Pickens sweeps Bishop England for 18th volleyball championship
By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com COLUMBIA — Having dropped just one set on its way to the Class 4A More »
Balance key for state champs
Last season, when the Pickens High School volleyball team overcame a year of adversity to secure the 17th state championship More »
Pickens runoff set for Tuesday
By Bru Nimmons Staff Reporter bnimmons@thepccourier.com PICKENS — Voters from Pickens will return to the polls one final time this More »
TD Bank closing one Easley branch
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com EASLEY — A TD Bank branch in Easley is among the more than 50 More »
This week in the PICKENS COUNTY COURIER’s FOOTBALL FRENZY Sponsored by MOUNTAIN VIEW FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS
DROUGHT ENDED Red Devils take down Pelion for first playoff win since 2016 Lions survive Dreher to advance; Easley season More »
Remembering the past, looking to the future
By Steve Townsend Special to the Courier news@thepccourier.com CENTRAL — As the late summer sun set at the at the More »
Courier Trespass Notices 5-21-25
In the state of South Carolina, trespass after notice is a misdemeanor criminal offense prohibited by section 16-11-620 for the South Carolina Code.
Those who enter upon the lands of others without the permission of the owner or manager shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor trespassing. All persons are hereby
Courier Legal Notices 5-21-25
Prisma breaks ground on new Behavioral Health hospital
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — As a psychiatrist and emergency physician, Dr. Karen Lommel said she sees firsthand “the devastation of untreated mental illness, but also the lifesaving value of access to the right treatment at the right time.”
The chair of psychiatry for Prisma Health in the Upstate, Lommel spoke Monday morning at the groundbreaking for Prisma Health’s behavioral health hospital, a $138 million facility being built at the intersection of S.C. Highway 153 and Old Easley Bridge
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Monument to Vietnam vets rolls into Pickens County
LIBERTY — The wait is finally over this week, as the Pickens County Veterans Affairs office welcomed the Wall That Heals to Pickens County on Tuesday.
The traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica arrived in Easley on Tuesday, May 13, with an official escort from Rock Springs Baptist Church.
The escort traveled down U.S. Highway 123 to Deer Wood Farms, located at 765 Breazeale Road in Liberty. Community members and local businesses were encouraged
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Issaqueena Festival set for Saturday
SIX MILE — The Issaqueena Festival will return to downtown Six Mile this Saturday, May 17, promising a full day of entertainment, fitness and family-friendly fun.
Running from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., the annual event will take place along Main Street and will highlight local Native American history and folklore. Festivalgoers can enjoy storytelling, traditional foods and children’s activities,
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Coming home
Rising country music star Whiten returns to Six Mile to perform at Issaqueena Festival
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
SIX MILE — After going viral on the internet and moving to Nashville, Tenn., a musician from Six Mile will be returning for a hometown show this weekend.
Blake Whiten will be headlining the Issaqueena Festival on Saturday, May 17.
The Courier spoke with his parents, Windi and Matthew Whiten, on May 8.
Blake’s mother said they bought him “his first little junior guitar” when he was 4 years old.
“By 12 or 13, he was pretty good,” Windi said.
As a kid, Blake tried to jump start his musical career.
“He tried to drop out of middle school to go to Nashville,” Windi said. ‘I wouldn’t let
him. I just laughed it off. I guess he really knew what he was going to do.”
She said her son “got all that talent from his daddy.”
“My dad, my aunts all sang and played instruments,” Matthew said. “I play
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Carter wins VA director election
COUNTY — After a two-week voting period, the results from the advisory election to 
select the next Pickens County Veterans Affairs Officer finished up on Friday.
Interim Veterans Affairs director Walt Carter bested local veteran John P. Hembree by a razor-thin margin, taking
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Easley woman charged with forgery, fraud
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
STATE — An Easley woman faces multiple charges following an investigation by the 
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Jakena Edreka Barton, 47, is charged with two counts of forgery with a value less than $10,000 and presenting a false
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Pickens County Council approves ‘25-26 tax cut
By Evan Smoak
Courtesy The Journal
evan@upstatetoday.com
PICKENS — Pickens County Council voted on a tax cut last week as part of the 
upcoming fiscal year 2025-26 budget.
The council approved the second reading of the budget during its regularly scheduled council meeting last
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Blue Flame rally to drop Wren
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — With a trip to the Class 4A Upper State District 1 championship on the 
line, the Pickens High School softball team hosted Wren on Thursday.
After building an early advantage, the Blue Flame fell behind 7-3 in the fifth inning and looked likely to fall into the loser’s bracket of the district. Instead, the Flame rallied, scoring five runs over the next two innings including a go-ahead bunt single by Kylie Thornall to
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