County staff still discussing Helene lessons
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com COUNTY — Pickens County staff are continuing to discuss ways the county can better More »
Lions’ Williams captures second XC state championship
By Eric Sprott Courtesy The Journal sports@upstatetoday.com NEWBERRY — With roughly 900 meters to go in the final cross-country meet More »
This week in FOOTBALL FRENZY only in PICKENES COUNTY COURIER
Lions outlast Richland Northeast behind Conn’s big day; Liberty, Pickens and Easley season in reviews’ Clemson clobbers the Citadel; all this More »
Red Devils win inaugural Liberty Tip-Off tourney
By Bru Nimmons Staff Reporter bnimmons@thepccourier.com LIBERTY — Trailing 25-19 at halftime of its Liberty Tip-Off tournament championship game with More »
God loves unity
When we read, in Matthew 22:36-40, about our Lord being questioned by the Pharisees as to which is the greatest More »
Blue Ridge Bank opens new Pickens branch
PICKENS — Blue Ridge Bank recently held the grand opening of its new branch at 628 Ann St. in Pickens. More »
A new begining
Adam Lambert sworn in as Pickens County’s first Master-in-Equity
PICKENS — In a historic ceremony July 18 at the Pickens County Courthouse, Judge Adam B. Lambert was sworn in as the first Master-in-Equity for Pickens County.
The swearing-in marked the beginning of a new division of the judiciary for Pickens County. The equity court is part of the state circuit court and generally involves foreclosures, partitions and similar matters. Masters are appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the
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$12.5M bonds set to help fund Highway 183 fix
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — The issuance of general obligation bonds not to exceed $12.75 million will pay to upgrade S.C. Highway 183, a project area officials have been trying to fund for years.
Pickens County Council members discussed the project during their July 10 meeting, before first reading of an ordinance providing for the issuance of the bond.
County administrator Ken Roper said he wanted to discuss “the overall strategy
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Man heading to federal prison for abuse material
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
GREENVILLE — A Pickens man was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material.
Matthew Leon Arotin, 63, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Carolina.
Arotin was also ordered to pay $68,000 in restitution to the victims whose images he
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Special city council election scheduled
PICKENS — A special election to fill the seat of a Pickens City Councilman who resigned earlier this month has officially been placed on the calendary.
In a letter to the mayor and other city council members dated July 4, Patrick Lark resigned the seat he’d held since 2010.
The Pickens County Board of Voter Registrations and Elections announced last week that the special election to fill the unexpired city council
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Tournament Time
EASLEY — Coming off a rousing return to Easley last summer after a two-year COVID-19 layoff, the Senior League World Series will be returning to Pickens County this weekend.
The tournament, which pits the best 13-16-year-old baseball players from around the world against each other, will feature six international teams and six U.S. teams and will kick off this Saturday, July 29, at the J.B. “Red” Owens Complex and run through Aug. 5.
As of press time Tuesday, the international division’s qualifiers had all been chosen, while all United States division teams remained in qualifier play.
The first team selected for the tournament was host S.C. District 1. The team, which is comprised of 16 of the area’s best young players, is looking to build upon its 2-2 finish in the 2022 tournament. District 1 will play the winner of the Central regional at 7:30 p.m. on opening night.
S.C. District 1 is set to be represented by Greyson Austin (Wren), Ayden Beeco (Easley), Eli Bledsoe (Liberty), Ayden Clay (Pendleton), Landon Fowler (Powdersville), Connor Johnson (Wren), Blane Jordan (Powdersville), Tobie Lowe (Walhalla), Joey McGovern (Seneca), Jasean Perry (Daniel), Bolton Pritchard (Wren), Aedan Queen (Pendleton), Kade Scruggs (Pendleton), Jonathan Sonderfan (Easley), Trey Sutton (Easley) and Austin Vinson (Wren). Easley High School’s Cooper Sears and Banks Gambrell are listed as alternates for District 1.
Based in Ryde, Australia, the Ryde Hawks were the first team to qualify on the international side following their win in the Australian regional on May 12. The Hawks went 5-0 in regional play and defeated the Eastern Phantoms 6-4 to advance to the SLWS.
The next team to qualify was Matamoros from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. One of two teams from Mexico competing in the regional, Matamoros went unbeaten over the course of the Latin American tournament and beat their country mates from Guadalupe Linda Vista 6-5 in the championship.
In the Caribbean region, Pabao Little League, representing Willemstad, Curacao, earned their spot in the Senior League series by going a perfect 8-0 in regional play. Just like the Latin American champions, Radamés López found themselves in battle of compatriots, facing off with fellow Curacaons, Pariba Little League in the championship.
In early July, Kennemerland Little League, of Haarlem, Netherlands, pulled through in the Europe-Africa regional, going 4-1 on its way to Easley. Facing off with South Czech Republic Little League of the Czech Republic in the finals, Lazio Little League emerged victorious, 7-2.
In the final completed international regional, the East Nepean Little League, of Ottawa, Ontario, upset the previously unbeaten Diamond Baseball Little League team 3-2 in the regional championship to punch its ticket to Easley with a final record of 4-3.
As of press time, there was no information available on the final international regional in the Asia-Pacific region.
Stateside, there was still plenty of baseball to be played at press time Tuesday, with East regional champion Cherry Hill Atlantic Little League, of Cherry Hill, N.J., having won the lone completed U.S. regional.
Sixteen teams were still vying for the top spots in the Central, Southeast, Southwest and West regionals, which were set to be determined by Wednesday at the latest, making for a short preparation time for the trip to Easley.
The day before the series begins on Friday, July 28, the city will host a Fan Fest downtown, including a parade of the teams and a concert with a performance by Ansley Burns. The parade will start at 6:30 p.m.
SLWS games will begin Saturday, July 30, opening up with the Southwest regional champion taking on the West regional champion before finishing the night with Pickens County’s own S.C. District 1 team taking on the Central regional champions.
For more about the Senior League World Series in Easley, visit littleleague.org/world-series/2023/slbws/.
Easley native serves aboard future Navy warship
MAYPORT, Fla. – Petty Officer 1st Class Marcus Burroughs, a native of Easley, South Carolina, serves aboard Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Marinette, in Mayport, Florida.
PCU is a designation used by the U.S. Navy to describe crews aboard vessels under construction prior to official commissioning.
Burroughs graduated from Easley High School in 1999 and earned an electrical engineering
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‘Hee Haw’ coming to Hagood Center
PICKENS — The Hagood Community Center proudly presents an all new presentation of our favorite comedy/musical show, HEE HAW.
There is a an all-new cast, some new songs, and plenty of new jokes that will send you home with a smile on your face. Showings are set for August 26, at 4 p.m. and another at 7 p.m.
There should be a full house for both presentations so get your tickets early at the center MWF from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 each and are limited to auditorium capacity. All proceeds benefit the Hagood Community Center.
Community Calendar 7-26-23
• Upcountry Quilters meet 4th Tuesdays
Upcountry Quilters Guild has set meeting times on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Pickens Presbyterian Church, 311 W. Main St., Pickens, SC 29671. All visitors are welcome.
For more information, visit upcountryquiltersguild.com.
• Hagood-Mauldin House offers tours
The historic Hagood-Mauldin House, located at 104 N Lewis St. at Legacy Square in Pickens, is now offering free tours to the public. The
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Volunteers needed to help abused kids
PICKENS — The Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem Program, a division of the South Carolina Department of Children’s Advocacy, is offering free virtual training beginning Monday, August 21, 2023, to those interested in becoming a volunteer Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in Pickens County. GALs advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children who are involved in family court legal proceedings through the
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Oconee Nuclear Station hits half a century
One Sunday afternoon in late 1967 or early ’68, my family went on an eventful outing to a spot just across the Keowee River from Pickens County.
“Someday,” my dad said, gazing prophetically across a graded red clay landscape, “they’ll be splitting atoms down there to make electricity.”
Duke Power had just broken ground on its first nuclear station. To my 14-year-old mind it seemed like an incredibly futuristic, fantastical undertaking.
Little did I know that I would someday go down inside one of the nuclear reactor buildings
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