MICHAEL RYAN MADILL

CLEMSON — Clemson University police arrested a student on a felony marijuana distribution charge last week.

Michael Ryan Madill, 20, of Watertown, N.Y., was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, Adderall.

Madill was arrested late Thursday in his room at Calhoun Courts apartments on campus.

Madill was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond.

By Nicole Daughhetee

Courier Staff

COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County’s student nutrition services (SNS) was on the hot seat for much of Monday night’s board of trustees meeting.

District SNS director Sally Nicholson presented the board with a request to increase student meal prices for the 2013-2014 school year and presented the SNS general fund budget, which is separate from the SDPC general fund budget, for approval.

Nicholson explained to trustees that per Federal regulations from the USDA, school districts that charge less than $2.59 for lunches must either increase their meal prices using the weighted average formula provided by the USDA or add non-Federal funds to the student nutrition services program.

By Nicole Daughhetee

Courier Staff

COUNTY — In a 4-1 vote, with trustee Alex Saitta opposing, School District of Pickens County board trustees voted Monday night to approve the first reading of the district’s FY 2013-14 general fund budget in the amount of $100,685,680.

SDPC finance director Clark Webb said the budget is currently balanced.

“We continue to work on this budget and are still in the process of implementing staffing changes in the CSI system and going through contracts for (full-time employees),” said Webb. “There are still funding unknowns at this time as well. Bills in Columbia might impact the budget process.”

By Nicole Daughhetee

Courier Staff

COUNTY — During last month’s School District of Pickens County board of trustees meeting, the majority of board members — Alex Saitta, Jimmy Gillespie, Herb Cooper and chair Judy Edwards — voted to eliminate student-led invocation from the agenda of the board meetings. However, this did not stop one private citizen from offering her own sectarian prayer prior to Monday night’s school board meeting.

Sonya Hoxit, a Pickens County resident who vocally opposed the removal of the sectarian-based student-led invocations at the start of the meetings, signed up during the public citizens’ input portion of the meeting and offered her own prayer at the meeting.

NORRIS — The town of Norris is planning its second annual Fun Festival.

The festival will be held at the Norris Recreational Park, located on S.C. 137, just off of S.C. 93 in Norris, on Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

There will be free parking and a shuttle from Norris First Baptist Church off of S.C. 93, as well as from Cateechee Baptist Church off of S.C. 137.

The event will include live entertainment all day, games with prizes, inflatables, a hula hoop contest for adults and children, door prizes, magic shows, animal balloons and train rides. There will also be a Smoke House on site teaching children fire safety.

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SIX MILE — The 2013 Issaqueena Festival will be held on Saturday, May 18, from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. in downtown Six Mile. 

Main Street will be closed from Liberty Highway to Six Mile Baptist Church during the festival.

There will be free entertainment provided by Providence Quartet, Mile Marker 0, Y.A.M.S./Sweet Potato Pie Kids, Mtn. View Baptist Quartet and the Daniel HS Band Ensemble. There will also be performances by The Hotfoot Cloggers and the Blue Ridge Mountain Cloggers. The Critter Keeper will also be on stage that morning with all kinds of creepers and crawlers. There will be plenty of room to sit down and enjoy the entertainment under canopies at both ends of Main Street.