Daily Archives: 12/24/2013
Reason for the season
Members of First United Methodist Church of Easley took part in a live Nativity service Dec. 15, reenacting the very first Christmas in Bethlehem. The Nativity was complete with live animals and was held on the porch of the former Easley Hotel at 205 South 1st St.
Cannon joining AnMed
Rocky Nimmons/Courier
Cannon Memorial Hospital president and CEO Norman Rentz, left, shakes hands with AnMed executive Bill Manson at a breakfast meeting in Pickens last week announcing that Cannon will be integrated into the AnMed Health system.
PICKENS — AnMed Health and Cannon Memorial Hospital in Pickens have entered an integration agreement that becomes effective Jan. 1.
Cannon Memorial Hospital will be integrated into the AnMed Health system. However, it will remain its own entity — a not-for-profit corporation — and will continue to be governed by a separate board of trustees. Cannon Memorial will become a member corporation and AnMed Health will be its sole member.
“As the national health care landscape changes, AnMed Health works continually to
School board turns down Gettys offer
By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff
EASLEY — The School District of Pickens County’s board of trustees voted 4-2 against an offer to sell the old Gettys Middle School property at a called meeting Dec. 17.
Board member Judy Edwards recommended the board wait for more information before selling the property.
“I think we need to postpone this,” Edwards said. “I think we need more discussion. We have not given our public an opportunity to have public input to say what they think needs to be done, (so) I think this needs to be postponed until a time when we
Clemson’s Barker praised, thanked as 1,100 graduate
Brianna Rollins, left, shakes Clemson president Jim Barker’s hand as she receives her diploma during Thursday’s graduation ceremonies. Rollins, a former Tiger track star who was awarded the top award in collegiate Track and Field — The Bowerman — last week and is an Olympic hopeful, was the final Clemson graduate to shake Barker’s hand in his final graduation ceremony as president.
CLEMSON — At his final graduation ceremonies prior to stepping down as president, James F. Barker was praised and thanked Thursday for leading Clemson University the past 14 years.
Before the first group of the 1,100 students crossed the stage to receive their degrees, David H. Wilkins, chairman of the board of trustees, said, “Since this is the last Clemson University graduation Jim Barker will preside over as president, and since this is the most wonderful time of year, a time when we all give our many blessings, I am reminded of this perfect quote: ‘feeling gratitude
Anna’s Hope:
Cannon officials hear from mother who lost daughter to drug abuse
By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff
PICKENS — Julie Huneycutt was proud of her daughter Anna as she faced her teen years, but Anna had a problem.
Anna had developed an addiction to prescription drugs. She tried to overcome the addiction, even checking into a rehabilitation facility in October of 2009. But eventually Anna lost her battle and died from an overdose of prescription drugs March 6, 2010.
Her mother suffered through months of anguish. Doctors offered to give her
Beautification process continues along SC 8
PICKENS — Pickens Revitalization Association and its volunteers will again be working to beautify the embankment along Highway 8 on Saturday, Dec. 28. The site has seen significant progress from where it began two years ago. This is the second year that PRA has partnered with the Pickens Rotary Club to beautify this section of Highway 8 that serves as one of the entrance thoroughfares into the city of Pickens.
Pickens Revitalization Association was fortunate to receive a $2,000 grant from Palmetto Pride to continue efforts on the beautification project. Palmetto Pride is a non-profit organization created to fight litter and beautify South Carolina. The
Helping at the holidays
School District of Pickens County bus driver Gin Brush, a volunteer for the local Guardian ad Litem program, recently informed other drivers at the district’s Easley bus office that there may be children in the DSS who would not have gifts to open on Christmas morning. The drivers decided to make a difference in the lives of local children and contacted drivers at the Pickens and Liberty/Daniel bus offices, who were also all-in with the idea. As a group, the Pickens County bus drivers were able to provide toys, games, and stuffed animals for at least 75 children. Brush delivered the toys last week. “The love and care our bus drivers show for our students is amazing, and we’re so happy to have these great people in our district,” spokesman John Eby said.
Hard work pays off for Pickens wrestlers
Russell Brinson/Photo
Members of the Pickens High School wrestling team work out on the new mat purchased with money they earned doing odd jobs over the summer.
PICKENS — “Hard work pays off.” Pickens High School wrestling coach Mark Barrett said it, and the 30 boys of the PHS wrestling team proved it by raking many yards, washing many cars, loading trucks to help a family move, washing farm fences and clearing cut trees to earn money for the program over the summer.
When the school budget had allotted only half the money needed to replace the old very worn wrestling floor mat, the boys were able to add their $5,000 to purchase the new mat now in use. Much-needed new uniforms for the varsity players were also purchased.
Barrett said this year’s squad is arguably the best in his 19 years as wrestling coach, as the Blue Flame are currently ranked fourth in the state. The team consists of boys
Covey inks with Anderson
Rocky Nimmons/Courier
Joined by his brother, Gunner, and mom, Heidi, Pickens High School senior Mason Covey, center, signed recently to play baseball at Anderson University.
PICKENS — A two-sport standout for Pickens High School, senior Mason Covey will soon be taking his talents to the collegiate level.
Covey, who has been a star for both the Blue Flame football and baseball squads during his time in high school, signed recently to take the diamond for Anderson University after he graduates from Pickens.
In addition to pulling duty all over the field this fall for coach Chad Seaborn’s football squad, Covey pitches and plays outfield for the Blue Flame baseball team, and chose
Courier Letters to the Editor 12-25-13
Delegation meeting set for Jan. 2
Dear Editor,
There will be a Pickens County Legislative Delegation meeting on Jan. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Dacusville Community Center. This will be a great time for all citizens to look our delegation members — Larry Martin, Phil Owens, B.R. Skelton and Davey Hiott — in the eye and ask tough questions about why South Carolina’s educational system, our ethics laws and our roadways are consistently rated some of the worst in the nation. These guys have been in Columbia for years, and we still see little to no improvement in these core functions of government.
We can also ask why our delegation overwhelmingly voted against Gov. Haley’s common-sense budget reductions. It seems odd that they would vote against
