Monthly Archives: August 2016
Pickens’ Venture Outdoors events planned Aug. 27
Pickens — On Aug. 27, the city of Pickens will host an outdoor festival that will highlight all the Pickens area has to offer residents and visitors alike when it comes to outdoor sports.
The festival will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Town Creek Bike Park behind the Pickens Recreation Department on Sangamo Road with an all-day mountain bike event. With the help of Upstate SORBA, the city will host mountain bike workshops, ride time and timed races for all ages.
Throughout the day at various locations around town, free workshops will be held covering topics from fly-fishing from Southern Appalachian Outdoors and a beekeeping workshop with the 2016 South Carolina Farmer of the Year of Bee Well Honey to hiking, kayaking, backpacking, rock climbing and much more.
As the mountain bike event concludes, be sure to stick around for the 5K Trail Run at the recreation department, which should finish around 6 p.m. All participants are encouraged to make their way to the Amphitheater on Main Street for the announcement of the race finishers.
Attendees are also invited to stop off at the Pickens Farmers Market from 4-7 p.m. on Court Street.
The 4×4 Cruise-in, where all Jeeps, Broncos, trucks and off-road vehicles are encouraged to attend, will begin around 5 p.m., with part of Main Street closing. Visitors can fill their bellies with dinner from the Meat’n in the Middle food truck, Ray’s Mobile Food Truck parked at the amphitheater, or one of the many establishments downtown as The Hired Help rock all night long at the amphitheater stage from 7-10 p.m.
All funds raised from the Venture Outdoors Day will be split between the Pickens Police Dog Fund and the Pickens Youth Athletic Corporation. The PYAC is a local nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to children who want to participate in recreational sports but whose families might not have the financial means by covering the registration costs and some uniform costs. The Pickens Police Department has started fundraising efforts to procure a human- and drug-tracking dog to better serve the community.
All registration forms for all events held during the Venture Outdoors event can be found at www.cityofpickens.com/outdoors.
Courier Legal Notices 8-10-16
PUBLICATION OF HEARING
STATE OF MICHIGAN
GLADWIN COUNTY
55th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
– FAMILY DIVISION
CASE NO. 16-123-NA
To Jessica Miller
IN THE MATTER OF:
Payton Miller DOB: 10/18/2014,
Kaeden Miller DOB: 12/23/2015
A hearing regarding Termination of Parental Rights will be conducted by the court on August 22, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. in the 55th Circuit Court – Family Division before the Honorable Marcy A. Klaus.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Jessica Miller personally appear before the court at the time and place stated above.
This hearing may result in the Court taking jurisdiction of the children.
July 27, August 3, 10
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SUMMONS
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF PICKENS
IN THE FAMILY COURT FOR THE
THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
Case No. 2015-DR-39-1000
Felicia Woodall and Allen Woodall, Plaintiff, vs. Monique Al-Hassan and Al-Hassan, Defendant.
TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE-NAMED:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the complaint herein, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your answer to this complaint upon the subscriber, at the address shown below, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to answer the complaint, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.
BRIAN K. JAMES, LLC
________________________
Brian K. James (11215)
Attorney for the Plaintiffs
P.O. Box 93
Easley, SC 29641
Tel. 864.859.5918
Fax. 864.859.8848
Easley, SC
October 3, 2015
July 27, August 3, 10
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Determination of Heirs
PETITIONER:
Charlena Elizabeth Blake
DECEASED: Will Turner Gowens
DATE OF DEATH: May 26, 2002
NAMES OF POSSIBLE KNOWN HEIRS AND RELATIONSHIPS:
REASON FOR PETITION: To petition the Court of Reconsideration of Determination of Heirs.
NOTICE OF HEARING
Date: August 25, 2016
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Place: Pickens County Probate Court
222 McDaniel Avenue
Pickens, SC 29671
PURPOSE: Hearing upon the Petition of Charlena Elizabeth Blakein the Estate of Will Turner Gowens.
DESCRIPTION OF PLEADING:
Determination of Heirs
A full copy of the Summons and Petition is available from the undersigned attorney. If you do not appear at the hearing or file an answer, the relief requested will be granted.
Executed: Tuesday, August 09, 2016.
________________
Adam B. Lambert
Acker Lambert Hinton P.A.
P.O. Box 9
Pickens, SC 29671
(864) 878-1184
Aug. 10, 17, 24
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Courier Notice to Creditors 8-10-16
The publisher shall only be liable for an amount less than or equal to the charge for the space of the item in error in the case of errors in or omissions from any advertisement, and only for the first incorrect insertion.
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NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES
All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on Form #371ES with the Probate Court of PICKENS COUNTY, the address of which is 222 MCDANIEL AVE., B-16 PICKENS, SC 29671, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements on the prescribed form (FORM #371ES) indicating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.
Estate: Pamela Dawn Holcombe
Date of Death: 07/18/2016
Case Number: 2016ES3900494
Personal Representative: Kevin Turner
Address: 155 Christine Dr.
Liberty, SC 29657
July 27, August 3, 10
Estate: Christine Mann Hooper
Date of Death: 06/05/2016
Case Number: 2016ES3900421
Personal Representative:
Linda Joyce H. Marchbanks
Address: 144 Thalia Lane
Easley, SC 29642
July 27, August 3, 10
Estate: Mary Elizabeth Singleton
Date of Death: 03/08/2016
Case Number: 2016ES3900470
Personal Representative:
William C. Singleton
Address: 302 Fairway Drive
Pickens, SC 29671
Attorney: Kenneth D. Acker
Address: P.O. Box 9
Pickens, SC 29671
July 27, August 3, 10
Estate: Anne Aldrich Furman
Date of Death: 06/23/2016
Case Number: 2016ES3900483
Personal Representative:
Thomas D. Furman, Jr.
Address: 153 Stone Root Lane
Concord, MA 01742
Attorney: J. Tod Hyche
Address: Post Office Box 87
Greenville, SC 29602
July 27, August 3, 10
Estate: John Willis Kenelly. Jr.
Date of Death: 07/03/2016
Case Number: 2016ES3900461
Personal Representative:
John Trent Kenelly
Address: 200 Woody Road, Apt. 32
Pendleton, SC 29670
Attorney: Randall M. Newton
Address: Post Office Box 1539
Clemson, SC 29633
August 3, 10, 17
Estate: Ralph David Nix
Date of Death: 04/04/2016
Case Number: 2016ES3900506
Personal Representative: Ida W. Nix
Address: 3 Woodvale Drive
Liberty, SC 29657
Attorney: Kenneth Roper
Address: Post Office Box 246
Pickens, SC 29671
August 3, 10, 17
Estate: Monica Hagerman Stockton
Date of Death: 03/02/2016
Case Number: 2016ES3900373
Personal Representative:
Dale Willis Stockton
Address: 677 Mt. Bethel Road
Sunset, SC 29685
August 3, 10, 17
Estate: Alpha Mary Stark
Date of Death: 07/01/2016
Case Number: 2016ES3900495
Personal Representative:
Sharon Lee Stark
Address: 201 Wandering Way
Pickens, SC 29671
Attorney: R. Murray Hughes
Address: Post Office Box 1389
Pickens, SC 29671
August 10, 17, 24
Estate: Rosalie Bolding Gillespie
Date of Death: 07/09/2016
Case Number: 2016ES3900464
Personal Representative:
Nancy G. Brown
Address: 2256 Rockcreek Trail
Hoover, AL 25226
Attorney: Kenneth D. Acker
Address: Post Office Box 9
Pickens, SC 29671
August 10, 17, 24
Estate: Carol Gray Suber
Date of Death: 07/14/2016
Case Number: 2016ES3900509
Personal Representative:
Elizabeth Suber
Address: 830 N. Brickyard Road
Columbia, SC 29223
Attorney: Corinne B, Cannon
Address: Post Office Box 629
Clemson, SC 29633
August 10, 17, 24
Courier Trespass Notices 8-10-16
In the state of South Carolina, trespass after notice is a misdemeanor criminal offense prohibited by section 16-11-620 for the South Carolina Code.
Those who enter upon the lands of others without the permission of the owner or manager shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor trespassing. All persons are hereby notified and warned not to hunt, fish, cut timber or trespass in any manner whatsoever upon the lands of the undersigned:
Cecil and Ruby Reid Aug. 2016
Jerry Galbreath Aug. 2016
Glenn and Carolyn Sellers Oct. 2016
Carl W. Porter Nov. 2016
Charles M. Smith Dec. 2016
Dolly Morris Dec. 2016
John T. M. Tompkins Dec. 2016
Sarah Rampy Jan. 2017
Frances Mathis Jan. 2017
Betty McGrew Hill Jan. 2017
Mildred Rigdon Cobb Jan. 2017
James Dan Winchester and
Avenelle S. Winchester Jan. 2017
Jessica Anderson Faus Jan. 2017
Tredwell and Erica Zeigler Feb. 2017
Rev. Joseph Miller April 2017
Perry W. and
Margaret C. Burns April 2017
Barry and Angela
Burns Duncan April 2017
Larry and Ricky Madden April 2017
Pam Wilson May 2017
Don and Renee Hunter May 2017
Waymon and Doris Aikens June 2017
Danny G. McCall and
Clay A. McCall June 2017
Artistic Builders, Inc. July 2017
Edward and Evinne Elrod July 2017
Larry and /or Bertie Gibson July 2017
John F. Hendricks July 2017
Randy and Lynn Griffin Aug. 2017
Jeffery D. and Sandra Couch Aug. 2017
Deborah Lusk Young
and Lola S Lusk Jan. 2018
Courier Classifieds 8-10-16
Announcements
MEDICAL BILLING & INSURANCE! Train at home to process Insurance claims, billing & more! ONLINE CAREER TRAINING PROGRAM AVAILABLE! Call for more information! HS Diploma/GED & PC/Internet needed! 1-888-512-7118. SW
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Sell your structured settlement or annuity payments for CASH NOW. You don’t have to wait for your future payments any longer! Call 1-800-446-9734.
SW
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ADDICTED TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL? Get help now! One call can save your life. Free, confidential call, 24/7. We will help you find the right treatment options for your needs. Call now 1-800-715-9918. SW
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Lung Cancer?
And Age 60+? You And Your Family May Be Entitled To Significant Cash Award. Call 855-664-5681 for information. No Risk. No money out-of-pocket. SW
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AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING – Get FAA certification. No HS Diploma or GED – We can help. Approved for military benefits. Financial Aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-367-2513. SW
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Our Hunters will Pay Top $$$
To hunt your land. Call for a Free Base Camp Leasing info packet & Quote. 1-866-309-1507 www.BaseCampLeasing.com. SW
Help Wanted
QUALITY VIP CLEANERS, PICKENS location is now accepting applications for part-time counter person. Flexible, dependable, own transportation and a non-smoker, Apply in person. for more information call 864-878-9779. 8/10, 17
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Cemetery Grounds Maintenance: Part-Time Position Available. Manual Labor, weed-trimming, landscape, etc. Apply in person at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Pickens. 8/3,10
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HELP WANTED: Electrician or Electrician helper with residential experience in the Taylors area. Call Lloyd at 864-303-0679.
8/3, 10
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SPECIAL OPS U.S. Navy. Elite training. Daring missions. Generous pay/benefits. HS grads ages 17-30. Do you have what it takes? Call Mon-Fri 800-662-7419. SW
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EXPERIENCED OTR FLATBED DRIVERS
– Earn 50 up to 55cpm loaded. $1000 sign on to qualified drivers. Good home time. Call 843-266-3731 / www.bulldoghiway.com EOE. SW
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HOME WEEKLY! Plus benefits & vacation. OTR Drivers, CDL, Clean MVR, 2yrs exp. J & J Farms, 808 Byron Hicks Rd., Jefferson, SC. Call Glen or Ronnie: (843) 672-5003. SW
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ADVERTISE YOUR DRIVER JOBS in 101 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.1 million readers. Call Alanna Ritchie at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377. SW
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Colonial Life seeking
experienced benefits counselors. immediate income potential! All training provided. LA&H license. Contact Jennifer: 843-323-6015. JAngelich@ColonialLife.com. SW
Yard Sale
Huge Yard Sale, Hot Dog and Fish Sale: Saturday, August 13. 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Griffin Ebenezer Baptist Church located at 450 Garvin Street in Pickens.. 8/10
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Well, here it is- the YARD SALE you’ve been waiting for! We have been trying to do this thing for 2 years. On August 12-13, that’s Friday AND Saturday, you will find a wide variety of useful and neat items gathered from four different homes/estates. We are located at 103 Billy Aiken Drive, just off Hwy 178- 1/2 mile north of Preston McDaniel Road. In case of rain, we will be thankful to set a rain date.
8/3, 10
For Sale
For Sale: Two cemetery plots in Greenlawn Memorial Park in Easley, Plots are in Section A. $1,100 each or both for $2,000. If Interested call 864-207-6031. 8/10
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Two cemetery plots for Sale: Located in Bible Section of Hillcrest Cemetery. Reduced price. Call 878-5172. 8/10
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AT&T U-Verse Internet starting at $15/month or TV & Internet starting at $49/month for 12 months with 1-year agreement. Call 1-800-618-2630 to learn more. SW
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ULTIMATE BUNDLE from DIRECTV & AT&T. 2-Year Price Guarantee -Just $89.99/month (TV/fast internet/phone) FREE Whole-Home Genie HD-DVR Upgrade. New Customers Only. Call Today 1-800-291-6954. SW
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DISH TV 190 channels plus Highspeed Internet Only $49.94/mo! Ask about a 3 year price guarantee & get Netflix included for 1 year! Call Today 1-800-635-0278. SW
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FAST Internet! HughesNet Satellite Internet. High-Speed. Avail Anywhere. Speeds to 15 mbps. Starting at $59.99/mo. Call for Limited Time Price. 1-800-280-9221. SW
Auctions
ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 107 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Your 25-word classified ad will reach more than 2.3 million readers. Call Alanna Ritchie at the S.C. Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377. SW
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Auction – Commercial/Restaurant Bldg. – Large Shop Bldg. – 12.3 +/- Acres – 2 Storage Bldgs. High Visibility I-20. Boats, Trailers, Equipment, Tools. Saturday, August 20, 10 AM. Exit 131, 4600 Lamar Hwy., Lamar, SC. Damon Shortt Auction Group 877-669-4005, SCAL2346. damonshorttproperties.com. SW
Services
BATHTUB REFINISHING – Renew or change the color of your bathtub, tile or sink. Fiberglass repair specialists! 5 year warranty. Locally owned since 1989. CarolinasTubDoctor.com. 864-766-4777. SW
For Rent
ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION PROPERTY FOR RENT OR SALE to more than 2.3 million S.C. newspaper readers. Your 25-word classified ad will appear in 107 S.C. newspapers for only $375. Call Alanna Ritchie at the South Carolina Newspaper Network, 1-888-727-7377.
SW
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SANTEE – Lake Marion, 4BR waterfront home, 2 acres, boat ramp, pier, sandy beach, screened porch, sleeps 14. Sept./Oct. Special: $1200/wk, 3-day weekend $500. www.lakehousevacations.com/page-4383.html (843) 442-8069. SW
Home For Sale
Mobile Homes with acreage. Ready to move in. Lots of room, 3Br 2Ba. Quick and easy owner financing (subject to credit approval). No renters. 803-454-2433 (DL35711).
SW
Wanted
FOREIGN CARS WANTED – Retired military buying PRE-1977 Austin Healey, Triumph, Jaguar, MG, Aston Martin, TVR, Porsche, AC, BSA, BMW, Oddballs. Any condition. Have cash & trailer – 404 234 5954. SW
Land For Sale
3.5 Acres on the South’s best Trout Fishing River. $14,900! 350 ft of US National Forest Frontage! Call today 1-888-270-4695. Fantastic Investment! SW
School board stalwart Cooper dies
COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County is mourning the loss of its longest-serving school board member.
Dr. Herb Cooper, who has represented the Clemson area on the board of trustees since 1992, died [cointent_lockedcontent] Tuesday after a battle with cancer.
“The news of Dr. Cooper’s passing is a very saddening for all of us who had the pleasure to know and work with him,” superintendent Dr. Danny Merck said. “He has served on our board of trustees for 24 years, and he has left a legacy of supporting education that will have an impact on generations of students. His experience, insight, love for students and love for his community will never be surpassed.
“I’m very grateful to have worked with him to build success for our students.”
A lifetime Clemson resident, Cooper was a 1959 graduate of Daniel High School. After graduating from Clemson University with a B.S. degree, Cooper then graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina with an M.D. degree.
After a one-year internship at Greenville Memorial Hospital, he spent
more than four years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, with one year in Vietnam, where he received a Bronze Star. He also spent more than three years in Berchtesgaden, Germany, where he met and married his wife, Traudl.
In 1973, he returned to Clemson and served as a family practice physician in the Clemson and Pendleton areas until his retirement in June 2015. In 2013, he was selected to be a member of the inaugural class of the D.W. Daniel Athletic Hall of Fame.
Cooper is survived by his wife and two children — Herbie and Heidi — who are both physicians and who were both valedictorians at Daniel High School.
Funeral arrangements for Cooper will be announced on Wednesday.[/cointent_lockedcontent]
Filing now open for school board seats
COUNTY — Filing is no open for three seats on the Pickens County School Board that will be up for grabs in the November election.
Filing for districts 1, 3 and 5 opened at noon Monday and will run through noon Aug. 15.
District 3 trustee Alex Saitta will be the only incumbent trying to retain his school board seat, as District 5 trustee Judy Edwards has announced she will not seek re-election and longtime District 1 trustee Dr. Herb Cooper passed away on Tuesday after a battle with cancer.
After losing in the Republican primary runoff in a bid for a Pickens County Council seat, Saitta announced he will seek re-election to the school board.
As of early Tuesday afternoon, the only candidate who had filed to run for one of the three seats was Pickens resident Shannon Haskett, who will challenge Saitta for the District 3 seat.
Former Easley High School principal Betty Garrison has also announced her intention to run for the District 5 seat being vacated by Edwards.
The election, set for Nov. 8, will be nonpartisan.
Those looking to declare their candidacy for the school board races must do so at the Pickens County Board of Voter Registration and Elections office at 222 McDaniel Ave. in Pickens during normal business hours.
A $120 filing fee applies, and candidates must complete a Statement of Candidacy Form.
in the Big leagues
Infielder Mason Stewart of Easley forces a Southeast player out at second during the S.C. District 1 team’s 1-0 Big League World Series loss last week at the J.B. “Red” Owens Complex in Easley. The host squad finished a disappointing 2-2 in this year’s series, which wrapped up on Tuesday night with a championship showdown between the U.S. West team of Maui Big League All-Stars and the Chinese Taipei team representing the Asia-Pacific region televised on ESPN. Results from the game were unavailable at press time. Kerry Gilstrap/Courier
Six Mile woman, newborn daughter die after collision
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
SIX MILE — A tragic accident claimed the lives of a young Six Mile woman and her newborn daughter last week.
According to a release from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were notified at 9:45 p.m. on Friday, July 22, that a pedestrian had been struck by a bicycle on Mount Olivet Road in Six Mile.
Both the sheriff’s office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol responded to the scene.
A 24-year-old woman and her boyfriend, 27, were walking on Mount Olivet Road when the woman was struck by a bicyclist, the release said.
The woman, Rose Marie Higgins, was flown to Greenville Memorial Hospital.
The bicyclist was treated at the scene for injuries, the release said. Higgins’ boyfriend was not injured.
Higgins was 28 weeks pregnant at the time of the accident.
Sources close to the family reported that Higgins’ child was delivered by emergency cesarean section at 2:12 a.m. July 23.
The infant, Charissa Faith, died on Monday, July 25.
Higgins passed away on July 26.
A prayer vigil was held for the family Thursday.
A fundraising campaign has been set up to help with funeral expenses for both Higgins and her infant daughter, as well as to help Higgins’ two little boys. For more information, visit https://www.gofundme.com/rjkmhk.
The investigation determined that the collision was accidental.
“The sheriff’s office, along with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, determined at the scene that the incident was not indicative of any foul play and there was no evidence that the collision was intentionally motivated,” the release stated.
Condolences for the family may be left on the Dillard Funeral Home and Hillcrest Memorial Park website.
Official: Museum reports ‘without a factual basis’
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — County officials say recent media reports about the finances of the Pickens County Museum of Art and History are misleading.
A statement released by Pickens County tourism and marketing director Helen Hockwalt said a recent news story claimed that the State Law Enforcement Division has a pending inquiry into the finances of the museum.
The county’s statement said that the former executive director of the museum, Allen Coleman, contacted SLED some time after he was terminated by the county for inappropriate conduct.
“We were contacted by SLED last month and we provided them with all information they requested,” the statement reads. “We also referred them to our external auditing firm for an outside perspective on the county’s financial management practices, both generally and as it pertains to the museum.”
The preliminary contact from SLED was only made “to determine if sufficient information exists to warrant an actual investigation,” the statement said.
“This is a routine step when a citizen complaint is received,” Hockwalt continued. “There are no financial irregularities or monies transferred from designated accounts into the County’s General Fund as alleged.”
The statement disputes the story’s assertion that more than $70,000 was drawn out of museum accounts.
“This assertion is completely without a factual basis,” the statement said. “Records that are readily available to the public from the Finance Office show a fund balance in the contingency account for the Museum of $73,318.00 as of (July 27), with any and all revenues and expenditures accurately recorded. Much of this information is also available on the County website.”
Pickens County is audited annually by an independent external auditing firm.
“In our most recent audit, this firm noted that there were no material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, or noncompliance with financial statements noted,” Hockwalt’s statement said. “In fact, Pickens County has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association for 11 consecutive years.”
A member of the Pickens County Cultural Commission recently shared her concerns about the museum with county council.
Gilda Hendricks spoke before council members at their June meeting, stating that the administration of the museum “currently is off-kilter.”
“The function of the commission is no longer clear, nor its purpose or mission being met,” Hendricks said.
She said the county tourism department currently running the museum is “either unwilling or unable to meet the requirements of the cultural commission, and its operations are ineffective.”
“The museum has no director, according to the current budget,” she said.
She said the commission is no longer being provided accurate treasurer reports and other reports and is no longer being allowed to “serve in the planning and functioning of the museum.”
“This should be rectified,” Hendricks said. “It is the acting director’s responsibility to see that this commission or board is tended to.”
“Both the museum and the Hagood Mill site were well-run and productive prior to the restructuring of the department a little over two years ago,” Hendricks said. “Since that time, things have begun to fade.”
She said the commission had no say in the decision to discharge Coleman.
The ordinance establishing the commission states that body shall assist county officials in selecting a museum director, subject to the right of the administrator to employ or discharge that position, she said.
“In spite of our voiced concerns about the way things were going, the interim administrator terminated the director with no consultation whatsoever,” Hendricks said. “Yes, it was the administrator’s right, but at that time we did not have a permanent administrator, so the interim making such a decision without board input was probably not in the best interests of the museum.”
She said there has been “a tremendous fall in museum attendance” and blamed it on “ill-advised directives.”
“Programs and exhibits are at an all-time minimum,” Hendricks said. “The current staff is simply not producing adequate programming and is failing to market what little is produced. Even the Facebook page for the museum is repetitive and is not up-to-date.”
She said in the past two years, the commission has experienced “a lack of appreciation for our past services and an implied silencing of our current advisory position.”
“When we make suggestions or voice concerns, we’re told that we’re only creating confusion,” Hendricks said. “With our small number and our silenced voice, we feel almost forbidden to work on any planning, fundraising, membership recruitment or other forms or support. Some of us feel like we’re just waiting to be told we’re no longer needed.”
She said the commission was concerned the tourism director was not making their questions and concerns known to council members.
“If that is not the case, then you are ignoring us,” Hendricks said.
She said her statements weren’t meant to air “personal grievances,”
“It is for you to know the conflicts that have been going on in the museum,” Hendricks said.
Hendricks said the county ordinance regarding the cultural commission needed to be revisited or updated.
“The adherence to Ordinance 184 seems to have been abandoned with no updated mission being created,” she said.
Hockwalt’s statement asserts the county’s continued support of the arts.
“It is correct that the County Museum is going through a transition in leadership,” the statement concludes. “But it is wildly inaccurate to suggest that the County is withdrawing support for the Museum or its mission. In fact, Pickens County Council is currently considering an additional $120,000 budget outlaw for repairs to the facility.”
