Daily Archives: 08/11/2026
Who is shaping your thinking?
The majority of the world does not agree with the God of the Bible being the author and finisher of their faith. With so many diverse religions and philosophical convictions, 
along with masses of people that have no spiritual affiliation at all, we still realize that today’s spiritual and political environment is not that much different from thousands of years ago.
Humans are influenced by what we hear and read, so an important consideration is how much knowledge we have discovered that we know is true. Especially since the invention of the internet, independent research and critical thinking are hardly necessary. Today, information is given to us instantly, but shouldn’t we be asking
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Courier Letters to the Editor 8-12-26
Stricter subdivision rules
Dear Editor,
Oftentimes you will hear the county planning commission voted on a new subdivision, it “approved” the project, the land is about to be graded and the houses will soon go up.
Untrue. Just because the planning commission has voted — step three in an eight-step county approval process — doesn’t mean the subdivision has final approval and is about to start.
In the county areas (outside the cities, which have their own rules) over the past three years, there have been five applications for new subdivisions the planning commission has voted for. That is not many since the council passed the stricter rules in late 2023. Only one of those five subdivisions has received final county approval and has houses
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Alex Saitta
Pickens
The river ran backwards
John 7:37-38 “ In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the 
scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
The morning was cool but pleasant. I walked out onto the pier under the Brooklyn Bridge with my early morning coffee. The New York skyline cast shadows over the city, I felt totally alone and susceptible. We were working with a Christian disaster relief group providing meals for first responders and victims.
The scene of that September morning in 2001 included smoke off the site of the
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Part D drug plan costs going up
Many of us avoid talking about politics, but now and then an issue comes along that needs to grab our attention.
The one we need to be concerned about now is the Medicare Part D subsidy that will expire at the end of the year and won’t be offered in 2027.
It started as the Part D Premium Stabilization
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Courier Obituaries 8-12-26
RAY WINSTON DEVALL SR.
EASLEY — Ray Winston DeVall Sr., of Easley, passed on Aug. 8, 2026, at the age of 88.
Born on April 10, 1938, in Pittsylvania County, Va., he was the son of the late Harice Winston DeVall and Mildred Nuckols DeVall.
After high school, Ray honorably served his country in the United States Air Force and later began his career in the transportation industry with Roadway Express, where he retired after 35 years. Ray found many meaningful ways to serve his community through his involvement with the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and as a Shriner, with his home lodge being Mt. Springs Lodge #302 and his secondary lodge being Cooper Lodge #282 in Travelers Rest. His legacy of love, honor and hard work will continue to live on through his family for generations to come.
Ray is survived by his beloved wife of eight years, Caroline Marie DeVall; sister, Jackie Plaster (Bob); two sons, Ray Winston DeVall Jr. (Anita) and Kevin Lee DeVall (Tori); daughter, Traci Dean DeVall; stepson, Jim Bevilacqua (Mary); stepdaughters, Sherrie Thomas (Don), Suzy Harlow (Charlie) and Andrea Whitcomb (Larry); grandchildren, Gary DeVall, April Franks (Ryan), Sarah-Grace DeVall, Leann DeVall, Leo DeVall (Lexi), Jose DeVall, Selena DeVall, Caleb Bevilacqua, Erica Bevilacqua, Phillip Thomas (Rachel), Brien Thomas, Cody Harlow (Erin), Mac Harlow, Hayleigh DeMaria and Kinslee Whitcomb; and great-grandchildren, Russell Franks, Brooks Franks, Theo DeVall and Weslee Styles.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Martha Dean DeVall; and brother, Donnie DeVall Sr.
A visitation will be from 1-1:45 p.m. Aug. 13 at Dillard Funeral Home, 2402 Gentry Memorial Highway, Pickens. A funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, followed by a committal service at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society at cancer.org.
Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
JONI RUTLEDGE BOWMAN
EASLEY — Mrs. Joni Lee White Rutledge Bowman, 50, wife of Marcus Allen Bowman, passed away Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026.
Born in Hemet, Calif., a daughter of the late Mary Joyce Dempsey Leonardo, the late
Hawaii wins Senior League World Series
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — For the first time since 2019, a team from the United States was able to secure the Senior League World Series crown as Pearl City Little League of Pearl City, Hawaii brought home the championship on Saturday with a 5-0 win over Pabao Little League of Willemstad, Curaçao.
The Hawaiian based squad lost its opening game on Aug. 3, only to win five straight games.
After taking down Laredo American Little League of Laredo, Texas, Pearl City began advanced in the loser’s bracket to take on the local S.C. District 1 squad on Wednesday night.
The western regional champions took the lead early in the contest and never let it go with an 11-0 win to eliminate the defending United States champions. Six different Pearl City batters drove in runs in the contest, but Boston Schwager and Ryley Omine led the way driving in seven runs for the Hawaiian squad, including a two-out single from Schwager that put the lead at 11 in the fourth.
Pearl City didn’t get much of a respite as they were forced to take on the Vine-Ingle Little League of Macon, Ga., who had previously beaten them 4-1 to open the tournament. With both team’s fates on the line, Schwager scored the winning run on an error by Vine-Ingle third baseman Kaiden Harvey for a walk-off 3-2 win.
While Schwager was the hero in the win, starting pitcher Kysen Hueu had arguably the biggest impact for the Hawaiian squad pitching a complete game with five strikeouts and just two runs. The Pearl City starter also helped out from the batter’s box going 3-3 and driving in a sixth inning run to tie the game.
The win placed Pearl City into the United States championship game the following day against eastern regional champions Newark National Little League of Newark, Del. The western champions kept their momentum going in a big way as they blasted Newark 12-0.
Schwager dominated from the mound striking out eight Newark batters, while Justin Raine Kamana’o-Bulosan kicked off a six-run seventh inning for the Hawaiian squad to put them into the Senior League World Series championship game.
On Saturday, the western champions had a chance to become the first team since their fellow Hawaiian squad in 2019 to secure a win for the United States in the tournament when they took the Caribbean champions.
Kamana’o-Bulosan set the tone for Pearl City on the mound picking up the complete game shutout for his squad. Kamana’o-Bulosan struck out three Pabao batters, while giving up five hits and a walk in the 5-0 win.
The Hawaiian pitcher also got his team going in the batter’s box with a sacrifice fly in the opening inning to help Pearl City take the early lead. Tytan Takahashi and Hueu provided insurance for the western champions down stretch as they pulled out the championship win.
The win was the fourth all-time for a squad based in Hawaii in the tournament with previous wins coming in 2019, 2011 and 2003.
Its fig pick in’ time in Six Mile
SIX MILE — Sweet, soft and sometimes overlooked, one of South Carolina’s most interesting summer fruits is reaching its prime — and The Happy Berry in Six Mile is inviting folks to come pick them fresh from the tree.
It’s fig season in Pickens County.
South Carolina figs generally begin ripening in mid-to-late July, but peak production typically arrives during the last week of July and continues through the first two or three weeks of August.
That makes right now prime picking time at The Happy Berry, a local family U-pick farm located at 510 Gap Hill Road on the eastern shore of Lake Keowee.
And if the trees remain healthy and actively growing, the harvest doesn’t necessarily end with summer. Figs can continue developing into September, usually until cooler
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Courier Community Calendar 8-12-26
• PHS class of 1965 to hold 6oth reunion
Members of the Pickens High School Class of 1965 is planning thier 60th + 1 class reunion for September 24. For more information call Milledge Cassell at 864-421-2361.
• PHS class of 1966 to hold 6oth reunion
Members of the Pickens High School Class of 1966 will come together this fall to celebrate a milestone as they mark the class’s 60th anniversary reunion.
The reunion will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, from 2-5 p.m. at Larry Looper’s Red Barn, located at 101 Laurenwood Drive in Pickens.
Classmates and their guests will enjoy an afternoon of fellowship, memories and reconnecting with longtime friends. A barbecue chicken dinner with two side dishes,
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