Category Archives: News
‘Giving back’
Huge donation kicks off cancer care unit campaign at hospital
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — The Prisma Health Baptist Easley Foundation was celebrating some big news earlier this 
year — just before the world changed.
The foundation had announced a huge step forward in the effort to create a cancer care unit at the hospital.
“We were doing this big reveal, saying Wraellen Winn has stepped forward with this amazing gift,” foundation manager Candi Forester-Smith said. “It was this big exciting thing for us, and then
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Pickens downs cross-county rival Easley in first volleyball match as region foes
PICKENS — The Pickens High School Lady Blue Flame volleyball team traveled to Easley for its second contest of the season and defeated the Lady Green Wave in an exciting match that went to four sets. This year the teams are in the same 4A Region 1, making the contest especially significant.
The Lady Blue Flame also defeated region foe Travelers Rest and played on Saturday in the Tournament of Champions at Dorman High School in Spartanburg.
The Easley match was played Sept. 15 at Easley High School, and a large contingent of fans was on hand from both sides. The Lady Blue Flame won the first set 25-19, but the Lady Green Wave stormed back and took the set second 19-25. The third set was a thriller, won by Pickens 26-24, and the Lady Blue Flame closed out the match in the fourth set 25-17.
“These girls put their words into action against Easley when we discussed the difference between hard work and competition,” said Lady Blue Flame Coach Rikki Owens. “They showed up ready to compete, and each one reached their goals they had written out in the practice before the match.”
In the Easley match, Pickens junior Caroline Lucas led her team with 11 kills, followed by junior Calie Covey with nine. Sophomores Faith Clarkson and Lauren Dow were tied with five kills apiece. Junior Bailee Earnhardt was the team leader in digs with 20, and
PRA announces new Pickens Revitalization Challenge
PICKENS — The Pickens Revitalization Association has announced the Pickens Revitalization Challenge — a new take on the Main Street Challenge of past years.
The challenge represents an entrepreneurial start-up competition for the purpose of generating 
additional retail occupancy in Pickens. At the same time, it provides a means by which local, area and regional entrepreneurs can advance their desire to expand or open a new business.
Pickens Revitalization Association will award a cash incentive up to $10,000 for start-up
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Quilt of Valor awarded to Bob Nash
By By Lynda Abegg
For the Courier
news@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — The Fort Prince George Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) awarded the Quilt of Valor to Robert Nash, Ph.D., for his military service.
The ceremony was held outdoors on the Nash porch, with chapter regent Carolyn Nations presiding, and seven members present, all properly masked. The registered Quilt of Valor was machine-sewn
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‘I expect us to win’
Blue Flame eager to take field after offseason of hard work
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — For Pickens High School head football coach Chad Smith, last season’s failures were certainly a disappointment following a playoff berth
two years ago.
The Blue Flame were beset by injuries in 2019, including the early-season loss of standout running back Brady Batson, and finished just 2-8 on the year. Now entering his fourth season at the helm of his alma mater, nothing has changed about Smith’s expectations for his team, and with two
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INTO THE UNKNOWN
Devils entering uncertain season with two-week COVID-19 delay
By Clay Counts
Special to The Courier
claycounts21@yahoo.com
LIBERTY — The offseason has been a long and stressful one for high school football coaches, 
players and fans around the state and nation, but the long wait is finally
coming to a close for most South Carolina teams, with season openers set for this Friday night.
The Liberty Red Devils, however, will have to wait at least a couple more weeks after some members of the team tested positive for COVID-19 recently.
School District of Pickens County spokesman John Eby announced last Friday that all football activities at LHS had been suspended for two weeks due to the positive cases on the team. Eby said all close contacts of the positive cases had been notified, and games are being rescheduled as necessary in accordance with the South Carolina High School League.
Liberty is entering the pandemic-shortened 2020 season coming off a 3-8 finish a year ago, although the Red
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fresh start
Easley seeks improvement entering 2020 season with third coach in as many years
By Eugene Jolley
Courier Sports
ejolley@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Although many people are resistant to change, it isn’t always a bad thing.
And Easley High School football fans can take solace in that fact as the Green Wave head into the
pandemic-shortened 2020 season with their third head coach in as many seasons.
After Caleb King announced his surprise resignation following his only season at the program’s helm, former Byrnes offensive coordinator Jordan Durrah was announced as the Green Wave’s new head coach in February.
A former state championship-winning coach in North Carolina, King moved back to the Tar Heel State, where he is now an assistant coach at Rose High School. That move opened the door for Easley administrators to bring Durrah back to the school after he previously served as a Green Wave assistant during the Chad Smith era.
“I’ve always felt it was a special place,” Durrah said of Easley. “I think it’s got a strong community. We have strong people in administration and we have strong leaders in the district and
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Almost Go Time
High school football teams around the county are putting in the final preparations before the pandemic-shortened 2020 season officially kicks off next week. Above, Daniel quarterback Trent Pearman rolls out under pressure from defender Griffin
Batt at practice last week. At left, a group of Pickens linemen wait for a signal at practice on Monday. All four county teams will 
open the season Sept. 25, with Daniel visiting Seneca, Easley hosting Westside, Liberty taking on West-Oak at home and Pickens entertaining Walhalla. To read more about the local teams ahead of the season, check back next week for the Courier’s Football Frenzy season preview.
Bru Nimmons/Courier
Tigers open with big win at Wake Forest
By Eric Sprott
Courtesy The Journal
esprott@upstatetoday.com
WINSTON SALEM, N.C. — On Saturday night, Clemson’s veteran offensive leaders performed to their typical standards, and some tantalizing young talent — particularly on the defensive side — 
lived up to the billing as the Tigers opened their season at Wake Forest with a decisive 37-13 victory at Truist Field.
If for no other reason than simply being able to get onto the field in the midst of a pandemic, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said Sunday evening the win was one he’ll never forget as his top-ranked Tigers (1-0, 1-0 ACC) turned in a strong performance.
“It was a very special win for us, and as I told the team,
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Railroad museum refurbishing old Central caboose
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CENTRAL — The Central Railway Museum has not only donated money to help in the refurbishment of the town’s nearly 60-year-old railroad caboose, but is also donating physical labor.
Last year, the museum presented a monetary donation to the town, and for two days a week for the past two and a half months, members have been providing much-needed repairs to the interior of the caboose.
“We’re completely refurbishing the inside — we rewired it completely, put all new lights in, as there
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