Daily Archives: 05/18/2021
Police still seeking answers after man found shot to death
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — The death of an Easley man last week is being investigated by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office as a homicide.
Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley identified the victim as Heyward “Trey” Delno Price III, of 207 Shade Tree Circle.
Price was found dead at his home on Shade Tree Circle the morning of May 10, according to a release issued by sheriff’s office Chief Deputy Chad Brooks the following day.
The body was found with a “visible injury that is characteristic of a gunshot
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
The Next Step
County’s seniors set to receive diplomas Saturday
COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County’s Class of 2021 will mark the end of a tumultuous final two years of
high school when they receive their diplomas in graduation ceremonies at their schools’ football stadiums on Saturday 
morning.
After the COVID-19 pandemic forced a transition to fully online learning to close out last school year and students this year have dealt with masks and social distancing requirements, among other
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
CPD: Man fired rifle at bar
By Riley Morningstar
and Lauren Pierce
Courtesy The Journal
rmorningstar@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — A Pendleton man who claimed he was enlisted in the National Guard was arrested over the weekend after
police said he fired gunshots out of his vehicle outside a bar in downtown Clemson.
Junior Estuardo Ortiz, 25, of Lakewood Drive, was charged with use of a firearm under the influence of alcohol. Ortiz was released from the Clemson City Jail on Sunday with a $2,000 personal recognizance bond and is scheduled to appear for a hearing at the Pickens County Courthouse on June 24.
Police responded to Backstreets Pub and Grill on Earle Street at
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Governor lifts mask mandate in state schools
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
COUNTY — School districts across the state of South Carolina can no longer require masks to be worn in school buildings.
Gov. Henry McMaster released an executive order last week immediately allowing
parents to decide if students wear masks in classrooms, backing off a requirement that had been in place since the beginning of the school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While South Carolina Department of Education officials said on the night of McMaster’s order May 11 that face covering guidelines would remain in effect until further guidance could be provided to schools, the state agency rescinded its requirement the following morning.
The decision left some education officials less than thrilled with the way McMaster
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
DISTRICT REPORTS NINE COVID CASES
COUNTY — COVID-19 numbers continue to improve across the School District of Pickens County, as the district reported 
its lowest number of weekly positive cases since October in an update issued Friday.
The district had just nine people test positive for the virus last week — seven students and two staff members. Two staff members and 72 students were quarantined as a precaution last week as well, down from four and 94 the previous
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Easley passes first reading of budget
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — If approved, the city of Easley’s proposed $16,063,041 Fiscal Year 2021-22 general fund budget represents about a 5 percent increase from the current year’s budget.
City administrator Stephen Steese discussed the budget before council voted on first reading May 10.
“Last year, we actually reduced the budget in anticipation of impacts from COVID,” he said. “What we have seen as the budget has gone through this year is that those impacts have been negligible, and actually we have some revenue sources that have actually increased over that time period. So this budget captures some of that revenue and growth in the tax base, as well as local sales tax that has taken place.”
The city’s property tax revenues are “staying pretty level between last year and the proposed budget,” Steese said.
“What you see increasing is the sales tax,” he said. “This is what we’ve seen increase during the past year. Apparently
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Upcountry Fiber created as rural broadband service provider
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS – A partnership between two utility cooperatives will create a new internet service provider that will bring high-speed broadband internet to Pickens County, including areas that are challenging to serve and have little internet access.
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative (BREC) and West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperative announced on Tuesday the creation of Upcountry Fiber and an investment of more than $150 million.
The partnership will cover more than 1,800 square miles and will be broken into multiple projects rolling out over a forecasted five-year rollout in both
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Central council OKs natural space district
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CENTRAL — Central Town Council recently approved final reading of a natural space district ordinance that resulted from the Lawton Road controversy in which 100 homes were proposed to be built on 48 acres.
An amendment to the ordinance, made by Councilwoman Paige Bowers, would 
have allowed a variation of standards if the natural zoning area created unusable land, but was defeated by council 4-3. Councilmembers Joe Moss, Ken Dill, Lynne O’Dell Chapman and Harry Holladay were in the majority who were opposed, while Mayor Mac Martin, Bowers and
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Police: Woman injured when hoarded gas explodes in crash
PICKENS — Deputies say a 28-year-old woman was hospitalized after evading a traffic stop when containers of hoarded gasoline in her trunk exploded following a crash.
According to a release from Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chad Brooks, a deputy in a marked patrol unit saw a 2007 Pontiac G6 traveling on Jameson Road in Pickens Thursday evening with a South Carolina license plate that
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Dillard honored at Pickens council meeting
Pickens’ own Dr. Mike Dillard was honored by Mayor Fletcher Perry and the Pickens City Council at the monthly council meeting on May 10. Dillard was recently recognized as the Pickens County EMS Medical of the Year for South Carolina. He has served as the Pickens County EMS Control Officer for 25 years and is a well-known face at AnMed Health Cannon Hospital in Pickens. Dillard was presented with a plaque recognizing his service to the community “with great appreciation of your many years of dedication and commitment to serving your community with utmost excellence.” In a news release, the city of Pickens thanked Dillard for his commitment to providing the highest standard of emergency health to those in our community. “We are incredibly appreciative for his expertise and service,” the release said. Pictured, from left, are Mayor Fletcher Perry, Kenna Dillard and Dr. Mike Dillard.
