Daily Archives: 10/26/2021
Woman charged with murder
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — An Easley woman has been charged with murder following a shooting earlier this month.
Virginia Louise Cook, 71, is charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Chuck James said in a news release.
Deputies responded to 110 Zion Heights Court in Easley on Oct. 13 after receiving a
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Communities plan Halloween events this week
By Rocky Nimmons
Publisher
rnimmons@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — You can already feel the chill in the air. You can hear the screams in the wind, and you have to be on 
guard for the boogeyman, as this weekend, Halloween will be upon Pickens County.
Several municipalities across the county will be providing a safe place to take your little monsters over the weekend to fill their bags with goodies. Pickens, Easley, Liberty and Six Mile all have events planned.
Easley will kick off the fun on Friday evening with Treats on the
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Elections set for Tuesday across county
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — Tuesday will be the first Tuesday in November, and with that comes municipal elections around Pickens County.
Liberty is in line to see the biggest changes this election cycle, with four city council seats and the mayoral seat up for grabs.
In uncontested races, Robbie Shoenleben is running for the vacant Ward 1 Liberty City Council seat that was previously held by Brad Dover, Peggy Edwards is running for the Ward 2 seat
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Police: Easley man had files of child sex abuse
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — An Easley man was arrested earlier this month on child sexual abuse material charges, according to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson.
Conor Lee McCallister, 27, was arrested Oct. 15 on six charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors, Wilson said in a news release.
Investigators received a CyberTipline report that led them to McCallister, he said.
Wilson said investigators allege McCallister possessed files of child sexual abuse material.
McCallister is charged with six counts of third-degree sexual
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Pickens council talks police help
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — City officials are looking for ways to provide some assistance to Pickens Police Chief Randal Beach.
The discussion took place during Pickens City Council’s special called meeting last week.
Councilman Donnie McKinney said Beach had worked a shift by himself the previous weekend.
McKinney asked if the department was short on officers.
“I think he’s too short (on officers),” he said.
City administrator Philip Trotter said Beach had one current open position in
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Legislators say despite cost, road repairs necessary
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
PICKENS — Whether or not there is agreement with Pickens County Council’s decision last month to approve a 9.6-mill increase to repair existing roads and create a reserve fund for future road improvements, members of the
Rep. Davey Hiott
local legislative delegation said the issue is one that has to be addressed.
“I’ve talked to the county administrator (Ken Roper), and once we start seeing orange cones and roads repaired, I think people will at least appreciate the fact that they’re getting at least something for their tax money,” State House Rep. Davey Hiott of Pickens said. “A lot of times, we raise taxes and it doesn’t go for what you say you’re going to use it for. But, here, I think you’re going to see orange cones go up and roads
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Goodbye to Old Man Bradford
Old Man Bradford is dead.
I call him “Old Man,” but he was only 36. He looked like an old man, though — gnarled and pock-marked. Really, 
he was a monster.
Old Man Bradford never should have come into this world. He wasn’t created by the Lord. He was concocted by a man — a well-meaning scientist. Like Frankenstein’s monster, this creation didn’t turn out good.
Old Man Bradford stood in my front yard for as long as I’ve lived here,
in a quiet, wooded neighborhood in Easley. He stood there for 10 years before we bought the house.
I’m not sure how tall he was, but he was much taller than most. He measured 22 inches in diameter and boasted a girth of 67 inches. He was a big boy!
I hope you’ve guessed by now that I’m talking about my Bradford pear tree, whose kind has become the scourge of the Western hemisphere,
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Courier Letters to the Editor 10-27-21
Have a safe and happy Halloween
Dear Editor,
My, how times have changed. When I was a child, children went trick-or-treating by walking the neighborhood.
Some the parents carried in cars, and I remember
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Not the right kind of witch
National Witch Hazel Day was last week. So, who was “Witch Hazel” and why does she get a whole day devoted to her? Was she a good witch, like Glinda, the beautiful witch in the Wizard of Oz, who charmed the munchkins and 
everyone she met? Or was she like the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba (she even had a scary name), who frightened everyone she met?
Imagine my surprise to find out that witch hazel isn’t a witch at all. It’s
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Pickens Chamber Member of the Month
The Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce has chosen Wilson Gas of Pickens as its November Member of the Month. Pictured are Mike Brewer, Buddy Anthony, Diane Eades and Chris Porter of Wilson Gas, along with Donna Owen, Bryan Owens and Liza Holder from the chamber board of directors. Wilson Gas is located at 2824 Gentry Memorial Highway. The company provides residential and commercial propane gas service and quality home appliances. Wilson Gas is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For more information, call Wilson Gas at (864) 878-0160.
