Category Archives: Opinions
Examining our hearts at the Lord’s table
Last week, we touched on the subject of baptism, and this week I thought we could follow up with a chat about communion. For those who are Christians, the church 
ordinance of communion is a sacred and spiritually personal event.
In some circles, the Lord’s Supper is referred to as a sacrament, while others call it an ordinance, depending on the theological tradition. However, regardless of the term, within Christian churches, it is seen as a means of grace and an integral part of obedience and worship, established by Christ Himself. A time of sacred reflection on Christ’s death and resurrection. Where does it come from? It’s a recorded true event
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Keep track of food recalls
If you’ve been keeping an eye on recent food recalls you know that salmonella has been in the news, because salmonella has been in our food.
We have Moringa superfood capsules, the powder of which comes from the leaves of plants in India and Africa, an organic food known for containing healthful antioxidants, protein and minerals … except it can make us very ill if we get the wrong capsule and salmonella is present in the powder.
Then there are the organic chia seeds with salmonella. And the pouches of super greens supplements that promote health via kale, barley grass and parsley — with salmonella. And the chocolate candy bars — with salmonella. And the dog biscuits — with salmonella.
But salmonella isn’t all that’s been discovered in our food recently. We have plastic in
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Courier Letters to the Editor
Saitta gives update on road paving
Dear Editor,
Last month, I wrote the SCDOT had added repaving S.C. 183 from Pickens to S.C. 135 (by BJ’s and Fairlane Flats) to their list, in 2027 or early 2028. With the help of Sen. Rex Rice, the SCDOT is now fast-tracking that. The repaving project will go out for bid next month. The hope is to have that section repaved by the end of the summer or by year-end. Three cheers for Rex Rice on speeding that up.
The SCDOT is also putting in a traffic light at the intersection at Jameson Road (going out for bid in August). Jameson Road intersects S.C. 183 in two places; this is the intersection that is furthest east. Not the one by BJ’s.
As you can see, the SCDOT is starting to repave U.S. 178 (Main Street Pickens down to Mauldin Lake Road); S.C. 8 from Ross Avenue (four-way stop by U.S. 123) north past the Woodside Mill and to the top of the hill at Mulberry Road; and S.C. 93 in Easley from U.S. 123 through town to S.C. 8.
Repaving those three highways is a two-step process. Now they are patching the worst areas by digging down six inches, packing down a new base and patching it with asphalt. You see those patches and the SCDOT trucks out there now. After the patching is finished and the weather heats up, those highways will be milled down two inches, get a fresh layer of asphalt and new lines painted. Finished by late summer.
Country Creek Road is a county road, and we have replaced two culverts on that road, which is behind Aunt Sue’s (by the Table Rock recycle center). That second culvert went in last week, and the road will be reopened later this week (loose gravel for awhile). The road should be repaved by early March. Thank you for being patient on that one. That road was closed too long. On the bright side, those 10-foot-by-4-foot concrete culverts will out last our children.
Alex Saitta
Pickens
In utter disgust
Dear Editor,
I’m outraged at the corruption and hypocrisy being unraveled in D.C. For decades the American people have been played. Incomprehensible evil will devour our children and theirs with taxes that will rob them of any decent lifestyle. Taxation necessary to avoid
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Is resilience the answer to climate change?
Maryland unveiled an agricultural climate plan for the state on Jan. 15. The plan was 
initiated by a senator who sponsored a grant for $500,000 to the University of Maryland to develop the plan to provide for food security for the state and the nation and help Maryland farmers to adapt to and mitigate climate change.
The study found springs have been wetter, more false springs, summers drier, storms more extreme, droughts longer, and more pests and invasive species moving into the state associated with changing USDA growth zones. All of the above impact both animal and crop producers. Further saltwater intrusion is destroying crop land in Maryland and in the Carolinas with rising sea levels.
Maryland documents 19,000 acres lost. Study has developed programs to teach farmers resilience and regenerative methods of farming, increasing productivity and incomes.
So … what is resilience? It is being the ability to adapt, recover and return to where the
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Courier Letters to the Editor 2-11-26
When ‘blame’ is a good word
Dear Editor,
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. Why is it I speak against this administration? Why does my skin crawl when I read about the Epstein files? Why does my heart drop when I hear about shootings of innocent protesters and mistreatment of immigrants?
Why is my heart so heavy with grief and disbelief? Why am I willing to lose friends for my beliefs?
I blame the church where I grew up.
I blame Joe and Eleanor, who led our youth group and kept us safe on our retreats, and day trips. I blame them for letting me ride with them in their RV when I felt too shy to be part of the young people. I felt like royalty
I blame them for never calling on me to pray out loud til I was ready.
I blame Jolly and Sue for their kindness and faithfulness to the young people, for their
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Persevering through the storm
My friends, my neighbors, my brothers and sisters of Pickens —
This past week, extreme weather tested us.
Winter Storm Fern and the bitter ice that followed placed many of our neighbors in real danger. The cold was fierce. The darkness was real. The road was hard.
But let me tell you something:
Pickens did not bend. Pickens did not break. Pickens rose.
Because when the storm came, the people came.
Our police officers came.
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SC DOT Updates
Dear Editor,
The SCDOT has updated its highway paving list for the next year or two.
US 178 from the Anderson line to Liberty (to the Spinx), has been patched and an intermediate layer has been put down. The final layer of asphalt will be added when it get much warmer.
US 178 from Mauldin Lake Road north to Main Street, Pickens, the SCDOT has begun to patch it. More patching needs to be done as that section is in poor condition in many
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The spiritual battle for our attention
Let’s consider tracking how we spend our time in a typical 24-day period. Sleeping and working naturally take up most of it, followed by household tasks and hobbies, and finally, entertainment. Recently, I heard someone point out a troubling contrast: for Christians, spending more time on television or social media than on Bible study, prayer, or ministry seems out of balance. We often hear about the spiritual battle for our minds, but do our choices reflect the seriousness of this struggle? Though I’m involved with ministries and
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