Monthly Archives: October 2016
ARTS Center of Clemson set to host pottery show
Clemson — A Clay in the Carolinas Pottery Sale will be held this Saturday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The ARTS Center of Clemson.
Center to raffle off one-of-a-kind rocking chair
PICKENS — Harold Dodson has given his creation “Divine Inspiration” rocking chair to be raffled off by the Pickens Senior Center. Tickets are currently available in the center.
The drawing for the chair will be at the Awards Ceremony in the Amphitheater area following the Pickens Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 9. The cost of the raffle tickets are $5 each or five tickets for $20.
2016 end-of-course scores released
COUNTY — South Carolina has released the results of end-of-course exam testing, showing Pickens County a mixture of growth and decline from the previous year.
The end-of-course examination program tests middle and high school students in Algebra 1/Math Tech 2 and English 1 classes, and it tests high school students in Biology and U.S. History. The state reports results in two ways: average score and percent passing.
The greatest gain for Pickens County was in English. SDPC’s average score and percent passing both hit five-year highs.
Pickens County students’ average scores were above state averages on Algebra, English, and Biology, but dipped below in U.S History. For the third year in a row the percentage of students passing the Algebra 1/Math Tech 2 exam was slightly below the state average, and the percentage passing the U.S. History exam dipped below state average as well. SDPC scores declined from the previous year in every subject except English.
“The gains we’ve made in English are something to be proud of, and I hope we can continue building on that going forward,” said Danny Merck, SDPC Superintendent. “In the other subjects, state-wide progress has been gradually closing the gap with Pickens County for several years, and this year we were overtaken in several subjects. It’s very important for us to continue to improve so that our students have a competitive advantage after graduation.”
Marshall named to New York Life executive council
PICKENS — Laura Marshall has been named a member of the 2016 executive council of New York Life Insurance Company. Members of the Executive Council are among the most successful of New York Life’s elite sales force of 12,000 licensed agents.
Marshall has been a New York Life agent since 2002 and is associated with New York Life’s South Central General Office in Greenville.
As a licensed agent of New York Life Insurance, she can offer a variety of products that can help you meet a number of insurance and financial needs, including, but not limited to college funding, retirement, managing costs for extended periods of care and lifetime income strategies.
Quest for the perfect peanut
We’ve been looking for raw in the shell Spanish peanuts and have been surprised at how hard they are to find. There was a time, and not so long ago, when this was not a problem.
It was possible, if you didn’t grow them, to go to the farmers market or even some grocery stores and buy these peanuts in bulk.
Courier Letters to the Editor 10-19-16
The Pickens County Courier gladly accepts letters to the Editor. Letters must be no longer than 500 words. All letters must be signed, including first and last name, address and phone number in order to be considered for publication. Only the name and city where you reside will be printed. Submission does not guarantee publication. We reserve the right to edit for content and length. No slanderous or obscene material will be accepted. Letters to the Editor and columns do not necessarily the Courier’s opinion. Send letters to news@thepccourier.com
Praters Creek Fall Festival set Saturday
PICKENS — Praters Creek Baptist Church will host a fall festival this Saturday, Oct. 22, from 2-5 p.m.
There will be games for children and youth and a hayride for adults. All games will be supervised. Hot dogs will be served from 4-5 p.m.
The Gospel trio “For Him” will play sacred music. The church is located at 621 Praters Creek Road in Pickens.
Free cancer awareness lunch and learn set at Cannon
PICKENS — Cannon Memorial Radiology Department is offering a free “Let’s Talk!” lunch and learn at the hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
The lunch and learn begins at noon in the Cannon Classroom, located in the Outpatient Services Building.
Afterward, guests may tour the mammography department and meet the staff.
The radiology department will present three topics: “Do you need a mammogram?” byKim August, RT, BSRS, (R), (M); “Don’t be afraid!” presented by Kim Alexander, RT, (R), (M), (CT); and “What if?” given by Cindy Scruggs, RT, (R), (BD). RSVP for attendance to the event is required by Oct. 18. Call (864) 898-1252 to secure your seat.
Larry Martin receives public service award
Columbia — Se. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, received the Public Service Award recently from the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network. The award is given for outstanding leadership in combating domestic violence.
“I’m grateful for this recognition and very appreciative of all the great work that this organization does,” Martin said. “I’m proud to be a part of their efforts and I know that with their help and their leadership in this state, South Carolina will continue to work hard to protect the victims of domestic violence.”
The mission of the South Carolina Victim Assistance is provide support services for victims and to prevent future crimes through advocacy, education, public awareness and technical assistance.
Martin was first elected to the South Carolina Senate in 1992 and represents Pickens County in District 2.
SDPC students outperform statewide scores on tests
COUNTY — Students in the School District of Pickens County outpaced their counterparts across the state on the SC Ready and on the SC PASS assessments in 2016. SC Ready is the new standardized test for English and Math in grades 3-8. SC PASS tests are given in grades 4-8 in Science and Social Studies. Both tests are aligned to the new South Carolina College and Career-Ready Standards
