Monthly Archives: July 2018
Statewide bridge program making strides
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — The 10-year plan the South Carolina Department of Transportation has for replacing 465 restricted or deficient bridges statewide is making strides, as SCDOT officials say they have met their targets for the first year.
“Our roads and bridges have been neglected for three decades due to a shortfall in funding,” SCDOT Secretary of Transportation Christy Hall said in a prepared statement. “Our 10-year plan is the guide we will use to recover and restore the state’s highway system to good levels.”
The 10-year project is the result of what SCDOT officials say is “an increased and sustainable revenue stream” resulting from the South Carolina General Assembly’s passage of the Roads Bill that went into effect July 1, 2017. The bill
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Clinic to offer help clearing criminal records
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — SC Works and South Carolina Legal Services are teaming up to provide information to residents seeking to clear their criminal records.
A free clinic about the expungement process will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the SC Works Clemson Center, located at 1367 Tiger Blvd. Suite 102.
“Expungement is a big deal all the time, but it’s especially a big deal now that we have such a great economy and such great investment going on in all three counties that we serve,” Worklink workforce development board executive director Trent Acker said.
For those who have something in their background that they’re not proud of,
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Central bank branch closing
CENTRAL — First Citizens Bank officials have announced the closing of the bank’s longtime Central branch in less than two months.
Spokesman Frank Smith said Monday the last business day for the Central site will be Sept. 12, with the bank scheduled to close at 2 p.m.
“We regularly assess the operations of all our branches, and the decision to close this branch was a business decision based on the ongoing assessment of our branch network,” Smith said.
Smith said the bank, located at 100 Church St. beside the old Central Town Hall, has been in operation at the site since the early 1990s. The four
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Clemson bridge project to wrap up next month
CLEMSON — An official with the South Carolina Department of Transportation said the long-running project to improve the intersection of 
U.S. Highway 123 and S.C. Highway 133 and replace the nearby railroad bridge is on schedule to be completed Aug. 12.
“This project is coming along well,” SCDOT resident construction engineer Joe Laws said. “The bridge has been completed with the exception of a few minor items, such as painting, waterproofing and a closure pour. The contractor is still working on a new platform for the Amtrak station.”
Since it was first announced in 2009, numerous delays have kept the project from advancing as quickly as SCDOT, Clemson city officials and the public would have liked. However, the past couple of years have seen significant advancement in the way of demolition of the center pier of the old bridge and
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Central officials urge couple to sue over construction
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — Central officials advised a Brock Street couple to sue over damages they claim a home building company has caused in their neighborhood.
Elizabeth Finley spoke to town council Monday night about a planned subdivision called Hidden Valley near her home.
“My objective is to voice concerns over the new construction from Great Southern Homes in my neighborhood,” Finley said.
Finley and her husband, Dean, have lived at their Brock Street home for more than 23 years, she said.
She said work on a new sewer system near her home caused extensive tree
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Southern Wesleyan welcomes Moore as new CTO
CENTRAL — Southern Wesleyan University has named Dan Moore as its new chief technology officer (CTO).
Southern Wesleyan President Dr. Todd Voss said, “Dan Moore brings a wealth of specific experience to SWU that will serve our campus and online students so wonderfully. He is a collaborator, an innovator, and is excited about SWU’s mission and impact. An amazing combination!”
Moore brings to Southern Wesleyan his more than 20 years of experience in higher education information technology, grant acquisitions, personnel management and vendor negotiations. He has also been an affiliate computer science faculty member and is active in the Army Reserve.
“With the emphasis on technology in our future, Moore will be joining the Cabinet to increase connectivity and strategic planning opportunities,” Voss
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County honored for litter cleanup efforts
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Efforts to clean up Pickens County as part of its sesquicentennial celebration have been recognized nationally.
The National Association of Counties awarded Pickens County a 2018 Achievement Award in honor of the “Team Up and Clean Up” program.
Pickens County was recognized under the category “County Resilience: Infrastructure, Energy and Sustainability.”
County officials accepted the award Sunday in Nashville.
More than 300 county employees took part in the county’s first “litter blitz” on
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Stay alert — the bear is coming
There have been several bear sightings reported in our community, and we’re not sure whether it’s one bear who really gets around or several who enjoy 
traveling.
The size of the bear reported varies, so it could be more than one, but the excitement of spotting the bear ambling through a front yard has been known to dramatically increase the reported size.
Here’s what I know.
A month or more ago, our around-the-corner neighbors on Stewart Gin Road had a nocturnal visitor who came through to sample what was being served in the bird feeder.
One evening, the bear lumbered up onto their front porch and peered at them through the window.
Our friends have a horn inside they can blow, so they faced the bear through
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When praying for rain, don’t forget your umbrella
I’ve heard the old saying that “life is not a bed of roses” for as long as I can remember. I understand what it’s trying to convey, but I’ve also thought that it 
would not really be all that great to lay down on a bed of sharp thorns. Nevertheless, it’s safe to say our journey will have its ups and downs, and unfortunately, most of us will experience our share of hard times.
Whether it’s a financial worry, a medical situation, family problems, a concern for the world, or just being discouraged from the relentless grind of our job, life can be tough. However, in the midst of all that is going on, we can always turn to God, who is filled with an endless source of strength, hope and love. We can choose to embrace the encouraging truth that God cares about our problems and how He has the power and the solutions to give us the victory no matter
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Letters to the Editor 7-18-18
Invitation to responders prayer event
Dear Editor,
Three years ago, when our law enforcement came under such intense pressure and many of their officers were killed in the line of duty all over our great nation, God spoke to my heart and said, “Pray and encourage.” I shared this word with my friend Kathleen, and leaders of the “Prayin’ in Pickens” prayer group, and Kathleen took it from there. She has faithfully led our city in praying for these, our faithful servants, for the last three years now.
Friends, these fine men and women put it on the line for us day in and day out. They see a lot that most of us quite frankly don’t want to see. They are assailed on all fronts physically, emotionally and spiritually on a continual basis. Their families are also under great emotional stress. They live their lives never knowing if their loved one will be returning to them by the end of their shift. This is why we should pray, and this is why we should encourage.
At last year’s event, we actually had more first responders to show than we had people to pray. We know that people are busy, however, if there is any way possible for you to come and stand in the gap and pray over these men and women from 8:30-9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2, I know that they would be
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