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Daily Archives: 03/26/2014

School board approves Gettys sale

By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff

EASLEY — After months of discussion, the Pickens County School Board of Trustees voted to go ahead with the sale of the former Gettys Middle School property during Monday night’s meeting.

The motion approved Dr. Kelly Pew negotiating terms with a prospective buyer, with the board reserving the right to approve terms and conditions of the sale.

The motion was approved with a 3-2 vote, with Judy Edwards and Dr. Herbert Cooper voting against it.

Board members also approved a response to AdvancED concerning their issues with board governance. The response is a 10-page report is broken into six parts.

“I hope people take time read it,” board chair Alex Saitta said. “The board took AdvancED’s concerns very seriously, and we believe our actions will satisfy their requirements. The board met five times to discuss the report. We met with our consultant and attorney during the process. We met a total of 15 hours over the past two months.”

Saitta said he believes the board is well on its way to renewing its AdvancED accreditation.

The board also approved changes in the student dress code. Saitta was all for the revised code.

“I know the principals sometimes get grief about enforcing the dress code,” Saitta said. ” I strongly support all the principals in enforcing this policy/code. I see our main responsibility as preparing students to careers. If a person walked into an interview violating these rules, they wouldn’t get the job. Not only are they representing themselves, but the company, and that is a valuable lesson for children to learn.”

Controversy was also brought up over a budget amendment.

“I don’t support the course the board and administration have taken since Ben Trotter left (at the beginning of February),” Saitta said. “Let me show you what I’m seeing and express my concerns. At the Jan. 27 meeting, $9.4 million in extra interest that was set aside was spent. Also, $3 million of general fund savings was spent. $615,000 in capital account savings was spent at that meeting. In the 2013-14 budget, there was a $500,000 contingency (or money set aside) built in at the start of the year, and that was spent tonight.”

“All the savings that was built up the last three years and put in all those different places has been spent in two months. In total, nearly $14 million has been spent since Trotter left the board. This is putting the district in a vulnerable financial position going into the 2014-15 budget.

“Actions like these are going to put the district back in the same ditch it was in 2010, and it will all be self-inflicted,” Saitta said. “We haven’t even seen the 2014-15 revenue estimates from the county or state yet. What if we get those figures and the 2014-15 budget is $1.5 million in deficit? There will be no savings left to plug the deficit or even cushion the blow.”

 

Local elections set for Tuesday

COUNTY — Pickens County voters will go to the polls in Liberty and Easley on Tuesday.

In Liberty, voters will have a chance to cast their ballots in the race to replace former School Board chairman Ben Trotter, who resigned earlier this year.

Remember to VOTE April 1

Remember to VOTE April 1

Four candidates are vying for Trotter’s District 3 seat, including local businessman Roy Costner, former school district building program director Bob Folkman, longtime school district employee Bonita Thomas Holland and Tri-County Technical College Easley campus director Brian Swords. Kathy Powell, the wife of Liberty City Councilman Charles Powell, also filed for the seat, but withdrew from the race.

In addition to the school board race to fill Trotter’s seat, voters in Easley will go to the polls as well, as Terry Moore and Chad Roach will face off on the ballots to replace Kim Valentin as the Ward 4 representative on Easley City Council.

Valentin resigned in December.

Pickens park construction starts

Courtesy Photo

Work has started to bring a state-of-the-art bicycle riding facility to Pickens’ Town Creek Park.

PICKENS — Construction has started to revitalize Pickens’ Town Creek Park.

On Monday, crews from J Davis Construction began their work at the park under the supervision of the city’s engineer, Darrohn Engineering. In addition, Elevated Trail Design will assist with installation of bike-specific riding features.

The park’s Playground of Promise, tennis courts and Town Creek Trail willbe closed from construction until April 18, while the lower recreation center parking lot will also be closed until fall. The entire master plan for the project will take several years to complete, but can be viewed at the recreation center and towncreekpark.com.

Major features of the project include: 3,000 linear feet of new dirt on a single-track trail for hikers and bikers; a paved 8-foot wide greenway called the “Appalachian Lumber Greenway,”

School board hopefuls discuss issues at forum

By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff

LIBERTY — Two of the four candidates vying for the School Board’s Liberty-area District 3 seat addressed the public last Thursday at the monthly meeting of the Pickens County Republican Party.

The seat was formerly held by Ben Trotter, who resigned earlier this year.

The two candidates in attendance were former School District of Pickens County building program director Bob Folkman and longtime district employee Bonita Thomas Holland.

Two other candidates, local businessman Roy Costner and Tri-County Technical College Easley campus director Brian Swords, chose not to be a part of the debate.

Holland, who worked in various departments in the school district before retiring after more

Burgess, McKinney speak at gop meeting

By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff

LIBERTY — The Pickens County Republican Party welcomed Dr. Gary Burgess, candidate for South Carolina Superintendent of Education, as a guest at its meeting last week.

Burgess, a Chapman High School graduate, spoke briefly to the crowd that had gathered for a forum featuring school board candidates Bob Folkman and Bonita Thomas Holland.

Burgess, who started school before desegregation, has served as a classroom teacher and a school principal. Burgess shared memories of growing up in a family that was poor, but said he never gave up any educational opportunities.

Burgess opposes the Common Core proposal. He plans to give teachers more freedom to actually

‘Spring for the Arts’ planned in Easley

EASLEY — The second annual “Spring for the Arts” will be hosted by Arts Council of Pickens County on April 5 in conjunction with the Easley Farmer’s Market Spring Fling. Committee members have a fun-filled day planned that will entertain everyone from the art entrepreneur to the person who may be viewing art for the first time.

Living artists will be on site demonstrating their skills and crafts during the day. Attendees can hone their painting skills with local artist Bill Lester and Larry Palmer as they teach basic watercolor techniques. Artists will be available to discuss the process through which they create pieces of art to sell or share with others. Local favorite Dale Stone will also be on hand with an

Baking competition will be held at Azalea Festival

PICKENS — The 2014 Pickens Azalea Festival is shaping up to be among the best of this event’s annual offering.

In its 30th year, the festival is bringing in new talents and an array of lively entertainment, along with the various types of artists and craftsmen, and the variety of food vendor that has made this event so popular.

Local and area bakers will this year be able to participate in the 1st annual baking competition, hosted by Pickens own Francine Bryson. Last year, Bryson charmed the nation with her Pickens County wit and humor, and earned a second place slot on the CBS hit show, “Great American

Rep. Hiott helps with March for Meals

State Rep. Davey Hiott of Pickens recently volunteered with Pickens County Meals on Wheels as part of its March for Meals campaign. Hiott is pictured above with Pickens County Meals on Wheels executive director Meta Bowers as the two deliver a meal to 95-year-old James Nix of Pickens.

Treadway Rodeo Company to offer NJBRA event in Pickens

Kerry Gilstrap/Courier

Bull riding coming back to Pickens

 The Ernie Treadway Rodeo Company is bringing the National Junior Bull Riders Association back to Pickens this weekend. Pictured above, Brandon Bowie of Easley loses his grip on a bull and goes flying during a rodeo in Pickens last month.

PICKENS — The award-winning Ernie Treadway Rodeo Company has been producing rodeos throughout the Southeast for more than 30 years, bringing live action, excitement and fun to families across the southeast for decades.

Treadway has a long history in breeding champion bucking stock, some which have gone on to be feature bulls in Pro Bull Riding events. For the past three years, Treadway has dedicated part of his time to producing a local event in downtown Pickens at the old pallet warehouse at 422 Ann Street, with shows running from January until April every Saturday night.

This Saturday and Sunday, the company will be featuring a special event sanctioned by the

Baptist Easley board, foundation create new scholarship in honor of former CEO

EASLEY — The Baptist Easley Hospital Board, in conjunction with the Foundation at Baptist Easley Hospital, recently created an endowed scholarship fund in honor of former hospital CEO Roddey E. Gettys III.

Gettys retired in February 2013 after a distinguished 43-year career of service to Baptist Easley Hospital. The Roddey E. Gettys III Clinical Scholarships Endowment Fund provides scholarships for people interested in pursuing a career in healthcare and to perpetuate Gettys’ legacy of clinical excellence and patient-focused service.

The Baptist Easley Hospital Foundation will award the Roddey E. Gettys III Clinical Scholarship