Anderson Observer Podcast

Summer Music, Updates with Mayors, Whole Lot of Shaking Going On

Interviews:

Ben Phillips, Anderson Bluegrass

Anderson County Council Vice Chair Brett Sanders, Council Recap

Iva Town Manager Tim Taylor Summer Update

Pelzer Mayor Will Ragland Summer Update

Honea Path Mayor Christopher Burton Summer Update

Anderson County Museum Curator Dustin Norris on new Music Exhibit

Farmers Market Ushers in Summer, Juneteenth Celebrations, Updates from Pendleton, West Pelzer and Belton

Interviews

Anderson Reconciliation and Remembrance Initiative/Juneteenth:

Stuart Sprague

Juana Slade

Ankoma Anderson

Grant Cunningham (health initiative at events)

Carol Burdette (United Way work communitywide)

West Pelzer Mayor Blake Sanders

Belton Mayor Eleanor Dorn

Pendleton Mayor Frank Crenshaw

Hot Summer Busy with Elections, Updates, News, Events, Farmers Market and More

Welcome to the Anderson Observer Podcast, news from people you trust, our first episode of the screaming hot summer of 2022.

A lot going on locally. The Anderson County Farmers Market opens with full produce options on Saturday. I am dubious there will be real summer tomatoes, it’s a little early, but we shall see. Lots of other stuff available though, including early peaches, strawberries, squash and more.

Juneteenth celebrations today and tomorrow in Anderson will mark the final end of slavery, a date long after the Emancipation Proclamation. Will talk more about these events with interviews tomorrow.

Summer is here and last week was the annual boat parade at Broadway Lake.

Roy and Peg Ivey had this to say about the event.

Primary elections were held this week, and three local incumbents lost to political newcomers: S.C. Rep. Brian White who had held his seat since 2001, who lost to April Cromer, West Cox from Dist. 10, who lost to Thomas Beach and Anderson County Council Member Ray Graham from Dist.. 3, who lost to Greg Elgin.

JT Foster won the primary election for the Probate Judge position, which will be left vacant by the retirement of the amazing Judge Martha Newton who has served for four decades.

The unexpired term of Anderson County auditor, left vacant by the death of long-time auditor Jacky Newton, is in the midst of a recount and should be settled later today. The unofficial count had Anderson Businessman John Benca, owner of McGee’s Irish Pub, 17 votes ahead of assistant auditor Danni Caldwell.

The next few podcasts will be a special series of my regular seasonal interviews with the county’s leaders and mayors, plus a special interview with an animal lover well-known for other things.

My interview with Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns, recorded a week ago, offers a wide spectrum of updates on the county economic development, recreation, the upcoming budget and more.

The Anderson County Finance Committee will meet 2 p.m. Monday to put final touches on the fiscal year budget. The public in invited as well as a public hearing June 29 on the final vote.

Meanwhile, up in Pelzer, Mayor Will Ragland, as if he was not already busy enough running a town, the Mill Town Players and the new Simpsonville Performing Arts Center, has a new title, Will Ragland: Cat-Rescuer.

Ragland’s Mill Town Players finish up their run this weekend of “Rex’s Exes,” a southern fried comedy. The Clemson Little Theater at Pendleton Playhouse has Busted Wedding Belles going on as well. A lot of theater in town. The Mill Town Players “Shrek,” which finished Monday brought enthusiastic crowds to Carolina Wren park for the shows which got excellent reviews.

That’s it for this edition of the Anderson Observer Podcast. Join me again tomorrow for interviews and details on Anderson Juneteeth celebrations, news and interviews from Belton Mayor Eleanor Dorn and Pendleton Mayor Frank Crenshaw, and more on the Anderson Observer Podcast, news from people you trust.

January updates from Anderson County Council, Legislative Delegation and more on the first podcast of 2022

January updates from Anderson County Council, Legislative Delegation, news, events and more on the first podcast of 2022.

Happy New Year, Looking Ahead, Recapping 2021

Interviews/Sound clips:

Gracie Floyd

Brock Elder/Walter Lanier,  Wellinton Project

Ko Anderson, Reconciliation, Equal Justice Initiative

David Phillips, Hope Missions of the Upstate

Rusty Burns, Anderson County 2021 in Review

Terence Roberys, City of Anderson, Year in Review

Don Chapman, Candidate for S.C. House Dist. 8

 

Christmas a time to help the helpers, a Magic Sled downtown, Anderson named one of the best places to live, Williamston, Iva Growing

It's time to help our charities, as the holidays bring the peak of demand. AIM, the Haven of Rest, Hope Missions of the Upstate, the Anderson Free Clinic, Clean Start all tell you how you can help.

 

"The Magic Sled" author Scott Foster talks about the magic downtown Christmas story.

 

Updates from Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns, Williamston Mayor Rockey Burgess, Iva Town Manager Tim Taylor, news and more....

Shop local, give local, Anderson Christmas Lights, Wellington Recreation Project, Pelzer Mural and more

Christmas is coming and the Anderson Observer is helping launch a campaign to shop locally and give locally during the holidays. This podcast features Anderson Area Chamber CEO Pamela Christopher, City Seed at the Station Owner Donna LeBrun, Indigo Framing and Artisan Market Owner Mellisa Moore, Meals on Wheel Anderson Dir. Laurie Ashley, Salvation Army of Anderson Maj. Joseph Irvin, West Pelzer Mayor Blake Sanders, The team that made the Pelzer mural possible, Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride, Anderson Police Chief Jim Stewart and Ben Phillips, co-founder of Anderson Christmas Lights.

Soirée, Expanding Downtown, town updates, serving downtown, a missing drum is home and a rising Nashville star

News updates, events and more, including interviews with:

Kimberly Spears 1:50 Soirée

 

Honea Path Mayor Christopher Burton 13:30

 

Pelzer Mayor Will Ragland 22:02

 

Williamston Mayor Rockey Burgess 40:14

 

Abigail Burden, Belton Museum Director 58:15

 

Belton Museum Board Member Jeremiah Palmer (Geer-Gantt High School). 59:50

 

Nashville Singer/Songwriter Margaret Haynie 1:02:50

 

Hope Mission Dave Phillips. 1:11

Updates from Anderson County, Belton, Iva, news and more

Interviews:

Rusty Burns :54 seconds

Pendleton Mayor Frank Crenshaw 35:46

Belton Mayor Eleanor Dorn 44:08

Belton Police Chief Ross Richer 54:27

West Pelzer Police Chief Scott Stoller 1:08:49

Iva Town Manager Tim Taylor 1:34:29

Anderson County Council Vice Chairman Brett Sanders 1:56:27

Anderson County Director of Governmental Affairs Steve Newton 2:07:57

Dr. Anthony Guiseppi-Elie 2:30:14

Labor Day, Balloons, Ride Sharing, WWF World Champion, New Cross Country Facility, and a new Police Chief for Belton

Interviews

Cancer Association of Anderson Director Angie Stringer

South Main Chapel and Mercy Center Pastor Kurt Stutler/Ellizabeth Hiott on a Ride Sharing program for those needing transportation to work.

Anderson County Sheriff Deputy John Wilkinson talks about his days as "Stone Mountain," the WWF champion

Anderson School Dist. 5 Coach Dickie Smith, Superintendent Tom Wilson and YMCA CEO Joe Drennon on the new regional Cross Country facility coming to Anderson

And Belton hires a new police chief, Calhoun Falls native Ross Richey