Monthly Archives: May 2021
Facing the future
Mother Nature cooperated with beautiful weather as more than 1,000 Pickens County seniors received their diplomas in graduation ceremonies at the county’s four high school football stadiums on Saturday morning. To see photos of all the graduates and awards information for each of the four schools’ senior classes, pick up a copy of this week’s Pickens County Courier for this year’s graduation special section. You can also see the student by drilling down on our website.
County’s COVID death toll hits 300
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Pickens County administrator Ken Roper said last week that 300 Pickens County residents have now died from COVID-19.
Roper discussed COVID cases during a Facebook Live update video posted Friday morning.
As of that date, Pickens County had 282 active cases of COVID-19, he said.
“We’re now at what’s called a medium incidence rate in Pickens County, so we’re
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SCHOOLS’ COVID-19 NUMBERS STAY LOW
COUNTY — Although the School District of Pickens County reported three more positive COVID-19 last week than the week before, the number of schools with positive cases shrank by one as the district prepares to close out the school year 
on a positive note.
After hundreds of positive cases have been reported throughout the school year — including at every one of the district’s 23 K-12 schools — the number of schools with a case dropped to just seven last week, as the district’s weekly update said 11
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City admin leaving Easley for new job
EASLEY — After more than five years as Easley city administrator, Stephen Steese is leaving the city after accepting a job 
as Bluffton town manager last week.
Steese, who has been administrator in Easley since 2015, is scheduled to start work in Bluffton on June 14.
Steese has been part of the city during a period of growth that has no end in sight,
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Local residents urged to reduce use of plastics
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Pickens County administrator Ken Roper is asking residents to reduce their use of single-use plastics to help the county address a recycling issue.
Roper called plastics “a big, big issue that the county is dealing with” during a Facebook Live video posted to the county’s page Friday morning.
The county’s recycling centers have had “several struggles” during the pandemic, he said.
“No struggle is bigger than the issue that we’re facing with plastics,” Roper
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Easley moving to roll carts for trash
EASLEY — City officials are adopting rules regarding the use of the roll carts for trash collection instead of curbside trash bags.
Council discussed transitioning from curbside bag collection to roll carts during its May work session.
During its May 10 regular council meeting, council approved first reading of
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Ceremony to honor county’s first Vietnam War casualty
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A special ceremony will be held the morning of Memorial Day in honor of Charles Johnson Jr., Pickens County’s first Vietnam War casualty.
During the ceremony, the roads surrounded the Charles Johnson Jr. Memorial Park in Pickens will be dedicated to Johnson.
The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the park, located at the corner of West Lee and South Catherine
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Pickens chamber officials present annual awards
PICKENS — The Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center recently announced the recipients of its annual awards.
Kenna Dillard was presented with the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award on May 14 by Duke’s Emily DeRoberts for her contributions in 2020. Dillard devoted many months and hours throughout the past year on beautification projects in downtown Pickens.
Her passion for the community and her devotion to rally volunteers for a worthy cause have not gone unnoticed. The Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award recognizes the efforts of a person or group that
Pickens Post 11 sets events for Memorial Day weekend
PICKENS — American Legion Post 11 of Pickens has three events planned for Memorial Day weekend to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Starting this Friday, May 28, at 3:30 p.m., Legion members will be at the Pickens County Courthouse on Main Street in Pickens to post American flags along the perimeter of the courthouse lawn.
On Saturday, the members of Post 11 will be on hand at the Market at the Mill, located at 225 Pumpkintown Highway in Pickens, to hand out poppies to those
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Event planned at future vet shelter
COUNTY — Pickens County’s veterans will soon have a temporary shelter.
“This has been a vision and goal of mine for a while,” Pickens County veterans service officer Sherry Harris said. “These men and women served their country honorably, and it is up to us to take care of them in their
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