Blue Flame win 17th volleyball state title
By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com COLUMBIA — Down 24-19 in the third set of Saturday’s Class 4A state More »
County volleyball players named all-state
By Bru Nimmons Sports Editor bnimmons@thepccourier.com COUNTY — The S.C. Coaches Association for Women’s Sports (SCCAWS) announced its 2024 All-State More »
This week in FOOTBALL FRENZY only in PICKENES COUNTY COURIER
DANIEL OVERCOMES SLOW START IN FIRST-ROUND WIN OVER DREHER; LIBERTY FALLS IN PLAYOFF OPENER; FLAME COME UP SHORT AT CAMDEN; More »
Hagood-Mauldin House gets major renovations
PICKENS — The major restoration work at the Hagood-Mauldin House and Irma Morris Museum of Fine Arts in uptown Pickens More »
FY ‘21 budget proposal has no tax, fee hike
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pickens County’s proposed fiscal year 2021 budget is balanced and contains no tax increase.
Meeting virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, county council members held a budget work session Monday, April 20. That meeting can be viewed on the “Pickens County SC” YouTube channel.
Maintaining a conservative budget was one of the goals county council outlined for staff last year,
AnMed using survivor plasma to battle virus
PICKENS — The blood of COVID-19 survivors may be able to help those battling the disease recover more quickly, and the health system that operates Cannon Hospital in Pickens is among those using 
the technique as the pandemic continues across America.
AnMed Health is part of the Mayo Clinic-led national Convalescent Expanded Access Program to use plasma from COVID-19 survivors to help critically ill COVID-19
Central ends its recycling program
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — The town of Central is suspending its recycling program.
Mayor Mac Martin announced the suspension of the town’s recycling program in a letter to residents issued April 21.
“After much discussion and review of recycling costs and industry changes, we are suspending the Town of Central Recycling Program effective April 28,” Martin wrote. “Most of these circumstances are market driven and out of our control.”
The last pickup of recycling was set to occur on Monday, with
Easley reopens some buildings to public
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — The city of Easley has reopened some government offices to the public, but officials urge residents to continue taking precautions against the spread of COVID-19, including wearing masks 
inside the re-opened offices.
The re-openings became effective Monday, according to a news release issued Friday.
“The City of Easley will modify services until further notice to protect citizens and minimize opportunities to spread COVID-19 in our community while reopening some operations,” the release said. “The City still encourages business to be conducted through phones, email or other electronic means as much as possible.”
Access to public buildings will be restricted as deemed
Recollections and ruminations
Before I go into my weekly coronavirus commentary, I want to pay homage to a man named Percy Sledge, whom I was fortunate enough to have worked for briefly back in the day. This month marks 
the five-year anniversary of his death.
Some of you Millennials and Gen Z’ers out there may not have any idea who I’m talking about, but I’m guessing that most of you remember a song called “When a Man Loves a Woman.” That was Percy’s biggest hit — and really his only one — but it was a classic. He was able to make a career out of that one song, which is pretty fascinating to me.
It rose to the top of the charts worldwide in 1966, and by the time I crossed paths with him 10 years later, he was still singing it with as much passion as ever. He
Coronavirus doesn’t quarantine scammers
It doesn’t take much for scammers to find new ways of conning us. Now, with the country on edge fighting this invisible virus enemy, the thieves have gotten even more creative and the scams are 
more targeted.
What they want most from us is what they always want: personal information and money.
With relief checks going out to millions of Americans, the crooks are cashing in by sending email or calling to say you qualify for a coronavirus grant, and that they can help you get it. What they want
The lord of the harvest
As this year has been different than any we have known, I hope you have found a way to make it one of the most meaningful and personal spiritual experiences with God ever.
As the darkness of winter fades and the light of spring emerges, we miss our time of being together, but we can still read, study and worship God, as we take advantage of this time to enjoy His presence.
We recently remembered Good Friday as the day our Lord was scourged, tortured, humiliated and was crucified for those who would believe. What a demonstration of love, as His sacrifice became the only
Courier Obituaries 4-29-20
GARY LESTER GREENE
EASLEY — Mr. Gary Lester Greene, 71, husband of Ruby Sloan Greene, passed away on Thursday, April 23, 2020.
Born in Six Mile, the son of the late Lester C. Greene and Ruth Bolding Gilbert, Mr. Greene was a member of Easley Church of God.
Surviving, in addition to his loving wife, are two sons, Ronnie Greene (Sherry) of Easley and Randy Greene (Andrea) of Greer; three grandsons, Samuel, Nicholas and Silas Greene; half-brother, Lonnie Gilbert (Amber) of Simpsonville; half-sister, Lisa Patterson (Chuck) of Pickens; stepmother, Mary W. Greene of Easley; three stepsiblings, Jean Hayes, Dale Aiken and Mickie Gilbert; and a lifetime friend, Don Sheridan.
Mr. Greene was predeceased by a stepsister, Judy Mann.
Due to the national COVID-19 crisis and CDC regulations, memorial services will held at Easley Church of God at a later
Allergies or COVID-19?
As winter gave way to spring, nature did not give any signs in relation to what the people of the world were going through. As trees and flowers bloomed just like they do every spring, the people 
accustomed to witnessing the awe-inspiring transformation on display each spring were experiencing a transformation of their own.
Social distancing measures enacted during the COVID-19 outbreak in late-winter 2020 forced many people to stay home, only venturing outside to run routine errands like buying groceries or filling prescriptions. People were urged to stay home to help prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading, and those recommendations included people exhibiting mild symptoms of illness.
As spring hit its stride and pollen counts climbed, many people wondered if certain symptoms they were experiencing were byproducts of seasonal allergies or the COVID-19 virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that it’s easy to mistake common allergy symptoms for COVID-19, and that’s especially so given the level of concern many people have about the novel coronavirus that has already claimed thousands of victims across the globe. But it’s
When to use soap and water, when to use hand sanitizer
In the wake of the global COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, millions of people across the globe 
found themselves scrambling for hand sanitizer. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that cleaning hands at key times is one of the most important steps people can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs, there are differences between washing with soap and water and washing with alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
The CDC notes that preventing the
