Two accused of abusing Easley teen
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com ANDERSON COUNTY — Two men are each charged with sexually abusing a teen girl, More »
Ruff hired as LHS football coach
By Bru Nimmons Staff Reporter bnimmons@thepccourier.com LIBERTY — Coming off one of the most successful stretches in school history under More »
Coroner: Fatal shooting was isolated incident
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com EASLEY — There was no threat to the public following a fatal shooting incident More »
Brotherly love leads to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll
Pickens County family finds ties to Elvis Presley PICKENS — It’s amazing sometimes what you might discover when you start More »
Duke Energy gives tips to save energy during the winter months
UPSTATE — As winter temperatures hit the Upstate, Duke Energy says it is committed to helping customers manage energy costs More »
County COVID cases balloon to more than 800
COLUMBIA — Pickens County’s confirmed COVID-19 cases have been skyrocketing alongside the 
numbers across the state, as the county’s caseload grew by nearly 300 over the past week.
The county has had double-digit case increases every day over the past week, including a single-day record of 66 reported cases on June 24. According to the latest numbers released Monday by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the county was up to 805 confirmed cases, an increase of 276 confirmed cases over the 529 reported on the same day a week ago.
After hovering near the bottom among the state’s 46 counties in rate of infection for much of the spring, the county has also climbed those rankings and now sits at
SC 183 bridge set to be closed for two months
PICKENS — Drivers traveling between Six Mile and Pickens will have a disruption over the next two months after the South Carolina Department of Transportation was forced to shut down S.C. Highway 183 for an emergency bridge repair this week.
According to an SCDOT news release, Highway 183 — also known as Walhalla Highway — was shut down Tuesday and will be closed until the end of the day on Aug. 31 for an emergency repair to a bridge over Twelve Mile Creek.
The bridge is located near the Bargain Exchange Flea Market and S.C. Dunn and Sons Lumber.
Traffic will be detoured from Walhalla Highway to Wolf Creek School Road to Allgood Bridge Road and back to Walhalla Highway, according to the SCDOT.
Call (864) 859-0039 with any questions.
AG, SLED weigh in on mask laws
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
STATE — With COVID-19 cases rising in South Carolina, several cities, including Clemson, Greenville and Columbia have passed ordinances requiring masks to be worn in public.
Central officials were set to consider an ordinance requiring masks on Tuesday.
Following the passage of mask ordinances around the state, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and the State Law Enforcement Division issued clarifications regarding the requirements.
Wilson issued a statement on June 24, saying his office received a number of calls about the ordinances passed by Greenville and Columbia “that concern the wearing of masks within those cities’ jurisdictions and under certain conditions.”
Wilson said he was providing “a general answer” and that his office “is not endorsing, defending or even attacking these ordinances.”
“The only question before my office is whether a city can lawfully pass this type of ordinance,” he said. “The short answer to that question is — yes, a city can
Carter, Collins win SC House runoffs
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — After months of campaigning for a chance to be on the ballot for November’s general 
election, primary season is finally over in Pickens County 
following a runoff contest last Tuesday for two State House of Representatives seats.
The big winner of the day was retired businessman Jerry Carter, as he pulled away from current school board trustee Phillip Bowers for the Republican nomination for State House District 3. Carter managed to get nearly 62 percent of the vote and outgained Bowers 1,192 votes to 731 votes.
With the win, Carter will now face off with Democrat and local
Letters to the Editor
That grand old flag
Dear Editor,
It’s a grand old flag with 50 stars of white in a field of blue. With red and white stripes, too.
It’s a grand old flag that proudly waved with holes from the battle blown through there at Fort McHenry when the British tried to our young country to take. A grand old flag waving as our troops faced the Bertha Gun in World War I. Proudly waved over Iwo Jima and at Normandy on D-Day. In Korea, she flew proudly as we held the ground. It was there in ‘Nam when Uncle Sam kicked ol’ Papa Ho’s hiney around. Flying over the land proudly while back home some were marching in the
Parents’ most important responsibility is serious
I was thinking the other day about how life has changed since I was a little boy. I’m sure that many of you can agree that we never imagined some of the things we are seeing.
I remember when I was young, life was fairly simple, and when I would listen to my mom and dad talk to each other, it was mostly about paying bills and all the little things that kept everything going.
We would watch the Huntley-Brinkley report, but I don’t recall my parents discussing politics that much. In those days, the Beatles having hair below their ears was a sign the world was coming to an end. When it came to the news, I cannot recall my parents or grandparents being
Our routines are out of sync
The new ways we shop for groceries is only the tip of the iceberg this year. Thanks to the 
coronavirus, there are a number of other things we will likely end up doing in a different way.
Many of us have put aside one item on our annual to-do list: filing our taxes. The tax due date was pushed back to July 15, and that date is coming up quickly.
If you’ll owe taxes and generally send in a cashier’s check with your return, you’ll need to get that in advance if you don’t want to stand in line in your bank. Many banks are providing services through the drive-up
SC restaurant program could make it less dangerous to dine out again
South Carolina’s hospitality industry got overtaken by events this past week — in a good way — when three of the state’s largest cities adopted ordinances to require people to wear masks in public, 
including in restaurants.
We can’t very well keep our masks on while we’re eating, and wait staff have to get pretty close to serve our meals and even to take our orders, so restaurants will always be one of our biggest challenges in the age of COVID-19. Compound that with many restaurants’ refusal to require their staff to wear masks, and we have a recipe for infection — and an invitation for a large swath of customers to keep eating at home, dealing a potentially fatal blow to individual
Courier Obituaries 7-1-20
JEANNE B. GARNER
CHESTER — Mrs. Jeanne Brown Garner, 88, passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2020, at MUSC 
Chester Nursing Center in Chester.
She was born on July 4, 1931, in Youngstown, Ohio, and was the daughter of the late Clarence Edward Brown and Janie Frances Dukes McHenry. She frequently attended St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Chester and was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Pickens, where she was a member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society.
She was a graduate of Ursuline High School in Youngstown and was an LPN at Self Memorial Hospital in Greenwood before she retired to administer the home with her two children and husband.
She enjoyed reading, travel, time spent with family and friends and watching her beloved Georgia Bulldogs football team.
Mrs. Garner was predeceased by one brother, Robert C. Brown of Greenville, and her husband, Ray Garner of Pickens.
She is survived by sons, Brian (Jennifer) Garner of Chester and Brad (Brenda) Garner of Oxford, Pa.; three grandchildren, Andrew Garner, Madelynne Garner and Brianna (Nathan) Arnolds; and nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
The family would like to thank the staff at MUSC Chester Nursing Center, Lowrys Family Medicine, MUSC Chester Center and Carolina Heart for their outstanding love and care of our Mother.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jeanne’s name to the American Diabetes Association, 107 Westpark Blvd. #220, Columbia, SC 29210.
PARKER WAYMON PACE
BREVARD — Parker Waymon Pace, 83, husband of Anne R. Pace of Brevard, N.C., went to be with 
his Lord and Savior on Friday, June 19, 2020. He was at home surrounded by his family.
Born in Rocky Bottom, he was the son of the late Milton C. Pace and Esther A. Pace.
Parker was a member of Pisgah Forest Baptist Church for more than 50 years, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and on many committees. He retired from Ecusta (P.H. Glatfelter) after 42 years of service. Parker was a graduate of Pickens High School and had lived in Brevard since 1957. He was a member of the Dunn’s Rock Masonic Lodge and Oasis Shriners. In addition to his love of golf and Clemson football, he was a loving father and grandfather.
Parker loved his wife, loved his family and loved his church. He seldom missed a chance to watch Brevard football and basketball, especially when his grandson was playing or
July 4 events scheduled across Pickens County
COUNTY — Independence Day is nearly here in Pickens County, but with the ever-present threat of 
COVID-19, community celebrations for the event will look very different this year.
Events will begin this Friday, July 3, with a celebration hosted by the town of Six Mile at Ponderosa Park. Unlike years past, there will be no food or entertainment, and it will be strictly a fireworks-only event. The park will be opened to the public at 7:30 p.m. after a sanitation period earlier in the day to allow the public ample time to get there before the show begins at around 9:15 p.m.
Attendees will be allowed to either watch the fireworks from their vehicles or from inside the park, where social distancing guidelines are encouraged.
Easley, Liberty and Pickens will all host events on Saturday.
The city of Liberty will host its annual Love my Liberty Fourth of July celebration from 6-10 p.m. at the Liberty Athletic Complex. The event features the Emma KAPPS bike parade, free hot dogs and
