Daily Archives: 10/02/2018
Pickens County ‘Birthday Bash’ set for Saturday
PICKENS COUNTY SESQUICENTENNIAL 1868-2018
History in the making
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Pickens County will celebrate its 150th anniversary Saturday with a full day of events at the J.B. “Red” Owens Recreation Complex in Easley.
“Pickens County’s Blue-Ribbon Birthday Bash” aims at creating a county 
fair atmosphere in celebration of the sesquicentennial.
“There will be musicians, performances, carnival rides, bake-offs,” Pickens County Council chairman Roy Costner said Monday. “There will be a barbecue cook-off and a beard contest.”
The fun will begin with an opening ceremony for the county’s time capsule, which was buried during the centennial celebration in 1968 and unearthed earlier this week. The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Friday at the Pickens County Courthouse, with Gov. Henry McMaster scheduled to be on
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Think pink for breast cancer awareness
The Courier is going pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of those whose lives have been affected by this devastating disease, we will accent our front page with pink every week of October.
The pink ribbon has been synonymous with breast cancer for years. Nowadays, people rarely think twice when they see pink ribbons, having grown accustomed to the pink ribbon and what it symbolizes.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month has been celebrated each year since 1985, and many other breast cancer awareness initiatives have been devised since then. While the pink ribbon may seem like it’s been in use for just as long, it was actually established only a little more than 20 years ago.
Although you can see waves of pink every October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many people don their ribbons year-round. Great strides have been made with respect to breast cancer, but with about 225,000 new cases popping up each year in the United States alone, there is still work to be done.
Wreck kills 1 near Six Mile
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A Pickens man died Thursday morning after his SUV struck a tree and overturned.
Pickens County coroner Kandy Kelley identified the victim as Allen Joe Adams, 40, of Terrapin Crossing Road.
The accident occurred at 5:30 a.m. on Hunter Road, about two miles north of Six Mile, according to South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Joe
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Officials kick off domestic violence awareness month
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
GREENVILLE — Upstate resident Andrea Jigalko said the domestic violence in her marriage formed slowly — “like a tornado slowly developing 
in the sky.”
“Life was perfect,” she said. “I had my best friend and protector.”
The abuse began with name-calling, pushing and shoving.
“I began to live in a state of constant depression and the unrealized hope that things will get better,” Jigalko said.
Jigalko said she learned to “cope and compartmentalize all situations.”
“This only made things worse, as I did not reach out for help,” she said. “I felt alone. I felt as if I deserved it. I was taught that once you’re married, you’re always married.”
On Feb. 27, 2013, “the tornado that had been slowly forming in my life touched down,” Jigalko said.
A verbal altercation turned physical.
Her abuser hurt her so badly that she “flatlined twice” in the hospital, Jigalko said.
“Only by God’s grace am I here today,” she said.
Many hours of reconstructive and spinal surgery followed.
“It has been long, very painful and tedious work,” Jigalko said. “This will
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New life planned for silo property in Easley
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Plans are in the works to bring new economic activity to a 
familiar spot in Easley.
Easley City Council members have approved first reading of an ordinance calling for the city to purchase 122 Folger Ave., the location of a former silo business downtown, for $80,000.
Council members discussed the purchase before voting during a special called meeting Friday, Sept. 21.
“This property has been referred to as the silos over on Folger Avenue,” city administrator Stephen Steese said.
The property, which is just more than 0.9 acres, holds the silos and an outparcel building in front of them, he said.
“Part of the budget we put together for the TIF bond that we did earlier this year included doing something with the silos,” Steese said.
The city has been discussing the future of the property with a potential
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Courier Letters to the Editor 10-3-18
An interest in open government
Dear Editor,
Public participation is vital for a healthy democracy. To that end, elected officials play a primary role in educating the public on the key issues, so the public can intelligently participate in the decisions being made by our government.
Unfortunately, most local leaders reach out to the public when they want our votes. Once elected, most disappear and do not spend the time to educate the public on the issues.
We see this with our new school board. Can you name a pressing issue in front of the school board right now? Probably not. That is not your fault, but rather the fault of the trustees who have made little to no effort to tell
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How do you plan to keep busy this winter?
Did you read the weather almanacs’ predictions for this winter? One of them mentioned teeth-chattering cold. Others ranged from warm and wet 
to cold and dry. No matter, winter is coming. Have you decided what you’ll do when it’s cold where you live? While none of us wants to stay locked inside every single day, we do need to prepare for those days we just can’t get out.
Here are some thoughts:
— Does your library have a book mobile? Check the bestseller lists and make your reading list. Some books won’t be released yet, but if you
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Humane Society plans fall festival
LIBERTY — The Pickens County Humane Society staff invites the public to join them for a fall festival from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13, at the 
PCHS facility at 500 Five Forks Road in Liberty.
“We really look forward to all animal lovers in the Upstate and their families coming out to our facility to enjoy all the activities we will have going, as well as touring our facility to meet all the wonderful cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies waiting for their forever home,” PCHS manager Megan Ragsdale said.
A variety of activities are planned, including live music, food, bouncy houses, games, a costume contest for children 13 and under, face painting and a dunk tank.
There also will be a pumpkin coloring contest table set up, and children of
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Courier Community Calendar 10-3-18
• Central Museum to host WWI event
World War I in Upstate South Carolina will be the focus of a program and exhibit Oct. 19 at the Central History Museum, located at 416 Church St. in Central. Presented by the museum curator, Anne Sheriff, the 4 p.m. event is sponsored by the James L. Orr Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy. The meeting is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call (864)654-1151.
• Amazing Grace to hold homecoming
Amazing Grace Fellowship will hold homecoming services this Sunday, Oct. 7. Special singers Stepping Out In Faith will begin at 10:15 a.m. preaching at 11:15 a.m. lunch to follow in the fellowship building. Amazing Grace Fellowship is located at 229 Pearl St. in Pickens.
• UCM hosting Feet for Heat 5K Saturday
United Christian Ministries will host its eightth annual UCM Feet for Heat 5K this Saturday morning, Oct. 6, at the J.B. “Red” Owens Recreation Complex in Easley to kick off the Blue Ribbon Birthday Bash celebrating Pickens County’s sesquicentennial. Onsite registration and packet pick-up for pre-registered participants will begin at 8 a.m., and the 5K will start at 9 a.m. A one-mile fun run/walk is also available. Online registration and
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TCTC president plans to retire
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
PENDLETON — Ronnie Booth, just the third president in the 56-year 
history of Tri-County Technical College, announced Monday that he plans to retire effective June 30, 2019.
“It’s time,” Booth said. “I will have been here 16 years in June, and I think that’s pretty long. I think a president needs to stay long enough to make a difference, not to cut and run. That’s what I think I’ve done.”
Booth had notified the college’s commissioners of his intentions to retire as early as June before Monday’s official announcement.
During Booth’s tenure, the college launched three community campuses, as well as three workforce training centers, an economic
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