Category Archives: Local News
Courier Community Calendar 1-11-23
• Fleet Reserve to meet January 21
Fleet Reserve Association Branch 15 will meet Saturday, Jan. 21 at 8:30 a.m. for breakfast, followed by a business meeting at 9 a.m., at Chicopee United Methodist Church, 403 S. Catherine St., Walhalla. Open to all enlisted former and active duty U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard personnel. For more, call (864) 868-9397 or email tsmith4697@gmail.com.
• Veterans invited to American Legion
Veterans in the Liberty area are invited to the next meeting of American Legion Post 67 in Liberty.
The Legion meets on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Scout Hut, circle off North Palmetto Street. All veterans are invited.
Officials announce collaborative statewide effort to fight addiction
COLUMBIA — In response to the evolving addiction crisis that is impacting communities throughout South Carolina, South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) director Sara Goldsby and Gov. Henry McMaster recently announced a new partnership involving the state’s three research universities that will significantly improve the state’s ability to identify and treat South Carolinians suffering from addiction.
The partnership, formalized by a memorandum of understanding and named the “S.C. Center of Excellence in Addiction,” includes DAODAS, the S.C. Department of
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Woman charged after chase
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — A woman faces multiple charges after police allege she led them on a chase to avoid arrest last week.
According to a Pickens County Sheriff’s Office news release issued Tuesday, deputies with the Uniform Patrol Division’s Bravo Team responded to the Stop-A-Minit convenience store on Liberty Highway on Dec. 27.
They were searching for Nikki Elisha Harrison, who was wanted on multiple outstanding arrest warrants, the release
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Easley teen dies in single-vehicle wreck
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — An Easley teen died in a single-vehicle accident last week.
Pickens County chief deputy coroner Heather Harrison identified the victim as Simon Landreth, 19, of Easley.
The collision occurred at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec 30 on U.S. Highway 123, about one mile north of Central, according to Lance Cpl. Tyler Tidwell of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Landreth was driving a 2011 Lexus SUV north on U.S. 123 when the vehicle ran off the left side of the road and struck an embankment, Tidwell said.
Landreth was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle, Harrison said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, she said.
The Highway Patrol is investigating.
Pickens County Advocacy Center seeking volunteers
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — The Pickens County Advocacy Center is seeking volunteers to help provide assistance to survivors of sexual assault.
“We are a sexual assault advocacy center,” volunteer coordinator Alex Cook said. “We offer free counseling, legal assistance and any other help a survivor of sexual 
assault might need in their process.”
A survivor might need a pro bono attorney or counseling, she said. The center has one counselor on staff currently, with plans for a second in the coming weeks.
“We provide free counseling to anybody above the age
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Central official: Renovated depot nearly ready to open
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CENTRAL — The Central Train Depot is nearly ready to reopen after a several-year renovation effort.
The only thing lacking, Central town administrator Phillip Mishoe said recently, is putting in up to four Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking spots.
“We can’t open it up to the public until we get that,” Mishoe told The Journal during a recent tour of the facility.
A train depot committee was created in 2016 to help in the renovation efforts. The cost for the Central Depot Heritage Park project is estimated at $1.2 million and, in addition to an amphitheater, the bathrooms will be made ADA compliant. The facility is expected to be used as an event space for
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Residents voice displeasure with development plan
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — A planned development proposed to cover more than 2 acres on College Avenue that would complement recommendations for the Uptown area was 
presented last month to the Clemson Planning Commission, but some voiced concerns over the impact of student housing in their neighborhood.
Spencer Hyatt, designated agent for project developer Signet Tiger Realty LLC, told commission members the mixed-use development would be located between 408 and 412 College Avenue, with 172 units as designed. The proposed
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Mt. Pisgah seeking wreath donations
Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Easley wants to honor all 80 of the veterans who are resting in its cemetery. The church will be having its annual Wreaths Across America ceremony in December 2023 and needs help acquiring all the wreaths it will need. For anyone who would like to support the ceremony for 2023, for the purchase of two wreaths for $30 at wreathsacrossamerica.org/SC0226, the location will receive five wreaths due to a matching program that ends Jan. 17. Pictured, from left, are participants in the church’s Wreaths Across America ceremony last month. U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth Nations presented the U.S. Army ceremonial wreath, U.S. Navy Lt. David Waldrop presented the U.S. Marine Corp. ceremonial wreath, U.S. Navy Petty Officer, Third Class, Henry Earl Phillips presented the U.S. Navy ceremonial wreath, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Trent Berry presented the U.S. Air Force ceremonial wreath, U.S. Army Spec. 4 Robert Osborne presented the U.S. Coast Guard ceremonial wreath, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Larry Floyd presented the U.S. Space Force ceremonial wreath, U.S. Air Force Sgt. William Chavis presented the U.S. Merchant Marine ceremonial wreath and retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kevin D. Borden presented the POW/MIA ceremonial wreath.
Roper brags on county council achievements
Roads, fire service changes among accomplishments
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Shaving decades off the county’s road paving reschedule and an overhaul of the county’s fire service are among the accomplishments touted by the 
current Pickens County Council.
The Dec. 5 meeting was the last for county council members Ensley Feemster and Trey Whitehurst, who both decided not to run for reelection.
During that meeting, county administrator Ken Roper gave a presentation on the accomplishments of the current
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County gets good news after audit
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — An audit of Pickens County’s financial statements showed no misstatements or weaknesses in the county’s financial accounting.
Alan Robinson with the firm of Cherry Bekaert LLP presented a report on the results of the fiscal year 2022 audit during county council’s Dec. 5 meeting.
“We are presenting what we call an unmodified or clean audit report,” Robinson said.
An unmodified opinion means there were no material misstatements found in
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