Monthly Archives: June 2015
Marines scheduled to visit Upstate for rest, relaxation
UPSTATE — The public is invited to participate in a welcoming patriotic parade on Monday, June 22, held to honor visiting Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., as well as a group from the Marine Corps’ South Carolina Wounded Warrior Regiment. Around 40 Marines are expected for the event.
Individuals and businesses are asked to help line the parade route with signs, flag-waving, and expressions of thanks as the motorcade moves from Easley to
County council discusses public information position
By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter
brobinson@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — As Pickens County Council discussed its fiscal year 2015-16 proposed budget on Monday night, councilman Neil Smith proposed that funding be set for a proposed position of public information officer.
Councilman Trey Whitehurst objected to the new position.
“I feel that public relations is the job of council,” Whitehurst said. “We have to deal with criticism every day. I am not in favor of bringing in a public
Pair of escaped inmates caught
PICKENS — Two inmates who walked away from the Pickens County Stockade last week are now back behind bars.
On Tuesday, June 9, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office began assisting authorities from the Pickens County Stockade in the search for two inmates who walked away from the facility at approximately 2 p.m. A routine headcount at around 6 p.m. prompted stockade authorities to notify the sheriff’s office of the escapees.
The inmates, Dustin Ryan Floyd, 28, of Greenville, and Jeffrey Shane
Courier Letters to the Editor 6-17-15
Gillespie continues
Dear Editor,
There are several funds or budgets within the school district. These funds can’t be intermixed. The two largest are operations and capital improvements.
The goal of the administration is to raise taxes for operations. The school board presently has three members who won’t vote to raise taxes. That leaves two strategies for the liberals in Pickens County: pick out one board member and smear him till he resigns or add a liberal spender to the board.
When Danny Merck said in his newspaper interview that taxes hadn’t been
Best police oversight option?
Hardly a week goes by now without the surfacing of a cellphone video of police abuse, often of minorities.
These private camera videos are providing the best and often only record of police confrontations, such as the shooting of Walter Scott in North Charleston, or the more recent incident at a pool party in Texas.
South Carolina just passed a law requiring police to wear body cameras, and while they may do some internal good, don’t expect to see the
Baptist Easley names Physician of the Year and Physician of Quarter
EASLEY — Baptist Easley Hospital recently honored David Chang, MD, of 
Easley Internal Medicine as the Cam Underhill Practicing Excellence Physician of the Year for 2014. Dr. Rhonda Todd was selected as Baptist Easley’s Cam Underhill Practicing Excellence Physician of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2015.
Chang was cited for his caring and compassion. One nomination read: “This physician cares about his patients and treats them as his own family. He has great pride and passion for his practice and Baptist Easley Hospital. He always treats patients and his staff with respect. He delivers the highest accurate diagnosis and has excellent ratings from his patients. He works with other physicians and hospital staff to provide the highest level of care to all patients. He always seeks ways to improve the practice of medicine.”
Courier Obits 6-17-15
Eston Foster
Liberty — C. Eston Foster, 76, of 8217 Liberty Highway, died Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at his residence.
Born in Pelzer, he was a son of the late Columbus Ransom and Merlie Black Foster.
He worked his whole life as a carpenter. He was a member of Flat Rock Baptist Church and during his free time loved to do woodworking, play golf and read.
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest: An Enduring Legacy (Part 1)
Courtesy Photos
Above: This plaque memorializes author and poet Joyce Kilmer at the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in western North Carolina. Below: The Mountain Sun School class of Brevard, N.C., is pictured in the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.
By Dr. Thomas Cloer, Jr.
Special to The Courier
Courtesy Photo
Carl Cloer is pictured with a giant tree in the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.
Grandpa, would you and Grandma like to go camping with my class and me?” my grandson Harvest Wolf asked. “We’re going to the Slickrock Wilderness and the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. We need some adults to help us with our camps.”
My grandson goes to Mountain Sun School in Brevard, N.C. Mountain Sun School is an absolute gift from heaven, with a curriculum and faculty second to none.
“When are you going, Harvest? Deer season for primitive weapons is about to start in South Carolina,” I said with a worried tone.
“When does deer season for primitive weapons start?” Harvest Wolf
Blue Ridge announces funds raised from 18th annual festival
UPSTATE — Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and Blue Ridge Security Solutions announced recently the 18th annual Blue Ridge Fest, held on May 8, raised a total of $185,000 to benefit local nonprofit organizations in Greenville, Anderson, Oconee
BLUE RIDGE FEST
and Pickens counties.
Since the event’s inception almost a decade ago, Blue Ridge Fest has donated more than $2 million to numerous agencies in the Upstate area that provide people with basic necessities such as food, shelter,
Courier Community Calendar 6-17-15
• Soapstone to host
fundraiser Saturday
Soapstone Church is inviting everyone to a special fundraiser at the church, located at 296 Liberia Road in Pickens, this Saturday, June 20. The event will feature fine cooking and will be held from noon-8 p.m.
Visitors will enjoy true southern cooking including a fish fry, barbecue and fried chicken with all the fixings right from Mrs. Mabel’s kitchen.
For more information, call (864) 414-8470.
• Music on the Market
on Friday in Easley
The City of Easley has planned the Gilstrap Family Dealerships’ Music on the Market on Friday nights through this month. The events will take place from 7-10 p.m. in Old Market Square in
