It was an usual Saturday. I had gone with my mother to meet my niece, Rebecca, and her two children at the Hagood Mill Kids Fest.

For my mother, it was another opportunity for her to brag about how the two boys, Austin and Nicholas, are the two cutest children ever. For me, it was a chance to take photos for the Courier.

When we got there, I snapped three photos before the battery for my camera went dead. I keep my spare battery in my car, as this has happened far too many times. Did I mention I rode with my mother? So my day turned into sitting in the hot sun, watching cute kids, and letting the top of my head get sunburned.

There’s a distinct possibility that Andrew Jackson will not adorn our $20 bills much longer.

There’s a movement afoot to remove his image from this bill and replace it with that of an American woman who has made a difference in our world.

There’s a website you may visit to view the list of women being considered, with information about their accomplishments, and then you can choose your three favorites, vote and send it in online.

The woman who receives the most votes will be recommended for the Jackson replacement. The decision

Say ‘yes’ to investing in the future

Dear Editor,

How many of us only choose to say “no,” in our everyday lives?

We say “yes” to serving the elderly, to donating pantry items to the food bank, to rescuing stray animals, and so much more. We say “yes” quietly, thoughtfully; without celebration or recognition. We say “yes,” because we are a community of givers, do-ers and prayerful contributors.

So please know that when we say “no” to a Pickens County schools budget that includes a small

Who decides what commercials air on television? It’s a mystery to me how any person with a brain would think objectifying women and turning out soft porn would induce any busy mother with a carload of children to stop in at their restaurant to buy hamburgers.

Madison Avenue, I don’t get it. If a fast food restaurant wants my business, they’re going to have to do better.

There are a lot of women in the United States who work, chauffeur children after school, do laundry and a host of other chores. They are also the person in a household who

Saturday I got involved with a little bit of show business. My father, B.F. Robinson, has been with a group of musicians that visits the nursing homes and performs for the patients. The fact that many in the nursing homes cannot hear very well probably helps their success rate. Quite honestly, many older Americans are placed in nursing homes and forgotten by their families, so most of the residents are happy with any visitors.

My father’s group is a bunch of retirees. I will be honest. In all my studies, the closest I’ve come to being able to play a musical instrument is pushing the play button on a tape recorder. But many of these people have been playing music for years. We’re not exactly in a suburb of Nashville, so I guess they knew they had some talent but never used it as they worked

Much ado about nothing

Dear Editor,

On “Meet the Press” on Sunday, March 8, Lindsey Graham boasted that he has never sent an email. Really? In the 21st century, an educated U.S. senator has never sent an email? He said this in a segment where he blasted Hillary Clinton for a “lack of transparency.”

Nothing is less transparent than the snail mail used by Graham! It makes you wonder what he is trying to hide. Snail mail is also much more expensive than email. Why is Graham wasting our

Over the course of the past year, I have had the privilege of meeting some of the folks responsible for the legacy of excellence that characterizes the School District of Pickens County and am excited to introduce one of them to you.

Without further ado, it is an absolute honor to introduce you to Dr. Barbara Nesbitt, director of instructional technology for the School District of Pickens County.

A former teacher and administrator and current member of Grace Church in Powdersville, friends and colleagues describe Dr. Nesbitt as a “jewel” who “has worn many hats with grace and has gone

Dear county school board members

Dear Editor:

This is a letter to the members of the School District of Pickens County’s board of trustees.

Why are you wasting taxpayers’ money debating a policy about praying before a board meeting?

The answer is simple and solves the problem without a whimper. Announce at the start of a meeting that there will be moment of silence, and those wishing to pray may do so silently.

End of problem, and get down to the public’s business — the education of the children of Pickens County.

Larry Allen

Easley

Our Chihuahua seemed very happy with one chew bone and didn’t ask for another. But we had a hard time keeping up with it. So I went up to the store and bought a pack of 10 leather (we hope) chew bones, and doled five of them out during the week as we misplaced them one by one.

We now know our misguided wish to give our dog everything he could want has not resulted in happiness and well-being.

In short, Toby-One-K-Doggy — or as he is commonly called, Toby — is driving himself into an early grave worrying about his possessions. He knows their worth

Some people don’t believe in the devil, but that’s because they don’t use technology in their work. I’ve met the devil. He shows up on occasion and takes over the computer and printer in my home office. I can cite incident after incident to back up this claim.

For the past six months, I’ve been working on a project that has consisted of research, writing,