Category Archives: Local News
Essay contest winners
Fleet Reserve Association Branch 15 celebrated the local ninth-12th-grade winners of the 2021-22 National FRA Americanism/Patriotism Essay Contest on Jan. 15. Pictured are branch president Clyde Albertson, 10th-grade winner McKenna Adams, 11th-grade winner Trinity Pryor, 12th-grade winner Clayton Payne and branch essay chairperson Joyce Jones. Not pictured is ninth-grade winner Mary Ruskell. The four local winning essays advance to regionals for judging in February, and potentially to nationals in March.
Community Calendar
• Local friends and newcomers to meet
The Tri-County Friends and Newcomers will meet the second Monday of each month through April 2022. The group has a new meeting location in the Powdersville Branch Library off S.C. Highway 81. Social time is 10 a.m. Business meeting is at 10:30 a.m. For more information, contact Barbara Cunningham at (864) 855-9570.
• Quilt of Valor set to go to Bob Cirkus
On Thursday, Feb. 10, immediately following the daily playing of the national anthem at noon, Robert “Bob” Cirkus will be honored with a presentation from
County negotiating deal to finally end coal ash dispute
By Ron Barnett
Staff Reporter
rbarnett@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Pickens County is negotiating to settle its six-year legal dispute with MRR Pickens LLC, a company that planned to dispose of coal ash at a landfill near Liberty.
Courtesy Photo
Local legislators and manufacturers have expressed their opposition to a project that could bring a coal ash dump to Pickens County.
The county’s abrupt departure from its longstanding strategy of seeking to take the case to a jury comes after the state Supreme Court reversed a ruling from the Court of Appeals that had been favorable to the
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SWU names Barker to lead school
CENTRAL — Southern Wesleyan University has named Dr. William D. Barker as its 19th president, following Dr. William C. Crothers, who has served as 
interim president since Dr. Todd Voss retired in June 2021.
Southern Wesleyan University’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve Barker, who will begin his presidency on July 25.
“We are grateful to be able to welcome Dr. Barker as president of SWU,” search committee chairman Rev. Jerry Lumston said. “We were blessed with a strong slate of candidates, but his broad gift set and endearing spirit provide a clear mission fit for us at this key juncture in the SWU story.”
“We are thrilled to offer the presidency of Southern Wesleyan University to Dr.
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Federal money helps county forgive $103K loan
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Pickens County Council is using a portion of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act funds to assist a local nonprofit that has done “extraordinary things” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last month, county council voted to approve using ARPA funds to forgive the loan that Pickens County Meals on Wheels has with the county.
Council members discussed the matter during their Dec. 6 meeting.
“This is a unique one, out of all the ARPA funding requests that we’ve received,” county council chairman
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Agencies warn against tax scams
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
STATE — With the Internal Revenue Service and the S.C. Department of Revenue now accepting tax returns, state agencies are warning residents to guard against tax-related identity theft.
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs and the South Carolina Department of Revenue issued a release this week about identity theft.
The IRS began accepting returns on Monday, and the W-2 tax form deadline is Jan. 31.
“Scammers know that tax time is around the corner,” the release said. “Tax fraud was the number
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Avian influenza confirmed in SC
STATE — A wild duck harvested by a hunter in Colleton County has become the first wild bird since 2016 to be found infected in the United States with the Eurasian H5 type of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), officials announced this month.
The bird, an American wigeon, was tested by the Clemson University Veterinary Diagnostic Center in Columbia, and the diagnosis was confirmed by the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS).
This type of HPAI virus is considered a low risk to people, but it can be a danger to the poultry
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Winter Bluegrass Jubilee rescheduled to March 5
PICKENS — To avoid a potential winter storm, Young Appalachian Musicians (YAM) has moved the date of its annual indoor music festival, the Winter Bluegrass Jubilee, to March 5 at Pickens High School.
“The lineup and activities will be the same,” said Russ Hennessee, who coordinates the jubilee along with his wife, Sondra. “Only the date has been changed. This year’s jubilee promises to be the best ever.”
The March 5 Winter Bluegrass Jubilee at Pickens High School will feature a full day of performances, food
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Pickens scholar-athletes
Pickens High School’s Scholar-Athletes of the Week for the week of Jan. 18 were recognized at the Pickens vs. Easley game on Thursday. The female Scholar-Athlete is Frenchesca Looney. She is a sophomore member of the JV cheer team and was nominated by her honors chemistry teacher, Dr. Sarah Miller. Looney is the granddaughter of Lee Grubbs. The male Scholar-Athlete is Wyatt Reeves. Reeves is a junior and member of the varsity basketball team. He is the son of Corey and Brittani Reeves and was also nominated by Dr. Miller. PHS Scholar-Athletes are nominated by their teachers for demonstrating academic excellence, a stellar work ethic and impressive leadership in the classroom.
Blue Ridge Orchid Society prepares for Feb. 7 show at Duke’s World of Energy
UPSTATE — The Blue Ridge Orchid Society (BROS) will exhibit beautiful and unusual tropical orchids of all shapes and sizes at its free annual show Thursday, Feb. 17, through Saturday, Feb. 19.
The three-day event will be at Duke Energy’s World of Energy education center in Seneca.
Mark Reinke of Marble Branch Farms in Walhalla will have a variety of unique blooming orchids on
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