Monthly Archives: May 2023
Lions make history with second straight state title
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COLUMBIA — Coming off a dominant playoff run to its third straight Upper State title, the Daniel High School boys’ soccer team radiated confidence as it hoped to make history in Saturday night’s Class 3A state championship match against Beaufort High School.
The Lions proved reasonable in their self-assurance, taking control of the game within the first 10 minutes of action and never letting up in a 3-0 win to secure their second consecutive state title.
“After that Powdersville game (a 4-0 quarterfinal win for Daniel), we felt like we could beat anybody, anywhere,” Daniel senior captain and Gardner-Webb signee Ethan Marrero said. “We came out and we were confident in our ability to play, and we came home with 
thechampionship.”
While the win gave the Lions the sixth state championship in the storied history of the school’s soccer program, it was the first time that Daniel had
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Daniel boys set new standard for excellence
I always knew that Daniel’s boys soccer team would be good this year.
It’s a given that the program produces a winner, going back to head coach Andy Demori’s very first teams in the late 1970s. In fact, the Daniel 
boys’ soccer program has only ever missed the playoffs one time going back to those earliest years. So it came as no surprise whatsoever when the Lions ran through region play and entered the playoffs as a No. 1 seed.
What I didn’t see coming was the ensuing run that cemented the 2023 team as arguably
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Daniel softball eliminated by Chapman
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — With her team’s season on the line, Daniel High School softball coach Cora Downer was sure her team was going to advance against Chapman on Monday night.
Instead, the Lions just seemed a bat short in the wake of senior third baseman Bayleigh Brewer’s injury against Crescent late last week, as they failed to stay with the Panthers in a 3-1 loss that ended their run in the Class 3A Upper State playoffs, and their season as well.
“I didn’t think this was it,” Downer said. “I had full-on intentions of going on back to Crescent and
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Registration open for Pickens Rec summer day camp
PICKENS — Registration is now open for the Pickens Recreation Department’s 2023 summer day camps.
The camps will be held in six one-week sessions during the following dates: June 5-9, 12-16, 19-23 and 26-30, and July 10-14 and 17-21. There will be no day camp from July 3-7.
The summer day camps are held from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Pickens Recreation Center at 545 Sangamo Road in Pickens. The camps are for children ages 5-13.
Breakfast and lunch will be furnished through the S.C. Department of Education’s Summer Feeding Program.
The cost of the camp is $100 per child per week, but price adjustments may be made for additional siblings. There is a $50 registration fee that is nonrefundable and is due by May 19, including a camp T-shirt. Late registration fees will be $60.
For more information, contact the Pickens Recreation Department at (864) 878-2296.
And the winners are…
The Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet Friday night at Smithfields Country Club in Easley. The event brought chamber members together to recognize 2022 award winners. Nearly 100 chamber members were on hand for great food, dancing and fellowship. Above, Hal Singleton accepts the prestigious Duke Energy Citizenship Award from Duke Energy’s Trent Acker on behalf of his father, Billy Singleton, who was unable to attend. Below left, Melisa Sedler, owner of Southern Home Liquidators, is presented the 2022 Chamber Business of the Year Award from chamber director Bryan Owens. Below right, Coyote Coffee Café owner Tunckie LeCroy accepts the chamber’s award for 2022 Best Restoration from Ascend Pickens’ Norman Rentz for her new Main Street Pickens location.
Telling fact from fiction is getting harder
I once made a video in which the Starship Enterprise flew into downtown Greenville, paused for a moment, then swooshed away.
Or so it seemed.
Another time, while waiting for the Greenville County School Board to come out from a marathon “executive session,” I made a video in which it appeared that a gigantic boulder came crashing through the ceiling, smashed the empty podium and left it a smoking ruin.
I was bored.
Both of those, I made with an app on my phone.
They looked pretty realistic, but everyone knew they were faked.
My friends on Facebook got a laugh out of them.
Digital trickery, though, has made a quantum leap since then.
We have entered the era of “deepfakes.”
Have you heard about this? It is now possible — through the magic of artificial intelligence — to
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Dogs of kings
The coronation did not disappoint. The pomp and circumstance was supplied by a full orchestra and glorious choirs. There were gold and 
crown jewels and princes and princesses — and the happily-ever-after-ending as the king and queen exited historic Westminster Abbey, whisked away in a golden coach pulled by six beautiful horses. It was straight out of a fairy tale. Everyone rejoiced. The King Charles spaniels, named after King Charles I, celebrated the newly crowned King Charles III by marching in a
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A divided heart lives in deception
I’m reminded again of the quote from Scott Fitzgerald, “You do not write because you want to say something; you write because you have something to say.”
I can relate to those who are called to express the burdens within their hearts and thankful for the opportunity to share mine. These freedoms may not always be with us, as the world is becoming aggressively opposed to God and His disciples. I write for several secular publications
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Courier Letters to the Editor 5-17-23
Leveling the playing field
Dear Editor,
I want to comment on the article “County council retains special library millage.”
The county administration recommended the library be taken off its very own millage or tax rate. The council, in a 4-2 vote, ignored that recommendation and chose to keep the library on its own tax rate.
I supported the administration. It is about fairness. No one is looking to close any library, nor cut hours, nor cut their budget. In fact, their
Courier Obituaries 5-17-23
JOHNNY PARRIS
PICKENS — Johnny Parris, 63, passed away on Monday, May 8, 2023, at his home.
Born on Aug. 20, 1959, in Lancaster, Calif., Johnny was the son of the late Martin McCall and Priscilla Mae Waters Parris. Mr. Parris earned his Merchant Mariner Certificate and was employed by Edison Chouest Offshore and later Cornell Dubilier. He enjoyed riding his Harley, boating with friends on the lake and large gatherings with bonfires. He never thought twice about helping those he loved. He was loved and
