Category Archives: Local News
Official optimistic about post-holiday COVID-19 spike
STATE — Thanks to vaccines, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s public health director is hopeful the 
state won’t see a huge spike in COVID-19 cases following the holidays, as it did in early 2021.
Dr. Brannon Traxler gave a COVID-19 update on Dec. 1.
“The holiday season is officially in full swing, and we are continuing to urge South Carolinians to be vigilant and to be safe during these special times of gathering with friends and family and fellowship,” she said.
Like most states, South Carolina has experienced “surges in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths
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Clemson takes no action on expiring mask mandate
By Riley Morningstar
Courtesy The Journal
rmorningstar@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — An emergency ordinance requiring students in schools and similar settings inside Clemson city limits is now set to end in less than two weeks.
With no action taken, a mask mandate that has been in place since August will end on Dec. 18 after Monday night’s Clemson City Council meeting. In October, council extended the ordinance requiring masks at indoor locations at schools, preschools, kindergartens and daycares within city limits in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19. Essential businesses and other
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Quilt raffle fundraiser
A cross-stitched flower quilt measuring 72 inches by 94 inches is being raffled by the fiber arts program at Hagood Community Center. The cross-stitch squares were donated in the fall of 2018 by an anonymous donor. Throughout 2019, quilters met to hand-stitch the quilt. The project leader was Lucy Harward, who has since passed away. The quilt is the first one completed by Lucy’s Granger Fiber Arts Quilting Bee. The lucky winner will be drawn during lunch at the center on Wednesday, Dec. 22. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and can be obtained at the center on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. until noon.
Pickens church to host benefit for area man battling cancer
PICKENS — A hot dog benefit with prizes and singing will be held this Saturday, Dec. 11, to help with medical bills for Brad Curtis at Amazing Grace Fellowship, located at 229 Pearl St. in Pickens.
Hot dogs will start being served at 10 a.m. in the church fellowship hall, and the singing will begin at 6 p.m. inside the church.
Curtis was diagnosed in 2014 with renal cell carcinoma in the kidneys. The doctors did a partial kidney removal. In 2018, it metastasized into his right femur. He underwent radiation. There was a rod inserted in his right leg to
Hospitals clarify employee vax policies after ruling
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Local hospitals have issued statements outlining their positions on health care workers and COVID-19 vaccines following a ruling on the federal government requiring health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
On Nov. 30, Federal Judge Terry A. Doughty with the U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana (Monroe) issued a preliminary nationwide injunction that blocked the federal government from requiring health care workers to be
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Courier Community Calendar
• Happy Hooves set to host fundraiser
This Sunday, Dec. 12, Happy Hooves Therapeutic Equestrian Center will be hosting its 18th annual Christmas at the Barn fundraising event at Eden Farms located, at 4700 Dacusville Highway, Marietta, SC 29661. The all-outdoor event is from 2-5 p.m.
Guests will enjoy “Reindeer Rides” (the horses are dressed up with red noses, glitter and antlers), outdoor visits with Santa, a Nativity scene and Christmas music, a Candy Cane Garden, a variety of arts and crafts to make, a “Peeplechase” jump course for children and plenty
Going for state!
Daniel High School receiver Eli Merck gets away from a Chester defender during the Lions’ Upper State championship win over the Cyclones on Friday night. Daniel is hoping to repeat as Class 3A state champion this Friday against Camden in Columbia. To read more, scoll to Courier’s Football Frenzy section below The State AAA Championship will televised on WMYA (My40 Asheville-Greenville) Kick off is set for 2 p.m. on Friday. . John Bolton/boltonphoto.com
Pickens man faces felony DUI charge
PICKENS — A Pickens man has been charged after a fatal collision on Thanksgiving Day.
Barney Lewis Trotter, 33, of Pickens is charged with felony DUI with death, according to Master Trooper Gary Miller with the South Carolina Highway Patrol. He was being held without bond Tuesday at the Pickens County Detention Center.
Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley identified the victim as 40-year-old Jodah Mullinax
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Humane Society in need again
The dogs and cats of Pickens County need your help.
Yes, again.
I’ve written this story several times since 2014, when Pickens County cut back its funding of the Pickens County Humane Society.
The county Humane Society is not connected to the national Humane Society and gets no funding from it. Prior to 2014, it had been getting $60,000 a year from the county to help with the costs of operating its animal shelter on Five Forks Road near Liberty.
It had also been surviving partly off some money that had been left by a benefactor prior to that, which has
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Prisma official discusses omicron variant of COVID-19
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
STATE — A Prisma Health infectious disease physician says the omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is “almost certainly already here” in the United States.
An infectious disease physician, Dr. Helmut Albrecht is the medical director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy for
Prisma Health and the University of South Carolina.
He discussed the omicron variant during a news conference Monday.
The World Health Organization has named the omicron variant “a variant of concern.”
The omicron variant popped up in disease surveillance systems in Botswana and South Africa between Nov.
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