This holiday season, the city of Pickens has a new Christmas tree in town at the intersection of Main Street and North Catherine Street. Pace and Reeves Service Station has a very unique and symbolic tree. The tree, a rare Italian spruce, was planted on the property by Sharon Thomas when it was only about two feet tall and now towers an estimated 45 feet in the air. The tree was not meant for this climate, but has flourished over the years. Pace and Reeves owner John Reeves was asked by the Pickens Women’s Association if he would mind if they had lights put on the tall, thin tree for the holidays. Reeves agreed if he could place two stars on the tree. One atop the tree represents his late partner, Dennis, Pace who passed away in 2003, and the other represents longtime Pace and Reeves employee Andy “Big’un” Reynolds, who died last year. Pictured with the tree are Joe Pilgrim, Reeves and Brandon Pilgrim of Pace and Reeves. The stars were designed and made by Karen Cisson.

The Upstate Legends Jeep Club has received donations of around 10 kids’ Jeeps that have been outfitted like Hinkle’s Jeeps in honor of local Jeep legend Larry Hinkle. The Jeeps will be auctioned off to raise funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at 2:30 p.m. tihs Sunday, Dec. 19, at Legacy Square in downtown Pickens. Hinkle and his wife, Mary, rode in Sunday’s Pickens Christmas parade along with some of the Jeeps to be auctioned off. For more information about the event, email camalanhinkle@gmail.com.

Elevated Auction and Resale is now open in Pickens. Owner Lisa Pocobello cut the ribbon on her new store, located at 404 Johnson St., on Dec. 2. Elevated Auction and Resale is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Elevated Auction and Resale’s collection is made up of hand-selected items to fit any budget. Pictured at the ribbon cutting, from left, are Mary Frye, Joann Hicks, Chuck Kayse, Anna Chastain, Pickens Mayor Fletcher Perry, Brenda Kayse, Lisa and Todd Pocobello, Linda Hammond and Bryan Owens

Pickens High School recently announced its winter sports scholar-athletes of the week. The female recipient is Hannah Roper. Roper is a senior member of the varsity basketball team and the daughter of Corey and Shannan Roper. She was nominated by Dr. Angela Lucas. The male recipient is Jacob Santeler, a junior member of the wrestling team and the son of Shauna and Chris Henson. He was nominated by Denise Hodges.

The Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Saturday Shop Small, Shop Local winner was Brenda Gatlin. Gatlin received a prize bag from chamber president Bryan Owens and membership director Lisa Turnick. The chamber would like to thank all local residents for shopping small on Saturday, Nov. 27.  

ANDERSON — Christmas gifts came early this year to the 197 veterans at the Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home.

The Daughters of Fort Prince George Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution prepared bags for all veterans living at the home.  Chapter regent Carolyn Nations, her husband and another chapter member

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