Flame advance to state title game
By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com PICKENS — With a trip to the Class 4A state championship on the line, More »
ElringKlinger to create 294 jobs in Easley
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com EASLEY — A company that announced it was coming to Pickens County last summer More »
Area groups discuss SNAP
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com COUNTY — Nearly 20 dozen area organizations and groups met last week to discuss More »
Former Easley mayor faces ethics complaint
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com STATE — The South Carolina Ethics Commission held a hearing last month about an More »
This week in the PICKENS COUNTY COURIER’s FOOTBALL FRENZY Sponsored by MOUNTAIN VIEW FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS
STILL SUPREME Lions take down Greer for seventh straight region championship Greenwood ends Easley’s season; Devils outlast Blacksburg; pickens clinches More »
VA adds new presumptives
In January the Department of Veterans Affairs added several illnesses to its list of presumptives, courtesy of the PACT Act. Done in two batches, the new additions to the list make it easier for veterans 
to get the care they need without the dragged-out process of proving that where they were stationed was the cause of their current condition. The illnesses are now considered service-
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Courier Obituaries 1-19-25
NANCY ELAINE CANTRELL
PICKENS — Nancy Elaine Cantrell, 73, of Pickens, passed away on Jan. 23, 2025, after a prolonged 
illness.
She was a lifelong resident of Pickens and was known as Elaine.
Elaine was born Jan. 12, 1952, at Cannon Memorial Hospital to David Perry Pace and Bobby Evelyn Trotter, also both lifelong residents of Pickens County. She attended Pickens High School and graduated as salutatorian in 1970. She would go on to attend Clemson University and graduate with honors in education in 1973. During this time, she met her future husband, Wallace Nathaniel Cantrell, while working a summer job at Sangamo in Pickens. They married shortly after graduation.
Elaine and Wallace would have two sons, Scott Michael Cantrell in 1974 and Steven Eric Cantrell in 1975. She would continue to attend Clemson University and attained her masters in personnel services (guidance) in 1983.
Elaine would teach both at Pickens Junior High and Pickens High School for 35 years, teaching thousands of Pickens County students before retiring in 2015.
Elaine was also a writer and published 18 novels. She read passionately, and in retirement donated generously to humane causes all over the U.S. She loved animals of all kinds and did everything she
Why is physical activity important?
Regular physical activity is important for good health, and it’s especially important if you’re trying to lose weight or to maintain a healthy weight.
When losing weight, more physical activity increases the number of calories your body uses for energy or “burns off.” The burning of calories through physical activity, combined with reducing the number of 
calories you eat, creates a “calorie deficit” that results in weight loss. Most weight loss occurs
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Making Physical Activity a Part of a Child’s Life
Many physical activities fall under more than one type of activity. This makes it possible for your child to do two or even three types of physical activity in one day. For example, if your daughter is on a basketball team and practices with her teammates every day, she is not only doing vigorous-intensity aerobic activity but also bone-strengthening. Or, if your daughter takes gymnastics lessons, she is not only doing vigorous-intensity aerobic activity but also muscle- and bone-strengthening.
It’s easy to fit each type of activity into your child’s schedule — all it takes is being familiar with the Guidelines and finding activities that your child enjoys.
What can I do to get — and keep — my child active?
As a parent, you can help shape your child’s attitudes and behaviors toward physical activity, and knowing these guidelines is a great place to start. Throughout their lives, encourage young people to be
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Calories/Hour Expended in Common Physical Activities
At left are some examples of physical activities commonly engaged in and the average amount of calories a 154-pound individual will expend by engaging in each activity for one hour. The expenditure value encompasses both resting metabolic rate calories and activity expenditure. Some of the activities can constitute either moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity depending on the rate at which they are carried out (for walking and bicycling).
Inspirational quotes
“By exercise, I’ll tell you one thing, you don’t always have to be on the go. I sit around a lot, I read a lot, and I do watch television. But I also work out for two hours every day of my life, even when I’m on the road.” — Jack LaLanne
“The first wealth is health.” — Emerson
“Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness.” — Earl of Derby
“Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.” — Plato
“The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.” — Anthony Robbins
Deep Winter Blues Fest returns
PICKENS — Local residents will have a chance to warm up their winter with the soulful sounds of the Piedmont Blues at Hagood Mill Historic Site’s annual Deep Winter Blues Festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 
Saturday, Feb. 15.
The beloved event celebrates the rich blues history of Upstate South Carolina, bringing together exceptional performers and timeless traditions for a day of music, culture and fun.
This year’s headliners include Chuck Beattie, a Chicago-style blues legend known as “Dr. Blues,” and Veronika Jackson, whose acoustic folk style blends African-American culture and authentic storytelling.
Joining them are celebrated performers Freddie Vanderford, Steve McGaha and David Donar, showcasing the Piedmont blues’ vibrant legacy.
Beyond the music, the festival will feature:
- Folklife and traditional arts demonstrations: Watch artisans and living history demonstrators in action and shop for unique, handcrafted treasures.
- Kids’ activities: Fun for the whole family.
- 1845 water-powered gristmill in operation: Witness a piece of history grinding fresh stone-ground cornmeal, grits and flours, available for purchase alongside Hagood Mill cookbooks and other items.
The event will take place at the enclosed Heritage Pavilion, heated for visitors’ comfort. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and dress warmly to enjoy the festival atmosphere.
Admission is $8 per person or $10 at the gate, and children 12 and under are free. Admission includes access to the Hagood Mill Historic Site, the Heritage Pavilion and the South Carolina Petroglyph Site. Proceeds support the site’s operations.
Located at 138 Hagood Mill Road, just off U.S. Highway 178 near Pickens, Hagood Mill Historic Site operates Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., year-round.
For more details, call (864) 898-2936, visit visithagoodmill.com or follow the site on Facebook @visithagoodmill.
Located in the heart of Pickens, Hagood Mill Historic Site proclaims itself “a treasured destination dedicated to preserving and celebrating the region’s rich cultural heritage.”
Established in 1845, the site features a historic gristmill, cultural exhibits and a vibrant calendar of events showcasing traditional arts, music and history.
Home to the South Carolina Rock Art Center, Hagood Mill serves as a hub for education, discovery and preservation of Native American rock art and other significant cultural artifacts.
Through its programs and initiatives, the site “fosters a deep connection to the past while inspiring future generations to appreciate and protect South Carolina’s unique history,” according to a news release.
Community Calendar 1-29-25
• Dacusville Lions to host monthly bingo
The Dacusville Lions Club will be hosting Bingo night on the second Thursday of each month at the Lions Building in Dacusville, located at 1384 Thomas Mill Road.
The next Bingo session will be Thursday, Feb. 13. There are set to be 10 games beginning at 7 p.m., and proceeds will go toward funding community events and other community needs. The games should conclude around 9 p.m. Bingo night will be a family-friendly event, and monetary prizes will be
