Daily Archives: 01/14/2025
Pickens County Council welcomes new members
By Evan Smoak
Courtesy The Journal
evan@upstatetoday.com
COUNTY — Pickens County Council welcomed two new members to its governing body last week.
Dale Holloway and Scott Lang joined returning members Chris Bowers and Alex Saitta for a swearing-in ceremony prior to the first meeting of 2025.
Holloway succeeds Henry Wilson as the District 6 representative.
Holloway told The Journal on Tuesday that he was excited to begin his tenure.
“I’m looking forward to a new chapter, kind of a new experience on this level,” Holloway said. “I’ve already spoken
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Clemson Music Fest coming in April
By Philip Sikes
Special to the Courier
news@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — Clemson University and Southern Entertainment, with support from the City of Clemson, is set to host the second-annual Clemson Music Fest (CMF). The two-day festival is scheduled to take place on April 11-12 at the Upper
Intramural Field and looks to build on the energy and excitement of last year’s inaugural event — quickly becoming one of the premier music festivals in the region.
Jessie Murph, The All-American Rejects and BigXthaPlug headline a diverse group of artists that will be performing at Clemson Music Fest. Murph will be one of the lead acts at both
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His love is waiting for our love
No matter what the negative naysayers declare about the absence of the love of God, do not allow these dark imaginations to be absorbed into your conscience.
Let us accept the fact that after God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it, the Almighty keeps repeating, “And God saw that it was good.” He passionately loved everything He made and still does. Take a moment and read the first chapter of Genesis for yourself. Allow these words to saturate your soul, as you realize He is also talking about you. He created you as one of His finest masterpieces, and for you to not embrace how special and adored you are, means you are refusing to accept spiritual reality.
I want to encourage you today and remind you how highly God thinks of you. Since He is infinite and knows everything that has happened and will happen,
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Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s
In Matthew, 22:15-23, we read how the Pharisees challenge Jesus about the lawfulness of paying taxes to the Roman Emperor.
Though they were asking about a controversial contemporary political question, Jesus responds with a transcendent spiritual Truth, which talks about the relationship between the material and the spiritual.
As we read in Matthew 22:19, “they handed him a silver piece. Jesus asked, “Whose image is this and whose inscription? ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. He said to
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Guard yourself against AI tricks
The year is off to a roaring start when it comes to scams. To hear the experts tell it, we have AI to thank for a lot of it. AI, or 
artificial intelligence, is enhancing some of the scams that were already out there and creating more as the technology increases.
Our goal: to get through 2025 without losing a single dollar to the crooks.
Last month the FBI put out an alert focusing on scams created by artificial intelligence and ways to protect ourselves.
AI-generated text creates fake social media profiles, emails, websites and texts that push financial frauds like investment
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Courier Obituaries 1-15-25
HAROLD PATTEN WELBORN SR.
PICKENS —
Harold Patten Welborn Sr., 90, of Pickens, passed away peacefully at his home on Jan. 11, 2025.
Born on Dec. 4, 1934, in Pickens, Harold was predeceased by his beloved wife of 68 years, Una Kelley Welborn.
A devoted family man, Harold is survived by his two children, Catherine W. Ayers (Wayne) and Harold Patten (Pat) Welborn Jr. (Patti); four grandchildren, Emily Knowles (Jon), Kevin Welborn (Candace), Kaycee Collins and Kelley McGaha (Matthew); and seven great-grandchildren, Taylor Knowles, Alexander Knowles, Tanaleigh Smith, Jackson Welborn, Henry Welborn, Sophie Welborn and Ivy-Claire McGaha.
Harold was a lifelong resident of Pickens, where he worked as an entrepreneur and farmer, carving out a legacy of hard work and perseverance. Although disabled from his time with the South Carolina Health Department, his entrepreneurial spirit never wavered. His life was marked by his deep faith, and he took great pride in being a faithful servant of the Lord, finding joy in living out the teachings of Jesus Christ. He was a proud member of Mountain Grove Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and a Sunday school teacher for many years. Harold was immensely proud of his family, and his love for them was evident in everything he did. His devotion to family, faith and hard work will remain an inspiration to all who knew him. His kind heart, humility and steadfast love will be greatly missed.
Harold was also predeceased by his parents, Henry Welborn and Buna Patten Welborn; and his brothers, John Welborn, Fred Welborn and Henry Welborn.
In addition to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he is survived by his sisters, Sarah Rampey (James), Frances Welborn, Ruth Clark (Larry) and Clova Vaughan (Scooter); sisters-in-law, Barbara Welborn and Clara Anderson; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will take place from 10-11 a.m. Jan. 16 in the chapel of Mountain View Funeral Home, with funeral services following at 11 a.m. Burial will follow the service at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gideons International of Pickens, P.O. Box 1538, Pickens.
Mountain View Funeral Home – Pickens Chapel is serving the Welborn family.
DANIEL ELLENBURG
LIBERTY — It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Daniel Cleveland Ellenburg, a beloved husband, father, brother and papa, on Jan. 9, 2025, at the age of 69.
Born on April 30, 1955, in Central, he was the widower of Sheila Chapman Ellenburg and a son of the late David “D.C.” and
Blue Ridge announces retirements
PICKENS — Three employees with a combined 118 years of service retired at the end of 2024 after a lifetime of dedication 
to Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative.
Senior vice president of marketing Denise McCormick and customer service representatives Dianne Lyles and Mike Keasler started a new chapter in their lives in January.
“In this day and age, it is almost unheard of to work at one company as long as Denise,
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Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month
The Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce has named Bridge Brothers as its January Business of the Month. Bridge Brothers is a young, dynamic company revolutionizing the bridge-building industry with cutting-edge technology and design automation. The company prides itself on being a pivotal part of the Pickens community. It strives to hire local talent and be a leading name in the industry. Pictured are Pickens chamber board members and Bridge Brothers staff. The Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce has named Bridge Brothers as its January Business of the Month. Bridge Brothers is a young, dynamic company revolutionizing the bridge-building industry with cutting-edge technology and design automation. The company prides itself on being a pivotal part of the Pickens community. It strives to hire local talent and be a leading name in the industry. Pictured are Pickens chamber board members and Bridge Brothers staff.
Courier Community Calendar 1-15-25
• Public meeting set on legislation
A public meeting sponsored by seven organizations on proposed S.C. legislation impacting public education and libraries is planned this month.
The event’s speaker will be the S.C. ACLU advocacy director, followed by a Community Advocates for Education (CAFÉ) discussion of advocacy to protect freedom to read and learn.
The meeting will be held from 10:30 a.m.-noon Jan. 25 at the Central-Clemson Library on Commons Way in Central.
• Dacusville Lions to host monthly bingo
The Dacusville Lions Club will be hosting Bingo night on the second Thursday of each month at the Lions Building in
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