Monthly Archives: December 2024
Liberty girls can’t hang with Travelers Rest
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Still looking for its first win of the season, the Liberty High School girls’ basketball team hosted Travelers Rest on Friday night.
The Red Devils struggled to get good looks early, while the Devildogs completely controlled the boards allowing them to build a big lead that Liberty couldn’t match in a 53-19 loss.
“They’re a new team, they’re young and they’re still trying to learn,” Liberty head coach Pat Jackson said after the loss. “When somebody puts pressure on us and is a little physical,
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Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
Editor’s Note: In 1897, 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages. We offer the letter and editorial response to you in this week’s issue. Merry Christmas.
Dear Editor:
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, ‘If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.’ Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
What is Christmas’ meaning for you?
I’ve read articles over the years about how Christmas is a combination of Christian and pagan symbolism, along with some folklore traditions, and for the most part, this is true. I also realize that most people do not want to hear about such things.
Beyond the bah-humbug, I will admit that even though Christmas is not as much fun now as it was when I was a kid or when our children were young, I still enjoy the season. I remember laying under the tree and how I was
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Social Security login changes
If you use the My Social Security account online, you’ll need to make several changes or you’ll be locked out. If you haven’t updated your account since Sept. 18, 2021, using the new method, the login for checking your Social Security account is no more and your username won’t work. You’ll now need to create a new account using one of their credential service providers at Login.gov.
Having access to your Social Security information can have several
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Mistakes made in PACT Act claims
It seems that when there are new rules and regulations to be followed, the Department of Veterans Affairs often needs time to get caught up and understand new procedures. The Office of Inspector General for the VA investigated whether veterans were given the correct benefits after the PACT Act expanded eligibility for toxin exposure. The news isn’t good. What the OIG found was that service-connected claims were improperly handled before they were
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Courier Obituaries 12-18-24
EARL W. PATTERSON
EASLEY — Mr. Earl W. Patterson, 76, of Easley, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, surrounded by his family.
Mr. Patterson was born in Brevard, N.C., on July 7, 1948, to the late Bert and Bertha Powell Patterson. He was a member of Pendleton Street Baptist Church. Mr. Patterson enjoyed working on cars, going on fishing and hunting trips, watching NASCAR, collecting coins, reading and watching old westerns, and you could always find him snacking on some candy. He was truly a man with many talents. Mr. Patterson will be sorely missed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Lorena Powell Patterson; four children, Sherry Patterson, Shelia Anderson Newton (Dan), Jackie B. Smith and Shane Patterson (Jenna); nine grandchildren, Desiree Hickey, Dana Sayers, Ashley Cassell, Lindsey Anderson Adams, Brandon Smith (Ashley), Fischer Smith, Makayla Patterson, Mckenzie Patterson and Alexia Cleveland; 12 great-grandchildren, Teya Hickey, Dakota Sayers, Lailah Sayers, Kailey Sayers, Dawson Cassell, Kaydance Cassell, Jonah Cassell, Raven Adams, Oliver Adams, Carter Smith, Cassidy Smith and Roman Patterson; two sisters, Helen Banks and Linda Black; and one brother, Jimmy Patterson.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Patterson was preceded in death by two sisters, Mildred Cisson and Mollie Patterson; and one brother, Bert Patterson Jr.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Dec. 18 at Bible Baptist Church in Pickens. The family will receive friends prior to the service at church from 12:45-1:45 p.m.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting dillardfunerals.com. Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
BRENDA WILBANKS STEPHENS
SIX MILE — Brenda Wilbanks Stephens, 70, loving wife to the late Glen Allen Stephens Sr., passed away on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at Oconee Memorial Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.
Born March 25, 1954, in Brunswick County, N.C., Brenda was the daughter of the late Jim Wilbanks and Lula Benton
Courier Classifieds 12-18-24
Announcements
Trespass Notices 12-18-24
In the state of South Carolina, trespass after notice is a misdemeanor criminal offense prohibited by section 16-11-620 for the South Carolina Code.
Those who enter upon the lands of others without the permission of the owner or manager shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor trespassing. All persons are hereby notified and warned not to hunt, fish, cut timber or trespass in any manner whatsoever upon the lands of the undersigned:
James and Sheila Stansell Jan. 2025
Ronald Russell Mar. 2025