From Big Lick to sound horsemanship

Janet and Neil Farrell are led out of a Pickens Superior Courtroom today. Their defense attorney sought a delay in the hearing as they had only been on the case since the night before. Full coverage of the hearing now available in this week's edition. 

Defense attorneys for Neil and Janet Farrell asked for a continuation in the bond hearing scheduled today for the couple facing numerous child cruelty charges for the treatment of their 18-year-old daughter.

The couple was charged after the daughter ran away and investigators grew suspicious during the search before locating her 15-miles away.

Attorney Scott Poole, of Grisham and Poole, representing Neil Farrell told the court that it is unusual to delay a bond hearing, but they had only been engaged the night before and they were not prepared to move ahead this quickly. Poole said there are also a lot of people who want to speak on the couple's behalf, but they need time to arrange this.

Pickens Planning Director Richard Osborne announced last week that after months of meetings and work the county and cities’ Comprehensive Plan Update has been adopted locally and accepted at the state, thus closing out the process for another cycle.

Updates are required on a five-year basis but this plan as a whole is considered effective from 2018 to 2028. The “stick” used by state government to force local communities through the process is requiring a current plan in place for many grants. 

“It is a big deal,” said Osborne. “It is a requirement.”

Having the approved plan doesn’t directly give the county or cities any funding. On the other hand the plan does not require anything out of the county or any city once adopted. 

     Dobson reaches her arms to demonstrate a modification on the tree pose. People of all skill levels are welcome to participate in her $5 classes.

By Rosa Willis 

Intern reporter

“Her classes are for everybody as a body and everybody as a whole,” said Kathy Fellows. Fellows participates in Karen Dobson’s yoga classes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at the Pickens Community Center. 

Dobson got her start in yoga at Jasper Athletic Club, taking classes led by Paula Adams who inspired her to become a certified yoga instructor.

Dobson’s class is a relaxing environment that just makes you want to say “Namaste.” The group is mostly women with only one man who participates regularly - though both genders are welcome.

The Pickens County government received a glowing report from auditors at this month’s commissioners’ meeting, with the county showing low debt and steadily increasing reserves.

Highlights of the FY 2017 report include: 

•General Fund revenues exceeded expenditures by $651,000, with expenditures down by $63,000 over 2016.

•General Fund revenues were up four percent over the previous year, due in large part to a $731,000 increase in taxes collected. Of that increase, property tax collections were up $212,000. County CFO Faye Harvey said some years property tax collections come in late and are credited to the next year.  Sales tax was up $258,000, and a financial institution tax of  $145,000 was collected that was owed the county from previous years. The insurance premium tax was also up $99,000.