Yearly Archives: 2020
Cover up, Pickens — masks stop the spread
With each new disease or infection that is identified, there is always a fairly steep learning curve that goes with solving it and finding a cure, a treatment or a vaccine, in case of a viral agent.
We all know too well about this, having gone through the ups and downs of daily briefings on the current COVID-19 pandemic. At times, the information has been very confusing. Should we wear a mask, should we not? Should we shelter in place, should we not? We can go to a big box store, but we can’t go to church. We should physically distance ourselves, but it is OK to gather in the thousands to protest. What data is really
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Courier Letters to the Editor 8-19-20
Recycling changes a positive step
Dear Editor,
I want to thank the county administration and council for listening to the public, and praise the Courier for last week’s story entitled, “Recycle centers back to six days a week.” The council has reopened all recycle centers on Wednesdays, so they are again operating with a Monday through Saturday service schedule.
During my campaign for county council, I was happy to add my voice to the chorus of those who were already saying the county was growing and closing the centers on Wednesdays was a bad idea. The county does an extensive audit each year, and solid waste tonnage grew from 36,545 to 44,554 — or 21 percent — from 2015 to 2019. As a result, it should not be cutting back on this essential service, nor cutting manpower at the centers.
As part of the six-day schedule, though, the council cut the hours from 7:30 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. to the
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A record years in the making
It has been touted as “the No. 1 most highly unanticipated release in over a decade.”
Coming from an artist who hasn’t put out a record since 1981, it’s no wonder.
I’m talking about the new, just-released album by Jim Van Buskirk and the AVANT GARDE recording project, and I am proud to have been a part of it — both in 1981 and 2020.
With a gap of 39 years between releases, this album, called “The Shellers,” ranks No. 5 on Wikipedia’s list of longest gaps between studio albums. (Yes, there really is such a list. If we’d waited four more years, we could have tied the Strawberry Alarm Clock’s gap of 1969 to 2012.)
And, yes, this album, like its predecessor, actually has been pressed into vinyl discs that are played on old-fashioned machines that use a needle to wondrously
Our highest quest is to know God
The Christian worldview of life is about learning what God requires and willingly accepting the call to become a devoted disciple of Christ. This life-changing decision has everything to do with 
yielding mind, body and soul to the Creator of heaven and earth. It’s definitely worth considering since He has promised with all certainty that He is the way, the truth and the life.
Most Bible scholars are convinced there are two categories of judgment that are commonly referred to as the saved and the unsaved. Even though there are levels of good and bad behavior, the basic concept describes a certain number of souls who are spiritually born-again and are declared as being a child of the Most High, and on the other side of the fence, there are those who willingly reject the invitation to
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Courier Obituaries 8-19-20
JULIA DUNCAN OWEN
SIX MILE — Julia Duncan Owen, 77 of Six Mile, passed away Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020.
Julia was born and raised in Pickens County to Benjamin and Ruby Duncan on Oct. 3, 1942. Through the years, she was a gifted seamstress, as well as an amazing cook. She owned her own catering business for years, assisting the community with special events.
Julia attended a private Christian high school in Central at what is now Southern Wesleyan University.
A beloved wife and mom, she leaves behind her husband of 43 years, Kenneth Owen; sons, Greg Newton and his wife Lori of Six Mile, Harvey Newton and his wife Judith of Six Mile and Jonathan Newton and his wife Cherry of Winder, Ga.; a daughter, Nancy Beth Newton and partner Susan Wilson of Greenville; three siblings, Wayne Duncan, Louvenia Revan and Jewel Key, all of Easley; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
In addition to her parents, Julia was predeceased by two brothers, Elford and Jerry Duncan; and
Canary in the Coal Mine
Wastewater testing provides early warning of community COVID levels, researcher says
By Paul Alongi
Clemson University
news@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — David Freedman of Clemson University is testing coronavirus levels in wastewater on the University’s main campus and in the surrounding community to provide an early warning system that shows how fast the virus is spreading.
Freedman likens the tests to the “canary in the coal mine” that can help administrators make informed decisions about what they need to do to protect the public’s health even before COVID-19 case counts start to rise. In addition to campus, his testing covers the city of Clemson and the Town of Pendleton, both home to many of the University’s students, faculty and staff.
Clemson City Council unanimously passed an ordinance on June 24 that mandated face coverings in
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Crisis leadership class leverages pandemic to challenge students
By Rick Uhlmann
Clemson University
news@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — When a wrench is thrown into the best-laid plans, good leaders pivot and make the most out of less-than-ideal situations.
A recent case in point is a Clemson University College of Business crisis leadership class that was borne out of the disruptions and cancellations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. When the College of Business marketing students’ spring pilgrimage to New York City was canceled, a
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Chamber’s August Member of the Month
The Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce’s August Member of the Month is the Mattress Store by Wilson, located at 404 Johnson St. in Pickens. The business is a local family owned business that offers brand-name factory markdowns, clearance and surplus merchandise, all at 40-80 percent off retail prices. The Mattress Store features products by Serta, Sealy, Simmons, Stearns, Foster and more and carries a wide variety of living room and bedroom furniture, recliners and tables. The Mattress Store is open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Pictured are store owners James and Kim Wilson.
TCTC surgical technology named Advisory Committee of the Year
PENDLETON — The surgical technology advisory committee’s practical and professional guidance this year, along with hands-on attention to student success, earned it Tri-County Technical College’s Advisory Committee of the Year award.
The committee was recognized for its achievements this year at the college’s virtual fall convocation August 13.
Committee members Laura Bachlet, nurse manager of perioperative services at Oconee Memorial Hospital, and Fran Kopnicky, retired bank manager, along with Program Director Denelle White accepted the award.
The role of the surgical technology advisory committee is to provide feedback and assess annual program outcomes data and curricular issues. They maintain an active role in the continued
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Cream pie has many variations
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
If given a choice between pie or cake as dessert, pie is usually picked around our house.
Our crowd claims that all but a few cakes dry out too quickly.
They like the moist richness of cream pies. Favorites include 
chocolate, vanilla, banana and butterscotch.
This is fortunate for the cook, as all are variations of a basic cream filling.
This week we are featuring a basic cream filling with meringue topping and a chocolate, banana and butterscotch version of this pie.
