Monthly Archives: March 2020
Federal funds may help with local flood damage
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pickens County should qualify for federal reimbursement to help repair infrastructure 
damaged by heavy rain and flash flooding last month.
“On Feb. 6, we had almost six inches of rain within a 24-hour period within the county,” acting county administrator Ken Roper said during his report to council at its meeting Monday. “I know many in the room will have experienced negative repercussions from that.”
The rain and flooding damaged some county facilities, including
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‘Home for Her’
Hundreds attend official dedication ceremony for Hampton Memorial Park
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — A large crowd gathered Monday morning to officially dedicate the Capt. Kimberly Hampton Memorial Park on the grounds of the Hampton Memorial Library in Easley.
Kimberly’s parents, Ann and Dale Hampton, had a front-row seat at the ceremony and were given a standing ovation by the 500-strong crowd.
“Today we honor, ladies and gentlemen, the living,” said Michael Cogdill, the event’s emcee. “Ann and Dale, thank you. Thank you for what you live with. Thank you for what this great country lives without. This great United States of America lives without the intellect of Kimberly Hampton, without the valor of Kimberly Hampton.”
But the country does not live without her legacy, he said.
Veterans, Gold Star and Blue Star families were recognized at the start of the program, including several veterans who served with Kimberly, a U.S. Army pilot who died when her helicopter was shot down in Iraq on Jan. 2, 2004.
A number of people who had a hand in the park’s creation at the government level were recognized
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Former VP takes county on way to Dem primary win
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Through three different primary seasons as a presidential candidate, former Vice 
President Joe Biden had never won a Democratic primary.
However, that all changed this weekend, as he picked up a monumental win in the Palmetto State.
Biden took more than 48 percent of the statewide vote, nearly 30 percent more than Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who gained 19.8 percent of the vote statewide. Following behind them on the state level was billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer (11.3 percent), former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (8.2 percent) and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (7.1 percent).
Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar garnered less than five percent of the vote.
The numbers were much closer here in Pickens County, with Biden just edging Sanders with 32.6 percent of the vote,
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SDPC ahead of curve on hiring
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
EASLEY — The School District of Pickens County has gotten a jump on the 2020-21 school year that begins in August, announcing last week that 31 new teachers have already been hired.
Assistant superintendent for secondary education Josh Young said during a Feb. 24 school board meeting that assistant superintendent for human resources Stephanie Lackey and coordinator of personnel services Danny Rogers have worked hard to recruit teachers to the district. During a statewide teacher shortage, Young also credited the vision established by district superintendent
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Prepare for potential tough times to come
My IRA started bleeding a lot of red ink last week, and if you have any money in stocks, you probably saw your portfolio take a hit, too — all because of a weird bug that originated in a meat 
market in China.
Of course the health scare is my biggest concern with the outbreak of this coronavirus. But when your life savings begin to erode because of something you have no control over, that’s pretty big, too.
It’s times like these when it’s good to have a family friend who happens to be one of the most respected economists in America. I’m referring to Dr. Bruce Yandle, dean emeritus of Clemson University’s College of Business & Behavioral Science and Alumni Distinguished Professor of Economics Emeritus — and former executive director of the Federal Trade Commission, among other things.
He and his wife, Dot, have been friends of my parents
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Pickens mayor reflects on his upbringing
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Pickens Mayor Fletcher Perry believes there are defining moments in each person’s life.
“Growing Up African American in Pickens
County” was the name of the talk Perry gave at the Hampton Memorial Library in Easley on Thursday evening.
Perry’s mother gave birth to him in a house on West Lee Street in Pickens, because at the time, Cannon Memorial Hospital did not allow babies of color to be placed in the nursery, he said.
“She said ‘I decided to have my son at home,’” Perry said.
He attended Pickens County Training School, a segregated elementary school located next door to
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Easley’s Hill wins state
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
ANDERSON — This time last year, Easley High School wrestler Josh Hill entered a stratosphere 
unknown to any wrestler in the history of the Green Wave program.
Hill, then a junior, battled through the bracket at the state individual championship and became the first state champion for Easley in the 51 years of statewide wrestling competition. Now, Hill will enter the record books once again for two amazing feats he accomplished over the weekend.
After taking first in last week’s upper state qualifier, Hill became the first two-time wrestling state champion in Easley history on Saturday at the Andeson Civic Center and finished his career as the all-time wins leader in Green Wave history with 158
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Pickens soccer dominates Liberty in season opener
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — High school soccer season started with a matchup of county foes on Monday night as the Pickens Blue Flame took on the Liberty Red Devils.
The Pickens boys team had no struggles at all with the co-ed group from Liberty, taking a decisive 7-0 win.
“This is a good group,” Pickens head coach Jon Davit said. “We had a strong preseason and they
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Wave take LHS softball tourney
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Spring fever hit Pickens County over the weekend in the form of a softball tournament hosted by the Liberty Red Devils.
The Red Devils hosted county foe Easley alongside Walhalla and Westside in a battle for preseason supremacy.
Tournament play began on Friday night, with Easley taking on Westside.
The Green Wave got off to a hot start on the night with Olivia Durham getting them out of the first
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Daniel’s Benson to play in North/South game
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — High school basketball season has finally come to an end in Pickens County, but one local athlete will have a final chance to represent his alma mater on the hardwood.
Daniel’s Brenton Benson was named last week to the North/South All-Star game, where he will compete against some of the best basketball players in the state of South Carolina.
The game will be held at Lexington High School on Saturday, March 21.
“It’s very exciting,” Benson said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
Benson, a 6’6″ senior forward/center, was one of the driving forces behind one of Daniel’s most successful seasons in the past decade, averaging more than 12 points and eight rebounds a game, while the team went 23-6 and won its first playoff game in seven years.
“He’s a monster on the glass,” Daniel coach Ben Touchberry said of Benson earlier this season. “He
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