Category Archives: Local News
Coroner: Fatal shooting was isolated incident
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — There was no threat to the public following a fatal shooting incident over the 
weekend, according to the investigating agencies.
The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a 911 call at 11:am Saturday, Jan. 17 “in reference to a possible shooting incident,” according to a PCSO release issued that same evening.
The location was a residence in the 400 block of Latham Road in Easley, the release said.
Deputies located a seriously injured adult male with
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SDPC announces leadership changes
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — The Pickens County School Board approved four leadership appointments during a called meeting Monday, naming new district-level administrators and a permanent principal for Central Academy of the Arts.
The appointments include Travis Chapman as director of assessment, Lauren Corn as executive director of secondary instruction, Tish Goode as director of elementary literacy, and Brittney Morgan as principal of Central Academy of the Arts. Chapman, Corn and Goode will assume their new roles July 1, following the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year.
TRAVIS CHAPMAN
Chapman, currently principal of Dacusville Elementary School, was named director of assessment. He has served as principal since 2018 and previously held principal and assistant principal positions in Pickens County and Anderson School District Five. In his new role, Chapman will oversee districtwide assessment programs, testing
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YMCA celebrates National Mentoring Month
EASLEY — January is National Mentoring Month, and the YMCA of Easley, Pickens and Powdersville is shining a light on the life-changing impact mentors have on young 
people while calling on the community to step forward and help close a critical need known as the mentoring gap.
According to the National Mentoring Project, one in three youths between the ages of 8 and 18 grows up
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Now open in Pickens
Table Rock Key and Lock celebrated its grand opening on Jan. 12, surrounded by friends, family, chamber members and community supporters. The event marked the beginning of a new year for the third-generation locksmith, which serves the Upstate with residential, commercial and automotive services. Table Rock Key and Lock offers lock installation and repair, rekeying, key cutting for most residential and office locks, select older automotive keys, and 24/7 assistance for opening homes, businesses and vehicles. The business is located at 104A Ann St. in Pickens.Table Rock Key and Lock celebrated its grand opening on Jan. 12, surrounded by friends, family, chamber members and community supporters. The event marked the beginning of a new year for the third-generation locksmith, which serves the Upstate with residential, commercial and automotive services. Table Rock Key and Lock offers lock installation and repair, rekeying, key cutting for most residential and office locks, select older automotive keys, and 24/7 assistance for opening homes, businesses and vehicles. The business is located at 104A Ann St. in Pickens.
Courier Community Calendar 1-21-26
• Food pantry hours announced at PPC
The Food Pantry at Pickens Presbyterian Church is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. To receive food, individuals must present a valid ID showing residency in Pickens County. Pickens Presbyterian Church is located at 311 W. Main St. in Pickens.
• Pickens Rotary meets Wednesdays
The Rotary Club of Pickens meets at 12:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the Pickens County Museum. Guests are invited to the meetings to learn the 20 reasons to join Rotary.
• Dacusville Lions to host monthly bingo
The Dacusville Lions Club will be hosting Bingo night on the second Thursday of each
Rice discusses legislators’ priorities for 2026
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Roads and bridges, the retirement system for state employees and abortion are among the topics Sen. Rex Rice believes state legislators will soon be discussing.
Rice was the speaker at a Pickens County Republican Club town hall held Jan. 8 at Mutt’s BBQ in Easley.
He touched on several topics that would be “dealt with” by
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Sheriff speaks on standoff at Pickens home
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office took a man into custody on Sunday 
after a standoff drew heavy law enforcement presence, including SLED officers, on Hollingsworth Drive in Pickens on Saturday night.
According to Sheriff Tommy Blankenship, the man involved in the scene on Saturday was known to law enforcement following a recent incident at East Pickens Baptist Church where the man had to be physically restrained by church security after trying to access a secure area of the church where children were present.
“Following that incident and contact from a family friend about his mental health and drug abuse, a judge signed an order of detention commanding law enforcement officers to take the individual into custody for a medical evaluation,” Blankenship said in a
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PCSO: Man charged after hit and run
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A man is charged with attempted murder following an altercation that 
included a hit and run, according to to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office.
A PCSO release issued Jan. 7 said deputies responded Jan. 5 to a report of a fight in progress on Banks Road in Pickens.
Upon arrival, deputies found a person at the scene
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ECU’s Emergency Response Team recognized for work
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Easley Combined Utilities’ Emergency Response Team (ERT) was recently 
recognized.
The ERT received the Pickens County Republican Club’s Community Lifeline Award Thursday evening at a PCRC town hall meeting.
The award was in recognition and appreciate of the team’s “exceptionally outstanding work they did restoring all power and other utilities during the
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