A South Carolina Board of Education subcommittee voted to ban seven of 11 challenged books from public high schools in the state.  Three others were approved and one was tabled for additional consideration.
The list of books under review by the Instructional Materials Review Committee (IMRC) include books  commonly taught in public schools such as "To Kill A Mockingbird," "1984" and "Romeo and Juliet."

Those three volumes survived the challenge and will remain on shelves in the state’s public high schools.

The choice for a better future for America is clear. A second Trump administration would be a disaster for America and its role as global leader. Harris at the very least offers a hope for a brighter future for the middle class and a return to historical sanity and leadership in American government which has been in chaos since Trump ran for president in 2016.

The Cancer Association of Anderson broke ground for a new facility on Tuesday, one which will help them expand their work and to meet a growing need in the community.

The new facility will feature more space for those suffering from cancer and their families, including additional wellness areas. The organization moved into its current temporary location after the 100-year-old house which originally housed the charity was deemed unsafe due to the deterioration of age.

With election day now one week away, Anderson voters still have a chance to vote early through Saturday. 

So far, 25,177 early ballots have been cast in Anderson County. Tuesday’s totals from polling places:

Downtown Anderson 1,205; Watkins Center in Honea 715

Jackson Lollis is a candidate for the Fire District Commission, Piedmont Public Service District.

Charlene Spelts is a candidate for the Fire District Commission, Piedmont Public Service District .

Anderson City Council on Monday approved funding for new body cameras for all police and detention officers, and passed an $11.5 million bond issue for a pair of park improvements.

During the eight days of early in-person voting 22,874 have cast ballots in Anderson County. This represents almost 20 percent of registered voters in the county.

On Monday 1,838 voted in Anderson, 773 in Honea Path, 997 in Pendleton and 1,067 in Powdersville.

Anderson City Council will consider a plan to purchase body-worn cameras for the City Police Department as part of Monday’s meeting in the council chambers downtown.

Most of the $260,000 cost for the cameras is covered by $179,174 in grant funding.

Council will also vote on approval of ATAX Funds for the year at the meeting. The city received 31 applications for grants and projects and is allocating $282,394.20. Full list of those receiving funds in the full agenda packet here.

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).