Monthly Archives: December 2025
Drug investigation nets 14 arrests
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — More than a dozen people faces charges after undercover investigations by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Easley Police Department (EPD).
In a release issued Monday, PCSO Chief Deputy Brett Barwick said the sheriff’s office’s special operations and direct patrol units, along with SLED and the EPD, concluded several undercover drug operations throughout the county in December.
Those investigations led to the arrest of 14 people on 35 separate charges, he said.
“These investigations impacted all areas of Pickens County, the city of Easley, as well as Anderson
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Easley residents view proposed developments
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Easley residents had a chance this month to view plans and ask questions about two proposed developments that could lead to annexation requests, one off Sheriff Mill Road and the other off Brushy Creek Road.
A project review meeting was held from 4-6 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Larry Bagwell Gym in Easley.
Rather than featuring formal presentations, the meeting was “science fair style,” with residents moving
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Sheriff discusses search for missing man found dead
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Pickens County Sheriff Tommy Blankenship recently addressed the search for a 27-year-old 
Central man whose body was found two weeks after he was last seen in December.
Last seen on Dec. 6, Swapnil Srivastava’s body was found submerged in Lake Hartwell on Saturday, Dec. 20.
Blankenship discussed the search in a Facebook Live video posted on the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 23. He praised those involved in the search and rebuked those who made critical and
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Prisma restricting visitation amid rising flu rates
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
GREENVILLE — Prisma Health announced last week that it is now restricting anyone age 15 and younger from visiting patients in its hospitals “due to increased rates of community influenza and other respiratory illnesses.”
Prisma said the temporary restrictions began Tuesday, Dec. 30, “to help protect patients and team
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Green Wave rally to down Daniel
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — Coming off back-to-back losses at the Smoky Mountains Christmas Classic in Tennessee over the weekend, the Daniel High School basketball team looked like it was ready to get back on track with a 28-25 halftime lead over Easley during Monday’s DWD Christmas tournament opener.
Instead, the Lions were unable to maintain their first half tenacity in their fourth game in five days, as the Green Wave battled back to take a 57-50 win.
“I told our guys, and I have to take responsibility, but we really have to be tougher down the stretch,” Daniel head coach Ben Touchberry said. “They played harder, they got the 50-50 balls, they out rebounded us and they out executed us.”
While the Green Wave managed to spread the ball during the course of its second half surge, the inside-out play of 6’5” junior forward RJ Stack stood out as he went toe-to-toe with Daniel’s Morehead State bound big man
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PHS’ Clarkson, Yates sign with local colleges
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A little over a month removed from winning the Class 4A volleyball state championship, 
Pickens High School volleyball stars Lily Clarkson and Chesney Yates had another reason to celebrate earlier this month as they signed to advance their academic and athletic careers at ceremony at the high school held on Dec. 17.
Clarkson, Pickens’ do-it-all setter and key member of the Blue Flame’s back-to-back state championship teams in 2024 and 2025, signed with Southern Wesleyan University.
Clarkson led the team in assists in 2025, while also being among the top three in kills, aces and digs. Following the completion of her senior season, she was named to the Class 4A All-State team
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Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Carolina Handling host Christmas event for mothers and children
EASLEY — Mothers and children living at The Dream Center’s Opportunity Village were treated to a holiday celebration Friday during the Dream Big Holiday Bash, an event hosted by Carolina Handling in partnership with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
The afternoon included visits from the Swamp Rabbits’ mascot, Stomper, who posed for photos with
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CU Facilities to tackle projects over Winter Break
CLEMSON — On Monday, Dec. 15, Clemson University Facilities began to take advantage of the quieter campus environment to work on several projects affecting buildings and roadways.
McMillan Road Crosswalk Safety Improvements
On Dec. 15, contractors began installing concrete crosswalk bulb outs to enhance pedestrian safety at the McMillan Road crosswalk between McAdams and Edwards Halls.
One lane of McMillan Road may be blocked and/or held while equipment and trucks are entering the area.
Work will begin on the McAdams side of the road first before crossing over to the Edwards side.
A temporary crosswalk will be in place near the work site, and the project is scheduled for completion in
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New Year of faith and determination
A brand-new year is here, and I’m excited to see what the Lord has for us! Keeping Christ at the center 
of our thoughts takes a great deal of discipline and determination, but so does everything else we really care about.
We often hear people discussing their resolutions, which are serious intentions, desires, and promises they believe they can achieve. What are your goals and visions for the coming year? Would you like to draw closer to God and experience His peace and joy? I can tell you, according to His word, He loves you and waits for you to be
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Who is our master?
‘No man can be the servant of two masters, for either he will hate the first and love the second or he will 
be devoted to the first and think nothing of the second. You cannot serve God and Money (the World).” Matthew 6:24
“Know ye that by “the world” is meant your unawareness of Him Who is your Maker, and your absorption in aught else but Him…Whatsoever deterreth you, in this Day, from loving God is
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