Monthly Archives: February 2014
Police: 14-year-old boy opened fire at Walmart
Teen faces attempted murder,
assault, robbery, drug charges
EASLEY — A 14-year-old boy faces multiple charges, including two counts of attempted murder, after police said he opened fire in the Easley Walmart parking lot on Sunday night.
According to an incident report, officers responding to assist with a traffic stop in the Walmart parking lot at around 10:39 p.m. saw two males chasing another male through the parking lot. After subsequently hearing two gunshots and bystanders shouting about a person with a gun, officers saw the third male running away from the store wielding a small black handgun, the
REMEMBERING A FALLEN HERO
Community honors local soldier killed in Vietnam
By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff
PICKENS — Various local officials gathered Thursday behind Griffin-Ebenezer Baptist Church to dedicate a new playground in memory of SP4 Charles Johnson Jr., the first soldier from Pickens County killed in the Vietnam War.
Rep. Davey Hiott said he was proud to be there, and shared regrets from Sen. Larry Martin, who was unable to attend. Hiott also presented the Johnson family with a flag from Martin that had been flown over the state capital. Hiott then presented the family with a resolution that was read in the South Carolina legislature honoring the sacrifices of Johnson.
Johnson died March 30, 1966, from wounds suffered on the Vietnam
Charge dropped in video cassette rental incident
PICKENS — After widespread media coverage and responses from around the world that ranged from disbelief and outrage to outright mockery, the charge has been dropped against a woman arrested earlier this month for failing to return a rented video cassette in 2005.
According to a release from Pickens County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy Creed Hashe, the victim in the case, the former owner of Dalton’s Video in Pickens, submitted a request last week to withdraw a larceny charge against Kayla M. Finley, 27.
Finley had gone to the sheriff’s office to speak with a deputy regarding a domestic dispute Feb. 13 when officers discovered a warrant for her arrest had been issued in 2005. The warrant,
Group drops school board petition
By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff
COUNTY — While a petition to oust the entire School District of Pickens County Board of Trustees has been withdrawn, the group of concerned local residents that originally circulated it has vowed to continue its fight for change.
“We refuse to suffer the consequences of a poorly governed school board any longer,” read a statement released Monday by Concerned Citizens of Pickens County (CCPC), a group of local residents which claims 5,174 members. “Trustees, our expectations are high, the stakes even higher. If your interests do not advance education, we challenge you to step aside so we can elect officials with strong moral convictions and a commitment to education that will facilitate the best decisions for our communities and, most importantly, for our children.”
Following a Jan. 23 report from AdvancED evaluating the school district and putting its
School district recognizes Rep. Skelton as ‘Friend of Education’
Ben Robinson/Courier
The Pickens County School Board presented Rep. B.R. Skelton the Friend of Education Award for his continuous support of public education in the S.C. House of Representatives. Pictured from left are Jackie Hicks, Skelton, school district superintendent Kelly Pew and school board chairman Alex Saitta.
By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff
COUNTY — Before Monday night’s meeting of the Pickens County School Board, Rep. B.R. Skelton was recognized as a Friend of Education.
In presenting the award, Jackie Hicks commended Skelton for his activity in the South Carolina House of Representatives supporting education.
“He has been in the forefront in supporting public education,” Hicks said.
Skelton said he appreciated being recognized with the award, but the entire Pickens County Delegation supports K-12 and higher education.
“Education is a team effort,” Skelton said. “The cooperation between the
Roy elected County bpw Career Woman of the Year
EASLEY — The purpose of the South Carolina Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Career Woman of the Year Program is to recognize a woman who has achieved outstanding success in her own career and has made significant contributions to civic and humanitarian or religious activities. In April,
Donna Wilson Roy
, Pickens County BPW Career Woman of the Year, will compete for the state title at the BPW/SC Conference in Greenwood.
Roy attended Columbia College and is a graduate of Louisiana State University where she received her ba in Broadcast Journalism. She has recently been an account executive with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment; responsible for developing and maintaining new and existing advertisers and creating radio marketing campaigns.
Prior to moving back to Easley, Roy worked in the broadcast industry in many capacities
Switchfoot visits Southern Wesleyan
Grammy Award-winning band Switchfoot played to enthusiastic fans Feb. 23 at Newton Hobson Auditorium on Southern Wesleyan University’s campus in Central. Kopecky Family Band, a Nashville-based indie-rock group, opened the concert with their unique sound. The concert was part of Switchfoot’s Fading West Tour.
Longtime PS&L employee Vernell Owens set to retire
Vernell Owens
PICKENS —Vernell Owens will be retiring in April 2014 after 19 years of dedicated service with Pickens Savings and Loan Association.
Owens has spent her years at Pickens Savings as a teller and has been a vital member of the bank’s customer service team. Owens is a member of the historic Soapstone Baptist Church and spends many hours volunteering her time for the church. Owens’ smiling face can always be seen at the fish fry that the church sponsors on the third Saturday of each month.
Owens was born in Alabama but grew up in Florida with 10 siblings. She moved to Massachusetts in 1960, and it was there that she met her husband, Clifton Owens.
Her husband is from South Carolina, and in 1995 he and
Courier Letters to the Editor 2-26-14
Balance is necessary
Dear Editor,
Contrary to a local newspaper’s Feb. 5 editorial, fiscal responsibility cannot always continue to be relegated to the backseat.
Our schools, our children and our education system represent a massive investment in our future, so it is in everyone’s best interest to always be fiscally responsible, especially considering we spend more than $12,000 a year per student, not including building costs. Pushing fiscal responsibility to the back seat is what has gotten the education system in this country into the situation it is in — costing more per pupil than all other developed countries while in far too
C. Dan Joyner joins Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Carol B. Stewart Photography
Pictured are Easley realtors with broker-in-charge Anush Showgi, chief operating officer David Crigler and Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices president Earl Lee.
UPSTATE — Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, the new real estate brokerage network operated by HSF Affiliates LLC, announced recently that Prudential C. Dan Joyner Co. Realtors has joined the brand and is operating as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner Realtors.
The full-service brokerage, a leader in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson and other upstate South Carolina markets, is the next in a growing roster of affiliates that have joined the network since September. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices now accounts for more than 23,000 agents and 600 offices in 30 states.
“This is a defining moment for our company,” said Danny Joyner, president of C. Dan Joyner Realtors. “We have the rare opportunity to represent a brand inspired by Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the world’s most respected corporation according to Barron’s. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is fresh, intelligent and respected, and will resonate well in all markets with all clients.”
Chief operating officer David Crigler said the decision to join Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices was a simple one for him and Joyner, since the brand reflects Berkshire Hathaway’s values of trust, integrity, stability and longevity.
“Our company lives these values every day,” he said. “We couldn’t ask for a better fit.”
The brand will help C. Dan Joyner Realtors recruit top agents, Crigler added.
“Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is a true ‘game-changer,’” he said. “The brand will help our agents gain even more distinction in the marketplace.”
Joyner and Crigler commemorated the brand and unveiled their new Cabernet and Cream yard sign during an event for agents at The Peace Center for Performing Arts in Greenville. HSF Affiliates CEO Earl Lee attended the event and welcomed associates to their new brand.
“C. Dan Joyner Realtors has a proud legacy of service and success dating back 50 years,” Lee said. “We’re excited that these fine professionals will represent Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Upstate South Carolina.”
