Daily Archives: 02/18/2020
Blue Flame football legend remembered for life on, off field
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pickens High School legend who helped lead the Blue Flame football team to its 
only state championship in his first full season playing the sport will be remembered for his accomplishments both on the football field and in the community.
Rudy Hayes died Saturday at his home. He was 85.
Hayes was a running back for the Blue Flame in the early 1950s, earning all-state honors three times and graduating with more than 50 school records on the gridiron before taking his talents across the county to play for the Clemson Tigers and eventually enjoying an NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hayes finished his Pickens
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Durrah picked to lead Green Wave football program
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — A new era is underway for the Easley High School football program, as former 
Green Wave assistant coach Jordan Durrah was named the team’s 
head coach on Feb. 14.
Durrah was chosen after a nearly two-month search that began with the abrupt departure of former coach Caleb King, who went 3-7 in his only season with the Green Wave.
“I started out at Easley, and when I felt ready to become head coach, it was the kind of place I wanted to be,” Durrah told The Courier last week. “Everything just kind of fell into place the last few weeks, and it’s been a dream come
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Easley man charged in theft of patrol car
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — An Easley man faces charges in connection with the theft of a Greenville County 
Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle.
Roy Wood McDonald, 32, is charged with grand larceny and simple larceny, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chad Brooks said in a news release.
The sheriff’s office received reports Sunday of a vehicle accident involving a Greenville County patrol vehicle on Farrs Bridge
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City asks for help keeping drains clear
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — City officials believe hard work by staff helped Easley weather the heavy rains and 
flooding of Feb. 6, but said future weather events could be more costly if efforts aren’t made to keep trash out of storm drains.
Council members discussed the storm during their Feb. 10 meeting.
Councilman Brian Garrison commended public works and stormwater employees for their response to the storm and their work over the previous months.
“With all the rain we’ve had, they’ve had their hands full and
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New hunger study finds ‘significant problem’ in county
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Clemson University sociology professor Catherine Mobley says hunger and food 
insecurity don’t just impact individuals and their families, but also the community at large.
“Currently our food environment is not enough to adequately serve our community members,” Mobley said.
Around 2010, United Way of Pickens County decided it wanted to look into the issue of hunger in Pickens, according to Karen Culley, vice president of community impact. That led to its 2011 hunger study.
“It is a significant problem,” she said. “We realized it was something we need to continue addressing.”
Last year, the organization decided it might be time for
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Flame knock off Daniel
By John Robert Ayers
Courier Sports
news@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — The Pickens Blue Flame girls pulled off a senior night stunner at home last week, 
taking down the Region I-4A-leading Daniel Lions, 50-45.
Kaylee Gillespie led the Flame with 17 points, and Alex Dow contributed as well with 15.
The win was huge for the Blue Flame, a talented squad that has faced many ups and downs this season, because without it the team would have likely missed the playoffs.
“This shows we never give up,” Pickens head coach Rikki Owens said. “We have fought, we have scrounged, and we have gotten better. A few weeks ago, this
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Lions spoil Pickens’ senior night
By John Robert Ayers
Courier Sports
news@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — The Daniel boys’ basketball team played the role of spoiler on senior night against 
Pickens on Feb. 11, as they topped the Blue Flame, 72-41.
A total team effort for the Lions, every Daniel player scored, with senior Andrew Latiff leading the Lions with 14 points behind a 4-of-6 shooting effort from three-point range.
Pickens seniors Jake Alexander, Antonio Freeman, Garrett White and Drake Lesley were honored during the game. Pickens coach Jeff Harrelson spoke highly of the group, and for the future as well.
“Your seniors are always the backbone of your program,” he said. “I’m going to miss
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Easley squads fall on senior night
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — With the regular season coming to an end, the Easley High School basketball teams prepared to celebrate their senior night on Feb. 11 against the J.L. Mann Patriots.
Things didn’t go as planned for the Green Wave, though, as the Patriots swept them to spoil the festivities.
The night began well enough for the Green Wave, as the Easley girls jumped out to an early first-quarter lead against the Patriots. That lead didn’t last long, with Mann jumping ahead in a second-quarter offensive explosion and never letting up in a 52-27 win.
“We ran into the same issues we had all year scoring the ball,” Easley coach Ivan Raymond said. “Even in the first quarter
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Applications now being taken for 2020 Harden Scholarship
PICKENS — Cannon Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is now accepting applications for the John Harden Scholarship.
The $1,000 scholarship, established in memory of Dr. John M. Harden, is awarded annually to a person continuing their education to work in a healthcare field.
Eligible candidates are students from Pickens High School, Liberty High School and Lakeview Christian School. Also eligible are employees and volunteers of AnMed Health Cannon
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Music to fill the air at Hagood Center Feb. 27
PICKENS — The historic Hagood Center, also known as the Pickens Community Center, will be the place to hear some good music and enjoy some great fellowship as senior citizens of Pickens will be hosting live music on Feb. 27.
Set to run from 7-9 p.m., the event will be hosted by Fay Cassell. All are invited to come and enjoy the music, and even bring instruments to join in the fun. Admission is $3.
The center is located at 129 Schoolhouse St. in Pickens. Contact the center at (864) 878-6000 for more information about activities at the Hagood Center.
