By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff

LIBERTY — Councilman Brian Petersen was elected as mayor pro tem by Liberty city council Monday night.

“I will do everything I can,” Petersen said after accepting his new position of leadership. Petersen said he now considers Liberty his hometown, having lived in the city longer than he has anywhere else in his life.

As mayor pro tem, Peterson will conduct meetings of the Liberty City Council on occasions when mayor Eric Boughman cannot be present. Other duties of the mayor pro tem will be determined in the coming weeks.

Council also heard from Chelsea Jackson, who rented council chambers in the Rosewood Center last year to teach Zumba classes. Jackson hoped to rent the

UPSTATE — The American Red Cross of the Western Carolinas announced today that Duke Energy has made a gift of $15,000 to the American Red Cross in support of the Ready 365 Giving Program. As a Ready 365 partner, Duke Energy stands with the American Red Cross in preparing the community to prevent and mitigate disasters and in providing relief and recovery to people who have been impacted by disasters.

Disasters are on the rise and with a growing population and infrastructure the public is more susceptible to being affected by these events. In fact, nearly 2.1 million American adults were affected by disasters between 2001 and 2012. That’s nearly five times more than in the prior decade. For every dollar spent in preparation, four to ten dollars is saved in recovery. This has huge implications for both the American

PICKENS — The Pickens YMCA will host Kris Blackmon with Miracle Hill Children’s Home on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. in the multipurpose room for a Christmas clothing drive.

Clothes needed are for boys and girls size 4 to youth extra large with a special need for pajamas. The clothes can be used as long as they are clean and in good shape. However, they do prefer to have new pajamas for the children.

The YMCA will be serving holiday cookies and eggnog! Please stop by on the 19th and receive further information on how you can help the ministry of Miracle Hill with children in need.

Smythe Mckissick poses with First Baptist Easley minister Dr. John Adams.

By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff

EASLEY — Smythe McKissick grew up in the Alice Manufacturing empire. Last Tuesday, he shared with Alice employees the latest news about moves the company has made during the past few years to make sure it is competitive for many more years to come.

McKissick spoke at the company’s dinner for members of its 25-year club. Hundreds of Alice employees gathered in the gymnasium of First Baptist Church Easley to celebrate the holiday season.

McKissick said when the textile industry faced tough times 20 years ago as foreign imports flooded the market, Alice leaders had to find a way to be competitive. A good part of that action involved the Ellison division of the company.

SIX MILE — Six Mile Baptist Church proudly announces the launch of Troop 101 with Trail Life USA.

Trail Life USA is a new outdoor scouting-like program designed for boys, grades K5-12, focusing on adventure, character and leadership. The K5-12 program centers on outdoor experiences that build a young man’s skills and allow him to grow on a personal level and as a role model and leader for his peers. The effort is being led by Dr. George Kessler, former longtime Scoutmaster in Boys Scouts of America Troop 134 and the Men’s Ministries of Six Mile Baptist Church.

The new group has a strong inclusion policy for youth; all boys are welcome to the program regardless of religion, race, and national origin, economic or social status. However, adult leaders in the program will be Christian and must sign a statement of faith and submit to background checks. Both boys and adults will be required to

PICKENS — Hagood Mill’s annual “Music in the Mountains” will wind up the year by hosting a multi-year tradition of a Celtic music-oriented yuletide celebration on Saturday, Dec. 21.

This year’s event will be held in memory of Ed Harrison, who made the Celtic Christmas concert the popular event that it is today. Music will be featured from noon until 3 p.m. There will be fiddles, uilleann pipes, penny whistles, guitars, mandolins and more, all playing different types of Celtic music, songs from around the world, jigs and reels as well as old-time music, all to celebrate the season with the folks at Hagood Mill and remember Harrison. The old gristmill and other demonstrations will be running from 10 a.m. until 4 a.m.

In 2004, the Hagood Mill staff approached well-known local uilleann pipe player