Monthly Archives: July 2019
County officials frustrated with accommodations tax applications
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — As Pickens County Council members considered proposals to be funded through accommodations taxes, members expressed their frustration with a lack of requested data.
During council’s June 17 meeting, county tourism director Jay Pitts presented recommendations from the county’s accommodations tax committee. Pitts said this was the first year he’s been involved in the ATAX process.
Councilman Trey Whitehurst said accommodations tax funds are supposed to be used for programs and events that bring in visitors
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Keeping up is hard to do
The first thing to get straight after waking is to determine what day this is. They have all seemed to run together lately.
Checking the calendar can bring surprises. Oh! It’s not Tuesday, it’s Wednesday.
The hummingbird feeder needs to be filled again, even though it seems as though I just finished doing it.
Overnight, the grass has grown three inches.
Weeds have dared to grow among the flowers.
And the dogs have been somewhere they shouldn’t have been. It appears they have been wallowing in the pond, and once thoroughly wet, have rolled diligently in dirt and sand until the color of their hair can barely be seen.
They smell. A bath is essential. After coffee, breakfast, filling the washer, folding clothes and feeding the Chihuahua and deleting emails, the time has come.
The last time Boomer had a bath ended in the washer becoming as wet as the washee.
Sebastian was an exception, as at his age he’s had many a bath and has grown much more accustomed.
Fortunately, with experience and age and hopefully, wisdom, Boomer has learned
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
A boy’s first paying job
At the beginning of my sixth-grade year at Twelve Mile Elementary School, the school bus route changed. It came by my house two times. I would often catch it the first time around and either ride the complete route or occasionally depart at the school. When I 
arrived early, I would often be the first person there. As the school year progressed and the weather got colder, I would build a fire in each of the three heaters in the classrooms, thus having the rooms warmed when the bell donged at eight o’clock. Previous to my contract with the principal, each teacher had to build their own fire.
These old heaters burned coal, but required wood to heat up the coal to get it to burn. On extremely cold days, I recall some of the girls sitting up close to the heater studying while wearing their overcoats. They looked like some of the gold-digging immigrants to Alaska in the 1800s.
Well, the principal, Mrs. Annie Durham, came to me one day and made me a deal. She would pay me 10 cents per day to build fires in each classroom. I jumped at this deal and
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Courier Letters to the Editor
The Red, White and Blue family
Dear Editor,
This 4th of July, I have this to say to one and all of you.
Of those outside our nation that may hate us and would like to see us destroyed, just remember this. We have our problems from within, but we are all family, no matter the political beliefs nor the color of our skin. Religion or none, we are all still standing together as one. We’re the family of the Red, White and Blue!
The colors of that grand old flag we carry proudly into battle. To the death her honor we’ll defend.
However we would rather extend the hand of peace to you, though if you want a war, then that’s what we’ll give to you. We’re the
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
There’s a time to speak and a time for silence
According to current census calculations, the population of our planet is rapidly approaching 8 billion people.
Along with this massive number, we know there has never been a time in history when this many individuals occupied the Earth at 
the same time, but we can also agree that we have more philosophies, opinions and worldviews than ever before. This, in turn, brings us to a point in time where our arguments and conflicts have created a more difficult atmosphere to acknowledge what we believe without being mocked, ridiculed and even persecuted.
With the creation and advancement of communication technology within the last 50 years, we are witnessing a social media grid that is capable of connecting the entire world together in an instant. It’s true, this is an amazing way of uniting us, but unfortunately, it also presents a vehicle that increases the volume of chaos and controversy.
I am not against having the opportunity to relay our thoughts, but for the Christian, we can clearly see that our Biblical perspectives are becoming an increasing target of hostility from those who oppose. We know the basic fundamentals of the Christian faith have always been an
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Derrick running for mayor
PICKENS — Jeff Derrick has announced his intent to run for mayor of Pickens.
Calling himself a “self-made” professional, Derrick said he has a “distinctive background in engineering” from design to management of projects spanning some 40-plus years in construction of chemical to nuclear facilities — projects from two-plus million to several hundred million.
He said he also has experience in managing and submitting and awarding contracts.
“As mayor, I will propose multiple projects of direction for all citizens of Pickens instead of just a chosen few,” Derrick said. “I believe all citizens should have a voice.
“Pickens has had and still has a group of politicians, people that seem to run this city only as they see fit,” he added. “They always put aside the real citizens. Pickens needs a different type of leadership — leadership for all, and not just a chosen few. I pray for your vote. Let’s move forward.”
Lady Devils’ stellar season comes to end
The Liberty Lady Devils 10-and-under softball team saw its season come to a close last week as it finished just shy of an all-star championship against Iva. The Lady Devils, coached by Jody Booth, Scott Moore, Brian Swafford and Tia Swafford, went 13-0 during the regular season before moving on to all-star competition. Liberty opened all-star play with a 7-3 win over Seneca on June 16. The Lady Devils continued to show the winning pedigree they had shown all season when they took on Central/Clemson. Liberty took a 6-5 win in nailbiting fashion before moving on to the championship game on June 26. The team was escorted by friends, family and most importantly, the Liberty Police Department as it headed to Crescent High School for the championship game. The Lady Devils fought a hard fight, coming up short 3-0, but still received runner-up honors in the 10-and-under Dixie Angels division of the tournament.
Courier Obituaries 7-13-19
TOMMY LAMAR WIRES
PICKENS — Tommy Lamar Wires, 79, went home to be with Jesus on Monday, June 17, 2019.
He is survived by his loving wife, Brenda of the home; two sons, David Wires of Pendleton and Bill Wires of Anderson; two grandchildren, Carson and Logan Wires of Anderson; sisters-in-law Barbara Day of Pickens and Margene, Ola Lee and Janice Wyres of Tuscaloosa, Ala. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred O. and Lonnie B. Wyres; sister, Ruby Colburn; and brothers, Frank Wyres, Willie Wyres, Richard Wyres, Parson Wyres and Bobby Wyres.
Along with an unwavering loyalty to his family, Tommy was devoted to his Lord, his country and his community. Tommy continuously showed his love of the Lord through random acts of generosity. Tommy served his country in the United States Marine Corp for 10 years and served two tours in Vietnam, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart. Tommy served his community through the American Legion by going to local elementary schools to teach students patriotism and the proper way to handle the American Flag. Tommy was a true example of how to show love for God and country.
Funeral services ere held on June 26 at Griffin Baptist Church in Pickens, officiated by Rev. Mark Bernshausen. Burial was held in
Tips to keep your holiday happy and safe 4th of July
Independence Day is a celebration of the United States of America. The holiday is marked by fanfare and large parties, complete with barbecues, fireworks and parades.
As fun as July 4th festivities typically are, injuries, particularly those involving fireworks, are a concern that celebrants should not take lightly. An estimated 11,000 people visited the emergency room for fireworks-related injuries in 2016, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. However, fireworks aren’t the only danger this time of year. In order to remain safe, individuals can heed these tips.
• Do not drink and drive. Alcohol consumption may accompany Independence Day festivities. For those planning on using a car to get to and from parties, it is essential to designate a driver who will not imbibe. Otherwise, utilize any number of ridesharing services or available taxis.
• Swim smartly. Always swim with a buddy, and consider hiring a lifeguard if you’ll be hosting a pool party and cannot keep a watchful eye on guests in the pool. Adults also should not swim intoxicated, as it can impede the ability to stay afloat and may lead to risky behaviors.
• Leave fireworks to the professionals. Watch a public fireworks display instead of lighting fireworks on the street or in the backyard.
• Exercise caution with sparklers. Kids running around with sparklers in hand could be a recipe for disaster, as sparklers burn extremely hot. Make sure children do not wave them around or others can get burned. Keep a bucket of water handy to properly extinguish the sparklers.
• Review safe boating practices. If July 4th festivities find you out on the water, be sure that life jackets are worn and set boating and water safety rules for the family.
• Check in with a vet. The Fourth of July can be traumatic for pets not accustomed to fireworks and other loud noises or crowds. Behavior therapy, medication and ensuring that pets do not run away from home and get lost may be necessary.
• Watch food temperatures. Do not leave food out in the hot sun for too long; otherwise, harmful bacteria can grow and potentially cause foodborne illnesses. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service says to never leave food out of refrigeration for more than two hours. If the temperature is above 90 F, food should not be left out for more than one hour.
These are some of the safety strategies that can keep Independence Day celebrations both safe and enjoyable.
SWU, VCOM agreements ensure successful transition into medicine
CENTRAL — Southern Wesleyan University and Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) signed articulation agreements June 20, ensuring future opportunities for SWU students to advance in the medical field.
The agreements included a Guaranteed Admissions Interview agreement that will allow third year/junior students to have a guaranteed interview spot if they have a science and overall GPA of 3.5, and an acceptable score on the MCAT. Last year, VCOM had 12,000 applications and only offered interviews to 350 of those applicants.
Also signed was a Rocovich Scholars’ Early Admission Program agreement, which will allow some Southern Wesleyan students to apply to VCOM after their sophomore year. Students with a pre-requisite and overall GPA of 3.5 will be guaranteed an interview for
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
