Daily Archives: 09/17/2019
Saturday concert to bring together pair of local talents with big-stage experience
LIBERTY — A concert planned Saturday night at the Pickens County Performing Arts Center will bring together a pair of local natives who already have big-time national name recognition.
Already set to feature Piedmont native Ashland Craft, who was a fan favorite on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2017, the “Fame” Country Music Concert recently added Easley’s own Ansley Burns, a 13-year-old Gettys Middle School student who reached the semifinals of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” this month.
Burns was eliminated from AGT during the semifinals show earlier this month, but not before leaving an impression and making fans all over the world. She first found widespread recognition for her singing voice when she performed Carrie Underwood’s “Cry Pretty” in the backseat of a car in a video that went viral across the nation, including a
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Teen drowns at state park
Parents: Boy was trying to save brother
SUNSET — A 15-year-old boy drowned in Lake Keowee on Friday while he was on a camping trip with his church, according to the Pickens County Coroner’s Office.
Sahiyd Thomas, of Moore, was found 40 minutes after he went underwater at Keowee Toxaway State Park, according to deputy coroner Gary Duncan.
Dorman High School officials issued a release saying the Dorman sophomore jumped in the water to save his brother, “who appeared to be caught in a current,” according to his parents.
“He was able to get his brother to shore, but unfortunately Sahiyd did not make it,” the release said. “Sahiyd was a sophomore who genuinely cared for others. He loved to sing and was actively involved in the Dorman chorus.”
Thomas was taken to Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital, and his autopsy took place Saturday.
State fiddling convention at mill this week
PICKENS — Hagood Mill Historic Site in Pickens will host its annual South Carolina State Fiddling Championship this weekend.
Set for Friday and Saturday, the event brings in folks from all over South Carolina and many other states to watch and take part in the competitions. One of the highlights of the weekend will be the crowning of the S.C. State Old Time Fiddling Champion.
In addition, there will be other junior and adult competition categories where musicians have a chance to spar for cash prizes, trophies and ribbons.
Besides the Old-Time Fiddling Convention, many other activities will be going on for the two-day event.
Dance activities are set to take place in the pavilion. Clogger Simone Nichols Pace will be conducting a clogging workshop at 6:15 p.m. on Friday. Pace is the
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Man drowns in community pool
EASLEY — An Easley man drowned at a community pool last week.
Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley identified the victim as Brandon Dukeshier, 22, of Brighton Circle.
Kelley said Dukeshier was found submerged under water in the community pool at 202 Wexford Easley in Easley on Sept. 9. The pool is in the Westchester subdivision.
Dukeshier was pronounced dead at the scene, she said.
Kelley said results of an autopsy performed Sept. 10 are expected in eight to 12 weeks.
No foul play is suspected, she said.
The Easley Police Department and the Pickens County Coroner’s Office are investigating.
Motorcyclist dies after hitting deer
EASLEY — A motorcyclist died Thursday after hitting a deer.
Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley identified the victim as Mathew Meyer, 34, of Sweetbriar Way in Easley.
The accident occurred at 1 a.m. Thursday morning at 1465 Dacusville Highway in Easley, she said.
Meyer hit a deer on his motorcycle, Kelley said.
Meyer, who was not wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Kelley.
The accident is being investigated by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Pickens County Coroner’s Office.
Descended from royalty
According to my doctor, there’s a weird virus going around, and apparently I got it.
So I have been in bed just about all the time for the past three days, although I’m starting to feel a little better after I 
broke down and went to the doctor and got some medicine.
Meanwhile, however, I haven’t been completely idle. I’ve been doing genealogical research, and I have some big news for you.
If the calculations done by the minions on FamilySearch, the world’s largest genealogical database, are correct, I am the 12th great-grandson of King Henry VIII.
That explains my portly physique. And my gout. Thanks, Grampa!
I told my wife she could start addressing me as “Your Majesty.” She just rolled her eyes. But now she has a way to manipulate me. “Would your majesty please bring me a slice of watermelon?” What benevolent Royal Personage could deny such an humble request?
She, however, is the real genealogist of the family, and she has a pretty
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Program benefits hospital Birthplace
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — An area of Prisma Health Baptist Easley Hospital has been made over to celebrate the hospital’s smallest stars.
Officials unveiled the “A Star Is Born” wall at the hospital Thursday afternoon. The wall is part of the Garnet and Polly Barnes Women’s Center.
The “A Star Is Born” program is “very special to us,” said Todd Walker, campus president of Baptist Easley Hospital.
The Garnet and Polly Barnes Women’s Center includes 13 birthing suites remodeled with state-of-the-art equipment
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Blue Flame defeat Powdersville, compete in Dorman tournament
PICKENS — The Pickens High School Lady Blue Flame downed the 2018 Class 3A state champion Powdersville Patriots last week and reached the Gold Division in the Dorman Tournament of Champions, played at the 
Spartanburg County high school.
The Lady Blue Flame defeated Powdersville in three sets in a match played at Powdersville Sept. 10, winning 25-20, 25-20, 25-19. Pickens advanced to the Gold Division of the Dorman Tournament of Champions on Friday and Saturday before falling to eventual champion Mauldin. Senior setter Kaylee Gillespie and senior right-side hitter
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Courier Obituaries 9-18-19
RUDOLF STURNER
CENTRAL — Rudolf “Rudy” Hartwig Stürner, 66, husband of Janice Evelyn Allen Stürner, passed away suddenly on 
Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019.
Rudy was born in Aidlingen, Germany, son of the late Hoyt Powell and Hermine Stürner. He was retired from Ryobi after 46 years as a senior lab technician. He was member of Liberty First Baptist Church. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He enjoying fishing, football and spending time with his little fur baby, Bella.
Surviving are his wife of the home; daughter, Penny Winchester (Donald) of Easley; son, Jonathan Stürner (Sara) of Central; one brother, Patrick Powell of Easley; three grandchildren, Tiffany Barnes (David), Will Stürner and Katie
Prom night
Having lived well beyond the half-century mark, I have met a lot of women and have had the good fortune to have dated a few of them. But not many stand out in my mind like the one I took to my first junior-senior prom.
Women just don’t realize how much pressure, how much torment and anguish we guys go through simply trying to build up enough nerve to ask a girl out the first time. As was the case with my first junior-senior prom date at Pickens High School in 1963.
I remember her quite well. Her name was Carolyn. She and I exchanged pleasantries from time to time, and eventually we started talking with each other about the third month after we first met. We were classmates and sat near each other in history class. As time rolled by, I started looking forward to seeing her each day. I also noticed how pretty she was, and she seemed to like me.
Being involved in many other school activities, I lost track of time. Here it was springtime already, with the
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