Daily Archives: 01/23/2018
The fight continues
13 charged in meth sweep
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
PICKENS — Pickens County Sheriff Rick Clark announced Friday that 13 people are facing 37 criminal charges in a multi-county, multi-agency 
undercover drug operation that stretched for more than eight months.
Ten of those charged are Pickens County residents, Clark said.
The sheriff said his office joined with the S.C. Law Enforcement Division, Easley Police Department and a U.S. Marshals task force to conduct the investigation, which targeted mid- to upper-level distributors of methamphetamine.
“This is not simple possession — it’s distribution and network type of distribution we’re going after,” Clark said at a news conference Friday morning in Pickens. “You don’t just pull people over to the side of the road and make an arrest. It takes months of hard work and very dangerous work and behind-the-scenes activity.”
Those charged in the undercover drug operation are as follows:
• Steven Kevin Bruening, 55, of Pickens, faces two counts of distribution of
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No arrests made yet in Easley shooting
2 hospitalized after Monday night incident
EASLEY — Easley police were still looking for answers Tuesday after a shooting injured two people Monday night.
According to Easley Police chief Tim Tollison, a woman called 911 shortly after 9 p.m. saying she and her fiance had been shot.
Officers responded to the home at 103 Coconut Street and found two
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Career center aiming ‘ahead of the curve’
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — The director of the Pickens County Career and Technology Center believes his facility is one of the best career centers in the state.
Ken Hitchcock recently spoke at a “State of the City” event hosted by the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce.
“I’m always excited about talking to Liberty residents because we work so closely with the Liberty community, and also we work very closely with Liberty High School,” Hitchcock said. “We’re probably a mile from each other.”
Current enrollment at the career center is around 1,300 students. Of all the district’s facilities, only Easley High School has more
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Board approves rezoning for Easley-area schools
Officials: Move designed to use facilities more efficiently
EASLEY — Attendance lines for Easley-area elementary schools will change beginning next school year.
The School District of Pickens County’s board of trustees voted during their meeting Monday night to adopt the rezoning plan known as “Option 2.”
The option was recommended by demographic consulting firm Cropper GIS Consulting, which has worked with the district throughout the
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Central honors Cloer for 25 years
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CENTRAL — Tom Cloer is a living example of a jack of all trades, and he has proven in a quarter century of service to the town of Central that he is a master of the many responsibilities laid upon him.
Central officials presented a resolution to Cloer at a recent council meeting recognizing him for his 25-year milestone. A 1985 Pickens High School graduate who received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Furman University
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Council hears more about proposed homeless shelter
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pastor Tracy Gantt knows firsthand the effect a homeless shelter can have on a person’s life.
He found God at an area homeless shelter. That led him to a life in ministry.
Gantt and his wife, Sunshine, would like to create a homeless and
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50 years of service
At the recent communication of Keowee Lodge No. 79 A.F.M., 
three members were presented with special awards from the Grand Lodge at South Carolina for having completed 50 years in Masonry. Pictured, from left, are Worship Master M.R. Billingsley, District Deputy Grand Master Michael Johnson, R.A. Gibson, Furman Whitmire and Paul Ogren.
Devils continue to win
The Liberty Red Devil wrestling team won the 12-team Tri-State Invitational last weekend at Rabun Gap (Ga.) High School. Liberty finished 
with 194 points. Banks County, Ga., finished second with 166, Union County, Ga., finished third and Stephens County, Ga., finished fourth. The following Liberty wrestlers contributed to the tournament championship win: Lucas Bates, Jack Brissey, Brandon Vega, Noah Kelly, Ajah Young, Cole Murphy, McKinnon Stewart, Jacob Rogers, Nate Hellams, Peyton Poole, Caleb Courville and Hunter Powell. The team will host the region tournament at 6 p.m. Friday at Liberty High School.
Easley High cheerleaders planning Kiddie Camp
EASLEY — Easley High School’s cheerleading squads will host a Winter Kiddie Camp for children in grades K5 through six Feb. 3 at the school.
Participants will learn cheers, chants, dances, motions and a mini routine to perform at the parent showcase. Additionally they will receive a T-shirt, water bottle and a take-home DVD of cheer material. The cost for the camp will be $25 per participant.
For more specific information about the camp and how to register, contact Lauren Hudson at LaurenHudson@pickens.k12.sc.us. The last day to register for the camp is Jan. 29.
Spring soccer and volleyball sign-ups open at Pickens Rec
PICKENS — Spring soccer and volleybal registrations are being taken now through Jan. 26 at the Pickens Recreation Center on Sangamo Road in Pickens.
Financial assistance is available for those who qualify and will only be taken the first three weeks of the registration period, which will end Jan. 19.
The following coed age divisions are offered in soccer: 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and
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