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 »
Feemster, Whitehurst reflect on county council service
Councilmen chose not to seek reelection in November
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
PICKENS — Outgoing Pickens County Councilmen Ensley Feemster and Trey Whitehurst are glad to have played a part in various improvements in the county during their years of service.
“One was the prison that was designed for 93 people and we were having 200-225 there regularly,” said Feemster, who decided last year not to seek reelection after representing the Clemson area in District 1 since winning the seat in 2014. “Another was
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Central official: Renovated depot nearly ready to open
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CENTRAL — The Central Train Depot is nearly ready to reopen after a several-year renovation effort.
The only thing lacking, Central town administrator Phillip Mishoe said recently, is putting in up to four Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking spots.
“We can’t open it up to the public until we get that,” Mishoe told The Journal during a recent tour of the facility.
A train depot committee was created in 2016 to help in the renovation efforts. The cost for the Central Depot Heritage Park project is estimated at $1.2 million and, in addition to an amphitheater, the bathrooms will be made ADA compliant. The facility is expected to be used as an event space for
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Residents voice displeasure with development plan
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — A planned development proposed to cover more than 2 acres on College Avenue that would complement recommendations for the Uptown area was 
presented last month to the Clemson Planning Commission, but some voiced concerns over the impact of student housing in their neighborhood.
Spencer Hyatt, designated agent for project developer Signet Tiger Realty LLC, told commission members the mixed-use development would be located between 408 and 412 College Avenue, with 172 units as designed. The proposed
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Mt. Pisgah seeking wreath donations
Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Easley wants to honor all 80 of the veterans who are resting in its cemetery. The church will be having its annual Wreaths Across America ceremony in December 2023 and needs help acquiring all the wreaths it will need. For anyone who would like to support the ceremony for 2023, for the purchase of two wreaths for $30 at wreathsacrossamerica.org/SC0226, the location will receive five wreaths due to a matching program that ends Jan. 17. Pictured, from left, are participants in the church’s Wreaths Across America ceremony last month. U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth Nations presented the U.S. Army ceremonial wreath, U.S. Navy Lt. David Waldrop presented the U.S. Marine Corp. ceremonial wreath, U.S. Navy Petty Officer, Third Class, Henry Earl Phillips presented the U.S. Navy ceremonial wreath, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Trent Berry presented the U.S. Air Force ceremonial wreath, U.S. Army Spec. 4 Robert Osborne presented the U.S. Coast Guard ceremonial wreath, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Larry Floyd presented the U.S. Space Force ceremonial wreath, U.S. Air Force Sgt. William Chavis presented the U.S. Merchant Marine ceremonial wreath and retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kevin D. Borden presented the POW/MIA ceremonial wreath.
Barnett’s bold predictions for 2023
Back, by popular demand — my predictions for the new year, 2023 edition.
Disclaimer: Since I am the self-proclaimed pundit of this column, I can predict anything I want, but I make no guarantees of accuracy.
So why not go with some wildly optimistic prognostications?
Here we go:
Vladimir Putin, also known as Pootin the Terrible, is going to be visited by the ghost of Rasputin, the deviant spiritual advisor to the last czar. From this nocturnal encounter, “Poot” will undergo a mystical transformation not unlike that of
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Enjoying the comforts of remaining the same
As God continues to move upon the earth, He has never stopped calling His children to be truth seekers, to speak His words and demonstrate His character. The painful fact is this does not happen automatically. There must be a passion to advance into God, and this means the closer we come to Him, the more we will become 
the best version of ourselves.
Most people have never really studied religious history and know very little about why we believe the way we do. The traditions the masses learn about God derive from what they have been told and very few have the desire to research on
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Courier Obituaries 1-4-23
EDMUND JOHN ‘ED’ BLACKHAM
EASLEY — Edmund John “Ed” Blackham, 75, entered his heavenly home on Dec. 28, 2022, after a brief battle with interstitial lung disease.
Ed was born on July 5, 1947, to the late Andrew and Alice Blackham in Chicago, Ill.
He proudly served his country when he enlisted in the United States Army and served with the 101st Airborne Division. He heroically completed one tour in Vietnam. Ed was employed with the Taylor Wine Company in Hammondsport, N.Y., for 25 years before relocating to South Carolina in 1994. Ed was a truck driver for the remainder of his career, and he retired in 2014. Upon retirement, Ed remained active, including engaging in his favorite hobby of riding and rebuilding motorcycles, and he loved spending time with his family and friends.
Edmund John Blackham was a beloved son, husband, father, uncle, pepa/grandpa and friend who will be greatly missed. His family has peace knowing that they will be reunited with him in heaven.
Ed is survived by many family members, including his loving wife of 39 years, Dianne Blackham; three children, Nicole (Richard) Cippoletti, Eric (Laura) Blackham and Ashley (David) Smith. He has six living grandchildren, whom he deeply loved, including Henry and Amelia Cippoletti, Elliott and Evelyn Blackham and Tripp and Scarlett Smith. He is also survived by his mother and father-in-law, Richard and Virginia Jones; his sister-in-law, Rosie Blackham; and many nieces and nephews. Additionally, Ed is survived by extended family members, Tony and Mike Lisefski, who were like both brothers and sons to him.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Andy and Freddy Blackham.
A graveside service will be held at M.J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery in Anderson on Jan. 6 at 10 a.m.
Visit robinsonfuneralhomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home and Crematory-Downtown, Easley.
LOUISE H. QUEEN
PICKENS — Mrs. Louise H. Queen, 76, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, and went to be with her Lord and Savior.
Louise was born in Lake Toxaway, N.C., on Nov. 28, 1946, to the late Artellus and Effie Devore Hogsed. She was a strong and loving woman, who enjoyed taking care
of others and being someone people could rely on. Louise loved her family and especially loved babysitting her grandchildren and taking them to school. She enjoyed watching the Hallmark channel, going out to eat, camping, traveling and going to the lake.
Mrs. Queen is survived by three sons, Ronny Queen (Cindy), Sammy Queen (Melanie) and Danny Queen (Tammy); one daughter, Darla Wheeler (Wayne); four grandchildren, Keith Queen (Ashlyn), Zachary Queen, Joshua Queen and Timothy Queen; four great-grandchildren, Kennadee Queen, Jasper Queen, Aubree Holcombe and Sophia Silvers; eight siblings, Eva Mae Kimsey, Leon Hogsed, Roland Hogsed (Vesta), Dorothy Owen (Herbert), Jimmy Hogsed (Kathy), Tillman Hogsed (Glenda), Tina Phillips (Ricky) and Steve Hogsed (Waynetta).
In addition to her parents, Louise was preceded in death by her loving husband, Spurgeon Ira Queen; and one son,
Brawl of the Wild
Four-legged foes go blow for blow in an incredible boxing bout
By Dr. Thomas Cloer, Jr.
Special to The Courier
y wife and I love to hike and film wildlife. It is one of our favorite things to do. A pandemic that has someone dying every 30 seconds in the U.S. from COVID-19 will send one away from crowds and into the wild outdoors. It certainly did so to my wife and me.
We have spent many hours observing wildlife in the wild. I have done so now into my eighth decade. I started seriously observing wildlife in the 1950s. As the ball dropped and 2021 became a reality, I realized I had just entered into my eighth decade of serious wildlife viewing. I have published many stories about encounters
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Swinney after Orange Bowl loss: Tigers not falling off
By Will Vandervort
Courtesy The Journal
news@thepcccourier.com
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Dabo Swinney looked over at quarterback Cade Klubnik, running back Will Shipley and defensive end K.J. Henry late Friday night and chuckled after being asked if the Clemson football program has fallen from college football’s elite ranks.
“I don’t really know what to say to them,” Swinney said. “We are 11-3. Sure, I wish we were undefeated, but we have won the league seven out of the last eight years. I 
think that has only happened one other time, and that was in the (1970s) by Alabama.”
The question came after Clemson’s season ended with a 31-14 loss to No. 6 Tennessee in the Orange Bowl. The loss to the Volunteers was the No. 10 Tigers’ third defeat against a non-conference Power 5 opponent
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A global take on flavorful meatballs
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
Meatballs are user-friendly for football fans, party-throwers and family cooks. They can be served as a main dish
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