Yearly Archives: 2020
School board passes second budget reading
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
EASLEY — During a special called virtual meeting Monday, the Pickens County School Board 
approved second reading of a proposed $128.1 million general fund budget for FY ‘21 that marks a little more than a $1 million decrease from the current budget.
School district chief financial officer Clark Webb told trustees the proposed budget featured a few changes since first reading.
Included in those changes are the removal of a contingency for workers compensation and increase in property insurance, since the budget allocation will be sufficient for both of those
Readers’ Choice Awards results scheduled to be announced this summer
PICKENS — Over the course of the past few months, our world has been in a battle with COVID-19.
Many area businesses have been closed and quarantined, and as a result, we at the Pickens County Courier have delayed announcing the results of the 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards.
“Hundreds of ballots were cast earlier this year as local residents weighed in on their favorite businesses across the county, but we feel many of our local businesses that have earned the top honors in 2020 would prefer the awards be announced when they can best benefit from those incredible honors,” Courier publisher Rocky Nimmons said. “Not only is it a huge accomplishment,
Clemson introduces map to help food insecure families
By Michael Staton
Clemson University
news@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — Clemson University faculty and staff in coordination with the United Way and Ten at
the Top have created an interactive map that provides information on different food resources across the Upstate for individuals and families facing food insecurity.
Clemson’s College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences created the Food Access Map as part of its efforts to aid Upstate residents facing hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. The map includes nearly 400 providers across 10 counties complete with information on the type of assistance they provide as well as operating hours and availability.
According to Leslie Hossfeld, dean of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, the Food Access Map will make the process of finding reliable information on food resources that much easier for people in need. To find the map, visit tenatthetop.org/the-upstate/resource-
County council honors American Legion Post 52
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pickens County Council members helped members of American Legion Post 52 
celebrate a milestone anniversary earlier this year.
During their March 2 meeting, before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the alteration of public meetings around the country, council members unanimously passed a resolution recognizing Post 52’s 75th anniversary.
Following the vote, chairman Roy Costner read aloud the resolution, which recognizes the post for
Clemson public opinion poll reveals concern about COVID-19 response
CLEMSON — The Clemson University Palmetto Poll recently gathered data from South Carolina residents to gauge their concern regarding the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the state and national response to it.
Steven V. Miller, an associate professor in Clemson’s political science department who designed the survey, said that in addition to providing a general glimpse into residents’ concerns with the pandemic, the survey revealed major differences in attitudes toward government response along partisan, racial and ethnic lines.
Analyses of the poll’s results suggest just over 75 percent of South Carolinians are at least moderately concerned about the pandemic in their area, and almost half of South Carolinians are
Blood Connection offering free virus antibody testing
COUNTY — The Blood Connection is offering free COVID-19 antibody testing for donors.
The antibody test will test a sample of each donor’s blood to see if it contains COVID-19 antibodies. The service is offered to TBC blood donors at all blood donation centers and mobiles across South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, at no cost. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment
Restrictions take their toll
One day a couple of weeks ago, my wife Kathy started shivering for no apparent reason.
She’s one of those people whose internal thermostat goes haywire once in a while, so I wasn’t overly concerned. Until she told me right before she went to sleep that for an instant she had the thought that she might not wake up in the morning.
She wasn’t interested in rushing off to the emergency room, though, so there didn’t seem to be anything I could do but pray and hope it wasn’t anything serious.
The next morning, her right leg was swollen up and red and
Things have changed in the hen house
There have been major changes in the hen house since the rooster died. The hens have had to adjust 
to their new life without a dominant male figure, and it has been interesting to see the new pecking order.
Before the rooster gave up the ghost, he greeted each morning the same way. He’d greet the day from atop the hanging feeder.
He never missed a chance to greet the sun and alert us all to the news that morning had arrived. Again.
But now that he is gone, the hens have adjusted to their new world.
It took a while, but apparently there is now a new
Courier Letters to the Editor 5-20-20
Why vote for Alex Saitta?
Dear Editor,
Why vote for Alex Saitta? I have known Alex since he moved to Pickens. He has a genuine love and concern for the welfare of the people of Pickens County.
Alex fought to keep our small schools open and voted against their closing. Anyone who says any different is a liar.
He has the financial expertise required for this job. The other candidates do not.
Alex is a Christian and a kind, caring man with good moral character, which is very important as
Amid pandemic, nurses a constant
While it was more than 20 years ago, I remember that day like it was yesterday.
That was the day I received my license to be a registered nurse. I still remember the whirlwind of feelings I experienced as I first held my license in my hands. On that day, I felt relief and pride for having completed a long academic journey. But I also felt the
weight of the awesome responsibility to my patients and my profession that comes with being a registered nurse.
What’s why every year, as Nurses Week approaches, I try to remember how I felt that day and honor the commitment my colleagues and I have made to a profession that centers on helping others. Never has that commitment been more important than it is during this year’s Nursing Week, when nurses all
