This WEEK in FOOTBALL FRENZY
Green Wave lose homecoming heartbreaker to Mauldin; Daniel shuts out Travelers Rest; Devils to open region play; Pickens to return More »
Soup kitchen celebrates two decades of service
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com EASLEY — For more than two decades, an organization in Easley has provided hot More »
Lions win county golf tournament
By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com PICKENS — For the first time in more than 10 years, The Rock Golf More »
Local residents, businesses provide aid to neighbors, WNC after Helene
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com COUNTY — Following the destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene, many people in the Pickens More »
This WEEK in FOOTBALL FRENZY
Swinney becomes ACC’s winningest coach in road victory over FSU; Wave announce 2024 Hall of Fame class and Red Devils More »
Company set to invest $4M, create 21 jobs
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — A company’s $4 million investment in Pickens County is set to create 21 new jobs.
Officials announced Monday afternoon that ACI Plastics South plans to establish operations in Liberty.
ACI Plastics South, a thermoplastics processor and recycler, will establish its Pickens County operations at 225 Ruhamah Road in Liberty, a
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Filing now open for November general election
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Incumbent State House Reps. Jerry Carter and Davey Hiott both filed for reelection last week in the first days of the two-week filing period for the 
November general election.
Carter represents District 3, which covers the Clemson, Central, Six Mile and Norris areas, while Hiott’s
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House candidate faces DUI charge after fiery crash
By Riley Morningstar
Courtesy The Journal
rmorningstar@upstatetoday.com
EASLEY — Days before making another run for a seat in the South Carolina State House, Easley resident Allan Quinn was arrested on suspicion of driving 
under the influence after a fiery crash in Easley last week.
Quinn, of Satterfield Road, was arrested earlier this month by the Easley Police Department and later released on a $997 personal recognizance bond.
An incident report said an officer was called at 12:29 a.m. March 23 to a single-car crash “that was engulfed in
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Dream Center planning resource fair March 30
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — An event next week at the Dream Center of Pickens County will allow attendees to learn about a variety of agencies and programs offering 
assistance to the community.
In the first quarter of each year, the Dream Center hosts a community resource fair.
This year’s event is slated for 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday, March 30, in the Dream Center’s gymnasium. The Dream
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Mother asks for Doodle Trail improvements after losing son
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — A mother is asking Easley officials to make safety improvements on the Doodle Trail following her son’s accidental death on the trail last year.
Sharon Hawkins spoke at the March 14 Easley City Council meeting.
“Our 21-year-old son, Bradley Hawkins, was killed in a skateboard accident on the Doodle Trail near the corner of Wilburn and North Fourth streets on Nov. 10, 2021,” she said.
Hawkins said she was speaking that night “for the young people who use the Doodle Trail.”
“I’m sharing safety concerns and recommendations about the patch of trail that runs through the
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Blue Flame win streak continues against Rams
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — After not managing a single hit through three innings, Pickens High School head baseball coach Matt Smith advised his team to be patient in the batter’s box against Region I-4A foe Westside on Monday night.
“We had to make them come to us and get a little bit wild,” Smith said. “When we get guys on base, we put pressure on the defense.”
That approach immediately paid off for the Blue Flame, picking up their first run on an RBI triple by Reid Smith in the fourth, and the pressure seemed to mount in the fifth when the Blue Flame stranded runners at second and third.
From there, it was a downward spiral for the Westside pitching staff as Pickens was able to score four more runs in the sixth on an error, a passed ball and two walks in a 5-2 win.
“That’s the way the last couple of games have gone for us, dogfights until the fourth or fifth,” Smith said. “We just find ways and our guys just keep battling. Some games that we may have lost in years past, we’re finding ways to win those games now.”
Despite the lack of offense early on, the Blue Flame were able to stay in the game behind the arm of left-handed junior Aidan Stewart, but the game did not start in the junior hurler’s favor.
A leadoff four-pitch walk gave the Rams a runner early, and two batters later, Westside’s Noah Robinson drove home the run on single shot between shortstop and third. According to Smith, he was prepared to start warming up his bullpen, but Stewart had other plans.
“I knew I had to work my fastball more and more and get my curveball going,” Stewart said.
Stewart was electric the rest of the way and finished the night pitching 5 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts, two hits and the lone walk on the leadoff batter.
“He’s been lights out for the last three or four outings,” Smith said. “He’s won two games in a row for us and then came out and started the first region game tonight. Wasn’t pretty to start, but as soon as he settled in, he was almost unhittable. You can’t say enough about that kid.”
When Stewart was done on the mound, Blue Flame senior Ryan Ford took over, delivering four strikeouts and the save despite some late hiccups to cap off the 5-2 Pickens win.
The win gave the Blue Flame their third straight win to start the regular season, and more importantly a 1-0 start in region play.
Pickens 5, Westside 2
WHS 100 000 1 2 2 1
PHS 000 104 X 5 3 1
WP: Stewart 5.2 IP, 2H, 2R, BB, 7K
LP: Barbee 5 IP, 3H, 4R, 4BB, 5K
PHS: Smith 1-3, 2 RBI, 3B; Martin 0-1, 3BB, R.
WHS: Robinson 1-2, RBI, R; Telley 1-3.
Pickens’ Lucas inks with Francis Marion
PICKENS — Coming off successful seasons in basketball, swimming and volleyball, Pickens High School senior Caroline Lucas signed with Francis Marion 
University on Friday to continue her academic and athletic career in volleyball.
Lucas is best known for her play with the Blue Flame volleyball team, twice earning all-state honors and helping to lead Pickens to its first state championship since 2014 this fall.
In addition to her play on the volleyball court, Lucas stayed busy this fall, competing on the inaugural Pickens swim team.
Following her successful fall, Lucas moved to the basketball court, providing a strong presence in the post as she helped to lead the Blue Flame girls to their first playoff win since 2010.
Lucas will finish her career at Pickens this spring competing with the Blue Flame track and field team in the hurdles, javelin and high jump.
County teams compete at Foothills Track Classic
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
TAYLORS — Over the weekend, athletes from Daniel, Easley and Liberty high schools took part in the Foothills Track Classic at Eastside High School, with 
athletes from each school managing to take first in their respective events.
Daniel High had a solid day on the track, finishing eighth in the boys’ competition and 15th in the girls’ competition.
Junior Jaylen Brown-Wallace had the strongest day of the Daniel athletes, taking first place in the triple jump with a jump of 41 feet, 7 inches, nearly half a foot ahead of his next closest competitor. Brown-Wallace also took fifth in the long jump.
Daniel also saw Nasir Geer (shot put), Morgan Pounds (javelin), Ashby Williams (1,600 meter run) and Emma Worley (400 meter hurdle) place in the top five of their respective events.
In the relays, the Lions saw top five finishes in the 4×100 and 4×800 meter relays for both boys’ and girls’ and a fourth-place finish for the boys’ 4×400 meter team.
Easley had a strong day in the field, with an 11th-place finish for the Green Wave girls and a 10th-place finish for the Easley boys.
Easley’s Dylan Arnold was the top performer for the Green Wave on Saturday, finishing first in the high jump with a jump of 5 feet, 10 inches. In addition to the high jump, Arnold also finished among the top 10 in the 110 meter hurdles and triple jump.
Among Easley’s other top finishers were Christopher Clemons (110 meter hurdles), Colin Craig (discus), Jorja Fox (pole vault), Lydia James (discus), Aamari Kelly (triple jump) and Meya McKinney (triple jump), who all finished in the top five of their respective events.
Easley also saw two relay teams finish among the top five, with the girls’ 4×100 and boys’ 4×800 both taking fifth place.
Finally, the Liberty Red Devils had arguably the best day despite a limited number of athletes competing, taking ninth in the girls’ competition.
Savannah Welborn continued to build on her championship resume, taking first in the shot put with a throw of 37 feet, 5.5 inches. Welborn also took second in the discus with a throw of 103 feet, 6 inches.
Fellow thrower Kendall Meinders also had a strong day, with top six finishes in the shot put, discus and javelin throws.
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Courier Obituaries 3-23-22
TED ARNOLD ‘PA’ GILLESPIE
EASLEY — Ted Arnold “Pa” Gillespie, 77, passed away on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
A native of Pickens County, Ted was born on May 30, 1944, the only child of the late Joe Gillespie and Helen Adcox Gillespie. He enjoyed spending time with his family and watching the Atlanta Braves and Clemson football. Mr. Gillespie was of the Baptist faith and was a member of Blue Ridge View Baptist Church in Pickens.
Survivors include his children, Randy Gillespie (Heidi), Joey Gillespie (April) and Lori Chandler (Richard), all of Easley; stepsons, James Moore and John Moore, both of Liberty; grandchildren, Dena Gillespie, Allison Kiser
Paying tribute to the first ladies of the past
My book club meets monthly to review books. Each member picks one book a year, and every time we end up with an assortment of good books. This is good 
for all of us, as we can fall into a rut and stay with the same kinds of books we’d normally seek out.
This month, our book was “Upstairs at the White House; My Years with the First Ladies,” by J. B. West, who was a head honcho in the White House for 30 years. The book covered six administrations, from Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt to Richard and Pat Nixon.
It isn’t a tell-all scandal-laden account of their private lives, but a record of their time in the White House, while
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