Romney overwhelmingly takes Pickens County

COUNTY — In one of the largest turn-outs in recent memory, Pickens County voters voiced their choices in county, state and national races on Tuesday.
More than 71 percent of the registered voters in Pickens County voted, with 9,335 voting straight Republican tickets and 3,509 voters voting straight Democratic.

Voters selected Republican Rick Clark as the first new sheriff in Pickens County in more than 40 years, as he garnered 54.7 percent of the vote, with 23,433 ballots cast in his favor, ahead of longtime assistant sheriff Tim Morgan’s 16,259 votes and fellow petition candidate Stan Whitten’s 3,035.

Perhaps the most controversial race throughout the election season was that for the State House of Representatives District 3 seat, and the battle between incumbent B.R. Skelton and petition candidate Ed Harris did not disappoint Tuesday. The race was the closest of the night in the county, with Skelton retaining his seat by picking up 53.2 perce

Pickens County Sheriff C. David Stone was given the 2012 Billy Wilkins Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement last week. Stone, who is in his final two months as sheriff after a 44-year service, received the award in a ceremony at the Pickens County Courthouse.

“It is a pleasure for me to stand before you all and say I’ve enjoyed law enforcement for 44 years and I hope Pickens County goes forward,” Stone said. “That’s what it’s all about — we’ve got to take Pickens County onward.”

By Nicole Daughhetee
Staff Writer

The State of South Carolina is offering residents and businesses one year of credit monitoring and identity-theft protection following one of the largest cyber security breaches in the state or nation.

State and federal officials continue to investigate the cyber theft — a massive security breach that began in August but was not discovered until October.
Based on the latest reports, the SC Department of Revenue database taken by a foreign hacker contained 3.6 million Social Security numbers and approximately 387,000 credit and debit card numbers.

What does this mean for residents of Pickens County?

By Nicole Daughhetee
Staff Reporter

EASLEY — If you’ve driven through Easley on Calhoun Memorial Highway recently, chances are you’ve noticed that the center island median between Bi-Lo and Ingles has had a dramatic facelift, thanks to SCBT’s participation in Partners in Pride.

The Easley Junior Women’s Club has sponsored a center island by Publix, near the Brushy Creek overpass along U.S. 123, and it is currently under construction.
Presented during Easley’s state of the city address this February, the Partners in Pride Program, an initiative designed to create aesthetically pleasing green space along Highway 123, is now under way.

PICKENS — Pickens police made two arrests last Tuesday night in a string of auto break-ins in the city.

According to Assistant Chief Travis Riggs of the Pickens Police Department, about 22 different vehicles were broken into.

On Oct. 30 around midnight, a detective with the Pickens Police Deparment approached three suspects. After speaking with them, two were charged in the cases, suspected in about 20 auto break-ins, Riggs said.

PICKENS — A Pickens man was killed last Thursday when his motorcycle struck a deer.

According to Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley, Hayne Christopher Sheppard II was traveling west on Fox Squirrel Ridge Road at about 6:40 p.m. when he struck a deer.

Sheppard, who was not wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene from blunt force trauma to the head.
The case is being investigated by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Pickens County Coroner.

GREENVILLE — Dr. Clinton H. Whitehurst, Jr., of Central, received special recognition for his military service in both World War II and the Korean War during a historical evening event at the 116th South Carolina Division Convention of the United Daughters of the Confederacy at the Crowne Plaza in Greenville.

The South Carolina Division awarded Dr. Whitehurst with two honors during the convention. He received the Cross of Military Service for his actions in World War II. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Maritime Service after graduating from Augusta Military Academy in Staunton, Va. After completing basic seaman training, he was sent to radio officers school at Gallups Island, Mass. On Feb. 2, 1945, he was assigned to the liberty cargo ship S.S. David Hewes by the War Shipping Administration and later to the liberty troop ship S.S. James W. Fannin.

PICKENS — The Pickens Revitalization Association is giving local residents the chance to demonstrate their holiday creative talents by creating unique tree ornaments that express Christmas ideas. Ornaments can be created in any media but must be original handcrafted designs and be able to hang on the contest Christmas tree.

The PRA will present a first, second and third place award in each of four divisions — elementary school, middle school, high school and adult. The prizes will be $25 for first place, $15 for second place and $10 for third. Winners will also be announced in the newspaper.

The Pickens Fire Department was awarded a $10,448 grant from FEMA for Fire Prevention and Safety. The funds were used to purchase a live-fire fire extinguisher training prop. The prop simulates class A, B, and C fires and has four levels of difficulty. It emphasizes the importance of aiming at the base of the fire and sweeping from side to side. The training system will be used to train the community in the proper use of a fire extinguisher.

It can also be used to satisfy OSHA required fire extinguisher training for local businesses and organizations. Anyone interested in having the system brought to their business or organization should contact Chris Elrod at the Pickens Fire Department 878-2610.

PICKENS — The Pickens Revitalization Association, The City of Pickens and numerous city businesses and organizations have combined to help celebrate Christmas all through the month of December.

“Borrowing from the Dickens Christmas tradition, A Pickens Christmas simply brings together all the many free, family fun events and activities that will occur throughout the city,” said Doug Finney, PRA event chairman. “Adding a few new events, assisting with several existing ones and simply listing others has provided an impressive list of things to do throughout the month.”