Daily Archives: 09/11/2018
Hagood Mill fiddling convention gears up for first-ever 3-day event
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — This year the Hagood Mill Historic Site’s annual Ole Time Fiddling Convention will become a three-day event.
“For the first time, Hagood Mill has decided to take a one-day event and make it a two-and-a-half to three-day event,” tourism director Jay Pitts told Pickens County Council members recently.
The event is slated for this Friday through Sunday, and there will be a $5 general admission fee to the site per person per day. There will be no charge for children 10 and under and no charge for parking.
This marks the 22nd year that the mill has hosted the convention, which also plays
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Issaqueena Festival and Clemson Music Festival to join forces
SIX MILE — The Flight for the Fight and the Greater Clemson Music Festival Committees announced recently the two festivals will join forces next year on Saturday, April 6, at the usual location along Main Street in Six Mile.
Flight for the Fight is held annual alongside Six Mile’s Issaqueena Festival to raise money for breast cancer research through Dabo’s All In Team Foundation
Organizers say bringing the two festivals together will enhance Flight for the Fight’s 5K and 10K road races, drawing more participants during cooler weather and allow for an expanded musical program geared to all musical tastes. Rhythm City, a nine-piece
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Veterans Day event being planned
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Pickens County is planning a special Veterans Day program, according to county tourism director Jay Pitts.
The “Salute to Our Veterans” is part of the county’s sesquicentennial celebration events, Pitts told county council members last month.
In June, as he laid out the county’s planned 150th anniversary celebratory events, Pitts told council members that Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 would focus on celebrating the more than 7,000 veterans who reside in Pickens County.
He shared more details on the veterans event with council during a committee of the whole meeting last month.
“This will be the jewel in our crown,” Pitts said.
The celebration will be held at the Pickens County Performing Arts Center in Liberty.
“Red carpet arrivals will come into the PAC, and we’ll put on a show that will raise the
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Outdoor market set to benefit PCBDSN
PICKENS — Located at 101 Laurenwood Drive in Pickens, Looper’s Red Barn will host an outdoor market event on Sept. 22, with all proceeds going to benefit the Pickens County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs.
The funds will be used to help individuals with disabilities and their families.
The event is free and open to the public and will run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. It will include outdoor vendors with homemade arts and crafts, Carolina Choo Choo train rides, music, fishing, special appearances by Sacred Heart Beats (drum therapy), 2018 South Carolina Jr. Miss and Miss Amazing Carrie McWhorter, bounce houses and silent auction items.
Hot dog plates and baked goods will also be available for purchase.
For vendor information, call (864) 644-2563 or (864) 644-2564 or email bleist@pcbdsn.org or reuton@pcbdsn.org.
Ride to the Rock scheduled this month
PICKENS — The Pickens Rotary Club will host the annual Ride to the Rock cycling event on Sept. 22
The ride will begin in Pickens and challenge riders with three routes to choose from: 40k, 60K and 100K rides.
The 2018 rides will leave from the Pickens Amphitheater, located at 114 W. Main St., and travel north to S.C. Highway 11 with beautiful views of Table Rock Mountain. The Metric Century (100K) also climbs U.S. Highway 178 to the Continental Divide before returning to Pickens. The rides are fully supported with a SAG (support and gear) vehicle and rest stops. Day of ride registration begins at 8 a.m. at the amphitheater,
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Payne named EHS baseball coach
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — There’s a new head man for the Easley High School baseball team, and he’s a familiar face for the Green Wave faithful.
Gill Payne was named as Easley’s new head baseball coach on Aug. 30. Payne was already serving the school as its athletic director and took over the baseball job following the sudden departure of coach Josh Warner a few weeks ago.
The Green Wave were in dire need of a coach as the school year approached and were lucky to already have the more-than-capable Payne on staff.
Payne has an extensive baseball background, with 18 years at the NCAA Division II, NAIA, NJCAA and high school levels. He was a Major League Baseball associate scout
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Lady Blue Flame volleyball defeats Eastside and Easley
PICKENS — The 7-0 Pickens High School Lady Blue Flame varsity volleyball team defeated Eastside at Pickens High School on Sept. 4. In the first meeting of the year, the scores were very close: 28-26, 28-26.
Lady Flame
“Playing at home made a big difference,” Pickens head coach Rikki Owens said of the victory over Eastside. “That, plus we are improving at every level.”
Pickens started strong and finished strong against Eastside. Owens said she felt she had some new leaders emerge during the contest and that she was excited to see that happening.
Sydney Bolding led in kills with 13, while Olivia Dow recorded 12. Lexi Wierzbicki finished with eight kills.
“Dow and her left swing were unstoppable,” Owens said. “She was on fire, down the lines, hitting corners. We have two left-handed hitters. When they are on, no one can block them.”
Wierzbick and Dow led blocks with three and two, respectively.
Kaylee Gillespie led in serves with 28, four aces and only one error. Jewell Porterfield served at 100 percent. Gillespie recorded 27 assists, while Bailee Earnhardt followed with 11. Wierzbicki led with 12 digs.
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Daniel varsity volleyball picks up pair of shutout victories
CENTRAL — The Daniel Lions volleyball team looked great over the past week, 
defeating the rival Seneca Bobcats and region foe Palmetto.
The Lions shut out the Bobcats 3-0 on Thursday night. The two teams played close in the first two sets, with Daniel outscoring the Bobcats 25-21 and 25-23. However, the Lions pulled away in the final set for a 25-16 win to take the match.
The Lion offense was led by senior Emerald Withers and junior Natalie Swaney, who both had eight kills in the contest. Swaney also contributed to the defensive effort, tallying 10 digs, while Withers tallied nine digs of her own. Senior libero Kate Brownell
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Pickens JVs play well
In pool play last Saturday, the Pickens High School Lady Blue Flame junior varsity volleyball team, pictured above, defeated Riverside and Blythewood, but lost to
Lexington, which placed them in the silver bracket. They were defeated by Dorman in the silver bracket. “The ladies played hard, and we are very proud of them,” coach Pamela Clarkson said. “We competed against some top 5A schools. The future is looking good for PHS.” Pickens’ Madison Gentry, pictured at right, was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Courier Obituaries 9-12-18
JODY LEVI BLACK
EASLEY — Mr. Jody Levi Black, 47, husband of Shelly Lewis Black, went to be with his Lord and Savior Monday, Sept. 3, 2018.
It is with great sadness that the family of Jody Black announces his passing on Labor Day after an accidental drowning on Lake Keowee. Jody was a loving, devoted husband, father, son, brother and Pop. His pride and adoration for his family was easily seen and felt. To be his friend was to understand the very meaning of loyalty and selflessness.
Born in Pickens County, he was a son of Ronnie Levi and Mary Elizabeth Youngblood Black of McCormick. Mr. Black was a 1990 graduate of Easley High School and was a technician with L&R Fork Lift Maintenance.
Jody loved his family with everything he had. He experienced life to the fullest through his love for hunting and fishing. Numerous trips to a mountain stream or right down the road on the lake created family memories that some people only dream of. All of these experiences and examples of love in his life, though, pale in comparison to the love he found this year on Mother’s Day weekend, when he experienced the fullness of
