Cooke, who opened Fork Grove BBQ in Anderson a year ago in the old Sadlers Creek BBQ building, and has since gained quite a bit of attention for his authentic Texas take on smoking meat.

Roughly 200 people representing seven countries will gather for the meetings on such topics as transportation, renewable energy, and arts and culture.

Students who aren’t considered poor enough to eat for free pay 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. Nearly 10,000 students statewide qualify for that rate, while 622,000 can eat for free. The budget clause advocated by Sen. Katrina Shealy would ensure no student would need to scrounge up nickels and dimes to eat.

More than 31 professional chili cooks from across the United States and Canada will compete for a chance to make it to the World Championships in one of four categories: Red Chili, Chile Verde, Homestyle Chili and Salsa.

“We’re extremely proud to have the Association of Collegiate Anglers in our community this week for the Hartwell Slam,” said Visit Anderson Executive Director Neil Paul. “The leadership of Anderson County has provided us with one of the finest facilities in America in Green Pond Landing and the resources in which to bring in high level events such as this. This event promises to bring a significant impact for Anderson County. We look forward to welcoming the many anglers, sponsors and families to experience our Anderson County hospitality.”

The current synthetic ice rink, which made its debut in 2016, is nearing the end of it’s projected 10-year lifespan, and many in city leadership think it’s time to move to breathe new Christmas spirit into the event.

Meanwhile, across the grounds inside a legislative office building, a Senate budget panel was passing a special budget rider that would allow the state’s public colleges to raise rates for the first time in six years.

A new kayak/paddle board rental kiosk at the Sen. Mike Gambrell Saluda Access Park is set to open soon at Belton Landing. The kiosk for rentals will be the first of its kind on the Saluda River. A credit card swipe kiosk will allow for rentals of the watercraft.

Smurfit Kappa has committed to bring 200 new jobs and a $68 million investment as part of the new facility. The Irish firm currently operates at 350 sites in 36 countries, with 46,000 employees worldwide, and specializes in cardboard packaging manufacturing, producing 11 billion square meters of such products a year. The company is also active in the paper-making and recycling sectors.

The study and other planning is expected to take several months, and the paving is likely to be slated for 2025. Once started the project is expected to be completed in 15 days.

The town was recently included in the World Atlas’ eight best small towns for retirement in South Carolina, for its location and hospitality.

The planned paving would stretch from Tribble Street on South Main to Reed Street on North Main, a stretch of roughly half a mile. The city is proposing an $82,000 contract with Davis & Floyd for professional engineering and construction engineering and inspection in relation to services for the repaving. The move is part of the city’s long-term infrastructure projects.

By noon, crowds filled the streets of the town to check out the work of artists from across the country, or enjoy the food, music and atmosphere of the popular festival.

Administrator Rusty Burns, County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn, County Council Vice Chairman Brett Sanders and S.C. Rep. Don Chapman, R-Dist. 8 put on the vests and hit the streets to participate in the cleanup.

The new facilities include four baseball fields, a centrally located sports tower with concessions, five multi-purpose fields, a playground, walking paths and increased parking.

The old Equinox Mill site is in line to receive assistance, and if it moves ahead, a groundbreaking could happen in the next couple of months. Housing, small businesses and green space is planned for the site after the cleanup.

Pelzer is growing, with 125 new houses planned for the town, the largest home construction project in more than a century.

In one of the shortest Anderson County Council meetings in recent memory – there were no first, second or third reading of ordinances or resolutions on the agenda – council approved a bid of $250,000 to upgrade radio communication devices for Public Safety workers which will allow for interagency connectivity across departments and county lines.

Anderson Attorney Greg Steele defeated Bryce Nivens in the Seat 6 district race, which represents an area that stretches from West of Linley Park, through the Pope Drive community, across to Whitehall Avenue. Steele received 168 votes to Nivens 77 votes for the seat left open when Rick Laughridge stepped down after 16 years.

Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts discusses progress and challenges, including downtown development, in this interview with the Anderson Observer.