Category Archives: Local News
Roper: Recent COVID infections steady, not spiking
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pickens County administrator Ken Roper said the COVID-19 pandemic is “the 
challenge of our time,” but some recent numbers are “cautious good news.”
Roper discussed COVID-19 data during a Facebook Live video Friday morning.
“After Memorial Day, we ramped up with a lot of cases, and this is when we were all getting worried again a couple of weeks back, back in late June and early July,” he said. “Now, the new cases that are coming in seem to be somewhat consistent with the old cases falling off. So that’s really reassuring to us, but it’s something we have to keep watching.”
After the post-Memorial Day spike began to settle, case numbers began to rise again after the Fourth of July, Roper said.
“Maybe those things where we’re gathering
Virus claims 4 residents at nursing home
COLUMBIA — As spikes in local cases seem to be slowing, state officials reported this week that four residents at a Pickens nursing home have died of COVID-19 in the past 30 days.
According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s most recent 
twice-weekly update on the scope of COVID-19 within nursing homes and assisted living facilities, Manna Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center on East Cedar Rock Street in Pickens has had seven confirmed cases of the virus in residents, 13 confirmed cases in staff members and four resident deaths in the past 30 days.
The nursing home has now had seven deaths related to
DHEC: Rabid bat found in Pickens
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A bat found in Pickens tested positive for rabies, according to the South Carolina 
Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Found near Mountain View Drive and South Glassy Mountain Church Road, the bat was submitted for testing on July 20 and confirmed to have rabies on July 21, a DHEC release said. The bat is the first animal to test positive for rabies in Pickens County this year, the
Easley pushing mask campaign
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Easley officials are urging local residents and businesses to do their part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 as part of the city’s #MaskUPEasley campaign.
The city is encouraging businesses to ask customers to follow a set of guidelines intended to stop the pandemic as part of the campaign, which urges social distancing, frequent washing of hands and face coverings when social distancing is not possible.
After researching mask requirement ordinances, Easley City Council unanimously passed a resolution July 13 encouraging — but not requiring — residents to wear masks to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The creation of a public awareness and education
Tech president talks return to school
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
PENDLETON — On Monday, Tri-County Technical College president Galen DeHay unveiled to Tech commissioners the academic instruction plans for the fall semester, which is set to begin Aug. 17 
with both face-to-face instruction and online classes — and many courses using a mix of the two.
Because most courses will have a combination of online and on-campus instruction, DeHay said Tech plans to deploy mobile hotspots to students without or unable to afford home internet service. The device and monthly service fee
Clemson researcher working to create much faster COVID-19 test
By Frances Parrish
Clemson University
news@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — Clemson University scientist Feng Ding is working to develop a quick detection test for COVID-19 with funding from a one-year National Science Foundation RAPID grant.
Ding said that current COVID-19 tests require samples
to be sent to a lab with a potential waiting period of days before patients get back their results. Ding is hoping this $190,065 grant and his work with Pengyu Chen, a Clemson alumnus and now an assistant professor at Auburn University in Alabama, will change the turnaround rate for COVID-19 testing.
“The idea with this test is to detect traces of the virus protein with highly sensitive sensors enabled by
CU study shows parental balancing act during pandemic
CLEMSON — Working parents with school-age children, so far, seem to be balancing career obligations with their added parental responsibilities brought on by COVID-19, according to a study conducted by researchers in the College of Business at Clemson University.
The study’s general conclusion: There was little difference in work hours between working parents tending to younger children and those who were not caring for youngsters. It also suggested parents with young children were more likely to be working than those who didn’t have childcare responsibilities.
Scott Barkowski, assistant professor in the John E. Walker Department of Economics, said the inspiration for
Local students named to Costal Carolina Dean’s List
CONWAY — More than 2,300 undergraduate students at Coastal Carolina University were named to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2020 semester, including several Pickens County natives.
From Easley are Cade Carter, an exercise and sport science major, LaRaven Carter, an interdisciplinary studies major, Luke Hill, a management major, James Kesler, an information technology major, Matthew Rodriguez, a communication major, and Devockius Tabron, a communication major.
From Central are Sha’nayia White, a sociology major, and Cameshia Williams, a political science major.
Battlefield Cross donated
Junior Shove, owner of Pickens’ new military museum, Fort Dix Army Navy Supply Store, located in the Market at the Mill in Pickens, was honored by members of the American Legion Post 11 and creative artist Nathan Lipscomb with a donation of a Battlefield Cross made by Lipscomb. The Battlefield Cross was how many soldiers were honored on the battlefield following their ultimate sacrifice and has beem common since the time of the Civil War. The cross is made from the serviceman’s weapon, helmet and boots. The museum has hundreds of military items on display, and despite the museum’s name, nothing donated is ever sold. Shove said he has spent more than 40 years collecting the artifacts that represent the military throughout the years. The museum will hold its formal grand opening on Aug. 1, but it is open now for all who visit the Market at the Mill, located at 225 Pumpkintown Highway in Pickens. American Legion Post 11 representative Richard Reece said that Post 11 is in search of any nurses who were in service during World War II. Anyone who can help the legion in its quest to honor these brave nurses is asked to call (864) 952-6456. Pictured with the cross, from left, are Lipscomb, Reece, Shove, Gator Cochran, Pastor Lewrie Harmon and Pete Peters.
Courier Community Calendar 7-27-20
• Church leaders summit is August 12
Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County (BHSPC) and the Steppin’ It Up Coalition invite Pickens County church leaders to the Road to Recovery Through Christ Summit, which aims to educate them about the opioid problem in Pickens County. Each church is invited to send one or two people to the summit. Summit speakers include baseball legend Darryl Strawberry, Southern gospel musician Joseph Habedank and area pastors Gary Edwards and Darian Blue.
The summit will take place on Aug. 12 from 9 a.m.-4 pm. at Southern Wesleyan University. There is
