On Thursday, AARP South Carolina paid tribute to Kelly Jo Barnwell with the inaugural AARP Community Impact Award for her “exceptional dedication to uplifting older adults and young people in Anderson County.”

Over the past two decades, Barnwell has transformed the Jo Brown Senior Center (an organization named after her mother, the late Linda Jo Brown who was the program’s first director from 1981-1993) into a welcoming home for AARP Chapter 3693, coordinating programs that keep older adults engaged through activities such as line dancing, quilting, and bridge. She also relaunched her mother’s signature event, the Golden Years Jamboree, which celebrates older adults while raising funds for local nonprofits including the Cancer Association of Anderson and the Westside Community Center.

South Carolina’s housing agency is quadrupling its original plans for the construction of new homes selling for far less than the state median price.

Then the agency wants to help families buy them.

The state Housing Finance and Development Authority had sought to boost the number of affordable homes on the market with a 30-house pilot program.

“We’re making good progress on that,” said Smith. “We actually had an engineering firm come in and do a structural evaluation of the old building to identify any hazards such as mold and asbestos and things like that. And we're going to put in for a grant, it's called a stabilization grant through the state.”

The Belton Area Museum celebrated its 50th Anniversary on Sunday by honoring those people, groups and businesses who have contributed to the city’s growth and history.

Founded by concerned local citizens to preserve the rich local history, the museum’s mission encompasses genealogical, archival, cultural, and natural history, as well as the traditional, visual, and performing arts.

As the anniversary of September 11, 2001, approaches, the Rock Springs Fire Department and Belton City Fire Department on Sunday hosted their annual memorial walk honoring the first responders who died in the line of duty. More than a simple march, the event has evolved into a powerful and public act of remembrance, ensuring that the legacy of those who gave their lives is not forgotten.

Sunday’s 2.5-mile walk began at Rocksprings Fire Department and ended at the Belton City Fire Department where participants joined in the ringing of the bell, a solemn tradition honoring the memory of the individuals who died that day.

In a new effort to help senior citizens recover from storm damage, Rebuild Upstate, a local nonprofit, is partnering with Anderson County to offer financial assistance for home repairs. The program, funded by the S.C. Housing Trust Fund Disaster Assistance Program, is aimed at low-income homeowners in unincorporated areas of the county.

Now entering its fourth year, the event has earned a reputation for its relaxed atmosphere and standout jazz performances. This year’s headliner, Will Matic & Friends, will take the stage with special guests including Ray McGee, Wanda Johnson, and others selected by McGee himself.

South Carolina’s employment agency is spending $13 million for an online tool meant to act as “the world’s most knowledgeable guidance counselor” for high schoolers in the state.

The Department of Employment and Workforce will use the funds — $10.3 million in one-time money and $2.8 million in new annual dollars — to hire an outside contractor to build and maintain what the agency is calling an “Education and Workforce Portal.”

Elections Day is two months away and Anderson County is still looking for election workers. For the Nov. 4 election, early voting will run Oct. 20-31.

All cities and towns in the county, except for the City of Anderson which holds elections in April, will have some council members and some will also have mayoral candidates on the ballot. The City of Anderson will join the rest of the towns/cities to vote on the the countywide Capital Sales Tax for Roads.

In a move aimed at managing the county's rapid expansion, the Anderson County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a temporary ban on new housing developments. The measure, which takes effect immediately, places a 90-day moratorium on any residential project in unincorporated areas that includes more than four lots.

Twelve local citizens spoke in favor of the moratorium before the vote.

For years, the event’s musical lineup leaned heavily on country music. This year’s choice of the legendary R&B and funk group Kool & the Gang paid off handsomely. The crowd of more than 11,000 that packed the William A. Floyd Amphitheater was not only a record but a clear message that Anderson is ready for something different. It was an intergenerational gathering, a mosaic of senior citizens, young children, and everyone in between, all of whom found a reason to move to the same beat. One can hope this sends a clear message for future Labor Day celebrations.

For many Americans, Labor Day is simply a three-day weekend, filled with barbeque, football and gatherings to mark the end of summer and the beginning of the school year.

Thanking American workers for the labor that made America great sadly doesn’t enter the conversations of many..

So on this weekend, I want to send out a heartfelt thanks to laborers across this country, without whom none of us would have a home to live in, a street or highway to get us to and from work, or the electric/gas power and basic utilities that keep America working.

As we mark another Labor Day, working Americans, both union and non-union, have a long list of reasons to thank the labor movement-including giving workers the right to paid and unpaid leave. Many of these men and women in the labor movement gave their lives to secure a better future for all workers in this country.

Along with churches, libraries, schools and national parks, labor unions are among the building blocks that made America great.

The organization's mission centers on providing resources and support to help young people develop socially. It operates by partnering with other groups that offer growth services and by backing community-wide initiatives. The programs are open to all youth in the area, not just those within a specific school district or county.

Wren 50. Easley 21

BHP 42, Greer 19

Keenan 52, Pendleton 19

Crescent 21, Palmetto 6

Powdersville 36, Abbeville 22

This week’s games (T.L. Hanna and Westside off this week)

Easley at Wren

Greer at Belton-Honea Path

Keenan at Pendleton

Palmetto at Crescent

Powdersville at Abbeville

OPmobility, a global automotive equipment provider formerly known as Plastic Omnium, celebrated its thirty-year anniversary of manufacturing operations in Anderson on Thursday. The company’s milestone highlights its long and sometimes complex role as a key industrial presence in the region.

As the Clemson Tigers prepare for Saturday night’s 2025 football season against LSU, fans arriving at Memorial Stadium will encounter a series of significant changes, including the sale of alcoholic beverages, an increase in ticket prices, and new safety protocols. The adjustments, university officials said, are aimed at modernizing the fan experience and supporting the university’s athletic programs.

Volunteers from across the community are decorating trees to make them available for auction in plenty of time for hall decking this holiday season. The holiday collection is a philanthropic celebration benefiting the Anderson Free Clinic which provides a healthcare hub for the uninsured and underserved population in Anderson County, including those with long-term health issues, dental/vision, and mental health needs.

For the first time in years, the annual Celebrate Anderson festival is shifting its musical focus from country to funk, with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Kool & the Gang set to headline the Labor Day weekend event. The group, known for its decades-long string of hits, including the anthem "Celebration," will perform on Sunday at the William A. Floyd Amphitheater.