Yearly Archives: 2021
School board elects officers
By Andrea Kelley
Courtesy The Journal
akelley@upstatetoday.com
EASLEY — The Pickens County School Board elected new officers at its meeting last week.
The board has three officer positions — chairman, vice chairman and secretary.
Shannon Haskett currently serves as chairman, with Brian Swords as vice chairman and Karla Kelley as secretary.
At the Nov. 15 meeting, Betty Bagley and Swords were nominated to serve as the new chair, and Bagley was unanimously approved as chairwoman.
Swords, Kelley and Phillip Bowers all received nominations for vice chair. Kelley was unanimously voted to
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Scholarship in memory of longtime firefighter to help others
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A scholarship in honor of a man who volunteered with the Pickens Fire Department for more than half a century will help firefighters further their education.
Pickens Fire Chief Chris Elrod discussed the scholarship during a special called Pickens City Council meeting Nov. 15.
“I have some exciting news I wanted to share with you all,” Elrod told council.
Elrod said the family of Jack Black approached him around two years ago “and wanted to set
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Pickens High School honors Andy Virgil
PICKENS — On Monday, Nov. 15, the Pickens County School Board voted unanimously to name the Pickens High weight room after longtime teacher, coach and strength/conditioning coordinator Andy Virgil.
“It is my opinion that naming this area in our athletic wing in his honor serves as an appropriate way to honor the legacy of Coach Virgil in our community,” PHS principal Jeff Duncan said. “I received overwhelming feedback from former student-athletes that covered
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Historical marker planned in Clemson to commemorate Littlejohn’s Grill site
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — From just after World War II to the late 1960s, Littlejohn’s Grill, operated by Horace and Gertrude Littlejohn, was a place 
where mostly African American residents of Clemson could gather to enjoy food along with entertainment from some future showbiz legends.
During that span of more than 20 years, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown and Moms Mabley were just some of the entertainers to appear at what Clemson resident Vince Jackson called one of the most successful nightclubs from Charlotte, N.C., to Atlanta.
Today, the site where the grill once stood is home to Littlejohn Community Center. But Clemson City Council, acting upon a request from Jackson and
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Unthankful with a side of gratitude
I’m sure you’re all dying to hear about the many wonderful things I’m thankful for!
I’ll get to that.
First, let me tell you about some of the things I’m UNthankful for!
Now, I don’t mean to be unthankful to the Creator for anything that He, in his infinite wisdom, has called into being — because, as you will see, everything on my unthankful list also has a thankful side.
For example:
I’m unthankful for a tiny little thing that popped into existence a couple of years ago called
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Thanks for the memories of years gone by
Thanksgivings remembered are filled with images of those beloved faces once seen around the old oak dining room table. And nothing brings back the people we loved like the coming season. The two oak leaves would have been fitted into the table center, which happened for every special family occasion.
The crisp white tablecloth, ironed on the table top at Thanksgiving and spread over the table, would be checked for on all sides to make sure it hung down evenly. And the children would set the table with the good china. Grandmama would be seated still be wearing her apron at
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Happiness is a small town
Everybody wants to move to a town like Mayberry. “The Andy Griffith Show” began with Opie and his dad walking down a path with fishing rods slung over their shoulders. Opie practices skipping rocks into the river, while Andy whistles. I’m pretty sure that was Andy Griffith whistling. He was a very talented actor and could play the trombone as well as the guitar, so whistling would have been a breeze.
The first show aired, in black and white, in October 1960. The final show aired in April 1968. There were 249 episodes of the show — 159 in black and white and 90 in color. Americans glued themselves to the TV screen to enjoy the adventurous antics of quirky personalities in
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Courier Letters to the Editor 11-24-21
Downtown fountain coming back
Dear Editor,
We have some exciting and long-awaited updates regarding the Legacy Square fountain. For far too long, the fountain that greets visitors on the east end of Main Street has been sitting in a non-working condition. The foundation of the fountain is cracked, but the city has recently received funding to fix this and restore the fountain to a working condition that will add to the beauty of our already picturesque town. Right now, we are receiving quotes from different companies to have the fountain fixed. These repairs will be scheduled
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Bahá’ís commemorate 100th anniversary of the Ascension
EASLEY — In honor of the 100th anniversary of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who departed on Nov. 27, 1921, the Baha’is of Easley and 
Pickens County presented a framed artwork of the “Golden Rule” and a “oneness of humanity” multi-color pinned ribbon to Easley Mayor Butch Womack and the city council cembers during their monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 8.
Thee gifts are a symbol of the oneness of humanity, representing the universal message taught by all religions of the world, that we should show forth kindliness, compassion and respect toward one another, as we ourselves wish to be treated.
Before his death in 1892, Bahá’u’lláh designated his son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to become the interpreter of his teachings and leader of the faith. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s
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Member of the Month
The Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce’s November Member of the Month is Rivyve Bistro and Boutique, located at 111 W. Main St. in Pickens and open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. The business offers breakfast, lunch, fresh squeezed juices, smoothies and more, and visitors are invited to ask about Rivyve’s seasonal coffees and shop local for home decor, clothing and gift items. Pictured are chamber board member Anna Chastain and chamber president Bryan Owens preesenting the Member of the Month banner to Rivyve’s Emily Bonner, Elle Daniels, owner Brandie Bray, Jo-Beth Bray and Trinity Moorehead. Vistit us on the web at https://www.restaurantji.com/sc/pickens/rivyve-juice-bar-and-boutique-/
