Category Archives: News
Merck discusses SDPC leadership
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — School District of Pickens County superintendent Danny Merck recently shared priorities and gave an update on a current project in the district that will aid both students and area adults.
Merck spoke Oct. 8 at the Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce’s State of Education luncheon.
Prior to being named district superintendent, a role Merck has served in for 13 years, his educational experience included stints as teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent.
A principal recently told Merck he attributed a rise in math scores to the high-
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This week in the PICKENS COUNTY COURIER’s FOOTBALL FRENZY Sponsored by MOUNTAIN VIEW FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS
COUNTY KINGS
Lions take down county rival Pickens in battle of unbeatens
Also inside:
Laurens Keeps Wave Winless In Region
Crescent Ends Liberty Winning Streak
Flame Falter In First Loss
Tigers Shut Out Charleston Southern
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 $41 per year (in Pickens County).
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Appalachian Folk Festival this week
PICKENS — The fourth annual Pickens Appalachian Folk Festival will return Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24, at the Heritage Pavilion at Hagood Mill.
The two-day event will celebrate the music, dance, craftsmanship, foodways and community spirit that define the Appalachian heritage of Pickens and the surrounding Upstate region.
Friday’s festival hours are 6-8:30 p.m., followed by a full day of activities Saturday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Visitors can expect live entertainment,
United Christian Ministries seeing increased need
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — As costs continue to rise, each dollar that United Christian Ministries uses to help those in need in the area is stretched further.
United Christian Ministries executive director Melanie Johnson discussed needs at UCM’s fifth annual Ministry 
Breakfast on Oct. 13.
“We have significantly increased how much we’re helping with rent this year,” she said. “The needs are extremely high.”
Johnson said UCM’s mission, “first and foremost,” is to “show
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Halloween block party planned on E. Cedar Rock Street, Pickens
PICKENS — Families are invited to celebrate Halloween with candy, sweet treats and costumed characters at the annual Wilson’s Spooktacular, 719 E. Cedar Rock Street, in Pickens. The Halloween Block Party hosted by its founders Ray and Stephanie Wilson will be Oct. 31 starting at 5 p.m.
The Halloween night celebration in Pickens will feature cotton candy, cupcakes, drinks and other refreshments, along with plenty of candy for trick-or-treaters. Halloween characters will add to the festivities as neighbors gather for an evening of family fun and fellowship.
Organizers said they are excited to share this year’s celebration with their friends at Manna Post Acute.
Crafts Plus Events expands in Pickens
Crafts Plus Events celebrated the grand opening of its new space at 307 E. Main St. in Pickens with an Oct. 3 ribbon cutting. The expansion features Support Our Troops, CP Trading Card Co. and CCE Leatherworks. The original store remains open next door at 305 E. Main St. Pictured, front row from left, are Pickens City Council member Johnathan Baker and family, Barry Rowland, Vicky Miller, Diane Curry and Annette Craig. In second row are Karen Rock, Michelle Hydrick, Mike Miller, Teresa Dye, Bob Cirkus and James Webb. In third row are Roger Littles, Pickens Mayor Isaiah Scipio, former Mayor Fletcher Perry, and Caitlin and Lawson Jordan.
Courier Trespass Notices 10-21-26
In the state of South Carolina, trespass after notice is a misdemeanor criminal offense prohibited by section 16-11-620 for the South Carolina Code.
Those who enter upon the lands of others without the permission of the owner or manager shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor trespassing. All persons are hereby notified and warned not to hunt, fish, cut timber or trespass in any manner whatsoever upon the lands of the undersigned:
Jeanette S. Winchester Oct. 2026
Jimmy Dodgens II Nov. 2026
Harry and Beverly Carson Nov. 2026
Letter: Pickens admin fired ‘for cause’
PICKENS — The Pickens County Courier has obtained a copy of a letter to former Pickens city administrator Tim O’Briant outlining the reasons for his termination “for cause.”
Pickens City Council members voted 4-3 on Aug. 27 to terminate O’Briant’s employment as city administrator. A week prior, council voted to suspend O’Briant indefinitely.
O’Briant was named city administrator in January 2024.
The letter to O’Briant from Pickens Mayor Isaiah Scipio is dated Aug. 27 and states that the decision to terminate his employment was based on multiple grounds.
It alleges O’Briant “repeatedly made inappropriate
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SDPC celebrates 2026 report card results
COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County earned strong marks in the 2025-26 South Carolina School Report Cards released Monday, with all 22 rated schools receiving an overall rating of average or better for the ninth consecutive year.
The district also reported a record on-time graduation rate of 92.7 percent for the Class of 2026 and continued gains in college and career readiness.
Of the 22 district schools receiving ratings, seven earned excellent ratings, nine were rated good and six received average ratings. No schools received below average or unsatisfactory ratings. Nearly 73 percent of rated schools earned scores of good or excellent, indicating they exceeded or substantially exceeded state performance criteria.
The annual report cards, available at screportcards.com, measure schools’ progress toward the goals of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. The state’s accountability system evaluates academic achievement, student growth, school climate, graduation rates, college and career readiness and other measures of school performance. Ratings are based on a 100-point scale and range from excellent to unsatisfactory.
Seven district schools earned excellent ratings — Clemson Elementary, Dacusville Elementary, Six Mile Elementary, Liberty Middle, Edwards Middle, Daniel High and Easley High.
Five schools improved their overall ratings from the previous year. Easley High, Edwards Middle and Six Mile Elementary moved from good to excellent, while Pickens Middle and Gettys Middle improved from average to good. Easley High’s excellent rating is its first under the state’s current accountability system, which began in 2018.
The district’s high schools also improved in college and career readiness, with the indicator rising from 82.4 percent in 2025 to 85.3 percent in 2026. The district’s result exceeded the state average of 78.9 percent.
Seven schools received excellent ratings in school climate, which is based on teacher and student surveys. Those schools were Ambler Elementary, Hagood Elementary, McKissick Academy of Science and Technology, Pickens Elementary, Six Mile Elementary, Pickens Middle and Edwards Middle.
The district’s on-time graduation rate reached 92.7 percent for the Class of 2026, up from 90.1 percent in 2025 and above the state average of 87.5 percent. The result is the district’s highest graduation rate since the current accountability system began.
Daniel High led the district with a 95.1 percent on-time graduation rate, followed by Liberty High at 94.4 percent and Easley High at 94.1 percent. Pickens High reported an 87.1 percent graduation rate. Daniel, Liberty and Easley each surpassed the previous individual-school district record of 92.6 percent, set by Liberty in 2025.
Members of the Class of 2026 completed 690 dual-enrollment courses and earned more than $33 million in scholarships. The graduating class also recorded 26 military enlistments, while 516 students graduated after completing at least one career and technical education pathway.
The district also highlighted student performance in Advanced Placement courses. Across its four high schools, the district offered 31 AP courses to approximately 1,200 students. Students took 2,255 AP exams, with 83.7 percent earning a score of 3 or higher, generally considered a passing score.
“As a traditional public school district, we have the privilege and responsibility of serving every student in our community,” superintendent Danny Merck said. “For nine consecutive years, all of our schools have met or exceeded the state’s performance criteria, and that is something worth celebrating.”
Merck said the district’s record graduation rate reflects collaboration among students, teachers, staff and families. He added that the district remains committed to continuous improvement through teamwork.
Associate superintendent of academic services Shannon Sharkey said the graduation results and academic growth reflect the district’s commitment to preparing students for college, careers, military service and life.
Detailed school report cards and overall ratings are available at screportcards.com.
