This week in FOOTBALL FRENZY only in PICKENES COUNTY COURIER
Daniel dominates Pickens in Region rivalry matchup; Wave struggle to score against Hillcrest; Pickens to return to action; Liberty drops More »
Halloween events set throughout county
COUNTY — With Halloween just over a week away, there are a number of events for residents of Pickens County More »
Agencies team to help after Hurricane Helene
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com COUNTY — The days following the destruction brought by Hurricane Helene last month have More »
Early voting available to county voters
COUNTY — Early Voting is now available to voters statewide for the Nov. 5 Statewide General Election. In Pickens County, More »
County to host small business events
PICKENS — Pickens County announced that the county will host drop-in events for local small business owners today and Thursday. More »
SCDOR: Cafe owner did not report $269K
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COLUMBIA — The owner of the Pumpkintown General Store and Café has been charged with tax evasion.
South Carolina Department of Revenue agents arrested William Alexander Jr., 75, on Friday and charged him with two counts of tax evasion, according to a DOR news release.
Alexander, a Greenville County resident, owns and operates the Pumpkintown
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Local business funds public safety app for Pickens, Easley police departments
EASLEY — Thanks to local donations, the Easley and Pickens police departments will be equipped with an app designed to keep drivers out of harm’s way during police chases.
During a news conference Tuesday morning, Donnie Wilson with DRW Transport presented the departments with checks that will pay for the Digital Siren app.
“I’m very proud to announce that, thanks to Mr.
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18 more county COVID-19 deaths reported this week
COLUMBIA — For the second week in a row, Pickens County has seen a decline in both cases and deaths from 
COVID-19, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
However, with 18 reported deaths again over the past week, the county’s battle
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Haley named to Clemson board
CLEMSON — Former United States permanent representative to the United Nations 
and governor of South 
Carolina Nikki R. Haley has been named to the Clemson University Board of Trustees, effective immediately.
Haley graduated from Clemson with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1994. After leaving Clemson, she worked for her family business and served as its chief financial officer.
Haley’s distinguished career in public service began in 2004 with her election to the South Carolina House of Representatives. In 2010, Haley was
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Residents sound off over county’s millage increase
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
PICKENS — Pickens County residents told county council last week they were angry over a recent vote to approve a 9.6-mill tax increase to repair existing roads and a 
reserve fund for future road improvements.
Johnnelle Raines said council should be ashamed of its lack of transparency over what she called an “overtaxing … scheme
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Group seeking warm items for local seniors
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — A local nonprofit is collecting items to help keep area senior citizens warm this winter.
Members of Warmth and Comfort for the Elderly Upstate SC use their crochet skills to provide warm items for nursing home patients, hospice groups, home health patients
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Clemson Rotary Club celebrates oyster roast fundraiser results
CLEMSON — More than 400 people turned out for fresh oysters and barbecue at the Rotary Club of Clemson’s 16th annual oyster roast fundraiser earlier this month.
A release from the organization said the event has raised more than $250,000 over 16
years for various nonprofits.
“With a huge thank you to our sponsors and supporters, the Rotary Club of Clemson is able to do great things in our community” club president Sarah Elizabeth Pollock said in the release. “Funds raised from this (Oct. 1) event will go to the Rotary Club of Clemson Foundation (501(c)(3)) and will be used for the club’s Community Grant Program. This program gives annual grants to nonprofit community organizations such as Clemson Community Care, Clemson Free Clinic, Meals on Wheels Pickens County, Clemson Child Development Center and many more.”
The Rotary Club of Clemson meets weekly on Mondays at noon at Clemson United Methodist Church and hosts other service projects throughout the community.
DEA warns of increase in fentanyl and methamphetamine in fake pills
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A sharp increase in the number of fake prescription pills found to contain fentanyl and methamphetamine caused the Drug Enforcement 
Administration to issue its first public safety alert in six years last week.
The alert, issued Sept. 27, seeks to warn Americans of “the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine,” it said.
“The United States is facing
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Town hall to focus on substance use recovery
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — A town hall meeting next week is aimed at reducing the stigma that those 
in treatment for and recovery from substance use can feel in the community.
The Road to Recovery Town Hall meeting will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the Pickens County Performing Arts Center.
More than 387,000 South Carolina residents are in recovery from substance use disorder, according to the S.C.
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Pickens girls win tourney, top Easley
PICKENS — The Pickens High School Lady Blue Flame volleyball team continued its winning ways last week, winning the Pink is Power Tournament on Saturday at Woodmont High School in Piedmont and defeating cross-county rival and region foe Easley High.
Along the way, senior libero Bailee Earnhardt notched her 1,000th dig.
“The Lady Blue Flame ended their week on a high note after beating cross-town rival Easley on Thursday night and winning the Pink is Power Tournament at Woodmont 
High School,” Pickens coach Rikki Owens said. “Our team’s goal was to focus on the ‘little things’ and make sure we celebrated the successes along the way. These young ladies did just that, and it made for a fun weekend, especially when we defeated 5A Lexington High School for the fourth time this season. This week, we will strive to build upon this past weekend as we enter our last week of region play.”
During its march to the Woodmont tournament victory, the Lady Blue Flame defeated Southside Christian School of Simpsonville, Legion Christian Academy of Rock Hill, Gray Collegiate Academy of West Columbia and Lexington High. Junior setter/hitter Lauren Dow received the All-Tournament Award at the Woodmont tournament.
On Thursday, the Lady Blue Flame defeated region opponent Easley in straight sets for the second time this season. During the Easley senior night recognition of its two seniors, Kaedence Langston and Polly McCollum, Easley also graciously recognized the eight seniors on the Lady Blue Flame squad.
During the Easley match, Lady Blue Flame senior libero Bailee Earnhardt registered the 1,000th dig of her illustrious career at Pickens High School. To mark the occasion, Owens called a timeout while Bailee’s mother, Lyndsay, ran onto the court to give Bailee a poster that said, “Congrats Bailee 1,000 Digs #24.” The crowd on both sides of the court gave Bailee a standing ovation.
Pickens’ record stands at 31-3 on the season, with all three losses against 5A schools. The Flame are 6-0 in region play.
The Lady Blue Flame’s final regular-season home match was scheduled Tuesday night against region opponent Travelers Rest in the friendly confines of Coach Peggy Harden Anthony Gymnasium on the Pickens High campus, with results too late for press time. Senior night was scheduled during the Tuesday match. The final regular-season match will be a road trip Thursday night to take on the Lady Rams of Westside High School in Anderson.
