Culpepper named PHS principal
Neuner, Plyler named principals of DES, FAE By Bru Nimmons Staff Reporter bnimmons@thepccourier.com COUNTY — The School District of Pickens More »
SCDOT seeking comment on 183-178 intersection
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com PICKENS — Officials are seeking public comment on a proposed “road diet” along portions More »
Cannon Church breaks ground on new building
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com CENTRAL — Construction of a $2 million addition to the grounds of Cannon Church More »
Lady Lions take down county foe Pickens for 18th straight victory
By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com CENTRAL — After blowing by county foe Pickens in their first matchup this season, More »
Red Devils go cold against top-ranked High Point
By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com LIBERTY — Hosting top-ranked High Point on senior night, the sixth-ranked Liberty High School More »
Deep Winter Blues Festival returns
PICKENS — The soulful sounds of the blues will once again echo through the hills of the Upstate as the 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 boys’ basketball team returned to action on Friday looking to get back on track against Blacksburg.
The Red Devils (17-5, 5-3 Region 1-2A) took control early and never looked back dominating the Wildcats (5-14, 2-6) to pick up a 70-53 win.
“We were up 25 at one point and I thought we really had a chance to extend it and blow it open, but there was some game rust,” Liberty head coach Brenden Marcell said. “We
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Liberty girls hang tough with Blacksburg
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Hosting 10th ranked Blacksburg on Friday night, the Liberty High School 
girls’ basketball team looked to match their highly rated foe and pick its second region win of the season.
The Red Devils (3-17, 1-7 Region 1-2A) put together a stellar defensive effort to keep things close in the first half but were unable to find the offense to match the Wildcats (15-6, 7-1) in the second half, falling 45-35.
“We’re definitely getting better,” Liberty head
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Persevering through the storm
My friends, my neighbors, my brothers and sisters of Pickens —
This past week, extreme weather tested us.
Winter Storm Fern and the bitter ice that followed placed many of our neighbors in real danger. The cold was fierce. The darkness was real. The road was hard.
But let me tell you something:
Pickens did not bend. Pickens did not break. Pickens rose.
Because when the storm came, the people came.
Our police officers came.
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SC DOT Updates
Dear Editor,
The SCDOT has updated its highway paving list for the next year or two.
US 178 from the Anderson line to Liberty (to the Spinx), has been patched and an intermediate layer has been put down. The final layer of asphalt will be added when it get much warmer.
US 178 from Mauldin Lake Road north to Main Street, Pickens, the SCDOT has begun to patch it. More patching needs to be done as that section is in poor condition in many
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The spiritual battle for our attention
Let’s consider tracking how we spend our time in a typical 24-day period. Sleeping and working naturally take up most of it, followed by household tasks and hobbies, and 
finally, entertainment. Recently, I heard someone point out a troubling contrast: for Christians, spending more time on television or social media than on Bible study, prayer, or ministry seems out of balance. We often hear about the spiritual battle for our minds, but do our choices reflect the seriousness of this struggle? Though I’m involved with ministries and
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Growing concern with data centers
As of December16, 2025 there were 4300 data centers and that number increased by 200 in the last three months. I think Pickens County council needs to be prepared for 
them too approach our area. Here is why.
Data centers like large, relatively flat areas, near population
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Exploring courses on AARP
Are you a member of AARP? Even with the recent price increase (from $15 to $20 per year), there is still a lot to recommend it.
The AARP Skills Builder for Work section is a valuable benefit, even if we’re not still working, because the skills can be helpful to us now for our cognitive health, memory and
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Courier Obituaries 2-4-26
LAVERNE E (SCHAFFNER) EVANS
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — LaVerne E Evans (Schaffner) of Louisville, Ky., died on Jan. 22, 
2026, at age 92. She had been a resident of Signature Jefferson Place since December 2023.
She was born March 19, 1933, in Louisville, Ky., to Walter H Schaffner and Ethel Pryor. Her grandparents were Henry B Schaffner and Elise “Lizzie” Roggenkamp, James Daniel Pryor and Emma Stickel. She was known for her excellent memory of events of her childhood, such as the 1937 flood, the hardships of WWII and the history of Louisville. Her father, husband and son were all Navy war veterans. LaVerne was a wife, mother and longtime member of the Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association. She was active as a volunteer and PTA officer with her children’s schools.
She enjoyed lakeside camping, reading, long walks and playing Jeopardy. LaVerne spent much of her adult life as a caregiver for relatives.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Wilmoth Daymon “Tommy” Evans, in 2010; and sisters, Alice Carol Hagan and Evelyn “Cookie” Pierce.
She is survived by her children, Elaine Renae Evans of Louisville, Daymon Walter Evans M.D. of Indianapolis (Jane, deceased), and her son, Daniel Wayne Evans, USN-ret (Lynn, deceased); grandchildren, Jason Daniel Evans and Casey Nicole Wilbanks (John); and a great-granddaughter, Cameron Sage Wilbanks, all of Easley.
Her visitation will be at the Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 40205, from 1-8 p.m. Feb. 5 and from 10-11 a.m. on the morning of Feb. 6, with a funeral to follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. A brief graveside service will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park, 4400 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40218, where she will be buried alongside her husband, Tommy. Per her request, expressions of sympathy may be made to Hosparus of Kentucky.
WILLIS ‘SKIP’ LYLE II
GREENWOOD — Willis “Skip” Lyle, II, 78, of Greenwood, passed away on Jan. 31, 
2026, at Lakelands Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Abbeville.
Born on March 17, 1947, in Six Mile, he was a son of the late Willis and Sylvia Brooks Lyle.
Skip was a graduate of York High School in York, Neb., and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Lander University. His passion for aviation defined much of his life. He was a pilot for Davis and Floyd Inc. and a pilot instructor, sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for flight with countless students and colleagues.
Skip served as the music director at Sandridge Baptist Church for a period, and later became a member of Hyde Park Baptist Church.
He is survived by brothers, Walter “Walt” Lyle and Steve Lyle Sr. (MaryLynn); a sister,
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