Two charged with selling drugs near school, another faces charge of sexual battery with student

EASLEY — Three School District of Pickens County employees were arrested last week in two separate incidents.

According to a release from the Liberty Police Department, John Peter Kilgallen, an Easley High School teacher, was charged last week with sexual battery with a student.

Police say Kilgallen had a mutual relationship with a 17-year-old student, and during the relationship, which began at the beginning of the school year, a sexual encounter occrred at Kilgallen’s home in Liberty.

ANDERSON — Former Pickens Police officer Michael McClatchy, along with his attorney, Chuck Allen of Anderson, held a news conference last Thursday to address his firing, for what Pickens city officials say was the use of city computers to post the details of a traffic stop on Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney.

Last week the Courier reported that McClatchy was terminated following his posting of the details of the incident, which occurred at the Pickens Bilo on S.C. 8, to a University of South Carolina football message board.

During the formal press conference, held at Allen’s office, McClatchy said he had not made the post on a department computer, but rather had edited the post at work. He also said police chief Rodney Gregory had known about his intentions to post about the incident.

By Nicole Daughhetee
Staff Reporter
nicole@thepccourier.com

EASLEY — A small dog has become a big story in Easley, as stories have even aired on television news channels around the country about Lucy, aka Gracie, the tiny chihuahua at the center of what has become a legal battle over the dog’s ownership.

The story begins back in May 2012, when Keith and Kerri Blanton, along with their four children, ages 5, 6, 11 and 17, took a vacation for Mother’s Day. Having difficulty finding a hotel that was pet-friendly, the Blantons left their chihuahua, Lucy, in the care of family friends.

“Our friend let Lucy out in their fenced-in backyard to do her business,” said Kerri Blanton. “Five minutes later, Lucy was missing. The family that was watching Lucy looked for her until after midnight, and we came home from the beach the next day to join the search for Lucy.”

By Nicole Daughhetee
Staff Reporter
nicole@thepccourier.com

EASLEY — What to do with the proceeds from the sale of the Easley High School band practice field, property located across from the old EHS on Pendleton Street in Easley, was fodder for much of the public input forum during last week’s SDPC board meeting.

Board trustee Ben Trotter made a motion to have the question about funds considered by the facilities committee with a report coming back to the board so they might make a more informed decision on the matter. In a 5-1 vote, Trotter’s motion passed and the matter was sent to committee.

In September, Hagood Elementary School dedicated its professional learning area to honor the late Carol Littlejohn Coke. Coke worked in the School District of Pickens County for 25 years and touched the lives of many students and colleagues. Guest speakers during the dedication were Hagood Elementary Principal Karen Jackson, superintendent Dr. Kelly Pew, and Clemson Elementary principal Dr. Ken Weichel. Coke’s family, friends and colleagues were present to celebrate the ceremony. Afterwards, a reception was held in the school’s media center.

The Courier is going pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of those whose lives have been affected by this devastating disease, we will accent our front page with pink every week of October. For a listing of local businesses who are joining us in support of breast cancer awareness, go to our albums and see pictures of pages that were printed in this week’s Courier.

The pink ribbon has been synonymous with breast cancer for years. Nowadays, people rarely think twice when they see pink ribbons, having grown accustomed to the pink ribbon and what it symbolizes.