The Western world’s most popular holiday, is steeped with religion, myths, tradition and folklore, and sorting the fact from fiction can prove a challenge.

Between 2009 and 2019, the number of psychiatrists in rural areas declined by one third, the state’s annual report on health issues found, using the most recent data available. Of the state’s 46 counties, 14 had no licensed psychiatrist or psychologist in private practice, and another nine had only one. In some areas, residents have to cross multiple counties to reach a psychiatrist’s office, according to the report released last week.

Anchored in His Grace Ministry will hold its Annual Feed the Community Charity Event on Christmas Day from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the Anderson County Farmers Market.

This year, Christmas Eve falls on Sunday, so some services in banking and mail will already be closed. Christmas this year falls on Monday.

As the year winds down, it’s a good time to remember to support those who make Anderson a better place for all of those who live here. Meals on Wheels of Anderson delivers hot meals daily to the homebound who need the food and friendly visit.

The year also brought a new stage to the civic center amphitheater, record tournaments at Green Pond Landing and Events Center, a banner year at the farmer market, expansive work at the airport, the opening of Kid Venture 2.0, and the trail that stretches from the civic center to the nature trail behind AnMed Health on S.C. 81.

Indigo Custom Framing and Artisan Market was named Small Business of the Year by Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, and Hill Electric was honored with the Pillar of Anderson Award for their almost 70 years in the community.

Using a combination of funding sources, the town hopes to have a plan in place in early 2024 to begin work on clearing the property and prioritizing how it will be used in the future. The town also is planning for roads repairs as the new year arrives. 

New businesses, new housing, upgraded recreating facilities and improved infrastructure highlighted growth in Williamston in 2023.

Council also gave final approval to a $8.3 million bond for repairs at the historic Anderson County Courthouse. Some roof and structural repairs on the 125-year-old building are considered critical.

Pendleton also saw historic growth continue, with new housing starts and completion of housing developments this year, as well as planning for future grown with a new expansion on the other side of town.

Anderson, Belton, Williamston, Iva and the Denver community managed to dance between the raindrops and put on their finest seasonal adornments, while Honea Path, Pendleton, and Pelzer/West Pelzer parades were washed out by the cold, heavy rains that greeted the first two weekends of December.  

At their final meeting of 2023, Anderson County Council will give final vote to the $8.3 million bond issue for repairs to the historic courthouse. The meeting will be held at 11 a.m. at the Anderson Civic Center, since court is currently in session at the historic courthouse.

Robbie Binnicker has spent most of his lifetime in the halls of the schools of Anderson School Dist. 1. But when the final school bell rings for the 2023-2024 school year, Binnicker, who now serves as superintendent, will turn in his keys and move to the coast. 

“I am so excited to see new investment, new jobs and better opportunities coming to this part of Anderson County,” said Anderson County Council Dist. 2 where the facility will be located. “I have no doubt that Carolina Structural Systems will find that our workforce goes above and beyond the call of duty and will be proud partners in making this investment a tremendous success.”

This list is revised and updated. As much as I have always loved the music of the season (my collection of more than 7,500 mostly pre-1960 holiday tunes continues to grow), I understand why so many others do not. Much of what fills the radio and department stores this time of year is painfully bad.

Sanders reflects on his tenure and recaps 2023, and Riddle looks ahead to the year ahead in these interviews with the Anderson Observers.

Mayor Will Ragland said aging system was expensive to run, and costly to citizens of Pelzer before selling to the Greenville Water System this year. Ragland also said the move had saved Pelzer residents 30 percent on water, as well as removing the burden on the town ro repair and maintain the near-century old water lines.

With the South Carolina Presidential Primary less than two month away, the Anderson County Voter Registration and Elections office is searching for candidates to assist in the early voting precinct.

The mapping software would not only make the layout of every school in the state available instantly, but would also allow dispatchers to update the maps in real time — marking possible locations of suspects, students who need rescuing or other important data.