Daily Archives: 07/07/2021
1 killed, 1 injured in Six Mile fire

Sheriff’s office, SLED investigating blaze
SIX MILE — The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division are investigating after a body was found in a burning home in Six Mile.
PCSO Chief Deputy Chad Brooks said in a release that neighbors reported a structure fire at 191 Duncan Road at
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Road Rehab

Local roads included in SCDOT paving plan
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COLUMBIA — A recently implemented state gas tax increase will fund the rehabilitation and resurfacing of nearly 1,000 miles of South Carolina roads, including around 20 miles of roads in Pickens County, according to the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
The two-cent gas tax increase went into effect on Thursday, according to a release from SCDOT.
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County lagging in COVID-19 vaccinations
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COLUMBIA — Despite less than ideal numbers in Pickens County, the state is seeing some of the overwhelming positives of COVID-19 vaccination.
According to a July 1 Twitter post from S.C. State Rep. Neal Collins of Easley, only 417 South Carolinians who had completed inoculation had gotten COVID-19 since the vaccine became available around mid-December, compared to 248,000 who had
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District prepping for new school year
EASLEY — School District of Pickens County officials have announced information about the upcoming 2021-22 school year, which is less than two months away.
The first day of school for Pickens County students is scheduled for Aug. 3. Elementary meet the teacher and middle and high school registration events will be July 28-30. Each site will be communicating information to parents in the coming weeks.
SDPC superintendent Danny Merck said the district will continue to prioritize the health and safety of students, staff and the community. While
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City to stop grass pickup curbside
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Beginning Aug. 1, the city of Easley will no longer offer curbside collection of grass clippings.
Easley City Council discussed the issue during its June 14 work session before passing a resolution during regular session later that evening to stop grass clippings pickup Aug. 1.
Councilman Kent Dykes chairs the public works committee and said the committee has been
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6 local students graduate from Project SEARCH
EASLEY — Prisma Health and the School District of Pickens County celebrated the fifth year of the student-initiative Project SEARCH, graduating six students from the program at Prisma Health Baptist Easley.
The students graduating in the class of 2021 included Skylor Cartee, Grant Chapman, Chris Chastain, Ariel Pace, Keli Grace
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Earnhardt named AAU All-American

ORLANDO, Fla. — Pickens High School’s Bailee Earnhardt has been named to the AAU Volleyball All-American team.
She and two other members of the Blue Flame volleyball team achieved high honors at the national AAU championships in Orlando, Fla.
In the 17 and under Premier Division at the Orange County Convention Center from June
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Bagley urges global education mindset

By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
EASLEY — Pickens County School Board trustee Betty Bagley, who represents the Clemson area, said recently the district isn’t competing with the neighboring districts of Anderson and Oconee counties when it comes to preparing students for the future.
“Our competition is with the world,” Bagley told fellow trustees and audience members at a special called board meeting last month. “When I think about students in other countries coming out of school, they can speak three or four other languages, and we’re trying to get people to speak proper English.”
Bagley said the school districts do not have foreign language programs in early
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Blondeau’s contract finalized
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — Clemson Mayor Robert Halfacre said last week a recently finalized contract with new city administrator Andy Blondeau includes an initial annual base salary of $135,000.
“We, the City Council, are thrilled to announce the position of City Administrator has officially been filled by Andy Blondeau as the contract has been signed,” Halfacre said in an email. “He has served the city well as
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Scandals, scuffles and fireworks
Before the Revolutionary War, the colonists would celebrate the king’s birthday with the ringing of bells, bonfires and parades. However, things took an ominous turn during the summer of 1776, when the colonists celebrated by holding mock funerals for King George III instead.
John Adams fervently believed that our independence should be celebrated on July 2, and not July 4, because the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence on July 2, 1776. Two days later, on July 4, the 13 colonies
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