Category Archives: Opinions
Heartfelt thanks from Pickens coaching legend
On Nov. 11, Pickens High School held a dedication ceremony for the Coach Peggy Harden Anthony Gymnasium. I did not wish to conflict with 
Veterans Day parades and assemblies, but that date seemed to work best for everyone.
I believe having the ceremony on that date was God’s way to remind me to stay humble and know that the men and women who have served in our armed forces are the real heroes to be recognized, appreciated and honored for the dedication and sacrifices they have made for the freedom and security of all Americans. There is simply no comparison of coaching to that!
Still, I remain deeply honored and touched that the gym will bear my
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Letters to the Editor 11-21-18
Ready to be accused of judging
Dear Editor,
If you have ever stood up against a wrong or perhaps will be in a position where you’ll have to someday, then be ready to be accused of judging sometimes.
You may make a statement about someone or even something wrong and receive an accusation of judging. Judging in this situation is defined loosely as looking down on someone or something.
What amazes me, though, is how one is accused of judging when only the
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Newest phone scam: Social Security calls
If you see the number 1-800-772-1213 on your Caller ID, beware. Social Security has put out a warning about scams involving spoofed phone numbers. Scammers can make any numbers they want appear, even the 
number for the Social Security Administration!
Social Security is not likely to call you. They certainly won’t call you and ask you to verify your number (especially the new number on the card you were recently sent), or the bank where your automatic deposit is sent, or any other personal information. Social Security won’t call and threaten to take away your benefit if you don’t answer their questions, or tell you they can help get your benefits increased. If you get one of these calls, hang up and
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Remembering Jerry Alexander
Jerry Alexander was a consummate newspaperman. Years ago, when I became a reporter at the Pickens Sentinel, one of the most important 
things I learned about Jerry was his understanding of the human condition. He cared about people and was a man of his word. He also had a good sense of humor and had a keen appreciation for the ridiculous.
He was loyal to the people he employed and was noted for his integrity in business dealings. If he told you he was going to do something, he did it. If he made a promise, he honored it. That can be a rare quality in business.
Jerry was a native son. He loved this region and wanted its history recorded accurately. He was a great historical researcher, and we owe a
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Courier Letters to the Editor 11-14-17
Our elected leaders need to wake up
Dear Editor,
As you have read, the county is building a new jail, and the plan is to move the prisoners at the stockade and LEC to the jail when it opens in April.
The stockade prisoners are serving up to 90-day sentences, mostly for family court issues like failing to pay child support. A low-risk population. LEC prisoners are awaiting trial for things like too many unpaid tickets to murder. Some are high-risk.
I watched the video of the Aug. 27 county council meeting. Four pastors who work in the prison ministry requested the county move the chapel now
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State award pays tribute to local hero
Clemson resident Bill Funchess was awarded the Order of the Palmetto during a Veterans Day event in Liberty on Sunday.
And while the award is South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, it seems it is the least the state could do for a true American hero who has sacrificed so much and demonstrated such courage in service to his country.
State Rep. Davey Hiott, one of the presenters of the award, even said as much, calling the opportunity to give the award to Mr. Funchess “an extreme honor and a privilege.”
And we agree.
Now 90, he was U.S. Army 1st Lt. Bill Funchess when he was captured by
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Making decisions on Medicare plans for 2019
We have until Dec. 7 to make final decisions about our Medicare plans. Many of us will decide to stay with what we have.
By now you should have received your Medicare & You book for 2019. Have you thumbed through it yet? There are a few changes. Some of those changes include charts and lists to help us in making decisions.
For those who’ve had a stroke or who have end stage renal disease, we can talk to our medical staff via telehealth.
The doughnut hole — that period in our Medicare Part D prescription plan when we have to cover drug costs — was due to expire in 2020, but now there’s an important change. For 2019 the hole will end for brand name
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Unwinnable battle of the vine
This may be hard to believe, but they sell both honeysuckle vine and trumpet vine in garden catalogues. Yes, friends, you can order it, and if so inclined — or insane — plant it in your yard.
This weekend, I spent several hours trying to remove a trumpet vine from the middle of an azalea that is being strangled. I pulled and pulled, but with trumpet vine the roots are probably 1,000 feet deep in the earth. This vine was tightly wound around the base of the azalea before spreading out and attacking the branches and leaves.
Any sustenance in the soil was being sucked out by the vine, so my poor azalea was fighting for its life.
After exhaustion set in, I understood that in the battle between me and the
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School district leads on safety measures
A few weeks ago, a student posted a threat on social media to harm students in one of our county high schools. Within 90 minutes, law enforcement was taking that student into custody. This quick response was 
made possible by a strong partnership that now exists between local law enforcement and our school district.
When I was elected to the school board in April 2014, I learned that the School district was out of compliance on a law that required a district of our size to have an alternative school. Each year, the district, under direction of the school board, had been requesting a waiver on this law. Our school district had been out of compliance with this law since it elected to close the Simpson Alternative school a few years earlier
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Courier Letters to the Editor 11-7-18
Five-letter words
Dear Editor,
There is a little five-letter word that is so powerful that it can’t be destroyed. No matter the depth it is buried, it will someday surface. It can be run from, but no matter how far or hard you run, it will someday find you.
It, like God, always has been and always will be. Feared by even the mightiest evil, because it can destroy that evil, yet it cannot be destroyed
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