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Improvements at Saron Baptist to Benefit Community

By Valerie Sliker, The Wagener Monthly

Saron Baptist Church celebrates 127 years this year with a new look and addition.  This particular church will be very, very glad when they open that gorgeous new vestibule and “go into the house of the Lord.”  The church is hoping the construction will be completed in late March.

If you’ve driven through Wagener on highway 39 recently, you have probably noticed the new vestibule and church front.  Reverend Leander Jones, the current pastor, is exceptionally proud of how the vestibule came out.  Keeping a unified look while adding a fellowship hall to the side of the church building was difficult to design.  “We didn’t want it to look like two separate buildings,” Jones said in a recent interview.  “That’s where the vestibule came in – to bring it all together.  It shows togetherness and unity.  Everybody is doing their part and everybody is excited.”

The intention behind Saron Baptist Church’s addition is to create a place for a level of fellowship and outreach that goes beyond one hour in the church pews each week.  Pastor Jones explained, “We wanted space to provide outreach to the community.  We were aware that once you get grants and funding for programs, you need to have a facility.  There are a lot of issues in the Wagener community – education, economics, parenting, family budgeting – and we wanted to provide a building to put some Christian-based programs in place using some of the funds that are available.  Our outreach is to the community.  It doesn’t matter who it is or what color they are.  I want a mixed congregation, that’s what I desire.  These programs will serve all kinds of families.”  Pastor Jones embraces diversity.

Listine Gunter Courtney Center - Home Away from Home for our Seniors

The Listine Gunter Courtney Center has a lot to offer the Senior Citizens of the town of Wagener.  Stop by any day of the week and you’ll probably find several people drinking coffee, using the free Wi-Fi, playing Canasta or Bingo or just sitting around talking.   If you knew Mrs. Listine Courtney, you know she would be very happy to see this. 

The Courtney Senior Center plays host to the Aiken Area Council on Aging’s free meal program each weekday at lunchtime.  Anyone over the age of sixty can attend and receive a free hot meal each day.  The site manager for the meal plan is Earlene Rushton with assistant manager Nellie Black.  Call 803.564.3344 if you need more information on the meals or if you’d like to volunteer to deliver some meals to the home-bound during lunch hour.

Apart from the meal program, the Courtney Senior Center recreation supervisor is Carolyn Rushton.  Ruston has been with Aiken County Parks Recreation and Tourism since 2006 and before that she was with Roy Warner Park, also working with the seniors.  “I dearly love the seniors, I feel like not enough is done for them.  They have paved the way for all of us and we as a society or community don’t do enough.  I learn so much from them and appreciate the chance to be in their lives.”  Rushton explained her position as she gave me a tour of the building.

Two sewing machines have been donated and a few of the ladies enjoy using them.  There are books, magazines and games available anytime and movies playing frequently.  Several folks come in and play Canasta almost every day.  Local businesses sponsor prizes for Bingo on the third Friday of each month.  Barbara Jackson plays the piano often for sing-alongs and an air hockey table was donated that really gets competition going. 

Dr. Raymond Bynoe on Trauma

Dr. Raymond Bynoe is a good man or most would say a great man, especially among the hundreds, or more like thousands of those (including many in our own community) alive today as a result of his surgical expertise. Dr. Bynoe is without a doubt one of the most skilled, competent and compassionate trauma surgeons in South Carolina and the entire USA. I feel fortunate that our paths crossed over 30 years ago, and so honored to know him as a true friend. I have many fond memories of the past, some good, some not so good, but certainly more than our share of some quite remarkable experiences. Keep up the good work and God Bless You Raymond!  ~ Mike Miller

Umpire George Barnes Retires After 36 Years of Service

Umpire George Barnes is a familiar sight on the WSHS Softball field.  Barnes retired in 2013 after umpiring for 36 years.  Many WS softball alumni and coaches gathered on the field at Thursday night's game with current players, coaches and umpires and the opponents of the night's game, RSM, as WS Head Coach Veronica Brown presented "Mr. George" with a plaque signed by the alumni and coaches. 

Wagon House Dedication in Wagener

On Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, the dedication of the new S.C. Bicentennial Wagon House in Wagener was held. Many made contributions to seeing this project through to completion. We were fortunate to receive a grant from the Aiken County Accommodations Tax Fund acquired with the wonderful help of Emily Ann Turner, our grant writer. Even with this grant the wagon house would not have been possible without the hard work and contributions of our mayor and all the town employees.

In 1977, the town of Wagener received the official S.C. Conestoga wagon that participated in the 1976 Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage to Pennsylvania. Mrs. Maradelle Ray was among the townspeople who took it upon themselves to ask for the wagon to be given to Wagener. “Wagons to Wagener” was the name of our yearly festival at that time so it became the symbol of the celebration. It was her “gentle nudges and suggestions” that help spur the completion of the new wagon house.

This is not just any wagon. It represented the entire state of SC in the Wagon Train Pilgrimage. Imagine all the states working together for one purpose – to celebrate our country’s 200th birthday. The state of Pennsylvania provided one wagon to each of the fifty states. Starting in 1975, the wagons from the western states started on their trip eastward. The wagons traveled along historic trails and wagon routes and then met on July 4, 1976, in Valley Forge. Stores are told of pieces of wagons taken for souvenirs after the celebrations. Fortunately the S.C. wagon was spared.

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