Monthly Archives: May 2018
‘A gratitude crisis’
UN ambassador urges Clemson grads to pay it forward
Haley presented with honorary doctorate
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley urged a group of Clemson University graduates last week to live lives of “active gratitude.”
The former South Carolina governor spoke to graduates of the College of Business and College of Education Thursday afternoon.
“It’s a great day at Clemson University and it’s a great day in South Carolina,” Haley said, recalling the catchphrase she ordered state government agency employees to use when answering phones during her first term as governor in 2011.
Haley graduated from Clemson in 1994 with a degree in accounting.
“Aside from my parents, Clemson is what has shaped my life the
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Officials discuss future of Liberty library branch
Possible options include removing books, closing library
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Liberty’s Sarlin Branch library could look very different in the future, while still serving the community.
Officials discussed the future of the branch library, including the possibility of its closure, during a budget workshop Monday night.
“We’re looking for every nickel right now,” Councilman Trey Whitehurst said.
Reducing hours at all the county’s branch libraries is being considered. That would result in a savings to the county of $100,000, council
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Confederate Memorial Day event planned
PICKENS — For the 115th year, the traditional Confederate Memorial Day will be celebrated this Saturday, May 19, on the grounds of the 
historic Hagood-Mauldin House at 104 N. Lewis St. in Pickens.
Sponsored by the Pickens County Historical Society and the Sons of Confederate Veterans camps of Pickens County, the event will begin at 11 a.m. The featured speaker will be historian Rossy Meadows of the Confederate Museum and Library in Greenville.
The public is invited to attend the educational and historical event. The museum house and gardens will be open for tours from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
For more information, call (864) 878-1322 or email pickenscohistory@gmail.com.
Response to new magnet schools called ‘fantastic’
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
COUNTY — School District of Pickens County spokesman John Eby could hardly contain his enthusiasm when describing the response by parents to enrolling children in the district’s first two magnet schools, 
set to open in the fall.
“Response to magnet schools has been fantastic,” Eby said. “The target was to recruit 50 to each one the first year, and we already have more applications for each. We’re at 100 for McKissick Elementary School and 75 at Central. The response has been great and strong. The biggest surprise is we’ve seen kids pulled from all over the county drawn to the theme.”
Last fall, the school district announced that Central Elementary School and McKissick Elementary School were approved by trustees as theme-based magnet
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Central senior center to get new life this year
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — Officials hope to use the former Seniors Unlimited building in Central for a number of programs benefiting senior
citizens, including Meals on Wheels.
During a May 7 meeting, Pickens County Council members approved the third and final reading of an ordinance turning over the senior center building, located at 120 Commons Way, to the town of Central.
The county had been leasing the building to Central.
Central will pay the county $10 for the building, according to the
purposes, it will revert back to the county.
Central assistant administrator Tom Cloer spoke before county council
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Liberty festival set for next weekend
LIBERTY — The Liberty festivals and events committee and the city of Liberty recently announced the upcoming Celebrate Liberty Spring Festival and the kick-off of Music in the Park.
The Celebrate Liberty Spring Festival is set for Saturday, May 26, from noon-7 p.m. in downtown Liberty.
A Memorial Weekend Honor Ride is scheduled as part of the festival. The ride benefits the local chapter of Upstate Warrior Solutions and will take place with the start and final stop in downtown Liberty.
“We are so excited to be able to partner with the Memorial Weekend Honor Ride this year. It will be a great addition to our event, bringing
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
District partnering with charter school to serve dyslexic students
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
PICKENS — The Pickens County School Board approved an agreement last week in which a school in the district will host a separate charter school for students with dyslexia.
District officials said Friday the agreement is with Lakes and Bridges Charter School, set to open at Crosswell Elementary School in August. Authorized by the South Carolina Public Charter School District, Lakes and Bridges plans to accept elementary students from multiple
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
New county museum exhibit a result of journey in friendship
PICKENS — As you travel through life, you never know of the people you meet, which ones will become your lifelong friends. Usually only one or two take that journey with you.
Joy Spirithawk Evans and Rhonda Stanford-Zahn have been supporting and inspiring each other’s creative endeavors for 30 or more years, even though Joy lives in northern Pickens County and Rhonda lives in northern New York.
A new series on exhibition at the Pickens County Museum of Art and History — called “Chrome, Rubber and Rust” — was inspired by a trip Stanford-Zahn took to visit her longtime friend.
During the visit, they went riding around Pickens County taking
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Be careful where you lay your eggs
We bought a new dryer last August, and it has been working beautifully. Until last Monday.
And then, after throwing in a load of wet clothes and setting the cycle, I was surprised to find the clothes weren’t dry. They weren’t even hot. Just a little warm. So I ran them through again, but the results were unchanged.
This went on for about three days until I realized there was something wrong.
So I got my booklet out of the file cabinet and called the Sears repair line. The dryer is still under warranty, and we’re dependent upon it.
After going through the regular number of recordings and numbers, I
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
We are the caretaker of our own thoughts
I read a book years ago by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale called, “The Amazing Results of Positive Thinking,” and I recommend it as an inspiration and encouragement to your spiritual life.
Peale explains that our mind is filled with all types of thoughts and persuasions, but everyone is held accountable to manage them. We have the ability to resist and ignore the negative influences that hinder our life and to also embrace
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
