Save A Lot gives back to Pickens
PICKENS — With the help and generosity of its valued customers, the Save A Lot store in Pickens has donated More »
County elections official recognized for excellence
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com COUNTY — Pickens County’s election analyst was recently recognized by a stateorganization for going More »
Devils cruise to region win over Blacksburg
By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com LIBERTY — Coming off a heartbreaking loss to Landrum, the third-ranked Liberty High School More »
Local smoke shops under investigation
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Agencies inside and outside Pickens County joined 
forces recently to investigate smoke shops in the
area.
According to a release issued by the Easley Police Department on Nov. 12, search warrants were executed that day on multiple smoke shops within the city of Easley as a part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.
The search warrants’ executions were assisted by the South Carolina
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Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative to host annual Tree Lighting
PICKENS — Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative will kick off the Christmas season with the co-op’s annual tree lighting at their 
Pickens office at 734 West Main Street on November 25 at 5:15 p.m. For 43 years, this highly anticipated community event has created joy and camaraderie throughout the Pickens community by bringing people together to celebrate the reason for the Christmas season.
This long-standing tradition would not exist if it weren’t for the foresight of former co-op
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 at Louisville 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 $36 per year (in Pickens County).
Call us today at 864-878-6391 and get your subscription started and never miss any of the action in South Carolina’s best sports section!
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Seeing our reflection in God’s eyes
We have been discussing the need for Christians to be continuously willing to examine 
their biased opinions about life and the Bible.
Remember the person who boldly declared, “I am what I am, and this is what I will always be?” It’s sad to imagine how many individuals actually feel this
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Then along came Hitler
John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Often I have been asked “What is your favorite country?” Or “What is the most beautiful country you’ve traveled in?” But I’ve never been asked “What is the most impressive country you’ve visited?”
Had that question been asked, the answer would have been “Germany!” The German people, the culture, the history, the architecture, the infrastructure and the
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Courier Letters to the Editor 11-19-25
Thank you to Pickens police
Dear Editor,
I would like to commend the Pickens Police Department for helping me when a car went between me and another car on my way home from Walmart.
The car hit my side mirror and knicked my front fender. Then they went two lanes over to the red light by CVS. They had to stop at the red light to make a left turn.
I got the license plate number and called the police station. They were at my home
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within 20 minutes to get the details and file a report.
I was thankful that I was not hurt, but my concern was that the driver of the car was not paying attention and could hurt someone else. The police officer located the driver and brought the report to my house.
This is an all-too-often occurrence that happens every day, especially on Hampton Street.
I hope that everyone will be more patient when driving so more people will not be hurt or have damage to their vehicles.
Elaine Moss
Pickens
Why is war so popular?
Dear Editor,
The world has had very little of peace since time began. War seems more popular. With that in mind, I wrote the following.
War is a cruel mistress, calling young people to her bed. She cares nothing about their welfare, and death is her closest friend. Both sides fighting have mothers at home worrying and grieving for their children. She is a liar, with her telling both that they are justified in killing the other. War cares nothing for none, only that they die. War is heartless, with love never being her reason for existing. A cruel mistress that thrives off of hatred, fear, rage and seeing humans die. Expect no mercy from her.
She is not happy with just taking lives and being done. No, also she must also destroy the lives of those who survive her rage. It has been said, “wars don’t solve problems, they only create new ones.”
The battlefield soaked in blood isn’t enough for her to be satisfied, no, she delights in leaving widows and orphans behind to try and carry on. Someday those orphans, when grown, she will call to her to satisfy her bloodlust. War is a cruel mistress, covered in the blood of those she calls to her bed.
Why is she so popular? Perhaps those who lust after the others’ wealth? Those who think nothing of sacrificing others’ children upon her altar for said wealth. However, their children are spared this cruel mistress called war.
It will never change as long as wealth means more than human lives. No she’s never going to be satisfied with no hope for peace ever unto the end from this cruel mistress called War!
Eddie Boggs
Westminster
Why do we often turn down help?
All too frequently we seniors don’t ask for help when we need it, using as an excuse that others need it more. Sound familiar?
Our local senior center decided to host a free holiday dinner a few weeks before Christmas this year. It was to be a full turkey dinner, with several courses, a sit-down affair with table service from the Community Club at the high school. They needed to limit it to 100 people, and advance signup was required. Color
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Courier Obituaries 11-19-25
RAMETH OWENS PARLER
CLEMSON — Rameth Owens Parler, 60 of Clemson, passed away peacefully in her 
home on Nov. 7, 2025, with her husband by her side. She had been bravely facing a variety of health challenges for many years, most recently cancer.
Rameth was born Aug. 16, 1965, in Greenville, to Walton Owens Jr. and Rameth Owens, both professors at Clemson University. A graduate of D.W. Daniel High School in Central, she also received degrees from Clemson University in mathematics and in electrical engineering.
She worked as a global IT administrator for several multinational businesses.
She loved cooking and traveling, playing board and card games and solving puzzles. She loved oceans and lakes. She adored all dogs, and she raised Corgis, German Shepherds and Saint Bernards.
Rameth is survived by her husband, Sam Parler Jr.; mother, Rameth Owens; sister, Charlotte Owens Ladd; and her sister’s children, Owen Ladd and Ruby Ladd.
Rameth was preceded in death by her father, Walton Owens Jr.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at mskcc.org.
CONNIE ANN BRANHAM COX
EASLEY — Connie Ann Branham Cox, 75, of Easley, passed away on Oct. 30, 2025, at Greenville Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
She was born in Rock Hill on May 10, 1950, to the late Morris and Edith Branham.
She is survived by her son, Jerry Cox (Becky Robinson) of Altoona, Pa.; her sister, Marsha Bowers (Phillip) of Six Mile; and her niece, Payton Bowers.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Beverly Dee Everett.
The family would like to thank Connie’s “sister-cousins,” Janice Baldwin, Barbara Jean Allen and Brenda Martin, for their care and support.
A graveside service was held on Nov. 10 at Woodlawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association at abta.org/.
Favorite memories and condolences may be shared with the family by visiting thomasmcafee.com.
MICHAEL EUGENE ‘BIG MIKE’ WATSON
CENTRAL — Michael Eugene “Big Mike” Watson, 73, of Central, husband to the late
FOLKS scholarship deadline is Friday
Jack Lewis Scholarship to help
students with passion for conservation
UPSTATE — Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS) has announced the 2025-26 scholarship for high school students who show a strong interest in natural resource 
conservation and the environment.
The scholarship is named in honor of Jack Lewis, whose time with FOLKS spanned more than 20 years, and whose enthusiastic attitude, keen sense of duty and good heart were evident throughout his tenure.
FOLKS strives to turn passion for conservation into action and encourages students to work for the issues they believe in. We believe that every act of environmental stewardship — no matter how small — helps the world
become a better place. Our scholarship will engage students in their community and inspire them to be advocates for the environment, whether local or global. FOLKS awarded scholarships to three students in 2025, all of whom are actively monitoring their streams.
FOLKS would like to recognize and thank The
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