***ONLINE EXCLUSIVE *** Blue Flame head to Columbia in quest for 17th State Championship
By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com PICKENS — For the first time since 2021, the Pickens High School volleyball team More »
Prisma to build hospital in Easley
By Jason Evans Staff Reporter jevans@thepccourier.com EASLEY — Prisma Health plans to build a new $138 million inpatient behavioral health More »
Blue Flame roll past rival Daniel to advance in Class 4A playoffs
By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com CENTRAL — After dropping two five set battles to rival Daniel in the regular More »
Swearing in
Members of the Pickens County’s Legislative Delegation take the oath of office on the Pickens County Courthouse steps in Pickens More »
This week in FOOTBALL FRENZY only in PICKENES COUNTY COURIER
LIONS OVERCOME SLOW START AGAINST SENECA TO WIN SIXTH STRAIGHT REGION TITLE; EASLEY DROPS FINALE TO GREENVILLE; RED DEVILS FALL More »
Selugadu set for this weekend at mill
PICKENS — Every November, the Hagood Mill Historic Site observes Native American Heritage Month by holding the Native American Celebration. More »
Clemson president discusses return to campus this fall
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — Clemson University will give face coverings to students and employees when they return to campus — and require them to be worn in a number of circumstances.
University president Jim Clements gave an update on the university’s return plan in a message issued Friday.
“We have made critical decisions around face coverings, testing and our academic plan that will provide our students, employees and communities with important safeguards against the spread of COVID-19,” Clements said.
The university’s approach to getting back on campus is built on “four foundation pillars,” he said.
The pillars are a “steadfast commitment” to the health and safety of all the members of the Clemson
New election head happy with process, despite challenges
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
PICKENS — Travis Alexander was hired in May as the new Pickens County director of registration 
and elections, tasked with working with a completely new election commission amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting everything, including elections.
With the recent State House runoff elections marking the second primary election in the past two weeks, Alexander said he is pleased with how things went as he looks ahead to the presidential election in
University to celebrate 2020 grads
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — Clemson University is postponing its August commencement ceremony in order to 
focus on starting the fall semester safely, according to Clemson president Jim Clements.
Clements discussed commencement during an update he issued Friday.
“I pledged to the Class of 2020 that we would hold in-person commencement ceremonies on campus once it was safe to do so in order to celebrate the achievements of our students in a manner they deserve,” Clements said.
Plans are in the works to celebrate both the May and August 2020
Charity collecting pajamas for local elderly residents
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — A local charity is seeking donations of pajamas and nightgowns to give to the elderly in the area.
Warmth and Comfort for the Elderly, Upstate, SC is seeking new or gently used items of men’s and women’s sleepwear in sizes from extra small to 5XL, co-chair Danielle Parker said.
“More than 60 percent of seniors in long-term care sleep in hospital gowns or their day clothes,” she
No ‘big pushback’ on mask requirements in Clemson
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — Shoppers in downtown Clemson last week said they had no problem with wearing masks in public buildings, adding they want to do everything possible to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“It’s just difficult to understand people (wearing a mask), but we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do,” said Mike Sofarelli, a Clemson University graduate who lives in Florida. “I’m not going to fight it. I don’t think it’s a rights thing, but is the right thing to do.”
Last Wednesday marked a week since Clemson City Council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance requiring masks be worn in public buildings. Masks are not required for outdoor
Founders’ views of a free press
America’s Founders regarded a free press as so vital to the new nation that they took care to include that right in the First Amendment to the Constitution.
Founders spoke glowingly about the press as a pillar of democracy and guarantor of liberty. Thomas Jefferson, for instance, famously wrote in 1787 that “were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
George Washington framed the issue of free expression in almost apocalyptic terms: “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like
Choosing to manage our time more wisely
In this modern world in which we live, the access of information is becoming an addiction. For many people, technology is emotionally stimulating entertainment, and as it continues to advance, 
we wonder if the intent is to influence us within this evolution of pleasure enhancement.
It’s amazing to consider that only 70 years ago the concept of computers controlling the masses seemed more like science fiction but now it has become a reality. Who would have dreamed that in this short period of time that most everyone would be connected
American Legion needs your help
I came across an unusual confab outside the coffee shop today. What was different this time was the presence of younger veterans.
“We’ll help you,” a young vet said to the group. “All you have to do is contact us and we’ll be here. Or there. Or wherever you are.”
I pieced together what was going on. The senior veterans were concerned about being able to form a funeral detail. One of their group was in the hospital and it wasn’t looking good, either for the veteran or the local American Legion Post itself. The younger veterans, probably
Courier Letters to the Editor 7-8-20
Human capital
Dear Editor,
We are capital already as humans. You can sell your time now, but people don’t notice that everything they do can be translated to money somehow.
Most Americans aren’t taxpayers, and most taxpayers are living paycheck to paycheck. They want to entertain themselves and not have a godly good time like they should.
Americans spend more time watching TV, surfing the internet and listening to the radio than they do working.
Americans need to focus more on passing down wealth to their offspring.
Jordan Cooper
Clemson
Tax deadlines delayed for tornado victims
PICKENS — Pickens County residents affected by the April tornadoes may qualify to delay filing and payments to the Internal Revenue Service this year.
Following the disaster declarations for individual assistance issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the IRS said affected taxpayers in certain areas would receive tax relief. In addition to Pickens County, other South Carolina counties where delays are allowed this year are Aiken, Barnwell, Berkeley, Colleton, Hampton, Marlboro, Oconee and Orangeburg.
The declaration allows the IRS to postpone some tax filing and tax payment deadlines for taxpayers who live or have a business in the disaster area. Deadlines falling on or after April 12, 2020, and before Oct. 15, 2020, are postponed to Oct. 15, 2020. This includes 2019 individual and business returns that, due to COVID-19, were due on July 15. It also means that affected taxpayers will have until Oct. 15 to make 2019 IRA contributions.
The Oct. 15 deadline also applies to estimated tax payments for the first two quarters of 2020 that were due on July 15 and the third-quarter estimated tax payment normally due on Sept. 15. It also includes the quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on April 30 and July 31.
In addition, penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after April 12 and before April 27 will be abated as long as the deposits were made by April 27, 2020.
The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies filing and payment relief. Affected taxpayers who live in or have a business located outside the covered disaster area should call the IRS disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227 to request this tax relief.
