Monthly Archives: May 2015
A Pickens County Milestone
Kerry Gilstrap/Courier
Officials including Easley mayor Larry Bagwell and Pickens mayor David Owens cut the ribbon on the Doodle Trail on Saturday in Easley. The ribbon was made up of a blue ribbon and a green ribbon joined together, symbolizing the partnership between the two cities.
Officials cut ribbon on Doodle Trail
By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter
brobinson@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — In the early 1900s, the Pickens Doodle connected the towns of Pickens and Easley, allowing workers to travel to several places that provided employment in the rural environment of the textile industry.
Saturday, hundreds of Pickens County residents gathered at the
Graduations set for this Saturday
COUNTY — More than 1,000 Pickens County students will receive their diplomas in graduation ceremonies scheduled for Saturday.
Each of the four county high schools will host its own ceremony in its football stadium. In case of rain, the events will be moved into the school’s gymnasium, with overflow seating available in
Daniel mourns student’s death
Daniel High School student Matthew Robinson, 16, was killed in a single-car accident last week near Central.
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CENTRAL — The Daniel High School community is remembering Matthew Robinson as an excellent student who loved being a part of the school’s marching band.
Robinson, 16, of Central, was killed last week in a single-car collision on Brookbend Road at Maw Bridge Road near Central, Pickens County coroner Kandy Kelley said. His sister, who was the only passenger, was injured but is expected to survive.
South Carolina Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Gary Miller said the crash occurred around 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, on Brookbend Road about 3.5 miles north of Central.
Miller said Robinson was driving a four-door Dodge north on Brookbend when it ran off the right side of the road and struck a tree. The road was blocked near Maw Bridge Road.
Daniel High School principal Josh Young called Robinson “a great kid.”
“He was an honors student and well liked by his teachers and
Hagood Center receives donation for renovations
By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter
brobinson@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Organizers gathered Friday at the Hagood Community Center to dedicate the remodeled building to community service.
The center also received a $2,500 donation from Leadership Pickens County as a 2015 class project.
Ben Robinson/Courier
The Hagood Community Center received a $2,500 donation from Leadership Pickens County on Friday to help with renovations of the facility.
The site, originally known as Ben Hagood Elementary School, and before that Pickens Mill Elementary School, was leased to the city of Pickens in 1990. The site was operated by Seniors Unlimited
PHS hurdler Saunders inks to continue career at USC-Upstate
PICKENS — Pickens hurdler Tanner Saunders is the latest PHS senior to earn an athletic scholarship.
Pickens’ Tanner Saunders is shown signing with USC-Upstate recently. Pictured with him are Dalton Yates, Tammy Saunders, Bobby Ravencraft, Max Monroe and Somer Anthony.
Saunders, who ran track in addition to being a member of both the Blue Flame football and basketball teams, inked recently with USC-Upstate.
Saunders starting running track at PHS in his sophomore year and managed to earn Western AAA most valuable honors as a junior and finished second in the
Pickens’ Tarone signs with SWU to run track
PICKENS — Pickens High School cross-country and track athlete Becky Tarone signed earlier this month to continue her academic and athletic career at Southern Wesleyan University.
Becky Tarone was joined by her mother, Theresa Wood, and father, Tony Tarone, when she signed her letter of intent earlier this month to run track and cross-country at SWU.
Tarone said she is excited to continue doing what she loves while getting an opportunity to continue her education.
Tarone’s decision to attend Southern Wesleyan was based on the environment at the school.
“It was so inviting, and the people made it feel like home,” she
Signups open for music lessons
UPSTATE — Would you like to learn how to play the guitar, banjo, fiddle or mandolin?
New students are being accepted and enrollment is now underway for the spring session of the Appalachian Evening Music Program. The next session will begin the week of Monday, June 8, at various locations throughout the Upstate.
This program is open to students from 3rd grade through adults of all ages. It is designed to teach students to play Appalachian
Stapleton named new hospital CFO
EASLEY — Kathleen Stapleton was recently appointed Baptist Easley’s chief financial officer (CFO).
Stapleton has been with Baptist Easley since 2009 and has served as interim CFO since October 2014.
A certified health finance professional, Stapleton has a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the
Swinging the ax
Steve Lorch/Courier
Danny Crawford owns Buildanax Custom Guitars in Central, where he spends up to 20 hours hand-assembling Stratocaster-style guitars for about one-third of the price of what most customs would cost.
CENTRAL — Have you ever dreamed of being a rock star — or maybe just having a guitar like one?
Local Biz Buzz
Meet Danny Crawford. This relaxed 54-year-old from Liberty can help you make your music dreams come true.
Crawford is the owner of Buildanax Custom Guitars in Central.
“Our workshop is located here in the Upstate, but the real
Why do teachers leave the system
We hear a lot of talk about our education system, testing and teacher evaluation and how to fix problems.
Here’s a suggestion. Instead of listening to so-called experts who haven’t set foot in a classroom in years, go to the horse’s mouth. Ask teachers why they leave.
According to national data on the subject, about 50 percent of teachers leave the profession after five years.
Well, here’s what some of them have to say. Low pay is not first
