Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Upstate ghostbusters have declared Belton one of the most haunted places in the region, and the Belton Area Museum Association marks this designation with an annual event to highlight some of those ghostly places.

This year’s “Ghost Walk” includes the ghost of a horse, a World War II Spy, a Town Merchant, a case of mass poisoning, and the myriad of graves and spirits surrounding the Belton Depot. 

Pelzer launched the town’s first fall festival in years on Saturday with the “Jack ‘O Lantern Jamboree.”

The event, which will now be an annual festival, was held at at Bill Hopkins Field and featured live music, a chili cookout, kids activities, crafts and food.

Pendleton’s 15th Annual Fall Harvest Festival attracted record crowds for a day of music, arts and crafts, food. A scarecrow contest and kids activities around the Village Green.

During the first week of early in-person voting nearly 15 percent of registered voters cast cast in-person ballots in Anderson County. At total of 18,199 voters were registered at the four locations open for early voting.

Early voting continues through Saturday.

Registered voters may cast their vote Monday-Saturday, 8:30 am – 6 p.m. at :

Anderson County Board of Registration and Elections. 301 N Main Street, Anderson, SC 29621

Powdersville Branch Library. 4 Civic Court, Powdersville, SC 29642

Pendleton Branch Library, 650 S Mechanic Street, Pendleton, SC 29670

Watkins Community Center, 204 S Main Street, Honea Path, SC 29654

Piedmont Village is watching the leaves fall and thinking of snowfall.

Saturday's Craft and Vendor Show at the Piedmont Community Center raised funds for the Piedmont Village Christmas Lights project, which continues to expand each year.

The group’s WinterFest is scheduled for Dec. 1 from 4-6 p.m. in the parking lot of the Saluda River Grill.

Westside 49, Laurens 3

Crescent 21, Chesnee 10

Powdersville 56, Carolina High and Academy 20

Belton Honea Path 48, Pendleton 7

St. Joseph's Catholic 35, Palmetto 14

Wren 63, Southside 0

T.L. Hanna 28, Greenville 7

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The Cancer Association of Anderson barked at the moon Thursday for a free community Halloween event to raise awareness of the work of the organization.

Food, games, a costume contest and other events brought a large crowd of kids to the CAA offices on Calhoun Street.

Anderson Christmas Lights, one of the largest and most visited holiday light shows in the state, is celebrating 31 years with an expanded Christmas Village, more music and the large number of lights display (including a giant Clemson Tiger Paw).

The Anderson Free Clinic's "Festival of Trees" holiday tradition is set for Nov. 20-23 with a series of events at Bleckley Station for 2024

Volunteers from across the community have decorated 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 home for the uninsured and underserved population in Anderson County, including those with long-term health issues, or dental/vision needs.

AIM has joined forces with Foodshare and Anderson School Dist. 5 to offer fresh, healthy food for those who do not have access or financial resources to eat healthy on a daily basis.

The school district is offering a no longer used food distribution center to store the fresh produce in a large refrigerator to allow for larger distribution.

Anderson County citizens are showing up big in early voting.

Polls opened Monday at four locations in the county for early in-person voting.

In the first two days, a total of 8,724 voted in Anderson (5,192), Pendleton (1072), Honea Path (834) and Powdersville (1,626).

Legislative momentum against PFAS has surged this year, as at least 11 states, but not South Carolina, enacted laws to restrict the use of “forever chemicals” in everyday consumer products or professional firefighting foam.

The legislation includes bans on PFAS in apparel, cleaning products, cookware, and cosmetic and menstrual products.

Pendleton’s 13th Annual Scarecrow Contest is featuring characters from mythology and folklore , with a few fun exceptions.

The winners will be announced at the Pendleton Fall Harvest Festival Oct. 26.

The Salvation Army of Anderson is joining the group’s efforts helping in Western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene by providing food, emergency relief, and other services to survivors and rescue workers.

Maj. Joseph Irvin and volunteers from Anderson will be in Western North Carolina until Oct. 30 to help

Early voting for the Nov. 5 general elections is under way and Anderson County voters are being asked to vote on a referendum calling for a penny sales tax on all goods purchased in Anderson County to fund roads and bridges.

A third of the county’s roads are rated poor or failing and 57 of 162 bridges cannot be used by school buses or fire trucks.

Currently 42 the state's 46 counties have a similar tax or fee structure to fund roadwork.

A penny sales tax, which excludes groceries, would generate more than $350 million for road/bridge repair, with more than 35 percent to be paid by those driving through or visiting the county, thus spreading the burden more equitably.

Jessicka Spearman is a candidate for the South Carolina Senate, Dist. 3.

Spearman is a Licensed Professional Counselor and earned a Master’s in counseling.

Her community activities include founding president of PFLAG in Anderson, Founder of Anderson Reads, and is an advocate for community service.

Anderson County hosted a free fall fish fry on Saturday as a way of building community through free events.

Anderson County Councilman Glenn Davis, Dist. 2, who put together the event, said such gatherings were a way to show the community they are not forgotten.

David Blanding is a candidate for the Anderson Board of Education, Dist. 9 seat.

Blanding earned a Master’s Degree in Technology Management, and a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering technology.

Blanding said his community activities include work with the Anderson County Board of Education, former Dean of Anderson Congress of Christian Education of the Rocky River Baptist Association, Board of Directors at the Westside Community Center, Deacon at the Evergreen Baptist Church. Spend time engaging with students at local high schools and alternative schools when asked

John P. Griffith is a candidate for Anderson School Dist. 5, Area 7.

Griffith is a managing partner of Smith & Griffith, LLP, Law Firm and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, is a graduate of U.S. Army Military Police School, and earned a Doctor of Law from Loyola University.

He has served on the Dist. 5 School Board since 2012, is a member of First Presbyterian Church and the Gideons International, and a former board member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters and a YMCA youth soccer and football coach.

Tripp Dukes is a candidate for School Trustee, Dist. 5, Area 7.

Dukes earned a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Newberry College.

Dukes is a retired former principal and assistant superintendent for Anderson School Dist. 5.

He said his community activities include work with the S.C. Association of School Administrators, Furman Consortium, Anderson/Oconee/Pickens Professional Development Committee, YMCA Board, Anderson First Tee Planning Committee, Rotary Club and Kiwanis.