Daily Archives: 03/10/2026
Mauldin, Nimmons honored by SC Press Association
COLUMBIA — Two Pickens County Courier staff members were honored recently by the South Carolina Press Association for their work in 2025-26.
In the SCPA’s annual news contest, Courier Sports Editor Bru Nimmons and Editor Zack Mauldin received awards judged by peers in the newspaper industry. The awards were presented at the association’s annual meeting last Friday in Columbia.
Nimmons and Mauldin truly have ink in their blood. Mauldin has been a key part of the Courier from the beginning, designing the paper’s look and shaping its content since its inception in 2007.
After his years as a student at Clemson University, Nimmons returned to the Courier
SDPC announces leadership changes
PICKENS — The School District of Pickens County has announced leadership changes that will take effect July 1, 2026, including a new district-level role and an interim 
principal appointment at McKissick Academy of Science and Technology (MAST).
Mrs. Heather Touchberry has been named Director of Innovative Services for the district, transitioning from her current role as principal of MAST at the conclusion of the 2025–26 school year. In conjunction with this transition, the district’s Board of Trustees approved the superintendent’s recommendation on February 23, 2026, to appoint Dr. Danny Hall, currently assistant principal at MAST, as
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SME named model school
SIX MILE — Six Mile Elementary has been named a 2026 Model School and will be recognized at the prestigious Model Schools Conference, hosted by the Center for 
Model Schools.
Six Mile Elementary was selected as one of only 10 elementary schools nationwide to
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Translating Holy Word into reality
‘‘It is incumbent upon everyone to observe God’s holy commandments, inasmuch they are the wellspring of life unto the world.” Baha’i Scripture
In Psalm 19:7-11, we see the preciousness of God’s teachings: “The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul…the precepts of the Lord are right and rejoice the soul. The commandment of the Lord shines clear and gives light to the eyes. The Lord’s decrees are true and righteous every one, more to be desired than gold,
pure gold in plenty, sweeter than syrup or honey from
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Standing strong with confidence
Fear and anxiety are negative byproducts of modern life, trying to influence us away from God.
Our jobs are often stressful, our relationships and finances, and even our children struggle with social pressures we hardly faced when we were their age. Some people turn to natural remedies, like the newly popular cannabidiol products, while others are absorbed in social media, but there is even better news that can give us peace in this troubled world. The Bible remains an unfailing source of hope and comfort in the seasons when we are
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It’s not always about politics
Romans 3:10 and 12 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth 
good, no, not one.”
We humans have an inclination to observe and form opinions of others much more readily than ourselves. We are fortunate and God-blessed that God is our judge and not other people.
Unfortunately however, our great failure is to
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Courier Letters to the Editor 3-11-26
Saitta gives thoughts on mill issue
Dear Editor,
The Hagood Mill and its grounds are owned by the county government. Up until 2019, it was managed and run by the county parks department. In 2019, a private organization named the Hagood Mill Foundation asked to manage the mill, and the foundation has been running it ever since.
I read the article last week where the chairman of the foundation board complained the funding the county has given the foundation was only $70,000 a year.
This is untrue. The past 12 months the county gave this private organization a total of $170,000 in taxpayer funds — $21,000 in recreation funds, $79,000 in ATAX funds
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Courier Obituaries 3-11-26
SYBIL HAYES HUGHES
COLUMBIA — Sybil Hayes Hughes passed to be with the Lord on March 7, 2026, in 
Columbia. Sybil Hayes was born in Pickens, on July 1, 1935, to Ossie and Ernestine Hayes. She was married to Glen Hughes in 1949 at the age of 14. They were married for 70 years, until his death in 2020.
As a military family, Sybil and Glen traveled throughout the United States, Panama, and Europe with the U.S. Army. Sybil worked in grocery management until she obtained her Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. She later worked in various administrative roles at Ft. Jackson, the National Guard Armory, the Small Business Administration, and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. She thrived as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, and was admired for her seamstress skills and cooking, particularly her baked goods, including her famous coconut and pound cakes.
She is survived by her daughter in law, Cheryl Hughes of Irmo, S.C.; her son, Ralph Hughes (David Temme) of Sacramento, Calif.; her daughter, Gayle Crosby (RC) of St. Matthews, S.C.; and her daughter, Linda Hughes (Kelly Stivers) of Sanford, Fla. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Cindy Bradford, Lisa Mims, Jessica Buzhardt and Chris Hughes, as well as eight great grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Glen; her son, Steve Hughes; and her great grandson, Dillan Roldan.
Services will be held at St. Andrews Baptist Church on March 11, with visitation preceding the service. Memorials may be made to St. Andrews Baptist Church, where she was a devoted congregant for 50 years.
WILLIAM JOSEPH ‘JOEY’ CARTER, JR.
TRAVELERS REST — William Joseph “Joey” Carter, Jr., 47, loving husband of 18 years to Tracey Melissa Bynum Carter, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Feb. 26,
