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Library youth programs canceled for book review

Library youth programs canceled for book review

By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com COUNTY — Users of the Pickens County Library System will experience changes in services More »

County plans new ambulance facility in Pickens

County plans new ambulance facility in Pickens

  By Mike Pulley Special to the Courier news@thepccourier.com PICKENS — Pickens County is planning to build a new ambulance More »

Daniel girls see season end with third round loss to South Pointe

Daniel girls see season end with third round loss to South Pointe

By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com CENTRAL — With a trip to the Upper State championship on the line, the More »

Skardon’s ‘Clemson 8 Challenge’ celebrates legacy of POW heroes

Skardon’s ‘Clemson 8 Challenge’ celebrates legacy of POW heroes

CLEMSON — Long before his death at 104 in 2021, retired U.S. Army Col. Ben Skardon made it his mission More »

IT IS TIME TO VOTE IN THE PICKENS COUNTY COUNTY COURIER’S READERS CHOICE AWARDS

IT IS TIME TO VOTE IN THE PICKENS COUNTY COUNTY COURIER’S READERS CHOICE AWARDS

Everyone run out and grab this week’s Pickens County Courier and vote for your favorite businesses in Pickens — and More »

 

Easley native serves aboard future Navy warship

MAYPORT, Fla. – Petty Officer 1st Class Marcus Burroughs, a native of Easley, South Carolina, serves aboard Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Marinette, in Mayport, Florida.

PCU is a designation used by the U.S. Navy to describe crews aboard vessels under construction prior to official commissioning.

Burroughs graduated from Easley High School in 1999 and earned an electrical engineering

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‘Hee Haw’ coming to Hagood Center

PICKENS — The Hagood Community Center proudly presents an all new presentation of our favorite comedy/musical show, HEE HAW.

There is a an all-new cast, some new songs, and plenty of new jokes that will send you home with a smile on your face. Showings are set for August 26, at 4 p.m. and another at 7 p.m.

There should be a full house for both presentations so get your tickets early at the center MWF from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 each and are limited to auditorium capacity. All proceeds benefit the Hagood Community Center.

Community Calendar 7-26-23

• Upcountry Quilters meet 4th Tuesdays

Upcountry Quilters Guild has set meeting times on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Pickens Presbyterian Church, 311 W. Main St., Pickens, SC 29671. All visitors are welcome.
For more information, visit upcountryquiltersguild.com.

• Hagood-Mauldin House offers tours

The historic Hagood-Mauldin House, located at 104 N Lewis St. at Legacy Square in Pickens, is now offering free tours to the public. The

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Volunteers needed to help abused kids

PICKENS — The Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem Program, a division of the South Carolina Department of Children’s Advocacy, is offering free virtual training beginning Monday, August 21, 2023, to those interested in becoming a volunteer Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in Pickens County.  GALs advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children who are involved in family court legal proceedings through the

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Oconee Nuclear Station hits half a century

One Sunday afternoon in late 1967 or early ’68, my family went on an eventful outing to a spot just across the Keowee River from Pickens County.

“Someday,” my dad said, gazing prophetically across a graded red clay landscape, “they’ll be splitting atoms down there to make electricity.”

Duke Power had just broken ground on its first nuclear station. To my 14-year-old mind it seemed like an incredibly futuristic, fantastical undertaking.

Little did I know that I would someday go down inside one of the nuclear reactor buildings

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Courier Letters to the Editor 7-26-23

Why should we have to pay for it?

Dear Editor,
Should Pickens County be responsible for funding a political rally? Especially as the money is to be taken from the accommodations tax fund?
If the recent Trump rally is to be subsidized from the fund designated for the promotion and support of tourism to cultural, recreational and historic sites within Pickens County, it sets a dangerous precedent.
This decision puts the county into the position of assuming financial responsibility for the costs of any political rally that comes our way. It

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It’s hotter than blue blazes

My grandmother would sit on the porch, fanning herself, and say “It’s so hot you can fry an egg on the sidewalk.” Today, I think you could not only fry the egg, but the bacon, too, and boil up some water for the grits while you’re at it. I think by now, we all know exactly how hot it is.

Heat can be dangerous and lead to heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Drink plenty of fluids (beer is

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Darkness can never overcome God’s light

There is a lot of talk today about the reality of a global system of organized evil that controls the governments and social politics of the world.

There are many different attitudes, from thinking this is silly to being consumed with anxiety and stress. Those who pay little attention to the news have learned that ignoring negativity makes them more calm. However, just because someone puts their head in the sand does not mean the problems are not real. For those who carry the heavy burden of worrying about the future and their own safety, fear can take a devastating physical, emotional and spiritual toll on our personal well-being.

In psychology, we know there are subconscious reflexes that cause us to reject information that challenges our worldviews. When certain information is just too overwhelming, we can build barriers to prevent knowledge from intruding into our thought processes and also develop a familiar internal security system that allows us to feel contentment by concluding it’s not true. In other words, hiding our heads in the sands of denial is the easy way to avoid dealing with uncomfortable knowledge.

On the other hand, truth seekers embrace all opinions because they want to research as much as they can to discover what is right and wrong. Even if it’s painful.

As Christians, the empowerment of being indwelt with the presence of God and having the opportunity to renew our minds can completely transform our attitude. Instead of thinking about how weak we are and submitting to the imagination that we are going to be devoured, Christians must realize they are in covenant with the God of all creation, and as a part of His family, nothing is more devastating to the forces of evil than His authority. In our daily lives, darkness is never confronted or cast out by those who are shaking in their boots. Faith is having confidence in who God is and who we are in Him.

When the Bible says the enemy roars like a lion, it means he likes to make a lot of noise, but if we study this closely, this is a scare tactic he uses to make people believe he is stronger and more fierce than he actually is. This is a common strategy used in the animal kingdom, where certain species will puff themselves up, spread their feathers or do a lot of screaming to make their opponent afraid. The old saying that a dog’s bark is worse than his bite applies here.

As we pray for spiritual wisdom and discernment, we understand the devil is not a carnivorous beast looking to literally eat humans. He is trying to persuade and deceive someone who does not comprehend spiritual truth, and because of a lack of understanding, he will harass and bully them until they learn how to stop him in the Name of Jesus.

When we realize that Satan is a faker and underneath the mask is a sniveling coward, we can walk in the revelation of spiritual victory. God says, “My people perish from the lack of knowledge,” and this explains the foundation of spiritual warfare. The devil is sneaky and can throw obstacles in our path and he can make things difficult by launching ambush attacks, but the dark side cannot separate us from the love of God or stop us from accomplishing God’s will. What the enemy is trying to do is convince us that we are a failure, our mission is impossible, no one cares about us and we might as well give up.

Of course, this is a lie and has no effect on anyone “until” someone believes it. It’s true that mountains are moved by positive faith, but negative faith can also steal our joy and crush us under the weight of pessimism and doubt. Believing is the fervent acceptance of something we accept as true and releases power into whatever we agree with. Why is this important? The attitude of our conscience is forming the basis of who we are and who we will become. I encourage you today to guard your thoughts and your words and remember that God never fails.

When a room is dark and you turn on the light, what happens? Darkness runs and hides. God is Omnipotent, and evil will always bow down to Him.

William F. Holland Jr. is a minister, chaplain, psalmist and author. As a freelance faith writer, his books and newspaper and magazine articles are enjoyed around the world. Dr. Holland’s weekly column, “Living On Purpose” is focused on bringing spiritual hope and encouragement through God’s Word. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

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Courier Obituaries 5-26-23

VICKIE DARLENE LEDFORD SWAYNGHAM

EASLEY — Mrs. Vickie Darlene Ledford Swayngham, 68, wife of William Paul Swayngham Jr. (Bill) went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Mrs. Swayngham was born in Easley, a daughter of the late Jack Ledford and the late Christine Painter-Watson. She was a graduate of Central Wesleyan University and was a retired accountant and a member of Hepsibah Baptist Church in Seneca.

Vickie loved her church kids and was a leader in several programs. She was Cubbie director and preschool choir director. She served in the

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