Area schools see movement in new SCHSL realignment
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com COUNTY — The South Carolina High School League () announced the classification placement for More »
Liberty leaders receive update on developing water system
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com LIBERTY — Efforts to create a water system “for Pickens County people” remain on More »
Wreaths Across America ceremonies held across county
COUNTY — Multiple ceremonies were held across Pickens County earlier this month in honor of National Wreaths Across America More »
Merry Christmas
Mountain View Funerals and Cremations owner Wes Hiott, along with Santa Greg, delivered Christmas gift baskets last week to the More »
Liberty downs Abbeville in round two
LIBERTY — Ranked atop the South Carolina Class 2A high school wrestling standings, the Liberty wrestling team opened its playoff run in the second round on Saturday against the Abbeville Panthers after receiving a first-round bye.
The Red Devils lived up to their lofty ranking, taking down the Panthers in less than 20 minutes with a 78-6 win.
“We know we’re going up against some pretty tough teams, but we’ve built a pretty good resume this year,” Liberty head coach Dale
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Blue Flame boys beat Easley for first time in two decades
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Just one week removed from its first region win in 62 games, the Pickens High School boys’ basketball team entered Friday’s contest against archrival Easley hoping to break an even longer against the Green Wave.
With a scorching start, the Blue Flame controlled the game from the opening whistle to beat Easley 69-56 — Pickens’ first win over the Wave in more than two
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Easley girls stun Pickens
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — In many ways, Friday night’s matchup between the sixth-ranked Pickens and 10th-ranked Easley girls’ basketball teams was meant to be a coronation for the Blue Flame.
With a win, Pickens would clinch its first-ever region championship, and it seemed like the Blue Flame were well on their way to victory until a fourth-quarter runput
the Green Wave ahead 39-38 in the waning seconds. With just five seconds left and a chance to
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Daniel boys top Seneca, win first region title since 2013
CENTRAL — After taking CENTRAL — After taking the lead halfway through the second quarter of its Jan. 30 matchup with Seneca, the eighth-ranked Daniel High School boys’ basketball team took seemingly every punch the Bobcats had to stay ahead.
With the lead down to 54-47 with less than four minutes to go in the final quarter, it seemed like the Lions might never fully put Seneca away. That was until junior wing Erik Lipsey fought his way into the lane through immense defensive pressure before hitting a spinning layup that energized the home crowd and gave the Lions the push they needed to pull out a 66-58 win and move into pole position in the Western
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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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Courier Obituaries 2-8-23
LARRY COX
PICKENS — Larry Lee Cox, 61, of Pickens passed away Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, after a long battle with pneumonia at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Born Nov. 21, 1961, Larry was a beloved grandfather of five, Matthew Franklin, Kaitlyn Cox, Aubrey Cox, Cayden Buchanan and Carmen Rosa; and father of three, Valarie Cox (Raul Rosa), Joshua Cox (Shannon) and Zachary Mauldin (Jenny).
He is also survived by his father, T.J. “Bud” Cox, and his four siblings, J.W. Cox, Danny Cox, Steve Cox and Lisa Gilstrap.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Annie Cox, and a special friend, Wanda Sutherland.
Larry was a caring man who gave everything he had and would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need before helping himself. Larry was extremely hard working and worked for many years doing sheetrock work and construction. He also spent a few years delivering newspapers. He delivered papers seven days a week, 365 days a year, and would
Tri-County ECE program receives grant
By Lisa Garrett
Tri-County Technical College
news@thepccourier.com
PENDLETON — Tri-County Technical College’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) program was awarded $22,500 from SC Endeavors to support academics, 
accreditation, supplies and professional development.
SC Endeavors is the professional development system for South Carolina’s early childhood workforce. Its mission is to support the continuous growth and improvement of early education programs and professionals to create positive outcomes for young children and their families in South Carolina.
TCTC received two distributions of funds to support the ECE program.
This year, SC Endeavors awarded the S.C. Technical College System’s Early Childhood Development programs $6,500 from the McDonald Early Education Support Fund.
This year, the Biden administration and Congress authorized additional funding to support early care and education, focusing on workforce education and compensation.
“I am pleased to announce that each South Carolina technical college will receive an additional $10,000 to focus on meeting early childhood program needs,” SC Endeavors state director Melissa G. Starker said.
This additional one-time distribution of $10,000 comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stabilization fund.
TCTC also received an additional $6,000 for National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) program accreditation support.
Last year, TCTC’s ECE program was among the 11 degree programs in the United States that earned renewed accreditation from the NAEYC Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs.
This additional funding will support the pursuit and maintenance of the program’s accreditation and will support bringing peer groups from across the state to collaborate on accreditation goals.
“Looking at the big picture, we will use funds to support professional development opportunities within NAEYC,” said Meredith Dickens, department head for public services in the Business and Public Services Division at TCTC.
ECE program director Kimberly Sharp and Dickens will attend the NAEYC spring conference through the Professional Learning Institute this summer.
“Attending the conference allows us to keep abreast of trends and collaborate with our peers,” Dickens said. “We return to campus with fresh ideas to support our learners in the classroom. We also are able to connect with colleagues nationwide.”
Funds supplement the professional development and growth of ECE students as well.
Last year ECE faculty and 10 students attended the South Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children’s Annual Conference in Columbia last year.
“This event allowed students and faculty to network and to share our passions for early education with like-minded peers,” Dickens said.
“These funds pay travel and conferences fees,” she added. “Students said this experience was a highlight of the academic year. Conference topics reinforced material learned in class. They felt connected to the profession.”
Funds can also be used to purchase classroom materials and resources, Dickens said.
“This year, we began our own lending library, whereby we purchase books that students can use when in student teaching and practicum experiences,” she said. “We also are building a student resource lending bank where students can check out resources, such as a portable light table, to create lessons.
“SC Endeavors is a longtime valued partner. We appreciate their commitment as a stakeholder and partner with our ECE program.”
Starker said SC Endeavors is “proud” of its partnerships and looks forward to working with TCTC in the future.
“Together, we are improving the quality of childcare for children and families in South Carolina,” she said.
Tri-County’s Early Childhood Development program is designed to prepare those entering the field of child care or those currently employed but seeking additional training. Graduates are employed as teachers in public and private early care settings, family day care homes and as teacher assistants in public schools. Many choose to continue their educations by pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
Tri-County Technical College, a public two-year community and technical college serving Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties, enrolls more than 9,000 students annually and offers more than 70 major fields of study, including computer technology, industrial electronics, mechatronics, nursing and university transfer programs.
Tri-County boasts the highest student success rate among two-year colleges in the state and ranks in the top 1 percent nationally for successful student transfers to four-year colleges and universities. To learn more, visit tctc.edu.
