Multiple Projects Propelled Pendleton Progress in 2024

The Cheney Mill reclamation and renovation is well on the way to completing, offering a new residential and retail district and extending downtown. The cleanup of the Pendleton Oil Mill was completed, and plans in the works for what will develop on that property. The historic Queen Street Project is nearly complete with updated sidewalks, lighting and landscaping, and the events drew record crowds to the town.

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Greg Wilson
Green Pond Celebrates 10 Years of Success

Green Pond Landing and Events Center has become an economic engine for the local economy generating more than $116 million in the past decade from international, national and regional fishing events.

“The tenth anniversary of Green Pond Landing and Events Center is a great day for Anderson County,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns. “We knew the lake was an overlooked and important resource for the county, and Green Pond has been a major part of proving we were right.”

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Greg Wilson
West Pelzer Sees Growth, Welcomes New Police Chief in 2024

West Pelzer Mayor Jim Riddle had a busy first year in office, as the town experience growth in housing and businesses and the need for public services.

A new police chief, Zachary Owen, and new police force were among the highlights of the year Riddle discusses in this interview with the Anderson Observer.

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Greg Wilson
Belton Growth, Progress Highlight 2024

Belton’s top stories of the year include the partnership with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office to provide full-time police protection in the city with a substation and full staff of officers, infrastructure improvements and the growth of new housing and businesses.

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Greg Wilson
New White Jones Owners Have Big Plans for 2025

Elder is planning to move the Pruitt Shopping Center location to a site on S.C. 81 in 2025, and the current store is already listed on their website as “Elder’s Ace Hardware of Highway 81.”

The new S.C. 81 site is expected to be larger than the current 16,500-foot facility in Pruitt Shopping Center.

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Greg Wilson
Council Says Goodbye to Wright at Final Meeting of 2024

In the final meeting of 2024, Anderson County Council said goodbye to Councilman John Wright, Jr., who did not run again for another term in order to spend more time with his young family. Wright will be followed in the Dist. 1 seat by Chris Sullivan.

“It has been an honor to work and serve with him,” said County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn, who echoed the sentiments of other council members. “He has truly been an asset to Anderson County and one of the most honorable people I have worked with. He has done an outstanding job for the people of Anderson County and will be missed.”

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Greg Wilson
Holiday Tunes that Swing and Bring Joy to the World

The majority of today’s modern artist covers of classic holiday music (there are a few exceptions) pale in comparison to the rich arrangements and musicians who made the originals special. Copying vocal licks or trying to make the sound of a classic Christmas tune “more modern” rarely works.

Sadly, it is these songs that start in October on the radio and leave many begging for and early Spring before Halloween. 

For those who have almost given up on finding the good stuff, here’s a list of holiday albums for almost every mood that will melt the heart of almost any Christmas music Scrooge.

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Greg Wilson
Meals on Wheels Needs Holidays Volunteers

It’s the holidays and Meals on Wheels (http://acmow.org/) of Anderson needs community support.

Meals on wheels prepares and delivers more than 600 hot meals each weekday to citizens of Anderson County who are not capable of preparing meals for themselves allowing the homebound elderly and disabled in maintaining their health, independence, and quality of life. Many would not be able to stay in their own homes without the assistance provided by the agency and its many volunteers.

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Greg Wilson
Santa Train Brings Holiday Cheer to Belton

For the eighteenth year Santa gave his reindeer a rest Saturday so he could ride the train into four Anderson County communities to spread holiday cheer. He even brought North Pole weather with him.

Greenville & Western Railway Company, LLC, in partnership with the Belton Interfaith Ministerial Association (BIMA) and the Presbyterian Food Bank of Pelzer and Williamston (PFB) hosted the Santa Express to collect food for those in the community who are in need this season.

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Greg Wilson
MTP Cooks Up Festive Southern Holiday Fun

The production is an enthusiastic deep-fried tribute to cornbread Christmas, and a throwback to the energy of “The Arthur Smith Show,” which was televised nationwide from 1951-1982 or “The Porter Wagoner Show.” The only thing missing was Speck Roads, although Mill Town Players founder Will Ragland brings a fried chicken breath performance, complete with Whispering Bill Anderson wig.

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Greg Wilson
Growth, Events, Mill Cleanup Top Honea Path Stories of Year

Successful events, new housing starts and movement on cleanup and future plans for the Chiquola Mill site highlighted 2024, according to Mayor Christopher Burton.

Burton said 2024 was a banner year for the town which continues to grow. He offered highlights of the town’s year in this interview with the Anderson Observer.

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Greg Wilson
New United Way CEO Looks to Future

The new Chief Executive Officer of United Way of Anderson County, Anderson native Kevin Capell, knows the area well.

Capell returns to the area from the Greenville Chamber of Commerce where he served as Vice President for Investor Development and Engagement. He officially begins his job at the United Way Nov. 20.

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Greg Wilson
Shopping Locally for Holidays a Gift to Community

If every family in the Anderson County area spent just $10 a month with a locally-owned, independent business instead of a national chain, over $6.5 million would be directly returned to the Anderson community. This translates into better schools, better roads, more support for police, fire and rescue departments and stronger local economies.

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Greg Wilson
City to Buy Buildings on South Main for Redevelopment

Some long-awaited good news was made official at Anderson City Council on Monday, as the city approved the purchase and demolition of the buildings on South Main Street across from City Hall.

The buildings occupying the 406-420 South Main Street addresses have been in the crosshairs for redevelopment for years, but little has come of the efforts.

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Greg Wilson