25 Years ago

The Easley Progress

Wednesday, May 14, 1986

-- Farmers and livestock growers were concerned due to a long drought in Pickens County.

-- Former McKissick Elementary teacher Martha McClure sought legal advice after being fired for taking time off for a trip to Mexico.

-- The Pickens County Water and Sere Authority obtained permission from the state to purchase and install a temporary package sewer plant to relieve the city of Easley’s moratorium on new sewer taps.

-- Easley City Council approved a $2.3 billion budget for 1986-1987, with more than a half-million dollars set aside for capital improvements.

-- Easley resident Frosty Bauknight kept cool outdoors with a solar-powered helmet given to him by his son.

-- The athletic Booster clubs of the four county high schools were upset over an idea that the School District of Pickens County would build central athletic facilities for all four schools to use, eliminating the facilities at the individual schools.

-- Obituaries were printed for Wiliam Arthur “Bill McCrary, Booker T. Nash, Charlie B. Pace, William L. “Fate” Gilstrap, Charles Eugene Wilson, Joyce Ann Gaffius Cameron, Rebecca Lee Stewart, Lucille Buzhardt Livingston, Evie Mae Durham Dillard, Charles A. Owing, Avery Leon Riggins, Bill Satterfield Cassells Cox, Chester Douglas Atkins and Matie Bigby Cox.

-- Young Christ Wells, 8-year-old shortstop for the Wren Youth Association’s Astros, made an unassisted quadruple play in a rec league ballgame.

-- Wedding announcement were printed for: Tracy Lee Cantrell to Alan David Woods; Debra Lynn Ringstadt to Timothy James Miller; and Debbie Misner to Lee Lanier.

-- Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Sons celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

-- Engagement announcements were printed for: Hildebrand Dubose to Luther Rogers; Andrea Carolyn Burgess to Brett Steven Sutherland; Karen Louise Horton to Rex Donivan Simmons; Diane G. Knight to Robert Forest Turner; Tamera Ann Tarlton to Steven L. Smith; Michelle Lynn Taylor to Dennis R. Hendricks; Annette Smith to Anthony Blake; and Latoria Denise Hunt to Timothy Edward Tookes.

-- Celebrating birthdays were David Turpin 9 and William Anthony Heart 4.

-- Recent births included Cory Wayne Knight and Joshua Daniel Harrison.

50 Years Ago

The Easley Progress

Wednesday, May 10, 1961

-- A membership drive was initiated for the new YMCA for Easley and Pickens County.

-- Will Lesley did from injuries suffered from a fire in his Easley home.

-- The Easley Class of 1961 was set to have 102 graduates.

--- The YMCA swimming pool was set to open June 1.

-- Ronald Paul Whittemore of Easley earned Eagle Scout honors.

-- Obituaries were printed for Layfette M “Dock” Elrod, James H. Hughes, Judy Owen McCall, Bobby Franklin James, William Harrison Lesley, Arthur L. Babett. Hardy C. Gilstrap, the Rev. Roy Mahaffey, James Elijah Patterson, Lawrence Edward Trotter and Stephen Anthony Hayes.

-- Frances Louise Bauknight was engaged to James Arthur Jones.

-- Betty Jane Tinsley wed John Wayne Anthony Jr.

-- Mr. and Mrs. Henry Traber celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

-- Easley High School student council officers for the coming year were Linda Greer, repporter, Allen Chellis, vice president, Ginny Cleveland, secretary-treasurer, and Bill Houston, president.

75 Years Ago

The Easley Progress

Wednesday, May 14, 1936

-- The Easley High School debate team won all honors at the annual competition. Team members included Jessie Ellen Robinson, Ben Woodside, Neal Hamilton and Wilson Evatt, with alternatives Frances League and Agnes Bowen. The team was coached by Frances Stewart.

-- An operetta, “Miss Cherry Blossom,” sponsored by the Woman’s Club, was well-received.

-- Will Rogers in “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” was re-released by 20th Century Fox and was playing at the Lyric Theater.

-- Vernan E. Smith of Liberty was killed when his gun accidentally discharged during a hunting trip.

-- Nathan Smith of the Pickens County Board of Commissioners was seriously injured in an auto accident and was being treated at Dr. Peek’s hospital in Six Mile.

-- A roller mill was coming to Easley, to be located in the old Hamilton Plant after renovations.

-- Francis “Dinky” Williams of Easley was named the managing editor of The Gamecock, the school newspaper for the University of South Carolina.

-- Mr. Scott announced that for the next school year Easley schools would be organized with a “six-five” plan; six grades in grammar school and five in high school, as approved by the State Board of Education.