Category Archives: Local News
Pickens woman sentenced for meth trafficking
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — A local woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine.
Melanie Cromer McClain, 50, was found guilty on Feb. 7 of a third offense of trafficking between 10 and 28 grams of 
meth, 13th Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said in a release.
Testimony and evidence at trial established that on the night of Oct. 20, 2021, McClain was driving a vehicle on Hester Store Road when
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Roper discusses county initiatives
COUNTY — Parks and planning are among the initiatives Pickens County staff and officials are working on.
County administrator Ken Roper fielded questions from the public during an “Ask the Administrator” segment posted on the county’s Facebook page, including a question about current county initiatives.
“We’re in budget season right now,” he said. “A lot of the new initiatives
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Open Book Project has new home in Easley
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — A local nonprofit dedicated to nurturing a love of reading now has “a permanent home base in Easley.”
The Open Book Project held a ribbon cutting for its new space at 213 E. 1st Ave. in Easley on Friday morning.
The Open Book Project holds quarterly fundraisers each year.
“The proceeds that we make from each of those fundraisers fund our grant recipients through our Lottery Box of Giving program,” said Samantha Jones,
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Trump takes South Carolina
STATE — In his bid to return to White House, Donald Trump secured a huge victory over the weekend with voters in 
the state — and locally — giving the former president another big endorsement over former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley.
Statewide, Trump received 451,905 votes (59.8 percent) outpacing former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who finished with 298,674 votes statewide (39.52 percent).
In Pickens County, the former president received 15,606 votes (67.6 percent), more than double the 7,328 votes (31.74 percent) for Haley.
PHS hosts Charles Johnson Raider competition
PICKENS — On Saturday, Feb. 17, the Pickens High School JROTC program hosted the first-ever U.S. Army Specialist Charles Johnson Raider competition, joined by teams from the Liberty, Daniel, West-Oak and Spring 
Valley JROTC programs.
Raiders is an after-school team offered only through
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Courier Community Calendar 2-28-24
• Oyster Roast set for St. Michael’s, Easley
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church will host its annual oyster roast from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at 1200 Powdersville Road in Easley.
Proceeds from the event benefit multiple charitable organizations in Pickens County.
Attendees enjoy all-you-can-eat oysters, brunswick stew, sides and beverages (photo ID required). If oysters aren’t
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Liberty pastor among nine charged in prostitution sting
SENECA — A Liberty pastor was among nine men arrested on prostitution charges last week after a multi-month investigation, according to Seneca Police Chief Casey Bowling.
William Martell Kannarney, 51, of Liberty, was arrested Feb. 13 along with Brandon Bennett, 41, of Seneca; Taylor John Clark, 34, of Toccoa, Ga.;
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PCSO K-9 finds missing child
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — A Pickens County Sheriff’s Office K-9 located a missing child last week.
According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, deputies with the agency’s K-9 unit responded to an Easley 
home in search of a missing child on Feb. 14.
K-9 Lily was deployed and immediately picked up the child’s scent, the release said.
After a brief track, Lily located the missing child in a nearby wood line, the release
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Officials look to improve Hwy. 8
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — With the first steps being taken toward long-awaited improvements on S.C. Highway 183, local officials know another area highway needs work as well.
Area officials discussed S.C. Highway 8 during the Jan. 29 meeting of
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Talbert talks first weeks, future goals
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Since taking office, Easley’s new mayor has been busy, working on issues that came up during the campaign, including one that would allow Easley voters to decide if the position of mayor will continue in the 
future.
Lisa Talbert spoke about her first few weeks in office during the Jan. 29 meeting of Pickens United.
She discussed growth, which has been a contentious issue in Easley in
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