Daily Archives: 12/15/2020
Pickens names police chief
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pickens’ new police chief has nearly four decades of law enforcement experience.
Randal Beach will be the new police chief, city officials announced Friday.
“Randal Beach’s deep understanding of the mechanics of police work, his proven leadership abilities, his ability to collaborate effectively with other law enforcement agencies and his commitment to community engagement will be important assets for our city to come,” Mayor Fletcher Perry said.
Beach was mostly recent the police chief in Twin City, Ga.
“Randal rose to the top during a competitive selection process, and
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Company bringing $5.6M investment to commerce park
Move set to create 35 jobs
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — An industrial polyethylene storage tank manufacturer will be the newest business establishing operations at the Pickens County Commerce Park.
Peabody Engineering announced plans to invest more than $5.6 million and create 35 new jobs Monday morning at the Alliance Pickens office.
“2020’s been a little bit rough,” Alliance Pickens executive director Ray Farley said. “We like to think that we’re wrapping up 2020 with a nice little Christmas gift, courtesy of you
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SC gets first doses of COVID-19 vaccine
By Riley Morningstar
Courtesy The Journal
rmorningstar@upstatetoday.com
COLUMBIA — South Carolina has started to receive its first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 43,000 doses are anticipated by Wednesday.
On Monday, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) confirmed it had
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County records 11 more deaths as rates worsen
COLUMBIA — With 11 new confirmed deaths since last week, Pickens County has set a new one-week high since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with infection rates continuing to climb,
the numbers may not improve any time soon.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reported the confirmed COVID-19 deaths of one middle-aged and 10 elderly Pickens County residents in the one-week period from last Tuesday to Monday, when the latest numbers were
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SDPC: More than 5% of students in virus quarantine
COUNTY — More than five percent of all students receiving in-person instruction in the School District of Pickens County were quarantined last week to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as 
the number of weekly cases in the district crossed 100 for the first time since the pandemic began.
According to the district’s weekly update, 646 students — 5.18 percent of in-person students — and 71 staff members — 3.53 percent — were quarantined last week. with 76 students and
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District announces next six-week schedule
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — In a letter sent home to parents Friday, School District of Pickens County superintendent Danny Merck said he listened carefully to school nurses, principals who had 
solicited feedback from teachers, district teachers of the year and the school board in developing the next six-week instruction schedule.
“In discussions with all groups, two things became clear — first, face-to-face learning is essential to the well-being of our students and, second, our nurses, teachers and other support staff are close to being overwhelmed with the extra work
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County emergency official shares COVID, fire prevention tips
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Even though operations are back in Phase 2 of Pickens County’s COVID-19 response, responses to emergencies will not change, Emergency Services director Billy Gibson said.
Gibson spoke during the announcement recently that the county would be taking steps to respond to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the area.
“Our Emergency Services Division will continue to operate as normal,” he said. “We will respond to your emergency, be it fire or a sheriff’s office call or EMS. Please be assured that we’re taking steps to protect our folks so that we are ready to protect you.”
While most people think of Emergency Services “in response mode,”
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Officials excited about possibilities after SC 153 extension opens
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — A day that Easley-area officials have long hoped for finally arrived last week.
Officials gathered the morning of Dec. 8 to cut the ribbon on the extension of S.C. Highway 153, a project aimed at easing traffic issues and bringing additional growth to the area.
“This scene here today is a good reflection, a microcosm sort of, of South Carolina,” Gov. Henry McMaster said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We’re in good shape. You’ve got great people who’ve done a great thing, getting great work done and we’re looking at the road to prosperity … a beautiful new highway that was done under budget and came in on time.
“It took a while to get started, but once it got started, it came in,” he continued. “This is a proud day and a good example of what is happening in South Carolina.”
South Carolina Secretary of Transportation Christy
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MasterCare thankful for help
MasterCare Assisted Living employees Valarie Buchanan, left, and Lisa Gilstrap hold signs thanking the community for answering a call for help for residents and staff. MasterCare administrator Jimmy Masters said the community stepped up with an “overwhelming response” after a recent article in the Courier detailing the home’s dire need for supplies to help fight COVID-19.
Lions lead county in all-region picks
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — With the 2020 high school football season coming to an end last week, all-region teams have finally been announced, and Pickens County high schools are well represented on the teams.
State champion Daniel boasts 14 players on the Western 3A all-region team after its dominant
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