School district looking into non-sectarian prayer as alternative

By Nicole Daughhetee
Courier Staff

COUNTY — More than 300 Pickens County residents congregated around the American Flag outside of the Curtis A. Sidden Administration building prior to Monday night’s school board meeting, singing “Amazing Grace” and sharing a word of prayer.

The issue drawing the gigantic crowd of attendees: whether or not the School District of Pickens County’s board of trustees would vote on the removal of student-led prayer from its scheduled meeting agendas.

A standing-room-only assembly of citizens — a number so large that it would exceed any suggested occupancy standards — listened as board members ultimately voted 4-2 to have legal counsel develop a policy allowing for non-sectarian prayer to replace the student-led invocations which have been a tradition in Pickens County for decades.

Board members Jim Shelton and Ben Trotter were the only two members supportive of allowing student-led invocation to remain on SDPC board meeting agendas and pursuing legal action, if necessary, to defend this action.

By Nicole Daughhetee
Courier Staff

COUNTY — Pickens County residents came out in droves to vocalize their support for student-led invocations at the start of SDPC board meetings at Monday’s meeting, urging board members to take a stand against the Wisconsin-based Freedom of Religion Foundation, which has suggested possible litigation if the board does not comply with the request.

Hundreds of people occupied the board room and packed into the hallways at the SDPC administrative building during Monday’s meeting in anticipation of the board’s action in response to the FFRF’s request. Thirty local residents spoke out during the time allotted for citizen input.

First to speak and address the Pickens County school board was former trustee Oscar Thorsland.

EASLEY — Just three weeks after Easley High School football coach Chad Smith resigned to take the same position at Clover, the Green Wave already have their new man.

The school hosted a press conference Tuesday evening announcing Grayson Howell as its new head football coach.
Howell, who began his coaching career at nearby Daniel High School under coach Allen Sitterle in 1994, has most recently been on staff at Sumter High School since 2000. At Sumter, his alma mater, Howell was assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, a position he has held since 2003. He also coached at Strom Thurmond High School from 1995-2000.

COUNTY — Pickens County elementary schoolers will learn about how trash and recycling affect the environment when the Pickens County Beautification and Environmental Advisory Committee (PCBEAC) presents the “Traveling Trash Bash” throughout February.

The PCBEAC will teach all third graders in the 16 Pickens County elementary schools about environmental concepts such as recycling, composting, water conservation, litter control, beautification and storm water pollution.

The volunteer group has been presenting the educational, fun-filled program for the past 12 years. The third-grade students at each school move in small groups through the six different stations prior to a group assembly to wrap up the fun and learning. Each student gets a T-shirt and a take-home packet with educational information and fun activities to be shared with family. Scores from pre-tests and post-tests are compared to determine improvement. The goal is to encourage wise use of natural resources.

By Nicole Daughhetee
Courier Staff
PICKENS — Pickens city administrator Katherine Brackett said the Walmart Supercenter set to open this spring in Pickens could be ready for business as soon as late March or early April.

“I think the construction might actually be ahead of schedule,” said Brackett, who said she has not gotten a specific opening date from the company. “Initially there was supposed to be some grading work done on the construction site, but it turns out that it didn’t need to be done.”

When it is complete, the Pickens Walmart will measure approximately 90,000 square feet in area, with 17,000 square feet of that devoted to grocery items.

Brackett said that while some people have expressed doubts, the new Walmart will be classified as a Supercenter because of the space allotted for groceries.

“All the departments in the Pickens Walmart will be exactly the same as the Easley Super Walmart,” said Brackett. “The only difference is the Pickens Walmart is half the size of the one in Easley.”

Despite the fact that construction for Walmart is nearing completion, some Pickens residents and business owners have mixed emotions about the presence of the supercenter in their town.

“People have asked how we could allow it. The land was zoned for commercial development,” said Brackett. “We had public meetings, and no one spoke out against the Walmart. We couldn’t tell them ‘no’ legally.”

Some have argued that Walmart could have a negative impact on small businesses in the downtown area of Pickens.

“There was a problem with the downtown even before a Walmart existed in Pickens. It is just one more hurdle to overcome, “said Brackett. “What we are trying to do as a city is be a friend to the local businesses and provide them with the support they need to be competitive.”

The city has joined the Main Street program and is trying to provide local merchants with opportunities and incentives to flourish and thrive, Brackett said. Programs like the Façade Improvement Grant and Gift of Pickens were designed to encourage local shopping in downtown businesses.

Brackett also said other citywide initiatives, such as the $500,000 investment in an amphitheater and the creation of wayfinding signs serve to direct and bring people to the downtown area of Pickens so local stores will have more traffic.

“The Walmart is going to affect each business differently,” Brackett said. “However, having a Walmart in Pickens means that people who would leave Pickens to shop at other Walmarts — like the ones in Easley or Greenville — can stay and shop here, which keeps money in the local economy.”

It would appear as though Walmart has already been beneficial to the Pickens economy, inasmuch as roughly 200 part- and full-time jobs have been created and will be necessary to run the new store.

EASLEY — A Liberty man was killed when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed during last Friday’s icy weather.

James Allen Carroll, 52, of 253 Sanders Road, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which occurred around 11 a.m. Friday near mile marker 16 on U.S. 123.

According to Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley, Carroll was not wearing a seat belt.

Carroll’s son was also transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries.
The accident is under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

PICKENS — Court Street Gallery will be hosting its first visiting artist, Elizabeth Snipes, from Feb. 1 to March 9. An opening reception will be held at the gallery on Friday, Feb. 1 from 6-9 p.m.

Snipes is originally from Pickens. She attended Furman University, where she received her B.A. in Studio Art in 2003. She then attended Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy, where she received her Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in painting. She earned her MFA from Clemson University in 2007 and taught as Assistant Professor of Art in the painting and drawing area at Missouri State University before beginning her current position as Assistant Professor of Art at Lander University. There, she teaches undergraduate Painting and Drawing courses and Masters of Art in Teaching (MAT) graduate courses.

PICKENS — This year’s Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce annual banquet will be held on Feb. 21 with a social hour starting at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.

The banquet will be held at the Pickens First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall and will feature Jane Jenkins Herlong as entertainment.

Herlong has been described as entertaining, inspirational, motivational, a talented singer and delightfully Southern. Most of all she will make you laugh.

The cost of the banquet is $35 per person, and all reservations for the banquet are due Feb. 14 at the Chamber office. Checks should be made payable to the Pickens Chamber of Commerce and mailed to P.O. Box 153, Pickens, SC, 29671.

If you need additional information contact Mike Parrott at (864) 878-3258 or e-mail at info@pickenschamber.net.