EASLEY — The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate a shooting incident at an Easley motel after two people were found dead Saturday.

According to Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley, Cristy Ingram, 39, of Piedmont, and Robert McPeak, Sr., 77, of Iva, were both found dead in a room at the Sun Inn in Easley on Saturday afternoon.

An autopsy determined that both victims died of a single gunshot wound to the head, and ballistics testing will be performed on a small-caliber handgun found at the scene to determine if it fired the deadly shots.

By Nicole Daughhette

Courier Staff

PICKENS — The city of Pickens has filed an 180-day extension allowing for more time during which the city and the Pickens Railway Company can continue to develop an agreement and finalize the sale of the Doodle Line that will be developed into the “Rails-to-Trails” project — an 8.5-mile multi-modal greenway connecting the cities of Easley and Pickens.

Various Pickens County residents have voiced their unhappiness about the project, asserting that there will be an infringement on property rights or that a pedestrian and cycling trail will foster criminal activity in the area; however, other members of the community support having a safe, family-friendly trail that will encourage outdoors activities like walking, running and bicycling.

By Nicole Daughhetee

Courier Staff

COUNTY — Last year, Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley worked approximately 718 deaths; the year before, she single-handedly worked 603 deaths.

So far this year, she has handled 230 deaths.

With a caseload quickly reaching into the thousands and weeks where she logs between 60 and 80 hours’ worth of work, Kelley recently approached Pickens County Council asking them to fund an administrative assistant position for her office to help balance the growing case numbers.

CLEMSON — Clemson police arrested three men last week in a recent crime spree in the city, charging each with 16 different counts ranging from malicious injury to property to grand larceny.

According to a release from Clemson Police Chief Jimmy Dixon, the city experienced a rash of auto burglaries, thefts of property and malicious damage to both personal and real property within the downtown area.

Late on the night of April 19 into the morning of April 20, patrol officers were able to develop a suspect vehicle and get a description of the vehicle’s driver using street cameras in the downtown area. In addition, a cell phone was found at one of the incident locations, and putting the pieces together led to the identity of one of the suspects. From there, investigators were able to figure out the identities of the other two suspects.

B y Nicole Daughhetee

Courier Staff

PICKENS — Pickens County recently cancelled more than $500,000 worth of fire contracts with the city of Pickens. As a result, city administrator Katherine Brackett said, the city was forced to make some permanent adjustments in its budget.

“First, we added on the fire fee and, secondly, we contracted our commercial solid waste. Not residential,” she said. “Commercial solid waste was losing close to $60,000 a year, which means of the approximately 130 customers using it; the fees were not high enough to fund the service.”

Jim Robinson

EASLEY — Lifelong Easley resident Jim Robinson has announced that he will seek the Ward 6 seat on City Council.

“I have spent much of my adult life involved in the civic and charitable life of our community,” Robinson said. “As a member of City Council, I look forward to making decisions and supporting policies that will ensure Easley continues to be a great place to live, work and raise a family.”