Monthly Archives: July 2019
New restaurant headed to Easley
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — A new pizza and pasta restaurant will be occupying a building in downtown Easley that has been empty for more than five years.
Amici will open its second Pickens County location at 121 S. Pendleton St., operator and general manager Ferrante Johnson announced during Easley City Council’s July 8 meeting.
“We’re very excited about it,” Johnson said.
During the meeting, council members unanimously approved second reading for the execution and delivery of an economic
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Clemson, Prisma Health partner to offer grants
CLEMSON — The Clemson University Division of Research and Prisma Health are set to fund up to $200,000 a year in grants in a 
partnership announced last week.
The university and health care provider recently signed an agreement to fund the money through the new Innovation Maturation Fund.
“The health care-focused grants are intended to advance the development and implementation of new medical initiatives, advance translational science, create job and educational opportunities, improve health care and drive economic growth in the region,” according to a news release.
The fund is set to be managed by the university’s research foundation, which has awarded more than
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School lunch prices to go up this year
PICKENS — Pickens County students will pay about a dime more for their meals at school starting this year.
Jenaffer Pitt, nutrition services director for the School District of Pickens County, said paid breakfast will increase from $1.40 to $1.50, while paid elementary lunch will go from $2 to $2.10 and middle and high school lunch will increase from $2.25 to $2.35. The last meal increase was in the 2016-17 school year.
Reduced breakfast and reduced lunch in Pickens County schools will remain at 30 cents and 40 cents, respectively.
Pitt said the USDA stipulates school districts that charge less than $3 for paid lunches must either increase their meal prices using a weighted average formula provided by the USDA, add non-federal funds to the school food service account or apply for an exemption.
“We have received the exemption for the last two school years,” Pitt said.
Toyota of Easley donates to Feed a Hungry Child
Feed a Hungry Child Pickens County was awarded a $32,800 check by Toyota of Easley last month. The owners, management and staff of Toyota of Easley worked throughout the month of May to raise the funds. Presenting the check were Tommy Norris and Ryan Norris, along with many of the Toyota of Easley family. In attendance from FAHC were Kathy Brazinski, Carol Nichols and Tiffany Williams. The money will be used to help feed children in elementary, middle and high schools in Pickens County as part of the organization’s backpack program, which provides food for the weekend to children in need. For more information about Feed A Hungry Child, visit pickenschildren.com.
Roper ready to take on new role
As the newly appointed acting administrator for Pickens County, this is the first of many letters I intend to write to enhance communication with the public. I have worked in state and local government for more than 25 years, and this new role is special to 
me because of my love for Pickens County.
One of my first memories is of playing in the creek with my cousins at my Grandpa Cannon’s house on Cove Creek Road above Pickens. I remember my dad teaching me the smell of bream beds on Mauldin Lake, back when you could fish there. I remember being baptized as a child at Flat Rock
What would Betsy Ross think?
This may come as a surprise, but a tennis shoe company just stopped production of a tennis shoe that had a miniature emblem of a Betsy Ross or colonial flag on it.
The reason for the withdrawal of the shoe from the market is that a protest was made saying the emblem should be removed because it was a symbol of racism.
She was an upholsterer in Philadelphia who happened to be related to someone associated with George Washington and part of the rebellion. I don’t believe Betsy Ross made the flag with racism in mind.
Maybe I am not connecting the dots, but I really can’t understand the protest.
First, although slavery is a blot on our history, it was common in the 13 original
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Uncle Dewey’s dog
Uncle Dewey was my uncle and one of Daddy’s brothers. He lived on a farm in Dacusville with my Aunt Margaret. Everybody called her “Marget.” Also living with them were their daughter, Fay, and her husband, Charles Holder. Another son, D.B., was around 
somewhere creating trouble for untold numbers of folks, I am told.
We visited Uncle Dewey’s home regularly, as we did Daddy’s other brothers and sister. It was almost a Sunday afternoon ritual. No matter in which direction we left home, we almost always ended up at one of his siblings’ homes. He must have loved them very much.
On occasion, I would help Uncle Dewey harvest okra, squash, corn and tomatoes from his garden. I remember Uncle Dewey would give me socks to wear on my hands and arms while picking okra. It was quite prickly and could cause a rash. We would carry them to Washington Street in Greenville and sell them. We would sell everything that we carried in short order.
Uncle Dewey had a small, feisty dog named Hornet. Hornet was a character and went practically everywhere with Dewey. They frequented Daddy’s fishing lake and caught
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Courier Letters to the Editor 7-17-19
Lions year in review
Dear Editor,
The Pickens Lions Club just wrapped up its 2018-2019 fiscal year, which ended June 30, and my first year as a Lion and as the club’s president. It has been an interesting, daunting, fun and rewarding journey.
My wife, Gennie, and I joined the Lions Club to meet people and to serve those in need. We looked at other clubs in the area and decided we wanted to help this club because of their small size and we wanted to serve in the community in which we lived. When we joined, there were only four members, whom I refer to as the “Core Four,” and these guys were working to keep the club from folding. The “Core Four” are Gabby, George, John and Doug. The first immediate need was to increase membership, and that has been our No. 1 goal from the start. I set three goals — to increase membership to 20, to have three service projects a year and to have three fundraisers a year. Other goals were added as we moved forward and discovered different needs for us and the community.
To meet our goal of adding new members, I started a letter campaign, mailing letters to various folks letting them know that there is still a Lions Club in town and we are looking for movers and shakers to join us. In addition to the Azalea Fest, we did some new
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Courier Obituaries 7-17-19
BOBBIE LEE MOODY HUGHES
PENDLETON — Bobbie Lee Moody Hughes, 85, passed away on Tuesday, July 9, 2019.
She was born on Oct. 31, 1933, in Greenville to the late Rev. Daniel W and Callie Stephens Moody.
Mrs. Hughes was a devoted Christian, and even during her sickness, she shared her love for the Lord with everyone she met. She was a devoted mother and wife, as well as being a business woman in her earlier years, owning and operating her own upholstery business. She also loved the outdoors, and her interests included camping, spending time at the beach, picnics, bluebird watching and spending time with her family.
She is survived by her two daughters, Tammy Hughes Lognion (Dwayne) of Pendleton and Anita Hughes Bratcher (Tommy) of Belton; one granddaughter, Shelly Bratcher Barrow of Belton; two sisters, Betty Haire of Easley and Ellen Harris of Easley; and two brothers, Gearld Moody of Easley and Donald Moody of Williamston.
She was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Alfred Eugene Hughes; two brothers, Daniel W. Moody Jr. and Calvin W. Moody; and one sister, Shirley McKee.
Memorial services were held on July 12 in the funeral home chapel. Burial was held at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens.
Online condolences may be made to dillardfunerals.com.
Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Hughes family.
VIVIAN H. BLALOCK
EASLEY — Dorothy Vivian Holder Blalock, 82, of Oaklane Drive, wife of the late Jack “Frosty” Blalock, passed away on Friday, July 12, 2019.
Born in Pickens County, she was a daughter of the late Martin and Lucy Baines Holder.
Mrs. Blalock was retired from Judson Mill in Greenville after 52 years of dedicated service. She was a member of Enon Baptist
Soccer, volleyball signups now open
PICKENS — Fall soccer and volleyball registration is open now through July 26 at the Pickens Recreation Center on Sangamo Road.
The following coed age divisions are offered for soccer — 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-15. For volleyball, age divisions are 7-9, 10-12, 13-14 and 15-17.
Birthdate cutoff for both sports is Sept. 1, 2019, and birth certificates are required at registration.
Following registration, a skills and evaluation day will be held for each age division. The registration fee of $45 for in-city residents and $55 for out-of-city residents provides a jersey to be kept.
Those interested in coaching or who need additional information are asked to call the recreation department at (864) 878-2296.
