Daily Archives: 04/22/2025
Easter at Hillcrest
Dillard – Hillcrest held their annual Easter Sunrise Service last Sunday at in front of the Hillcrest Memorial Office on 2410 Gentry Memorial Hwy. in Pickens, The event entitled Easter at Ellijean feature the music of the Elljean Baptist Church Choir and a inspirational Easter message delivered by the Rev. Brand Wimpey. A large crowd was in attendance on the beautiful Easter morning.
Man sentenced for trafficking fentanyl
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — An area man has been sentenced to nearly two decades in prison after
DAVID ALLEN WALLACE
being found with fentanyl laced with a horse tranquilizer.
In a release issued April 21, 13th Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said David Allen Wallace, 61, pleaded guilty to a first offense of trafficking between 4 and 14 grams of
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NC man dies after Sunset car accident
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
SUNSET — A man from North Carolina died after a single-vehicle wreck in Sunset last week.
Pickens County Coroner Andrew Wilson identified the victim as Rodney Allen Brown, 39, of Bostic, N.C.
In a release issued Thursday, April 17, Wilson said Pickens County EMS, Pickens County Fire Service and the
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Downtown Pickens planters now have a fresh new look
PICKENS — After years of sitting plain and gray, the concrete planters along Main 
Street in downtown Pickens have finally received a much-needed makeover just in time for this week’s 41st annual Azalea Festival.
Thanks to the leadership of Councilman Ray Wilson and his wife Stephanie, the planters were recently painted and adorned with vibrant flowers by the dedicated members of the Pickens Garden Club.
But the beautification doesn’t stop there next up, talented students from the Pickens High School Art Department will be adding their artistic touch by painting beautiful, original artwork on each planter. This exciting collaboration is a testament to Community spirit and creative pride, making downtown Pickens more colorful and welcoming than ever before.
The Pickens Garden Club is a small group of amateur gardeners that promote the love of gardening through service. Service projects include maintaining the rose garden at Hagood Mauldin House, sponsoring campers at Camp Wildwood, participating in the annual Scouting for Food drive benefiting Gleaning House, and Village Branch Library Advocates. Pickens Garden Club is funded by selling plants at the Pickens Azalea Festival. PGC will celebrate our 100 year Centennial in 2026.
Floyd, Proctor earn Liberty Community Scholarships
LIBERTY — The Liberty Community Scholarship Board has named Nona Lee Floyd and
Isaac Proctor as the 2025 recipients of the Liberty Community Scholarships, awarded for academic excellence, leadership and commitment to community service.
Floyd, a Liberty High School senior, has been deeply involved in campus leadership, serving as student body secretary her junior year and president her senior year. She has also participated in Beta Club, 4-H, Junior Leadership of Pickens County and the Teacher Cadet program.
To continue her leadership journey, she will be attending the University of South
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On earth as it is in heaven
This week we continue with our discussion about heaven, and realize we’ve left many 
stones unturned. Even though our knowledge of the next life is sparse by design, our curiosity makes this a popular subject. There are countless speculations of what heaven will be like and like all of you I have my own thoughts. I appreciate all the emails about your thoughts and I agree
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Easter and the Crucifixtion
Matthew 27:35 “And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it 
might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.”
The New Testament does not give us much information
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Food recalls increasing
It seems that there’s one recall after the other lately, mostly for our foods. To stay safe with what we eat, we need to keep an eye on those recalls.
Some of them have been scarily bizarre. The latest ones include pieces of plastic in sausages, wood in frozen meals, stones in chocolate bars, botulism in juice and tree
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Courier Obituaries 4-23-25
ROGER HASKETT
BELTON — Roger Haskett, 70, loving husband to Diane Haskett, passed away on Monday, April 14, 2025, at his home.
Born June 20, 1954, Roger was the middle son of Furman R. Haskett and Frances B. Haskett. He was blessed to grow up in Pickens in a loving family with two awesome brothers, Ray and Mark, whom he loved dearly.
Roger played sports from an early age with several coaches making great impressions on him. Those include Lee Patterson, Dieter Chappell and Andy Virgil. He was given
Making their cases
The Pickens County Courier asked the candidates for the upcoming Pickens County Veteran Affairs Director election to give readers a chance to get to know them a little better with responses to four questions.
Their answers, which were limited to 150 words each, begin below.
Interim Veterans Affairs director Walt Carter and local veteran John P. Hembree are set to face off in the upcoming Veterans Affairs advisory election. Voting for the advisory election will run from noon on Monday, April 28, to noon on Friday, May 9. Voting will take place at the Pickens County Elections Office, located at 222 McDaniel Ave., B-9, in Pickens.
Voting is restricted to Pickens County veterans honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States. Dependents of veterans are not entitled to vote in the election, according to the website. The election has no age limit, and voters are not required to be a registered voter, but must present proof of honorable discharge from military service to the satisfaction of the poll manager.
- Why do you want to serve the veterans of Pickens County?
Walt Carter
1.
It is a way to continue to serve and to help veterans. I have been working to help veterans as the Commander of American Legion Post 52 in Easley for the past 3 years.
I have been volunteering to help veterans long before being asked to step in as the Interim Veteran Affairs Officer.
Working to help veterans isn’t a job. It’s a calling to assist them.
John P. Hembree
1.
Serving as the Veterans Service Officer isn’t just a new chapter — it’s a continuation of my lifelong commitment to service. After 26 years in uniform, including time as a Command Sergeant Major, I’ve led in combat zones, training environments, and the most important of all — family life. I’ve stood the watch, carried the weight of leadership, and walked beside those bearing burdens few will ever know.
I want to serve the veterans of Pickens County because I believe, as President Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” Those who wore the uniform did so out of duty, not for recognition. They deserve support, respect, and a system that works for them.
I see this role as an honor and a responsibility — to ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten, not just in words, but through relentless advocacy and dependable service that makes a real difference.
- Compare what you know about the Veterans Affairs Director positionYou must be logged in to view this content.
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