His decision, however, could have a ripple effect on the Anderson County Legislative Delegation. While official filing for statewide office does not begin until March 16, the political winds currently blowing through the county could bring dramatic changes. I’ve written before about Sen. Cash’s likely run against U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, which opens up his seat to challengers. 

At the 6 p.m. recognitions meeting, council will honor the Westside High School football team for their 2023 4A championship, and the Pendleton High School Pride of Pendleton Marching Band on winning their fifth consecutive 2A state championship.

Artifacts from the Masonic Lodge, Odd Fellows, Knights of Columbus, and their influence on Anderson County are on display through March.

The Community Trailblazer Award was given to Jason E. Rucker, Jr. and his wife Margarete Reese Rucker for their many years of service to Anderson county.

Bench, who was sworn in in December, has been moving toward this position since childhood, with the influence of other members of law enforcement and fire service, who left him with little doubt as to how he wanted to spend his career.

South Carolina’s technical college system already has individual agreements with all of the state’s public universities. But a new contract signed Thursday marked the first step toward a unified, statewide pact when it comes to students moving between the state’s higher education institutions.

Tickets are $10 at the door and must be purchased with cash or via Venmo.  we will accept cash or Venmo only. There will be a 50/50 raffle. This year we have 32 contestants registered to showcase their abilities. 

As the district’s executive director for safety and security, it’s his job to find and mend, and mitigate potential problems. It’s a big job in the county’s largest district, with 18 schools serving more than 13,200 students.

The event is free and open to the public, but organizers request reservations be made by email  to bbell@cityofandersonsc.com, or by calling 864-231-1135.

“I don’t think I am done with politics,” said Wright, “but what is most important to me right now is spending more time with my family.”

Some Anderson County voting precincts are being combined for the upcoming South Carolina Presidential Preference Primaries. The Democratic primary is set for Feb. 3, while the Republican primary is scheduled for Feb. 24.

“You showed up to vote, and you organized your friends and family members and neighbors to do the same, and it is because of you that Joe Biden is president of the United States,” she said to boisterous applause in a packed conference center ballroom. “I’m here, of course, to say, ‘Thank you.'”

The proposal would reduce the number of houses from 159 to 124, and minimum lot sizes from 6,500 square feet to 8,500 square feet, with an average lot size of 9,750 square feet. Changes to setbacks and elevation are also part of the new proposal.

Equipped with a state-record $1.6 billion surplus, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster unveiled his budget proposal for the 2024 fiscal year on Friday. State lawmakers have a stronger relationship with the seven-year incumbent than his predecessors, giving some extra weight to McMaster's recommendations when budget writers begin drafting their spending plan.

From a small boat ramp to international star, in just over nine years, Green Pond Landing and Event Center has joined the ranks of top economic engines for Anderson County.

The Striped Bass Challenge (SBC) will bring more than 250 anglers to Green Pond Landing and Events Center Saturday, for the 2023 Winter Classic, one of the four Open/Qualifier tournaments of the Trophy Series Championship Trail.

First, 380 miles of county roads, representing one-fourth of county roads, are in poor or failing conditions. These roads will require $38 million to repair and replace. Another 200 miles are on the edge of poor condition, and without sufficient maintenance will fall into this category within the next couple of years, which would put close to 40 percent of the roads for which the county is responsible in jeopardy.

More than a third of the county’s 157 bridges are load restricted, meaning fire trucks, school buses and other heavy vehicles cannot traverse the structures. Recent bridge repair work on small and average structures have averaged between $1-2 million. 

The current annual budget for county roads is zero dollars for paving, and $375,000 for potholes and minor patching. The county also receives $2 million annually from the “C” funds, which is a small portion, about $98 million of the state’s $3 billion gasoline tax distributed among the state’s 46 counties based on population and road use. 

The penny sales tax is projected to generate close to $50 annually, which will offer a map for repairs and maintenance. Last year, Anderson County Council hired a firm to send an evaluation vehicle  to drive every mile of county roads and measure the quality of every mile. The results of that work are now being evaluated, but initial findings include 380 miles of roads which are in poor condition or already failing. The costs associated with repairing these is close to $1 million per mile.

James Browning, four pounds, 15.4 ounces, and 19 inches long, was born to parents Heather Browning and Matt Browning of Williamston at 7:26 a.m. He measured 19 inches long. 

Filing for all offices begins March 16 and ends April 1. All 124 of the South Carolina House seats and 46 South Carolina Senate seats are on the ballot this year, which is the subject of speculation in regard to a couple of local races.