Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns discusses the recently passed $284 million county budget, the growing recreation projects and economic development in this interview with the Anderson Observer.

The budget includes funding for capital improvements to a number of county-owned buildings, a three-percent across-the-board raise for county employees and five new positions: two new community deputies, an additional clerk for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and a new employee in parks and recreation.

With such a small amount of spending in question — barely over 0.01% of the 2023-24 fiscal year budget or less than two months of Clemson University football coach Dabo Swinney's salary — leaders in the General Assembly said they would end the 2023 session and wait until 2024 to take up the 11 vetoes.

Electrolux Group today donated nearly $170,000 worth of room air conditioners to AIM to help some of the community’s disadvantaged citizens beat the heat this summer.

Anderson County will receive more than $3.3 million in funding for local projects as part of the state’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Grammy-winning superstar has dozens of number-one hits, hundreds of gold and platinum certifications and more than 25 million album sales. The concert will feature his biggest hits, including "Give Me Everything," "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)," and more. 

On Monday, the Anderson Area Remembrance and Reconciliation Initiative (AAR&RI) dedicated the artwork at a ceremony which included speeches from Keith and from many of those who have made this project possible.

The community center is a non-profit organization that has served the Pendleton community for more than 50 years, serving as the historical landmark site for the Anderson County Training School as well as The Faith Log Cabin Library. It continues to serve the community as the oldest existing African-American community organization. Monthly meetings are held on the Saturdays before the first Sunday of every month at 4:30 pm. For more information, contact Terence Hassan at 864-221-0361.

Dr. Ankoma Anderson, pastor of Welfare Baptist Church which hosted the celebration, said the event fit perfectly with the church’s mission.

“This place represents the foundation of who I am, and who I have grown up to be over the years,” said Williams.

But Great Depression retailers made a push to commercialize the holiday in an attempt to make money during dire times. As World War II started, people began to use Father's Day as a way to pay respect to American troops who were also dads.

The proposed $278 million budget represents an increase of $43 million over the current year’s budget and includes no tax increases.

The Anderson County Farmers Market officially kicks off the season Saturday with more than 30 vendors. Local farmers will on hand with green beans, squash, potatoes, sweet corn and even a few Summer tomatoes. Local arts and crafts merchants will also be featured at the market.

The chamber honored Hugh and Rita Burgess as Chamber Ambassadors of the Year, and Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore with the Duke Energy Citizenship & Service Award. Keynote speaker South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson closed the organization’s meeting.

The artwork memorializes the stories of Anderson County's five known victims of racial terror lynching. Made of wood and metal, the Sculpture is designed in harmony with the art installation in tribute to lynching victims at the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in Montgomery. The ceremony will feature contemporary performances by the I AM Strong Dance Company.

The annual Piedmont Natural Gas Day B-4 Father's Day Car Show is scheduled for Saturday, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. The show is set to start at 10 a.m. and finish up around 3 p.m.

This year’s keynote speaker is United Way Worldwide CEO Angela F. Williams, who is an Anderson native.

Supporters said the measure provides tools to help close the “revolving door” of a small number of people who continually commit much of the state's violent crime. Opponents said the bond restrictions favor wealthy defendants who have the money to pay full cash and would disproportionately pack poor defendants into jails. They argued the additional five-year penalty undermines the presumption of innocence. 

The order allows the South Carolina Freedom Caucus to fundraise and distribute election materials just like the House Republican, Democratic, Black and Women's Caucuses already do. The fledgling conservative faction had argued that a state ethics law limiting those abilities only to caucuses organized by political party, race, ethnicity or gender violated its freedom of speech.

The “Celebrating Juneteenth: Black Business Expo & Job Fair” will bring together local businesses and industry experts to provide business empowerment workshops, details about S.C. Minority Business Certification, how to brand/market a business, and information on business funding. Local businesses will also be on hand with job opportunites for those in attendance.