DACUSVILLE — Pickens County Sheriff’s Office investigators have confirmed through eyewitness accounts that one of two women inside a home with a Dacusville man fired the shot that killed him last week.

According to Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley, Travis Scott Whitman, 47, of 573 Franklin Finley Road, was killed by a single gunshot wound to the chest at around 7 p.m. on March 25.

Sheriff’s office officials are awaiting toxicology reports from an out-of-state laboratory that will provide information in the case, according to a statement released Monday by chief deputy

By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff

COUNTY — Two Pickens County elementary schools recently found students with cases of whooping cough, and officials of the School District of Pickens County want to prevent the spread of the disease by warning parents.

One case of the whooping cough (pertussis) was found at West End Elementary School, with possible exposures occurring March 10-21. A case of whooping cough was also found at Forest Acres Elementary School, with possible exposures occurring on or before March 27.

Whooping cough is a contagious disease that affects the nose, throat, windpipe and lungs. It spreads easily by coughing or sneezing. People with whooping cough may have coughing fits. They might throw up after coughing. The severe cough can last for weeks or months. Babies may

CLEMSON — An investigation into a stolen car led to a Clemson teen’s arrest for a string of vehicle break-ins over the weekend.

Williams

According to a release from Clemson Police Chief Jimmy Dixon, the city has been experiencing a rash of break-ins throughout the city, primarily on unlocked vehicles.

On Friday night and early Saturday morning, according to Dixon, someone broke into multiple vehicles centered around the College Heights area of the city.

Forensic evidence had led to an arrest warrant being obtained for Bradley Troyell Williams Jr., 19, on the theft of a vehicle from a previous incident. After Williams was found Saturday morning and

EASLEY — The second annual “Spring for the Arts” will be hosted by Arts Council of Pickens County on Saturday 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

The Easley High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) orienteering team celebrates its recent first-place finish at a McDowell High School NJROTC unit orienteering meet.

EASLEY — Easley High School’s Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) Orienteering team competed at McDowell High School NJROTC unit Orienteering meet held at Camp Bud Schiele on March 15 against 10 other JROTC units.

With Easley’s team still pumped up from placing fourth at the National Orienteering competition last weekend, team members were ready to compete. The competition offered a four cadet Score O course which covered the whole 1,100 acres. In addition, there was an Orange course (5km), Yellow course (4km), and a White course (3km). Each unit

LIBERTY — Liberty will host the third annual Spring Festival and Cruz-In Saturday, May 3 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Cruz-In donations will go to The Parenting Place — a local non-profit family resource center committed to providing a coordinated set of services to help every mother and father become the best parent they can be.

This year’s festival will offer a wide variety of activities for the whole family. Scheduled events include: arts, crafts, children activities, dunking booth, cake walk, displays from non-profit

PICKENS — The 10th annual Charles F. Rogers Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament is scheduled for May 10.

The tournament, which annually benefits a male and female senior basketball player from Pickens High School planning to attend a university, college or technical school, is set to kick off with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start at Pickens Country Club.

The tournament will follow a captain’s choice format, and entry costs $50 per person for a four-person team. Hole sponsorships are available for $50 as well, and prizes will be awarded for

PICKENS – Pickens Middle School has been selected as one of the first recipients of a Clean Air Upstate Sustainable Schools Grant. The school will receive a $1,000 grant through the Clean Air Upstate initiative, which is being coordinated by Ten at the Top. Funding for the grants was provided as part of a grant from Duke Energy to the Clean Air Upstate effort.

Pickens Middle School was awarded grants as part of a competitive process amongst schools from across the Upstate that have previously demonstrated a commitment to supporting a sustainable environment by participating in the Breathe Better (B2) anti-idling program. The B2 program is an anti-idling/clean air campaign sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) which educates about the harmful effects of vehicle