Category Archives: News
A Thanksgiving message from Mayor Scipio
As we gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to share my heartfelt gratitude for the people of Pickens and the remarkable progress our 
community has made together over the past year. This season reminds us to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the blessings—big and small—that strengthen our daily lives and our shared future.
This fall marks one year since the City of Pickens transitioned our supply to Greenville Water, a milestone decision that has had a profound impact on the quality of life for our residents. Many of you will remember the concerns we faced with our former water supply—sediment, inconsistent appearance, and reliability issues that led some to avoid drinking the water altogether. Today, those problems are
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YAMs to shine in Jubilee
PICKENS — The Young Appalachian Musicians, a program of Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music Inc. is excited to announce the 2026 Winter Bluegrass Jubilee.
Break you winter cabin fever this year with the fully indoor Winter Bluegrass Jubilee which will take place on January 31 at the beautiful Pickens High School. With headlining artists such as 2 time IBMA award recipient and leading act in the bluegrass world, Volume 5,
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WWII vet Pace visits Hagood Elementary for Veterans Day
By Alicia Looper
Special to the Courier
news@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Hagood Elementary had a unique visitor on Veterans’ Day this year. World War II veteran Jim Pace, 99 years old, came to participate in the school’s parade through the hallways.
Mr. Pace was accompanied by his wife of 78 years, Helen. Jim and Helen married on July 6, 1947 and have four daughters and a son. According to their daughter, Dona Anderson, who also attended the
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LHS football coach retires
LIBERTY — Coming off Liberty High School’s season ending loss on Friday night, Liberty head football Paul Sutherland announced his 
retirement on Monday.
Sutherland joined Liberty in 2021, bringing decades of experience and a proven track record. Before his time with the Red Devils, he led programs at Pendleton High School for 17 seasons and at Franklin County HighSchool in Georgia for three years. His overall head coaching record stands at 161-116.
“Coach Sutherland’s impact on
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This week in the PICKENS COUNTY COURIER’s FOOTBALL FRENZY Sponsored by MOUNTAIN VIEW FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS
NO ANSWERS
Camden hands Daniel its largest loss since 2016 in playoff rout
Strom storms past Liberty; Clemson hangs on at Louisville all this and more in this week’s FOOTBALL FRENZY, sponsored by Mountain View Funerals and Cremations available only in the Pickens County Courier.
Do not miss a single issue by grabbing a copy at a convenience, grocery or drug store near you. You can also subscribe and have your Pickens County Courier delivered each week right to your mailbox for only $36 per year (in Pickens County).
Call us today at 864-878-6391 and get your subscription started and never miss any of the action in South Carolina’s best sports section!
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FOLKS scholarship deadline is Friday
Jack Lewis Scholarship to help
students with passion for conservation
UPSTATE — Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS) has announced the 2025-26 scholarship for high school students who show a strong interest in natural resource 
conservation and the environment.
The scholarship is named in honor of Jack Lewis, whose time with FOLKS spanned more than 20 years, and whose enthusiastic attitude, keen sense of duty and good heart were evident throughout his tenure.
FOLKS strives to turn passion for conservation into action and encourages students to work for the issues they believe in. We believe that every act of environmental stewardship — no matter how small — helps the world
become a better place. Our scholarship will engage students in their community and inspire them to be advocates for the environment, whether local or global. FOLKS awarded scholarships to three students in 2025, all of whom are actively monitoring their streams.
FOLKS would like to recognize and thank The
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Pickens sweeps Bishop England for 18th volleyball championship
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COLUMBIA — Having dropped just one set on its way to the Class 4A volleyball state championship, the Pickens High School volleyball team prepared for possibly its biggest challenge yet with the title on the line against the Bishop England Battling Bishops on 
Saturday.
The Bishops, the national leader in volleyball state championships according to the South Carolina High School League, failed to provide much of a challenge for Pickens as the Blue Flame swept the Bishops 3-0 in straight sets to secure Pickens’ 18th volleyball state championship in school history.
“I’m just trying to let this soak in and realize what just happened,” Pickens head coach Mellie Crumpton said after the win. “We are a solid all-around team and we have grit. Our word for tonight was relentless. I told them to be relentless, and that’s what we came out and did.”
The championship win was the second straight for the Blue Flame — their first back-to-back titles since 2013-14.
“Honestly, I’ve just been praying the whole season that we would make it back,” Pickens senior setter Lily Clarkson said. “We just had to believe and trust in God’s plan, and
Balance key for state champs
Last season, when the Pickens High School volleyball team overcame a year of adversity to secure the 17th state championship in school history, I wrote that if 2024 was a
“down” year for Pickens volleyball, I hoped teams would be ready for what was to come from arguably the state’s top volleyball program.
However, it seemed nobody was ready for the Blue Flame in 2025 as they took down the competition with ease on their way to another state championship on Saturday against Bishop England. The win was
