Monthly Archives: July 2025
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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Courier Letters to the Editor 7-16-25
VA officer election debacle
Dear Editor,
I want to personally thank Rex Rice and the Pickens County Legislative Delegation for showing me what democracy actually looks like.
Walt Carter garnered 51 votes to John Hembree’s 48 votes.
But he didn’t win, according to the wise folks who govern us. Since they can no longer count votes in a “smoke-filled room” and elect whomever they decide, they now say if the election has a low turnout and the vote is close, they get to choose who won.
Isn’t that nice?
How many decisions have been made with ONE vote to make a majority? Maybe Rex Rice and his colleagues should read more American history. They don’t even have to crack a book. Just turn on the TV and see how a recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill” managed to become law.
But they appear to be a law upon their own and ignore the wishes of the veterans who actually voted.
Did Mr. Rice or any of his colleagues vote? Or have they managed to be “Big Beautiful Citizens” without ever serving their country in uniform?
Did they ever get shot at trying to protect “one man, one vote?”
And Mr. Hembree has demonstrated his absolute lack of integrity by even accepting the position he now holds.
The hypocrisy in this whole situation is mind-boggling.
David Peart
1 Lt. Infantry
Marietta
Is the Antichrist among us?
Daniel 7:24-25 “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall 
subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High.”
Many have declared to believe a United States
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The latest recalls
With the increasing number of food recalls lately, it’s very tempting to buy a few rural acres and grow our own food, isn’t it? A dozen chickens, a milk cow, a veggie garden … 
what else would we need? Unfortunately for the majority of us, that’s not a possibility.
However, we can keep up with the increasing numbers
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