Category Archives: News
Arrest made after man found shot on roadside
EASLEY — A Greenville woman is charged with attempted murder after a man was found lying along the side of U.S. Highway 123 with a gunshot wound.
Renee Lavonne Simon, 55, is charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to a release from Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chuck James.
James said the sheriff’s office received a call at 8:51 p.m. Friday about a suspicious person lying near the edge of the
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Governor suspends indicted Pickens council member
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has suspended a Pickens City Council member who was arrested earlier this year.
Donnie McKinney, 75, was arrested on Oct. 7 and charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office requested that SLED investigate, SLED spokeswoman Renée Wunderlich said at the time.
A warrant alleges that on or about May 20, 2022, McKinney “did engage in sexual battery” by groping and performing
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Blue Flame girls blast West-Oak
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Hoping to build on their best start in a decade, the Pickens Blue Flame girls’ basketball team hosted West-Oak last Thursday.
Behind a balanced effort and a big day on the boards, the Flame kept their momentum going in a 59-41 win over the Warriors.
“We wanted them to go all gas, and the girls stepped it up,” Pickens head coach Rikki Owens said. “The effort was there down the bench and on the court.”
That effort was apparent to Owens from the start, as the Blue Flame outscored West-Oak 16-6 in the opening quarter behind eight points from Sadie McKinney.
McKinney didn’t stop there, either, as the sophomore forward had a career night, putting up 21 points and
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A daughter’s love
Charles Hembree received this 1942 World War II Jeep GPW from his aunt, Katie Hembree McCall, in 2004. In 2020, he told his daughter, 
Charlynn Hembree Ezell, that he always wanted to drive it in a parade, so as a labor of love, she brought it home and she and her husband restored it. The vehicle’s first parade was the 2022 Six Mile Christmas parade. Charles Hembree was in Vietnam between 1966-67 in the 199th Infantry Brigade and the 87th Combat Engineers (Redcatchers). Pictured in top photo are Charles Hembree, his grandson, Jason Bearden, his daughter, Charlynn Hembree Ezell, and his son-in-law, Paul Ezell.
Humane Society, animals in need of community’s help
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — The community’s support is needed to help the Pickens County Humane Society continue helping animals.
The past several years have been “exceptionally” challenging for the society, PCHS director Samantha Gamble said in a news release.
“Post pandemic, there has been a significant ‘cost of living’ inflation, which has had a negative impact on our organization,” she said. “The inflation
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Freshman QB Klubnik leads Clemson to ACC title
By Ian Taylor
Courtesy The Journal
itaylor@upstatetoday.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There had been glimpses of it throughout the season.
Whether it was overthrown balls, bad decisions or a lack of energy, the Clemson offense was broken.
But after two disheartening drives led by D.J. Uiagalelei to open the ACC Championship Game against North Carolina on Saturday night in Charlotte, N.C., a new era
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Pickens girls run BHP off court in win
PICKENS — Coming off their first playoff win in more than a decade, the Pickens Blue Flams girls’ basketball team had high hopes coming into the 2022-23 campaign, and they look well on their way to meeting expectations after an 84-49 win over Belton-Honea Path to start the regular season on Nov. 29.
“I’m excited about this one,” Pickens head coach Rikki Owens said. “I feel like they came out and executed straight from the jump and they finally ran our offense as
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