Pickens County, South Carolina

Happy EMS Week EMS! We are celebrating all week by recognizing Pickens County EMS professionals and their critical role in maintaining the health and safety of our citizens. Follow us on Facebook to learn more about the people who serve on each shift and join us in thanking them for their service. You can also help us celebrate by participating in EMS-led events this week, including Hands Only CPR training at the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library in Easley on Wed., May 22 at 10 a.m. for EMS Education Day and a Blood Connection Blood Drive on Thursday, May 23 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the County Administration Building for Save-a-Life Day.

Congratulations to Richard Edwards (Building Codes), Brittany Williamson (Clerk of Court's Office), David Wagner (IT) and Brady Phillips (Sheriff’s Office), who were selected as third and fourth quarter Pinnacle Performers for 2023. Richard began his career with the County as a building maintenance mechanic in 2012 and became a building inspector in 2021. He was nominated by Brian Scruggs of Building Codes, who said, “I feel Richard does the best job he can every day. He takes his work seriously and is always studying and working on being better. Richard is an asset to building codes.” Brittany came to work for the County in 2020 as a part-time communications specialist and became a full-time Court Clerk 1 in 2022. She was nominated by Jamie Burns of administration, who served as Brittany’s mentor during her participation in LEAPS and was impressed when she took initiative to organize a donation drive to benefit seniors in the community. “As one of the mentees in my LEAPS cohort, I have observed Brittany’s commitment to excellence firsthand. She challenges herself to do even more than what is asked of her and is constantly seeking ways to better serve the public,” Jamie said of Brittany. David was hired in 2021 as a computer support tech I and was promoted in March of this year to computer support tech lead. He was nominated by April Carman of the delinquent tax office, who said he is always willing to go above and beyond. “David is always willing to help fix any major or minor thing he can and does it with a smile on his face. He is an asset to the IT office and Pickens County.” Brady was hired as in 2017 as a detention officer and became a deputy later the same year. In 2018, he became a Deputy 1st Class. He currently serves as the School Resource Officer for Daniel High School. He was nominated by his supervisor Shannon Ellenburg, who describes him as the kind of person who comes to mind when you think of an ideal employee. “He is currently managing one of the busiest schools in the County and does so with zero complaints,” she said, adding that he takes pride in serving Daniel High School and is one of the students’ biggest fans in their athletic endeavors. Pickens County Pinnacle Performers is a peer-to-peer recognition program that is designed to reward those who go above and beyond in their jobs. Some of the traits of a Pinnacle Performer include dedication and commitment to fulfilling their job responsibilities; good customer service; having a helpful and positive attitude; and demonstrating initiative to save taxpayers money. One employee is selected each month. At the end of the year, one of the 12 recipients of the monthly award will be named Pinnacle Performer of the Year.

The South Carolina Association of Counties (SCAC) awarded its 2024 Presidential Scholarship to Isaac Esuary of Liberty High School, who was recognized at the May 6 meeting of County Council. SCAC annually awards one $5,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior who is a resident of the same county as the Association’s current president. This year’s scholarship was presented in honor of Pickens County Council Vice Chairman and SCAC President Roy Costner III. “The SCAC Scholarship program is another way our organization demonstrates its commitment to education and highlights the importance of collaboration with high schools throughout the state,” Costner said. “It is an honor to recognize future leaders, like Isaac, who excel academically and give back to their communities. On behalf of SCAC and Pickens County Council, I congratulate our 2024 Presidential Scholarship recipient and look forward to hearing about the lasting impact he will make in college and far into the future.” Ranked second in his class at Liberty High School, Esuary earned a Computer Science Certificate while dual enrolled at Tri-County Technical College and is involved in numerous academic, extracurricular and service activities. He plans to attend Clemson University and major in computer engineering.

Happy National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week! We have been celebrating Pickens County's true first responders all week through Facebook posts introducing you to the people who answer our calls during an emergency. Today, Pickens County dispatchers eat free during our Third Thursday Eat and Greet as a thank you for all you do.

Work began last month on the 183 Corridor Improvement Project, which covers a 7.5-mile stretch of Highway 183 between SC-135 (Dacusville Highway) and US-25 (White Horse Road). As seen in these photos, crews set ground control points to precisely pinpoint coordinates for aerial surveying, significantly reducing the margin of error, and aerial surveys were conducted. We are committed to keeping you informed throughout this multi-year South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) project. Click the link below to submit a request for a speaker to talk to your organization (business, civic club, etc.) and answer questions about this project. https://lnkd.in/eHBSihwx

The Pickens County Leadership Enhancement Academy for Public Servants (LEAPS) Class of 2024 received a visit yesterday from John Warren, co-author of national bestseller Lead Like a Marine, during a special graduation and alumni induction ceremony to recognize their completion of a two-month cross-functional program designed to enhance the leadership skills of emerging leaders in local government while building rapport between departments and agencies to better serve the public. Each municipality within the county has the opportunity to enroll one representative annually to participate alongside the county’s top 20 applicants. In addition to attending weekly classes, participating in cohort discussions and public speaking engagements and completing outside-of-class assignments, participants received a copy of Lead Like a Marine and a reading guide to aid them in an independent study of leadership. Warren spoke to the class on many of the nine key strategies of Marine leadership referenced in his book, such as “do everything for a reason,” “avoid comfort-based decisions,” and “think long-term.”

A press conference was held this week announcing areas of Pickens County in parts of Liberty, Dacusville and Six Mile will soon have access to broadband internet through internet service provider Upcountry Fiber, a partnership between Blue Ridge Electric Co-op (BREC) and WCFIBER. A $12.18 million federal grant designated by the South Carolina Broadband Office (SCBBO) will allow Upcountry Fiber to continue to fulfill its mission to help bridge the “digital divide” where little to no access exists. Upcountry Fiber will invest an additional $5.57 million, resulting in a total cost of $17,752,301 for the project. Pickens County additionally invested $1.6 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the expansion of broadband into areas of need. County Council Vice Chairman Roy Costner, who represents the Liberty district, said lack of internet access impacts citizens of all ages, including children whose academic success is supported by access to online resources or classes. "It's not just numbers. It's lives that are impacted," he said. Nearly 1400 Pickens County underserved addresses identified by SCBBO that currently do not have access to broadband internet service are included in the grant. An additional 7,760 addresses surrounding them will be able to sign up for broadband internet service before the end of 2025 due to the investment that Upcountry Fiber is making towards the project. Residents will be notified of construction and order timelines in the coming weeks. “Broadband access is critical to Pickens County’s growth. We are so thankful for the South Carolina Broadband Office grant that was awarded to Upcountry Fiber to help bring this required utility for today’s world to our community,” said Pickens County Council Chairman Chris Bowers. "Pickens County is our home, and we are proud to continue to serve this traditionally underserved area with broadband internet,” said Jim Lovinggood, president and CEO of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative. “The South Carolina Broadband Office grant helps us speed up the timeline to build a better, more competitive environment for people who live and work in the areas around Liberty.” For more information about Upcountry Fiber, visit www.UpcountryFiber.com.

During their Dec. 7 meeting, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Commission approved adding Highway 183 to their work plan. This is another step toward safer travel on Highway 183 following County Council working together with Rep. Neal Collins, Rep. Davey Hiott and Sen. Rex Rice to secure a $44.7 million grant from the state infrastructure bank (SIB), which was announced in late October. "I am extremely heartened that the SCDOT Commission approved the SCHWY 183 Project last week,” said Councilman Henry Wilson, who has been a longtime advocate for the project. “When the Pickens United application for $44 Million in State Infrastructure Bank funding for 183 was approved, it pushed this essential project way up the priority line at DOT. I am looking forward to seeing real progress on these safety and traffic improvements in the coming months." Planned roadwork includes a 7.5-mile stretch of Highway 183 with the greatest need for safety enhancements. Crash data shows there were 343 accidents, 146 injuries and five fatalities in a four-year period on the impacted route. The next step is for the Joint Bond Review Committee to sign off on the project, which is expected to happen at their January meeting. Motorists could see surveyors, engineers and other crews preparing for roadwork as early as the first quarter of 2024. Public input meetings will also be announced soon.

Pickens County Vehicle Maintenance has an immediate opening for an emergency vehicle equipment to maintain all fire and emergency apparatus and equipment used by Pickens County Emergency Services. Qualified applicants have vocational/technical training in a related field and two years of heavy truck and equipment mechanical experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Visit our website to view the complete job description and/or complete an employment application. https://lnkd.in/gXTffRVQ

Let’s shatter the waste in Pickens County! The demand for glass recyclables has decreased. When there is no way to recycle glass, it often winds up in landfills as waste. While many counties and cities have responded by suspending glass recycling, Pickens County continues to offer this service. However, due to the lack of demand, our pile of glass recyclables is growing faster than we can sell it for recycling. Help us keep it out of the landfill and share ideas with your neighbors on how to prevent glass waste by participating in our glass upcycling contest. One grand prize winner will receive a weekend stay in a cabin at Mile Creek Park on Lake Keowee. Complete contest rules can be found on our website: https://lnkd.in/gABryj79