Monthly Archives: July 2013
July is Cell Phone Courtesy Month
With the ubiquity of smartphones and other electronic devices, our “techno-etiquette” seems to be declining.
In honor of National Cell Phone Courtesy Month, Jacqueline Whitmore, one of the nation’s foremost experts on etiquette and protocol, offers these steps for wireless phone users who want to avoid offending others:
Be all there. When you’re in a meeting, performance, courtroom or other busy area, let calls go to voicemail to avoid a disruption. In some instances, turning your phone off may be the best solution.
Keep it private. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid discussing private or confidential information in public. You never know who may be in
Courier Obits 7-24-13
Ruth E. Morris
Pickens — Ruth Ellen Coleman Morris, 80, widow of George Edward Morris, died Monday, July 15, 2013.
Mrs. Morris was born in Pickens County, a daughter of the late Fred and Bertha McKinna Coleman. She was a homemaker and a member of Midway Baptist Church.
Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Marilyn Sue O’Shields (Wayne) of Sunset, Jennifer Kay Goff (Robert) of Pumpkintown and Jacqueline Ann Richards (Ed) of Greer. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and sisters, Wilma Gillespie and Betty Bowie both of Pickens.
Courier Classifieds 7-24-13
Anouncements
Do you own an antique or modern U.S. or foreign military vehicle? If so, “I WANT YOU” to join our veterans club, USMTM, please email for info: us.mtm66@yahoo.com. TFC
—————————————-
MEDICAL OFFICE TRAINEES NEEDED! Train for a career in Healthcare Management! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Advanced College gets you job ready! HS Diploma/GED & PC/Internet needed. 1-888-528-5176. SW
—————————————–
Guaranteed Income For Your Retirement. Avoid market risk & get guaranteed income in retirement! CALL for FREE copy of our SAFE MONEY GUIDE Plus Annuity Quotes from A-Rated companies! 800-793-0956. SW
Dacusville fire claims 2 children
Mother, toddler taken
to Augusta Burn Center
DACUSVILLE — An early-morning fire in Dacusville killed two young brothers on Sunday.
The blaze erupted around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, destroying a mobile home at 145 Daisy Drive.
Timothy Lee Graham, 7, and Devon Dewayne Graham, 4, were pronounced dead at the scene, Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley said.
Board finalizes plan for 1 middle school
The former Easley High School will house all Easley-area middle school students and will be renamed Gettys Middle School.
By Nicole Daughhetee, Courier Staff
EASLEY — The city of Easley will only be home to a single newly renovated middle school after all, though the school will still feature a familiar name.
After hearing various options during a marathon meeting last Thursday, School District of Pickens County board trustees voted 4-1 to move forward with plans for all Easley-area middle school students to transition to the former Easley High School campus, which will be renamed to Gettys Middle School.
Board chair Judy Edwards, along with trustees Jimmy Gillespie, Jim Shelton and Ben Trotter voted to pass the motion, while Alex Saitta voted in opposition and Herb Cooper abstained.
A previous plan that many Easley residents had pleaded with trustees to keep had called for students to be split between the former high school campus, which was then to be called Brice Middle School, and the current Gettys Middle School.
Instead, the new Gettys will house all Easley-area students following a $24.2 million renovation project.
According to district superintendent Dr. Kelly Pew, around $9.3 million will remain in the school district’s building fund after the conversion is complete.
Saitta told those in attendance at the meeting that the former high school campus will be the top middle school in the county.
“This school is far and away the best in our county,” he said. “It has a campus-like feel, football stadium and everything is completely new.”
Walking for a cause
Patrick Springs, Va., resident Steve Young passed through Pickens on foot Friday on his way to Utah as part of a walk designed to raise awareness for Victory Junction, a year-round camp in Randleman, N.C., for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses ages 6-16. The walk is Young’s third to raise awareness for the camp. Young, 58, expects the walk to take nine months to complete. For more information about Victory Junction, started in honor and memory of former NASCAR driver Adam Petty by his friends and family, visit www.victoryjunction.org. (Photo by Rocky Nimmons)
Motorcyle wreck claims teen’s life
SIX MILE — A Six Mile teen was killed Monday after his motorcycle hit an oncoming truck, authorities said.
According to Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley, James William Keith Horn, 18, was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on S.C. 133 near Lakeside Drive in Six Mile when he lost control and crossed the center line, striking a pick-up truck in the northbound lane, around 4 p.m. on Monday.
Horn later died at Cannon Memorial Hospital, Kelly said.
Kelly also said Horn was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
The wreck is still being investigated by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Liberty couple charged after kids found in roadway
LIBERTY — A Liberty couple faces multiple charges after their two young children were found wandering in a roadway on July 4.
Liberty police were called on July 4 in reference to a pair of children found unattended outside a home on Iselin Street. Officers found the children’s parents inside their residence unresponsive.
Brian Keith Burgess, 45, and Karie Amanda Burgess, 37, of 13 Iselin St. in Liberty, were arrested and charged with unlawful conduct towards a child.
Because of the conditions of the parents and a lack of food inside the home, the Department of Social Services was called. DSS later placed the children into the care of relatives.
Simpson back in Pickens County
PICKENS — A Dacusville mother accused of shooting and killing her two young children and attempting to kill her husband was transferred back to Pickens County last Wednesday.
Suzanna Brown Simpson had been temporarily transferred to the Greenville County Detention Center on June 6 in order to recover from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle wreck that occurred shortly after the shootings at her home at 307 Cherokee Trail in Dacusville on May 14.
Simpson is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of her children, 7-year-old Carly Ashelyn Simpson and 5-year-old Sawyer Russell Simpson, as well as an attempted murder charged 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 reschedules fireworks display
PICKENS — With The Tams set to return to the city’s new amphitheater July 27 for a makeup performance after rain cancelled their Azalea Festival performance in April, Pickens officials figured there was no better time to make up for another rainout.
Following the Tams’ performance, the city will host a dazzling fireworks display that was originally set to take place on Main Street for Pickens Celebrates the Fourth, which was canceled earlier this month after torrential downpours rolled through the city.
Pickens city council members voted at their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday night to use the fireworks purchased for the Independence Day celebration to put an exclamation mark on The Tams’ performance July 27.
