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 »
FAVOR Upstate opens center in Easley
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com COUNTY — An area nonprofit now has a center in Pickens County to assist 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 »
Pickens girls win two at home, lose away contest
PICKENS — The Pickens High School Lady Blue Flame won two home games against Belton-Honea Path and Liberty but dropped a game at Pendleton High during the second week of the regular season last week. All three games were non-region contests.
The Lady Blue Flame’s record now stands at 3-3 on the season.
“The Lady Blue Flame continue to work hard and overcome injuries and adversity as a team,” Pickens coach Rikki Owens said. “Seniors Caroline Lucas and Bri Bowens really stepped up this week and exhibited heart,You must be logged in to view this content.
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Lions’ Lawson earns MVP honors at state all-star game
MYRTLE BEACH — Daniel High School senior Jahiem Lawson followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Shaq, with a memorable 
performance in the 73rd annual Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl on Saturday afternoon.
The standout defensive end finished the game with four tackles, including three sacks, and had a pass breakup on the way to earning MVP honors for the North defense in the annual all-star game at Doug
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A special Christmas tree tribute
This holiday season, the city of Pickens has a new Christmas tree in town at the intersection of Main Street and North Catherine Street. Pace and Reeves Service Station has a very unique and symbolic tree. The tree, a rare Italian spruce, was planted on the property by Sharon Thomas when it was only about two feet tall and now towers an estimated 45 feet in the air. The tree was not meant for this climate, but has flourished over the years. Pace and Reeves owner John Reeves was asked by the Pickens Women’s Association if he would mind if they had lights put on the tall, thin tree for the holidays. Reeves agreed if he could place two stars on the tree. One atop the tree represents his late partner, Dennis, Pace who passed away in 2003, and the other represents longtime Pace and Reeves employee Andy “Big’un” Reynolds, who died last year. Pictured with the tree are Joe Pilgrim, Reeves and Brandon Pilgrim of Pace and Reeves. The stars were designed and made by Karen Cisson.
Roper: Council ‘seeking to be transparent’ on millage hike
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
PICKENS — Pickens County administrator Ken Roper understands residents are unhappy with county council’s approval earlier this fall of a 9.9-mill tax increase to repair existing roads and a reserve fund for future road improvements.
But he said the state Supreme Court’s ruling last summer made the action necessary.
“We’ve been very, very frugal with the taxpayers’ money over the last 10 or 15 years,” Roper said. “County council wants to be transparent about this, because the Supreme Court case leaves us very little choice if we want to keep maintaining our roads.”
Roper told residents on a video featured on the Pickens County Council website that every county in
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Jeep auction to benefit children’s hospital
The Upstate Legends Jeep Club has received donations of around 10 kids’ Jeeps that have been outfitted like Hinkle’s Jeeps in honor of local Jeep legend Larry Hinkle. The Jeeps will be auctioned off to raise funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at 2:30 p.m. tihs Sunday, Dec. 19, at Legacy Square in downtown Pickens. Hinkle and his wife, Mary, rode in Sunday’s Pickens Christmas parade along with some of the Jeeps to be auctioned off. For more information about the event, email camalanhinkle@gmail.com.
Peace on Earth and goodwill toward all
I was sitting out on the front porch last Wednesday night working on a hip-hop version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to amuse my grandchildren with, when a weird outer-space noise came squawking through my phone.
It was my SkyGuide astronomy app alerting me that the International Space Station was about to pass overhead.
I’ve tried to catch a glimpse of it several times before, but it was always too cloudy or there were too many trees in the way.
But this time, it was coming in from the northwest, crossing the Pacific coast of Canada and
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The magic of possibility
Does anybody remember the Sears catalog? It came in the mail every year.
I’m not talking about the Wish Book catalog. That was invented later. I’m talking about the thick catalog that occupied hours of our time 
before Christmas, laid open on the floor as we turned the pages gazing at all the riches that might be ours.
We’d look at the bicycles. I longed for a blue one. Matt wanted a red one.
We looked at pogo sticks and imagined ourselves on them outside, traveling to unknown destinations.
We never looked at clothes. That was not a particular interest to either of us.
I always knew the hand-me-downs from my older cousins would eventually wind up in my You must be logged in to view this content.
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Crisis in the chicken coop
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of eating as a sport. People take delight in chomping, munching, gobbling and gorging. It’s sort of like a hot dog eating contest with no hot dogs.
The holiday eating season begins on Thanksgiving Day and continues right through Christmas and into the Super Bowl.
There is an ugly rumor floating around about a chicken shortage that is threatening one of our most favored cuisines. Just the thought of a shortage of barbecue, buffalo or hot wings is
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Courier Letters to the Editor
Keep the Christ in Christmas
Dear Editor,
It’s that time of the year when most people are more courteous. There’s just something about Christmas!
Some say we shouldn’t celebrate it, however, the angels in heaven were celebrating on the night of His birth, weren’t they? On Earth as in You must be logged in to view this content.
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Courier Obituaries 12-15-21
RONNIE BREAZELE PORTER
PICKENS — Ronnie Breazele Porter, 71, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, at his home.
Born in Pickens, he was the son of the late Ivy Roscoe and Grace Helen Breazele Porter. Ronnie was a graduate of Pickens High School and served Pickens County in law enforcement for 32 years.
Ronnie is survived by his children, Kevin Porter (Kim) of Pickens, Kyle Porter (Myra) of Easley and Kirk Porter (Shawna Parham) of
