Daily Archives: 12/21/2016
Sheriff’s office investigating Easley shooting
EASLEY — The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that injured an Easley homeowner Saturday evening.
Chief deputy Creed Hashe said Monday the shooting occurred on Stonewall Farm Road at approximately 7:45 p.m. Hashe added that deputies arrived on the scene just before 8 p.m. after receiving reports that a person had been shot one time in the lower arm.
Investigators learned that a 38-year-old homeowner, whose name was not provided, answered a knock at his front door and engaged in a conversation with an unknown male described as having red hair, approximately 6 feet tall with thin build, wearing a dark-colored shirt and blue jeans. The unidentified male asked the homeowner if he could speak with a former tenant at that location, only to be advised by the homeowner that the person being sought had not lived at that location in more than a year.
Hashe said the unknown male became angry and produced a small-caliber handgun, firing one round that struck the homeowner in the lower arm. The suspect was reportedly last seen walking away from the scene on foot. Meanwhile, the victim was treated and released at a local hospital.
Anyone with information concerning the incident is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (864) 898-5500 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIMESC.
Wyche’s transplant story set to be broadcast on NBC Christmas Day
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — In his time as both a player and a coach, Sam Wyche has seen plenty of football games come down to the wire.
Man sentenced for abusing 6-year-old
pickens — A Pickens man has been sentenced after being convicted by a Pickens County jury of criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
Jose Reyes Reyes, 29, was sentenced to 28 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, according to a release from 13th Circuit solicitor Walt Wilkins.
Assistant solicitor Brandi Batson Hinton presented evidence at the trial that established Reyes sexually assaulted the 6-year-old victim on numerous occasions at his home in Pickens County where the victim would often spend the night, the release said.
The abuse occurred between Jan. 1, 2013, and June 30, 2013, the release said.
Reyes was convicted on Dec. 13. Judge Perry Gravely issued the sentence last week.
Reyes will have to serve at least 85 percent of the 28-year sentence before he becomes eligible for parole, the release said.
Capt. Marvin Nix of the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
PCSO: Homeowner killed intruder
EASLEY — A suspected intruder died after being shot by an Easley homeowner last week.
Pickens County coroner Kandy Kelley said Justin Smith, 27, of Cooperfield Avenue in Piedmont, was pronounced dead at Greenville Memorial Hospital on Wednesday morning.
Smith died of multiple gunshot wounds, Kelley said.
The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office has completed the investigation into the fatal shooting, the agency announced last week.
The shooting occurred at a home on Prince Perry Road in Easley.
According to news release from sheriff’s office chief deputy Creed Hashe, the homeowner returned to his home Wednesday morning and found a man, later identified as Smith, in the hallway as he exited the homeowner’s bedroom. Smith was armed with multiple guns taken from the bedroom, the release said.
A brief struggle ensued between the two men, according to Hashe.
The homeowner gained control of one of the weapons, a rifle, and fired multiple shots in the direction of the suspected intruder, the release said.
The man, struck by several rounds, fell onto the wooden deck as he exited the back door of the home, according to the release.
Hashe said crime scene technicians later found and recovered evidence indicating the back door of the home had been kicked in and numerous areas of the residence had been searched and rummaged through prior to the shooting.
Evidence corroborating the homeowner’s statements that the rounds were fired while both men were inside the residence was also collected, according to Hashe.
During the course of the investigation, the sheriff’s office recovered unrelated stolen property that linked Smith to a residential break-in that had been previously reported to the Easley Police Department, Hashe said.
Detectives from the sheriff’s office provided a presentation of the information, including evidence collected at the scene, to the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office Friday morning.
This is the first step in the process to reach a conclusion regarding the homeowner’s decision to use lethal force as it applies to SC law, according to Hashe.
Solicitor’s office personnel told detectives that absent additional questions or the need for further follow-up, they hoped to be able to render a decision within the next few days.
Christmas celebrations planned at Praters Creek
PICKENS — Praters Creek Baptist Church invites the community to join in two special services honoring the birth of Jesus Christ.
The first service is set for 4 p.m. Christmas Eve, and the second service is at 9:30 a.m. on Christmas morning. All are welcome. The church is located at 621 Praters Creek Road in Pickens.
For more information, call (864) 868-2300.
Educators discuss issues with legislators
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
COUNTY — School District of Pickens County officials met Thursday with members of the Pickens County Legislative Delegation to discuss a variety of education issues that may emerge when the 2017 General Assembly session begins next month.
But Pickens County school superintendent Danny Merck, who is also a member of the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee, told delegation members that — unlike previous years — the issues he is presenting aren’t money-related.
“I’m in Columbia all the time with the EOC, and I understand the issues,” Merck said. “There’s nothing on this sheet of paper about money.”
Instead, the issues Merck brought before the delegation during their annual breakfast meeting at the district office were ones he said will require changes in legislation. The issues included the accountability system, featuring teacher evaluations; changing the start-up date for schools to earlier in August, rather than the third week; and a reduction in testing.
As far as teacher evaluation, Merck said he recommends a point system, rather than an A-F grade.
“We want to protect a teacher’s privacy,” Merck said. “When we grew up, it was about achievement. Now, it’s about growth — of the teacher and the student.”
The testing of students is something Merck said the EOC plans to recommend “a reduction to the fullest extent possible.”
“We support reduced testing in South Carolina but, in order to do so, you’re going to have to change the law,” he said. ” (Advanced Placement) and College Board are going to test the same time every year. Every school in South Carolina wants to finish the first semester prior to Christmas so kids can go on to college.”
The Pickens County superintendent also requested that the delegation work toward changing the start date of schools.
“Probably, in my 26 years in education, I think the more we can minimize summer loss, which is the amount of time kids are away from school, you’re going to help them the most without a restrictive start date,” Merck said. “The less gap you have in the summer, the better off poor kids are.”
State Sen. Thomas Alexander, who represents Oconee and a portion of Pickens County, said he understands the concerns over the start date for schools.
“I hear what you’re saying — I hear from parents and it’s not just a coastal issue,” Alexander said. “I hear from folks who do like the later start date.”
Alexander said it appears the movement toward changing the state superintendent of education from an elected position to a cabinet position appointed by the governor is “heading that way.” But the senator added, “That is a decision the people of the state will make.”
The Walhalla native added that school safety will also “be at the forefront” of legislators following the tragic Townville Elementary School shootings in September that killed one student and injured another student and a teacher.
State Senator-elect Rex Rice, who will enter office in January, said education is the one area in the state that has changed a lot in the time he was away following 16 years of service in the State House of Representatives.
“I’m serving on the education committee, and I’m excited about that,” Rice said.
State Rep. Davey Hiott of Pickens said Pickens County “does a great job” when it comes to education.
“Everywhere we go, we don’t have a problem talking about education, because we feel we do it the best,” Hiott said.
Hiott added he agrees with the concerns over testing.
“I’ve always thought we over tested too much,” he said.
State Rep. Gary Clary, who represents the Clemson area, said he is very pleased with the steps being taken to keep Pickens County in the position it’s in educationally. Although he adds “you can never be satisfied,” the retired judge said he is passionate about legislation requiring dyslexia screening for kindergarten through third-grade students.
“Students in colleges and universities who want to become teachers would be required to take a course on reading disorders,” Clary said.
State Rep. Neal Collins of Easley said Pickens County is fortunate to not only have Merck on the Education Oversight Committee but also Easley businessman David Whittemore on the State Board of Education.
“Pickens County is well represented across the state in education,” Collins said. “I’m looking forward to working with everybody.”
Merck said he hopes the legislature will continue its excellent relationship with the EOC, saying that organization “needs to remain intact to have a voice in the general assembly and provide a voice in public education.”
Locals take part in the 2016 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas
SPARTANBURG — Pickens County was well represented during last weekend’s Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. Daniel offensive lineman Zac McIntosh was selected to play for the South Carolina squad, and former Pickens Blue Flame and current Hanahan head coach Charlie Patterson was selected as an assistant coach.
Live Nativity
Rocky Nimmons/Courier
Pickens First Baptist Church brought community members together on Sunday, Dec. 11, for a live Nativity, re-enacting the very first Christmas in Bethlehem. The Nativity, held at Legacy Square, was complete with live animals and featured free food, games for children and music.
