Monthly Archives: July 2026
SC Supreme Court to hear cases at CU
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — Clemson University will host the South Carolina Supreme Court in late summer.
DJ Laws is the presidential coordinator for community relations at Clemson University.
She spoke about the Supreme Court’s visit during her update at Pickens United’s June 29 meeting. The court will be at Clemson University Sept. 15-16, she said.
“It’s a great opportunity not only for Clemson
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Parks, recreation a focus for Easley
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Many improvements are either recently completed, underway or in the works for the facilities overseen by the city of Easley’s Parks and Recreation Department.
City administrator Tom Couch discussed that work during the 2026 Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce “State of the City” Luncheon, held June 18 at South and West.
The department has earned some accolades in the past year.
The South Carolina Recreation and Parks Association (SCRPA) named Easley Parks
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Sheriff looking to protect seniors, churches, roads, lakes
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Protecting highways, waterways and populations that may be more vulnerable to crime are among Pickens County Sheriff Tommy Blankenship’s concerns.
Blankenship began his update at the June 29 Pickens United meeting with a thank you to Pickens County Council “for recognizing that we as a county needed to step up a little bit with a 6 percent raise for every single county employee.”
“Not only do my people appreciate that, but county employees across the board do,” he said.
Blankenship has been advocating this year for recruiting and retaining more staff at the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office,
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DEW: County unemployment rate rises in May
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COLUMBIA — The unemployment rate in Pickens County saw an increase during the latest jobs report released in late June.
The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) reported that unemployment in the county went up from 3.5 percent in April to 4 percent in May.
The rise in unemployment comes just one month after Pickens County saw its jobless rate
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Rogers golf tourney set for July 11
EASLEY — The 22nd annual Charles F. Rogers Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament is scheduled is set to be held this Saturday July 11 in Easley.
The tournament, which annually benefits a male and female senior basketball player from Pickens High School planning to attend a university, college or technical school, is set to kick off with a 9 a.m. shotgun start at Southern
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CU students pitch Greenville site plans
CLEMSON — Students in Clemson University’s Master of Real Estate Development program recently presented comprehensive development proposals for a Greenville site 
during the program’s annual practicum at Greenville ONE, home to Clemson’s graduate programs in real estate development.
The presentations showcased months of research, planning and analysis focused on a
The Bible and the Declaration of Independence
2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
The word “Creator” in the Declaration of Independence indicates a God/Bible believing people. The parallels to Bible teachings, concepts and people connect the Bible to the Declaration.
King George III ruled Britain in from 1760 until 1820. Many of the early settlers in America from Britain thought of George as the Antichrist. The tyranny and excessive taxation levied against them led those first Americans to rebel against the King and Britain.
When unalienable (sometimes spelled inalienable) rights are held for ransom, people can be expected to rebel. Those rights are those explicitly given by God to every human
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Courier Letters to the Editor 7-8-26
Dear Editor,
I read about the problem with subject of dispatching. The sheriff wants to keep it under his control and Mr. Roper and some of county council want to control it. I worked 28 years in law enforcement, I think separating them would be best, have all emergency departments coming from same location, this would help in response time for all emergency depts. As far as more deputies, Sheriff Blankenship should use some of the money he is budgeted. Another way is to reduce some of the detention officers, make
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The country store, the soul of the South had everything
‘‘Where should I send you to know the Soul of the South? I’ll send you to the Mast General Store.” So wrote Charles Kuralt in a 1986 column. Do you miss the old country 
store? If you do, you’ll love the Mast General store in Valle Crucis, North Carolina. It has a storied history and it anchors a chain of old timey general stores like “community centers” of days of yore. Eleven other Mast Generals revive memories of the general store down South,
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Scams against seniors are getting worse
You might want to cut out this column and keep it by your phone or computer. The reason? Scams against seniors are getting more devious by the day.
Consider:
— The local courts aren’t going to call you and say you will be arrested for not showing up for jury duty unless you pay a fine. It’s a scam. The bank won’t call and say you need to immediately move
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