Daily Archives: 01/22/2014
Folkman, Swords file for school board race
COUNTY — The race to replace Ben Trotter as the Liberty-area representative on the board of trustees of the School District of Pickens County (SDPC) is beginning to take shape.
Filing opened Friday for the special April 1 election, which will fill the unexpired term of Trotter whose resignation from the District 4 seat earlier this month will be effective Feb. 1.
On the first day of filing, former SDPC building program director Bob Folkman and Tri-County Technical College Easley campus director Brian Swords threw their names into the hat to replace Trotter.
Folkman guided the school district’s building program through many twists and turn, but has been praised for the success of the program, which provided the district with four new high schools and a new career and technology center
Skelton not going to seek reelection
COLUMBIA — State Rep. B.R. Skelton announced Tuesday that he would not seek reelection this November.
Skelton, who turned 81 on Tuesday, told his colleagues on the House floor that he was honored to represent the people of District 3, which includes the Six Mile and Clemson areas.
“It is time to turn the page — time for a new chapter in representation of District 3,” said Skelton, a professor emeritus of economics at Clemson University. “A new, fresh face can make a difference. I’m confident that there are able folks who want to be engaged.”
In 2012, Skelton lost a primary election to challenger Ed Harris, but after a legal battle, the election’s results were
Honoring Dr. King’s Dream
Rocky Nimmons/Courier
The Rev. Chet Trower of Soapstone Baptist Church delivers remarks to the crowd gathered in front of the courthouse. “We need a dream, but we also need a plan,” Trower told those in attendance.
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Pickens Courthouse hosts annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day event
By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff
PICKENS — A medium-sized crowd gathered in front of the Pickens County Courthouse Monday morning to celebrate Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“Martin Luther King gave his life for civil rights,” Pickens City Councilman Carlton Holley said. “But there is still work to be done.”
Ashley McGrath, music minister of Pickens Presbyterian Church, led a choir in the singing of several appropriate songs, including “We Shall Overcome,” “Jesus to Walk With Me,” and “Let Every Voice Sing.’
The Rev. C. L. Cruell, retired minister of Easley Union Baptist Church, then repeated Dr. King’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech.
Bob Allison, a retired Pickens High School coach and teacher, helped lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, joined by veterans and youth on the courthouse steps.
The Rev. Chet Trower, pastor of Soapstone Baptist Church, was the featured speaker for the event.
“We need a dream, but we also need a plan,” Trower said.
Trower said that society should move toward a more equal distribution of wealth.
“I don’t have a problem with folks being rich,” Trower said. “As a matter of
Former County Councilman Hayes dies
EASLEY — Former Pickens County Councilman J.C. Hayes died Friday at age 87.
Hayes served 40 years in the U.S. Navy, fighting in three wars, before retiring in 1983. Following his retirement, Hayes served nine years on Pickens County Council.
In addition to time on council, Hayes was a loyal community servant as a Mason in the Bates Lodge, a former president of the local American Red Cross, a board member of Seniors Unlimited of Pickens County and a member of the Easley Rotary Club.
A staunch Republican, Hayes was also very active in the Pickens County Republican Party (PCRP).
Seventh school board member bill voted down
COLUMBIA — After months of debate, a movement to add a seventh member to the School District of Pickens County’s board of trustees took a hit last week, as House members of the county legislative delegation voted to keep the board at six seats.
The bill, proposed last year by Rep. B.R. Skelton and Rep. Davey Hiott, was struck down with a vote last week, as Skelton
Lopez named associate vice president for curriculum and instruction at SWU
CENTRAL — Southern Wesleyan University recently named Lisa Lopez as its new associate vice president for curriculum and instruction.
Lopez brings into her new role significant experience in higher education administration, curriculum development, learning management systems, distance learning, technology implementation and faculty development. Before coming to Southern Wesleyan, she was the academic director for computer applications at Spartanburg Community College
TTI makes donation to help equip PFD new rescue truck
Courtesy City of Pickens
Pickens Fire Chief Chris Elrod shows TTI personnel the rescue truck that the department recently bought from the Ayden Fire Department in North Carolina.
PICKENS — The Pickens Fire Department has recently purchased an equipment and rescue truck from Ayden Fire Department in North Carolina. The department is currently in the planning stage of preparing this truck for service in the community. This truck will be able to carry equipment and resources this department has never had before. Part of the equipment that will be carried on this is power tools that were donated by Techtronic Industries North America, Inc. (TTI). TTI is donating a gas
Reunion of Upcountry Families returns April 24-26 to county
COUNTY — Get out those new 2014 calendars and save the dates of Thursday, April 24 through Saturday, April 26 for the fifth annual Reunion of Upcountry Families in Pickens County. This three-day event includes speakers, classes, tours of local family history research centers as well as popular cemeteries, and concludes with an all-day genealogy reunion.
Activities begin on Thursday at the Hampton Memorial Library in Easley with genealogy classes to be held in the Computer Lab, including one designed for third through sixth grade students. An Open House is scheduled in the
Southern Wesleyan hosts national forensics qualifier
Lauren Houchin goes over notes while preparing for her apologetics presentation during a qualifying competition for the National Christian Forensics and Communication Association at Southern Wesleyan University’s Central campus Jan. 6-9. She was among 200 home-schooled students from the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida who traveled to SWU for the competition.
CENTRAL — Southern Wesleyan University hosted a qualifying competition for the National Christian Forensics and Communication Association (NCFCA) at its Central campus Jan. 6-9.
Two-hundred home-schooled students from across the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida came along with members of their families to the competition. Members of the university’s faculty and staff helped with setup for the event and served as judges for the competitions, which included two styles of debate and eleven categories of speech, such as persuasive speaking, humorous interpretation and apologetics. Southern Wesleyan awarded $1,000 scholarships to winners in each category. The university also offered a $250 scholarship to participants.
James McDonald, a volunteer judge and criminal justice professor at Southern Wesleyan, was impressed by the talent of the students and of the commitment of their parents and grandparents to their education and growth.
Vendor space, sponsorships available for railroad festival
CENTRAL — The Central Railroad Festival will pull into historic downtown Central on Saturday, April 26, with music, great food and festivities for all ages.
The Railroad Festival celebrates the rich heritage of Central, so named because the town is situated at the “central” point of the railroad line between Atlanta and Charlotte. The festival will offer free entertainment for all ages, free tours of the Central Railway Museum, hands-on activities for youngsters and more.
Arts and crafts vendors are invited to sign up for a space during the festival, which begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m.
