Daily Archives: 06/17/2026
SDPC superintendent to step down
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — School District of Pickens County superintendent Dr. Danny Merck will 
conclude his tenure at the end of the 2026-27 school year, according to an announcement from the district’s board of trustees.
The board said it plans to begin an extensive search for the district’s next superintendent, taking advantage of the
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County bumps employee raises
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pickens County Council approved its more than $111 million fiscal year 
2026-27 budget (FY 27) during its regularly scheduled midmonth meeting on Monday night.
The budget included an amendment for a 5 percent raise for county employees, a 1 percent increase from what had originally been presented in the budget. Council voted
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Littlejohn Center set to host Juneteenth event
CLEMSON. — Community members are invited to celebrate freedom, culture and unity at the Juneteenth Freedom Day Block Party on Thursday, June 19, at the Littlejohn Community Center in Clemson.
The event will take place from 5-9 p.m. at 644 Old Greenville Highway in Clemson and will feature live entertainment by The Gray Heat Band, along with opportunities for fellowship and community engagement.
Organizers say the celebration is designed to bring together families, friends and
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Runoffs planned Tuesday
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pickens County voters will return to the polls for the final time this summer to select the Republican nominees for three statewide offices on Tuesday.
Voters will choose who represents the Republican party in the governor, attorney general and commissioner of agriculture races.
In the race to succeed Henry McMaster as South Carolina’s governor, Lt. Gov. Pamela
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Man dies after mower struck
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — An Easley man died over the weekend after his riding lawnmower was struck by an SUV.
The collision occurred at 9:16 a.m. Saturday on Jim Hunt Road in Easley, according to South Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper Hannah Davidson.
A Hyundai SUV was traveling south on Jim Hunt Road when a lawnmower attempted
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Meth trafficking suspect skips trial
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — An area man charged with trafficking methamphetamine missed his own trial and learned of his sentence after being arrested, according to 13th Circuit Solicitor 
Cindy Crick.
In a release issued June 9, Crick said a Pickens County jury convicted Nathan Douglas Garrett, 48, on June 2 of second-offense trafficking between 28 and 100 grams of methamphetamine.
During the trial, assistant solicitors Jake Lampke and
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County EMS facility set to open next month
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — The grand opening of the county’s new Emergency Services facility will be a 
“little different” than typical openings.
During his report to Pickens County Council at its June 1 meeting, county administrator Ken Roper said the opening of the Pickens Emergency Response Building is scheduled for 9-11 a.m. Thursday, July 26.
“We believe that we’re going to have everything in place,” he said. “We’re going to be ready to operate on that date, so we’re very excited.”
The way the event will function “is going to be a little different,” Roper said.
“This is not going to be just a traditional ribbon-cutting, somebody gives a speech, and we go that way,” he said. “Instead, it’s going to be more of a drop-in, where we want you to come and self-guide yourself through the facility.”
“Subject matter experts” will be stationed throughout the facility “to talk about the different capabilities for rescue squads, for fire, for emergency management, for EMS, for dispatch, for consolidated training opportunities, collaboration in Pickens County government,” Roper said.
The county broke ground on the facility, located behind the administration building on McDaniel Avenue in Pickens, in December 2024.
The facility is funded in part by American Rescue Plan Act funds.
In a March 2025 update, Roper said around $8 million for the facility is coming from ARPA funds and the balance of the cost, “not quite $4 million,” is coming from the county’s general fund.
Built on property already owned by the county, the facility’s top floor will feature a 12-position communications center with capacity to expand to 24, training and meeting rooms, admin and E-911 staff office spaces and fully secured areas for E-911 staff, including a kitchen, break room and locker and storage spaces.
The ground floor will have secure spaces for EMS admin and logistics staff, a large training room and breakout rooms for EMS personnel, storage for EMS supplies, records and controlled substances, a kitchen, break room and shower facilities for EMS personnel and climate-controlled logistics area for efficient loading and unloading.
The facility will also have bays to house and store EMS vehicles and equipment and space for critical response assets, including a mobile command post and backup power generators for critical facilities.
