Daily Archives: 03/10/2020
Clemson officials notified possible coronavirus case is negative
UPDATE:
The following story has been updated to notify the residents of Pickens County that the possible coronavirus case in Clemson has been deemed negative following test results.
CLEMSON — A day after the first case of the COVID-19 coronavirus was confirmed in the Upstate, 
Clemson University officials announced Monday that they were monitoring a possible case of the virus in a non-student in self-quarantine at an off-campus residence.
The school is working in conjunction with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, university spokesman Joe Galbraith said, and results from a test for the virus were set to come back within 24-48 hours.
DHEC announced on Sunday that a man in Spartanburg had tested positive for the virus, bringing the state’s total to seven
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County preparing to deal with potential outbreak
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Before Clemson University announced this week that it was monitoring a possible case of coronavirus, Pickens County Emergency Management officials had already begun preparations for the virus.
During his report to council March 2, acting county administrator Ken Roper said county employees and the Emergency Management department have no cause for alarm regarding COVID-19, the official name for the new strain of coronavirus that has been spreading rapidly worldwide.
It’s important that the region works together to deal with the virus, Roper said.
“We’ve already been in contact with our neighboring counties to try to see what they’re doing, to make sure we’re cooperating regionally,” he said. “Whatever the outcome of this may be, whether
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Easley man gets 25 years in federal prison
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
GREENVILLE — An Easley man will serve 25 years in federal prison for drug trafficking.
Bruce Allen Howland, 58, was sentenced after pleading guilty to violating federal drug distribution laws, Acting United States Attorney A. Lance Crick announced March 4.
Crick said evidence presented at the change of plea hearing showed that on Feb. 28, 2019, two confidential sources in Pickens County, under the supervision of law enforcement, placed recorded calls to Howland and
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County election director resigns
Bowers also steps down from board
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Just months away from the statewide primaries and the critical 2020 general election, 
the Pickens County Board of Registration and Elections will have to move quickly to prepare after the resignation of two key officials.
Executive director Rodney Allen and board member June Bowers resigned from their longtime positions within the election governing body last week.
Allen, who has served in the executive director role for nearly 12 years, submitted his resignation on Thursday, but will stay
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ACOG could provide some road funding
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — The executive director of the Appalachian Council of Governments says his organization may be able to help address roads within Pickens County.
Steve Pelissier delivered ACOG’s annual report to Pickens County Council during council’s March 2 meeting.
The county has a number of options for raising funds to address county roads, which are currently on a 75-year paving cycle.
One of those options is implementing a penny sales tax in the county.
Many residents spoke out against the sales tax during the meeting.
“I picked up maybe a subtle sense tonight that roads are an issue in Pickens County,” Pelissier said. “Last year we were able to provide $4.5 million dollars in road improvement, primarily in
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Unraveling a mystery
When you give to the needy,” the Lord told his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount, “do not let 
your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.”
That admonition seems to have been followed very well 30 years ago when two groups of volunteers from Pickens independently journeyed to the tiny Sumter County town of Dalzell to provide much-needed food and supplies to the previously overlooked victims of Hurricane Hugo living there.
There were no news stories at the time trumpeting the mission of mercy the people of one small Upstate town undertook to help the people from one small Midlands town in the fall of 1989. There was too much horrible news in the aftermath of the biggest natural disaster to strike South Carolina in a generation to give public praise to all those who sacrificed their time, efforts and material blessings to help the thousands left destitute in the wake of the storm.
But the residents of Dalzell never forgot the kindness that was shown to them — even though the
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Pickens falls short against Bobcats
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
ANDERSON — After beating eventual tournament champion T.L. Hanna just days before, the Pickens Blue Flame varsity baseball team entered Friday’s matchup with the Seneca Bobcats in prime position to continue their winning ways in their final game of the preseason Shock City Invitational.
However, the Blue Flame bats just couldn’t get going as Seneca pitcher Carson Smith went all seven innings in a 4-1 win.
“I’ve got to give credit to Seneca’s pitcher,” Pickens coach Matt Smith said. “He came out throwing strikes. We competed hard, but giving up four runs in the first few innings (hurt), and we just couldn’t get anything more than a couple hits going.”
Unlike Seneca, the Blue Flame had some early mound trouble that set the pace for the game. Starter Tanner Tinsley only made it through two innings as he struggled with
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Rodeo draws big crowds
The T. Ed Garrison Arena hosted the Clemson IPRA World Championship Rodeo last Friday and Saturday, with great attendance for both events. Above, Kameron Merck of Easley rides a bull on Saturday.
Daniel boys take first at Liberty track scrimmage
LIBERTY — The Daniel High School boys and the Powdersville High School girls placed first among five area teams at a scrimmage track meet at Liberty High School on March 3.
The Daniel boys took first place, followed by Powdersville and host Liberty. Walhalla and Pickens rounded out the pack, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
For the girls, Powdersville reigned supreme, with Daniel finishing second. Walhalla, Liberty and
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Green Wave lose tourney title game despite no-hitter
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
ANDERSON — With the tying runner on third, Bennett Simon came up to the plate for the Easley 
Green Wave with the inaugural Shock City Invitational tournament on the line.
The Green Wave, 3-0 in tournament play, trailed region foe and tournament host T.L. Hanna 1-0 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and needed the offense badly.
However, a base hit was a big ask for either team on a night where Easley had only managed one hit and held the Yellow Jackets to zero, but it was now or never for the Green Wave.
The hit never came, though, as Simon grounded out to end the last-second rally, allowing Hanna to become the first-ever Shock City Tournament champions in a 1-0 win.
“There’s a lot of different ways to win baseball games,” T.L Hanna head coach Daniel Crenshaw said. “Luckily
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