Schools closed through end of March

From ACPSD Superintendent King Laurence:

This afternoon, Governor McMcaster has issued an executive order to close all public schools throughout the state for a minimum period of two weeks. Our District has been preparing for the potential of a closure, and, at this time, we are expediting Distance Learning and Nutrition planning to ensure continued student learning and nutritional service throughout this mandated closure.

This school closure will begin immediately and is expected to continue at least through the end of the month. There will be no school for students in Aiken County beginning tomorrow. District leaders and school principals are asked to report to their work locations tomorrow morning to finalize planning. Teachers and other staff members should be on call tomorrow and prepared to report to work, as requested, to assist with planning.

All staff members will be essential to the success of our Distance Learning and Nutritional Service and will be called upon, as needed, to support implementation. Aiken County Public Schools will meet its financial commitment to all employees.

45th Annual Sandlapper Results in First Death

By Valerie Sliker

The Hollow Creek Fire Department and Chief Glenn Poole would like to thank all who came out to support this year’s “Sandlapper” motorcycle Enduro. This is the biggest fundraiser and the main source of revenue for the fire department and it was encouraging to see so many come out and support it.

“This race puts a lot of money to the fire department,” Chief Poole said. “It’s not ‘I,’ but ‘we’ get it done. It takes the community and the support of many people and we could not do this without them.” Funds raised help the fire department with the cost of Bunker gear, trucks and maintenance, training, insurance costs and more.

Sadly, one rider this year died during the race. According to the Aiken County Coroner’s Office, 56-year-old John T. Nutt of Albany, Georgia was identified as the motorcyclist and was pronounced dead at the scene. Coroner Darryl Ables said the preliminary findings for the cause of death is blunt force trauma, however an autopsy is pending.

SCDOT Pothole Hotline

Please call all potholes into SCDOT at 855-467-2368.  SCDOT will call back notifying the caller within 48 hours that the hole is repaired.  SCDOT does not drive around looking for issues, they depend on the public and Law Enforcement to report any problems or issues on the roads.   When calling be prepared to give the precise location, with the closest intersection to the problem roadway area.

Wagener in the Roaring Twenties

       Desk from the Bank of Western Carolina, Wagener's bank in 1920.

By Valerie Sliker, courtesy Wagener Monthly

As we brought in the year 2020, many references were made to the “roaring twenties,” the 1920s. Most of us think of that decade as being a happy one, between World Wars and pre-depression. The economic growth and social changes were massive. Women gained the right to vote and people began driving automobiles instead of their horses and wagons.

Here in Wagener, the late Mrs. Maradelle Ray, founder of the Wagener Museum, often recounted many trips to town in the horse and wagon and sleeping the wagon while her parents did their shopping. Jimmy Busbee’s parents had the Cadillac of wagons which, upon retirement, was displayed in the hardware store for decades.

In 1920, Tyler Brothers had already been in business for nearly two decades. Other merchants in the town included Jacob Lybrand whose giant store stood in the current chicken lot of the Wagener Milling Company, Maurice Jackson, Merritt Baggott, Walter M. Miller (Our Mayor’s grandfather), Henry Hall, Drayton Gantt, Arthur Busbee, John Ware, Kirkland Austin, Millege Shull, Tillman Rawls and Jerome Fox.

In addition to these, we had two pharmacists operating in 1920, Dewey Jackson and James Gantt. Wagener had five barbers including Melton Able, Hollis Meetze and a Mr. A. Sharpe.

In 1920, Wagener had 3 lawyers and all three were Busbees. The town had doctors Mac Webb and John H. Brodie; sawyers, Charlie Smith and Maxie Smith; Police chief Mike Knotts, blacksmiths Lee Jones and Bolliver Gantt, liveryman Clarence Gantt, realtor Arthur Brodie, and dentists Dr. Williams and Dr. Gunter. In 2020, we still have a lawyer named Busbee and a dentist named Dr. Williams.

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