COUNTY — A recent report from an external review team found that there are issues with the School District of Pickens County’s board of trustees, and some parents in the county are demanding drastic action.

Although it recommended that the district receive accreditation, the 48-page report issued by the AdvancED external review team detailed two issues that could jeopardize the district’s accreditation status if not addressed by April 15, when an AdvancED representative has scheduled a followup visit.

The first issue, according to the report, is ensuring that decisions and actions of the school board are ethical, free of conflict of interest and in accordance with defined roles and responsibilities. 

DACUSVILLE — Although Pickens County Sheriff Rick Clark said he is “personally involved” in the investigation of a man’s Jan. 26 shooting death in Dacusville, no arrests have been made.

In a release distributed to local media members Monday morning, chief deputy Creed Hashe said the sheriff’s office had no new information that could be released concerning the investigation into the death of 38-year-old Shane A. Williams.

Officers responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting at 117 Devon Court in Dacusville at 3:45 a.m. on Jan. 26, and deputies arrived at the home within six minutes to find Williams dead of

By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter

EASLEY — After more than an hour in executive session at a special called meeting Monday night, members of the Pickens County School Board voted 5-0 to wait until its March meeting to make a decision on the old Gettys Middle School property.

Prior to the executive session, board member Judy Edwards said she wished there was a place for public input on the meeting’s agenda so that parents in favor of a second middle school in the Easley area could speak before the board. Board chair Alex Saitta said he was not aware of the need for public input when he created the agenda for the night, and there was no way he could add it to the agenda at that point, but he doubted any action would come from the executive

By Rocky Nimmons

Publisher

PICKENS — Pickens City Council heard from members of Holy Cross Catholic Church concerning a possible change in the city’s zoning during Monday night’s Pickens City Council meeting, held at City Hall.

Council held a special public hearing on an ordinance that would rezone 518 Hampton Ave. and amend the city’s zoning map.

Holy Cross members Cecil Hitchcock and Angie Vallano spoke to council during the hearing to discuss the church’s concerns with the rezoning of the property.

“Our purpose is to speak against the application that has been submitted to rezone the property at 518 Hampton Ave. from RM16 residential to GBD (General Business District). Our objections

PICKENS — A Pickens County Habitat for Humanity Home was broken into and thieves stole almost everything, just two weeks before the family was supposed to move into their new home.

Volunteers from Pickens County Habitat for Humanity and Easley Presbyterian Church have been working to build the home for its new owner, Debra Dane, but burglars broke in and stripped nearly everything from the home.

Thieves stole nearly everything from the heat and air unit, water heater, light fixtures, shower heads, the microwave and even the toilets.

This burglary also affects other projects, as Habitat for Humanity will now have to pull money