Category Archives: News
Saturday concert to bring together pair of local talents with big-stage experience
LIBERTY — A concert planned Saturday night at the Pickens County Performing Arts Center will bring together a pair of local natives who already have big-time national name recognition.
Already set to feature Piedmont native Ashland Craft, who was a fan favorite on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2017, the “Fame” Country Music Concert recently added Easley’s own Ansley Burns, a 13-year-old Gettys Middle School student who reached the semifinals of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” this month.
Burns was eliminated from AGT during the semifinals show earlier this month, but not before leaving an impression and making fans all over the world. She first found widespread recognition for her singing voice when she performed Carrie Underwood’s “Cry Pretty” in the backseat of a car in a video that went viral across the nation, including a
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State fiddling convention at mill this week
PICKENS — Hagood Mill Historic Site in Pickens will host its annual South Carolina State Fiddling Championship this weekend.
Set for Friday and Saturday, the event brings in folks from all over South Carolina and many other states to watch and take part in the competitions. One of the highlights of the weekend will be the crowning of the S.C. State Old Time Fiddling Champion.
In addition, there will be other junior and adult competition categories where musicians have a chance to spar for cash prizes, trophies and ribbons.
Besides the Old-Time Fiddling Convention, many other activities will be going on for the two-day event.
Dance activities are set to take place in the pavilion. Clogger Simone Nichols Pace will be conducting a clogging workshop at 6:15 p.m. on Friday. Pace is the
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Program benefits hospital Birthplace
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — An area of Prisma Health Baptist Easley Hospital has been made over to celebrate the hospital’s smallest stars.
Officials unveiled the “A Star Is Born” wall at the hospital Thursday afternoon. The wall is part of the Garnet and Polly Barnes Women’s Center.
The “A Star Is Born” program is “very special to us,” said Todd Walker, campus president of Baptist Easley Hospital.
The Garnet and Polly Barnes Women’s Center includes 13 birthing suites remodeled with state-of-the-art equipment
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Blue Flame defeat Powdersville, compete in Dorman tournament
PICKENS — The Pickens High School Lady Blue Flame downed the 2018 Class 3A state champion Powdersville Patriots last week and reached the Gold Division in the Dorman Tournament of Champions, played at the 
Spartanburg County high school.
The Lady Blue Flame defeated Powdersville in three sets in a match played at Powdersville Sept. 10, winning 25-20, 25-20, 25-19. Pickens advanced to the Gold Division of the Dorman Tournament of Champions on Friday and Saturday before falling to eventual champion Mauldin. Senior setter Kaylee Gillespie and senior right-side hitter
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Southern Wesleyan plans Showstopper Spectacular
CENTRAL — Show tunes will fill the air Sept. 27 and 28 as Southern Wesleyan University presents the Showstopper Spectacular Dessert Theatre, starting at 7 p.m. in Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center Auditorium.
“Showstopper Spectacular” is a musical revue featuring musical numbers from various Broadway shows such as “Mary Poppins,” “The Sound of Music” and “Sister Act.” A talented cast of singers includes current Southern Wesleyan students and community members. There will be a dessert and beverage buffet to enjoy during intermission. The event is free to attend, but donations are encouraged. Money raised will go to benefit the
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Second-half shutout lifts TR over Pickens
By Rocky Nimmons
Publisher
rnimmons@thepccourier.com
TRAVELERS REST — With heavy rains and lightning affecting the Upstate last 
Friday, many schools were forced to either cancel or find an alternate time to play scheduled high school football games.
Many schools elected to hit the gridiron on Monday night, and some canceled
altogether. The Pickens Blue Flame (1-3) and the Travelers Rest Devildogs (4-0) elected to get their game in on Saturday afternoon in a rare daylight contest.
The Blue Flame came in pounding the Devildogs early, jumping to a 3-0 lead, but as the very hot afternoon wore on, Travelers Rest managed to pull out a few big plays to pick up a 21-10 win.
“Big plays got us,” Pickens coach Chad Smith said after the game. “We try to build our program on discipline, effort and toughness. That is what got us today. We have got to do a better job. We have to get in there and find out to see
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Hiott, Rice sign letter warning president about ‘red flag’ laws
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — Two Pickens County legislators are among more than 30 South Carolina lawmakers who recently signed a letter addressed to President Donald Trump expressing concerns over “red flag” laws enacted in response to recent mass shootings.
The letter, which included the signatures of state Rep. Davey Hiott of Pickens and state Sen. Rex Rice of Easley, stated that they are “extremely concerned that Congress is not addressing the real issue of ‘gun free zones’ instead of focusing on ‘red flag laws.’” The more than 30 legislators who signed the letter said they believe such laws “will be
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First Southern Jeep Festival planned
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — A new festival will kick off later this month at the Greenville Pickens Motorsports Complex.
The Southern Jeep Festival will be held from Sept. 27-29.
Festival co-founder Tracy Gaylor said the complex is actually two venues, the Greenville Pickens Speedway and a “new off-road park that we opened up behind the Greenville Pickens Speedway.”
“You can reach the off-road park through the same parking lot,” she said.
The 280-acre park welcomes Jeeps, side by sides and ATVs.
“One thing we want to stress is this is a family-friendly festival,” Gaylor said. “It’s not just for off-road enthusiasts. It’s for families.”
The festival will host a wide variety of vendors, she said.
“We’ll have all types,” Gaylor said. “Craft vendors, home decor vendors, food vendors, tire vendors, automotive — you You do not have permission to view this content
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Lady Blue Flame top Devils, Eastside to stay undefeated
PICKENS — The Pickens High School Lady Blue Flame won two away matches last week against longtime nemesis Eastside and Pickens County foe Liberty to remain undefeated in the regular season with a 5-0 record.
The Lady Blue Flame downed Liberty in three sets in a match played at Liberty on Sept. 3, winning 25-8, 25-8, 25-16.
Senior right-side hitter Olivia Dow led Pickens in kills with 11, followed by sophomore middle hitter Caroline Lucas with nine. Five players each had one block: Dow, sophomore outside hitter Alaina Craigo, freshman setter Lauren Dow, freshman middle hitter Faith Clarkson and sophomore middle hitter Calie Covey. Senior setter Kaylee
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Blue Flame pitch shutout vs. Liberty
By John Robert Ayers
Courier Sports
news@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — After two weeks of missed opportunities to open the 2019 season, the Pickens Blue Flame went into Friday’s game against county rival Liberty needing a win in the worst way.
The Flame were able to make the most of their opportunity, stifling the Liberty offense and picking up a 10-0 win.
“It feels great,” Pickens coach Chad Smith said. “Our kids executed, and we did a
good job. I’m very proud of them. Those kids impressed me tonight. That was a first-class type of win.”
The closing minutes of the win were especially sweet for Smith, as his team showed remarkable determination in the fourth quarter, stopping the Red Devils inside the 1-yard line on their last possession before chewing up the final six minutes of the game clock with a drive that
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