Daily Archives: 12/15/2021
Attorney calls ruling in coal ash case ‘a great victory’ for county
Landfill company lawyer says decision will provide for ‘true facts coming to light’
By Ron Barnett
Staff Reporter
rbarnett@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — The South Carolina Supreme Court last week sent the Pickens County coal ash case back to a lower court, which the county’s attorney hailed as a victory but a lawyer for the landfill company said gave new life to its case.
The high court said the Administrative Law Court (ALC) erred by not determining whether the state Department of Health and Environmental Control had wrongly approved coal ash for the site near Liberty without notifying the county.
The ALC passed over that issue because it said the county missed a deadline in appealing DHEC’s action.
Gary Poliakoff, the lead attorney representing the county, said
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Season of warmth
Blankets donated to residents at Easley Place, MasterCare
EASLEY — In 2013, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office Patty Looper and her family visited her maternal grandmother Tressie Ragsdale for a normal Christmas visit at a local assisted-living facility, gifting her a large throw blanket.
According to Looper, one of the ladies who was a resident next door to Ragsdale asked in a sweet but bold manner where her blanket was and inquired as to why she didn’t receive one.
The following year, Looper brought blankets for both her grandmother and her neighbor,
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Man gets life in prison for 2020 murder
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — A Liberty man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of an elderly Liberty woman.
The body of 89-year-old Margaret Alice Karr was found in her Mills Avenue home on Sunday, April 12, 2020.
Thomas James Chapman, of Norris Avenue, was arrested the following day and charged with murder, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of first-degree burglary, assault and
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County officials talk future of road funds
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — County officials discussed how to ensure that future county councils can only use millage added earlier this year for its intended purpose — roads.
Council voted in September to set millage that would generate $6 million to be used to move the county from a 75-year paving cycle to a 25-year paving cycle.
During council’s Dec. 6 meeting, Councilman Trey Whitehurst asked county administrator
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‘Unbelievable’: Tigers win third soccer national title
By Michael Crouchley
Courtesy The Journal
michael@upstatetoday.com
CARY, N.C. — After an NCAA Tournament run filled with upsets and penalty-shootout heroics, the Clemson men’s soccer team captured its third national championship in program history on Sunday.
After winning penalty shootouts over top-seeded Oregon State in the quarterfinals and fourth-seeded Notre Dame in the Final Four on Friday, Clemson forward Isaiah Reid scored two early goals against second-seeded Washington on Sunday afternoon in Cary, N.C.
Clemson’s experienced defense carried it the rest of the way, as the eighth-seeded Tigers
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Pickens girls win two at home, lose away contest
PICKENS — The Pickens High School Lady Blue Flame won two home games against Belton-Honea Path and Liberty but dropped a game at Pendleton High during the second week of the regular season last week. All three games were non-region contests.
The Lady Blue Flame’s record now stands at 3-3 on the season.
“The Lady Blue Flame continue to work hard and overcome injuries and adversity as a team,” Pickens coach Rikki Owens said. “Seniors Caroline Lucas and Bri Bowens really stepped up this week and exhibited heart,You must be logged in to view this content.
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Lions’ Lawson earns MVP honors at state all-star game
MYRTLE BEACH — Daniel High School senior Jahiem Lawson followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Shaq, with a memorable performance in the 73rd annual Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl on Saturday afternoon.
The standout defensive end finished the game with four tackles, including three sacks, and had a pass breakup on the way to earning MVP honors for the North defense in the annual all-star game at Doug
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A special Christmas tree tribute
This holiday season, the city of Pickens has a new Christmas tree in town at the intersection of Main Street and North Catherine Street. Pace and Reeves Service Station has a very unique and symbolic tree. The tree, a rare Italian spruce, was planted on the property by Sharon Thomas when it was only about two feet tall and now towers an estimated 45 feet in the air. The tree was not meant for this climate, but has flourished over the years. Pace and Reeves owner John Reeves was asked by the Pickens Women’s Association if he would mind if they had lights put on the tall, thin tree for the holidays. Reeves agreed if he could place two stars on the tree. One atop the tree represents his late partner, Dennis, Pace who passed away in 2003, and the other represents longtime Pace and Reeves employee Andy “Big’un” Reynolds, who died last year. Pictured with the tree are Joe Pilgrim, Reeves and Brandon Pilgrim of Pace and Reeves. The stars were designed and made by Karen Cisson.
Roper: Council ‘seeking to be transparent’ on millage hike
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
PICKENS — Pickens County administrator Ken Roper understands residents are unhappy with county council’s approval earlier this fall of a 9.9-mill tax increase to repair existing roads and a reserve fund for future road improvements.
But he said the state Supreme Court’s ruling last summer made the action necessary.
“We’ve been very, very frugal with the taxpayers’ money over the last 10 or 15 years,” Roper said. “County council wants to be transparent about this, because the Supreme Court case leaves us very little choice if we want to keep maintaining our roads.”
Roper told residents on a video featured on the Pickens County Council website that every county in
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