Daily Archives: 07/20/2021
Official: Blue Ridge Fest gone for good
PICKENS — After 22 years, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative’s Blue Ridge Fest is no more.
The decision to end the annual festival, which raises money for area charities, came from cooperative employees, according to Blue Ridge spokesman Terry Ballenger.
“We went two years without having anything because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “We decided to find out what our employees’ perspective was about the festival, because they volunteer to support the fest and put in a lot of their personal time and energy to do so. It became a big operation
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Honoring his memory
Race raises money for scholarship named after late Liberty runner
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — After a year off due to COVID-19, the second annual Honor Abe 5K was held on Saturday at Liberty High School.
The event is held in honor of Abraham Balawi, known as Abe, who was a standout 
student-athlete at Liberty High School who earned all-state honors in cross-country and won the Class 2A state championship in the 1600-meter run during the 2014 track season.
Balawi earned both academic and athletic scholarships to attend Mercer University in Macon, Ga., and
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County council vax resolution sparks debate
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
PICKENS — Although government resolutions nearly always pass, Pickens County Council voted one down last week 
after a hot debate over immunizations.
The bone of contention in county council’s 4-2 vote defeating a resolution for Pickens County to recognize August as National Immunization Month was whether government should get involved in personal decisions such as vaccinations — especially in the COVID-
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Man dies after weekend wreck
PIEDMONT — A Clemson man traveling home from a bachelor party for a friend died early Sunday morning after the truck he was driving crashed into a tree.
Anderson County deputy coroner Josh Shore identified the man as 23-year-old Deandre Nathaniel Mansell.
The wreck happened just after 4 a.m. on Sunday, according to South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Joe Hovis. Hovis
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Jobless rate up in Pickens County
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — The unemployment rate in Pickens County rose for the first time in three months during the month of June, state officials said in a recent jobs report.
The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) reported that unemployment rose nearly a full percentage point from 3.3 percent in April
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County making progress on some trash, litter issues
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Pickens County efforts to address issues at the landfill, and the county’s litter problem overall, are bearing some fruit.
County administrator Ken Roper discussed trash issues during his report to county council at its July 12 meeting.
County council authorized the creation of a sort facility to “ease some of the stress on our transfer station,” Roper said.
“Our workers have been working diligently over the last several days to get
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Southern Wesleyan Ed.D. student successfully defends dissertation
CENTRAL — Dr. Sandra McLendon, dean of Southern Wesleyan University’s School of Education, celebrated the success of SWU Ed.D student Jolene Smith recently.
“Congratulations to Amber Jolene Smith, who successfully defended her doctoral dissertation June 28,” McLendon said. “Her dissertation is ‘The Effect of South Carolina’s Initial Mentorship Training on the Self-Efficacy of Mentor Teachers: A Cross-sectional Research Study.’ She defended to a packed
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Easley sets roll cart fees
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — The city of Easley will provide residents’ first roll carts for trash collection at no charge, but residents will pay for additional ones, if needed.
During its July 12 regular meeting, Easley City Council unanimously approved a resolution establishing costs for additional carts.
“The first rollout cart is free,” interim city administrator Tommy Holcombe said. “The
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Easley officials approve Couch Lane annexation
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Despite some concerns over the development proposed there, Easley City Council members approved annexing 15.4 acres of property at Couch Lane and McAlister Road.
During their monthly meeting last week, council members approved the annexation with a zoning designation of flexible review district on second reading. First reading passed last month.
Developer Mitchell Lerner has submitted plans to build more than 200 apartments on the land.
Interim city administrator Tommy Holcombe said 215 apartments are being
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All creatures great and small
My cousin Gwynne taught first grade for years and years. She taught until she was teaching the children of former students. Her students adored her.
Gwynne had a rabbit who went to school with her. His name was Hector, and he hopped around the classroom. The 
children enjoyed Hector and Hector, we believe, enjoyed them.
They learned what to feed him and how to be gentle with him. So when eventually, after a long and productive life, Hector died, it was a sad day for
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