A new gym, library plans moving forward, new businesses and housing, and a new home for the Iva museum, are all part of the progress in Iva going into Summer.

Town Manager Tim Taylor talked about the town’s growth in this interview with the Anderson Observer.

The Cheney project is well under way and will feature a planned community with 120 housing units and mixed retail, all matching the design and look of the 121-year-old mill. Construction could be completed by the fall of 2026.

All registered voters, whether they voted in the primary or not, are eligible to vote in the runoff elections. Primary turnout was 20.1 percent, but runoffs historically have much smaller turnouts. Only voters who voted Republican in the primary will be allowed to vote in the runoff since there are no Democratic Party runoff elections.

The new City of Anderson $84.7 million budget includes the $13.75 Linley Park Project, which not only expands and improves the park but corrects stormwater issues and restores Whitner Creek. This project is made possible by the city’s hospitality tax, which began in 2001 with a collection of $50,000, and is now close to $50 millon annually.

Two primary races will be decided in runoffs, after Republican candidates in the S.C. House Dist. 9 and U.S. House Dist. 3 contests failed to produce a candidate with 50 percent of the vote.

In the S.C. House Dist. 9 race, Blake Sanders and James Gaylean were neck-and-neck with around 40 percent of the vote (as of 10 p.m. no official result numbers), and in the U.S. House Dist. 3 race to fill Jeff Duncan’s seat, Mark Burns will face Sheri Biggs in a runoff.

The current budget, which must be approved on second reading June 24 to take effect, does not include a tax increase, but some fees will rise.

The Belton Area Museum offers something inspiring for the kid in all of us.

“Creative Construction” features elaborate Lego displays, plus other classic building kits such as Lincoln Logs highlighting the creative side of building with materials made for kids. The exhibit will be open through Aug. 24. For more information, call 864-338-7400 or email beltonmuseum@bellsouth.net

One of the bedrock principles of West Pelzer was founder John Franks insistence that dogs were an important part of the community, a belief not shared by the neighboring Pelzer textile leaders.

Anderson City Council will hold first reading on an $84.7 million budget for fiscal year 2024-2025 Monday night at 6 p.m. in the council chambers downtown. A public hearing on the budget is set for 5 p.m.

Leading up to Tuesday’s South Carolina Primary, Gov. Henry McMaster is endorsing House Dist. 6 candidate Kyle White of Anderson who is running against incumbent S.C. Rep. April Cromer.

Economic development across the county, updates on the new Anderson County Detention Center (set to open in 2027), progress on Equinox Mill Development and sewer upgrades highlight some of the activity.

InspireAbilities of Anderson County (formerly the Anderson County Disabilities and Special Needs Board), is planting a new project aimed at helping our friends, family and neighbors with intellectual disabilities, related disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and head and or spinal cord injuries.

The new budget includes $2,400 raises for teachers, $1.500 raises for teaching assistants, 2.75 precent raises for bus drivers, and 2 percent raises for all other employees. Other additional costs for the coming school year include: increased insurance costs, additional security staff, and a multilingual learner teacher.

“We want every child reading on grade level by the time they reach third grade,” said Carol Burdette, CEO of the United Way of Anderson County. Burdette said those who do not achieve this milestone are less likely to succeed going forward in school.

The addition of Verdin, 53, of Greenville County, means the Palmetto State will no longer be the nation’s only all-male high court. She becomes the third female justice in state history — following former Chief Justice Jean Toal and retired Associate Justice Kaye Hearn.

Meals on Wheels – Anderson’s biggest fundraiser of the year, the Hartwell Lake Charity Run is set for this weekend at Green Pond Landing and Events Center.

The weekend’s activities begin with tomorrow’s ticketed event, “Social on the Green,” featuring live music by Talbert Black, catered food by Sullivan’s Metropolitan Grill, with boats on display. Limited tickets available onsite.

AnMed’s work to improve equity of care has been headlined by the availability of language services and communications offerings for patients who have limited English proficiency. This effort, which includes both in-person and digital-interpretation options for multiple languages, has guaranteed precision and uniformity in delivering language services, ultimately leading to increased satisfaction among diverse patient groups.

Anderson County Council approved on second reading Tuesday a fiscal year 2024-2025 budget of $345 million. The budget is an increase of $59 million over the current fiscal year’s $289 million, and in its current form does not include tax increases.

The FILOT, or Fee In Lieu of Tax structure, which allows counties in South Carolina to offer tax incentives to potential manufacturing concerns, has played a pivotal role in Anderson County in the past three decades, and continues to be a central part of retaining many companies.

A new poll finds 41 percent of South Carolinians believe a criminal conviction decreases Donald Trump’s chances of winning the 2024 presidential election.