U.S. Sen., Pickens County native Lindsey Graham dies suddenly
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com STATE — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Pickens County native, died unexpectedly Saturday More »
Pickens PD responds to bomb scare
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com PICKENS — A Pickens man faces multiple charges after a suspicious package at a More »
Clemson University names new president
CLEMSON — Clemson University’s Board of Trustees unanimously selected Benjamin C. Ayers, Ph.D. as the University’s next president last week. More »
Pickens to hold inaugural bluegrass event in the fall
PICKENS — The City of Pickens will launch a new downtown bluegrass jam series this fall aimed at celebrating Appalachian More »
Sealevel Systems celebrates 40th anniversary
LIBERTY — Sealevel Systems Inc., a leading provider of rugged, industrial-grade computing and I/O solutions, is celebrating its 40th anniversary More »
U.S. Sen., Pickens County native Lindsey Graham dies suddenly
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
STATE — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Pickens County native, died unexpectedly Saturday evening, bringing a long political career to a close.
Graham’s office announced his death at age 71 in a statement early Sunday morning.
“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,” it read. “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”
Born in Central, Graham became his sister’s legal guardian in his early twenties after his parents died within 18 months of each other. He was the first member of his family to attend college, earning undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina.
Having joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corp following high school, Graham was commissioned as an officer in the Judge Advocate General Corps in the United States Air Force in 1982, following his graduation from the USC School of Law.
He joined the South Carolina National Guard in 1989, serving until 1995. He then became a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
Graham served one term in the S.C. House of Representatives after being elected to represent Oconee County’s District 2 in 1992, then ran for the U.S. House of Representatives Third District seat, defeating two primary challengers before winning 60 percent of the vote. His campaign was assisted by support from U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, the state’s longest-serving senator.
Upon Thurmond’s decision to retire from the Senate in 2002, Graham ran unopposed in the Republic primary to succeed Thurmond and won the general election with more than 54 percent of the vote.
He won reelection in 2008, 2014 and 2020.
At the time of his death, Graham was the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and served as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Graham was seeking reelection this year and defeated five challengers in the June Republican primary, capturing nearly 57 percent of the vote.
Following his primary win, Graham thanked his supporters, including one at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C.
“Thank you to the big guy, God,” Graham said in a statement. “Thank you to the Republican primary voters for your confidence in me and for rejecting
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Pickens PD responds to bomb scare
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A Pickens man faces multiple charges after a suspicious package at a gas station prompted a heavy police response on July 5.
According to a July 5 Pickens Police Department release, PPD officers responded at 5:13 p.m. that day to a report of a “suspicious package believed to be a pressure cooker” that had been placed atop a gas pump at the Xpress Mart on East Cedar Rock Street.
The Anderson County Bomb Squad was requested to respond to the scene, the release said.
During the investigation, officers determined the item was not an explosive device, the release said.
“However, officers determined the pressure cooker had been intentionally placed on top of the gas pump, prompting the emergency response and public safety precautions,” the release said.
A suspect identified as Alvin Dale Powell of Pickens was apprehended near the scene, the release said.
“During the investigation, officers gathered physical evidence and identified online content Powell had posted,” the release said.
Powell is charged with breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature and possession of a hoax device or replica of a destructive device or detonator, the release said.
There was no ongoing threat to the public related to the incident, the release said.
All road closures due to the incident had been lifted at the time of the release.
“Because this remains an active criminal investigation, no additional information regarding the evidence or investigative findings will be released at this time,” the release said. “Additional information may be provided as it becomes available and when appropriate.
“The Pickens Police Department appreciates the assistance provided by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pickens County EMS, Pickens City Fire Department, and other responding public safety agencies,” the release concluded. “We also thank the public for their patience and cooperation during the incident.”
Area man gets 25 years for sexually abusing minor
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A local man was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison after being 
found guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor victim under 11 years of age.
In a news release issued Monday, 13th Circuit Solicitor Cindy Crick said Donald Grady Moore, 53, was tried and found guilty on that charge by a Pickens County jury on Friday.
Assistant solicitor Jake Hofferth and deputy solicitor
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Woman dies in Marietta wreck
MARIETTA — A Greenville woman died after her moped was struck by a wreck in 
northern Pickens County on July 2.
Pickens County Coroner Andrew Wilson identified the victim as Lynn Major Hansen, 62, of Greenville.
In a July 3 release, Wilson said deputy coroner Marsha
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Two face drug, weapons charges
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Two people face multiple charges after the execution of a search warrant in a narcotics investigation.
According to a July 6 Pickens Police Department release, officers executed a residential search warrant at 9:13 a.m. that morning as part of an “ongoing narcotics investigation.”
During the search, officers located “trafficking-level” quantities of methamphetamines, four guns and numerous additional items of evidence “consistent with
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Clemson University names new president
CLEMSON — Clemson University’s Board of Trustees unanimously selected Benjamin C. Ayers, Ph.D. as the University’s next president last week. Ayers will assume the 
presidency on Aug. 1.
A nationally respected academic leader, accomplished administrator and award-winning educator, Ayers comes to Clemson from the University of Georgia, where he serves as senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. As UGA’s chief academic officer, he oversees the University’s academic enterprise, including its 20 schools and colleges, as well as instruction, research, public service and outreach, information technology and the offices supporting faculty, graduate education, global engagement and libraries.
Ayers’ appointment comes after Clemson’s Board of Trustees were notified that Kevin Guskiewicz, who was set to take over as the
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Man sentenced to 20 years for meth trafficking
PICKENS — A Pickens County man was sentenced last week after pleading guilty to trafficking methamphetamine.
In a Tuesday news release, 13th Circuit Solicitor Cindy Crick said Ted Gregory Davis, 63, pleaded guilty on Friday to two counts of trafficking between 28 and 100 grams of meth.
During the plea hearing, assistant solicitor John E. Gardner presented evidence establishing Pickens County Sheriff’s
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Pickens to hold inaugural bluegrass event in the fall
PICKENS — The City of Pickens will launch a new downtown bluegrass jam series this fall aimed at celebrating Appalachian music, supporting local businesses and drawing 
visitors to Main Street.
The series, called “Pickin’ in Pickens,” will feature informal bluegrass jam sessions throughout downtown rather than scheduled stage performances. Musicians will gather at participating businesses to play traditional bluegrass music in a format that
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Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
These famous words written by Thomas Jefferson, enshrined in our Declaration of Independence, are very familiar to us. They are foundational to the life of our nation 
and define the theme of American civic life. On this 250th anniversary of our nation, we should reflect on this seminal statement.
Thomas Jefferson was influenced by the political philosopher John Locke, who proposed that people have natural rights: life, liberty and property. Jefferson changed this to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Happiness, at that time and context, meant the pursuit of civic virtue and moral excellence. How profoundly different this is from our contemporary understanding of happiness as the
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