Daily Archives: 01/17/2023
Mexican cartel probe based in Pickens Co.
Dozens indicted on 170 charges so far in wide-ranging ‘Las Señoritas’ investigation of prison drug trafficking
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
STATE — Inmates continue to use contraband cellphones inside S.C. Department of Corrections prisons to “structure, coordinate and finance” high-level drug 
trafficking operations involving a Mexican drug cartel, according to releases from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the
S.C. Attorney General’s Office.
During the first week of 2023, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, along with the South
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High-speed chase damages cemetery
Man faces multiple charges after incident
PICKENS — An Easley man was arrested last week after police said he led an officer on a high-speed chase, driving through a cemetery and damaging graves along the way.
Jacob Wayne Bice, 22, of 525 Wolf Creek Road, was charged with failure to stop for a blue light, reckless driving, a second offense of driving under suspension, a first 
offense of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and a first offense of possession of a controlled substance
after the chase.
According to a Pickens Police Department incident report, an officer was
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Alexander touts bills on fentanyl, mental health
By Norm Cannada
Courtesy The Journal
ncannada@upstatetoday.com
COLUMBIA — Addressing mental health and workforce development issues — and curbing the increasing number of fentanyl-related deaths in South Carolina — are
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Volunteer fair planned to help local nonprofits
COUNTY — Local nonprofits are in dire need of volunteers, according to a news release from the Pickens County Library System, so a volunteer fair is planned next 
week to help connect those looking to get involved with organizations who can use the manpower.
The volunteer fair is planned from 10 a.m.-noon on Thursday, Jan. 26 at the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library in
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Tri-County police earn accreditation
By Riley Morningstar
Courtesy The Journal
rmorningstar@upstatetoday.com
PENDLETON — The Tri-County Technical College campus police force is now the first technical college system in the state to become accredited.
A special event was held at the Pendleton campus on Friday morning, marked with a visit and kudos from South Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation (SCLEA) chairman John Tucker. The SCELA has been the official accrediting body in the state since 1999, requiring departments to go through a multi-layered process to meet the high standards of
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Blue Flame girls drop two-time defending champion Westside
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Holding a five-point lead with a little more than a minute left, Pickens freshman guard Ava Owens knew her team needed just one more push last week to defeat two-time defending state champion Westside.
“We work so hard in practice, and I knew all that hard work couldn’t just get thrown away,” Owens said after the Jan. 10 game. “I knew I couldn’t give up on my
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Pickens boys fall against Westside
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Taking on seventh-ranked Westside on Jan. 10, the Pickens High School boys’ basketball team knew it would need an almost perfect effort, and after building a 12-6 lead early, it seemed like the Flame might get it.
However, the Blue Flame just couldn’t match the firepower of the Rams, with Westside pulling ahead in the second quarter and never looking back in a 65-49 win.
“We didn’t repeat the first quarter,” Pickens head coach Jeff Harrelson said. “We fell into playing their game and started
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SC Human Trafficking Task Force releases annual report
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
STATE — The South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force’s 2022 annual report contains some grim statistics.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, the task force’s chair, released the report earlier this month.
Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts, labor or services against their will, the report said. Inducing a minor into commercial sex is considered human trafficking regardless of
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Library planning free legal clinics
COUNTY — The Pickens County Library System, in collaboration with the South Carolina Bar, is planning a series of free law talks beginning next Monday, Jan. 23.
The first session will take place at the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library in Easley at 5:30 p.m. and will focus on family law including divorce, custody, visitation and support.
The free legal clinic will consist of a lecture presentation by a volunteer attorney followed by an open question-and-answer
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Clemson ROTC students commissioned
CLEMSON — Clemson University’s Army and Air Force ROTC units held a joint ceremony recently to commission 13 second lieutenants.
Four students received commissions into the U.S. Air Force, and nine were commissioned into the U.S. Army.
University president Jim Clements was a guest speaker at the ceremony, held late last month at Tillman Hall.
Newly commissioned
The commissioning candidates for the December ceremony were:
• United States Air Force
— Holly E. Clark of Kennett Square, Pa., majoring in civil engineering
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