Daily Archives: 05/22/2013
Mom charged in kids’ murders arrested
Suzanna Brown Simpson
PICKENS — Suzanna Brown Simpson, the Dacusville mother accused of shooting and killing her children and trying to kill her husband last week, was taken into police custody Monday upon her release from Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Simpson, who had been hospitalized following a single-vehicle accident shortly before her children and husband were found shot on the morning of May 14, was released into the custody of Pickens County Sheriff’s Office deputies at about 4:30 p.m. Monday.
Simpson, 35, of 307 Cherokee Trail, faces two murder charges in the deaths of her children, 7-year-old Carly Ashelyn Simpson and 5-year-old Sawyer Russell Simpson, an attempted murder charge in the shooting of her husband, Michael John Simpson, 34, and one charge of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Pickens County community comes together to begin healing process
Community members placed flowers in memory of Carly and Sawyer Simpson around the flagpole at Dacusville Elementary School during a service held in their honor at the school last Thursday evening. (Emily Wright/Courier)
By Nicole Daughhetee
Courier Staff
DACUSVILLE — More than 100 members of a grief-stricken Pickens County community gathered outside of Dacusville Elementary last Thursday, to mourn the loss and celebrate the all-too-short lives of Carly and Sawyer Simpson.
Organized by Dacusville parent Amy Skipper and local clergywoman Rev. Ashley McCoy-Bruce, the memorial service for Carly and Sawyer was an effort to unify the community and begin the process of healing.
“I’m here to unify us in our faith and to speak as a mother. My children are raised in Dacusville. My sons graduated from this school. My daughter is a fourth grader here,” said Bruce. “We have worked together because we saw a need to gather quickly to express our heartfelt sympathy for the deaths of two beloved children, our concerns for a critically wounded father and for the soul of a broken mother.”
Tournament brings youth stars, economic investment to Upstate
EASLEY — Each summer, the Big League Baseball World Series (BLBWS) brings more to Easley than just a great week of world championship baseball.
Last year alone, thousands flocked to watch high quality baseball played by the most talented young players in the world, which in turn brought some major economic impact to the Upstate.
“All of us at Big League in Easley work hard every year to provide a place for these young players to develop and grow in their character and athletic skills,” tournament director Jon Humphrey said. “To us, the economic impact study is just an added bonus of why the tournament is a great fit for everyone involved.”
Pickens County EMS celebrates EMS Week
Pickens County EMS officials make appearances at local churches, schools and festivals to try to educate children and make the community a safer place for all.
COUNTY — National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine’s “front line.”
This year’s campaign “EMS: One Mission, One Team” sums up Pickens County EMS with its dedicated, caring, and highly trained staff.
Pickens County EMS is the sole 911 provider in the county. This service responds to all calls within the county, whether it is a 911 call or a request for non-emergent transports. In 2012, Pickens County EMS responded to more than 15,600 calls.
Robinson represents S.C. at NFDA Advocacy Summit
EASLEY — Christopher P. Robinson, of Robinson Funeral Homes in Pickens County, recently spent time in Washington, D.C., attending the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Advocacy Summit.
As president of the South Carolina Funeral Directors Association, Robinson represented the State of South Carolina at the summit, where NFDA members from all across the country met face-to-face with members of Congress to discuss issues of critical importance to funeral service.
By participating in the event, Robinson is taking a proactive approach in advancing legislation that helps protect consumers and benefits the communities he serves.
Sheriff’s office: Person found hanged in Easley
EASLEY — Some motorists between Pickens and Easley were witness to a gruesome sight on Tuesday morning, as an apparent suicide victim was found hanging from a rope from a metal power pole within view of Gentry Memorial Highway.
According to a release from Pickens County Chief Deputy Creed Hashe, a passing motorist notified the sheriff’s office at around 7:15 a.m. after seeing what appeared to be a person hanging from a rope on Rice Road near the Alice Manufacturing Plant.
Hashe said detectives did not find any indications of foul play, and preliminary reports were that the incident was a suicide, which was later confirmed by coroner Kandy Kelley.
The victim was an adult. No further details will be released.
Memorial Day event scheduled in Six Mile
SIX MILE — The Town of Six Mile will hold a Memorial Day Celebration at the Six Mile Town Hall on Monday, May 27 beginning at 10 a.m. to honor the four Medal of Honor recipients from Pickens County. The medal is the highest military award in our nation and Pickens County has more Medal of Honor recipients per capita than any other county in the United States.
All four recipients were awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. All four men gave their lives carrying out amazing acts of bravery. Furman Smith of Six Mile and William McWhorter of Liberty served during World War II:, Charles Barker of Six Mile served during the Korean War and Donnie Howe of Six Mile served during the Vietnam War.
Enrollment under way for Appalachian music lessons
UPSTATE — The next session of the Evening Music Program will begin the week of Monday, June 3.
This program is designed to teach students to play Appalachian music, with acoustic instruments. Lessons are open to all ages (third grade through adults). Instruments include guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and banjo.
The six-week sessions will be held at the following locations: Easley First Baptist Church in Easley (Tuesday nights), Pickens Senior Center (Monday and Thursday nights), Saint Paul United Methodist Church, downtown Greenville (Thursday nights), Clemson (new location and day to be determined).
Cost is $60 per six-week session and instrument rental is available for $25 per six-week session. The enrollment period is from May 20 through June 3. Anyone interested in signing up for these sessions should contact one of the following program directors: Easley & Greenville: Susan Ware-Snow (864 979-9188 or susu9196@gmail.com), Pickens: Steve McGaha (864 283-4871 or blindpunkin54@yahoo.com), or Clemson: Ryan Wilson (864 360-4763 or bipryan@gmail.com).
Six Mile teen set to perform at New York’s Carnegie Hall
NEW YORK — A Six Mile teen will get the opportunity to sing on one of performance’s grandest stages when she joins the Chicora Voices Choir at Carnegie Hall this Sunday.
Aubrey Evans, a Daniel High School freshman, is traveling with the exclusive Greenville-based youth choir for a five-day residency in New York CiAty.
The singers will have the chance to explore the cultural wonders of the city, as well as attend a pair of Broadway shows, before performing on the Carnegie Hall stage as part of a choral festival sponsored by MidAmerica Productions.
Evans, who plays the violin and piano in addition to singing, is the daughter of Andy and Dee Evans of Six Mile. Her grandparents are Tom and Ruby Evans of Six Mile and Virgil and Phyllis Palmer of Athens, Ga.
If it was good enough for the Roman Empire
Olivia Fowler
On The Way
By Olivia Fowler
I was surprised to learn that although the Roman Empire rose and fell, standard measurements they put into place 2,000 years ago may have determined the size of the rocket boosters used in the American space program.
My good neighbor, Brian Dismukes, told me about this when he was curing my computer of yet another nasty virus that had wormed its way into the system.
Please bear in mind that the following information was gleaned from various Internet sources, and of course we know everything on the Internet is true.
The standard gauge for the width of American railroad tracks is 56.5 inches. Why is this?
