Monthly Archives: March 2013
SDPC website earns transparency award
COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County’s website was recently recognized by the Sunshine Review for a 2013 Sunny Award for government transparency.
The SDPC was the only school district in South Carolina to receive a perfect “A+” rating.
The Sunshine Review is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to government transparency, and the award, which honors the most transparent government websites in the nation, went to 250 government entities nationwide.
“We’re very proud of this award,” said Dr. Kelly Pew, district superintendent. “Our staff puts a high priority on making information open to the public, and it’s an honor for our website to be recognized. We’re constantly looking for ways to make sure our district is as transparent as possible.”
Liberty teen wins national crown in race walk
John Hallman
NEW YORK CITY — In his first race in the men’s division of USA Track and Field, Jonathan Hallman of Liberty won the USATF indoor mile race walk national championship on Saturday, Feb. 16.
Hallman, 19, took the honor at the 106th Millrose Games, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious indoor track meet, held at the Armory in Manhattan.
A. R. Lewis students perform at KidsFest
The A. R. Lewis Elementary YAM students performed at Hagood Mill’s KidsFest on Saturday. Those attending enjoyed a beautiful day and these young musicians performing, along with all the history Hagood Mill has to offer. Pictured are Hannah Roper, Tamara Boysworth, Davis Crowder, Jonathan Bowling, Emmalee Stone, Kassie Nations, Emilee Moore, and Brooke Smith.
Online Exclusive
Pancake breakfast set to raise funds for Pickens Recreation
PICKENS — Gatehouse Restaurant in Pickens will host a pancake breakfast this Saturday from 9-11 a.m. to benefit the Pickens Recreation Department’s volleyball program.
Tickets will be sold at the door for $7 apiece, with proceeds going to benefit the 39 recreation volleyball teams. The breakfast will include eggs, grits, bacon or sausage, and a drink in addition to pancakes.
As an added incentive, the team that sells the most tickets will receive free volleyball T-shirts.
Those interested or with questions are asked to call the rec department at (864) 878-2296.
Literacy association book sale scheduled for this weekend
PICKENS — The Pickens County Literacy Association will hold its semi-annual Book Sale at Pickens Presbyterian Church on Friday and Saturday, March 22 and 23.
The event is slated to begin at 9 a.m. both days in the church’s All Saints Hall. The sale will end at 7 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The book sale is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Literacy Association.
It offers thousands of books, including children’s books, paperbacks, hardbacks, classics, coffee table books, cassettes, CDs, tapes, cookbooks and much more.
All proceeds go the Literacy Association, and donations are welcome. For more information, call (864) 878-9642.
Benefit set for Gilstrap
PICKENS — A fundraiser walk is scheduled for Sunday, April 28, to benefit Wayne Gilstrap, a local resident with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Gilstrap was diagnosed with the disease three years ago but has been in the hospital since hte beginning of February with complications resulting in a series of operations.
Preregistration for the fundraiser walk, scheduled to take place in Pickens, will cost $15 and will include a T-shirt.
Azalea Fest to kick off with ‘Your Carolina’ broadcast
PICKENS — The Azalea Festival, which rates among the South Carolina Upstate’s largest venues of arts, crafts, and musical events, will celebrate its 29th year, slated for April 19-20, in a large way.
According to Russ Gantt, director of the festival, local celebrities Jack Roper and Pickens County’s own Kimberly Kelly will broadcast the WSPA Channel 7 show “Your Carolina” live from Pickens on Friday, April 19, at 10 a.m.
“We are all really excited to have Jack and Kimberly coming to Pickens with ‘Your Carolina’ for the festival’s first day,” Gantt said. “There will be a stage near the courthouse, so folks can stop by and see this popular show in person.”
Mission team fundraiser
Holly Springs Baptist Church has been asked to send a mission team to help plant a church in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Team members are raising funds for this mission trip through church dinners on Wednesday night. A member, Gwen Chastain (pictured above), donated an original watercolor painting of a barn on Midway Road with an old A Model stored under a side shed. The barn is believed to be on Doug Thomas’ property. Michael Chastain is heading up the church plant in FWB and will be ordained the day after the team arrives. For more information on making a donation please call 898-3821.
Pickens AD Corn earns honor
PICKENS — Steve Corn, athletic director at Pickens High School, was named the South Carolina Athletic Director of the Year by the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association on March 10.
Corn has served as the AD at PHS for 13 years. He was initially hired at the school as a basketball coach, but has also worn the hats of football coach, cross-country coach, tennis coach, golf coach and track coach in his time at PHS.
“I know someone at the school must have nominated me, and I appreciate that, and I was surprised,” Corn said. “Hopefully it means that they think I’ve done a good job and that they think I try to make decisions that are best for the students, the community and the school.”
Digging up gold for the garden
Olivia Fowler
On The Way
By Olivia Fowler
There’s a section of old pasture in Rice’s Creek community that puts on a show every spring without fail. Jonquils, drifting down from the yard of the house on the hill, show their beautiful faces in dozens of natural bouquets.
They’ve bloomed every spring in the 41 springs we’ve lived on Fowler Farm, and no matter what else is going on, I slow down when driving past just to take in the view.
The people who planted the bulbs aren’t around anymore, but the flowers pay tribute to them each year. I imagine someone long ago digging into the rich earth and planting a few bulbs in a flower bed near the house.
