Daily Archives: 03/12/2014
Pickens mourns Alexander’s death
PICKENS — The Pickens community is mourning the loss of longtime local historian Julia Alexander, who passed away on Saturday at Rose Hill Retirement Community in Marion, N.C.
Alexander, a lifelong Pickens resident, was recently unanimously elected President Emeritus of the Pickens County Historical Society (PCHS) at its January board meeting, a first in the 56-year history of the organization, of which she was a charter member.
Alexander was born a daughter of the late Ernest Franklin and Frederica McDaniel Alexander. She was a graduate of Pickens High School and attended Draughon’s Business College in Greenville. She retired from Duke
County taking part in marijuana study
Ben Robinson/Courier
Pictured, from left, are Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County research liaison Margaret Garrett, research director Elizabeth Chapman and study physician Dr. Amanda Flynn.
By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff
COUNTY — Pickens County will be part of a national study on treatment of those using marijuana.
The study involves using N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as a treatment. The clinical trial involves NAC and a placebo in a 12-week outpatient treatment program that includes medical counseling and motivational incentives, targeting marijuana abstinence.
NAC is most often medically used as a treatment for acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose and for pulmonary conditions, but is also available as an over-the-counter supplement.
Marijuana
Prior research indicates that NAC restores brain glutamate levels that are disrupted by substance addiction. Based on this research and on findings from an adolescent trial at the Medical University of South Carolina, it is believed that NAC is a promising candidate for the treatment of marijuana dependence, a condition for which there is no established Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medication
Families for furry friends
Foothills Humane Society shelter manager Megan Brown holds a dog waiting to be adopted at the facility, located at 500 Five Forks Road in Liberty.
Foothills Humane Society finds
homes for unwanted animals
By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff
LIBERTY — The Foothills Humane Society animal shelter is under the leadership of a new director — Samantha Gamble, who began her duties in January of this year.
Gamble is already faced with a tough, overcrowded situation at the shelter.
During a recent day, the shelter was home to 39 cats, which is the shelter’s limit. New homes are needed for the animals before the shelter can accept more.
The shelter was also recently home to 38 dogs, which is close to its limit. Gamble said the shelter could probably handle up to 10 more dogs, depending upon their size.
Easley City Council moves to complete Couch Lane project
By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff
EASLEY — Monday night, Easley City Council moved toward completing its project on Couch Lane by awarding a contract to Premier Constructors Inc. to install pedestrian lighting along the path.
Bids on the project originally opened in January, but were too high.
The city adjusted the project, reducing the number of light poles necessary. The project was funded with C-fund money, so it required very little city funds, administrator Fox Simons said.
Council approved the motion with a 6-0 vote.
Young talent and old-time music headed to Hagood Mill Saturday
PICKENS — Super KidsFest, to be held at Hagood Mill on Saturday, will offer a day of fun and entertainment for all ages, with a special focus on youngsters who are keeping old-time music traditions alive.
Steve McGaha and Gregg “Buffalo” Barfield — the “Wizards of Odd” — will kick things off with a performance at 10:30 a.m. and then serve as emcees for bands from the Young Appalachian Musicians (YAM) program. Old-time musicians Lucy Allen and Marshall Goers also will perform.
As a special treat for kids of all ages, McGaha and Barfield will conduct a jug band workshop and
Old dog’s healthy new trick
On The Way
By Olivia Fowler
Olivia Fowler
My brother, Matt, who has smoked since he was 16 years old quit smoking! He called and told me he hasn’t had a Marlboro cigarette in four weeks. This is the best news in the world to our family.
We grew up with tobacco as the big money crop. There was still cotton, soybeans and, lespedeza, but tobacco, unless something went wrong during the drying process, was where the money could be counted on.
Even back then we all had heard rumblings about lung damage. We had a science teacher, Charlie Parker, who referred to cigarettes as coffin nails, and said we’d all die early if we smoked.
Almost everybody in the family smoked, except for Grandmama and Uncle Walter. Grandmama never had
Courier Letters to the Editor 2-12-14
Motives are important
Dear Editor:
Motive is a very important part of judging the merits of an issue. Both sides of an issue always have a motive.
The Obama Administration, The CCSSO, The NGA, Achieve and Bill Gates all have claimed their motive is getting children college and career ready and able to work successfully to compete for jobs in the future. They have invested a great deal of our own taxpayer funds as well as their own personal wealth promoting these standards. They have invested a great deal of time in making sure these standards are touted as the best plan for America to be competitive in the global 21st century economy. Many have also earned a healthy income in the process of selling these
Courier Obituaries 3-12-14
Julia M. Alexander
Pickens — Ms. Julia McKenzie Alexander, 87, died Saturday, March 8, 2014 at Rose Hill Retirement Community in Marion, N.C.
A lifelong resident of Pickens County, Ms. Alexander was born a daughter of the late Ernest Franklin and Frederica McDaniel Alexander. Julia was a graduate of Pickens High School and attended Draughon’s Business College in Greenville. She retired from Duke Power with 30 years of service, and was recognized as Duke’s first female branch manager. She was a member of Pickens First Baptist Church. Ms. Alexander, affectionately known as “Miss Julia”, was well known for her knowledge and records she kept of the history of the Pickens area. College professors and historians often consulted Julia on local history. At least three books have been written on the Alexander family heritage in the Upstate. She was elected President Emeritus of the Pickens County Historical Society where she was a charter member. She also received the I Fan the Flame Award from the Pickens County Revitalization Association for her support and contributions to the community.
Surviving are a sister; Frederica Black of Marion, N.C; two nieces, Linda B. Wood (Richard) of Marion, N.C, and Amy Alexander Schneider (Brett) of Lenexa, Kan.; one nephew, Joe Black (Katherine) of Buena Vista, Colo.; two great nieces, Heather Wood Anderson (Greg) and their children Grace and Molly of Marion, N.C., and Liza Wood Holmes (John) of Rock Hill.
In addition to her parents, Ms. Alexander was predeceased by a beloved brother, Vincent Holley Alexander.
Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, March 22 in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown.
The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. Saturday, March 22 prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pickens County Historical Society, P.O. Box 775, Pickens, SC 29671 or to Pickens First Baptist Church, 406 East Main Street, Pickens, SC 29671.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.
Gertrude Bernice Owen Galloway
Pickens — Gertrude Galloway, age 72, died Monday March 3, 2014 at St. Francis Hospital.
Mrs. Galloway was born in Transylvania County N.C., a daughter of the late Cassie Elzora Smith Owen and Avery Owen. Mrs. Galloway enjoyed cooking for her family at holiday gatherings. She also loved drawing and her family with all of her heart.
Survivors include one daughter; Tina Durham of Pickens, three sons; Johnny Posey wife Joy of Sunset, Ronnie Posey and Terri Riddle of Pickens, Randy Posey of Six Mile, three sisters; Gladys Norris husband Jack of Pickens, Hazel Couch husband Wallace of Pickens, Margaret Finney
Grace Christian Fellowship offers Growth in the kingdom of God
Although it is now known as Grace Christian Fellowship and has moved to 377 Deer Creek Road in Dacusville, the former Dacusville Church of God of Prophecy has the same group of believers and goal as it always has — “growth in the kingdom of God,” according to pastor Jeff Hunt, pictured at above.
New name, new location, same church
By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff
After many years of serving the Dacusville community from a small building on Hunts Bridge Road, the group of believers once known as the Dacusville Church of God of Prophecy has a fresh start in the community.
The church has a new name, though it never forsakes the old name.
Officially the name is Grace Christian Fellowship dba Dacusville Church of God if Prophecy. The
Grace Christian Fellowship
new name comes from when the church membership moved into the building formerly used by Grace Presbyterian at 377 Deer Creek Road four years ago.
The building was originally used by a group from Jones Hill Church of God, which eventually outgrew the location and moved into the facilities now known as LIFEchurch on Thomas Mill Road. The Presbyterians tried, but were unable to establish the Dacusville location and gave up the location on Deer Creek Road.
Dacusville Church of God of Prophecy happened to be looking for a new location at the time. Started in 1951, the church had vigorously served the Dacusville community from its small facility on Hunts Bridge Road. Pastor Jeff Hunt, who had already served as the church’s pastor for four years, led the church as it moved into its new facility.
Hunt has served as a pastor for the church since before it moved four years ago. Later, the former Church of God of Prophecy building was rented to Hunt’s friend Cleve Holloway, who started New Works Christian Fellowship at the Hunts Bridge Road location.
Hunt has been in the ministry for 40 years. He started his ministry by serving as a pastor for nine years.
“But the lord got a hold of us to go onto the mission fields,” Hunt said.
He and his wife went to western Canada to serve as evangelists for four years, “then we were asked to pastor a church in Winnipeg, Manitoba,” Hunt said.
The Hunts were only supposed to be interim ministers there, but ended up staying for eight years.
“We stayed in Canada for a total of 12 years,” Hunt remembers. “Then we came back to South Carolina and began pastoring again.”
After leaving for Canada in 1984, the Hunts were happy to return to South Carolina in the mid-1990s.
“I was born in Greenville County in the old Greenville Memorial Hospital,” Hunt said. “My wife is a native of Belton-Honea Path.”
Moving has not affected church attendance, despite one member who lived just three houses from the Hunts Bridge Road location. She still comes to the Deer Creek Road location. Two other members lived on Raines Road, just down from the old church location.
But the church continues to attract people from the Upstate area, including Easley, Travelers Rest and other small towns in the Upstate.
Hunt lives in Greenville in a home he and his wife purchased four years ago. Previously he had depended on whatever church he served to supply a church parsonage, but the older he got, the better the idea of owning a home seemed.
Hunt is healthy now, but he once suffered a heart attack while on the church pulpit bringing the week’s sermon.
EMS was called in to take him to the hospital, where on Monday a muscular stress test was performed, and then on Tuesday a heart cauterization was performed. On Wednesday, a six-bypass open heart surgery was performed.
“But God was good,” Hunt said. “I was back in the pulpit four weeks later.”
In all, Hunt considers the heart problems somewhat of a blessing.
“I feel better now than I did 25 years ago,” he said.
After the church moved, there was a conversation about what the church would be known as. Hunt liked the word Grace being part of the title, and eventually members agreed with him.
“But we are legally The Church of God of Prophecy doing business as Grace Christian Fellowship,” Hunt said. “When we go into the community, we do not hesitate to tell people that we are a congregation of the Church of God of Prophecy. We don’t try to hide that.”
The Church of God and The Church of God of Prophecy have been separate denominations for many years.
The two used to be one denomination, “but a division took place in 1923,” Hunt said. “Out of that came two denominations — one became the Church of God of Prophecy in 1952.”
The two groups continue to work closely together, Hunt said.
While Hunt would love to see his church grow, he gets more excited when the church can send someone into the mission field. Recently, longtime member Houston Hunt, no kin to the Dacusville minister, trained for the ministry. He now pastors the Highlands Church of God of Prophecy.
Another member is currently being trained for a chaplain ministry, offering love and support but not focusing on preaching.
“I would love to see the building packed, but I would even more love to see more people come in and we could send them out to serve somewhere else,” Hunt said. ” I see growth in the kingdom of God as being a lot more important than just growth in one church.”
SWU hosts elected officials
Pickens County Council Chairman Neil Smith, left, Rep. Davey Hiott and Sen. Larry Martin, right, listen to one of the speakers during an appreciation luncheon for elected and appointed officials Feb. 24 at the university’s campus in Central.
CENTRAL — Elected and appointed officials at the federal, state and local levels were honored with an appreciation luncheon Feb. 24 at Southern Wesleyan University in Central.
Attendees included members of the Pickens County Legislative Delegation, Sen. Larry Martin and Rep. Davey Hiott. Present were representatives from the offices of U.S. representatives Jeff Duncan and Trey Gowdy, along with representatives from Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Tim Scott’s office. Also in attendance were county council members from Pickens and Oconee counties, as well as representatives from South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU), the town of Central and the Clemson Area Chamber of Commerce.
“We appreciate the good work of our area elected and appointed officials who ensure this corner
