Recording history
Pickens Chamber holds annual awards banquet By Rocky Nimmons Publisher rnimmons@thepccourier.com PICKENS — The Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce held More »
DPH confirms rabid skunks in Pickens County
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com COUNTY — The South Carolina Department of Public Health said a person and a More »
County to honor Andrew Pickens for America 250
COUNTY — The Pickens County America 250 Committee, in partnership with the Pickens County Historical Society, will host a series More »
egg-stra special Easter Sunday
Hop on these tips for a great Easter egg hunt Egg hunts are a traditional component of many people’s Easter More »
New Pickens book fuels scholarships
PICKENS — Local author and historian Charles Hood has announced the release of his newest book, a detailed look at More »
Pickens Folk Festival set for this weekend
PICKENS — The Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce and Hagood Mill Historic Site are set to host 
the third annual Pickens Appalachian Folk Festival this weekend.
The festival will be a two-day event, taking place Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25, at 138 Hagood Mill Road in Pickens. The festival is free, but attendees are asked to bring their own chairs.
“The festival promises two unforgettable days filled with live
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Pickens man charged with lottery fraud
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A Pickens man is accused of fraud involving lottery tickets after an investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
SLED spokeswoman Renée Wunderlich said the South Carolina Education Lottery requested the investigation.
Charles Ray Seawright, 47, of Pickens, is charged with two counts of intent to defraud, counterfeit game 
tickets, she said.
Seawright was charged on Oct. 4.
A warrant alleges that on July 26, Seawright “with intent to defraud” unlawfully passed a quantity of stolen South Carolina Education Lottery
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Local couple gives millions to CU to fund scholarships
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Supporters of higher education gathered Thursday to celebrate a generous gift and to lay 
down a challenge to others to expand its reach.
Pickens residents Jim and Julee Kaplan made a $2.5 million Academic Cornerstone gift to Clemson University that will help Pickens County students lay the foundation for their educational and career goals.
Officials celebrated that gift and the newly announced Pickens County Promise: Kaplan Scholarship Challenge on Thursday at a reception at the Kaplans’ home.
“Their commitment in elevating and supporting
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Clark announces bid for Easley City Council Ward 4
EASLEY — Chris Clark, a longtime Easley native, is running to represent Ward 4 as part of the Easley 
City Council. According to Clark, her slogan is “Born Here; Raised Here: Ready to Serve.”
Clark was born at Baptist Easley Hospital and graduated from Easley High School, and except for an 11-year stint in the Mt. Pleasant/Charleston area, she has lived in Easley most of her life.
“I’m not running because I have it all figured out; I’m running because I
This week in the PICKENS COUNTY COURIER’s FOOTBALL FRENZY Sponsored by MOUNTAIN VIEW FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS
600
DANIEL PICKS UP 600TH WIN IN PROGRAM HISTORY WITH VICTORY OVER TRAVELERS REST
EASLEY FALLS AT MAULDIN; LIBERTY LOOKS TOWARD CHESNEE; PICKENS PREPARES FOR DANIEL; TIGERS BASH BOSTON COLLEGE all this and more in this week’s FOOTBALL FRENZY, sponsored by Mountain View Funerals and Cremations available only in the Pickens County Courier.
Do not miss a single issue by grabbing a copy at a convenience, grocery or drug store near you. You can also subscribe and have your Pickens County Courier delivered each week right to your mailbox for only $36 per year (in Pickens County).
Call us today at 864-878-6391 and get your subscription started and never miss any of the action in South Carolina’s best sports section!
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Mayor: City is steady, responsible and proud
When I talk about the strength of Pickens, I’m not just talking about our spirit — I’m talking about our finances, too. A strong city needs both. And I’m proud to say that in 2025, the city of Pickens is in better 
financial shape than it’s been in many years.
If you’ve been following along with city council meetings or reading the budget summaries, you’ve seen the change for yourself. If you’ve been listening to some on social media more concerned with creating drama than knowing or telling the truth, you might think the city is on its last legs. They are talking about the past and ignoring the progress of the last two years.
Back in 2023, our general fund budget was overspent by around
Find your challenge
Philippians 4:12-13 “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all 
things through Christ which strengthens me.”
One of life’s greatest rewards is to find a challenge, study it, work it and achieve it! To be challenged is to be motivated. Motivation is the key to action and ultimately success and that great feeling of accomplishment.
Unchallenged people may be sad and have not a clue why. An uncle retired from an automotive plant in Ohio and moved back to
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It is faith that builds peace
There is a fundamental relationship between faith and peace. We are told that the harvest of faith is peace. But what is the nature of this peace and how do we understand it?
First and most importantly, there is peace that results from relationship with God, which is the very foundation of faith itself; this means the knowledge of God, devotion and servitude to Him. This peace is transcendent, eternal, and beyond any limitations of materiality. It is the Light of the holy spirit that emanates from God and illumines our hearts; it flows to our being as we turn obediently to Him, conferring on us an inner state of faith and peace.
An obligatory and inseparable aspect of this peace, is being at peace with each other. In the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us that God loves and blesses peacemakers, and calls them His children. This implies that relationship to
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The devastating effects of deception
For the next couple of weeks, I want to talk about the secret chambers of our conscience that contains our thoughts, emotions, attitudes, convictions and basically who we really are.
Some will say they wear their feelings on their sleeves and how transparent they are to everyone. I admire these individuals as they seem to have a personality that is open, humble and honest with nothing to hide.
However, just because a person allows themselves to be fearless and
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Pickens downs Daniel to reclaim Region 2-4A title
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — One year removed from dropping its first region championship in over a decade, the Pickens High School volleyball team looked to reclaim the Region 2-4A championship against Daniel last Thursday.
Despite dropping their first set in the entirety of their unbeaten region run, the Blue Flame were able to take care of business against the Lions pulling out a 3-1 win to secure the region crown.
“It means everything to these players,” Pickens head coach Mellie Crumpton said. “This was one of our goals and we just talked about in the huddle after the match, ‘Goal #1 is there’ so now we can add another up to that wall and that banner.”
The Blue Flame came out of the gate strong building an early lead in the opening set. Daniel tried to battle back, but Pickens never gave up its lead as Lily Clarkson (Three kills, five assists, two aces) and Kaci Gillespie (four kills and three assists) put together a masterful set to allow the Flame to take the opener 25-17.
The Lions responded in the second set taking control with a block from All-State middle blocker Zara Russell. This time, it was the Lions who maintained control throughout the set with libero Ava Ross throwing herself all over the floor to showcase her defensive prowess, while outside hitter Anusha Venayagamoorthy found her groove with six kills as the Lions took the set 26-24.
Having dropped their first set in region play, the Blue Flame came back in the third with a dominant effort in the third set, taking it 25-17 to build a 2-1 lead.
“We knew it was going to be a fight,” Clarkson said. “We knew what we had to do and I think we executed really well.”
The Lions found even more trouble to start the fourth set with setter Maleah Gibson going down with an injury early but stayed close by trailing 17-15.
The Blue Flame finished strong with Gillespie picking up a kill as well as two aces to help the Flame get to match point. There, she assisted Clarkson for the final point as the Blue Flame took the set 25-18 to secure the 3-1 win.
While disappointed with the loss, Daniel coach Hayley Hoover was still encouraged by the play of her team in the loss.
“We had a lot of great moments tonight, we just had a really hard time stringing them all together and getting on some runs,” Hoover said. “We’re going to tighten up a few things and focus on finishing region strong next week.”
The Lions were set to finish region play with matchups against Blue Ridge and Greer at home this week, while the Blue Flame hit the road for region matchups against Seneca and Travelers Rest.
The Class 4A state volleyball playoffs are set to begin on Oct. 22.
t to begin on Oct. 22.
