Daily Archives: 07/15/2025
Local election filings open Monday
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — With election season inching closer, Pickens County’s municipal general election candidate filing period is set to open next week, giving voters an idea of who 
they will see on the ballot in November.
Candidate filing for the Nov. 4, 2025, municipal elections in the cities of Easley, Liberty and Pickens, and the towns of Central, Norris and Six Mile, will open at
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More convicted in ‘Las Senoritas’ trafficking case
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COLUMBIA — More convictions and guilty pleas have been obtained in an ongoing investigation into organized crime being run from within state prisons using 
contraband cell phones, S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson announced last week.
The “Las Senoritas” case goes back to 2023, Wilson said at a July 9 press conference.
“This was a major meth trafficking investigation in the Upstate,” he said. “It involved targeting a cartel-supplied drug You must be logged in to view this content.
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Local man faces CSAM-related felony charges
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A Pickens man faces multiple charges connected to the sexual exploitation 
of minors, S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson said Monday.
Dallon Christoper Barnwell, 22, of Pickens, was arrested on July 3, Wilson said in a news release.
Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office made the arrest, he said.
Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National
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County educational efforts highlighted at recent meeting
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Educational efforts in the area include preparing young readers to “read to learn” and serving first-generation college students in a “first of its kind” way, 
beginning while they are still in high school.
Pickens United members heard updates from area education officials at the group’s June 30 meeting.
Pickens County School Board Trustee Betty Garrison said the school district’s prohibition on students having cellphones in the classroom
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Celebrating 100 years of American Legion baseball
Easley American Legion Post 52 Baseball completed its regular season on Monday night with a 15-3 win over Klutch Collegiate at Alice Mill Field. Following the win, a firework show sponsored by Carolina Fireworks of Easley was held to honor 100 years of American Legion baseball. Post 52 finished its regular season with a 9-8 record, including an 8-4 record in league play and will soon open playoff play.
Duke Energy proposes new rate increases
GREENVILLE — Duke Energy Carolinas has proposed a rate increase that would raise monthly electric bills for South Carolina customers, citing ongoing investments to 
improve grid reliability, storm resilience and energy generation across the state.
The utility filed a request this week with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) for a public review of its current rates. If approved, the proposal
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Banjo Festival begins Friday at Hagood Mill
PICKENS — The Banjo Extravaganza Festival will return to the Hagood Mill Historic Site this weekend offering a weekend of toe-tapping tunes, Appalachian heritage and 
traditional artistry.
The festival begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. with “Early Banjo History with Clifton Hicks.” Hicks, a well-known performer and
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Welborn provides update, expresses concerns
By Evan Smoak
Courtesy The Journal
evan@upstatetoday.com
PICKENS — At its regularly scheduled meeting last week, Pickens County Council received an update from clerk of court, Pat Welborn.
Welborn spoke about the new Carolina Investments Building the county purchased in 2024 to help alleviate courthouse traffic and space constraints.
“Probation, (Department of Juvenile Justice) and possibly the public defender’s office will be moving, and we need to expedite that as we can,” he said. “The solicitor’s PTI office is losing (its space) and is needing to move into the courthouse. (We want to) get
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Heroes without capes or superpowers
We hear a lot about heroes these days. Accomplished athletes are admired as idols for throwing around a ball, while actors in blockbuster movies portray individuals who can 
fly and use their incredible powers to save the universe.
However, in the real world, it’s encouraging to know there are humble and hardly noticed genuine heroes all around us. Without a desire to be praised or even
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