Daily Archives: 07/23/2019
Razing A Relic
Pickens’ historic Bradley-Boggs House demolished
Well, the Bradley-Boggs House is no more.
One of the city of Pickens’ few remaining relics from its earliest days — a structure whose core actually predated the founding of the town — bit the dust last week.
No approval was needed from the city for demolition of the two-story white-columned house that stood on Main Street at the head of Garvin Street for more than a century.
A county permit was all that was required to consign the locally fabled landmark to the ash heap of history.
“Although we are all aware and very much recognize the historical meaning of it, it’s a privately owned residence, and our hands are kind of tied with what we can and can’t do,” city
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Church vandals call for bomb suspect’s release
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Investigators do not believe that the man charged with planting hazardous devices at the Pickens County Courthouse and the Pickens DSS office is connected with recent church vandalisms, 
despite graffiti at one of the churches calling for his release.
Chief Deputy Creed Hashe said in a release that the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office is investigating damages to three churches in Pickens that took placed between Saturday
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Police: Former detention officer assaulted child
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A former Pickens County Detention Center officer is accused of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old child.
Raymond Wade Whitmire, 50, is charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, according to a S.C. Law Enforcement Division news release issued Friday.
The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office requested the investigation,
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2 construction workers die in home collapse
SUNSET — Two construction workers were killed and two others were injured when a home under construction partially collapsed during a thunderstorm on Thursday 
afternoon.
Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley identified the two men who died as Domingo Diego Nicolas, 22, and Sabino Juarez Lopez, 42, both of Greenville. Kelley said the two men were putting up walls on a new house under construction and were under the walls that fell on top of them. Both men died at the scene.
The incident was reported just after 2 p.m. at 210 Waterlake Drive in
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Local woman wins national gold medal
PICKENS — Pickens County native Jessika Pace is a rising young female martial arts athlete who is certainly not wasting any time setting goals and achieving them, and that dedication recently led to national honors.
At the 2019 AAU taekwondo nationals in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., earlier this month, Pace shined bright on the big stage, winning her first national gold medal in the 18-32-year-old division.
But despite accomplishing such a lofty personal goal, Pace said her passion for taekwondo is not about winning medals.
“It’s about setting personal goals, discipline and perseverance,” she said. “It was a great honor and achievement to compete on such a level with some of the best athletes in the nation. This was my personal Mt. Everest, something I won on an individual level in the ring.”
The 22-year-old has become well known to
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Courier Obituaries 7-24-19
STEPHEN MILLER “STEVE” ROBINSON
GREENVILLE — Mr. Stephen Miller “Steve” Robinson, 70, husband of 48 years to Dianne Pritchard Robinson, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, July 20, 2019.
Born in Spartanburg County, a son of the late Rev. Carlton Miller Robinson and the late Melissa Willis Robinson, Steve was a graduate of Greenville High School. He attended North Greenville College and Mars Hill College. He loved Greenville and was incredibly proud of “his” city.
For many years, Steve was the owner/operator of U-SAVE Car Lease in Easley. In addition, he had a successful career with Jefferson Pilot Insurance Company. He lived a life of service to his community and church through Meals on Wheels, Greenville Textile Heritage Society, outreach groups and coaching. Being the son of a minister, Steve truly understood the inner working of the church and often offered assistance in even the smallest tasks. Steve was a member of Easley First Baptist Church.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are a daughter, Stephanie Robinson Tollison and husband, Christopher E. Tollison, of Simpsonville; a son, Ryan Hamilton Robinson and wife, Wendi M. Robinson, of Simpsonville; a brother, David Rice Robinson and wife, Elaine, of Easley; and grandchildren, Garrett Ryan Tollison, Ellie Tollison, Sam Robinson, all of Simpsonville, Kory Griggs of Columbia and Adam Griggs of Travelers Rest.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Robinson was predeceased by a brother, Phillip Carlton Robinson; and a grandson, Carson Mitchell Tollison.
Steve was an avid sports fan, most particularly of Furman University football and basketball. He especially enjoyed beach music, 1950s nostalgia and The Statler Brothers. Steve was known for his incredible sense of humor. His joy was bringing a smile to the lips and a chuckle from within … and a belly laugh was even greater! He counted his friendships as one of his most treasured possessions. His wife, Dianne, was his biggest fan and truly the love of his life. His steadfast faith in God and his never-ending effort to leave all with a smile made us all better for having known him. Truly, Steve was a fine example of one of his favorite phrases: “ENJOY THE RIDE”!
Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, at Easley First Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends from 2-3:45 p.m. Sunday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pickens County Meals On Wheels, 349 Edgemont Ave., Liberty, SC 29657 or to Miracle Hill Ministries, 490 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29607.
Condolences may be expressed online at robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Powdersville Road, which is assisting the family.
The last time I plowed a mule
One Saturday, just as I was turning over to continue my morning slumber, I realized that Daddy was pounding on the wall downstairs.
Something about busting middles in the corn field. Also something about two minutes and mule was dressed and waiting at the barn. … Just as I zoomed by him, he hollered to be sure to attach the muzzle on the mule.
Now, busting middles is not the hardest thing in the world for a 15-year-old boy to do. But it is trying, especially if the mule is doing his/her best to eat the top off of every new corn plant in the field. Move forward 20
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All we need is love
I found a copy of the resolution passed by the House of Representatives last week and read it. It includes inspiring quotes from presidents and statesmen who helped make America great.
It states, “the Founders conceived America as a haven of refuge for people fleeing from religious and political persecution, and Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison all emphasized that the Nation gained as it attracted new people in search of freedom and livelihood for their families;
“The Declaration of Independence defined America as a covenant based on equality, the unalienable Rights of life,
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Courier Letters to the Editor 7-24-19
Employees need fairness
Dear Editor,
I am happy the Hagood Mill situation worked out, but it uncovered a few disturbing things that need to be addressed.
For those who didn’t catch the entire story, the county administration fired the director of the mill. The mill volunteers thought that was unjustified and urged the council to intervene. When the council finally got involved, it sided with the administration’s firing. The citizens stood up, and with the help of Rep. Davey Hiott, the administration/council
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Simply the best
Youth baseball players converge on Easley to decide world champion
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — The Senior League World Series, which pits the best 13- to 16-year-old baseball players from around the world against each other, is descending upon Pickens County once again.
The tournament, which is in its third year in Easley, will feature six international teams and six U.S. teams and will kick off Saturday at the J.B. “Red” Owens Complex.
The tournament’s championship game is set for a 2:30 p.m. first pitch Aug. 3 and is scheduled to be televised on ESPN2.
As of press time Tuesday, the international 
division’s qualifiers had all been chosen, while all United States division teams remained
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