Monthly Archives: January 2019
Meals on Wheels celebrates Bowers’ ‘crazy passion’
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Pickens County Meals on Wheels said goodbye this week to former executive director Meta Bowers, who left recently to be the executive director of the Meyer Center for Children in Greenville.
“It’s been a big decision, leaving Meals on Wheels,” Bowers said.
She said her tenure at the organization “has been the best time of my life.”
“I have left my mark on Meals on Wheels, and it has left its mark on me — I dye my hair now,” Bowers said.
A going-away party was held for Bowers at the McKissick Center for Senior Wellness in Liberty on Saturday evening.
Pickens County Meals on Wheels board chairman Craig Ragsdale
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Collins’ bill may cut scholarships to help teachers
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — State Rep. Neal Collins is cosponsoring a bill that, if passed, would use lottery funds for helping teachers, instead of funding HOPE and LIFE scholarships.
During the Pickens County Legislative Delegation’s recent annual meeting, grassroots education advocate Denni Clardy Alexander asked Collins about the bill.
“Why would the Education Lottery Bill support taking scholarship money away from middle-class families and higher, when these are the only funds they can get for their children?” she asked.
His pre-filed bill would divert lottery funding from HOPE and LIFE scholarships toward teachers, Collins said.
He said the retention rates for the scholarships are among the reasons he is supporting the bill.
“HOPE and LIFE, they only have a retention rate of about 20
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
‘Electrify Your Strings’ concert set for April 13
More than 700 local student musicians
to perform at Littlejohn Coliseum
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pickens County’s yearlong sesquicentennial celebration will come to an end with a concert featuring area students and a founding member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
During their January meeting earlier this month, county tourism director Jay Pitts gave Pickens County Council members an update on the concert, slated for Saturday, April 13, at Clemson’s Litllejohn Coliseum.
“Mark Wood will be here in April,” Pitts said. “He is scheduled to be here April 8-13. He’s bringing his entire education team to teach our young people in the world of music.”
After working with Wood and his “Electrify Your Strings” program all
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Central councilman resigns
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CENTRAL — A little more than a year after being sworn into office, 
Central Town Councilman Brandon Thomas resigned last week.
“I have purchased a home outside of town limits, and it is with a heavy heart that I am moving outside town limits and I am not eligible to serve as a town council member,” Thomas said in his resignation letter.
A local business owner, who was awarded Central Business of the Year at the 2018 State of Central banquet, Thomas said in his letter that he has enjoyed serving with his fellow council members.
“You do a wonderful job, and I only see great things in the future for Central,” he said. “I hope I have made a positive difference. I wish all the best for the town of Central. This is where I grew up, and although I will no longer live in the town limits, my heart will always be in Central.”
While council accepted Thomas’ resignation, Mayor Mac Martin and council members said he would be missed.
“Brandon did a good job, and I know if he had any idea this opportunity to move was coming, he wouldn’t have run in the first
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Whitehurst focusing on budget, roads this year
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — The county budget, roads and fire service are among Pickens County Councilman Trey Whitehurst’s priorities for this year.
Whitehurst, who represents the Central and Six Mile areas, was sworn in earlier this month after winning re-election to his seat in November.
“I think our budget’s going to be a big thing for this year,” Whitehurst said. “I’ve already been talking to the chairman (Roy Costner). We
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Prison ministry, industry among Feemster’s priorities
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — Industrial development, education and providing a home for a prison ministry at the county’s new jail top Pickens County Councilman Ensley Feemster’s priorities after he was re-elected last year.
Feemster was sworn in before council’s organizational meeting earlier this month.
“I’d like to continue a lot of the stuff we’re working on,” Feemster said. “For instance, on the prison, there was some
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Eyes on the admirable cooperation of crows
Early one morning this week, just as the sun was coming up, I walked 
out onto the front porch with my coffee.
There was a flutter of wings rising into the air from the snowball bush near the porch, where one of the feeders hangs.
I saw two chickadees taking to the air and a cardinal with his wife. From the very top of the large pine tree near the blueberries came the cry of a crow. He cawed and was answered by another crow, perched atop the red maple near the mailbox. First one, then the other called back and forth.
Clearly, they were communicating
The flock who were feeding in the grass of the front yard near the crepe myrtles took flight.
I had heard that crows have sentinels whose job is to perch high and
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
100 years of service to children and families
As the clock steadily clicked to mark the end of 2018 calendar year, Tamassee DAR School continued to approach the end of the Road to 
100 years of service to children and families. Whether you were in Times Square when the giant ball dropped, at a festive party with fancy hats, confetti and the sounds of Auld Lang Syne, or simply sitting at home quietly welcoming the new year, once 2019 officially arrived, Tamassee DAR School began celebrating its past and embracing its future.
As we enter the first few weeks of our centennial anniversary, we find
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Letters to the Editor 1-23-19
Expressions of gratitude
Dear Editor,
What I am about to explain is something that newcomers to the area may overlook when moving to the South. The beauty of this tiny little city in the foothills of the Blue Ridge has, in recent years, been dwarfed by the sprawl of the bigger cities encroaching on our community.
On Dec. 19 of last year, we were faced with a family’s worst nightmare. Our son of 23 years committed suicide. The initial shock following his death was total devastation, and we, as a local small business owners in town, couldn’t even face customers. It seemed that all of our lives had crumbled in an instant. The thought of continuing on without a child is something that, for us, we felt we could not do.
In the depths of our despair, the people of Pickens came to our side. From our customers, we received letters of encouragement, which
CONETHEL HUDSON
SUNSET — Conethel Watson Hudson, 81, passed from this life on 
Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019.
Mrs. Hudson was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Walter Lee “Cooter” Hudson Sr.
She was born on Aug. 28, 1937, in Pickens County, to the late Clemmie and Allie Owens Watson. Mrs. Hudson was a member of Crowe Creek Church of God in Six Mile, where she was the last surviving charter member. She served as the church secretary for over 50 years and the church clerk for over 40 years.
Mrs. Hudson was retired from the School District of Pickens County after 34 years of service. She was the lunchroom manager at A. R. Lewis Elementary School for her entire career. She loved feeding
