Monthly Archives: April 2019
Sassafras observation tower opens
COUNTY — The long-awaited observation tower on Sassafras Mountain, South Carolina’s highest point at 3,553 feet above sea level, officially opened to the public on Earth Day Monday.
“The highest point in the state is a geographical landmark that every South Carolinian, young and old, should have the opportunity to see and enjoy,” said Alvin Taylor, director of the 
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. “We hope that the observation tower will be a place where residents and visitors can go to marvel at the view of three states and the Blue Ridge Mountains and to appreciate what a beautiful and
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I believe Dot would be proud
The world lost a wonderful writer, and Pickens County lost an ardent advocate for preserving and celebrating what’s special 
about our corner of Appalachia, when Dot Jackson died two and a half years ago.
More than that, many of us lost a dear friend.
But Dot left behind an institution that she hoped would carry on her spirit of creative homespun expression — the Birchwood Center for Art and Folklife.
So I was saddened when I heard that the nonprofit organization she had founded had shut down recently.
And I wondered what would become of the nearly 200-year-old 
house near Pumpkintown that her group had bought and had been working to restore.
I was relieved to learn, though, that Dot’s legacy will live on and the work of the Birchwood Center will continue, through the good graces of another nonprofit that shares the same vision, the Holly Springs Center.
Abby Baker, executive director of the Holly Springs Center, said
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Rain dampens Azalea Fest
Cold, wet weather made for a dampened Azalea Festival atmosphere in
Pickens over the weekend. Despite the weather, however, hundreds showed up and had a good time at the annual cruise-in and concerts on Friday and full day of fun Saturday, as well as the new movie night on Thursday. Rocky Nimmons/Courier
Lions, Wave win county titles
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — The Pickens County High School Track and Field Championships were held on April 9 at Singleton Field in Central, with Easley and Daniel coming out as the big winners.
The Green Wave took the boys’ team championship, while Daniel not only won the girls’ team title, but also had event MVPs Connelly Ayers for the boys and TraVon Lay for the girls.
Ayers took first in four events, including the team 4×400 and 4×800 races, as well as the individual 400- and 800-meter runs. Meanwhile, on the
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All Aboard for Fun!!!
Central Railroad Fest is Saturday
SPECIAL EDITION IN THIS WEEK’S COURIER
Welcome to the 11th annual Central Railroad Festival! We’re glad to have you and your family with us and hope that you will have a wonderful, fun-filled day. If you’ve been to the Railroad Festival before, we appreciate your continued attendance and support. If this is your first time with us, you’ve got a lot to see, 
do and enjoy: great food, craft vendors, and a wide variety of free entertainment and attractions. Best of all, WE HAVE TRAINS!
This insert is your guide to everything you and your family need for an unforgettable day of fun. We’ve included maps, schedules and information about the day’s exciting activities. You’ll also see details about our terrific sponsors who have once again
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Easter sunrise
Hillcrest Memorial Park hosted its annual Easter Sunrise Service on Sunday. The many who attended were greeted by the sounds of the Secona Praise Team, followed by a message delivered by former Pickens High School principal Marion Lawson.
Upcoming fundraisers to benefit Pickens County Meals on Wheels
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Pickens County Meals on Wheels will pack two fundraisers into two days this week.
The organization’s home base, the McKissick Center for Senior Wellness, will host the first fundraiser on Friday — a dinner and concert featuring the Diamond River Band, according to executive director Kim Valentin.
“They are a great, eclectic Asheville-based band,” she said. “They specialize in country, classic rock and current hits with a
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Liberty sewer fee set to be eliminated
By Ron Barnett
Staff Reporter
rbarnett@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Liberty residents will have a little more jingle in their pockets than they’ve had for the past three years, starting next month.
That’s because a $2.80 fee that has been tacked onto their monthly sewer bills will be going away in May.
Money collected through the fee has gone to pay for a $180,000 sewer line reconstruction project, according to the city.
City council voted in April 2016 to add the $2.80 surcharge for 36 months to pay for replacing 2,000 feet of sewer line during reconstruction of the intersection of S.C. Highway 93 and U.S. Highway 178, according to city figures. The surcharge went into effect in May 2016.
Crazy, hazy recuperation days
I recently had surgery and am now recuperating at home. I’m glad it’s over and very glad I don’t have to do it again anytime 
soon.
From what I’ve heard, everything went well in the hospital. I must ask others who were present for details, as there are three complete days missing from my memory.
That’s due to a reaction to pain medication that didn’t agree with me.
Although few details are clear, due to the hallucinations, I have been told of some the things I did and said while in the land of lunacy.
According to sources close to the matter, I called my cousin
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My best buddy
Joe was my best buddy in my preteen and teen years. We put a lot of miles on each other, or something like that. Joe was the only boy in a family of four girls. He lived about a mile from our house on Meece Mill road.
I remember walking home from Twelve Mile Elementary School with Joe on many occasions. One April afternoon, we were strolling along headed home from school and — for no reason apparent to me, at least — Joe hauled off and threw all his books in the Twelve Mile River. I asked why he did that, and his reply was that he was tired of studying them, and besides, they were heavy. When I told him that he would have to pay for them, he jumped into the river and retrieved the now-waterlogged books.
The next day, the books were dry and about three times as thick as the day before. When asked what happened, he shrugged and said something about the oven being too hot.
When we were 16 or 17, Joe and I once joined a proposed lake
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