‘Long overdue’
Monument to Andrew Pickens to highlight Legacy Square By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com PICKENS — Those passing by Legacy More »
Easley thrift store aims to help others
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com EASLEY — The operator of DH Tiny Homes Thrift Store hopes his small store More »
America’s top chocolate shop has local roots
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com GREENVILLE — A business owned by a Pickens resident recently received national recognition. Last More »
Local municipalities plan Fourth of July events
COUNTY — With the nation getting ready to observe its 249th Independence Day, people from around Pickens County will have More »
Banjo Extravaganza is July18-19
PICKENS — The Banjo Extravaganza Festival returns to the Hagood Mill Historic Site on Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July More »
Grief support group planned in Central
CENTRAL — An eight-week grief support group for adults will meet at 6 p.m. on Mondays starting May 2 at the Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, located at 
108 Cross Creek Road in Central.
Topics of discussion are set to include Understanding Your Grief, Exploring Your Feelings Of Loss, How To Nurture Yourself and There’s Hope Out There.
Dr. Roger Lovette will be the group leader. Lovette was pastor at First Baptist Church Clemson for 13 years and has written often for local papers.
The group will meet for eight Monday nights. There is no charge.
If interested, call the funeral home at (864) 639-2411 or email linda@robinsonfuneralhomes.com.
Analyzing the social construction of reality
Today’s lesson, class, is on “The Social Construction of Reality,” a subject that I think is probably more pertinent in 2022 than it was in 1966, when it was postulated by a couple of eggheads named Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann.
The only reason I know anything about this theory is because my wife, Kathy, wrote a paper about it in college that was so brilliant that her Clemson University sociology professor actually bowed in homage to her as they were
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Guess who’s coming to town
We are always eager to welcome newcomers to our region and hope their time here will be rewarding.
One of our newest residents is a well known couple formerly and currently from Virginia and North Carolina at the same time. This is a state of affairs I thought was impossible. Once again, my assumption was incorrect.
Perhaps everyone knew about this, but it came as a surprise to me and mine.
He is currently registered to vote in our own fair state, although he is also still registered to vote in Virginia. He recently lost his ability to also vote in North Carolina, as it was confirmed that he actually didn’t live there and
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Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes
It’s easy to mock and be critical, and unfortunately our human nature loves to judge unfairly and display negative thoughts about others. If we could only remember that many people are going through some type of painful trial, which usually explains why they seem peculiar.
I often counsel with those who are struggling with personal problems and it changes our perspective when we know the bigger picture. As Christians, we are called to be a light that represents God’s nature and this includes
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Surveys show VA hospitals improving
In the latest Medicare Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems patient survey, the Department of Veterans Affairs outperformed community hospitals in 10 of 11 different categories.
The report said that 54 percent of VA hospitals earned four or five stars, while only 35 percent of community hospitals did. That’s a hefty increase; just a few years ago, only 26 percent of VA hospitals rated four or five
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Surviving inflation
Recent government figures outlined food price increases for one month. The numbers are grim.
Fruits and vegetables went up 2.3 percent, the highest since 2010. Dairy went up 1.9 percent, the highest since 2011. Cereals and bakery items went up 1.1 
percent.
Averaged over the past 12 months, food prices have risen 8.6 percent (the highest increase since 1981), with poultry and fish climbing 13 percent and beef soaring 16 percent.
Wow! We knew it was bad because each time we go to the grocery store, we’re spending more to get less. But to see
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Graham to speak at SWU
CENTRAL — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham will serve as the keynote speaker at Southern Wesleyan University’s May commencement ceremony, the school 
announced Tuesday.
Graham, who was first elected to the Senate in 2002, lives in Seneca and holds undergraduate and law degrees from the
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DHEC warns of algal blooms
UPSTATE — With weather warming up, people on the water should be on the lookout for algal blooms.
Algae and cyanobacteria are tiny plantlike organisms that can overgrow under the right conditions, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Algal blooms are more likely to occur in late spring to early fall because water temperatures are warmer and there’s more sunlight.
Algal blooms on the surface of untreated lakes and rivers can be potentially harmful because some are caused by
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Courier Obituaries 4-27-22
BARBARA GALLOWAY OWENS
LIBERTY — Barbara “Jane” Galloway Owen, 72, of Blue Ridge Drive, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at NHC Healthcare of Anderson.
Born in Pelzer, she was the widow of Clyde Terry “Ted” Owen and a daughter of the late Tillman Hope and Elizabeth Jane Boyce Galloway. She was retired from the School District of Pickens County, where she had taught at several schools, most recently as the special education teacher at Pickens High School. She enjoyed shagging and cooking, but mostly spending time with her family. She was a member of East Side Baptist Church.
Surviving are her daughter, Kelley McCullough (Johnny) of Pelzer; a son, Zachary Owen (Teresa) of Liberty; a brother, Tim Galloway of Williamston; five grandchildren, Karsen McCullough, Haygen McCullough Johnston (Drew), Owen Grace McCullough, Payten McCullough and Duncan Owen; and one great-grandchild, Mollie Marie Johnston.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Foundation For Geriatric Education, P.O. Box 1327, Anderson, SC 29622.
Graveside services to honor the life of Mrs. Owen were held at Liberty Memorial Gardens on Friday, April 22, conducted by Rev. Carlton Cleveland.
The family will be at the home. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.
JENNIFER MARIE BLALOCK
EASLEY — Jennifer Marie Blalock, 42, passed away on Saturday, April 16, 2022.
Born in Oconee County, she was a graduate of Easley High School, employed with Precision Valve-Travelers Rest and was of the Baptist faith. Jennifer loved
Easley takes season series against Flame with come-from-behind win
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Falling behind 1-0 to county rival Pickens early on Monday night, the Easley Green Wave baseball team had their work cut out for them as they tried to come back.
However, after escaping multiple jams with runners in scoring position, the Wave finally found their groove in the batter’s box late to pull out a 7-1 win and take the season series 2-1 over the Blue Flame.
“That was an unbelievable effort from those guys,” Easley head coach Gill Payne said. “They’ve been battling all year.”
The Green Wave needed a standout effort on the mound and in the field to stay in the game, but when they got that it was only a matter of time before they got going in the batter’s box. However, it certainly wasn’t easy against Pickens’ Ryan Ford.
Ford held Easley off the board over his first five innings, giving up just three hits and striking out three Green Wave batters.
Easley started to show some fight in the sixth, getting Gavin Harvey into scoring position when freshman first baseman Jonathon Sonderfan went to bat. In heartbreaking fashion for the Blue Flame, Sonderfan reached base on an error after a dropped third strike as Mason Bryant’s throw struck him as he ran to first, allowing Harvey to score and tie the game.
In the seventh inning, errors continued to haunt the Blue Flame as another throwing error on a bunt by Payton Anders scored Alex Mitchem to end Ford’s night and start the Green Wave run.
“He pitched 12 of 21 innings in the series and he saved his best two performances for last,” Pickens head coach Matt Smith said of Ford. “I hate that we couldn’t get the job done for him.”
C.J. Martin came on in relief of Ford and the Blue Flame collapse continued, with four straight batters reaching for Easley before the Blue Flame finally picked up their first out. By inning’s end, the Wave had put up six runs to take an insurmountable 7-1 lead.
While the Wave win wouldn’t have been possible without a late scoring outburst, Easley might have been in a much different position if not for some crucial plays in the field in the middle innings.
With starter Levi Recio struggling in the second, Easley second baseman Payton Anders made a jumping grab on a hard-hit liner, catching the Blue Flame off guard before turning a double play.
Then, when Recio was pulled at the start of the third after walking Pickens’ Martin, sophomore pitcher Brayden Bryson did strong work in relief, quickly getting out of the inning and holding the Flame off the board over three innings.
After Bryson came off in the sixth after a leadoff walk, the Green Wave turned to senior USC Sumter commit Carter Morgan, who picked up three outs in two pitches before getting the win in the next inning.
“Levi struggled a little bit early, then BB (Bryson) came in and got us an immediate double play and Carter comes in and does the same,” Payne said. “These pitchers have done it all year, and there were some big defensive plays.”
With the win, the Green Wave managed to secure the second or third seed in Region 1-4A and will take on the Westside Rams for the higher seed on Wednesday. According to Payne, he likes his team’s chances against anybody.
“I feel good about these guys every time I go out,” Payne said. “Every game I expect them to win.”
Meanwhile, the loss eliminated the Blue Flame from playoff contention, as they will finish the season against Seneca on Wednesday.
“I just challenged the boys,” Smith said. “Even though we don’t have anything to play for as far as playoffs go, we have four seniors who have given their all for this program and we’re going to go out and try to win for them.”
Easley 7, Pickens 1
EHS 000 001 6 7 7 1
PHS 100 000 0 1 5 4
WP: Morgan 2 IP, K
LP: Ford 6 IP, 5H, 2R, BB, 5K
EHS: Recio 2-4, R, 2B; Harvey 2-4, R, RBI, BB.
PHS: Lewis 2-3, R, 2B; O’Sullivan 1-3, RBI.
