Save A Lot gives back to Pickens
PICKENS — With the help and generosity of its valued customers, the Save A Lot store in Pickens has donated More »
County elections official recognized for excellence
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com COUNTY — Pickens County’s election analyst was recently recognized by a stateorganization for going More »
Devils cruise to region win over Blacksburg
By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com LIBERTY — Coming off a heartbreaking loss to Landrum, the third-ranked Liberty High School More »
Changing our perspective
Decisions are a part of life that we face every day. With everything from what we will wear to purchasing a new washing machine, our choices contribute as key components of our success and failures that are also directly connected to our peace and joy.
Sometimes we are strongly influenced with the mesmerizing sparkle and emotional excitement that pulls us into a hypnosis, and this crossroad can be a dangerous place to make a long-term commitment.
It’s also common to experience regret after making a decision that did not turn out like we thought it would and is a discouraging environment, especially if we conclude there is no reasonable way out. For example, it 
would be miserable to buy an expensive sports car and then discover it’s uncomfortable to drive and is consistently breaking down with outrageous repair costs. Even more deflating would be to realize no one else wants it and we owe more than it is worth.
We can go down the list and see the many different areas of life where people are disappointed and feel hopelessly trapped. Things like a huge house mortgage that is more like a ball and chain than home sweet home, a
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Meals on Wheels plans 5K Glow Run in Liberty
LIBERTY — Pickens County Meals on Wheels will be hosting its second annual 5K Glow Run at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13.
The run will start on S.C. Highway 93 in front of the McKissick Center in downtown Liberty and will end at the back of the building on Edgemont Avenue.
The race has been listed with Go-GreenEvents.com, where participants can pre-register and will receive a T-shirt with their packets if registered by Oct. 8.
There will also be a “Glow Attire Contest” at 7 p.m. where participants are
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Now open in Six Mile
Fairview Water Gardens officially opened its newest facility, Fairview Water Gardens Country Park, located at 231 Griggs Road in Six Mile, on Monday, Sept. 10. Pictured are Francine Robertshaw and Elian Tyson of the Liberty Chamber of Commerce, Six Mile mayor Roy Stoddard, owner Ernie Vaughn, owner John Bruder, Aubrey and Colby, and Jim Hayes of Six Mile. Cutting the ribbon is owner Anna Bruder. The park offers birthday parties, pay and play and other events. Fairview will a fall festival on Oct. 13 with live music, food and shopping vendors, games and more. For more information, call (864) 868-9805, visit fwgcountrypark.com or find Fairview on Facebook.
Fine arts events planned at SWU
CENTRAL — Southern Wesleyan University’s Division of Fine Arts will present the following free events. For details, please contact the division office at (864) 644-5408 or email jsbryant@swu.edu. A schedule can also be found at swu.edu/finearts.
Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m. – Dr. Amber James Faculty Voice Recital
Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center auditorium, 737 Wesleyan Drive, Central
Former graduate and newest Fine Arts faculty member, Dr. Amber James,
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Courier Community Calendar 9-19-18
• Cannon Auxiliary to host car show
The Cannon Memrial Hospital Auxiliary wil host a special fundraising car show at Legacy Square on Main Street in Pickens on Sept. 22. Participant check-in will be from 2-3 p.m. Judging and awards presentaion will be 3-4 p.m. From 4-7 p.m. the public is invited to come out and see all the vehicles on display. For more information, contact Amanda Miller at (864) 898-1334 or amiller@anmedhealthcannon.org.
• Event planned at Cafe Connection
The public is invited to show up Thursday night, Sept. 27, at Café Connections in downtown Pickens to learn a little about our Constitution and the role you play in impacting our government. The free class will
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Mt. Bethel to host revival
SUNSET — The Rev. Jeff Roper will lead revival services at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church from Oct. 1-4, beginning at 7 p.m.
Special music and a nursery will be provided each night.
Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church is located at 126 Mt. Bethel Church Road in Sunset. The Rev. Dick Waldrep is pastor. Everyone is invited.
Courier Obits 9-19-18
Jasper H. “Bud” Crowe
EASLEY — Bud Crowe, 85, husband of the late Effie Crowe, passed from this life Monday, Sept. 10, 2018.
Born in Pickens County, he was a son of the late Lonie and Vera Roper Crowe. Bud was retired with Southeastern Freight Lines, was of the Baptist faith and was a veteran of the United States Army.
Survivors include a daughter, Toni (Jim) Johnson of Easley; a son, Rocky (Sandy) Crowe of Sunset; grandchildren, Tara (Michael) Looper, Jamy Johnson, Ryan (Jessica) Crowe and Kayla (Joey) Barnett; great-grandchildren, Austin, Aaron, and Alaya Looper, Breelyn and Aslyn Johnson, Addison and Paisley Crowe and Logan Barnett; brothers, Jessie Crowe and Tom Crowe; and sisters, Miriam Lyles, Fannie Belle Mauldin, and Sara Mae Redding.
Bud was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Effie, and a great-grandson, Roper Crowe.
The funeral service was held Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, in the chapel ofMountain View Funeral Home, with burial following at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens.
Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Crowe family.
Alfred B. Robinson
EASLEY — Alfred Burgess Robinson, 89, passed away Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Easley.
Born in Easley on Nov. 30, 1928, he was a son of the late William Alexander and Mary Burgess Robinson. An Eagle Scout in Troop 37, Mr.
BULLDOG BLOWOUT
Blue Flame dominate in all phases against Berea
PICKENS — The threat of Hurricane Florence shook the high school 
football world last week, leading many Upstate schools to move their Friday night games to Thursday.
The Pickens Blue Flame had a big night planned, with Berea scheduled to visit Bill Isaacs Field for Homecoming and all the festivities that go along with it.
But Florence put a halt to that and forced the decision to be made to play on Thursday and reschedule Homecoming for later in the season.
Despite the disruption of routine, coach Chad Smith’s Big Blue Machine was ready and put a 44-13 hurting on the Bulldogs in front of a sparse crowd.
The victory was as dominating as the score indicated, with Pickens in such control that the coaches on both sides agreed to keep the game clock running without stopping the entire second half.
“It was an odd day and an odd situation, but our kids did what they were supposed to do,” Smith said. “We still have plenty of stuff to work on. I was very happy with our competitive style, and we got the job done.”
Pickens rolled up 461 yards of offense, while the Blue Flame defense clobbered the Berea offense, allowing a measly 56 yards, most of which came on the Bulldogs’ last possession.
The victory was a much-needed one for Smith’s team entering this week’s bye week, making preparation for region play much smoother over the next two weeks.
“If you went into a two-week stretch off a loss, it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun,” he said. “I hope after this one tonight we will get a little bit of 
time to rest and get healthy and then prepare for region play, which in South Carolina is basically your season.”
Another big advantage to the lopsided win was a chance to let everyone see some playing time. Pickens substituted freely most of the second half.
“We had a lot of kids play and we had the running clock in the second half,” Smith said. “We handled it well. I am proud of them. It takes some guts to be on a team and not start when you are a junior or senior.
“To be able to get those kids in the game and let them compete was big for us tonight. They executed well. I was proud of them.”
The game started with the Blue Flame taking the opening kick and going right to work. Starting at the 39 after a nice 34-yard return by Andrew Pittman, Pickens rolled over the Bulldogs for a five-play, 61-yard drive that seemed easy. Pickens’ dynamic duo of Jarod Barton and Brady Batson was on display immediately, as the pair picked up 23 yards each on
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Creating Confidence
Short week doesn’t slow Red Devils
By Clay Counts
Special to The Courier
claycounts21@yahoo.com
GREENVILLE — Hurricane Florence threw a monkey wrench into last week’s high school football schedule, forcing teams into Thursday night 
games.
But a short week of practice apparently had no lasting ill effects on the Liberty football team, as the Red Devils made a trip across county lines to take on Carolina High School and overcame a tough first quarter to come away with a 38-28 road win.
After taking a big victory over St. Joseph’s the previous week, the Devils looked to grow with a newfound balanced offensive attack striking both on the ground and through the air, and Liberty did just that to improve to 3-2 heading into an off week to prepare for the region schedule.
Liberty kicked off to start Thursday’s game at Carolina and quickly forced a fumble after only three plays to take an early advantage.
The offensive line showed its ability to control the line of scrimmage, with the Red Devils marching down the field on the legs of Clay Lollis — who finished the game with 182 yards on 36 carries — all the way inside the 5-yard line. An eight-yard jet-sweep shovel pass from Carter Smith to Jeremy Cason for a score gave Liberty a 6-0 lead midway through the opening quarter.
Carolina answered with a quick score of its own, however, then added another quick touchdown less than 20 seconds later after a Liberty fumble to stretch its lead to 14-6. Another lost fumble cost the Red Devils again on their ensuing possession, as Carolina tacked on another score to take a 20-6 lead into the second quarter. The Trojans put three touchdowns on the board in a little more than three and a half minutes of game time in the opening quarter.
Liberty coach Kyle Stewart said the short week and uncertainty about when
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Looking for a spark
Wave drop region opener at Westside
By Eugene Jolley
Courier Sports
ejolley@thepccourier.com
ANDERSON — It was a familiar story Thursday night for the Easley football team against region rival Westside.
Playing a night early due to the threat of heavy rains from Hurricane 
Florence, the Green Wave hung in there early, but a late score to end the first half gave Westside needed momentum and the Rams pulled away for a 42-14 win in the region opener.
“We had a good start,” Easley coach John Windham said. “We’re losing the field position battle. We’ve got to get to where we’re not giving them the short field and us having the long field. I felt like that happened a lot tonight. We’ve got to do a better job at trying to win the field position battle.”
The Rams (1-3, 1-0) scored first when senior tailback Paul Johnson rumbled in from eight yards out.
On the next-to-last play of the first quarter, special teams came up big for the Green Wave as Jeremy Harried blocked a punt and Dawson Wilson recovered the ball and returned it for a touchdown. Malaki Aleman’s kick made it 7-7 with 11 seconds left in the quarter.
Westside only punted one more time in the game.
Easley had a chance to keep its momentum rolling moments later when Harried broke away for a 70-yard go-ahead touchdown run, but the play was nullified by an illegal block penalty, and the Wave soon lost control of the game.
The Rams took advantage of field position midway through the second quarter. Traye Carson’s punt return to the Easley 28 set up the score four plays later, as Johnson scored from a yard out with 4:32 left in the half.
Then the Rams drove it 58 yards to score again just before halftime. A big play was a 30-yard run by Johnson on first and 23. Carson took the direct 
snap around the left side from 19 yards out with 51 seconds left in the half to make it 21-7.
“That was a big swing,” Windham said. “Here again I think they had two short fields where they only had to go 30 yards to score. They got in that heavy package and were able to stay in it. I think a lot of that had to do with a short field. They didn’t have to drive it down. They’ve got
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