Administrator: Rising COVID cases not only due to more testing
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com PICKENS — Acting Pickens County administrator Ken Roper echoes recent messages from President Donald More »
No ‘big pushback’ on mask requirements in Clemson
By Greg Oliver Courtesy The Journal goliver@upstatetoday.com CLEMSON — Shoppers in downtown Clemson last week said they had no problem More »
Tax deadlines delayed for tornado victims
PICKENS — Pickens County residents affected by the April tornadoes may qualify to delay filing and payments to the Internal More »
AnMed reinstates no inpatient visitor policy due to surge in COVID-19 cases
PICKENS — In light of the surge in COVID-19 cases, AnMed Health has reinstated no visitation for any inpatient areas More »
Run-ins with the dangerous creatures of the Jocassee Gorges
My children and grandchildren always loved the classic children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are,” by Maurice Sendak. The Jocassee More »
Family redeveloping historic Easley silos
I hate to admit it now, but I’ve never had much appreciation for the old grain silos on the west More »
Administrator: Rising COVID cases not only due to more testing
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Acting Pickens County administrator Ken Roper echoes recent messages from 
President Donald Trump and Gov. Henry McMaster about the importance of wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“What I feel like my duty is, is to encourage wearing masks,” he said.
Roper gave an update on COVID-19 case numbers during a Facebook Live video Thursday morning.
“We still see numbers continuing to rise statewide, throughout the nation and particularly here in Pickens County,” he said.
Every day the South Carolina Department of Health and
Easley may join Clemson, Central in requiring masks
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Easley City Council has created a committee to research whether the city needs to create 
an ordinance requiring masks to be worn to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
City administrator Stephen Steese said Thursday that council members discussed such a requirement during their June 29 meeting.
“It was not on the agenda, but council brought it up and discussed
‘There’s a lot of stupid floating around’
I wasn’t planning on writing about the coronavirus pandemic anymore, unless there seemed to be an urgent need for it.
After hearing the latest reports, it’s clear to me that there is.
Most people around Pickens County seem to be taking the attitude that, well, we did the shutdown, so we took care of the problem and now we need to go back to the way things used to be.
Unfortunately, things, as I write this, are worse than they have ever been, even before the shutdown.
In fact, South Carolina is one of three states that some experts say needs to go back into shutdown mode, or else it’s going to get
Virus’ impact present in new Easley budget
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — The city of Easley’s Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget reflects the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to city administrator Stephen Steese.
Easley City Council passed second reading of the balanced budget during a called meeting June 29.
“The budget presented to Council reflects a flat year of revenue for the City,” Steese wrote in the
Clemson president discusses return to campus this fall
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — Clemson University will give face coverings to students and employees when they return to campus — and require them to be worn in a number of circumstances.
University president Jim Clements gave an update on the university’s return plan in a message issued Friday.
“We have made critical decisions around face coverings, testing and our academic plan that will provide our students, employees and communities with important safeguards against the spread of COVID-19,” Clements said.
The university’s approach to getting back on campus is built on “four foundation pillars,” he said.
The pillars are a “steadfast commitment” to the health and safety of all the members of the Clemson
New election head happy with process, despite challenges
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
PICKENS — Travis Alexander was hired in May as the new Pickens County director of registration 
and elections, tasked with working with a completely new election commission amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting everything, including elections.
With the recent State House runoff elections marking the second primary election in the past two weeks, Alexander said he is pleased with how things went as he looks ahead to the presidential election in
University to celebrate 2020 grads
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — Clemson University is postponing its August commencement ceremony in order to 
focus on starting the fall semester safely, according to Clemson president Jim Clements.
Clements discussed commencement during an update he issued Friday.
“I pledged to the Class of 2020 that we would hold in-person commencement ceremonies on campus once it was safe to do so in order to celebrate the achievements of our students in a manner they deserve,” Clements said.
Plans are in the works to celebrate both the May and August 2020
Charity collecting pajamas for local elderly residents
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — A local charity is seeking donations of pajamas and nightgowns to give to the elderly in the area.
Warmth and Comfort for the Elderly, Upstate, SC is seeking new or gently used items of men’s and women’s sleepwear in sizes from extra small to 5XL, co-chair Danielle Parker said.
“More than 60 percent of seniors in long-term care sleep in hospital gowns or their day clothes,” she
No ‘big pushback’ on mask requirements in Clemson
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — Shoppers in downtown Clemson last week said they had no problem with wearing masks in public buildings, adding they want to do everything possible to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“It’s just difficult to understand people (wearing a mask), but we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do,” said Mike Sofarelli, a Clemson University graduate who lives in Florida. “I’m not going to fight it. I don’t think it’s a rights thing, but is the right thing to do.”
Last Wednesday marked a week since Clemson City Council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance requiring masks be worn in public buildings. Masks are not required for outdoor
Founders’ views of a free press
America’s Founders regarded a free press as so vital to the new nation that they took care to include that right in the First Amendment to the Constitution.
Founders spoke glowingly about the press as a pillar of democracy and guarantor of liberty. Thomas Jefferson, for instance, famously wrote in 1787 that “were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
George Washington framed the issue of free expression in almost apocalyptic terms: “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like
