Area schools see movement in new SCHSL realignment
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com COUNTY — The South Carolina High School League () announced the classification placement for More »
Liberty leaders receive update on developing water system
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com LIBERTY — Efforts to create a water system “for Pickens County people” remain on More »
Wreaths Across America ceremonies held across county
COUNTY — Multiple ceremonies were held across Pickens County earlier this month in honor of National Wreaths Across America More »
Merry Christmas
Mountain View Funerals and Cremations owner Wes Hiott, along with Santa Greg, delivered Christmas gift baskets last week to the More »
Authorities: Easley man threatened mass shooting
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
GREENVILLE — An Easley man faces federal charges after authorities allege he threatened to commit a mass shooting.
Lucas Brandon Rousso, 30, of Easley, is charged with making threatening communications online, according to a news release issued Dec. 17 by the United States Attorney’s Office.
Rousso made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge William Brown on Dec. 17, the release said.
Rousso was arrested by federal agents, the release said.
In addition to the Federal Bureau of Investigations Columbia Field Office, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the Easley Police
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Missing Central man’s body found
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — The body of a Central man missing for two weeks was found in Lake Hartwell Saturday.
In a release issued Saturday night, Pickens County Coroner Andrew Wilson identified the remains as 
those of Swapnil Srivastava, 27.
Srivastava was reported missing from his Central apartment on Dec. 6, according to Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Brett Barwick.
At 2:25 p.m. Saturday, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office
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Area schools see movement in new SCHSL realignment
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — The South Carolina High School League (
) announced the classification placement for its member schools on Friday, and three of Pickens County’s four public high schools are set to change divisions, barring appeals.
The county’s largest high school, Easley, will move from Class 5A down to Class 4A with a listed enrollment of 1,354. Like all member schools, Easley’s attendance number factors in the SCHSL’s 3.0 multiplier for students outside of the school’s attendance zone.
For the Green Wave, the move marks a return to the 4A classification where it spent 2020-24 before
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Liberty leaders receive update on developing water system
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Efforts to create a water system “for Pickens County people” remain on target, according to system officials.
Liberty City Council members and city staff received an update about the Pickens Regional Joint Water System during an informational meeting held Dec. 2.
PRJWS officials broke ground for the system’s water treatment plant in September 2024.
The project’s concept “is not something that just came up two or three years ago,” PRJWS chairman
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Wreaths Across America ceremonies held across county
COUNTY — Multiple ceremonies were held across Pickens County earlier this month in honor of National Wreaths Across America Day.
According to coordinator Ann Warmuth, volunteers in more than 5,600 locations laid 3 million wreaths worldwide. In the Central area, 170 volunteers laid 1,040 veteran wreaths.
Ceremonies replicate the one done at Arlington National Cemetery each year, which includes a presentation of Ceremonial Remembrance Wreaths for the seven military branches of service, as well as 
one for prisoners of war and those missing in action.
The wreaths are presented by a veteran, civilian or family member, Warmuth said. After an opening
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Merry Christmas
Mountain View Funerals and Cremations owner Wes Hiott, along with Santa Greg, delivered Christmas gift baskets last week to the Pickens Police Department and the Pickens Fire Department. The gifts were a small way for the Mountain View staff to thank first responders for the dedication, sacrifice and care they show the community every day. “We are truly grateful for all you do to keep Pickens safe and strong, especially during the holiday season,” Hiott said.
Rep. Collins to seek reelection
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Rep. Neal Collins recently announced plans to seek reelection to the State House of Representatives.
Collins’ District 5 seat is up for election on Nov. 9, 2026. He was first elected
to the seat in 2014 and ran unopposed in the November 2024 general election after defeating challenger Brandy Tarleton in the 2024 Republican primary.
In a Dec. 15 post on his “Rep. Neal Collins” Facebook page, Collins wrote that
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Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
Editor’s Note: In 1897, 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York Sun, and 
the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages. We offer the letter and editorial response to you in this week’s issue. Merry Christmas.
Dear Editor:
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, ‘If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.’ Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as
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Letters to the Editor
Action needed on SC 183
Dear Editor,
Anyone who travels Farrs Bridge Road (S.C. Highway 183) frequently knows that accidents occur frequently. Many drivers treat this road as a stock car race. Speeding, passing and tailgating is the rule, not the exception. Rarely have I seen Highway Patrol on 183.
The eastern intersection of Farrs Bridge and Jameson is an extremely dangerous. For drivers traveling on Jameson, either turning left onto 183 or continuing across can be a frustrating then a risky experience. I have witnessed two T-bone accidents while waiting at the stop sign on Jameson. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured in either accident. However, on Dec. 11, two people were killed trying to turn onto 183.
I obtained a Freedom of Information document from the Department of Transportation, and this
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