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 »
DHEC: Calf may have exposed 13 people to rabies
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — Thirteen people were referred to their health care providers after potentially being exposed to a rabid calf near Clemson earlier this month, according to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Control.
A calf raised near S.C. Highway 28 South in Clemson tested positive for rabies, according to a DHEC release issued Friday.
The calf was part of a rabies-vaccinated herd, but was too young to have been vaccinated against rabies itself, the
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Homeschooling parents invited to presentation
PICKENS — The Prevention Department of Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County is inviting homeschooling parents to attend a special presentation 
next week.
The talk will be held from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at Café Connections in Pickens. The topic is “Safe Medication Storage in the Home.”
Coffee and cake will be served, and attendees will have a chance to win a medication lockbox.
The event is free, but registration will give the presenters a head count.
To register, search “Safety at Home Homeschool Event” at eventbrite.com.
Café Connections is located at 319 E. Main St. in Pickens.
Main Street water tank in ‘very bad shape’
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pickens officials last week approved undertaking a report that will tell them if a part of downtown’s landscape can remain standing.
During a special called Pickens City Council meeting March 21, Massie Hughes with American Tank Maintenance presented officials with options concerning the inactive empty water tank that overlooks Main Street.
The company assessed the tank prior to the presentation, and Hughes said the company recommends council approve an engineering structural analysis of the tank “before we
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By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CENTRAL — About 40 to 50 people, some who have lived for years in a historically black area of Central known as “Head Town,” are worried about having to 
relocate as the owner of the property plans to sell.
However, Black Lives Collective and Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) officials are working with about 18 families and asking Central Town
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Central officials eye options for Head Town residents
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CENTRAL — Addressing pleas by residents of a predominantly African American neighborhood fearing displacement as the property they live on is up for sale, Central Mayor Andrew Beckner and town council say they plan to do everything they can to help.
Beckner said he hasn’t received a formal proposal from Wayne Head, owner of the property known as “Head Town,” but is concerned.
“(Displacement) is the No. 1 thing I want to avoid,” Beckner said. “It gives me a pit in my stomach to think it would happen,
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Azalea Festival continues to grow
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — The 2022 Pickens Azalea Festival is set for Mother’s Day weekend.
Festival director Roy Costner IV spoke about the festival and requested $6,500 from hospitality taxes at a special called Pickens City Council meeting on March 21.
“We are extremely excited for the 2022 Pickens Azalea Festival,” Costner said. “We have moved
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‘For the Better of the World’ Upstate Conference April 1-3
GREENVILLE — As one of thousands of global conferences, the Baha’is of the Upstate of South Carolina, including Anderson, Oconee, Pickens, Greenville and Spartanburg counties, will host their local area conference the weekend of April 1-3 in Greenville.
The global conferences are bringing a hopeful direction to the world by inviting local action so together all “well-wishers of humanity” can help build vibrant communities that are a “haven of peace” and “may work for the betterment of the world and live together in concord and harmony.”
Attendees will examine Baha’u’llah’s vision for humanity and reflect on how that vision has, during the past century, inspired communities to work on building unity among the peoples of the world.
For more information about the conference and to register, call (864) 855-2072 or visit the Pickens County Baha’is and Friends Facebook page at facebook.com/pcbahaifriends.
Baptist Easley hosts diaper distribution
During a Prisma Health Children’s Hospital Diaper Bank distribution event in Easley on March 22, volunteers provided more than 16,500 diapers and pull-ups, totaling around 220 children served. Families also received giveaway bags from Healthy Blue South Carolina and Pampers, as well as information on where to get their car seat checked locally. Of those families, officials were also able to provide brand new car seats to two families who did not have children in car seats when they arrived. “We heard from the many families that we served how appreciative they were of our services,” said Candi Forester-Smith, manager of the Prisma Health Baptist Easley Foundation. Pictured, from left, are Prisma Health employees who volunteered their time to participate in last week’s diaper bank event at Baptist Easley — Forester-Smith, Lloyd Sarbacker, Dana Rutland, Mary Fields, Renee Hunter, Nancy Kendall and Andrea Stegall.
Courier Obituaries 3-30-22
FREDDY DODSON
CENTRAL — Mr. Freddy Dodson, 64, passed away on Monday, March 28, 2022, at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Freddy was born on Oct. 4, 1957, to Fred Dodson and the late Phala McKnight Dodson. Freddy was a loving father, devoted husband and a friend to many. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle, could answer any trivia question asked and always had an entertaining story to tell. He touched the lives of countless coworkers and strangers throughout his life. He is truly missed.
In addition to his father, Freddy is survived by his loving wife of 19 years, Pamela Dodson; five sons, Curtis Dodson of Tennessee, Ben Cherami of Seneca, Elijah Dodson of Central, Israel Dodson of Central and Malachi Dodson of Central; two daughters, Zoe Dodson of Central and Rebekah Dodson of Central; and one sister, Sue Wood (Mark) of Pickens.
In addition to his mother, Freddy was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Gayle Dodson; and his stepmother, Vivanee “Boots” Dodson.
A graveside service will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2022.
Online condolences may be expressed by visiting dillardfunearls.com. Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
JAMES RAY ALLEN
PICKENS — Dr. James Ray Allen, 87, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
He was born on March 19, 1935, in Ellaville, Ga., to the late Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Allen. He was married to his devoted wife, Marilyn Scott Allen,
for 65 years.
He and his wife served as a ministry team touching untold numbers of lives in their 20 churches in the Carolinas and Georgia. He also invested his life in his students as a professor at Berry Academy in Rome, Ga., and Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton. He truly exemplified the greatest commandment, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39). His life was one of loving and serving God and the many people he came in contact with, whether it was a church member, a student or a bag boy at the grocery store.
He received his associate’s degree from Norman Park Junior College, bachelor’s degree from Lagrange College, master’s
