Monthly Archives: June 2026
SDPC approves budget with no tax increase
COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County has approved a $195.3 million budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year that includes pay raises for all employees, new educational programs and no increase in the district’s operating tax rate.
The district’s Board of Trustees approved the budget on third reading May 26.
According to superintendent Danny Merck, the balanced $195,283,145 budget
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Upcountry Fiber celebrates 5 years
UPSTATE — Five years ago, Upstate S.C. utility cooperatives Blue Ridge Electric Co-op and West Carolina announced their partnership to create Upcountry Fiber, a broadband internet service provider that brings high-speed fiber internet access to 
households and businesses within Blue Ridge Electric’s service area to help bridge the “digital divide” where little to no access existed. Five years later, the promise to bring the digital age to those in unserved and underserved areas is
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A best friend is a gift you give yourself
I was thinking the other day about how wonderful it is to have friends. Last week I went to lunch with my best friend, and we always have a great time sharing our 
thoughts about life. Most of us have acquaintances, but we can usually count on one hand those who are trustworthy and loyal. These special friends are always ready to celebrate our victories and console us when we are going through a difficult time. The bottom line: we can trust them with everything, and we know that if anything serious were to happen, they would be by our side all the way to the end. In this day and age of electronic relationships, it’s refreshing to have those we can
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Courier Letters to the Editor 6-3-26
Something different
Dear Editor,
Here’s something different for a change.
I love old movies from the thirties to the fifties. One thing I love to do is look in the background and see what I can spot. Not bloopers I mean things that at the time which were of very little value then. Now these items are worth a fortune! Things like old radios such as Waterport Kent or Crosley. Some of these go for hundreds or even thousands today! Check it out and see on the Internet if you want. Then there are old cars some of which the company no longer exists.
The Three Stooges had an episode where they are taking their wives camping. They buy
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FBI reports large-scale senior losses from scams
This is painful to write: The FBI’s 2025 report says that seniors lost over $7.7 billion to scams — in one year. Complaints to their Internet Crime Complaint Center (also called 
IC3) showed losses had increased by 59% — again, in one year.
The information was grim. Where IC3 used to get a few thousand complaints per month, they were seeing 3,000 per day. Over the course of the year, seniors logged over
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Courier Obituaries 6-3-26
DONNA CHAPMAN
EASLEY — Donna Chapman, 57, of Easley, passed away at her home on Wednesday, 
May 27, 2026.
Born on Aug. 26, 1968, Donna was the daughter of the late Marvin Lollis and Martha (Crawford) Lollis. She was preceded in death by her sister, Sondrea Smith, and brothers, Mike Swafford and Don Swafford.
She is survived by her sisters, Sherry Powell, Cathy Lollis and Karen Simmons; her children, Zack Mauldin (Jennifer), Josh Cox (Shannon) and Valarie Buchanan (Raul); and her grandchildren, Lily, Max, Matthew, Kaitlyn, Aubrey, Cayden, and Carmen.
A family gathering will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at Glassy Mountain View Church in Pickens.
The family appreciates the thoughts and prayers extended during this time.
CAROLYN MCCOY WHITTED
EASLEY — Carolyn McCoy Whitted, 80, loving wife of Johnny Whitted, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
Born on April 29, 1946, in Pelzer, Carolyn was the cherished daughter of the late Lewis
SDPC unveils plaques to preserve legacy of county’s Medal of Honor recipients
On the day after Memorial Day 2026, our School District of Pickens County held a ceremony at LHS to honor our 4 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from Pickens 
County.
These four men gave their lives to preserve our freedoms and they are our heroes. I visited and talked with 3 of these families and the common request from each one was, “Please don’t forget their sacrifice”.
For those who do not know, our county has 4 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and per capita, we have more than any county in the United States of America.
Our students and citizens need to know who these men were and why they are revered
Santana Jackson to headline AWL Memorial show, Saturday
PICKENS — Wrestling fans are in for a high-energy night of entertainment this Saturday, June 6, as the American Wrestling League brings its topflight production with all the elements of the major wresting promotions back to the Market at the Mill Event Center for its fourth annual Norton Lewis Memorial Show.
The event will feature a full lineup of top independent wrestling talent, a special Las Vegas-style performance on the stage, and the return of one of the Southeast’s most
GAL hosts annual luncheon June 18
EASLEY — Friends of Pickens County Guardian ad Litem (Friends of PCGAL) will host its Annual Luncheon on Thursday, June 18 at 12 p.m. at Occasions at Wedgefield in 
Easley, South Carolina. The event will bring together approximately 150 community members united in support of children in the Pickens County Department of Social Services (DSS) care system. This year’s
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Setting the record straight.
Editor’s Note
In last week’s graduation edition of the Pickens County Courier, the following Liberty High School graduates were printed with incorrect photos in place of their actual pictures. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.
