Anderson Independent-Mail

STEPHENS COUNTY — A man shot a woman believed by authorities to be his girlfriend or ex-girlfriend in Stephens County on Monday afternoon, according to authorities. The shooting took place along or near Ga. 145 south of Turner Road, according to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley. The woman was injured in the lower back, according to Shirley, and airlifted to Greenville Hospital System ... Full Story »

ANDERSON — A 46-year-old mother and her 23-year-old son were taken to the hospital Monday evening after a dispute over a video game erupted in violence, authorities said. Lynette Alexander and her son, Anthony Alexander, were both injured when a fight broke out in their R Street home around 8:30 p.m. Monday over a video game, Anderson County sheriff’s Capt. Darrell Hill said. Hill said ... Full Story »

ANDERSON — Ada Martin lit a candle in honor of her late son on Monday during the Tenth Annual Candlelight Vigil for Victims of Crime. Martin, a Pelzer resident, lost her son, Richard, in September 1995 just four miles from her home when he was 24. She said her son was beaten in the middle of the road and the case is still unsolved. Martin said has been going to the vigil for years and it ... Full Story »

CENTRAL — The Central Town Council voted unanimously tonight to support the addition of solar panels to a recreation center and to consider increased efforts at recycling. Phillip Mishoe, town administrator, reported to the council on a collaborative effort to secure a $130,000 loan, jointly with the city of Clemson, to pay for the installation of an array of solar panels on the roof of the ... Full Story »

PENDLETON — Pendleton’s three-term mayor and challenger find out Tuesday who will be the mayor for the next four years in this Anderson County community of about 3,000. Carole Burdette, 49, is facing her first opponent for mayor in eight years as retired businessman Randy Hayes, 56, is offering what he says is a voice for choice this year. Burdette says she wants to complete a number of ... Full Story »

ANDERSON COUNTY — At 8 a.m. today, students at Flat Rock Elementary School started getting their flu shots. Two other elementary schools, Starr and Iva, began giving the shots later today to students who had parents’ permission. The three schools in Anderson School District 3 were the first in Anderson County to give flu shots. The shots were the first of two for children 10 and under provided ... Full Story »

The 2009 Anderson Trojans soccer season lives on, as the men’s team was awarded a berth in the NCAA tournament on Monday. Rob Miller’s team is seeded No. 2 in the Southeast Super Region, and will play the winner of Carson Newman/Lander on Friday. That match, which is the first appearance for AU in the men’s Division II soccer tourney, is set for 4 p.m. on the campus of Lees-McRae University ... Full Story »

ANDERSON — Anderson City Council member Blake Williamson, who is his 10th year on the council, does not plan to run for re-election in April 2010. Williamson confirmed Monday evening, after the Anderson City Council approved the dates for the municipal election, that he would be stepping down from the at-large seat on the council. Williamson’s seat as well as seats one, three, five and the ... Full Story »

ANDERSON — South Carolina Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor Jr. challenged Anderson County today to offer aggressive tax benefits and build inventory of available sites to try to land large industries. “The tax structure here, the freeway, the railroads, this is a logical place for companies,” Taylor said. “But you have got to have a location for them to land on.” Taylor spoke at the Civic Center ... Full Story »

CLEMSON — A former prisoner of war said his faith and confidence in his training helped him endure nearly six years in Vietnam prisons. Col. William Austin (retired) was shot down Oct. 7, 1967, near Hanoi while flying his 81st mission as an Air Force pilot during the Vietnam War. It wasn’t until March 14, 1973, that he was freed and reunited with his South Carolina family. Austin told about ... Full Story »

ANDERSON COUNTY — The results of the Anderson County Council’s nine-month financial investigation into past county administration matters could be disclosed to a council committee and then the full council Tuesday afternoon. “This is going to be … (financial investigator Bob Daniel’s) report of his findings to us since we are the committee,” council member Tom Allen said Monday. “We in turn ... Full Story »

Along the wall in the Starr Elementary cafeteria, a lone white table stands decorated with a single place setting, a rose, a slice of lemon and salt, a memorial to military veterans. Beside it, a poster shows the pictures of three Crescent graduates deployed overseas. And below them are Mason jars filled with money collected by Starr Elementary students to buy packages filled with necessities ... Full Story »

Tropical Storm Ida is expected to bring about four inches of rain to Upstate South Carolina and northeast Georgia beginning Tuesday morning. A flash flood watch is in effect for the area from this morning through Wednesday morning. There is a 100 percent chance of rain in Upstate South Carolina on Tuesday, said Jeffrey Taylor, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Greer. “Watch ... Full Story »

ANDERSON — Honorary Anderson County Council member Brantley Jordan died today at age 96. Jordan had long been one of the most active county residents and prided himself on attending every council meeting, called meeting or committee meeting for at least the last 32 years. About eight years ago he scheduled heart surgery so he would have time to recover and not miss a single meeting. But he ... Full Story »

ANDERSON — The Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce has added a business tools portal to its Web site. The section provides help in starting or maintaining a business and has a page for frequently asked questions and links to other helpful Web sites, such as the Small Business Development Center and Department of Labor. The chamber’s Small Business Resource Guide, which was printed as a resource ... Full Story »

The Better Business Bureau says people should research a charity before deciding whether to give money this holiday season. The BBB recommends asking the following questions: Is this a charity I can trust? Don't be fooled by names that look impressive or that closely resemble the name of a well-known organization. Check with state authorities such as the office of the attorney general to ... Full Story »

HARTWELL — The Savannah River Valley Genealogical Society will have a program called “Spend the Night with the Dead” from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday 13 at the Hart County Library. Genealogists will be allowed in and doors locked to the public for security; however, participants may leave at any time. There will be time for research, help for beginners and use of the library computers. Donna Long ... Full Story »

ALBANY, Ga. — The Festival of Trees is the major fundraiser of Foothills Alliance, an agency that works to prevent child abuse and serve sexually abused children and adults in Anderson and Oconee counties. General viewing of the trees is free and open to the public. A ticketed event, A Chocolate Affair and Tree Auction, will be held at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21. A Chocolate Affair features ... Full Story »

ANDERSON — Anderson Wellness Center will provide a free seminar at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Anderson County Main Library, 300 N. McDuffie St. in Anderson. Dr. Kristen Geles, a member of the Foundation for Wellness Professionals, will talk on “Five Keys to Permanent Weight Loss.” Limited seating is available. Call the Anderson Wellness Center at (864) 226-7676 to register. Full Story »

Ever seen a “Road Island Red rooster”? Today’s find, in a recent edition of this newspaper, is a “FREEBIE” classified ad for a “Road Island Red Rooster.” Now Hearsay has heard of Rhode Island Red roosters, which tend to be big, red and somewhat aggressive. But a Road Island type? Must be a pretty traffic-savvy strutter, cockadoodle-doo-ing at oncoming cars from the safety of a road island. And ... Full Story »

Chris Robinson has been elected to serve on the Tri-County Technical College Foundation Board of Directors. Robinson manages Robinson Funeral Homes and Robinson Memorial Gardens in Easley. Members of the Foundation Board raise money to supplement governmental appropriations to the school. Robinson is a member of the Palmetto Health Baptist Easley Foundation board of directors and is secretary ... Full Story »

Dinners in the ballrooms at Clemson University’s Madren Center are routine events, and at first glance the banquet held last Tuesday night was just another one. There was the usual chicken and rice entrée and a warm welcome from university President James Barker (wearing one of his many orange ties). Guests seated at round tables of eight chatted amiably over their food and listened to several ... Full Story »

PENDLETON — A re-enactment of a 19th century Christmas is returning to the historic Ashtabula house in December. A house was first constructed at the site of Ashtabula in 1790, but the present-day white, clapboard house was originally built in 1825. It is operated by the Pendleton Historic Foundation, which sponsors the annual “Christmas at Ashtabula” event. Each year, volunteers re-enact ... Full Story »

ANDERSON COUNTY — In the Anderson County Museum, a small article is found at the base of a hot-air balloon basket. The headline in an Anderson newspaper article from 1905 that is part of the exhibit reads: “Tragic death of aeronaut’s wife in Anderson, SC. One thousand people witness the fearful scene.” It is proof that the history of ballooning in Anderson stretches back more than a couple of ... Full Story »

ANDERSON COUNTY — Somebody told Brian and Amanda Abeyta of Raleigh, N.C., about the first-ever Balloons Over Anderson festival, so they decided to check it out. They were in the area visiting family and arrived at the festival around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, just as a squadron of radio-controlled planes piloted by members of the Fire Tower R/C Airplane Club took flight. For more than two hours ... Full Story »