Daily Archives: 11/06/2013
Liberty elects Boughman
By Ben Robinson
Courier Staff
COUNTY — Four municipalities in Pickens County held elections Tuesday.
Former Liberty City Councilman Eric Boughman garnered enough votes to defeat incumbent Michael Sheriff for the mayor’s seat. Boughman defeated Sheriff 261 votes to 238 votes.
In Liberty’s only other race, Chuck Powell defeated Brian Deese for an at-large seat on Liberty City Council. Powell took the victory with 292 votes to Deese’s 205.
In Pickens, three city council seats were up for election, with incumbents Patrick Lark and Carlton Holley Jr., along with Donald McKinney, earning the seats. Lark led all candidates with 217 votes. Holley was second with 216 votes, while McKinney received 192 votes. Carl Allmond received 167 votes and Jimmy Lee Davis received 166 votes, but neither earned a seat on council.
In Central, four candidates competed for three open seats on town council, with incumbent Benji Cumbie finishing first with 82 votes, incumbent Paige Bowers finishing second with 80 votes and incumbent Ken Dill placing third with 77 votes. Failing to earn a seat was Steven H. Farmer, who gained 14 votes.
Easley had a single seat up for grabs, with incumbent Libby Brown Dodson losing her seat to former Easley Chamber of Commerce director Kent Dykes. Dykes picked up 218 votes to Dodson’s 93 votes.
In Norris, three candidates competed for two seats on Town Council. Wendell Melton had the most votes with 38, and Lawrence McClure won the other seat on council with 33 votes. Brian Norris, who had 24 votes, did not earn a seat on council.
Results include all but failsafe and provisional votes and are unofficial until the recount, set for Thursday.
PHS inducts latest hall of fame class
Pickens High School inducted two new members into its athletic hall of fame at halftime of the Blue Flame’s Oct. 25 football game against Blue Ridge. Former PHS multi-sport stars Erin Winchester Hunter and Alex Gettys were honored as the 2013 inductees. Hunter played multiple sports at Pickens, including lettering in volleyball five years, before signing to play at Presbyterian College. Gettys played both basketball and football for the Blue Flame, earning All-State honors and being named to the North-South All-Star Game on the gridiron. He went on to play for The Citadel. Pictured above, from left, are David Gravely of the PHS booster club, Hunter, PHS principal Marion Lawson, Gettys’ granddaughter Alex Marie Stern, Gettys and PHS athletic director Stan Butler.
Lady Blue Flame claim first AAA state golf crown
Pictured, from left, are Pickens High School principal Marion Lawson, Lauren Harkins, Lilly Turner, Claire Page, PHS coach Frank Sullivan, Maddy Cox and Morgan Cox.
LONGS — The Pickens Lady Blue Flame golf team posted a two-day score of 660 to run away with the 2013 AAA state championship on Oct. 29 at Black Bear Golf Club.
The Blue Flame defeated second-place Greenville by 19 strokes. Led by senior Maddy Cox’s two-under par 70 and sophomore Morgan Cox’s 79, Pickens took a commanding 18-stroke lead after the first day. Senior Claire Page carded an 82, and junior Lilly Turner’s 90 rounded out a strong team score of 322.
“We felt pretty good about having an 18-stroke lead going into the second day, but we knew we would have to play solidly to hold the lead,” Blue Flame coach Frank Sullivan said. “Greenville, St. James, Daniel, and Wren all were within striking distance if we stumbled.”
City responds to Catherine Street traffic concerns
By Ben Robinson
Courier Staff
PICKENS — After the Rev. Bill Pace brought his concerns about traffic on Catherine Street before Pickens City Council last month, the city responded with proof of action in the area.
Pace again appeared at the Pickens City Council meeting Monday night to further express his concerns about the situation.
Pace said that it was rare to see high school-aged drivers on Catherine Street. The problem seems to lie with older drivers, Pace said.
“The problem still exists on Catherine Street,” Pace said as he opened his comments.
Pace wondered if the city could assign more officers to patrol the street.
Main Street power outage
Crews worked through much of the day Tuesday to restore power along Main Street in Pickens after an early-morning accident involving a garbage truck. Early Tuesday morning, the commercial sanitation provider for the City of Pickens, Greater Greenville Sanitation Commission (GGSC) backed into a power pole while collecting garbage behind Main Street. The city was notified immediately by GGSC. Public Works Director, Cory Cox was on scene and worked with the crews to secure the area. Cars were directed to Legacy Square for parking and all businesses owners that could be locate at that time were notified.
School Board gives Pew commendable, positive evaluation
COUNTY — On Oct. 28, the School District of Pickens County Board of Trustees met in executive session to conclude Superintendent Dr. Kelly Pew’s 2012-13 performance evaluation.
The annual evaluation is required by board policy and by the district’s employment agreement with the superintendent. This year, the evaluation focused on the district’s 2012–2013 goals and objectives in the four main areas of student achievement, finance, personnel/human resources and completing the building program. Specifically, on June 25, 2012, the board previously adopted goals, or priorities, for Pew, which are the criteria upon which the members evaluated her performance.
Following the executive session discussion and in open session at its meeting, the board publicly expressed its strong approval of Pew’s performance and her overall vision for the
County United Way awarded federal funds
COUNTY — United Way of Pickens County has been awarded federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.
United Way of Pickens County has been chosen to receive $45,540 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.
The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the
Easley High School Hall of Fame announces the 2013 inductees
EASLEY—Easley High School has announce their Class of 2013 athletic hall of fame inductees. The group will be inducted at half time during this Friday night’s home game against J.L. Mann.
Below are the members of the class.
David Hunter
A 1973 graduate of Easley High School, David participated in both the football and track teams. During his senior season he had over 100 tackles. David was a member of the 1972 AAAA State Championship Football Team. As the starting Nose Guard on the State Championship Team, David earned several honors in his career including Defensive Player of the Year, Upstate Player of the Week. As a member of the Green Wave Track Team he participated in the 440 yard spring and the 4 x 4 Relay Team. David has served as an assistant girls’ basketball coach for both Gettys Middle School and Easley High School. David has coached basketball teams for a variety of organizations, including Easley Department of Recreation, the YMCA, AAU Teams, and church leagues. Additionally, David coached Easley Booster Club’s Little League Football Team. Outside of sports David held several positions
Flame to play for Upper State title today
Victory will put Lady Flame in
AAA State title game Saturday
PICKENS — The Pickens Blue Flame volleyball team has dominated in the first three rounds of the AAA State playoffs and is set to play for the Upper State title today. Pickens will host Chapin at 6 p.m., with the winner playing for the State title on Saturday.
If the Blue Flame take the victory over Chapin, they will travel to White Knoll High School in Columbia to battle the winner of the North Myrtle Beach/Airport game for the AAA State Championship. The title game will begin at 3:30 p.m on Saturday.
The Lady Flame continued their winning ways on Monday in the third round of the AAA state playoffs by defeating the River Bluff Gators 25-13, 25-21, 25-17.
“River Bluff has a good team, and they came at us with a strong defense and a powerful offense,” Pickens coach Jennifer Gravely said. “I’m proud of the way we rallied at crucial points and look forward to the rematch against Chapin in the Upper State.”
Baptist Easley Hospital earns top performer recognition
EASLEY — Baptist Easley Hospital was named one of the nation’s Top Performers on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America.
Baptist Easley was recognized by The Joint Commission for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve care for certain conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgical care. Baptist Easley was the only hospital in the upstate to receive a top performer rating on all four acute care
