Category Archives: Opinions
Is it taxable?
After preparing my own taxes annually for over 40 years, I’m about to have someone else do them for me for the first time.
This is not without concerns, of course, but the people who volunteer to prepare taxes at the senior center are trained. They’re part of the AARP income tax assistance program, which means they’re IRS-certified and therefore will know
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Tackling the horror of Highway 123
Who in the heck are all these people, and where are they going in such a hurry?
That thought often comes to mind when I try to pull out onto U.S. Highway 123 from the residential street I live on in Easley.
Sometimes, especially if I’m trying to make a left turn across traffic to go in the direction toward Clemson, I have to wait about 10 minutes to get an opening. And then I have to dash out in front of rapidly oncoming traffic to make it into a turning lane designed for vehicles coming from the opposite direction, just to get into the median.
After that, If I’m trying to get onto Pendleton Street to head downtown (which I usually am) I need to time my next
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Stop the speeding
Dear Editor,
I’m writing this letter in hopes of bringing much-needed attention to helping stop the speeding up and down our country roads.
We have small neighborhoods on these roads that have curves, hidden driveways and hills. Families with children, pets and farm animals make their homes here.
On my road alone, we have had two kids almost get hit by a vehicle that was speeding on the road beside me and two almost hit on the road in front of me. It took me
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It’s encouraging to see a hunger and thirst for God
There is a move of the Holy Spirit happening in Wilmore, Ky., where the small evangelical Asbury University and Seminary are located.
As the regular chapel service began Wednesday morning in Hughes Auditorium, it was not long before things became extraordinary. Many students did not leave, and continued to worship as the band kept playing. The message that morning focused on confession, repentance and how true love for God and others is more than just words. News
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Peace in a newfound love for old hymns
I was planning to write about how terrible the traffic is on U.S. Highway 123 through Easley.
I’ll get to that soon enough.
But lately I’ve had another highway on my mind. The one that leads to God.
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of his Word
What a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will
He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey.
If those words sound familiar to you, you probably grew up in a church that sang the old gospel hymns like I did.
By the time I turned 11 or 12, I started getting into other kinds of music, beginning with the Beatles. Suddenly all that
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Courier Letters to the Editor 2-8-23
Thanks for sharing love with children
Dear Editor,
I am writing to thank Pickens-area residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season.
Generosity throughout contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Across the U.S., the project collected more than 9.3 million shoebox gifts in 2022. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2022, the ministry is
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Do we only follow God when we feel like it?
Have you ever wondered what is the purpose of television, games, movies and social media?
Many will say they were created to entertain and inform us, but what we may not have noticed is that when we are constantly focused on these things, we are usually not listening to what God is saying. To understand what He wants us to do, we must give Him our undivided attention. This is accomplished when we find a quiet place where we can pray,
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Calling to order the Court of Irks and Peeves
Here beginneth the first installment in the annals of Barnett’s Unofficial, Unorthodox and Unauthorized Court of Crotchety Irks and .
Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! Court is now in session!
The first order of business is to explain that the subject matter to be considered by this Court shall be limited to usage of the English language, both written and spoken.
And to note that the Court’s views on grammar do not necessarily concur with that of crotchety old English teachers, as evidenced by this very sentence fragment.
Secondly, the admission that the occupant of this unesteemed bench makes no claim of being worthy of casting
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Appreciating every day and every hour
I have a good friend who is seriously ill with late-stage cancer. When he was diagnosed about two years ago, he began to write and send a daily text thread to friends about his treatments, how he is doing, the weather, anything associated with astronomy and a generous amount of philosophical thoughts. His personality is that of a thinker who appreciates the beauty of simple things.
As I have read his thoughts and was allowed to see into his soul, it has been such a blessing and encouragement to see the good work that God has been doing in his life. He has gone through a lot more discomfort and challenges than we
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Courier Letters to the Editor 2-1-23
The bottom lines on the YAM jubilee
Dear Editor,
Last Saturday, Jan. 28, our Young Appalachian Musicians held their Winter Bluegrass Jubilee at Pickens High School. It was a wonderful day! I’d like to write about our Bottom Line for our Jubilee. Here’s a list of what I consider to be our bottom line(s) for Jubilee:
- To say “THANK YOU” to our supporters — This year we especially thank those who have supported our efforts to get instruments in the hands of our 400-plus YAM kids — the majority of them beginners.
- To spread the word about our program — We also hired a new person to help with PR/grant writing, getting sponsors, etc. We want to show others what we’re all about.
- To collaborate — We use the committee approach with our Jubilee team and enlist lots of volunteers. This year we had to fill more than 140 two-hour positions, and we did so with 80-plus volunteers. Lots of “buy in,” but a little complicated at times!
- To serve our constituents — provide quality entertainment, teach new skills, etc.
- To make Jubilee (and the YAM program) affordable for all, especially our parents.
- To give a chance for our Yammers to shine — thus the Big YAM Jam!
- To show off our fabulous staff, including instructors, program directors, homework center coordinators, tutors and our admin people!
- To bring our community together to celebrate music and kids — things which are unifying.
- To make music part of our lives — as learners, teachers and “appreciators.”
- To make Jubilee fun and a learning experience for all — thanks to our wonderful performers!
But I’ve left two very important ones till the end. In my opinion, the “bottom” of the “bottom liners” of our event is to raise funds for our YAM program. Please don’t get me wrong, in order for YAM to be a program, we must have funds! We — especially our board members — all know that and spend much of our time being creative with raising income and working hard to stay within our budget. (I call them our “Dream Board” … which, by the way, every board member who lives within 50 miles was at the Jubilee working in full support of this project.) Between our sponsorships (which we doubled the money and tripled the number of sponsors) and grants, we paid for everything before we opened the doors! But we’ve also found that we just have to take a leap of faith sometimes. We’re so fortunate that our supporters have always come through when they know what we want to do is serve our community, especially our children.
I’ve saved the best till last. To me, the most important “bottom liner” and at the top of my list, is the Grand Finale with the Big YAM Jam! This year we had more than 150 kids playing music on stage, along with our Dream Board, our dedicated and treasured staff and our performers — all to thank our sponsors, funders, partners, local government officials, volunteers and supporters, but mostly our parents. I hope this rolled all of the above bottom liners into one! What a grand finale it was!
Thank you, all, more than you’ll ever know!
Betty McDaniel
Pickens
