Category Archives: Lifestyles
Café Connections and BHS set to host presentation of ‘The Captive’
Movie focus Ashley Smith set to appear at Pickens First Baptist Church April 7
PICKENS — The Café Connections of Pickens and Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County will host a special persentation of the motion picture “The Captive” at Pickens First Baptist Church on April 5.
The film is a stirring movie from Paramount Pictures starring Kate Mara of “House of Cards” and “Fantastic Four” and David Oyelowo of “Selma.”
Because of the incredible interest, the movie will be shown in the Fellowship Hall of Pickens First Baptist Church, with showings at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The movie portrays the inspirational, news-making life story of Ashley Smith, a young female hostage who in 2005 single-handedly talked infamous Atlanta courthouse killer Brian Nichols into surrendering peacefully by gaining his confidence through her prayers and personal faith and by reading passages to him from the Christian bestseller “The Purpose-Driven Life.”
It is a thrilling drama about the spiritual collision of two broken lives. Nichols, on the run as the subject of a citywide manhunt and desperate to make contact with his newborn son, takes recovering meth addict Ashley Smith hostage in her own apartment. While reading aloud, Smith and her would-be killer each faced crossroads where despair and death intersected hope.
Contrasting the minute-by-minute tale of her experience with the tragedies and triumphs of her own life, “The Captive” is a riveting story that will leave no one untouched.
In March 2005, Smith made headlines around the globe when she miraculously talked her way out of the hands of the killer after he took her hostage for seven hours in her suburban Atlanta apartment. Smith continues to share the details of her traumatic ordeal and expands on how her faith and excerpts from “The Purpose-Driven Life” helped her survive and bring the killer’s murderous rampage to a peaceful end.
Like her captor, Smith too had faced darkness and despair. Seeking a new life, she moved to Atlanta, got a job, enrolled in a medical assistant training program, and was beginning to find her way to becoming the kind of mom she wanted her little girl to have. Then Nichols took her hostage. Just hours earlier, he’d allegedly shot to death a judge, a court reporter, a deputy and a federal agent and escaped in a stolen vehicle. Now she found herself face-to-face with Nichols, a desperate, heavily armed man with nothing left to lose.
Smith’s life changed dramatically on that fateful day of March 11, 2005, when Nichols forced his way into her apartment. After offering Nichols her remaining stash of methamphetamines, she brought out her copy of Rick Warren’s “The Purpose-Driven Life.” During her seven hours as Nichols’ hostage, her life story and Warren’s direction from the book persuaded Nichols to consider how God could use him if he surrendered. He did so the following morning.
Nichols himself called Smith “an angel sent from God,” but ironically, it was her own less-than-angelic past that convinced him to face justice. Smith believes God led her through the highly publicized experience to help “unlikely angels” everywhere find hope.
Afterwards she wrote her best-selling book, “Unlikely Angel – The Untold Story of Atlanta’s Hostage Hero,” donating proceeds to a memorial fund honoring the victims of the Atlanta courthouse tragedy. She returned to the familiar embrace of her family and her daughter, Paige. Smith’s familiar face reaches seekers from all walks of life, and her authentic, quietly courageous testimony exemplifies a genuine, guiding faith.
Smith will also appear in person on Thursday, April 7, at 6 p.m. at Pickens First Baptist Fellowship Hall to share her story and testimony. The event is suitable for ages 13 and older, with parental supervision.
For more information, contact Ann Corbin at the Café Connections by email at cacorbin57@gmail.com or by phone at (864) 201-1772.
Easley teen dies in wreck
POWDERSVILLE — An Easley teen died after a single-vehicle accident Tuesday morning in Anderson County.
Jerry Orr, 15, of Easley, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, Anderson County deputy coroner Josh Shore said.
The accident occurred at 2:45 a.m. Tuesday morning on Three Bridges Road, according to Lance Cpl. David Jones with the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
A 2006 Dodge Durango SUV was traveling west when it went off the side of the road, striking a ditch and several trees before overturning several times, Jones said.
The vehicle was traveling at a very high rate of speed, according to Shore.
The driver of the SUV, Michael Locke, 27, of Easley, and another 15-year-old passenger were transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital, Jones said.
Shore said they sustained minor injuries.
None of the three were wearing seatbelts, according toJones.
Orr was enrolled at the Anderson County Alternative School, Shore said.
The Highway Patrol is still investigating the accident.
Mother Nature’s fury
A severe thunderstorm that blew through the area on Monday evening downed trees and damaged buildings throughout the area, including this building that formerly housed Stevens Brothers Plumbing and Ramey’s Garage on Main Street in Pickens.
MOW pancake breakfast is Saturday
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Local residents will be able to start Saturday morning off right with a pancake breakfast whose proceeds will help Meals on Wheels continue to help others.
Pickens County Meals on Wheels will host the pancake breakfast from 8-11 a.m. Saturday morning at the McKissick Center for Senior Wellness in Liberty.
Tickets are $5 each and can be ordered in advance or purchased at the door Saturday. The breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee.
The breakfast is part of the March for Meals campaign, PCMOW program coordinator Marsha Robertson said.
“It’s a nationwide, monthlong celebration of Meals on Wheels,” she said.
In addition to filling bellies Saturday, the breakfast is a way to introduce the community to the local Meals on Wheels program and its needs.
“We’re always looking for volunteer drivers to help,” Robertson said. “We depend solely on volunteer drivers to deliver meals to about 200 seniors every day in the community, Monday through Friday. There are about 22 routes that volunteers cover in making those deliveries.”
Volunteer drivers are welcome, no matter what their availability. Some drivers deliver every day. Others give of their time once a month.
“Whatever their schedules allow,” Robertson said. “We’re willing to work with them.”
PCMOW drivers deliver more than meals. For many area seniors, a visit from a Meals on Wheels driver is the only social contact they may have in a day. Visits from drivers help seniors fight isolation.
If you’re not interested in driving, there are other ways you can help.
“We produce all of our meals at our center in Liberty,” Robertson said. “We have needs for volunteers to help prepare our meals for delivery in the mornings. We also need volunteers in the kitchen in the afternoons to do food prep for the next day.”
A third opportunity for volunteers is helping with programs.
“We have a senior activities center,” Robertson said. “There are opportunities for adults to come in and help with some of the activities at the senior center, primarily in the morning.”
To purchase breakfast tickets in advance, email marsha.robertson@pcmow.org or call (864) 712-0289 or (864) 855-3770.
To volunteer, “drop by, give us a call or check out our website,” Robertson said.
Pickens County Meals on Wheels is located at the McKissick Center for Senior Wellness at 349 Edgemont Ave. in Liberty. For more information, call (864) 855-3770 or visit pcmow.org.
Quinn announces bid for SC Senate District 2 seat
Easley — Allan Quinn announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination to be S.C. Senator for District 2 (Pickens County) at the IPRA World Championship Rodeo held at T. Ed Garrison Arena in Clemson recently.
The position is currently held by Sen. Larry Martin, who has represented Pickens County for the last 37 years in Columbia as state represenative and as state senator (24 years).
Quinn
“I have the experience, knowledge and education to represent District 2 as state senator and will have as my first priority Pickens County.,” Quinn said. “The career politicians in Columbia have lost sight of what really matters to the people that elect them to office.
“We live in an area of the country that is seeing tremendous job growth in counties close to us, but nothing ever comes to Pickens County. My first goal will to bring in well paying jobs to the Pickens County Commerce Park that the county spent millions of dollars to develop in 2003, but very few good jobs to show for it. I will do every thing I can to bring in good paying jobs so our children and grandchildren will not have to move away to find work after they finish their education.
“My second goal will be to team with a group of senators in Columbia that want true SCDOT Reform. It has even been called for by the governor, but the good old boy network in the state senate refuses to enact meaningful road reforms that we direly need for the whole state. My idea is no more money until reform is done. That’s the only way it will get done.
“My experience includes being a Pickens County native, graduating from Easley High School in 1968, being drafted in the U.S. Army in 1968 and ending up spending 10 years in the Nuclear Weapons Logistics Division. I saw service in nine countries during my service having to deal with many different governments. I went to work for Duke Energy at Oconee Nuclear Station in management and procedure control, where I retired after 30 years in 2009. I attended night classes at Greenville Tech and graduated in 1988 with a degree in business, with a major in management. I worked with the South Carolina High School Rodeo Association for 17 years as parent, president, executive board member and then as their national director for seven years (1999-2006). I am currently owner/operator of Easy Bend Farm in Easley. We hosted a S.C. high school rodeo at our farm for 13 years in conjunction with the Easley High School Navy JROTC unit as a fundraiser for them.
“My family includes my daughter, Heather, and son, Zach, four grandchildren, Hope, Bryce, Lil Claire and Ashley. My wife, Susan, passed away in 2010.
“We must have reform at the state level with the SCDOT and SCIB to repair our roads. Currently the commissioners and other officials are appointed by state legislatures instead of being voted for. That is why we see no road work going on, because they all owe each other favors and special interest payoffs. We don’t need gas tax money we need to spend what we have in a responsible way. We need to replace as many career politicians this year in Columbia as we can so things will start working for the taxpayers again,” Quinn said.
To find the campaign on Facebook, search “Win with Quinn.”
Martin to seek re-election to State Senate District 2
PICKENS — State Senator Larry A. Martin (R-Pickens) has announced he intends to file for re-election to the S.C. Senate District 2 seat on Friday.
Martin, the first non-attorney to serve as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was first elected to the state Senate in 1992 and previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
Martin
“It has been a great honor to represent the people of Pickens County in the General Assembly. I truly appreciate the confidence that has been placed in me to serve and to hopefully make our county and state a better place. I don’t take for granted the upcoming primary campaign and humbly ask for the continued support of the citizens in Pickens County on June 14, Martin stated. When asked about his accomplishments, Martin stated the recent bill that he and other members of the Pickens Delegation just pushed through the Legislature to stop coal ash from being dumped near Liberty was a good example of his leadership and effectiveness. “Pushing that bill through the Legislature in a very short period of time did not just happen because it was a good idea. I utilized every resource at my disposal to draft a workable bill and prepare it for introduction. Then it became a team effort as each member of the Pickens Delegation did his part in getting it through both houses and to the Governor’s desk,” Martin said.
“Also, I am extremely proud of the domestic violence reform legislation that was enacted last session,” the Pickens Senator commented. “For much too long our state has led the nation in domestic violence deaths, and that important legislation is just the beginning of a much larger effort to reverse that awful statistic.”
Martin also pointed to reform efforts that began with a major state government restructuring bill early in his term as Judiciary Committee chairman. “I used the influence of the Judiciary chairmanship to work closely with Governor Haley and other reform-minded legislators to build on the late Governor Carroll Campbell’s cabinet initiative. We also formalized legislative oversight of state agencies so that the General Assembly has an ongoing responsibility to closely examine every state agency over a seven year cycle.”
The Senator concluded, “The Senate just passed a significant reform of the Department of Transportation that also dedicates $400 million of existing general fund revenues toward repairing our roads without raising taxes. Very soon, I intend to make another run at meaningful ethics reform. The bill would require independent investigations of ethics violations by members of the Legislature and disclose sources of private incomes.”
Martin and his wife, Susan, have three children, one grandchild, and are longtime Pickens residents. The Martins are active members of Pickens First Baptist Church where he serves as a Sunday School teacher and church moderator. Martin has been associated with Alice Manufacturing Company in Easley for almost 35 years.
“I’m proud that all three of our children went through our local public schools, graduated from Clemson University, and are gainfully employed,” Martin chuckled.
Pickens Rec plans summer day camps
PICKENS — Registration is now being taken for the Pickens Recreation Department’s nine 2016 summer day camp sessions.
The sessions, which will each last one week, are set for June 6-10, 13-17 and 20-24, June 27-July 1, July 11-15, 18-22 and 25-29, and August 1-5 and 8-12.
There will be no day camp the week of July 4.
All camps will be held at the Pickens Recreation Center at 545 Sangamo Road and are open for children ages 6-12 — those who have completed 5K kindergarten through rising seventh graders.
Camp days will run from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Cost is $70 per child per week or $40 per child per half week. A price adjustment is available for additional siblings for full week sessions. A nonrefundable $25 registration fee is due by May 20 and includes a camp T-shirt. Late registration fees will be $35.
Breakfast and lunch will be furnished through the S.C. Department of Education’s Summer Feeding Program, with dates to come later. There is no transportation for field trips; therefore, each week will feature on-site activities that will include sports, movies, water days, games, bike days, arts and crafts, etc.
For more information, call (864) 878-2296.
Member of the Month
This month’s Pickens Chamber of Commerce Member of the Month is the Hagood Community Center/Pickens Senior Center. The Hagood Community Center is located at 129 Schoolhouse St. in Pickens and helps improves the lives of seniors through communal meals, entertainment, education, recreation and cultural activities. Contact the center at (864) 878-6000 or pickenssenior@hagoodcenter.org.
Faith Lutheran plans Luncheon
PICKENS — Faith Lutheran Chapel will hold a church fundraiser luncheon this Friday, March 18.
The event, which will run from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., will be held in the church’s Fellowship Hall, located at 729 W. Main St. in Pickens. The plates will be sold for $7 and will include lasagna, cheesy potatoes, green salad, garlic bread, tea and dessert. Everyone is welcome to enjoy their meal at the church, pick up plates to go or even have some delivered. For more information, call (864) 419-7049.
Soapstone set to host fundraiser
PICKENS — Soapstone Church invites everyone to a special fundraiser at the church, located at 296 Liberia Road in Pickens, this Saturday, March 19.
The event will feature fine cooking and will be held from noon-8 p.m.
Visitors will enjoy true Southern cooking, including a fish fry, barbecue and fried chicken with all the fixings right from Mrs. Mabel’s kitchen.
For more information, call (864) 414-8470.
