The Aiken Leader

08/27/2024

Incident on I-20 westbound between exits 33 and 31. Use caution.

08/04/2024

Showers and thunderstorms will again develop this morning and continue through this evening with heavy rainfall at times. A flood watch is in effect due to the heavy rain potential. Tonight tropical moisture ahead of Tropical Storm Debby will begin moving into the area leading to additional heavy rainfall continuing through at least the middle of the week. This heavy rainfall will likely result in areas of severe and widespread flash and urban flooding, with significant river flooding expected. The graphic below shows the Flooding Rain potential through this week.

06/10/2024

Attention Perry 31 residents! Changes to your voting location for tomorrow’s primary.

04/16/2024

Standing room only at Aiken County Council meeting tonight. Most of the crowd was gathered to object to a second reading of a proposed economic incentive package for a proposed chicken processing plant near exit 22 on I20.

That economic incentive package died before council without a motion or 2nd.

07/11/2023

Camp Rawls Road closed at intersection of Highway 39. Seek alternative route.

04/05/2022

04/05/2022

Hello Wagener residents, we have reports of possible severe storm activity this afternoon. Make plans for possible power outages, along with high winds and tornadic activity. The storm system that is approaching our area has already dropped tornadoes. We are currently at TORCON 4 which is predicted to rise to an 5. What can you do to prepare for this? Make sure you have flashlights, fully charged cell phone/s, 72 hours of food rations, and an emergency plan in place if a tornado was to make landfall. We will be monitoring the weather system as it passes through and have made plans and preparations for anything that may come our way. If you have an emergency please call 911 so we can be dispatched to your area.

01/13/2022

Hello everyone, with the possibility of snow this weekend excitement is high, but don't forget to plan for possible power outages. Plus, please keep an eye out for falling trees and limbs. Now is the time to collect extra batteries, gasoline (for generators, chainsaws, etc), non-perishable food, and water. Please be safe on the road and travel only if it is absolutely necessary. If you find any roadway obstructions please call us and let us now.

05/07/2021

Accident on Camp Rawls Road heading into Wagener. Road closed while crews work and SCHP investigates. Seek alternate routes.

12/09/2020

09/15/2020

Members of the Aiken County School Board are holding a town hall meeting @ Wagener-Salley High School this evening.

07/30/2020

Power outage in town of Wagener. Power to be restored within the hour. While the power is out, please treat the red light at the intersection of 39 and Main St as a 4-way stop.

05/28/2020

The City of Aiken Engineering and Utilities Department wants to let residents know that their contractor will be performing much-needed sewer maintenance on the dirt roads in the Horse District.

The contractor will be performing work with various equipment, which could cause anxiety for local horses. It is advised that keeping a safe distance from the work area would be more suitable for horses.

Below are the scheduled dates:
🔷June 8th – Grace Circle and Whiskey Road – End of Grace at Whiskey will be closed off during the day
🔷June 9th – Mead Avenue and Whiskey Road – End of Mead at Whiskey will be closed off during the day
🔷June 10-12th - South Boundary Avenue and Newberry Street - Traffic Controls and delays expected on South Boundary and Newberry Streets.

04/07/2020

Aiken County Sheriff's Office arrests 2 suspects in break-in at Wagener business

On Monday April 6, 2020 at around 2:07 am Aiken County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a burglar alarm at Tyler Brothers 116 Railroad Ave East, Wagener. When Deputies arrived they found the front glass door to be broken out. A witness told deputies that two suspects had ran from the location towards the woods. Investigators and the Aiken County Bloodhound Tracking Team responded to assist in locating the suspects.

The two suspects were located in a nearby shed and taken into custody without incident. The two suspects were
identified as Jakari Keishawn Earle, of Columbia, 20 yoa black male and a Juvenile white male. After further investigation Deputies arrested and transported Earle to the Aiken County Detention Center and the Juvenile to the Department of Juvenile Justice both are being charged with Burglary 2nd Degree. The investigation is still on going and information will be released as it becomes available.

Wagener Police Chief Scott Titus said deputies were working to identify an additional suspect. Titus thanked the witness for their quick thinking as it led to the apprehension of the suspects.

We ask that if anyone has any information on the case, we ask that they contact the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 648-6811.

03/24/2020

SC schools will remain closed until the end of April.

The Governor has declared a state of emergency in South Carolina. For the latest information on COVID-19 in South Carolina please visit scdhec.gov/covid19

03/21/2020

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G work, Team ACPSD! Thank you to our dedicated employees and volunteers for ensuring that learning and healthy nutrition is continuing despite a school closure!

03/19/2020

03/16/2020

Mayor Rick Osbon has declared a state of emergency in Aiken in anticipation of the spread of the coronavirus.

Mayor Osbon Declares A State of Emergency Monday, March 16, 2020 | News AIKEN, SC – Mayor Rick Osbon has declared a state of emergency as concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19 continue to escalate. Osbon signed a proclamation outlining the measures involved late Sunday and called for a ratif...

03/13/2020

As of now Aiken County schools are still open.

COLUMBIA,S.C. - Governor Henry McMaster will hold a media availability this afternoon and declare a state of emergency throughout the state to enhance the state's response to the COVID-19 virus' impact on the South Carolina.

02/27/2020

Press Release SEC Charges South Carolina Energy Companies, Former Executives With Defrauding Investors Charges Spring From Failed $9 Billion Nuclear Power Plant Expansion FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2020-44 Washington D.C., Feb. 27, 2020 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged SCANA Corp....

02/22/2020

Groundbreaking for the elementary school and dedication for the new high school wing at the Ridge Spring-Monetta K-12 campus on Trojan Rd Monday, 2/24 at 5:00.

02/19/2020

Following almost four hours of discussion in executive session, the Board voted 7-2 to hire King Laurence as the District Superintendent. King has operated as the interim superintendent over the last five months, and has spearheaded initiatives such as the current MOSAIC elementary behavior program during that time. The Board weighed the input garnered in last week’s two input sessions along with numerous emails, messages, and phone calls along with King’s performance. Given the vast majority of the input I received viewed King extremely positively, and having seen his work ethic and even-keeled approach to problem solving, I was happy to cast my vote in favor of him. King will bring over three decades of experience ranging from the classroom to school administration to District offices, 22 years of which have been served in Aiken County. Congratulations, King! I also want to thank everyone in the community who took time to contact me or other Board Members with your thoughts; I hope you will continue to be engaged with us!

02/06/2020

Early Dismissal for some Aiken County Schools Thursday, February 6.

Aiken Scholars Academy will dismiss at 1:00 p.m.

Ridge Spring-Monetta ES will dismiss at 12:45 p.m.

Ridge Spring-Monetta MS will dismiss at 1:05 p.m.

Ridge Spring-Monetta HS will dismiss at 1:15 p.m.

Busbee Elementary will dismiss at 12:55 p.m.

Corbett MS will dismiss at 12:52 p.m.

Wagener-Salley HS will dismiss at 1:10 p.m.

"SCHOOLS/OFFICES TO CLOSE EARLY FEBRUARY 6, 2020 DUE TO STORMS EXPECTED

Severe thunderstorms and high winds are expected to reach our area Thursday afternoon. In an effort to protect the safety of all students and families, as well as our staff, District administration has made the decision, in consultation with Emergency Management Professionals, to dismiss all students and staff members early on Thursday. Thursday, February 6, all Aiken County Public Schools will operate on our Early Dismissal Schedule and dismiss students two hours early.

Elementary Schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle Schools at 1:10 p.m., and High Schools at 1:30 p.m. All afterschool activities, practices, games, Evening 4K, Adult Education Program, and our Extended Day offering through Quest Zone will be cancelled. We appreciate your cooperation and apologize for any inconvenience that tomorrow’s early dismissal will cause.

Dismissal times for schools Aiken Scholars Academy, as well as students in the Ridge Spring-Monetta and Wagener areas are as follows:

Aiken Scholars Academy will dismiss at 1:00 p.m.
Ridge Spring-Monetta ES will dismiss at 12:45 p.m.
Ridge Spring-Monetta MS will dismiss at 1:05 p.m.
Ridge Spring-Monetta HS will dismiss at 1:15 p.m.
Busbee Elementary will dismiss at 12:55 p.m.
Corbett MS will dismiss at 12:52 p.m.
Wagener-Salley HS will dismiss at 1:10 p.m."

11/30/2019

Congratulations to the Ridge Spring-Monetta Trojans on pulling out the 26-22 upset over the Wagener-Salley War Eagles. Both teams have had excellent seasons and represented Aiken County well.

RS-M(10-4) will face the Green Sea Floyds(12-1) next Friday at 8pm for the Class A championship.

11/11/2019

The Aiken County Election Commission upheld the outcome of both the Salley Mayoral race and Salley Council District 4 race ruling against challenges from Bob Salley and Leah Shackleford.

11/06/2019

Burnettown, Monetta, and Aiken 3 unofficial results.

11/06/2019

Town of Wagener election end tape results.

10/24/2017

Polls are open 7 am until 7 pm on October 24 for the Aiken County Council Chairman's Race. Please consider voting for Gary Bunker to this important office.

Dear Editor,

Webster’s definitions of mandate include “an authorization to act given to a representative”. Gary Bunker’s primary election victory for Aiken County Council Chairman fits the bill. Multiple letters to the editor have detailed Bunker’s attributes and one stands out. J. O’Donnell wrote “Gary Bunker's intricate knowledge of the budget is unmatched. He know’s the numbers”.

Mandate is synonymous with entrustment. Gary earned the voter’s trust and support with his character, his prior work on the council and his eloquent op-eds explaining the ins and outs of county government.

Let’s “Carry Gary” Bunker by giving him another victory in the October 24 general election for Aiken County Council Chairmen!

Dr. Mike Vasovski

Dear Editor,

This message is going out to all Aiken County Voters. There is a Special General Election for the purpose of electing our next Aiken County Council Chairman on Tuesday, October 24. This seat is too important for the results to be decided by just a few hundred people, the person elected to this position will guide the decisions for our County's future. I ask that each of you mark your calendar, set a reminder on your phone, what ever it takes and take the few minutes that it will require and vote for my friend, and in my humble opinion, the most qualified person to take on this enormous responsibility. Vote for Gary Bunker on October 24th.

Dennis Saylor

09/02/2017

Aiken Driving Club at New Bridge