Monthly Archives: March 2021
Courier staffers earn press awards
COLUMBIA — Two Pickens County Courier staff members were honored by the South Carolina Press Association recently for their work in 2020.
In the SCPA’s annual news contest, Courier staff reporter Jason Evans and editor Zack Mauldin received awards voted on by peers in the newspaper industry. The awards will be presented later this year at the SCPA annual meeting and awards presentation.
Evans, a longtime local reporter who joined the Courier
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New plant to science discovered in county
By Greg Lucas
SCDNR
news@thepccourier.com
SUNSET — A plant that is new to science has been discovered at the Nine Times Preserve in northern Pickens County, and last year it was named after a distinguished South Carolina botanist.
The only known population of Shealy’s saxifrage (scientific name Micranthes petiolaris var. shealyi) exists at Nine Times Preserve, a property of The Nature Conservancy near Sunset.
The plant was named by Clemson University botanists
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Planners nix Azalea Fest
By Rocky Nimmons
Publisher
rnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Festival lovers will have to wait another year before they can again enjoy Pickens
County’s largest festival.
Pickens Azalea Festival Committee chairman Russ Gantt told Pickens City Council on Monday that the event, originally planned for mid-April, will be canceled for the second year in a row.
“He informed council due to the lack of time required to effectively plan for this year’s festival, that the committee
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School district seeking to raise teacher salaries
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
EASLEY — The Pickens County School Board has made increasing teacher pay one of its top priorities heading into the next budget cycle.
The priorities include raising the salary of first-year teachers to $40,000 and adjusting the teacher pay scale to honor long-term teachers.
But last week, the board took immediate action by unanimously voting to double the bonus for
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County internet partnership gets final council OK
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — A public-private partnership between Pickens County and Blue Ridge Electric 
Cooperative to help improve broadband internet access around the county has received its third and final vote of approval.
County council passed an ordinance that would create a fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement between Pickens County and the cooperative in order to bring better broadband
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3 arrests in search for wanted man
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Several people have been charged in connection with the capture of a wanted man last week.
According to a Pickens County Sheriff’s Office news release, deputies went to a home on Jay Drive in an attempt to find Jonathan Dean Moody.
The Greenville address is located withing
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Pickens County Virtual Academy opens applications for 2021-2022
COUNTY — Pickens County Virtual Academy applications are now open for the 2021-2022 school year.
The deadline of March 15 may be extended depending on availability of classes.
“The School District of Pickens County is still planning to offer five-day face-to-face instruction next year, but we have heard from many of our families who want us to continue offering the virtual option,” PCVA director Darian Byrd said. “Some of our families have found that their children thrive academically in the
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Central officials looking into changing zoning requirements
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CENTRAL — In the wake of concerns shared about the annexation of 48 acres on Lawton Road proposed for a 100-home subdivision, Central officials are looking into zoning changes that would 
allow for more open space in town.
“Zoning districts that have been developed in some of our neighboring towns require smaller lots when the property is developed,” Mayor Mac Martin said. “So to require a smaller lot leaves open space that can be used for recreation, park, walking, preserving trees and wildlife.”
While the mayor said “box” zoning has served the town well over the years, the new type of development taking place largely required by building codes may be more suited to a new zoning district.
“This type of district would require a smaller lot and leave
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School district virus numbers still dropping
COUNTY — COVID-19 cases in the School District of Pickens County have reached their lowest point in months, as the district reported Friday that less than a quarter of a percent of students 
tested positive last week, along with just 11 staff members.
The school district said in its weekly update on Friday that 28 students, or 0.206 percent of those throughout the district, tested positive for the virus last week. That number was down from 33 the previous week. The 11 staff members positive was down from 16 the week before.
In addition to positive cases, quarantines were also down for the week, from 33 staff members and 321 students two weeks
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Scouts pitch in
Members of Boy Scout Troop 161 in Clemson led by Scoutmaster Michael Brown recently volunteered at Soapstone Baptist Church north of Pickens, helping clean up and complete projects around the church grounds.
