Category Archives: Opinions
Pickens proves its doubters wrong
Since I started covering sports here in Pickens County in 2017, there have always been a few teams I could rely on to be contenders almost every single season. Daniel football, Liberty wrestling, Easley 
baseball to name a few, but none more so than the dominant volleyball program at Pickens High School.
Every year, I go into volleyball season expecting the Blue Flame to at least make it into state quarterfinals and for good reason. Outside of a two season stretch
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Password
November is a month of fiery color. Leaves turn red and gold, and the nights grow chilly. Brisk, cool mornings give way to sunny afternoons. November is the beginning of pumpkin spice mania and apple 
picking.
November is when Password caught a virus. Password is my laptop. I’ve had her for five years. I remember the first time I saw her, sitting on a counter with other laptops. She was all silver and shiny. She beckoned me over with a
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Living peaceably and grounded in Godliness
With the Republican victory over the Democrats, many are reflecting on the direction of the United States.
For the Trump side, this outcome brings hope and a sense of relief that the country can start heading in a better direction. For the Democratic side, there is concern, uncertainty and even
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Seniors saving money in 2025
In a few weeks, those of us on Social Security will be getting approximately 50 extra dollars in our monthly benefit. Minus the $10 increase in Medicare Part B, that brings the average increase down to 
$40 per month.
How shall we spend our windfall?
If food prices are going to come down after the recent
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Lead paint in veteran housing
It’s one thing to send phony bills to the Department of Veterans Affairs or claim to be a small business — and quite another to put veterans and their families in danger.
An abatement/mitigation company was nailed for saying it had done the work to clear the lead paint in housing units rented to
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Ready to volunteer?
Have you considered what you’ll do with your spare time in the New Year? How about volunteering? There are so many ways we can step up.
AmeriCorps Seniors (americorps.gov/serve/americorps-seniors) provides opportunities to over 200,000 seniors every year to go into the community and give back. If there’s
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Letters to the Editor 11-13-24
Proud of turnout at vets parade
Dear Editor,
I attended the veterans’ parade that was held in downtown Liberty last Sunday, Nov. 3.
We had a great time honoring our veterans with singing the national anthem and a time of prayer offered by Rev. Travis McAlister from Golden Creek Baptist Church.
We had the Jeep Club and other citizens of Pickens County drive our local veterans in the parade in
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Homeless programs and services
Back in March, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced its goal of getting 41,000 homeless veterans into housing during this fiscal year. As of this time, they not only reached that goal, but exceeded it. Nearly 48,000 homeless veterans have permanent housing now.
The numbers are impressive. Not only did they exceed the
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How to thank a veteran for their service
I’m an Army veteran from the Cold War era, 1977-1997. Although I never served in combat, I’m honored 
to call my fellow veterans who have been deployed to combat zones, my big brothers and sisters, regardless of their age. This is not to minimize my role, but to emphasize their serving in harm’s
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Grannie’s secret
Dawn looked at the clock over the kitchen sink. It was almost midnight. She rubbed her eyes.
Her grandfather had left her the old farm, but she didn’t want to be a farmer — she was about to 
graduate with a degree in marketing. Besides, the peach orchard was overgrown with weeds. What was she going to do with a farm out in the middle of nowhere?
There was a static buzz in the kitchen, and the lights flickered. “What
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