Monthly Archives: August 2015
Officer-involved Six Mile shooting report ‘unfounded’
PICKENS — After media reports of a deputy-involved shooting near Six Mile late Monday afternoon, officials worked quickly to dispel the rumors.
[cointent_lockedcontent]Pickens County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy Creed Hashe issued a statement shortly before 6 p.m. saying no officers had been involved in a shooting, calling the report “unfounded.”
“Deputies were called to a scene where a man had self-inflicted knife wounds earlier this afternoon, but he was not shot with deadly force,” Hashe said.
Hashe said deputies used a stun gun to disarm the man.
The statement was issued in response to a Facebook post from another Pickens County newspaper that indicated a deputy had been involved in a shooting with a suspect who had pulled a knife on police between 4:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. and EMS had responded to the scene.[/cointent_lockedcontent]
Registration dates planned at schools
COUNTY — It’s back-to-school time, and the School District of Pickens County has set dates for registration and “Meet The Teacher” events.
[cointent_lockedcontent]For all elementary schools, the “Meet the Teacher” event will be held this Thursday, Aug. 13, from 3-6 p.m.
At Dacusville Middle School, “Meet The Teacher” and registration will be held this Thursday, Aug. 13, from 4-7 p.m.
Edwards Middle School held its registration Monday and Tuesday, but its make-up day will be Monday, Aug. 17, from noon until 6 p.m.
At Gettys Middle School, “Meet The Teacher” and registration will be today, Wednesday, Aug. 12. For the seventh and eighth grades, it will be from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. For the sixth grade, it will be from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Make-up day will be Monday, Aug. 17, from 9 a.m until noon.
At Liberty Middle School, “Meet The Teacher” and registration will be held this Thursday, Aug. 13. The sixth-grade “rookie camp” will be from 8 a.m. until noon. Seventh and eighth grades will be held from 1-6 p.m.
At Pickens Middle School, “Meet The Teacher” and registration have already been held for the sixth grade, but for the seventh and eighth grades, the events will be held this Thursday, Aug. 13, from 4-7 p.m. Make-up day will be Monday, Aug. 17, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
The first day of school for students is next Tuesday, Aug. 18.[/cointent_lockedcontent]
Easley man dies after motorcycle hits deer
PICKENS — An Easley man was killed Sunday night after his motorcycle hit a deer, officials said.
[cointent_lockedcontent]Pickens County deputy coroner Gary Duncan said James Bradley Grimes, 62, of 1627 Powdersville Road, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the accident happened on S.C. Highway 11 approximately seven miles west of Pickens at 10:15 p.m.
SCHP Lance Cpl. Tony Keller said Grimes was not wearing a helmet when a deer entered the roadway and was struck by the front of his motorcycle, ejecting him.
Duncan said Grimes was transported to the Greenville Health System for an autopsy.[/cointent_lockedcontent]
BLWS director thanks Easley
By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter
brobinson@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Big League World Series tournament director Jon Humphrey thanked Easley City Council Monday night for its support, as the tournament has just completed its 15th year in Easley.
[cointent_lockedcontent]“As I go through the various departments of the city, I doubt there’s one that I don’t owe thanks to for making this tournament happen,” Humphrey said. “Thank you very much to the city of Easley.”
Humphrey said the tournament also depends on about 200 volunteers, whether it be grounds crews or simply someone to take tickets at the gate.
“Even the people who wash clothes have a special challenge with some of the grass stains we get,” Humphrey said.
Humphrey further bragged on the first pitch he threw for one of the games.
“It was definitely across the plate,” Humphrey said.
Council also designated Aug. 15-22 as Farmers Market Week in the city of Easley, corresponding with similar designation on the state and national levels.
Council also approved the hiring of Jasmine Twitty as a new part-time municipal judge. Twitty, a J.L. Mann High School graduate, said she was grateful for the opportunity.[/cointent_lockedcontent]
Liberty to honor 70th anniversary of WWII
LIBERTY — The city of Liberty is set to honor the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II this week.
[cointent_lockedcontent]The Currahee Military Museum of Tocco, Ga., the U.S. Military Training Mission of S.C., 1st Battalion, 505th Co. C of N.C. and S.C., 101st Reenactors of Toccoa, Ga., the VA of S.C., the Upstate First Responders of S.C., and various other military organizations will be involved.
A car show will be held Friday from 4-10 p.m. On Saturday, the activities will begin at 9 a.m. and include color guard, 21-gun salute, a guest speaker and much more. Various vendors will offer food, drinks and more.
Everyone is welcome to attend the event, and Honor Flight and Wounded Warrior Foundation donations will be accepted.
For more information, contact the city of Liberty at (864) 843-3177, ext. 6, or the US MTM at (864) 952-9477.[/cointent_lockedcontent]
Six Mile accepts award from state municipal association
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
Six Mile Town Council member James Atkinson is pictured with the award the town was recently presented by the South Carolina Municipal Association for its efforts in securing Our Bank.
SIX MILE — Six Mile’s banking saga had all the makings of a Hollywood movie.
[cointent_lockedcontent]First, Six Mile had a bank for 94 years before its latest downtown bank decided to close in 2013. Then, finding itself without a bank for the first time since 1919, a group of town officials led the charge to what ultimately resulted in the grand opening of Our Bank the following year.
Finally, the town was recognized by a statewide organization for its efforts in what could be categorized as a happily-ever-after ending.
After experiencing the first two scenarios over a year that culminated with Our Bank’s opening in 2014, the Municipal Association of South Carolina recognized the town’s ability to secure a new bank by presenting an award to Six Mile last month.
The award, which the town won in the 1-1,000 population category, had a total of 29 cities and towns submitting projects and initiatives for consideration.
“Six Mile was the smallest of the award winners, representing but one of nine towns in South Carolina to achieve MASC Achievement Awards for 2015,” said Six Mile Town Council member James Atkinson, a banking official whose expertise helped secure Our Bank. “This is truly a unique venture and the way government should work — the public and private sector, as well as citizens, coming together for the good of all. How much more could be accomplished if the same spirit of cooperation seen in this project could be replicated?”
Atkinson, accepting the award when it was formally presented at a town council meeting earlier this week, praised First Citizens, the previous bank, for doing the right thing for the local community by donating the property to the town if the town could find a bank to occupy the site within six months.
After convincing the outgoing bank to deed the property in exchange for a potential Community Reinvestment Act credit, officials then worked with a regional bankers association to identify an institution to open a branch in Six Mile.
The incoming bank could also receive Community Reinvestment Act credit for opening in a community without a bank and bear no capital expenditures to relocate.
Once an agreement with Our Bank was secured, additional residents volunteered to assist in gutting the existing building to reduce renovation costs. The complete renovation combined state-of-the-art technology into early 20th-century décor that represented the time of the original 1919 Bank of Six Mile and the retaining of a brick-and-mortar bank in its downtown.
The thing Atkinson said made the project even more noteworthy is all of these things were accomplished “without any financial outlay whatsoever on the part of the town.”
“Our citizens got personally involved not only in meetings to discuss the need and desire for a bank, but in an actual gutting of the old bank as a means of assisting the incoming bank with renovation costs,” Atkinson said. “Once the bank is profitable, a percentage of bank earnings will become a revenue line item for the time. Where else in the country can you find such a unique project as was the Our Bank project in Six Mile — again without one single dollar of cost to the town? Where else could a business entity find citizens willing to pick up hammers and gut a building to have a bank, but Six Mile?”
Atkinson, who also welcomed new Carolina Premier Bank president David Barksdale at Tuesday’s council meeting, said bankers must understand the need small towns have for a bank, while citizens must also realize the need to support their local bank.
Six Mile mayor Roy C. Stoddard, who also worked tirelessly with Atkinson to secure Our Bank, said he was surprised when first informed the town had been selected for the municipal association award. But, like Atkinson, Stoddard said the award would not have been possible without the total effort of the community.
“The community understood what a bank means to a small town, as did councilman Atkinson, who spearheaded the effort to find a bank willing to set up shop in Six Mile,” Stoddard said.[/cointent_lockedcontent]
Baptist Easley Foundation awards Gettys scholarships
Pictured, from left, are Brian Ethan Brown, Roddey E. Gettys III and and Kathryn Taylor Garren.
EASLEY — Today two recipients were awarded the annual Roddey E. Gettys III Clinical Scholarships for the 2015-2016 academic year. Brian Ethan Brown of Easley and Kathryn Taylor Garren of Anderson received the awards.
[cointent_lockedcontent]Brian Ethan Brown is currently enrolled at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, Class of 2018. His focus is Emergency Medicine. A lifelong resident of Pickens County, Brown has childhood memories of Baptist Easley Hospital, including physicians and events such as the Festival of Trees. He has served in the U.S. Army (2009-2015) and has volunteered both locally (Pickens County YMCAs) and internationally (El Salvador).
Kathryn Taylor Garren is a student in the Nursing program at Anderson University. Her goal is to be a Critical Care Registered Nurse and a Family Nurse Practitioner and to serve underprivileged communities both in the U.S. and abroad. She has contributed over 600 hours of community service to various local organizations and was named the 2012 G. Frank Russell Career Center Distinguished Student of the Year.
The applicants were evaluated on their applications, essays, letters of recommendations, and transcripts. Eligible applicants had to:
1. Demonstrate a commitment to pursue a career in healthcare by completing at least one full academic year (30 semester credits) in a healthcare-related discipline.
2. Be in good academic standing at the time of application and on track to graduate in a healthcare related discipline.
3. Be enrolled in an accredited associate degree program, four-year degree program, or a postgraduate
program in a healthcare-related discipline.
4. Demonstrate a commitment to community service.
5. Be a full-time permanent resident of Pickens, Anderson, Greenville, or Oconee Counties in South Carolina.
“We’re grateful to those who gave to the scholarship fund, to support students that they may never know, because of the thousands of lives these students will touch over their careers,” said Zach Price, manager of the Baptist Easley Foundation.
The Roddey E. Gettys III Clinical Scholarship Endowment Fund offers individuals interested in pursuing a career in healthcare the opportunity to perpetuate Gettys’ legacy of clinical excellence and patient-focused service. It is administered through the Baptist Easley Hospital Foundation. Interested students are welcome to apply for next year’s awards. Call the Foundation office at (864) 442-7617 for more information.
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Doodle Trail Walking Club being formed in Pickens
PICKENS — Have you stayed off the Doodle Trail because you didn’t want to walk alone?
[cointent_lockedcontent]The Doodle Trail Walking Club will start on Monday, Aug. 17, at the trailhead in Pickens at 8 a.m. The club will meet Mondays through Fridays.
Helen Dodgens of Pickens has started a walking club to help people become more active and feel better physically and mentally. There are no dues or fees — membership is free to all.
The purpose of the club will be to partner individuals with similar walking styles from beginners up, to enjoy the fellowship of others while walking to a healthier lifestyle.
Participants will need a good pair of walking shoes and running socks that minimizes friction and movement and wicks moisture away from your feet.
Hydration is very important, and participants need to bring water or Gatorade to drink. Diabetics also need to pack peanut butter crackers or some other protein bar to bring sugar levels up if they drop. Protection for diabetic feet is of utmost importance. Wear a hat, sunscreen and light clothing for this time of year.
A small wet towel around your neck helps keep your body cool. Talk to your physician if you have medical problems before starting a walking program.
The Doodle Trail does not have rest benches or trash receptacles at this time. You will be responsible for taking trash back to your vehicle. You can carry a small backpack or waist pack to help with your items. Rest benches are desperately needed for individuals with disabilities to be able to walk the trail. Bring your cell phone in case of an emergency.[/cointent_lockedcontent]
Prater’s Creek celebration scheduled for August 23
PICKENS — Prater’s Creek Baptist Church [cointent_lockedcontent]will observe Celebration Sunday on Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. The church was organized in 1875 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1975.
During Celebration Sunday, members will reflect upon God’s gracious blessings in the last 40 years. Everyone is invited to share in the celebration. A covered-dish luncheon will follow the worship service.[/cointent_lockedcontent]
Pickens High School Class of 1960 reunion planned
PICKENS — Pickens High School’s Class of 1960 [cointent_lockedcontent]will celebrate its 55th reunion on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Blue Ridge Co-op Annual Meeting Facility on West Main Street in Pickens.
Activities will begin at 7 p.m. The class will have a time to reignite the Blue Flame spirit with stories of another time, as well as a chance to catch up on their life’s experiences.
Admission is $15 a person or $25 a couple. Food and drinks are included with admission. Dress is casual. For more information, contact Connie Bowers at jconniebowers@gmail.com or (864) 878-9925 or Jane Underwood Wyche at J9142@aol.com or (864) 982-1877.[/cointent_lockedcontent]
