Daily Archives: 01/12/2022
Winter Bluegrass Jubilee set for this month
PICKENS — The sounds of the Southern Appalachians will fill the air at the 10th annual Winter Bluegrass Jubilee at Pickens High School later this month.
The annual indoor music festival, which operates as a fundraiser for the Young Appalachian Musicians program, is set for Jan. 22.
“We will be back in the Pickens High School Fine Arts Center for the Winter Bluegrass Jubilee,” said Russ Hennessee, who coordinates
the event along with his wife, Sondra. “We can’t wait to reunite with our
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Head-on collision claims man
PICKENS — An Upstate man died after a head-on collision near Six Mile on Monday afternoon.
Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley identified the victim as Brandon Scott Hammett, 35, of Adger Street in Spartanburg.
The accident took place at noon Monday on S.C. Highway 183, near
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Local Humane Society receiving donations in honor of Betty White
COUNTY — Betty White, America’s Golden Girl, was mostly known for being an actress and comedian.
But White was also a pet enthusiast and animal welfare advocate who worked with organizations including the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, the Morris Animal Foundation, African Wildlife Foundation, and Actors and Others for Animals. Her interest in animal welfare began in the early 1970s.
“For nearly a century, Betty White has been a tireless and devoted animal welfare advocate, and we
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New Central mayor, councilman take oath
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CENTRAL — Longtime Central Mayor Mac Martin’s 16-year tenure officially came to an end Monday night as he ceded the seat to Andrew Beckner less than five minutes into the regularly scheduled town council meeting and departed council chambers amid handshakes and other well wishes.
Beckner defeated Martin and Rosa Grayden in a three-way election in November and officially took to the podium after being sworn in by town clerk Susan Brewer. Newly elected Councilman L.C. Hayes
also took his council seat following the swearing-in ceremony, which also included incumbents Paige Bowers and Ken Dill, both elected to their fourth term on council in November.
“I’m glad the first meeting is out of the way, for sure,” Beckner said after the meeting. “It’s a big learning curve, but I’ve had a lot of wonderful people help out. I’m just excited to work with them.”
Becker said before taking office that one of his campaign goals was to give Central residents a voice and ensuring they are engaged in what is taking place in the town. Beckner, who works in communication and organizational leadership at Anderson University, wants to improve those areas in Central.
Hayes, a local businessman, said he is excited about getting started with his service on council.
“I’m ready to get to work for the town of Central and the people of Central,” Hayes said. “That’s why I’m here.”
Serving as the council representative on the tourism and economic development committee, Hayes said Central “is on the cusp of massive growth.”
“I want to make sure we’re prepared with our infrastructure and also that we foster small business growth and opportunities that are centrally and economically diverse,” Hayes said. “That’s what’s unique about Central — that we’re very socioeconomically diverse — so we want to retain that as we grow.”
Councilwoman Lynne O’Dell Chapman nominated Councilman Joe Moss as mayor pro tem, and council unanimously approved her nomination.
Keeping it clean
A group of local volunteers wanted the roads in the community to be a little cleaner entering the new year. The group picked up 18 large bags of trash on various roads throughout the city of Pickens on a very chilly Saturday morning Jan. 8. It was 28 degrees when they started. The project was organized by the Active Pickens Partnership, a group made up of various local organizations for the improvement of the community. Participating in the project from the partnership were members from Boy Scout Troop 51, Cub Scout Pack 51, Smith Chapel, Pickens Presbyterian Church and Grace United Methodist Church. The partnership will be hosting other community projects throughout the year.
