones in the classroom as instructional technology aides.

“Last year we piloted a program where students could bring their own technology to use in the classroom with the permission of the principal and the teacher. That pilot went very well,” said SDPC Superintendent Dr. Kelly Pew. “We are bringing back to you (policy) JICJ, that would allow students to use their cell phones and their paging devices during classroom instruction only with the permission of the school-level administrator and the teacher.”

PICKENS — Gifted athlete, legendary coach, astute businessman, public servant, Christian family man, sports broadcast analyst, consummate volunteer, mentor, magician, enlightened teacher, master of motivation, accomplished speaker… These are just a few of the terms used to describe Sam Wyche, the Pickens Revitalization Association’s seventh “I Fan the Flame” award winner.

COUNTY — With this year’s West Nile Virus outbreak the largest ever in the United States, new cases are on the rise by the day across the country, our state and even in Pickens County.

According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), there were two confirmed cases of the virus in Pickens County as of Sept. 4, with one case involving a person and another an infected bird.

Monday, an Aiken County man became the first South Carolinian to die of the virus in 2012.

EASLEY — Easley’s director of public works Lamar Hunnicutt will be retiring at the end of this month, Mayor Larry Bagwell announced during Monday night’s city council meeting.

Bagwell said Honeycutt’s retirement caught him by surprise, because he seems too young to retire.

“But he’s just turned 62, and I guess he wants to enjoy his retirement.” Bagwell said.

EASLEY — When Timothy and Amanda Sheys were planning for the birth of their third daughter, Sofeiya, they certainly had not planned on delivering her at home, but it would seem God had other plans.

On Aug. 18, Timothy said he took his wife Amanda to Greenville Memorial Hospital because she was having painful contractions and passing blood clots. Following proper protocol, the hospital monitored Amanda for an hour before sending her home.