Local councils take part in state leadership training
COLUMBIA — City council members from the City of Liberty and the City of Pickens spent last week in Columbia More »
Hot-shooting Hillcrest keeps Easley winless in region play
By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com EASLEY — Holding a 60-57 lead entering the fourth quarter of their matchup against More »
LWVOP receives empowerment grant to expand local voter education efforts
UPSTATE — The League of Women Voters of Oconee and Pickens Counties (LWVOP) is excited to announce that it has More »
PC Native Plant Jubilee returns on May 2
LIBERTY — The Pickens County Native Plant Jubilee will return for its second year Saturday, May 2, bringing together gardeners, More »
Easley officials predict continued growth
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Easley’s residential growth shows no signs of stopping, 
and commercial growth is picking up as well.
“Easley’s on the move,” Mayor Larry Bagwell said during his annual State of the City address last month at South & West. “We have averaged over $30 million in permitted construction over the last five years. We are anticipating that trend will continue in 2019.”
He said officials want to have “quality services, quality places and a quality community.”
“Having been here all my 82 years, I don’t think you can find a better place in this state or any other state that gives you those three things
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‘Call me Grandma’ set for community center
PICKENS — “Call Me Grandma,” a play written by local resident Carol Baker and originally performed in July 2018 at the Hagood Community Center in Pickens, will be back by popular demand for a one-time-only performance later this month.
Scheduled for 7 p.m. March 23 at the community center, the play is set in Pumpkintown in the 1940s and tells the story of a wayward boy and his journey to find a family. Tickets will be $5 per person, and all
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Courier Obituaries 3-13-19
CHARLES DOUGLAS
“DOUG” MCCOLLUM
PICKENS — Charles Douglas “Doug” McCollum, 82, of Pickens, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday March 7, 2019.
Born on Dec. 7, 1936, in Pickens County, he was the son of the late Ralph McCollum Sr. and Essie Freeman McCollum. Doug was retired from Singer and a member of Mountain View Baptist Church. He was a member of the Mason Lodge and the Hejaz Shriners. He was also an entrepreneur, having successfully operated a local car wash, a barbershop and rental properties. He started a tradition of being the first to give all of the grandchildren in the family their first haircut. Doug was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and gardening. He was also a classic car enthusiast, who enjoyed listening to bluegrass music. Above all things, he loved his family and his wife of 63 years, Lucille
Not everyone can rise and shine
People come in two categories. Some people are larks, and some are owls. The world is geared to larks. These people spring from bed early each morning. They whistle on their way to get coffee and talk 
loudly and incessantly to others. They may be unaware that the one they’re having a monologue with is not even awake.
But that’s how larks are. Rise and shine. And that’s exactly what they do.
Now owls are a different breed. They don’t fully wake up before noon, even if they’ve been dragged from their warm and cozy beds by larks. Owls stumble around and drink coffee. They
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Letters to the Editor
Bullying
Dear Editor,
Bullying. Is your child at risk?
Are we too busy with everyday happenings to give attention to children to see the warning signs? Such signs as feelings of helplessness, loss of appetite and coming home with bruises or cuts — silent and withdrawn when normally happy and outgoing.
One in seven students in grades K-12 are victims of repeated bullying. No longer can they get away from it at home thanks to the internet. Bullies often go on to perpetrate violence later in life. Forty percent of boys who were bullies in grades six through nine had three or more arrests by age 30. One out of every 10 students who drop out
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An eclipse of SC’s Sunshine laws
Remember the August 2017 solar eclipse that carved a path through South Carolina? Bright daylight gave way to shadows, which then gave way to total darkness. Within minutes, of course, a summer day 
was again put into the sun’s bright light.
Another eclipse seems to be taking place in the Palmetto State. In this case, it is what the public should be privy to that is being eclipsed. Private organizations that have received public funds, such as chambers of commerce, have been given a free
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PCPAC to host ‘Storm in the Holler’
New Dixie Storm and Tugalo Holler team up for a night of bluegrass, gospel and country
LIBERTY — Are you ready for some down-home gospel music, along with some of the best bluegrass you will ever hear, all in one show?
If the answer is yes, then make plans to travel to Liberty this Saturday.
All are invited to the Pickens County Performing Arts Center to see
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50 years of service
Two Pickens residents were recently honored at a regular communication of Keowee Lodge No. 79, AFM, for having completed 50 years of membership. Joe Waldrop and Jean Westbrook were presented with special awards from the Grand Lodge of South Carolina by William B. Rogers, past Grand Master of Easley. Pictured, from left, are Waldrop, WilRogers, Westbrook and M.R. Billingsley, Worship Master of Keowee Lodge
TCTC vet tech adoption day this Thursday
UPSTATE — Tri-County Technical College’s Veterinary Technology Department will hold a Pet Adoption Day this Thursday, March 14, from 2-6 p.m. at Halbert Hall on the Pendleton campus.
Dogs are leash trained and taught basic commands, while the cats are socialized with people and other cats.
All animals have been spayed or neutered and vaccinated. They also are current on heartworm and flea prevention medications. There is
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Courier Community Calendar
• United in prayer for life event planned
On Thursday, March 21, Cornerstone Christian and Music Store will present a special service “Uniting in Prayer For Life” from 7-9 p.m. This will be a participatory program of worship, repentance, communion, scripture reading, silent and spoken prayers for our country and its unborn citizens, led by Erica Raeh. All are invited.
Cornerstone Christian and Music Store is located at 1895 Gentry Memorial Highway, Easley (Solid Gold/Dalton Flats).
• PCLA plans spring book sale this month
The Pickens County Literacy Association’s annual spring book sale is scheduled for March 29-30 at the Pickens Presbyterian Church social hall.
This year, the PCLA has a large number of DVDs, cookbooks and fiction divided by popular authors.
Hours will be from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday, March 29, and 9 a.m.-6
