‘Dark Days’
Supporters speak out in wake of mill director’s firing By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com PICKENS — Supporters of former More »
PCSO: Kids shot loaded school bus
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com SIX MILE — A 15-year-old and an 11-year-old are facing charges after police said More »
Speeding tickets and story idea strikeouts
First, a shout out to Patrolwoman Lindsay Mason of the Pickens Police Department. As I was roaring down Main Street More »
Harden Scholarship winner named
The scholarship committee of the Cannon Memorial Hospital Auxiliary recently announced Micah Jordan as the winner of the 2019 Dr More »
Would justice be possible?
31 men arrested and put on trial in Earle’s death By Dr. Thomas Cloer, Jr. Special to The Courier Last More »
32 Young Appalachian Musicians honored for work in YAMs program
COUNTY — Congratulations go out to 32 Young Appalachian Musicians who’ve shown outstanding hard work and achievement in the YAM More »
Harden Scholarship winner named
The scholarship committee of the Cannon Memorial Hospital Auxiliary recently announced Micah Jordan as the winner of the 2019 Dr John Harden Scholarship. Jordan is a senior at Pickens High School and is ranked second in his class. He is involved in his school and community through sports, committees, church and work. He has been accepted to Clemson University for the fall. He plans to obtain an undergraduate degree in bioengineering. He plans to use the degree and further education as an innovative physician. Jordan exhibits excellence in academics, attitude and achievements, according to the committee, which wishes to congratulate Jordan and recognize all applicants and wish them all much success in their careers in the health care field. Pictured, from left, are Tom Cloer, Mary Beelow, Elaine Cloer, Jordan and Diana Hancock. Not available for the picture was Carol Burnikel.
Wear them at your own risk
High heels and pointed-toe shoes have a lot to answer for. They created havoc in an entire generation of women who are now limping through life with aching backs. But for many years, this deadly footwear defined fashion.
Remember when employers had dress codes in place that required professional women to dress fashionably? Even now if you turn 
on the news you will see female newscasters wearing shoes designed for mutant feet.
They stand and shift their weight from one foot to the other, trying to find a comfortable way to stand. Next time you see “CBS This Morning,” check out Gayle King’s footwear. Comfort is not to be found. Also, Stephanie Ruhle on MSNBC. I enjoy their broadcasts and their interesting interviews, but deeply sympathize with their poor mistreated feet.
How many television shows have you seen in our lifetime with the following scene: A woman is walking toward her car in a dimly lit parking garage. Her car is parked in an obscure spot on the fifth level. Her high heels click rapidly upon the concrete, but her stride is hampered by her pencil skirt. She is carrying at least two heavy shopping bags.
Lurking nearby is a menacing presence, lying in wait. He, of course always a male, maybe in a dark sedan, with the engine running and the headlights off.
As the woman opens her trunk and leans over to place her shopping bags in the car trunk, the man revs the engine and mashes the
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Courier Letters to the Editor
Wishful thinking
Dear Editor,
I want to thank the Pickens County Courier for its news story on the Hagood Mill. The grist mill and its volunteers are a local treasure we all want to see preserved as is, and I look forward to reading your articles on the meeting at county council.
I was disappointed that more than 100 attended the meeting, but the county council limited the number who could speak. This was undemocratic. I rarely go to public meetings, but when I do, I usually need to get something off my chest.
Councilman Wes Hendricks’ lecture on volunteerism was interesting. He kept saying “we the volunteers.” We the volunteers need to have it in our heart. The message was “y’all need to do this without complaining to us.” He is not volunteering. County councilmen are paid handsomely, plus they are offered medical benefits.
I would have loved them to say, “we are giving up our salaries on county council, will volunteer our time and are donating the money to the Hagood Mill,” but that would have been wishful thinking.
Elizabeth Ellenburg
Six Mile
Roscoe’s raccoon hunt
Roscoe came into my life during my middle teenage years. I am not sure where he came from — perhaps from another planet? Roscoe was a true-blood black-and-tan hound dog. I had a couple of coon hunters from our community make me an offer to purchase him just from his looks alone, not knowing if he had ever seen a raccoon or not.
In retrospect, I wish I had accepted that $2 offer. Oh well, live and learn. As time moved on, me and Roscoe became friends. We roamed around the farm, played in the lake, chased imaginary animals and so forth.
But I was beginning to get a little bit worried. Roscoe would not bark as Daddy’s other dogs did. As a matter of fact, I could not get him to bark at all. When around the cows or a mule, he would make a sound that came out as if two cats were caught in the wheels of your bicycle as you were plummeting down a 100-foot-deep ravine. Or perhaps, two opera singers clearing their voices before a big presentation of “Madame Butterfly” at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.
Also, Roscoe did not get along with Daddy’s other dogs. He appeared to think he was more important than they were.
“Oh well,” I thought. “I still have a few weeks until fox and raccoon season opens. Maybe I can get his voice cleared up by then.”
Well, before I knew it, cold weather and raccoon hunting season were upon us, and I had to prove to Daddy and some of the older raccoon hunters that Roscoe was not a one-time wonder. I had to prove to them also that he knew what a raccoon looked and smelled
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Women veterans get expanded call center
The Department of Veterans Affairs has added another way for women veterans to get information about benefits and health care. Besides calling or chatting, those with questions can now text the Women Veterans Call Center. Since opening in 2013, the center has 
received 83,000 calls.
For the half million women veterans using VA health care, the call center can provide information on available resources and eligibility, and if a veteran is in crisis (homeless or at risk for suicide), she can get help there as well.
For women-centric information on health care and the services available at the VA, go online to www.womenshealth.va.gov. In the top right corner of the page is a Chat with the Call Center button. Or scroll down the right column and look at What’s New information on reimbursement of certain adoption expenses if a service-related disability has resulted in infertility, women veteran athletes, breast cancer and more. On the left side of the screen, the Health Topics A to Z cover hundreds of medical conditions.
The number of women who are sexually assaulted in the military has either risen or the number who report it has increased. One in
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Courier Obituaries 5-15-19
COACH JIMMY SATTERFIELD
EASLEY — Jimmy Earl Satterfield, head coach of Furman University’s 1988 NCAA I-AA national championship football team and member of both the South Carolina and Furman athletic halls of fame, passed away on Monday, May 6, 2019. He was 79 years old.
A native of Lancaster, he was the son of the late Rev. Walter Satterfield and the late Grace Satterfield.
Coach Satterfield graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1962 with a B.A. degree in history and English, and was awarded a M.A. in education from USC in 1968. He spent 21 years as a member of Furman’s coaching staff, serving as an assistant for 13 seasons (1973-85) and head coach for eight years (1986-93). He led the Furman Paladins to 16 winning seasons, nine Southern Conference Championships, and the 1988 NCAA I-AA national championship — the first by a SoCon school. His combined head coaching record spanning 21 seasons at Eau Claire, Irmo and Lexington high schools and the collegiate level was 189-63-8.
Satterfield loved his community, family and friends, but most of all spending time with his grandsons. He had a passion for sports, playing cards, gardening and antique cars. He was a member of Easley First Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Sara Ann Funderburk Satterfield; a son, Michael Shaun Satterfield of Easley; two daughters, Sydney Hilton Garrett (Todd) of Easley and Lee Ann Satterfield (Patrick Steel) of Washington, D.C.; three brothers, Jerry, Steve and Tim Satterfield; and four grandsons, Hayden Todd Garrett (Anna), Adam Hilton Garrett, Jack Reilly Steel and Conor James Steel.
Memorial services were held on May 11 at Easley First Baptist Church, with Rev. Dr. John Adams officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Coach Jimmy Satterfield Athletic Scholarship Fund at the Furman University Development Office, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC 29613.
Condolences may be expressed online at robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Powdersville Road, which is assisting the family.
DIANN GAIL L. WILSON
CENTRAL — Diann Gail Lykins Wilson, 74, wife of William Wilson, passed away on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.
She was born in Huntington, W.Va., on July 25, 1944, a daughter of Orin and Clara Clark Lykins.
Gail was an accountant for many years, retiring from Ohio Gear/Richmond Gear in Liberty. She had many interests. She enjoyed raising puppies, camping, raising her grandchildren and Facebook.
Gail is survived by her loving husband of nearly 57 years; son, Jeffrey Todd Wilson (Radna) of Hendersonville, Tenn.; daughters, Tina Renee Parker (Stephen) of Pickens and September Wages; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a sister, Dolores June Toney of Central.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, Andy Lykins; and a sister, Idella Benge.
Gail’s family would like to give special thanks to their hospice nurse, Melissa, for the love and care she showed to each member of her family
Funeral services were held on May 10 at the Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Gail’s memory to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.
Messages of condolence may be expressed at robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at the Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home in Central.
DANNY LEON RACKLEY
BELTON — Danny Leon Rackley, 69, of 2603 Cheddar Road, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, May 5, 2019, at his home.
Danny was born Jan. 27, 1950, to J.C. and Hazel Rackley. He was a USMC Vietnam veteran and retired self-employed paint
Would justice be possible?
31 men arrested and put on trial in Earle’s death
By Dr. Thomas Cloer, Jr.
Special to The Courier
Last week, we began a review of William B. Gravely’s book “They Stole Him Out of Jail: Willie Earle, South Carolina’s Last Lynching Victim.” The just-released book from the South Carolina Press (uscpress.com or axland@sc.edu) is the most thoroughly researched book ever on the 1947 lynching of Willie Earle, a black prisoner taken from the old Pickens jail and brutally killed and left on the side of a road across the Greenville County line outside Easley.
The Brutal Murder of Willie Earle
Greenville taxi drivers Roosevelt Hurd, Marvin “Red” Fleming, Griggs, Woodrow Clardy and Hendrix Rector went to Willie Earle’s cell at the old Pickens jail and grabbed him out. Driver Rector grabbed Earle by the collar. Griggs jerked him down steps, and Earle was shoved violently into different drivers. Drivers Hurd, Clardy and Fleming, with help from another driver, threw the prisoner into the lead taxi cab. Hurd was in the front car holding one of the shotguns. He was still partaking of whiskey and was becoming more inebriated as the long night unfolded.
The official drivers’ statements gave different versions of who questioned Earle about knifing cab driver Thomas Brown. Fourteen of the statements from those arrested said that Earle confessed before dying; other statements contradicted. Of course, a confession under such circumstances means little. After passing into Greenville County, the seven remaining taxis stopped to question Earle further. Hurd pointed the shotgun at Willie Earle’s head and Clardy called out not to kill that “negro” in his cab. “That’s where I make my living,” he said, according to statements. Clardy then led the mob to a more secluded spot near the property of the judge who would later conduct the trial.
Gravely writes in a sobering manner, “Arriving at the spot … the central actors gathered around Earle for the last time.” Driver Red Fleming “tried to talk nice to the n—–,” according to driver Charlie Covington’s statement to law officials. Fleming reminded Earle that he didn’t have long to live and coaxed Earle not to “die with a lie in his heart.” Someone shouted that they should take Earle to the hospital and let Thomas Brown identify him. Remember, driver Thomas Brown died after Willie Earle. At this time, Brown was still alive at St. Francis Hospital. The drivers pushed hard to get Earle to identify the other attacker of Brown. Wanting his breath of life for any extended minutes he might get, Earle begged the men to take him where he could identify a person.
Gravely writes, “Suddenly, the talking ceased.” Driver Griggs hit Earle hard in the face. Driver Rector took the shotgun that Clardy
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Prayer and praise event set for Saturday at amphitheater
PICKENS — An event designed to “answer the call to unity in our community in order to usher in the presence of God” is planned for 5-8 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Pickens amphitheater.
“The goal since its inception has been to unify the church,” according to event coordinator Joy Benoit. “It seems that our community’s foundation is its churches, but the denominations have built its walls. We want to knock down those walls, blur all the denominational lines and come together as one people intent on experiencing God in a new way and being a better example to those around us and in the community.”
Benoit said the Prayer and Praise Event has been organized based on three things — music, scripture and prayer. She said there will
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DAR members host tea
Members of the Col. John Robins Chapter National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century helped the South Carolina Society NSCDXIIVC hosted the tea at the national headquarters in Washington, D.C. Mari Noorai of Seneca and Jeannette Taylor of Sunset were the co-chairs for the tea. Col. John Robins Chapter of Pickens had four members at the tea: co-chair Mari Noorai, co-chair Jeannette Taylor, hostess Ellen Zaki and hostess Rooche Field.
32 Young Appalachian Musicians honored for work in YAMs program
COUNTY — Congratulations go out to 32 Young Appalachian Musicians who’ve shown outstanding hard work and achievement in the YAM program.
The winners are from the YAM after-school program (more than 300 kids), the Evening Program, and YAM Camp.
Each child had to write an essay, do a recording of their playing and have two letters of recommendation. Each of the students will
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