DHEC Forum Allows Public to Voice Concerns About the Edisto River

Close to 500 were in attendance last night for the public forum at Aiken Electric Cooperative as representatives from DHEC explained the registration process for agricultural surface water withdrawals in South Carolina and defended their implementation of the law with Walther Farms as it begins establishing its giant potato farm along the Edisto River.

Following a talk from DHEC, the floor was open to the public for a lengthy Q&A in which residents could voice their concerns to DHEC as well as the many legislators who were present, including Representative Bill Taylor and Senator Nikki Setzler.  

Read about the meeting at the State, Times and Democrat or at The Aiken Standard
Learn more about the issue at Friends of the Edisto and Edisto Concerns

WSHS Army ROTC Color Guard Presents at USCA Basketball Games

Photo Credit: Christy Fraser ~ WSHS Homecoming
Article from Aiken Standard, credits and links below

As many as 100 current military personnel and veterans expressed their appreciation to attend the USC Aiken basketball games free of charge on Saturday and received rounds of applause in recognition of their service

They in turn warmly welcomed Wagener-Salley High School's Army ROTC color guard members as they presented the nation's colors before the women's and men's games.

“We always embrace opportunities to get the Color Guard out,” said the battalion's (ret.) Sgt. Maj. Michael Fowler. “USCA needed help for the military appreciation, and it was fun to get the kids out and watch a couple of games.”

Read more: Wagener-Salley ROTC Color Guard honors vets at USCA | Aiken Standard 
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Aiken Library Fun Day for Kids!

Aiken Library Fun Day for Kids! Take your children to the Library Day on February 1, 2013 from 10 - 6 at the Aiken Public Library. Please note this is not at Wagener's Nancy Bonnette Public Library, this is in Aiken.

Families with children of all ages can celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day with special activities all day long. Attend a free event, drop in for the Bunny Scavenger Hunt, sign up for a library card, play on the computer, read a book, and much more!

Bunny Scavenger Hunt

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Drop in anytime today for a kid friendly scavenger hunt. Find all the hidden bunnies for a special prize!

Family Storytime & Puppet Show

11:00 a.m.
Join the children's librarian for a special storytime and puppet show. Local author Linda Ellis Coffin will also be presenting her children's book, Stains and All. Signed books will be available after the program. 

MOVIES:

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2
3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

The Town Water Tower: Landmark or Eyesore?

The water tower in the center of town is either an eyesore or a landmark, depending on who you ask.  The town has started looking at a state grant to renovate the water tower and Mayor Mike Miller wants your input about the water tower’s future. 

The tower in the middle of town is currently and has been for several years off line.  It has recently been studied and found to be level and stable, however it has begun to rust. We will soon have to do some maintenance to keep it up to DHEC regulations.  The longer we put off maintenance, the more expensive it will be.

There are two options on the table for the future of the water tower.  We can keep it as it is and do expensive renovation or we can take it down at a similar cost.

As it is, it is a water reserve.  If we have a massive fire, it would be available.  If the school caught on fire, we could run a line from the tank to the school, but the tank has to be full of water, it can’t be kept empty.  It also can’t be kept empty due to its height, the water is needed to keep it standing firm.

It could be a communications asset for antennas and things like that or it could be modified for a number of other purposes. 

“I’ve thought about the potential of running an irrigation line from it to the parks,” Miller said, “It’s practical and it’s probably the best option, depending on the cost of running the line.  We could run it to the park by the pavilion, too, for irrigation.”

The town doesn’t have a final cost yet, but if we renovate the interior and exterior, it will be in the neighborhood of $150,000.  If we paint the exterior, another $50,000 - $80,000.  If we take the water tower down, it may cost $100,000 depending on the price of metal.

Wagener Police Dog Featured in Dog and Hound

Dog & Hound, Fall 2013, Pam Gleason
Photo credit:  Gary Knoll
He’s a game-changer, that’s for sure,” says Officer Jeremy Hill,
looking at Xantos, his canine partner. “The biggest thing is just
that he is a deterrent. A lot of times he doesn’t have to do anything, he
just has to be seen.”
 
Xantos, a 2-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois, has been working
with Officer Hill at the Wagener Police Department since August of
2012. As Wagener’s first (and so far, only) K9 cop, Xantos is something
of a celebrity in town. He is what is called a dual-purpose dog, meaning
that he has been trained in drug detection as well as in police patrol
work, including tracking. He can also help apprehend a suspect by
running him down, catching him and holding him on command. Of
course, he is also trained to release on command, and, although he will
do what he must to detain a suspected criminal, he is trained not to
inflict serious harm.
 
“Using him to apprehend a criminal is considered ‘use of force,’ but
not deadly force,” says Tom Gray, who is Wagener’s Chief of Police.
“He’s considered on the same level as our tasers, not as our guns.”
Deadly or not, if you are a criminal, Xantos is a force to be reckoned
with. Eight-five pounds of pure muscle, he is an intense dog with
intelligent eyes, sharply pricked ears, and a body that literally quivers
with the desire to do something.
 
“That shows his drive,” says Officer Hill. “That’s one of the things they

Wagener Re-Elects Mayor Mike Miller

Excerpt from Amy Banton, the Aiken Standard -

The majority of Wagener and Burnettown residents decided to keep their incumbent mayoral candidates in office, and a host of council members were elected in a total of four towns across Aiken County on Tuesday.

Mike Miller was re-elected as Wagener mayor over Joey Black, who is a sitting Council member of that town, with about 72 percent of the vote. C.H. Williams, who has been the Burnettown mayor for eight years, won over three other candidates vying for the seat with 48 percent of the vote. These numbers are based on unofficial results from Aiken County Registration and Elections.

Miller, who was elected mayor four years ago, said that he's quite glad the race is over.

“I'm just relieved. It's time to get back to work, and there's a lot that needs to be done,” Miller said. “That's what I want. I want the town to move forward.”  Read more here.

Read more: Wagener, Burnettown re-elect mayors; new faces on council | Aiken Standard 
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Wagener Restaurant Voted Best Deli Sandwiches in Aiken County

The results are in:  The Little Bake Shoppe located on Main Street in Wagener has been voted to have the best deli sandwiches in Aiken County.   This title is awarded just as Jerald and JoAnna Hoover celebrate the 3rd anniversary of their grand opening.  We love having the Little Bake Shoppe in our town and are proud Aiken County has recognized their success.  (If you haven't tried their deli sandwiches yet, may I recommend Rachel's Turkey Reuben with a dessert of a slice of Pumpkin Roll.)  

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