School board OKs final budget
By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal
goliver@upstatetoday.com
EASLEY — The Pickens County School Board approved the third and final reading of a proposed $128.1 million general fund budget for fiscal year ‘21 last week despite a plea from one trustee to delay the vote until its next meeting.
In making the motion to table, trustee Phillip Bowers argued that waiting until this month’s board meeting would still allow time to approve the new budget prior to it going into effect when the new fiscal year begins July 1. At the same time, Bowers said the district could be in line for additional
Courier Obituaries 6-3-20
DOROTHY FOLGER PENCE
PICKENS — Dorothy Folger Pence passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2020.
Known as “Dot,” she was the wife of Jay Pence for 66 years. She was born the daughter of Jack and Dorothy Folger in Columbia in 1931.
As a child, Dot lived in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, where her father was assistant manager, and later in Baltimore, where her father was manager of the Belvedere. After WWII, the family moved to Pickens to settle in the old family home place “12 Mile.” She attended Pickens High School one year before enrolling in Queens College (now University) in Charlotte, graduating in 1952. She worked for one year in the Clemson Extension Service
Letters to the Editor
Examining Clary stance on Trump
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to the article that appeared on the Courier’s front page on May 27, titled “Rep. Clary joins GOP effort to beat Trump.” I know Mr. Clary served as a judge and in the State House. I would think he would have a better grasp of facts.
Rep. Clary, where have you been and where do you get your news? Mr. Clary said he “doesn’t like Trump’s method of simply bullying, criticizing, ridiculing, attack mode.” That begs the question … then why doesn’t Mr. Clary oppose the bullying, criticizing, ridiculing, attack mode that has been directed at the president since day one?
The mainstream media produces the “fake news” Clary has attributed to the president. Mr. Clary complained about the president’s use of Twitter to communicate. What choice has the media given him? He doesn’t get a front-page story to defend himself. The New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC have all done a great injustice to the American people by false reporting or negligent coverage of his accomplishments.
The corruption, such as Russia collusion, the fake dossier, lies to the FISA court and an impeachment attempt all amount to an attempted coup to unseat our elected president. All of this has been proven untrue at great expense to the American taxpayer.
The president has been working night and day, yet there remains no effort by the Democrats and RINOs to help govern the country. Instead, they continue to obstruct his administration at every turn. A list of the president’s accomplishments shows that he has done more for minorities, women, veterans and the disabled than any president before him (Google it.).
Mr. Clary seems proud to be on a committee of “fellow Republicans looking to defeat President Donald Trump this year.” Noteworthy that he was “encouraged to join the committee” by Bob Orr, a former associate justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court and gubernatorial candidate. Dallas Woodhouse, executive director of the N.C. state GOP, stated in the Charlotte Observer on June 25, 2018, that “Bob Orr’s largely detested within our party. He used Republican money to get elected to the Supreme Court. … He’s as revolting of a political figure as you can have.”
Mr. Clary falsely stated that “over the past three and a half years, we’ve alienated allies and cozied up to dictators and communists and folks like that.” Actually, Trump stopped cozying up to Iran, stopped sending money to our enemies, reversed unfair trade practices and got tough with North Korea. Other presidents let it go. Nothing was done — until Trump got tough.
Since my research turned up all the above, I wonder about Mr. Clary’s perceptions. Has he signed on to the resistance to Republican Trump based on these perceptions? My goal is to expose fake Republicans (RINO), fake news and money-grabbing politicians. MAGA!
Dennis L. Bauknight
Easley
Rolling the dice
Dear Editor,
Although I don’t gamble, there are games that use dice to play. I was cleaning house not long ago when I found a couple of dice.
I realized something about dice that had never dawned on me. Each opposite side adds up to be the same number. Seven. If it’s four, the opposite side will be three. If it’s two, the opposite side will be five. One, it will be six. Doubt it? Look for yourself.
Trivia about dice. When thrown and the top numbers are five on both, it’s called box cars. It looks like the doors on a box car.
When thrown and it’s one on both dice, it’s known as snake eyes. People over the years have figured out ways to mess with dice. There’s shaved dice. One side is sanded down to make the weight uneven.
Then there are what is known as loaded or trick dice.
The black dots are drilled out on one side and lead is poured in. Then the dots are painted over to cover up. In both cases it gives the user the advantage. Yes, it is illegal, but some do it anyway.
I’ve heard of gamblers who would use hair tonic to stick the dice together so they could mess with their landing on the numbers they wanted. What they’d do is pretend to smooth their hair out, only to get grease on the dice. I once heard about a man who would put a wrinkle in the blanket he was on the floor throwing dice on. He’d bounce the dice off the wrinkle to get the number he wanted.
No end to what people will do, is there? No one knows just who or even when dice were invented.
In the Bible, it tells about the soldiers who crucified Jesus shooting dice for his coat. Casting lots, as it was called then, was nothing new. They had a cylinder-shaped jar which they put the dice in and shook up then poured out. Seven dice were used instead of two like today.
Archeologists have found dice as old as 6,000 B.C. Back then, they were carved from bone. Animal, I hope. Actually, sheep knuckles were said to be the start, followed by wood, stone and even brass. Just something to think about.
Eddie Boggs
Westminster
Rising food costs
Have your food expenses gone up recently? Even if your local grocery isn’t spiking the prices, it’s now costing more to get what we need.
Grocery delivery: Delivery prices are running to $10 and more in most places. Usually those involve a personal shopper who selects your items from your list and delivers them to your door. Sometimes they’ll call while shopping
Blue Ridge holds annual meeting with social distance
PICKENS — Because of South Carolina’s current coronavirus mandates, any gathering of large crowds has been forbidden.
Consequently, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative took a decidedly different path than had been the norm in the planning and conducting of its 2020 Annual Meeting of Members.
During the three consecutive days of May 19-21, members participated in a drive-thru registration
DAR Good Citizen Award winners
The Fort Prince George Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) awarded its annual High School Good Citizenship Awards via mail tihs year. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the annual awards meeting had to be canceled. The chapter had to mail the award certificates, pins and gift cards to the three winners. This year’s winners were Liberty High School’s Anna-Marie Bright, Easley High School’s Lauren Brown and Pickens High School’s Maleah Kelley.
Moo’s is now open
The Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce and community members welcomed Pickens’ newest business, Moo’s Creamery, on May 23. The new ice cream parlor is located at 502 Ann St. in the Towne Creek/Ingles Shopping Center. Moo’s offers all kinds of great frozen treats and baked goods for all to enjoy. Pictured, from left, are Pickens city administrator Phillip Trotter, Pickens City Councilwoman Donna Owen, Pickens chamber board member Liza Holder, owners Kayla Capps and Jennifer Chldress Kannig, Pickens chamber director Lisa Turnick, Pickens Mayor Fletcher Perry and Pickens Police Chief Travis Riggs.
A century of service
Pickens Savings and Loan was named the May Chamber Member of the Month by the Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce. Pickens Saving and Loan is celebrating 100 years of service to the business and families of Pickens County. PS&L has been instrumental in the growth of Pickens and recently opened its first-ever branch, located in Six Mile.
Harden Scholarship winner announced
The scholarship committee of the Cannon Memorial Hospital Auxiliary recently announced Alexandria Dow as the winner of the 2020 Dr. John Harden Scholarship. Dow is a graduating senior at Pickens High School. She is involved in athletics and has achieved many academic honors. Dow is very active in the Pickens County Career and Technology Center HOSA Chapter and served as chapter president for the 2019-2020 academic year. She is also actively involved in many community service projects and local church activities. The scholarship committee wishes to congratulate Dow and recognize all applicants and wish them all much success in their careers in the health care field.
New potatoes are a different tater
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
For a few short weeks in late May and June we have access to new potatoes. These are potatoes just rolled from the dirt with skins so thin they easily wash away when cleaned.
They have a unique flavor. And though there are hundreds of ways to cook potatoes, sometimes simplest is best. My favorite is to just have them cooked in water that’s been salted and eaten with a little melted butter.
But variety is the spice of life, so this week a few other options are available. Enjoy.