Monthly Archives: February 2013
SDPC officials discuss school safety
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.”
Parenting program a help for local dads
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’ Dooley honored
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.
Tri-County schedules event to help with financial aid process
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.
Retired SWU professor hosting 11-day Italy tour
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 Has Talent’ set to showcase local talent
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.
Courier Community Calendar
• 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.
If it weren’t for bad luck…
On The Way
By Olivia Fowler
How superstitious are you? It’s likely you’ll say you aren’t superstitious at all. And maybe you believe that to be true.
But do you step on cracks on the sidewalk? Walk under ladders? Avoid black cats?
Do you think four-leaf clovers lucky? What happens if a mirror is cracked? Do you believe the person who gets the short end of the wishbone is lucky? Or is it the long end?
I haven’t come across a wishbone in a long time, not since they changed the way they cut up chickens in the meat department.
When I see my horoscope, I do read it. It’s interesting to me, and I can’t say I actually believe any of the predictions, but I do consider it entertainment.
Someone told me a few months back that Mercury is in retrograde, which meant all things electrical would be likely to malfunction. I didn’t know what that meant and asked for an explanation. It was something to do with the planet Mercury and the Sun, but it’s hard for me to remember things I don’t understand, so I dismissed it all as hooey. That’s a nice way to say I thought it was nonsense.
However, during the time between Thanksgiving and now strange things have happened. Each incident could not be considered strange when evaluated singly, but lump them all together and a different picture is formed.
It started with my computer. It quit working abruptly one press day. That’s nothing new. Computers are often problematic and pride themselves on breaking down when most needed.
Patience and God make for a love story
Life As I Know IT
By Nicole Daughhetee
True story: Hurricane Andrew hit Miami in August 1992 — the summer before my junior year of high school. We lost power in the city for at least a week, prompting a city-wide curfew.
I can remember sitting out on our balcony, staring up at the night sky filled with stars, awed and amazed by the twinkling sight. Normally all the city lights of Miami choke out these celestial beings, and only a few ultra-bright, magical bodies managed to outshine the neon condominiums and illuminated streets.
Even though I had a boyfriend, who quite frankly was an immature jerk most of the time, I sat on our balcony and prayed that God would someday send me a soul-mate, the love of my life, the person He was perfectly preparing for me, the way He was preparing me for my love.
Over time I pushed the thought into the recesses of my mind — without ever truly giving up hope — and life carried on, as is its tendency.
I got married, had a baby girl, and then I got divorced. I got remarried, had another daughter and am going through South Carolina’s mandated yearlong separation period before I can file for divorce No. 2.
Judgmental people might look at my situation and say that I don’t take marriage seriously or that I simply quit when things get a little rocky. They would be wrong. The fact of the matter is, while I did everything I could to save my marriages, I truly believe they were doomed from the start for one very simply reason: neither of my marriages had a firm foundation in God.
Most Famous Love Stories in History and Literature
1. Romeo and Juliet
This is probably the most famous pair of lovers of all time. This couple has become a synonym for love itself. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. Their love story is very tragic: two teenagers from feuding families fall in love at first sight, marry, become true lovers and then risk it all for their love. Their untimely deaths ultimately unite their feuding households.
2. Cleopatra and Mark Antony
The true love story of Antony and Cleopatra is one of the most memorable, intriguing and moving of all times. The story of these two historical characters, later dramatized by William Shakespeare, is still staged all over the world. The relationship between these two powerful people put the country of Egypt in a powerful position. But their love affair outraged the Romans, who were wary of the growing powers of the Egyptians. Despite all the threats, Anthony and Cleopatra got married. It is said that while fighting a battle against Romans, Antony got false news of Cleopatra’s death. Shattered, he fell on his sword. When Cleopatra learned about Antony’s death, she was shocked and took her own life.
