Monthly Archives: November 2013
Schools letting out early Thursday
COUNTY — Schools in Pickens County will dismiss early Thursday because of anticipated traffic issues from Clemson’s home football game against Georgia Tech.
Elementary schools will dismiss at 1 p.m., while middle and high schools will dismiss at 2 p.m. Schools may continue after-school activities such as athletic practices at the principal’s discretion, but employees will still be required to work a full day.
“We anticipate that traffic in the Clemson area and around U.S. 123 in Easley would make it impossible for buses to take students home in a reasonable amount of time unless school is
Pickens volleyball wins AAA State championship
BoltonPhoto.com
Members of the Pickens High School volleyball team celebrate their State Championship victory over North Myrtle Beach on Saturday in Columbia.
COLUMBIA — The title came after months of preparation, a team determined to get back to the big stage.
Pickens High School won its first State championship since 2008 on Saturday at White Knoll High School in a rematch with the defending State champion North Myrtle Beach Chiefs, who defeated the Lady Blue Flame in last year’s State title match.
“Having the opportunity to recapture the trophy and bring the elusive 14th championship to Pickens was a season-long goal,” Blue Flame coach Jennifer Gravely said. “Facing the team that dashed our dream last year and beating them was super sweet. I like a rivalry. We don’t play a lot of common opponents, so it’s always hard to judge the level of competition
SDPC earns ‘Good’ Absolute Rating
COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County received a “Good” absolute rating and a “Below Average” growth rating on the 2013 South Carolina School District Report Card.
The absolute rating judges the district against the state’s expectations, and the growth rating compares the district to its own performance in the previous year. The five categories of ratings are “Excellent,” “Good,” “Average,” “Below Average” and “At-risk,” with “Average” being the state’s expectation for performance.
“I’m glad that our teachers and students have once again surpassed the state’s requirements for academic performance, but our growth is an area of concern,” said Dr. Kelly Pew, superintendent. “Our goal is always to improve. Our students are clearly competitive in
Counselors, manufacturers work together to prepare students
COUNTY — Guidance counselors from all Pickens County schools recently collaborated with seven local manufacturing companies to learn about technology and job skill requirements by seven local manufacturing companies.
The guidance counselors gathered at the Pickens County Career and Technology Center on October 28 to hear about job outlooks, Career Center technology training programs, economic development benefits and strategy, and what skills sets local manufacturers look for and hire.
Amanda Blanton, of Tri-County Technical College, presented job outlooks and forecasts for the region and the nation. Ray Farley, Executive Director of Alliance Pickens, discussed how Pickens County markets itself to prospective companies, and how the “Scholar Technician”
Liberty to host holiday events starting Saturday
LIBERTY — Come shop local artisan merchants this Saturday in Liberty at the third annual Holiday Bazaar hosted by Liberty Festivals and Events.
Vendors will be present with gifts for just about everyone on your shopping list. Breakfast and lunch items will be available as well.
Admission is free with a new unwrapped toy to be donated to area children (in conjunction with the City of Liberty’s Toy’s for Tots campaign).
The event is will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Rosewood Center on Saturday. More
New bakery opens
Martha’s Marvelous Munchies
Martha’s Marvelous Munchies Bakery held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Friday. After a 25-year career in medical technology Martha Ellenburg took a passion for baking and has turn it into a full time business. Ellenburg has been baking for a number of years for a loyal group of customers that come together at the Pickens Flea Market every Wednesday. Ellenburg would like to thank the many people that has help make this day possible from her husband Benny to her local customers. The Bakery located at 511 West Main Street in Pickens is opened Wednesday thru Friday from 6am -6pm and on Saturday from 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. Pictured from left are Clark Purbaugh of the Pickens Chamber, Martha Ellenburg, Benny Ellenburg, PIckens Mayor David Owens, Pickens City Administrator Katherine Hendricks, Jessica Morris, and Bruce Evilsizor of the Pickens Chamber.
Career center vet returns to encourage students
By Ben Robinson
Courier Staff
COUNTY — Ben Waters is a fifth-year senior at Clemson University, ready for an upcoming exciting life working with the U.S. Navy on board a nuclear submarine. But it is important to him to remember his roots.
Ben Robinson/Couier
Career center graduate and soon-to-be Clemson graduate Ben Waters gives current career center students advice on plotting their education to achieve a great career.
That is why it was important for him to take time to appear at the Pickens County Career and Technology Center and encourage students and show that whatever efforts they may give today will likely lead to many brighter tomorrows.
“Never forget why you are here,” Waters told students. “You will go to college for four years to get a degree, so you can enjoy the rest of your life,”
Waters encouraged the students to become involved in activities outside of the classroom.
“When you start to apply for a job, 90 percent of the places do not ask what you learned on
Flame Award given to East Pickens Baptist
Pickens Mayor David Owens presents the We Fan The Flame award to Senior Pastor Jamie Duncan and members of East Pickens Baptist Church.
PICKENS — For their tireless efforts to reach out to the community, East Pickens Baptist Church members were recently presented the latest We Fan the Flame award. It is best known for the church sponsored Pickens Celebrates the Fourth annual event and, most recently, for its Food Pantry Ministry.
It was fifteen years ago, on July 4th 1998, that East Pickens initiated the annual 4th of July event. Pickens Celebrates the Fourth was established as a community celebration to allow families to enjoy time together as they celebrate Independence Day. Originally, the event was held at the Pickens YMCA property. In 2007, the event was moved to its current home on Main Street in downtown Pickens.
The annual July event offers free concessions, carnival games and face painting for children as well as free entertainment by bands. The culmination of each celebration is a free
Association committed to supporting local business
Allison Fowler
By Allison Fowler
Pickens Revitalization Association
In light of Small Business Month, Pickens Revitalization Association is committed to supporting our local businesses. Alongside the Gift of Pickens program, PRA has developed the Shop Local. Shop Historic Pickens. campaign to feature businesses here in Pickens and the products and services offered.
This campaign really allows us to focus on what is available here in Pickens, especially as people begin their holiday shopping. We want our small businesses to be the first place people think to shop and dine during the holiday season.
The first three businesses featured are Stockade ‘n Stuff Antiques, Hiott Printing Company
Our veterans
Ben Robinson
All About Ben
By Ben Robinson
As far as military service, my family has been thankfully limited. The draft was over before me or my brother Thom reached 18. The idea of volunteering to go overseas and have somebody shoot at me never really appealed to me, so I never volunteered either.
My father served briefly in the military near the beginning of World War II, but my grandmother’s poor health led him to seek a dishonorable discharge. My Uncle Farris served in the army for a while, but he finished his time with no major headlines.
On my mother’s side of the family, my uncle Don Smith was in the Air Force
