City of Pickens and Azalea Festival officials pose with Jack Roper and Kimberly Kelly on the set of “Your Carolina.” Pictured, from left, are Jeff Hogan, Pat Mulkey, Roper, Kelly, Pickens mayor David Owens, Russ Gantt and Pickens administrator Katherine Brackett.

PICKENS — Organizers of the Pickens Azalea Festival announced recently that WSPA-TV Channel 7 and WYCW-TV Channel 62 will be the title sponsors for the 2013 event, scheduled to take place April 19-20.
WSPA will be broadcasting live throughout the event, spotlighting Pickens County and the city of Pickens in a huge promotion that will start more than two weeks prior to the festival.

Pickens County’s own Kimberly Kelly and Jack Roper will be featured at the Azalea Festival and will broadcast live at 7 p.m. on Friday evening.
Headlining Friday night’s musical offerings at the festival will be the Tams, with special guest Avery as an opening act. On Saturday night, celebrated country music group Little Texas will take to the Azalea Festival’s main stage.

The partnership with WSPA has been in the works for almost a year, according to event organizers, after Roper brought his magic show to last year’s event and was overwhelmed by the turnout.

PICKENS — The Hagood Mill will host a special “Deep Winter Blues” concert this Saturday as part of the Music in the Mountains 2013 series.

The concert, starting at noon and running until 3 p.m. in the mill’s visitor building, will feature folk blues sounds from S.C. Folk Heritage Award winning guitarist Steve McGaha and Laurens musician Hunter Holmes.

Both artists reach into the past for their sounds, playing a variety of piedmont blues and old-time medicine show tunes.

Seating is limited and first come-first serve. Mill regulars Rocky Bottom Bluegrass will also be jamming at the mill.

The old gristmill and other demonstrations will also run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Music in the Mountains 2013 is sponsored by a private benefactor. For additional information please contact the Hagood Mill at (864) 898-2936 or the Pickens County Museum at (864) 898-5963.

By Nicole Daughhetee
Courier Staff

COUNTY — Following the tragic school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, the School District of Pickens County wants to make certain that the children in our county are safe.

Student resource officers (SROs) are in position at the four high schools, five middle schools and Simpson Academy; however, at present none of the elementary schools in Pickens County have an SRO in place.

SDPC trustees, spearheaded by Ben Trotter, held a workshop on Monday, Feb. 11, designed to create collaboration between SDPC officials and local municipalities to ensure that the elementary-aged children throughout the district are protected and safe during school hours.

“Elementary schools are vulnerable, and we want to change that,” said Trotter. “We feel like SROs would make a huge difference deterring anyone from trying anything in the schools. Plus there is a trained person there should something happen.”

By Nicole Daughhetee
Courier Staff

COUNTY — The Parenting Place, affiliated with Prevent Child Abuse America, has a brand new program called “Fathers 2 Dads” headed by Joey Medoro, the agency’s new Fatherhood Specialist.

Prior to working with The Parenting Place, Medoro was part of Healthy Families America in Upstate New York. While there has been a great need in Pickens County for a fatherhood program, there was no funding available until recently.

Fathers 2 Dads began just a few weeks ago, but the program is already gaining momentum.

“My focus is working one on one with dads who are struggling,” said Medoro. “Dads need to know the important role they play in the lives of their children.”

National statistics dating back to 2002 show that the children who grow up in fatherless homes make up 63 percent of youth suicides, 85 percent of those with behavioral disorders, 70 percent of the children involved with the Department of Juvenile Justice and account for 71 percent of high school drop-outs.

Pickens High School sophomore Sara Dooley has been invited by the U.S. Soccer Federation to participate in the U.S. Soccer Training Center Games in Jacksonville, Fla., on March 2. Dooley will compete with the best players from all over the Southeast. The U.S. Soccer Federation develops the teams that represent the United States in all international competitions, including the Olympics and Women’s World Cup. Dooley is a two-year starter for Pickens High School, is the starting goalkeeper for the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy’s U16 ECNL team, and is a member of the 1996 South Carolina Olympic Development Program team.

PENDLETON — With April 1 as Tri-County Technical College’s deadline for applying for the best financial aid package for the fall 2013 semester, the college has planned an event to help students and their families fill out and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA.

The FAFSA is the first step to receiving Federal aid, and it is a requirement for most college students who plan to pay for college.
College Goal SC is set for Saturday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in Pickens Hall, Room 140, on the Pendleton campus. The free event is open to anyone who has questions or wants help in completing the FAFSA. If you would like to attend the event, please visit www.collegegoalsc.org for more information.

Financial aid professionals and representatives from Tri-County, Clemson University, Anderson University and Southern Wesleyan University will be on hand to help college-bound students and their families with the financial aid application process and admissions-related questions.

Tri-County Financial Aid Counselor Kevin Woods stressed that both students and parents should have at least the following information with them: 2012 Federal tax return, 2012 W-2 forms, 2012 untaxed income records (Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records); and Social Security number.

Participants will have a chance to enter a drawing for a free iPad mini at the event.

CENTRAL — Those interested can experience the beauty and rich history of Italy, spending 11 days touring the peninsular nation’s most iconic spots, including Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Pompeii and Rome, the “Eternal City.”

The trip, to be hosted by retired Southern Wesleyan University religion professor Dr. Jim Bross and Rev. Phill Nall, minister of education at First Baptist Church of Tucker, Ga., is planned for Oct. 30-Nov. 9.

“After three trips to Italy, I still find the country with its art and history fascinating,” Bross said. “There is much to be explored related to the New Testament and to church history, my major area of study.”
For details, contact Bross by e-mail at jbross@swu.edu or call (864) 639-6390.

PUMPKINTOWN — Starting this Friday, those with talent in the area will have a chance to win $500 in the first-ever “Pumpkintown Has Talent” competition at the historic Pumpkintown Opry House.

Participants will get four chances to compete for a place in the grand finale, to be held March 31 at 8 p.m.

Qualifying shows are planned for this Friday at 8 p.m., this Sunday at 3 p.m., Friday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m.
There will be one finalist chosen from each qualifying event, and the audience will choose the winner.

Organizers want all types of talent in the show. Tickets for the event are $10 person. If you are interested in showcasing your unique talent, call to register or to reserve tickets at (864) 836-8141.

For more information and the official rules, call the number above, email info@pumpkintownopry.com or visit www.pumpkintownopry.com, www.pumpkintownmountain.com or facebook.com/pumpkintownopry.

• Pickens County WPO offers a chance to meet new friends

Pickens County Widowed Persons Organization provides an opportunity for widowed persons to come together and make new friends.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in any and all events.

Please contact Pat LeRoy at (864) 506-1273 for more information or to be added to the organization’s mailing list.

• Carolina Community Church to host singing

Coming soon, one of the best quartets in South Carolina, The Kings Cause will perform at Carolina Commumity Church located at 132 Front St. in Liberty.

The group performed at the state convention and will be heard in Liberty on March 10 at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

For more information, contact Pastor John Revis at (864) 332-1616.