Daily Archives: 04/17/2018
Police: Woman says she was kidnapped, pushed into lake
PICKENS — The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a woman said she was kidnapped from her home in Pickens and later pushed into Lake Keowee in Oconee County.
“Detectives from the sheriff’s office are following the standard protocols that are taken with all investigations to include the canvassing of area businesses and residents for potential witnesses and/or video from surveillance security systems,” PCSO chief deputy
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Welcome to the 34th annual Azalea Festival this Friday and Saturday
SPECIAL 34th Annual Azalea Festival Edition inside this weeks Pickens County Courier Print Edition!
CLICK TO READ THE SESQUICENTENNIAL EDITION
When the Azaleas are blooming in Pickens, South Carolina, the little town celebrates!”
For 34 years, Pickens has celebrated spring by throwing an arts and entertainment based and family-friendly celebration — the Pickens Azalea Festival.
Each April, the Azaleas bloom, artisans and crafters come out, and the community joins together to celebrate spring in the city of Pickens. Celebrate is exactly what they do! Presented by the Pickens Azalea
Festival Committee and hosted by area nonprofit and civic organizations, the Pickens Azalea Festival boasts the largest gathering of crafters, artisans and entertainers in the county, and quite possibly the Golden Corner!
The Azalea Festival is also somewhat of a large family reunion, giving
Easley Spring Fling
A week later than originally scheduled due to wet weather, the city of 
Easley held its annual Spring Fling last Saturday, coinciding with the Family Unity Festival in Old Market Square. The event offered music, food and fun for the whole family and helped kick off the annual festival season in Pickens County. Pickens’ 34th Azalea Festival is scheduled for this weekend, followed next week by the Central Railroad Festival. To read more about both events, look inside this week’s issue. Above right, Easley resident Diane Balog 
enjoys the Spring Fling with her pet monkey, Tyson, on Saturday. Rocky Nimmons/Courier
SDPC asks for public input on projects
PICKENS — The School District of Pickens County is asking for the public’s input on its scheduled 2018-2019 federal projects.
A public meeting is scheduled at the Curtis Sidden Administrative Building at 1348 Griffin Mill Road in Easley from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on April 26, according to a news release.
The meeting will focus on a Title II project on teacher quality, a Title
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Budget calls for 28 new hires at sheriff’s office
New county jail to bring challenges
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pickens County’s new jail will require additional employees to address a higher number of inmates, according to Pickens County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy Creed Hashe.
The new jail was discussed as part of a budget workshop held by Pickens County Council and county staff April 9.
Staff recommended that 28 positions be added to the sheriff’s office in the proposed fiscal year 2018-2019 budget, county finance director
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Official: Blue Ridge ‘smart meters’ not spying on customers
By Norm Cannada
Courtesy The Journal
ncannada@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — New “smart meters” being installed by Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative will provide new advantages, such as reporting an outage even if residents aren’t home and helping customers figure out how to save on power use.
But despite rumors to the contrary, new Blue Ridge president and CEO Jim Lovinggood said the devices don’t have the capability to spy on customers.
“It has a lot of features,” Lovingood said during the annual Blue Ridge
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Baptist Easley announces
EASLEY — The Baptist Easley Hospital Foundation has named a new manager, Candi Forester-Smith.
Forester-Smith comes to the foundation with experience in nonprofit 
development, event planning and management and advocacy work. She previously served as the vice president of resource development with the United Way of Pickens County and as campaign manager for United Way of Oconee and Pickens counties. She most recently worked as a personal lines sales agent for BB&T Insurance Services in Easley.
She holds an undergraduate degree from Eastern New Mexico University and a master’s degree in public administration with specialization in nonprofit management from Clemson University.
“Candi’s experience with managing a small office development program, along with her experience with volunteer boards and committees, event fundraising and marketing makes her an ideal candidate for this position,” Baptist Easley Hospital campus president Todd Walker said.
“I think what really earned her the position is her enthusiasm,” added
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QBs highlight Clemson spring game
By Alex Maminakis
Courtesy The Journal
alex@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — There were fireworks early in Clemson’s spring game on Saturday afternoon, likely a preview of what’s to come for the Tigers this fall.
In the annual Orange and White scrimmage at Memorial Stadium, the Orange team beat the White squad 28-17 in front of an announced crowd of 55,000 fans.
The main attraction? The quarterbacks.
“Those guys, they can go anywhere in the country and they can win,”
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New bathrooms open
New bathrooms are officially open at Jaycee Park in Pickens. “With opening day of baseball/softball season upon us, there’s no better time to put this building to good use,” Pickens Recreation director Cheri Anthony said. Former Pickens County Council member Randy Crenshaw was instrumental in helping secure the funds to pay for the new facility and was on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday. “It has been a two-year long build, but we wanted Mr. Crenshaw to know how much the rec participants are going to enjoy this new facility,” Anthony said. “There was a need, and Mr. Crenshaw answered our prayers.” Pictured, from left, are Jamie Gravley of city of Pickens grounds and maintenance, Mayor David Owens, Crenshaw and Anthony.
911 call released in March Clemson armed robbery
CLEMSON — A March armed robbery that resulted in the arrests of two former Clemson University football players occurred at the Sloan Street apartment of a current member of the football team, according to a 911 call released last week.
Former Tiger running back C.J. Fuller and safety Jadar Johnson are
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