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 More »
LHS football coach retires
LIBERTY — Coming off Liberty High School’s season ending loss on Friday night, Liberty head football Paul Sutherland announced his More »
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 More »
FOLKS scholarship deadline is Friday
Jack Lewis Scholarship to help students with passion for conservation UPSTATE — Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS) has announced More »
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 More »
Courier Obituaries 1-24-24
NELL THOMAS
CARROLLTON, Ga. — Mrs. Avenell “Nell” Stephens Thomas, 83 of Carrollton, Ga., passed away on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. She was born in Pickens County on Aug. 8, 1940, to the late Albert 
Stephens and Hester Rachel Durham Stephens.
Mrs. Thomas was retired from PEDS Hosiery and was a devoted Christian. Her love for the Lord was profound, and her favorite saying was, “Lord willing, I’ll be there.” She was a loving wife, mother and Nana, but her greatest joy came from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mrs. Thomas loved celebrating birthdays and sending birthday cards to her family and friends. She also had a collection of bunny rabbits.
Survivors include her husband of 62 years, OL Thomas; her son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Christy Thomas; her daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Anthony Hill and Jean and Hal Knott; her grandchildren, Rick and Chasidy Thomas, Lori and Tanner Roach, Jack Thomas, Chris Thomas, Ben Hill, Rachel Hill, Katie and Christopher Lanier, Amy and Cody Daniel, Rebekah Knott, Thomas and Caroline Knott, Elizabeth Knott and Anna Knott; and her great-grandchildren, Hunter, Cameron, Audrey, Ansley, Caden, Bentley, Bella, McKenna, Tripp and Lily. She is also survived by her sisters, Frances Cromer, Sue Gilstrap, Ruby Duncan and Rosalee Britton. Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by
Flame down unbeaten Greenwood
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Hosting the second-ranked and unbeaten Greenwood Eagles, the third-ranked 
Pickens girls’ basketball team knew they were in must-win territory if they wanted to stay in contention for their second consecutive region championship.
Ahead 37-36 in the final minute, the
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Liberty wins Pickens County duals wrestling championship
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — A little over two weeks before they start their state championship defense, the Liberty Red Devils took to the mat last Friday for the Pickens County duals wrestling championship and earned a big victory over their three county foes.
“I was proud of the way our guys wrestled,” Liberty head coach Derek Harris said. “We used a lot of guys tonight so everyone that we brought got to wrestle. We’re winding down our season and I feel like we’re starting to peak at the right time.”
The Red Devils dominated the day picking up a 65-12 win over Daniel, a 59-22 victory over Pickens and a 62-15 win over Easley on their way to the championship.
Ian Valllecillo, JT Spence, Jonah Pierce, Brian Reed and Isaac Reece, all major contributors from the 2023 Class 2A state champion Red Devils picked up pins as the Red Devils completed the clean sweep of their county foes.
The victory was the first Pickens County championship for Harris after taking over for former Liberty head coach Dale Burrell this season. According to Harris, he’s been happy to see the team grow throughout the season.
“We started off in December with a lot of sickness and a lot of injuries,” Harris said. “We were battling that into early January, but I felt the later we have gotten into January, we’re really starting to be where we want to be.”
The championship win also proved to be a nice response after the Red Devils fell in a close region match earlier in the week to top-ranked Chesnee. However, Liberty knows it will see the Eagles down the line in the playoffs with a chance to avenge the loss.
“We came out of that match and felt like we were the better team,” Harris said. “Three points decided it, but that’s wrestling. It made the kids understand that every point matters and tonight, I saw them fighting for that last takedown for the major (decision) when they’re up by six. So, I can see it’s really starting to resonate with the kids and they’re starting to understand why we push them so hard.”
The Red Devils will begin their title defense when the Class 2A playoffs begin on Feb. 3.
Missed free throws doom Pickens in loss
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Taking on a talented Greenwood squad, the Pickens boys’ basketball team knew it would need a nearly perfect effort on both ends in order to pull out its first region win.
However, early mental lapses by the Blue Flame led to a three-point barrage from the Eagles and 16 missed free throws prevented a
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Pickens Middle School hosts Amazing Shake competition
PICKENS — Pickens Middle School recently hosted its third annual Amazing Shake competition.
The event is a contest that places an emphasis on teaching students manners, discipline, respect
and professional conduct. Through the 
Amazing Shake, a competition originally created by the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, students are introduced to the nuances of professional human
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Courier Community Calendar 1-24-24
• Easley Health Expo set for January 27
The Easley Health and Fitness Expo 2024 will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at 210 Fern St. Suite K in
Easley. Various local health and fitness businesses will be brought together to showcase the
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Courier Classifieds 1-24-24
Announcements
Courier Trespass Notices 1-24-24
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:
Betty Haynes Jan. 2024
