Daily Archives: 02/23/2021
Liberty names athletic director
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Nearly one month after hiring a new head football coach, Liberty High School has made another key hire within its athletic department, announcing last Friday that Hal McManus will 
become the school’s new athletic director.
McManus joins Liberty High School fresh off a stint at Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach, but he carries plenty of ties to the Upstate.
A 1990 graduate of Byrnes High School, McManus won a state title on the hardwood for his father, legendary Byrnes coach Harold McManus. Following his time at Byrnes, McManus
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Car wrecks kill two Friday
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Two people died in separate car accidents near Easley on Friday.
An Easley man died Friday afternoon after a motorcycle was hit by a car.
Pickens County deputy coroner Gary Duncan identified the victim as Jonathan Paul Gilmer, 47, of Dacusville Highway.
The accident occurred at 12:50 p.m. on Hester Store Road, five miles north of Easley, according to South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Joe Hovis.
The collision occurred as Gilmer was operating a 2001 Honda motorcycle and traveling west on
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Working together
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Officials hope a partnership with Clemson University will boost tourism in Pickens County.
County administrator Ken Roper discussed the partnership during a recent county council meeting.
Council invested “no small amount of money” in a comprehensive tourism plan last year, RoperYou must be logged in to view this content.
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County virus deaths down
COLUMBIA — After weeks of double-digit COVID-19 death tolls, Pickens County had one of its best 
weeks in recent memory with just six deaths over the past seven days.
According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the county reported five confirmed deaths and one probable death in the one-week period from
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AnMed relaxes rules for visitors
PICKENS — AnMed Health, which operates AnMed Health Cannon Hospital in Pickens, has eased restrictions for visitation.
Beginning this week, people will be allowed to visit admitted hospital patients from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. daily. Officials had been operating from 2-6:30 p.m. daily before the change.
“Extending the visiting period allows greater
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House honors Daniel High football team
S.C. House Rep. Jerry Carter recently presented a resolution passed by the South Carolina House of Representatives recognizing and honoring the Daniel High School football team for its successful year and winning the Class 3A state championship. The resolution was approved unanimously by all 124 members of the House. Pictured, from left, are Carter, Daniel athletic director Tommy Plumblee, head coach Jeff Fruster and principal Shannon Sharkey.
Courtesy photo
School district COVID counts drop again
COUNTY — The number of positive COVID-19 cases and quarantines across the School District of 
Pickens County dropped again last week.
According to the district’s weekly update released Friday, 33 students and 16 staff members tested positive for the virus last week, compared to 40 and 17, respectively, the previous week. Quarantines also fell from 445 students and 38 staff members two weeks ago
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Conservative group demands legislators boost transparency
COUNTY — A conservative group has demanded that members of the Pickens County Legislative Delegation hold quarterly meetings and be more transparent in its process for appointments to boards and commissions.
Conservatives of the Upstate adopted a resolution sent to the delegation to demand the changes.
“We do not think that once a year meetings are enough to keep Pickens County citizens informed as to what is taking place in Columbia,” a news release sent out by COTU leadership team member Johnnelle Raines said. “We also do not think it is in the best interest of Pickens County citizens that they email and phone each other about their decisions to appoint board members and
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SC governor, lawmakers want to close ethics loopholes
By Tony Bartelme and Avery G. Wilks
The Post and Courier
news@thepccourier.com
Editor’s note: The Post and Courier of Charleston, the largest newspaper in the state of South Carolina, has partnered with other daily and weekly newspapers — including the Pickens County 
Courier — to help report on corruption and wasteful spending in communities around the Palmetto State.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and at least four lawmakers are calling for more scrutiny and fewer ethics loopholes for the state’s many special purpose districts in the wake of a Post and Courier report that painted a portrait of
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Donations needed for health care workers
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A local nonprofit that usually collects items for area senior citizens is focusing its efforts in March on those who care for the elderly.
Members of Warmth and Comfort for the Elderly in Upstate, SC use their crochet skills to provide warm items for nursing home patients, hospice groups, home health patients and elderly people who live at home and can’t afford them. They also hold regular donation drives.
Co-chair Tammy Ferguson said, starting in March, the donationYou must be logged in to view this content.
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