Daily Archives: 04/10/2013
TaylorMade plans $13M facility for Pickens Co.
COUNTY — TaylorMade Golf Company will establish a new golf ball production facility in Pickens County. The company will invest $13 million in creating the new state-of-the-art facility, it was announced last Wednesday.
“The opportunity to have a permanent home in Pickens County was too good of an opportunity for our company to pass up,” said John Kawaja, executive vice president at TaylorMade Golf. “We are getting a new building in a booming area that will improve our unit production, quality and margin position. Most important, we are committed to keeping jobs in South Carolina.”
Pickens mayor: New fire fee will benefit residents
By Nicole Daughhetee
Courier Staff
PICKENS — Faced with the decision of losing or keeping its fire department, the city of Pickens has opted to keep it, which means residents and business owners within the city limits are going to have to pay a new fire fee.
On Dec. 31, 2013, the city’s contract with the Shady Grove Fire District will end, and on July 1, 2014, the city’s contract with the Rural Fire District will end, meaning that the city of Pickens will no longer provide fire protection for two county districts, and the $500,000 the city receives in fire fees from the two county districts will be lost once those contracts have ended.
Baptist Easley plans emergency training
EASLEY — Baptist Easley Hospital will host an active shooter emergency training exercise on Thursday morning from 9-11 a.m.
In the scenario, an estranged father wanted on a domestic violence charge enters the birthplace to seize a newborn, ultimately shooting 19 people and exposing some to an unknown chemical hazard.
In addition to Baptist Easley staff, agencies involved will be the Easley Police Department, Easley Fire Department, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, Pickens County EMS, Pickens County OEM, Pickens County HAZMAT, Oconee Nuclear Station, SCDHEC, FEMA Region IV, Clemson University and other area hospitals.
Last train out
After more than 100 years, Pickens
Railway makes final trip to Easley
By Nicole Daughhetee
Courier Staff
PICKENS — At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2, Pickens engine 9502 pulling locomotive CLCX 12132 of the Pickens “Doodle” Railway made its final journey from Pickens to Easley.
Although its glory days are long forgotten, the railroad is a vital thread interwoven into the rich fabric of Pickens history.
Donnie Sims, General Manager of the Pickens Railway Company (PICK) with 36 years of experience with the company under his belt, said though the company is still alive and well in Anderson, Pickens would not be what it is today without the railroad.
“People don’t realize it, but the railroad built Pickens,” Sims said. “The town was here before the railroad, no doubt, or else the railroad wouldn’t have been coming, but it was a major catalyst in freight coming into this town.”
The Pickens Railroad was a short-line railroad that operated in the Upstate for more than a century, beginning in the 1890s. Chartered in 1890 to build a 19-mile line from Easley to Oolenoy Gap, by way of Pickens, the 8.5 mile stretch of rail between Pickens and Easley opened in 1898. Two prior attempts at construction of the rail line had failed due to lack of investor interest.
Garden club celebrates 87 years
The members of the Pickens Garden Club celebrated the club’s 87th birthday April 2. Pictured are, front row, from left: Miriam Hendricks, Dora Tait and Maura Edwards. Second row: Lucy Ward, Selena Day, Cindy Wood, Katherine Gitto, Kathryn Morgan, Debbie Teeple and Ann Bowen. Third row: Avanell Morrison, Judy Atkins and Anne Hall. Back row: Ann Day, Pam Jones and Lindsey Jones. Rocky Nimmons/The Courier
PICKENS — Eighty-seven years ago, the year 1926, eight ladies gathered in Miss Elinor Knight’s music room under the bell tower of Pickens High School to establish the Pickens Garden Club.
The ladies attending were born in the late 1800s. Amazingly, the group had time to leave its ironing and quilting to think of flowers and nature’s beauty. This club, and through the years many others, beautified the town and the highways of Pickens.
Depot Street Market open in Liberty
Now through June, Liberty’s Depot Street Market will resume every Saturday. From 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. stop by Depot Street for arts, crafts, yard sale items, food and produce. Local residents and entrepreneurs are welcome to participate as vendors. Food vendors need to preregister. All spaces are $5 each. Tables and chairs are not provided. For more information please visit www.LibertySCevents.com. The Depot Street Market is another effort by Liberty Festivals and Events to bring the community together as well as bring business to downtown Liberty.
Student finds bat at Easley school
EASLEY — Parents were alerted Monday morning after a student found a dead bat in an East End Elementary School classroom.
The student notified a teacher, and the teacher immediately ensured all students washed their hands and used disinfectant wipes. Custodians disposed of the bat and disinfected the classroom.
A contractor was scheduled to examine the school Monday afternoon to prevent more bats from entering the school.
If additional steps or information is necessary, parents will be notified, district spokesman John Eby said.
Parental guidance suggested
Olivia Fowler
On The Way
By Olivia Fowler
We had out-of-town guests during spring break, former college classmates of our daughter who are now married to each other. We always enjoy seeing them. They’re the perfect houseguests, especially during a crisis, as they pitch right in and help with whatever happens to be going on at the time.
This time no one was drafted to haul hay, plow, repair the fence or dip the dogs.
However, they were forced into service at the hen house.
Spring is in the air
Nicole Daughhetee
Life As I Know It
by Nicole Daughhetee
No doubt that in a few months’ time I will most likely be complaining about the sweltering oppressiveness of the heat, but right now I am absolutely delighted that spring appears to be unfolding right before my eyes.
As much as I anticipate the possibility of winter snowfall and enjoy bundling up in a coat, it is also a great feeling to be able to hang my coat up in the closet to hibernate during the warmer months of the year.
In much the same way we wouldn’t be able to fathom unfettered happiness without knowing sadness, the pride of success without the agony of failure, we wouldn’t be able to celebrate all the beauty bursting forth in spring without the slow starkness of the winter months.
Pickens Savings and Loan promotes longtime employee
Tracey Bolding Brock
PICKENS — Pickens Savings and Loan recently announced the promotion of Tracey Bolding Brock to Assistant Vice President of Loan Administration. Her responsibilities include loan processing and servicing, along with all of the administrative functions of the loan department. Tracey has been employed with Pickens Savings and Loan for over 6 years as a Loan Processor. The new position is designed to provide increased efficiency in the loan department and enhanced customer service.
“Tracey is a dedicated employee who is a problem solver. She is willing to accept challenges and adapts well to change. Those qualities coupled with her experience in the loan department make for a winning combination for both Pickens Savings and Loan and the customer,” said Rod Gettys, Senior Vice President in charge of Credit Administration.
