I hate when I see someone hitchhiking or seemingly stranded on the side of the road — especially when that someone is a woman, even more so at night. It is deeply ingrained in my nature to want to help and I always have to remind myself — giving a ride to someone you don’t know opens the door for way too many horrible things to happen and pretty much all of those things end in never being seen again.

The Bible addresses this very scenario in the story of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25-37.

Jesus tells the parable of a man robbed and left beaten nearly to death on the roadside. A priest comes along soon after, but instead of helping the man, the priest crosses to the other side of the road. Another man passes by and also does not stop to help the injured man.

Finally our hero, the Good Samaritan arrives, bandages the man, tends to his wounds, and then takes him to a nearby innkeeper and pays for the man’s stay there.

He does this even though he knows the robbers could be using the victim as bait, lying in wait to take advantage of him.

At the conclusion of the parable, Jesus asks, “Which of these three were a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

Well, obviously it’s the Good Samaritan, BUT, you say, “We live in a time where something worse than being robbed and beaten could happen to you in an instant.”

Should we then decide never to stop and offer to help?

In social media videos a common refrain is “Don’t help them, don’t stop for them… that’s just a junkie.”

Though in reality, if an actual junkie, your intervention could save their life.

I once had a very kind man take a chance on stopping to help me when I found myself broke down on the side of the road. It was a Friday morning and I had an early morning meeting. Required to be “dressed up” for this meeting, I was not prepared to be hiking up and down a roadside ditch trying to find cell service on a remote road in a skirt and ridiculous shoes.

The man stopped, expressed his concern for my obviously perilous situation, and offered to wait with me until my husband could get there.

I was not any more excited about his offer than I was his pointing out my vulnerability.

Still, the man offered to wait in his car across the street from me, and my husband, whom I finally got on the phone, agreed to the arrangement — though I personally feel there is no way he didn’t break every speed limit on his way to get to me that day.

Luckily, I ended up safe, my car fixed, and was soon on my way.

But, this is not always the case.

I understand being afraid to stop, you are, after all, potentially putting yourself in as much danger as the person you stop to help perceives they are in from you.

It can be just as scary to accept kindness from a stranger as it is to offer it and I will always be grateful to that kind man who stopped to help me, a true damsel in distress.

March 12:

1496 - Jews were expelled from Syria.

1609 - The Bermuda Islands became an English colony.

1664 - New Jersey became a British colony. King Charles II granted land in the New World to his brother James (The Duke of York).

1755 - In North Arlington, NJ, the steam engine was used for the first time.

1789 - The U.S. Post Office was established.

1809 - Britain signed a treaty with Persia forcing the French to leave the country.

1857 - “Simon Boccanegra” by Verdi debuted in Venice.

1884 - The State of Mississippi authorized the first state-supported college for women. It was called the Mississippi Industrial Institute and College.

1863 - President Jefferson Davis delivered his State of the Confederacy address.

1889 - Almon B. Stowger applied for a patent for his automatic telephone system.

1894 - Coca-Cola was sold in bottles for the first time.

1903 - The Czar of Russia issued a decree providing for nominal freedom of religion throughout his territory.

1905 - In Rome, Premier Giovanni Giolliwas forced out of office by continued civil strife.

1906 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that corporations must yield incriminating evidence in anti-trust suits.

1909 - The British Parliament increased naval appropriations for Britain.

1909 - Three U.S. warships were ordered to Nicaragua to stem the conflict with El Salvador.

1911 - Dr. Fletcher of Rockefeller Institute discovered the cause of infantile paralysis.

1912 - The Girl Scout organization was founded. The original name was Girl Guides.

1923 - Dr. Lee DeForest demonstrated phonofilm. It was his technique for putting sound on motion picture film.

1930 - Ghandi began his 200-mile march to the sea that symbolized his defiance of British rule over India.

1933 - President Paul von Hindenburg dropped the flag of the German Republic and ordered that the swastika and empire banner be flown side by side.

1933 - U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt presented his first presidential address to the nation. It was the first of the “Fireside Chats.”

1935 - Parimutuel betting became legal in the State of Nebraska.

1938 - The “Anschluss” took place as German troops entered Austria.

1940 - Finland surrendered to Russia ending the Russo-Finnish War.

1944 - Britain barred all travel to Ireland.

1947 - U.S. President Truman established the “Truman Doctrine” to help Greece and Turkey resist Communism.

1959 - The U.S. House joined the U.S. Senate in approving the statehood of Hawaii.

1966 - Bobby Hull, of the Chicago Blackhawks, became the first National Hockey League (NHL) player to score 51 points in a single season.

1974 - “Wonder Woman” debuted on ABC-TV. The show later went to CBS-TV.

1984 - Lebanese President Gemayel opened the second meeting in five years calling for the end to nine-years of war.

1985 - The U.S. and the U.S.S.R. began arms control talks in Geneva.

1985 - Larry Bird (Boston Celtics) scored a club-record 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks.

1985 - Former U.S. President Richard M. Nixon announced that he planned to drop Secret Service protection and hire his own bodyguards in an effort to lower the deficit by $3 million.

1987 - “Les Miserables” opened on Broadway.

1989 - Prime Minister Sadiq al Mahdi of Sudan formed a new cabinet to end civil war.

1989 - About 2,500 veterans and supporters marched at the Art Institute of Chicago to demand that officials remove an American flag placed on the floor as part of an exhibit.

1992 - Mauritius became a republic but remained a member of the British Commonwealth.

1993 - In the U.S., the Pentagon called for the closure of 31 major military bases.

1993 - Janet Reno was sworn in as the first female U.S. attorney general.

1994 - A photo by Marmaduke Wetherell of the Loch Ness monster was confirmed to be a hoax. The photo was taken of a toy submarine with a head and neck attached.

1994 - The Church of England ordained its first women priests.

1998 - Astronomers cancelled a warning that a mile-wide asteroid might collide with Earth saying that calculations had been off by 600,000 miles.

1999 - Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic became members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). All three countries were members of the former Warsaw Pact.

2002 - U.S. homeland security chief Tom Ridge unveiled a color-coded system for terror warnings.

2002 - Conoco and Phillips Petroleum stockholders approved a proposed merger worth $15.6 billion.

2003 - In Utah, Elizabeth Smart was reunited with her family nine months after she was abducted from her home. She had been taken on June 5, 2002, by a drifter that had previously worked at the Smart home.

2003 - The U.S. Air Force announced that it would resume reconnaissance flights off the coast of North Korea. The flights had stopped on March 2 after an encounter with four armed North Korean jets.

2009 - It was announced that the Sears Tower in Chicago, Ill., would be renamed Willis Tower.

2010 - In the U.S., Apple began taking pre-orders for the iPad.

I despise hosting lunches.

Sitcom families don’t. Those families have fun hosting lunch parties, even when they do something I wouldn’t do, like bounce meatballs off the walls.

My own family doesn’t chuck meatballs around, but neither are they entertaining. Maybe there really is something to the meatball method.

I had my kid cousin over for lunch yesterday. His name is Clark Gable.

Only joking. He’s called Jimmy Stewart.

Ha! Got you again. His real name is—I won’t tell you for privacy reasons.

Oh, okay. If you really must know, his birth certificate reads Marlon Brando.

Marlon—he’s my cousin, we’re on a first-name basis—and his folks came over for a visit of the gustatory variety.

What this means is that I spent the entire morning making about 10 pounds of salads, side dishes, main dishes, and appetizers only for his family to step through the front door carrying two large pizzas.

My cooking may not exactly be Michelin-level, but I do use fresh ingredients.

Fresh Betty Crocker brownie mix, and fresh Kraft Mac & Cheese.

I don’t understand why people have to insult me by bringing delicious piping-hot pizzas, but there you have it.

It’s always the shorter and younger guests who bring up the idea of pizza. You know they start talking about it in the car.

Marlon Brando (my kid cousin, remember) probably asked his mom what Cousin Alex was serving before she was even out of the driveway.

And she, like a good mother who has attended many a lunch party, would have said, “She’ll try to make baked ziti, but if it doesn’t come out right, we’ll all pretend it’s a casserole and just try a bite or two so she won’t be offended.”

She would’ve been exactly right. Only the baked ziti stayed in the oven because the guests bought pizza.

It was just icing on the cake that I forgot to turn off the oven until after they left.

In between the guests’ entrance and exit, I was obliged to carry on what self-defense experts refer to as a “family conversation.”

This means deflecting any personal or prying questions about what I am doing (writing silly stories for newspapers) and am not doing (curing cancer).

Each question must be batted away like an incoming meatball and yet not hit another guest.

For example, if I am asked, “How much is your salary?” I cannot simply respond “It’s more than your uncle Elvis is making, because he’s been unemployed since 1991.”

Then you notice the kids starting to fall asleep in their mashed potatoes and you try to rope them into the conversation.

Either you find that they’re accomplishing things you couldn’t manage in 100 years, or they provide an answer that doesn’t help the conversation.

“What’s your favorite animal?” I asked Marlon.

“Sharks and robots,” he replied.

“A robot isn’t an animal,” I retorted sagely.

“Kraft Mac & Cheese isn’t food,” he shot back.

After being put through this kind of wringer by my family, I almost kicked the door shut behind them.

I only had about 30 seconds to relax before I heard an explosion.

I ran into my kitchen to find baked ziti plastered over the walls.

I spent the rest of the evening scraping it back into a baking dish.

Next time the guests come over, I’ll serve it as a casserole.

March 5:

1623 - The first alcohol temperance law in the colonies was enacted in Virginia.

1624 - In the American colony of Virginia, the upper class was exempted from whipping by legislation.

1750 - “King Richard III” was performed in New York City. It was the first Shakespearean play to be presented in America.

1766 - The first Spanish governor of Louisiana, Antonio de Ulloa, arrived in New Orleans.

1770 - “The Boston Massacre” took place when British troops fired on a crowd in Boston killing five people. Two British troops were later convicted of manslaughter.

1793 - Austrian troops defeated the French and recaptured Liege.

1836 - Samuel Colt’s Patent Arms Manufacturing of Paterson, New Jersey, was chartered by the New Jersey legislature.

1842 - A Mexican force of over 500 men under Rafael Vasquez invaded Texas for the first time since the revolution. They briefly occupied San Antonio, but soon headed back to the Rio Grande.

1845 - The U.S. Congress appropriated $30,000 to ship camels to the western U.S.

1864 - For the first time, Oxford met Cambridge in track and field competition in England.

1867 - An abortive Fenian uprising against English rule took place in Ireland.

1868 - The U.S. Senate was organized into a court of impeachment to decide charges against President Andrew Johnson.

1872 - George Westinghouse patented the air brake.

1900 - Two U.S. battleships left for Nicaragua to halt revolutionary disturbances.

1901 - Germany and Britain began negotiations with hopes of creating an alliance.

1902 - In France, the National Congress of Miners decided to call for a general strike for an 8-hour day.

1907 - In St. Petersburg, Russia, the new Duma opened. 40,000 demonstrators were dispersed by troops.

1910 - In Philadelphia, PA, 60,000 people left their jobs to show support for striking transit workers.

1910 - The Moroccan envoy signed the 1909 agreement with France.

1912 - The Italians became the first to use dirigibles for military purposes. They used them for reconnaissance flights behind Turkish lines west of Tripoli.

1918 - The Soviets moved the capital of Russia from Petrograd to Moscow.

1922 - “Annie Oakley” (Phoebe Ann Moses) broke all existing records for women’s trap shooting. She hit 98 out of 100 targets.

1923 - Old-age pension laws were enacted in the states of Montana and Nevada.

1924 - Frank Caruana of Buffalo, NY, became the first bowler to roll two perfect games in a row.

1933 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered a four-day bank holiday in order to stop large amounts of money from being withdrawn from banks.

1933 - The Nazi Party won 44 percent of the vote in German parliamentary elections.

1934 - In Amarillo, TX, the first Mother’s-In-Law Day was celebrated.

1943 - Germany called fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds for military service due to war losses.

1946 - Winston Churchill delivered his “Iron Curtain Speech”.

1946 - The U.S. sent protests to the U.S.S.R. on incursions into Manchuria and Iran.

1953 - Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin died. He had been in power for 29 years.

1956 - The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the ban on segregation in public schools.

1969 - Gustav Heinemann was elected West German President.

1970 - A nuclear non-proliferation treaty went into effect after 43 nations ratified it.

1976 - The British pound fell below the equivalent of $2 for the first time in history.

1977 - U.S. President Jimmy Carter appeared on CBS News with Walter Cronkite for the first “Dial-a-President” radio talk show.

1984 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cities had the right to display the Nativity scene as part of their Christmas display.

1984 - The U.S. accused Iraq of using poison gas.

1985 - Mike Bossy (New York Islanders) became the first National Hockey League player to score 50 goals in eight consecutive seasons.

1993 - Cuban President Fidel Castro said that Hillary Clinton was “a beautiful woman.”

1993 - Sprinter Ben Johnson was banned from racing for life by the Amateur Athletic Association after testing positive for banned performance-enhancing substances for a second time.

1997 - North Korea and South Korea met for first time in 25 years for peace talks.

1997 - Chuck Niles received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1998 - NASA announced that an orbiting craft had found enough water on the moon to support a human colony and rocket fueling station.

1998 - It was announced that Air Force Lt. Col. Eileen Collins would lead crew of Columbia on a mission to launch a large X-ray telescope. She was the first woman to command a space shuttle mission.

Dear Editor,

You may have read the back and forth on social media when it comes to the City of Liberty policy on public input at council meetings. The policy only allows citizens of the city to speak during public input, and they must sign up through the clerk’s office hours before. Let me weigh in on it.

First, let’s start with the policy that is on the books.

Sec. 2-42. - Appearance of citizens: Any citizen of the city shall be entitled to an appearance before the mayor and council at any regular meeting concerning any city matter. Persons desiring to speak must notify the clerk on the topic which they want to speak no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Friday preceding the council meeting.

I have been to scores of Liberty City Council meetings as well as others like the county council and school board.

This ordinance, with wording going back to the 1970’s, is antiquated and needs a rewrite by the city council.

First, public input should not be limited to city residents only. Plenty of people own businesses, visit our city or pay city taxes, but live beyond the city limits. The council needs to hear what they have to say, as they are part of the city’s formula for success.

Second, people are busy with work, kids, life and they should also be given the opportunity to sign up to speak at the meeting, just before it starts like at school board or county council meetings.

I think the policy should look something like this:

Public Input: The Liberty City Council will hold public input at the start of their regular monthly meeting. Persons wanting to address the council can sign up by contacting the council clerk beforehand or by filing out a public input card prior to the start of the meeting. Speakers are limited to 3 minutes each. Public input is limited to 30 minutes in total (10 speakers), but could be extended at the discretion of the council.

I hope the city council will consider this change.

Andrea Wagner

Liberty, SC

PICKENS COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County (SDPC) said it has adjusted the 2024-25 school calendar to make up some of the days missed during Hurricane Helene.

The SDPC Board of Trustees approved the calendar adjustment in a board meeting last Monday.

According to district officials, six instructional days were missed due to the hurricane. The district used a combination of eLearning, in-person makeup days, and special approval from the South Carolina Department of Education to finalize the following plan:

February 14 – eLearning Day

Approved as an eLearning day for this year only due to extenuating circumstances.

Makes up September 30, 2024 (the first missed day of Hurricane Helene closures)

April 21 – Now a full In-person makeup day

Originally scheduled as an Inclement Weather Make-Up Day, this day will now serve as a regular school day for students.

Makes up October 1, 2024.

May 22 – Full day of instruction (Previously a half day)

May 23 – Full day of instruction (Previously a half day and last day of school.)

These two half-days will now be full days, combining to make up one full instructional day.

This adjustment makes up for October 2, 2024.

South Carolina law (S.C. Code Ann. § 59-1-425(B)) requires all instructional days missed due to extreme weather or other disruptions to be made up.

PICKENS COUNTY — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on March 2 as firefighters continue to battle hundreds of wildfires across the Carolinas.

“This State of Emergency ensures that our first responders, who are working tirelessly and risking their lives to protect our communities from these wildfires, have the resources they need,” said McMaster. “Dangerous wildfire conditions require that a statewide burning ban remain in effect until further notice. Those who violate this ban will be subject to criminal prosecution.”

According to the State Fire Marshal, there are ongoing response operations to more than 175 wildfires, impacting 4,200 acres across the state, including Horry, Spartanburg, Oconee, Union and Pickens Counties primarily due to dry, windy conditions.

Nearly 5,000 acres have burned in the Palmetto State, with 170 fires reported, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

In response, the Forestry Commission has issued a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties, effective immediately.

A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning and campfires in all unincorporated areas of the state.

“Very low relative humidities statewide, coupled with drying fuels resulting from the lack of significant rain, have resulted in 102 wildfire ignitions today alone,” the commission said on Saturday. “Much-higher-than-forecasted winds have led to these fires spreading rapidly and growing larger.

“While a majority of the current wildfire activity is concentrated in the Pee Dee region, the rest of the state is experiencing a dramatic uptick in wildfires today, straining the capacity of agency firefighters to respond.”

The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission, they said.

Here in Pickens County, crews were battling a fire near Laurel Ridge Road off of Six Mile Highway. Residents of Six Mile Ridge and Pilgrim Circle were asked to evacuate the area, according to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. A shelter was opened at Pleasant Hill Fellowship Hall at 3041 Six Mile Highway in Central. The evacuation order was lifted at dawn and the county, along with the Six Mile Fire Department, has reported no injuries.

The fire on Six Mile Mountain spanned 230 acres, according to the Forestry Commission. Smoke from that fire spread across the Upstate and the plume of smoke was visible from downtown Greenville.

In Union County, a fire broke out along Jonesville Lockhart Highway near Pineland Road east of Jonesville that was around 60 acres in size, according to the Forestry Commission.

Officials with the Jonesville Fire Department said they were called to a large grass fire around 4 p.m. Houses were spared but some cars and outbuildings were destroyed by the fire, according to Jonesville Fire Chief D.J. Long. That fire was contained by Saturday night, officials said.

In Spartanburg County, firefighters responded to a fire between Miller Town Road and Blackstock Road that Forestry officials said was 90 acres in size.

And a smaller, eight-acre fire was also burning along Newberry Road just south of Landrum in Spartanburg County, as of 6:45 p.m. That fire was contained by 8:15 p.m. on Saturday.

The Inman City Fire Department said in a post on social media more than 20 brush fires were reported in Spartanburg County on Saturday, many of them occurring simultaneously.

EASLEY — Some things you can’t teach. It’s way beyond any stat sheet or any “go to move” on the basketball court.

Abbi Vite could have easily not gone out for the team this year or could have just quit on her teammates.

But she didn’t.

Vite played the entire season as Coach Ashley Baker looked to build up her Green Wave basketball program. Vite will be continuing her education at Anderson University, but she won’t forget her roots.

Coach Baker even sees Vite as a possible coach one day, too, and would like her to be part of the program.

“I’ve said before that I think Abbi would make a great coach one day,” Baker said. “She kinda joked about it earlier in the season. I kind of threw it by her because of her knowledge of the game that she brings, but also her composure and the way that she interacts with people in building relationships, which is part of my core values as a coach.”

For the loyalty to the program and her leadership qualities, Vite has been selected The Easley Progress Athlete of the Week.

“I wouldn’t be where I’m at without Coach Baker,” Vite said. “I was honestly going to quit this year, but I was like I’m going to give it one more chance because of Coach Baker. She supported me and all the girls have supported me and had my back. It’s just a good feeling. I got to come out here and play with confidence because of that.”

POWDERSVILLE — Wren High School boys golf made a statement last year as the Class 3A State Champs.

They move up to 4A this year and they return a strong nucleus of senior golfers - Dylan Park, Garrett Gillespie, and Davis Merritt.

“Our guys really enjoy playing the tougher competition,” said Hurricane coach Tyler Barnes, at a recent practice at Southern Oaks Golf Course. “Going up to 4A, I think that will breed more of a competitive spirit.”

Park, Gillespie and Merritt will also serve as captains this season.

Barnes feels that Park - once again - will be one of the top golfers in the state in 4A. Park has already signed on to play golf on a scholarship at Winthrop University and has been nationally ranked. Plus, he feels that his Wren golfers team can be a top-three team in 4A.

At press time, Gillespie is unsure of where he’ll be attending college next season.

But not to be overlooked is importance of Merritt who has already been accepted to Clemson University and will follow the footsteps of several family members to the Tigers. Merritt will not be playing golf at Clemson.

“He (Merritt) is definitely an integral part of this team,” said Barnes. “He’s fun. He keeps it loose with the guys. We had a championship season last year and we have a lot of new kids this year who want to be part of that.”

And that they do.

Barnes currently has 11 players on the Wren varsity team and 8 players on the JV team.

“We are like a family,” Barnes said. “We do team dinners every week. I think we all knew something special was going to happen last year.”

Circle the date: The talent-filled Hurricane Invite will return again to Southern Oaks Golf Course with a strong field of teams. Wren made a statement last year in winning the Hurricane Invite. Barnes said they already have 30 teams penciled in for this year and possibly two additional teams.

Congrats, Coach: Barnes, who recently retired after 20 years of active duty service in the U.S. Army, took some extra time last week at practice to thank his wife (Christina) for all of her support. It was also her birthday on that day (Feb. 25th).

“I’m incredibly grateful for my wife and everything she does for our family,” said Barnes. “Her dedication and unwavering support through my 20 years in the Active Duty Army have meant the world to me. She was a huge reason we decided to get so involved in the Wren community after being stationed here three years ago, and thanks to her, it quickly felt like home. Between the Wren Booster Club and my role as the golf coach, we’ve been embraced by this amazing community, and we couldn’t love it more.”

“The whole reason I was successful - and a lot of people don’t put a lot of emphasis on it - was because of my wife and kids,” Barnes said.

CLEMSON — As a sports fan, I’m always going to have favorite players.

I’ve got to say my favorite basketball player right now is Clemson University’s Ian “The Chef” Schieffelin. He’s not the tallest or fastest. He doesn’t leap out of the gym. He just gets after it and makes plays.

Last Wednesday night, I went to see The Chef and Clemson play in person at Littlejohn Coliseum - as just a sports fan with no camera or clipboard - in an 83-68 victory over the University of Notre Dame.

It was a night to remember, too.

The Chef turned in a career-high 24 points against the Fighting Irish, along with 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 assists. There was one stretch of the game that The Chef went on an 11-0 run by himself to help break the game open.

But for me, the coolest part of the game - that I did not expect at all - was when Scheiffelin went over the 1,000-point mark in his career at Clemson and the big jumbo screen lit up with his picture and his accomplishment.

Schieffelin is listed at 6-foot-8 on the Tigers roster (and that might be exaggerated a bit like all rosters), but he always finds a way to get his shot off in the post and be productive against taller and more athletic players.

My take on Lakhin: To me, Clemson can play with any team WHEN 6-foot-11 and 245-pound center Viktor Lakhin stays out of foul trouble. They need him on the court! Lakhin looks unstoppable at times on offense when he gets that jump-hook going in the blocks. Notre Dame quickly rallied (and even took the lead) last week when Lakhin was on the bench.

Easley’s Crews in North-South All-Star Game: Easley senior sharpshooter Ethan Crews has been selected to play in the North-South All-Star game that will be played on Saturday, March 29 at Brookland Cayce High School. His teammates on the North team will include: RJ Hill (South Point, 4A), Keenan Arcega-Whiteside (Dorman, 5A), Bryson Taylor (Dutch Fork, 5A), Dontez Walker (JL Mann, 5A), Bryce Peterson (Andrew Jackson, 2A), Jaleel McGee (Powdersville, 3A), Jamari Cullen (Byrnes, 5A), Brock Cherry (Wren, 4A), Tyrek Wright (McBee, 1A), Jacarey Ballard (Lancaster, 4A) and Nas Berry (Fort Mill, 5A).

Palmetto Games: The dates have been set for the Palmetto Games at Clemson University on April 18-19. Volunteers are needed and no experience necessary. You can register at: bit.ly/palmettogames2025.

Congratulations to Kevin Arms for rolling a 300 on Monday Night.

Congratulations to Bill Robson for rolling a 300 on Tuesday Seniors

Congratulations to Turner Pike for rolling a 300, 269, 257(826 series) on Wednesday Night

Congratulations to Brian Kidder for rolling 266, 269, 269 (804 series) on Monday Night.

Monday Night

Kevin Arms 300 (750 series)

Brian Kidder 269 (804 series)

Keith Stidham 254

Bobby Sorgee 243

Don Shafer 236

Lance Hester 237

Tae Mattison 238

Chris Jordan 263 (741 series)

Stephanie Carver 239, 218, 201 (658 series)

Michael Boyd 204

Jesse Singleton 258

David Chastain 257

Matthew Simon 236

Jeff Lewis 238

Gary Allen 245

Chuck Anderson 269

Robby Smith 259

Luke Estes 222

Chase Hall 239

Jacob Keaton 226

Justin Wallace 232

Branden Lee 252

Tuesday Seniors

Bill Robson 300 (704 series)

David Rude 246

Linda Wolf 232

Belinda Robson 202

Teresa Madden 211, 215 (607 series)

George Giles 209

Richard Singleton 224

Penny Cauthen 197

Nelson Bordes 216

Tuesday Night Doubles

David Rude 246

Marc Kuttler 259

Melaney Wolfe 258 (625 series)

Billy Dickerson 201

Wednesday Night

Turner Pike 300 (826 series)

Logan Beacham 201

Austin Beacham 268 (718 series)

Emery Barner 246 (724 series)

Caden Bryan 234

Kevin Sanders 232

Cory Wood 228

Jeff Madden 242

Calvin Jones 213

Michael Merrifield 247

David Chastain 257

Avery Merrifield 248

Tracy Knight 220, 203

Adrienne Aiken 203

Adger Brown 209

Rich Raby 256

Kasey Pike 222, 210, 203 (635 series)

Nick Sharp 278 (735 series)

Joseph Catalano 246

Trin McAlister 218

David Whisnant 235

Mark Gibson 258

Joey Gibson 236

Michael Jennings 256

Joe Lockee 221

Thursday Seniors

Not reported

Thursday Night

Jake Tomlinson 243

James Gantt 277 (727 series)

Kim Stidham 233

Chad Hayes 251

Adger Brown 212

Gary Bright 245

Chase Hall 258 (702 series)

Brett Buckler 197

Friday Night (Feb. 21)

Benny McKinney 299 (710 series)

Ryland Garrett 206

James Bowen 232

James Wike 247

Mark Ellenburg 222

Corban Wolfe 284 (720 series)

Lewis Shepard 267 (772 series)

Cheryl Medlin 201

Jeffrey Shepard 243 (707 series)

Phillip Spradling II 259

Nate Overholt 238

Felicia Holmes 225

Marcus Stanford 238

Dianne Richard 264, 246, 214 (724 series)

Aaron Richard 257 (748 series)

Quintorious Thomas 202

Branden Lee 269

Tim Lines 222

Kevin Sanders 237

Bob Watts 219

Phillip Worley 234

Saturday Youth (Feb 22)

Bryson Cantrell 245, 233, 203

Tanner Hendricks 236

Larson Tate 234, 226, 225

Casey Stiles 243, 209

Braydon Whitmer 132

Bella Boyd 186

Hunter Watford 245

Results from the Pickens County Youth Tournament

Doubles Avg. 221-300 Handicapped

First Place

Weston Wolf and Melissa Wimpey

Doubles Avg. 301 & Up Handicapped

First Place

Hunter Watford and Bryson Cantrell

Singles Avg. 110 & Under Handicapped

First Place

Gabriel Burns

Singles Avg. 111-150 Handicapped

First Place

Malakai Estes

Singles Avg. 151 & Up Handicapped

First Place

Hunter Watford

EASLEY — Last Thursday night, it almost felt like Friday night football.

Instead, you had a scrimmage softball game — under the bright lights — between rivals Easley and Pickens. The final score didn’t matter. They just wanted to see where they were at as a team before the season starts.

EHS coach Becca Staton got to reflect on her 2025 softball team shortly after their scrimmage.

“We are pretty young, but we have a couple of seniors who will lead the way,” said Staton. “Overall, I’m very pleased with where we are at right now. Our senior pitcher (Jalyn McGee) She is doing what she needs to do and getting the strikeouts. We just a have to get our bats going. No doubt she is going to have a great year. She is a great leader on and off the field. On the mound, she has a presence about her - calm and collective. She just gets the job done and attacks the batter head on, and an overall great person.”

McGee, who returns as the No. 1 pitcher on the team this season, has already signed to continue her pitching career at Piedmont University.

“We’re still early in the process and have a lot of growing to do,” Staton said. “So, no doubt we will make the strides and get to where we need to be when the season starts.”

At press time, the captains were not named yet for the Green Wave.

Staton said the big goal this season is to just play as a team, with “winning region” as their ultimate goal.

EHS grad Emily Morgan is currently playing at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) and getting some time on the pitching mound.

The EHS softball team moves to Class 5A this season and it will no doubt be tougher.

EHS junior Camora Little, who hit a walk-off homer last season against Pickens, adds some punch to the lineup again this season for Easley.

“She (Little) is going to be one of our power hitters,” Staton said. ”I have her in the four spot right now. She is just a workhorse and trying to get better. If she keeps seeing the ball, she is going to rope it this year and seeing the gaps. Not only home runs, but she’ll get base hits.”

Staying healthy will be another key for Easley with just 12 players listed on the varsity roster. You’ll probably get to see a seventh-grader (Bryleigh Cogdill) take the mound this season, too.

“She (Cogdill) is our future,” Staton said. “So, we’ll try to get her as many strikes on the mound and time.”

2025 EHS Varsity Softball Roster

So. Journey Price OF

So. Emi Nalley OF

8th Ansley Merck OF

7th Bryleigh Cogdill P/UT

Sr. Brooke Wilson Inf.

Sr. Olvia Merck Inf.

Fr. K.B. Marchbanks Inf.

Fr. McKenna Hardy Inf.

Jr. Camora Little Inf./OF

Sr. Jalyn McGee P/UT

So. Payton Todd C/UT

So. Abby Wade P/UT

As a gal whose reading habits don’t extend past the menu, I was surprised to find myself gifted a biography this past weekend.

It’s called “Theodore Rex,” it’s written by Edmund Morris, and it’s about the first dinosaur to become president.

Or maybe it isn’t. I didn’t read the title too carefully.

The book chronicles the rise (and rise and rise and rise) of Theodore Roosevelt.

Starting out as a humble best-selling historian, he became a war hero, governor of New York, and vice president.

Once the chief executive of his time, McKinley (also known as Denali), was assassinated, Teddy Roosevelt at last became president of the United States.

When I gaze upon Roosevelt’s accomplishments, I do not shrink. After all, I’ve done a lot in my life, such as… uh… I’m sure I wrote it down somewhere…

The book — or more accurately, hagiography — describes Roosevelt as a great personality. It praises his ferocious mustache and magnificent sneer. Or maybe it’s the other way around.

I can get a sneer, all right, but no matter how hard I try, I don’t think I’ll ever grow a mustache. Maybe I’ll aim for great eyebrows.

Without T. R., modern America would be much different. For one, we wouldn’t have the plushy children’s toy that bears his name.

For two, there wouldn’t be a guy with glasses on Mount Rushmore.

For three, no one would be able to coin that excellent palindrome, “A man, a plan, a canal: Panama!”

As president, Theodore — since I’ve read his life story, I think we’d be on a first-name basis — was a staple of political and popular culture.

He promised each American a Square Deal. It was something to do with nature and consumers.

I don’t know about you, but as a natural consumer, I’d have preferred a Square Meal. Heck, I’d celebrate if the government sent me a Snickers.

Theodore also liked to talk softly and carry a big stick.

I think yelling and firing a big cannon would have been more effective. Then again, this could be why I’ve never been president.

Roosevelt was also a fan of sending heavily-armed emissaries of friendship ‘round to other countries.

Not to fire on them, mind. Just to give off good vibes.

At that point, I’m sure the other countries of the world would’ve jumped to high-five us if not for the big stick.

Roosevelt won reelection in 1904 and proposed a series of reforms, such as an income tax (boo!), an eight-hour workday (yay!), and a postal savings system (huh?)

He delivered on some of them, but ended up as a bit of a lame duck, albeit with magnificent facial hair.

As his term came to a close, he handed off the reins to William H. Taft.

Taft had long stood in Roosevelt’s shadow, at least the bits of him that fit there.

Though he did not possess as big an influence as Teddy, he still went down in history as our nation’s largest president.

I can aspire neither to Roosevelt’s mustache nor to Taft’s size. But I have one consolation.

I can always write a book about ‘em.

February 26:

1815 - Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from the Island of Elba. He then began his second conquest of France.

1848 - The second French Republic was proclaimed.

1863 - U.S. President Lincoln signed the National Currency Act.

1870 - In New York City, the first pneumatic-powered subway line was opened to the public. (Beach Pneumatic Transit)

1881 - S.S. Ceylon began his world-wide cruise, beginning in Liverpool, England.

1907 - The U.S. Congress raised their own pay to $7500.

1916 - Mutual signed Charlie Chaplin to a film contract.

1919 - In Arizona, the Grand Canyon was established as a National Park with an act of the U.S. Congress.

1929 - U.S. President Coolidge signed a bill creating the Grand Teton National Park.

1930 - New York City installed traffic lights.

1933 - A ground-breaking ceremony was held at Crissy Field for the Golden Gate Bridge.

1945 - In the U.S., a nationwide midnight curfew went into effect.

1952 - British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that Britain had developed an atomic bomb.

1957 - The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award was established by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

1979 - “Flatbush” debuted on CBS-TV.

1986 - Corazon Aquino was inaugurated president of the Philippines. Long time President Ferdinand Marcos went into exile.

1987 - The Tower Commission rebuked U.S. President Reagan for failing to control his national security staff in the wake of the Iran-Contra affair.

1987 - The U.S.S.R. conducted its first nuclear weapons test after a 19-month moratorium period.

1991 - Iraqi President Saddam Hussein announced on Baghdad Radio that Iraqi troops were being withdrawn from Kuwait.

1993 - Six people were killed and more than a thousand injured when a van exploded in the parking garage beneath the World Trade Center in New York City. The bomb had been built by Islamic extremists.

1995 - Barings PLC collapsed after a securities dealer lost more than $1.4 billion by gambling on Tokyo stock prices. The company was Britain’s oldest investment banking firm.

1998 - A Texas jury rejected an $11 million lawsuit by Texas cattlemen who blamed Oprah Winfrey for price drop after on-air comment about mad-cow disease.

1998 - In Oregon, a health panel rules that taxpayers must help to pay for doctor-assisted suicides.

2001 - A U.N. tribunal convicted Bosnian Croat political leader Dario Kordic and military commander Mario Cerkez of war crimes. They had ordered the systematic murder and persecution of Muslim civilians during the Bosnian war.

2002 - In Rome, Italy, a bomb exploded near the Interior Ministry. No injuries were reported.

2009 - Former Serbian president Milan Milutinovic was acquitted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia regarding war crimes during the Kosovo War.

2009 - The Pentagon reveresed its 18-year policy of not allowing media to cover returning war dead. The reversal allowsd some media coverage with family approval.

EASLEY — These two local events — the Spring Fling on April 5 and the Community Egg Drop on April 6 — are why so many people love the town of Easley. You can’t beat the price of these two events … both are free.

The Spring Fling is going to have a record-high 70 vendors at this year’s event. Last year, there were 62 vendors at the event.

“I think it is a wonderful time to help kick off the spring time and celebrate our downtown, and the wonderful businesses that we have” said Christman Short, the Director of Parks and Recreation in Easley. “We’re trying to bring visitors into downtown Easley to boost our economic impact.”

Continued Christman, “We try to focus on having all of our events being family-friendly.”

You’ve have plenty of food trucks for this event scattered throughout the downtown area of Easley. Plus, the Kids Zone has been a big hit with things like a bouncy house for all ages, yard games (Corn Hole, Connect 4, Checkers, etc.), face painting and hair tinsel.

“I like it’s a big one-day event,” said Danielle Hess, the Program and Events Coordinator for the Easley Parks and Recreation. “It’s from lunch until dinner time (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.). It’s a time for craft vendors to come together, but also the Kids Zone and the live music is all free to the community.”

Community Egg Drop: The Park and Rec Department is teaming with 5 Point Church to make this big event happen. It’s going to be at the soccer fields of the JB Red Owens Complex, and it will run from 3 to 5 p.m.

“We’ll have to split it into age groups, and we’ll have thousands of eggs down there,” said Lawson Clary, the Executive Pastor of Finance and Outreach at 5 Point Church. “We’ll probably have 150 to 200 volunteers for the event. We are expecting thousands upon thousands of people for this event. We did this years ago - probably around 2006 and 2007 - and we had 7,000 to 8,000 people at the event.”

The Easley Fire Department will also be on hand to help with the event.

PICKENS COUNTY — Duke Energy is providing $200,000 in grants to South Carolina organizations that help the state’s aging population with services and support, particularly for seniors with income challenges. The funds will be used to help these organizations with their infrastructure to continue expanding their services.

“With the aging population living longer, as well as the cost of living increasing, it’s important to ensure those that helped build and strengthen our communities have the resources they need to comfortably enjoy their golden years,” said Tim Pearson, Duke Energy’s South Carolina state president.

Each of the following organizations received a $10,000 grant:

Meals on Wheels – (Anderson County)

Lee County Council on Aging

Rebuild Upstate (Anderson County)

Marlboro County Council on Aging

Senior Solutions (Anderson/Oconee counties)

Newberry County Council on Aging

Senior Centers of Cherokee County

Pickens County Meals on Wheels

Citizens United for Redevelopment and Economy (Chester County)

Mobile Meals (Spartanburg County)

Darlington County Council on Aging

Rebuilding Together Spartanburg

CareFirst Carolina Foundation (Dillon County)

Upstate Family Resource Center (Spartanburg County)

Senior Citizens Association in Florence County

United Way of Sumter, Clarendon & Lee Counties

Greenville County Meals on Wheels

Vital Aging of Williamsburg County

HOPE (Lancaster County)

York County Council on Aging

“The funds received from the Duke Energy Foundation will provide 1,428 meals for neighbors we serve, who are just like Sam,” says Laurie Ashley, executive director of Meals on Wheels – Anderson. “Sam lives alone in the home he loves, surrounded by his Clemson memorabilia and race car collectibles, but what truly brings him comfort is the hot meal and friendly driver visit he receives each day. For Sam and so many others, these visits are not only a source of nourishment but also a vital connection to the outside world.”

“Because of this very generous grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, we will be able to buy more supplies for wheelchair ramps we build for senior citizens in Clarendon County,” said Vicki Singleton, executive director of United Way of Sumter, Lee and Clarendon Counties. “Some have not been able to leave their homes in years and will now be able to do things most of us take for granted, like go to the grocery store, go to doctor’s appointments or simply get their mail from their mailboxes.”

Grant recipients were selected through a request for proposals announced in January. This effort follows similar initiatives by the Foundation to support the organizations that provide services to seniors in the state.

Through a similar request for proposals in 2023, Duke Energy provided 15 qualifying nonprofits in South Carolina grants of up to $20,000 that funded needed home repairs to enable senior citizens to continue to enjoy life in their current homes. In 2024, the Duke Energy Foundation provided an additional $100,000 in grants to 13 organizations in the state with existing home ramp programs for low-income senior citizens or those with disabilities who qualified for assistance.

Customers who need the services provided by these organizations also might have challenges funding other household needs, to include their electricity bill. To learn more about programs and information that can assist families to manage their energy bills when times are tough, visit duke-energy.com/SeasonalSavings.

EASLEY — The School District of Pickens County recently announced Nate Roper has been approved by the Board of Trustees as the next principal of R.H. Gettys Middle School, effective July 1, 2025.

This decision follows the transition of Jacob Nelson, current Gettys principal, to his new role as SDPC Director of Administrative Support and Non-Traditional Pathways, which was approved in January. Nelson will continue to lead Gettys Middle School through the remainder of the 2024-25 school year, ensuring a seamless transition for students and staff, SDPC officials said.

According to school officials, Roper brings a wealth of leadership experience to Gettys Middle School. He has been the principal of Dacusville Middle School since 2023, where he has worked to enhance student achievement, foster a strong school culture, and build meaningful connections between students, families, and the community. Prior to leading Dacusville Middle, Roper served as an assistant principal and associate principal at Gettys Middle School from 2016-2022, as well as an assistant principal at Easley High School. He began his career in education as a business education teacher at Easley High School, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 2011-12. Before transitioning to education, Roper worked in management roles in the manufacturing industry, bringing valuable real-world experience to his work in career and technical education.

A Clemson University graduate, Roper earned a Bachelor of Science in Management with an International Emphasis and later obtained his Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University in 2014. He is currently working toward his Education Specialist (EdS) degree in Educational Leadership from Clemson University, with an expected completion in May 2025. He has also completed Gold Strand CEEL principalship training through the Center for Executive Education Leadership (CEEL) in Columbia, SC, further strengthening his instructional leadership and school management expertise.

“We are excited to welcome Mr. Roper back to Gettys Middle School in this leadership role,” said Superintendent Danny Merck. “His deep understanding of middle school education, strong connections to the Easley community, and commitment to student success make him the ideal leader to continue moving Gettys Middle forward. With his experience and vision, I am confident he will build upon the great work happening at Gettys Middle and help prepare students for success at Easley High and beyond.”

“I am humbled to serve the students, families, faculty, staff, and community of Richard H. Gettys Middle School and the Easley area,” shared Roper. “ GMS is a school where commitment to our students comes first. I do not take this commitment lightly as we collectively continue to take GMS to the next level. My prayer is that with our campus having such a rich history, we continue to build an Easley Community that is preparing our students to be the next leaders of our great town.”

Roper and his wife, Heather, who is also an educator in SDPC, reside in Easley with their two children, Ella (15) and Truett (10). He said he is excited to return to Gettys Middle and continue working alongside students, staff and families to create an exceptional middle school experience.

EASLEY — The Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library is excited to invite the community to celebrate its 20th anniversary on February 27 from 1-5 p.m. This special event will reflect on two decades of service to the residents of Easley and Pickens County and commemorate the library’s enduring role in promoting education, connection and growth.

Since its opening in 2005, the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library has been a central hub for learning, discovery, and inspiration. The library honors the legacy of Captain Kimberly Hampton, a U.S. Army pilot and Easley native who tragically lost her life while serving her country.

This anniversary celebration offers an opportunity to reflect on the library’s legacy while also looking forward to its continued impact on the community in the years to come. The Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library has been more than just a place to check out books. It has been a home for community events, a place of learning, and a symbol of resilience.

Through all the chapters – whether it’s programs for kids, resources for adults, or space for lifelong learning – the library has continually adapted to meet the needs of our community. This commemorative anniversary is a time to reflect on the library’s growth and the lasting impact it has had on generations of families, students, and community members. We invite you to join us, reminisce, and be a part of this joyous occasion as we celebrate 20 years of service and look forward to the next 20 years.

The event will be held Thursday, February 27, 2025 from 1-5 p.m. at the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library, 304 Biltmore Road, Easley, SC, 29640.

Game changers for EHS hoops: At press time, senior captain Ethan Crews leads Easley with 20.2 points a game. Crews is shooting 43 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the free-throw line. Sophomore point-guard Drey Jackson stands in at 12.7 points a game, 4.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game. Sophomore low-post standout RJ Stack is averaging 11.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3 blocks a game.

Now Wednesday through Saurday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. it is open to the public with over 85 local retailers for people’s shopping needs. However, March 7 and 8, the huge 150,000 square-foot area in the building known as the Market Arena will once again transform to be host to The Roughest and Toughest Brawl Tough Man Contest.

This two day event that will feature local men and women who think they have what it takes to step inside the ring to fight in three, one-minute rounds of all out brawling.

The Mill hosted this event last year and over the two days over 3,500 screaming fans were given the experience of watching maybe the guy who cuts their grass, bags their groceries — or who may even work with them — live out a dream by climbing into the ring and fighting.

The winners in each weight division will get a beautiful Championship belt, a bit of cold hard cash, and will also be known as the roughest toughest brawler in all of Upstate, South Carolina.

This event is sanctioned by the SC Athletic commission, so the fighters could not be in safer hands. They are given a complete physical, weighed and matched up in three weight divisions.

The Market At the Mill has a huge parking area and also a long hallway so no one has to stand outside to wait to get in. Once inside, the fans can enjoy great food from a fully stocked concession stand. They can buy Brawl merchandise and souvenirs, and even adult beverages if they wish. They will also have the opportunity to meet The King Of the Tough Man, the one and only Butterbean, who is a multi-time world champion tough-man winner. Butterbean is known as The King Of The 4 Rounders. He will be there taking pictures, signing autographs and offering fans great items like signed boxing gloves and even championship belts.

This year’s event is once again hosted by me — Ring Announcer Bill Hazelwood. I have been announcing for 24 years and have in addition to hosting The Roughest and Toughest Brawl for the last 18 years, I have been blessed to have worked with some of the biggest names in Boxing, MMA and Pro Wrestling.

I have also had the absolute pleasure of being a resident of the Easley for 35 years. So come on out and enjoy this great two day event. You can to www.theroughestandtoughestbrawl.com to buy tickets or to sign up and fight. I have aways told people The Brawl cant be explained only experienced. I’ll see you there.

Be sure to see page 10 for more details.