Starting next school year, all high school athletes who switch schools in South Carolina may be able to immediately play ball for their new team.

That potential game changer in the rules governing middle and high school sports is due to a single sentence in the state’s 2023 voucher law that hasn’t gotten much attention — that is, until senators opened this session debating a bill designed to reinstate what the state Supreme Court struck: K-12 scholarships for private tuition.

The upgrades at Mineral Springs Park, including the expansive new playground with modern equipment has brought in visitors from as far away as Spartanburg, to enjoy the completely accessible facilities. The pickleball courts at the back of the park are busy late into the night, thanks to the addition of lights last year.

Progress on the new trail and the new gazebo at the entrance to town are among other recent highlights, along with the additional housing development with sidewalks and access to the trail.

PF Meat Co. Butchery & Market, which celebrated one year at their Pendleton location in October, plans to open a second store in downtown Anderson by mid-summer.

“I believe that restarting these two reactors will not only help fuel our state’s future power needs but will also usher in a nuclear power renaissance across the country, one that will spur nationwide investment and construction of new nuclear power generation,” McMaster said in his hour-long speech.

Anderson School Dist. 5 chose Sandra Leverette as chairman on of the board of Trustees during their meeting on Tuesday night

Four of the seven members of Anderson County’s Legislative Delegation were on hand Monday for the annual Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast, an event offering the county’s statewide officials a chance to outline their priorities for the year ahead.

S.C. Sen. Richard Cash, R-Dist. 3, S.C. Sen. Mike Gambrell, R.-Dist. 4, S.C. Rep. Don Chapman, R.-Dist. 8 and S.C. Rep. Blake Sanders, R.-Dist. 9 attended the event which was slated to include the entire delegation. S.C. Rep. Thomas Beach, R.-Dist. 10, S.C. Rep. April Cromer, R.-Dist. 6, S.C. Rep. Lee Gilreath, R.-Dist. 7 and S.C. Rep. Craig Gagnon, R.-Dist. 11 were invited but not present for the event which brought leaders from across the county.

Local charities are the winners of Rotary Club of Anderson Casio Night.

The former newspaper reporter and editor, and author of a number of books, including “The Gatekeeper,” the first biography of FDR’s private secretary Marguerite A. LeHand (who is widely believed to have served as the de facto White House Chief of Staff), and “Baptists and Bootleggers and Methodists and Moonshiners,” is now publishing a daily column online following the day-by-day diary entries of vintage journals kept by ordinary people.

The Caroline Community Center in Williamston celebrated the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., on Saturday with a breakfast event where they were encouraged to remember the legacy of family and others who had been important to their development.

Keynote Speaker Dr. William McCoy, who is director of the Rutland Institute for Ethics at Clemson University, called on the crowd to remember “Mama ‘n’ ‘em,” recalling the role his mother, teachers and others in the community had on his life.

Anderson County Council this week approved the five projects for funding using funds from the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund.

Anderson County Council approved a $779,000 bid for the Piedmont Riverfront Park Project on Tuesday night. The picturesque Piedmont Riverfront Park will be the fifth access facility developed by the county to support the Upper Saluda River Blue Trail.

Finding funding for roads, upgrading the county’s parks and recreation facilities, continuing the Hurricane Helene cleanup, and working to provide affordable housing are among the challenges Anderson County faces moving into 2025.

Gov. Henry McMaster asked federal officials Tuesday to quickly approve his request that would expand Medicaid eligibility for poor parents who are working or going to school.

If the Trump administration agrees, more South Carolina adults would qualify for the government-paid health insurance if they can prove they’re either working, training for a job, going to school or volunteering for at least 80 hours each month.

The state’s Medicaid agency does not yet know how many people could be newly covered.

Few of us locally knew Dr. King, but we saw other great men and women in our area answer his call.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Hillcrest Baptist Church in Williamston will also open as a warming center tonight through Friday, 6 p.m-8 a.m.

Hope Missions of the Upstate continues to offer a warm place for those who need a place to go during the current cold wave.

The center at 213 South Towers Street remains open as long as temperatures are 38 degrees or colder. They close between noon and 6 p.m. when other spaces are available. Due to the forecast, they are expected to be open through Friday of this week.

Volunteers are needed to help with this effort. Contact Dave Phillips at dave@hopeupstate.org if you can help.

Anderson County has been asked to chart the course for the future the property along the Saluda River that was home to the historic Pelzer Mills.

Administrator Rusty Burns said Pelzer Heritage Commission requested the county take responsibility for the property. The PHC will still be involved in the planning as an advisory body.

More than 400 were on hand Friday at the Anderson Civic Center for the 18th Annual Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts Martin Luther King, Jr., breakfast.

Former AnMed CEO was honored with the Community Trailblazer Award for his “extraordinary commitment to justice and civility in the community.”

The Second Annual “A Night at the Opera” will feature professional opera performers and other local artists. Singers include Soprano Indra Thomas, Mezzo Soprano Wendy Fowler, Tenor Logan Webber, and Bass-Baritone Timothy Kelley. The Master of Ceremonies is Paul Hyde. Singers will be accompanied by the CAA String Ensemble, led by Conductor Dr. Howard Kim and Jane Dill, pianist. Tickets available at Cancer Association of Anderson.