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Local councils take part in state leadership training

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

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

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

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 »

 

Legislators: No early start date for schools this year

By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal

goliver@upstatetoday.com

EASLEY — Members of the Pickens County Legislative Delegation told School District of Pickens County officials recently that the uniform start date for schools passed more than a decade ago will remain in place at least for the foreseeable future.

“I can safely tell you that you won’t have flexibility in the 2019-20 school year,” said State Rep. Neal Collins, who represents the Easley area. “I expect it to get hung up in the Senate. There are undercurrents, and it would be false if I told you it would happen in 2019-20.”

Prior to 2007-08, local districts had the authority to set the opening date for schools. However, state law now mandates that schools cannot open prior to the third Monday in August. The only exception came at the start of the 2017-18 academic year, when South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed a joint resolution allowing a waiver for

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Chapel, commerce parks, ‘basic services’ on council’s wishlist

By Jason Evans

Staff Reporter

jevans@thepccourier.com

EASLEY — Pickens County Council members detailed their “wish list” for the future at a planning retreat at Prisma Health Baptist Easley Hospital on Thursday evening.

Chairman Roy Costner asked council members to detail their top priorities.

“We’re not making any decisions today,” he said. “We’re not voting on anything. We’re going to get back together in a year. What do you hope we’ve accomplished?”

Councilman Ensley Feemster said he’d like to see the room that will be used as a chapel at the county’s new jail be furnished.

“I hope that churches will help on that,” he said.

Councilman Wes Hendricks started out with two wishes.

“A new commerce park and get Mile Creek Park in tip-top shape,” he

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SWU project headed toward fall completion

Jericho Project will serve as disabilities and special needs community on campus

CENTRAL — Just as the walls of Jericho came tumbling down in the famous Bible story, The Jericho Project will be a place where walls that separate citizens with disabilities and special needs from the surrounding community will come down.

The Jericho Project is about preparing its residents to live more independent lives, while being part of a greater community dedicated to life learning experiences.

The Jericho Project is a collaboration of Southern Wesleyan University with disabilities and special needs boards in Pickens and Anderson Counties, along with the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.

According to Elaine Thena, director of Pickens County Board of

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Pickens teacher nominated for national award

PICKENS — Pickens Elementary School second-grade teacher Karen McMinn has been nominated for the 2018-2019 national LifeChanger of the Year award.

McMinn was recognized as a LifeChanger for always putting her students’ best interests first, engaging them on an individual level to accommodate their learning style. She also maintains strong communication with families, making sure to speak up if she feels a student needs additional help.

McMinn was nominated by Bridgett Martin, the parent of a student, for sparking a passion for learning in her daughter.

“Ms. McMinn has proven to me that she is a life-changing teacher in many ways,” Martin said. “This is only the start of my daughter’s first year in her class, but I already see a stronger desire for learning in her. She truly cares for each child and wants to see them make a difference.”

Sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, LifeChanger of

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Liberty student named Central’s top firefighter

By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal

goliver@upstatetoday.com

CENTRAL — Dawson Smith had only recently turned 18 when he was named Central Fireman of the Year last month.

But Smith’s excitement about earning the honor was dampened and his faith in his fellow firefighters strengthened when his home was destroyed by fire two weeks later.

“It was heartbreaking, because you never really think your house will burn,” Smith said. “It was one of those things God intended to happen, and luckily my firefighter brothers were there and continue to be with me to this day, raising money and literally giving me the clothes off their own backs.”

The sense of family is what led Smith to the Central Fire Department. He had never thought about becoming a firefighter, but would hang around the department with Elijah Reynolds, now the battalion chief and the son of Central Fire Chief Ed Reynolds. Eventually, Smith began helping the fire department as a volunteer two years ago and decided to become

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Baseball, softball registration open

PICKENS — Baseball and softball registration is being taken now through Feb. 22 at the Pickens Recreation Center on Sangamo Road in Pickens.

Coed age divisions offered are instructional for 4 year olds, tee ball/coaches pitch for 5-6 year olds and pitching machine for 7-8 year olds.

Boys’ baseball age divisions are minors (9-10), O-Zone (11-12), boys (13-14) and majors (15-19), provided enough register.

Girls’ softball age divisions are darlings (7-8), angels (9-10), ponytails

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SWU named designated Military Friendly school

CENTRAL — Southern Wesleyan University’s commitment to veterans and currently serving military personnel was again recognized with the Military Friendly designation.

Southern Wesleyan exceeded standards in these categories: Academic Policies and Compliance, Admissions and Orientation, Culture and commitment, Financial Aid and Assistance, Graduation and Career and Military Student Support and Retention.

During his first year at Southern Wesleyan, Army PFC Victor Corrales of Eden, N.C., appreciates the supportiveness of faculty and staff members.

“Being a military student can have its challenges, whether it is

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The debate on marijuana

Law enforcement officials have been asked to comment on the upcoming debate of legalizing marijuana in South Carolina and our stance in the fight against drugs. Recently, newspaper headlines have offered both criticism as well as support for this movement to include a bill that is now being presented to lawmakers. We have also received many questions on and have seen various publications on a new natural alternative to the common and illegal tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) known as cannabidiol (CBD). Research suggests CBD may be better for inflammation and neuropathic pain, while THC may excel

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Dear Mom and Dad: Cool it

If you are the mother or father of a high school athlete here in South Carolina, this message is primarily for you.

When you attend an athletic event that involves your son or daughter, cheer to your heart’s content, enjoy the camaraderie that high school sports offer and have fun. But when it comes to verbally criticizing game officials or coaches, cool it.

Make no mistake about it. Your passion is admired, and your support of the hometown team is needed. But so is your self-control. Yelling, screaming and berating the officials humiliates your child, annoys those sitting around you, embarrasses your child’s school and is the

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Remember, it’s still just a game

Of course, the New Orleans Saints and all their fans are bitterly disappointed. They won’t be playing in the Super Bowl. They lost the game because of a bad call. It was clearly pass interference. And though nobody knows what the outcome would have been without that unfortunate call, there will always be those who will remember and say, “If only.”

This we all understand and sympathize with. But it’s hard to believe there are really people out there who have brought a lawsuit claiming injury suffered due to the bad call, saying it caused them to “lose the ability to enjoy life.” Really? Yes, really.

It’s about loyalty and an identification with a particular team that

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