Daily Archives: 04/23/2019
In mourning
Pickens woman shot to death, niece kidnapped and killed
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A community already in shock over the shooting death of a 54-year-old woman and her niece’s kidnapping was 
struck another blow Saturday, when police found the suspect and the kidnapping victim dead in North Carolina.
In a release, Pickens Police Chief Travis Riggs said his agency and the Columbus County (N.C.) Sheriff’s Office learned Saturday that the suspect, Marco Vaught, and the kidnapped woman, Rebecca Purry, were possibly at Vaught’s Columbus County home.
Rebecca Purry went to the Pickens Police Department at 3 p.m. April 16 and told officers her ex-boyfriend, Vaught, had called her and “made threats to come to her house and get her,” Riggs
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2 arrested in hospital credit union robbery
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Two men have been charged in connection with a Friday robbery at a credit union branch inside Prisma Health–Baptist Easley hospital.
Billy Joe Bush Sr., is armed with one count of entering a bank to steal and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, Easley Police Chief Tim Tollison said.
Marcus Dane Cook, 24, is charged with one account of accessory before the fact of a felony and one count of accessory after the fact of a robbery.
Tollison said a man entered the Palmetto Health Credit Union at the hospital Friday afternoon, told a teller he had a gun
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Homeless shelter could be open by year’s end
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Community members, area businesses and local churches are helping make an emergency homeless shelter in Pickens County a reality.
The shelter is a longtime goal of Pastor Tracy Gantt, his wife, Sunshine, and their ministry.
“A lot of people have gotten involved in the project,” Sunshine Gantt said. “The community has stepped up, and we are very thankful.”
Pickens County Shelter of Hope will “fill the gap that’s been missing,” she said.
“It will be a place that can house a person in need when other
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2 die from injuries in accidents
EASLEY — Two Pickens County women died last week, days after they were injured in separate wrecks.
Pickens County Deputy Coroner Gary Duncan said Sandra Mason, 69, of 502 Blue Ridge St. in Easley, was hurt in an April 8 wreck on Calhoun Memorial Highway/U.S. Highway 123. The three-vehicle wreck happened as Mason was in a vehicle traveling south on U.S. 123 near the intersection of Cartee Road at around 3:15 p.m., Duncan said. Mason was wearing a seatbelt, he said.
Duncan also said Holly Lynn Gross, 30, of 101 Orchard St. in
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Officials discuss election issues
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Members of Pickens County Council and the Pickens County Legislative Delegation took no action after a discussion of the county’s elections process.
Delegation chairman Rep. Gary Clary chaired a joint meeting last week between the delegation, county council and the Pickens County Board of Voter Registrations and Elections.
In addition to Clary, delegation members Rep. Davey Hiott, Rep. Neal Collins and Rep. West Cox attended the meeting. Pickens County Council members Carl Hudson and Ensley
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Sassafras observation tower opens
COUNTY — The long-awaited observation tower on Sassafras Mountain, South Carolina’s highest point at 3,553 feet above sea level, officially opened to the public on Earth Day Monday.
“The highest point in the state is a geographical landmark that every South Carolinian, young and old, should have the opportunity to see and enjoy,” said Alvin Taylor, director of the 
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. “We hope that the observation tower will be a place where residents and visitors can go to marvel at the view of three states and the Blue Ridge Mountains and to appreciate what a beautiful and
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I believe Dot would be proud
The world lost a wonderful writer, and Pickens County lost an ardent advocate for preserving and celebrating what’s special 
about our corner of Appalachia, when Dot Jackson died two and a half years ago.
More than that, many of us lost a dear friend.
But Dot left behind an institution that she hoped would carry on her spirit of creative homespun expression — the Birchwood Center for Art and Folklife.
So I was saddened when I heard that the nonprofit organization she had founded had shut down recently.
And I wondered what would become of the nearly 200-year-old 
house near Pumpkintown that her group had bought and had been working to restore.
I was relieved to learn, though, that Dot’s legacy will live on and the work of the Birchwood Center will continue, through the good graces of another nonprofit that shares the same vision, the Holly Springs Center.
Abby Baker, executive director of the Holly Springs Center, said
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Rain dampens Azalea Fest
Cold, wet weather made for a dampened Azalea Festival atmosphere in
Pickens over the weekend. Despite the weather, however, hundreds showed up and had a good time at the annual cruise-in and concerts on Friday and full day of fun Saturday, as well as the new movie night on Thursday. Rocky Nimmons/Courier
Lions, Wave win county titles
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — The Pickens County High School Track and Field Championships were held on April 9 at Singleton Field in Central, with Easley and Daniel coming out as the big winners.
The Green Wave took the boys’ team championship, while Daniel not only won the girls’ team title, but also had event MVPs Connelly Ayers for the boys and TraVon Lay for the girls.
Ayers took first in four events, including the team 4×400 and 4×800 races, as well as the individual 400- and 800-meter runs. Meanwhile, on the
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All Aboard for Fun!!!
Central Railroad Fest is Saturday
SPECIAL EDITION IN THIS WEEK’S COURIER
Welcome to the 11th annual Central Railroad Festival! We’re glad to have you and your family with us and hope that you will have a wonderful, fun-filled day. If you’ve been to the Railroad Festival before, we appreciate your continued attendance and support. If this is your first time with us, you’ve got a lot to see, 
do and enjoy: great food, craft vendors, and a wide variety of free entertainment and attractions. Best of all, WE HAVE TRAINS!
This insert is your guide to everything you and your family need for an unforgettable day of fun. We’ve included maps, schedules and information about the day’s exciting activities. You’ll also see details about our terrific sponsors who have once again
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