Monthly Archives: August 2018
Arrest made in armed bank robbery
CLEMSON — Police arrested a suspect in an armed robbery at a bank in downtown Clemson Monday afternoon after a chase that stretched into Anderson County.
Megan Ramon White, 46, of Rock Hill, was being held at the Pickens County Detention Center on a combined $33,000 surety bond on Tuesday afternoon, according to online records.
Clemson Police Department deputy chief Jeff Stone said officers were dispatched to the Bank of America on College Avenue at around 1:15 p.m.
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Making ripples
Ripple of One expands to Dream Center
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Ripple of One is now serving clients in Pickens County.
The Seneca-based organization cut the ribbon on its new office at the Dream Center of Pickens County last week.
Emily “Ray” Raymer is Ripple of One’s client care manager for Pickens County.
“We’ve been really looking forward to partnering with the Dream Center and just wanted to make sure we were ready at home and were waiting for the right time,” Raymer said.
Ripple of One “empowers families to move beyond government assistance and into their full God-given potential,” she said.
Ripple of One families “earn everything that they get in our program,” Raymer said.
“We incentivize behavior change in order to shift a mindset,” she said. “We have incentives for meeting budget, for exercising, for getting enrolled in
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County trims anniversary event budget
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Just a week after reducing the proposed $250,000 budget for the county’s Oct. 6 sesquicentennial event down to $62,000, Pickens County Council reduced the budget further last week — at tourism director Jay Pitts’ request.
“We heard you loud and clear,” Pitts said of the Aug. 13 discussion during 
council’s committee of the whole meeting.
Organizers took the $62,000 allocated out of that meeting “and began to work” on a new plan for the “Pickens County Blue-Ribbon Birthday Bash” set to celebrate the county’s 150th anniversary, he said.
“We feel like we’ve come up with a fairly successfully plan of action,” Pitts said.
The bash will be held at the J.B. “Red” Owens Recreation Complex in Easley.
County staff began to look at “resources we may have available to us outside the county funds,” he said.
The new plan calls for a $38,000 budget, in addition to a $5,000 accommodations tax allocation.
“We feel like we can do the same type of event,” Pitts said. “We’re gonna take a few things out, shorten our day a little bit so we can reduce costs, but we still feel like we can have a big day.”
One big-ticket item that was removed from the budget was a proposed
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Council asks for more data on ATAX requests
PICKENS — Pickens County Council members want to see more concrete data about recommendations for accommodations tax funding.
During its Aug. 20 meeting, council heard project funding recommendations from the county’s accommodations tax committee.
County attorney Ken Roper presented the committee’s draft report to council. Roper filled in as staff liaison for the committee during this funding cycle.
“The committee was basically operating under the premise that we had about $100,000 in funding available,” Roper said. “The committee operated well, I believe, and they bring these recommendations to you just as that — recommendations.”
The committee recommended allocating $5,000 for Visit Clemson advertising, $2,500 for the Clemson Music Festival, $5,000 for the Clemson African American Museum, $3,000 for the Central Railroad
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New library system director named
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — The new Pickens County Library System director says he believes that public libraries are “anchor institutions” in the communities that they serve.
On Aug. 8, the Pickens County Library Board announced that Brian Morrison had been hired as the new library system director. Morrison introduced himself to county council members during their recent August meeting.
“I consider it an honor and a privilege to have been selected by the library board of trustees and the county to serve as your new library director in Pickens County,” he said.
Morrison comes to the Pickens County Library System from the Greenville County Library System, where he spent nearly nine years in various management roles.
As the Discovery Services manager, he managed several departments at the
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Solicitor’s office now fully staffed
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Solicitor Walt Wilkins told Pickens County Council recently that the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office “is in the best shape that I’ve ever seen it, and I started doing this in 2011.”
Wilkins gave an update to council members during their August meeting.
“I hope the people of Pickens County feel the good business that is going on in the solicitor’s office,” he added.
Wilkins said when he became solicitor, he heard complaints from residents that Pickens County had been “left out” by previous administrations.
“It was my priority and my campaign promise that I would not let that happen, and we have not let that happen,” he said. “I’ve tried more cases
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Event to raise money for Rocky Bottom camp
COUNTY — Take a trip up to Rocky Bottom on Saturday for a good time that supports a great cause.
The Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind will host its annual Fun Day this Saturday, Sept. 1, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The camp is located at 123 Hancock Road in Sunset.
“All of the money that’s raised goes back to the camp,” said Jennifer Bazer, fundraiser chair and director of the center’s children’s camp.
Fun Day will feature a live auction that includes Clemson, University of South Carolina and Carolina Panthers items and a country store with
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Talent competition returns to county for sesquicentennial
COUNTY — The popular Pickens County’s Got Talent competition crowned its last winner more than five years ago.
This year, Pickens County Council chairman Roy Costner, who previously hosted the competition, is resurrecting Pickens County’s Got Talent as part of the county’s sesquicentennial celebration to commemorate 150 years.
Round one auditions are being held this Thursday, Aug. 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the Pickens County Performing Arts Center in Liberty. Performers will have three minutes to audition. All ages and talents are encouraged to showcase their talent for this competition, but performances must be
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Store plans event to raise money for Meals on Wheels
PICKENS — The Cornerstone Christian and Music store will host the Cornerstone Music Festival.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at the store, at Dalton Flats between Pickens and Easley on S.C. Highway 8.
Visitors will be able to hear some great bands, eat some great food, try to win some great prizes and give to a great cause. All money raised at the event will go to Meals on Wheels and Hope Women’s Center.
For more information, visit cornerstonestore.com or facebook.com/Cornerstone-Christian-Music-Supply.
County VA office seeks vets for veterans parade
PICKENS — The Pickens County Veterans Affairs Office is looking for veterans to participate in a Veterans Day parade in Pickens County this year.
The veterans parade will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 11 in Liberty. County officials want to invite all veterans and military members (National Guard, Reserves, active duty) to participate.
Participants may gather as groups and ride on a float or trailer pulled by a truck, ride a motorcycle, drive a classic car or walk.
“We want to take this opportunity to recognize and honor our veterans,” a news release said.
Those interested in participating in the Pickens County Veterans Day parade are asked to contact the Pickens County Veterans Affairs office at (864) 898-5926, (864) 898-5928 or (864) 898-5243.
