Daily Archives: 07/29/2025
School District announces employee award finalists
COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County has announced its finalists for the 2025–26 District Teacher of the Year and District Support Employee of the Year awards.
This year, the district received a record number of nominations, reflecting the strength and dedication of educators and support staff throughout the county. Each of the finalists was first selected as the Teacher or Support Employee of the Year at their
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SDPC to offer free meals to students
COUNTY — All students in the School District of Pickens County will receive free breakfast and lunch each school day during the 2025–26 academic year, the district 
announced this week.
The meals are provided through the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP),
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County Council discusses paid parental leave
By Evan Smoak
Courtesy The Journal
evan@upstatetoday.com
PICKENS — At its mid-month meeting last week, Pickens County Council discussed the 
possibility of adding paid parental leave to its benefits for county employees.
Councilwoman Claiborne Linvill requested this benefit be added for county employees during a meeting in June before the current fiscal year started on July 1, but the matter was tabled until Monday.
“I was at a conference, and they said that if a local government could do anything, if you could only have one
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Rogers scholarship golf tournament completes another successful year
PICKENS — Fourteen teams competed in the 21st annual Charles F. Rogers Scholarship 
Award Golf Tournament held July 26, 2025, at Southern Oaks Golf Club. The annual event raises funds for scholarships awarded to Pickens High School basketball players who plan to pursue higher education.
Each year, one senior from the varsity girls team and one senior from the varsity boys team is selected to receive a scholarship. This year will mark the 22nd year the scholarships have been
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TCTC Vet Tech program reports 100% pass rate
PENDLETON — Tri-County Technical College’s Veterinary Technology program 
reports a 100% pass rate on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).
All 10 of the 2025 Veterinary Technology graduates passed this national credentialing exam. This is a first for the
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Why we must join hands in service
In a time marked by noise, division and digital overload, the quiet power of serving 
others in your own community might just be the most radical thing you can do.
My wife and I decided to move to Seneca in 2019 because we were looking at leaving a legacy for an area that we grew to love during our vacations here. We have found it right here in the Pickens/Oconee area. The connections that we are forging continue to grow as we tackle the local problems and find partner-led solutions, whether it’s food shortage, illiteracy,
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Courier Letters to the Editor 7-30-25
Captive audiences
Dear Editor,
One someone was talking about a high school graduate that gave his testimony about believing in God during his graduation speech. This person was angry, saying that the graduate had a “captive audience.” I don’t see how that could have been, since there were no barbwire-topped walls surrounding the site of the graduation. No guards walking around with shotguns and German shepherd dogs patrolling.
Anyone who was offended and wanted to could have simply walked out. The biggest hurt you can put on a speaker or entertainer is simple enough. Get up slowly, silently go
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Fearless warriors do not hide under the bed
It’s not really a secret about there being such a thing as good and evil. Yes, I know for every statement there is a counter argument, as even a few people deny the earth is
round. But, generally speaking, the masses are to some degree aware of the good God, bad devil concept. Within the Christian faith, it’s believed that God is infinite, perfect, represents the light and everything good, and is in total control of all things. On the dark side, Satan is a destructive spiritual entity who works around the clock trying to disrupt God’s plans. This includes unleashing a relentless barrage of damaging attacks and evil influences against the human race. What do you
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Baptism: What does the Bible say?
Matthew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. But he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you 
with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
As with many subjects connected to Biblical teachings, baptism is as disagreed on as much as any. Such subjects seem to attract personal opinion and notions. Speculations are good in some areas but not when God gives us specifics.
Revelation 22:18 “For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of
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Courier Obituaries 7-30-25
STANLEY ROBERT ‘BUCKY’ O’SHEAL
WESTMINSTER — Stanley Robert “Bucky” O’Sheal, 61, husband of Susan Renea 
Pearson O’Sheal, of Westminster, passed away on Friday, July 18, 2025.
A native of Oconee County, Mr. O’Sheal was the son of Jeri O’Sheal and the late Bobby O’Sheal. Bucky was a member of the Pendleton Masonic Lodge and Cross Roads Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife and mother, Mr. O’Sheal is survived by his son; Jeremy Dustin O’Sheal (Katie) of Charleston; grandchildren; Cohen, Irelynn and Marina.
In addition to his father, Mr. O’Sheal was preceded in death by a daughter; Tara Ashley O’Sheal; and sister, Robin O’Sheal.
Funeral services were held on July 24, at Davenport Funeral Home with entombment to follow at Heritage Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stjude.org/donate or to a charity of one’s choice.
The family is at their respective homes.
VIRGINIA PATRICIA MONTGOMERY BONEY
PICKENS — Virginia Patricia Montgomery Boney, 93, known to family and friends as 
“Pat”, died peacefully at Cottingham Hospice House in Seneca on July, 21, 2025. Pat was the widow of George C Boney of Pickens, and the daughter of the late James Andrew Montgomery and the late Geneva Cannon Montgomery of Lane S.C.
Pat attended schools in Williamsburg County, graduating from Kingstree High School in 1949. She briefly attended Winthrop College but returned home to allow her sister to attend nursing school. Pat worked as a bookkeeper, first at Kingstree Tobacco Warehouse, later at Santee Electric Co-op. She met George in Kingstree and they married in 1952. A change in George’s job situation brought them to Pickens in 1954. Pat eventually went to work with SCN Bank, retiring from Wachovia in 1992.
She is survived by her daughter, Cynthia D Boney of Pickens; her son, George C Boney (Ellen) of Chapin, S.C. and Robert M. Boney (Sheila Smith) of Niceville, Fla.
