Senators never took a vote Wednesday during back-to-back meetings on legislation that would eventually qualify the vast majority of South Carolina parents for state aid covering tuition for private K-12 schools. But it’s on track to be the first bill passed in 2025.

The first vote on the proposal authored by Senate Education Chairman Greg Hembree will be on the Senate floor after the legislative session kicks off Tuesday.

Several downtown Anderson business owners, including Kitchen Emporium Owner Gay McLeskey and City Seed at the Station Owner Donna LeBrun, were on hand Tuesday to express concerns over a proposal to lease part of the county’s property on Towers Street to Love Well, a residential treatment center for women seeking recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction.

The proposal was unanimously approved on first reading, but Chairman Dunn promised meetings between the administrator, council members and concerned business owners and citizens before the third (final) vote on the lease.

In a time of crisis, she has done much more than “keep the lights on.” It has become abundantly clear: if anyone is made to lead her organization into the future, it’s Brandie. When others might be tempted to celebrate themselves, Brandie instead focuses on the job at hand.

The 18th Annual “Mayor Terence Roberts Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast” is scheduled Jan. 17 beginning at 8:30 a.m. (doors open at 8 a.m.) at the Anderson Civic Center.

“Hosting the MLK breakfast is a profound honor and responsibility,” said Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts. “As we gather to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are reminded of his unwavering belief in the power of education as a tool for social change and empowerment.”

Anderson County Council will swear in a new member as part of the first meeting of 2025 Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Anderson County Civic Center.

Chris Sullivan, who ran unopposed in both the primary and general election, will take the Dist. 1 seat formerly held by John Wright, Jr.

Elite provides outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy to help people live life to the fullest. The partnership does not affect Elite’s remaining 10 offices located in other parts of the state. An additional location at the AnMed Piedmont healthcare campus is set to open in the spring.

Clemson University has broken ground on South Carolina’s first veterinary college with more than $230 million in funding from the state Legislature. But getting the new school started on time in fall 2026 goes beyond the physical buildings.

Anderson welcomed its newest citizen, the first of 2025, just after midnight, with the birth of Adriel Joel Urbina who was born at 12:47 a.m. at the Anmed Maternity Center to Leslie Placencia and Derek Urbina of Iva.

The year ahead will bring some big changes in the classroom, major redevelopment in the county’s towns and cities, including the repaving of Main Street in Downtown Anderson. 

The Town of Iva kicked off some major projects in 2024, including the renovation of the old fire station downtown which is being renovated to serve as the new home for a branch of the Anderson County Library.

Other improvements downtown, successful events and new housing starts were also welcome improvements in the past year.

SmartAsset listed Anderson County as the second-best county in the state, and the 39th on their Best Places to Raise a Family Index 2025 nationally. Excellent schools, childcare costs and the appreciation of housing prices were among the things considered in the ranking.

The past year was marked by new efforts, major events and updates/changes across Anderson County.

Here’s the Observer’s quick review of the top stories of the year:

Since 2018, there have been 296 more deaths than births in the county, and statewide there were 517 more deaths than births just last year.

But the natural population growth decline has been more than offset by the influx of those from other states and countries.

Americans throw away 25 million tons of trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday season than during any other time of year, 25 percent more than at any other time of year.

Anderson County is offering a convenient way to recycle and dispose of holiday waste, including the Christmas tree. 

The first Christmas Story.

The team from “American Pickers” is coming to South Carolina and is looking for “rusty gold” in our area to film future episodes of the History Channel series.

While most of us will celebrate Christmas on Wednesday, many of our neighbors will begin the celebration of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah is not the Jewish equivalent of Christmas, nor is it an insurmountably difficult holiday to learn about.

Anderson has a strong roster of charitable organizations which are central to what makes this community special and attractive to those looking for a new place to call home.

Most of these groups are run by skeletal paid staffs who depend heavily on volunteers to keep this organizations running day-to-day.

Any many of your friends, neighbors and family workers are generous with their time and money in support of these groups.

But a majority of volunteers on which many of these groups depend are senior citizens, and the number of young people involved in volunteer efforts is not growing appreciably.

Also tonight, Jupiter and Saturn will appear so closely aligned in our sky that they will look like a double planet. This close approach is called a conjunction. The 'Christmas Star' as Jupiter and Saturn come closer than they have in centuries and since it's happening just in time for Christmas, many are giving it the nickname of the "Christmas Star."

This year, the solstice is brighter yet, with the Ursid meteor shower on Friday and Saturday.

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.