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About HALEY HUGHES
HALEY HUGHES
Reporter Haley Hughes covers Aiken County government. She has been a journalist for over five years, and received a Kentucky Press Association award for a sports feature story she wrote as an intern at "The Gleaner" in Henderson, Ky. Haley is a native of Knoxville, Tenn.
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Stories by Haley Hughes
Local shelters filled with pets in need of homes

5/24/2012 9:32 PM   

There is quite a selection of pets available for adoption right now at the Aiken County Animal Shelter and at the Aiken SPCA because they have taken in so many animals in the past several months. Last Tuesday alone, one person surrendered 24 puppies ...

Sheriff calls for more funds at budget session
Sheriff calls for more funds at budget session

5/22/2012 9:35 PM   

Call volume for law enforcement assistance is up, according to Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt, and he is worried for his staff and citizens alike if more funding is not allocated for additional deputies. Hunt asked for eight additional deputies - ...

Memorial Day parade, ceremony will be held to honor the fallen

5/22/2012 1:35 AM   

The public is invited and encouraged to attend a Memorial Day ceremony Monday at the Aiken County Veterans Memorial Park. The James L. Hammons Marine Corps League Detachment 939 has organized a simple ceremony this year to honor those who have falle ...

Gaston Livery Stable is seeking artists to decorate Fiberglas cats

5/20/2012 11:50 PM   

The Friends of the Gaston Livery Stable is seeking local Aiken artists to paint/decorate roughly 25 Fiberglas barn cats, which will be auctioned off in a fundraiser. Barney, a 28-inch tall cat, will join the Horseplay horses downtown later this year ...

Planning Commission OK's plat for Sam's Club

5/17/2012 10:07 PM   

The Aiken County Planning Commission gave preliminary plat approval Thursday for land on U.S. Highway 1 where Sam's Club is to be located. The commission voted unanimously to approve the plats on seven lots, including outparcels, totaling approximat ...

A.G. says candidates can run by petition

5/17/2012 12:00 AM   

An opinion issued by the S.C. Attorney General Wednesday has those who were kicked off the June primary ballot breathing a sigh of relief. Attorney General Alan Wilson opined that last week's state Supreme Court ruling disqualifying a number of candi ...

Fire departments in Bath, Clearwater merge

5/16/2012 8:27 PM   

The Midland Valley Fire Protection Service area, a result of the merger of the Bath and Clearwater volunteer fire departments, has been created and approved. Aiken County Council authorized the creation of the new service area Tuesday and executed a ...

No raises, no taxes in County's budget

5/15/2012 11:53 PM   

Aiken County's proposed budget for the next fiscal year is $52.2 million and does not include employee raises or an increase in taxes. Aiken County Administrator Clay Killian presented to Council the proposed budget for first reading Tuesday, saying, ...

Council moves closer to form of government vote

5/15/2012 11:50 PM   

A referendum asking voters if they're in favor of changing the form of Aiken County government is one step closer to fruition. By a majority vote, County Council passed on second reading an ordinance calling for a referendum that would ask voters i ...

New saddle shop opens in downtown Aiken

5/14/2012 8:57 PM   

Master saddler Ava Vettenburg offers English saddle services from her new shop on Park Avenue downtown. Vettenburg, a native of Hungary and now a U.S. citizen, specializes in the repair, maintenance and restoration of English saddles. She has been a ...

New management team looks to buy Houndslake
New management team looks to buy Houndslake

5/14/2012 8:57 PM   

The new management team at Houndslake Country Club is also looking at purchasing the property. Jay and Aimee Rusch are the new general manager and assistant general manager of the club and are considering an opportunity to become the club's new owner ...

Deadline to register to vote in June primary is Saturday

5/14/2012 1:36 PM   

The deadline to register to vote in the June primaries is May 12. The Republican and Democratic primaries are June 12, and all registered voters are eligible to cast a ballot. Applications are available online at www.scvotes.org or in person at the A ...

Register by Wednesday for parade on May 26

5/14/2012 12:12 AM   

The registration deadline for the James L. Hammons Marine Corps League Detachment 939 Memorial Day Parade is Wednesday. The parade will take place on May 26 at 1 p.m. in downtown Aiken. The entry fee is $20. Lineup time is 12:15 p.m. The parade will ...

Public asked to provide input on proposed change to government

5/13/2012 11:50 PM   

The public is invited to speak Tuesday on a proposed change in the form of Aiken County government. Aiken County Council will hear second reading of and open the floor to anyone who wishes to comment on a possible referendum changing the form of go ...

Dogs must be under owner control in Hitchcock Woods

5/11/2012 9:40 PM   

Hitchcock Woods welcomes a variety of users to its 2,100 forested acres, dog-walkers included, but there are rules for canine handlers to follow that should make the woods experience a good one for everyone. Equestrians, carriage drivers, runners, h ...

Personal trainer to speak at AARP meeting on Monday

5/11/2012 9:39 PM   

Personal trainer Lori Comshaw will speak to the Aiken chapter of AARP on Monday on how to stay in shape. Comshaw, a certified personal trainer with a Bachelor of Science in exercise and sports science, said she will talk about the benefits of exerc ...

Variance request denied for sign at I-20 travel center

5/10/2012 9:48 PM   

The Aiken County Board of Appeals shot down a variance request Thursday for a CAT sign proposed for the new WilcoHess travel center on Bettis Academy Road. CAT requested that it be allowed to erect a 211-square-foot truck scale sign. The current zoni ...

Candidates kicked off ballot to run by petition

5/8/2012 11:41 PM   

Several local people who saw their names removed from the June primary ballot last week following a ruling by the S.C. Supreme Court are preparing to run as petition candidates, even as steps are being taken in the legislature to put disqualified can ...

Refillable Roo Cup is making a return
Refillable Roo Cup is making a return

5/7/2012 11:25 PM   

Convenience-store chain The Pantry is bringing back the Roo Cup, a refillable cup for frozen and fountain drinks that quickly flew off Kangaroo Express shelves in the Aiken area. Kangaroo Express convenience stores in the area ran out of Roo Cups in ...

Coffeehouse will showcase talents

5/7/2012 8:12 PM   

The Aiken Community Playhouse's Black Box Coffeehouse returns Friday at 7 p.m. The signature event provides for a night of entertainment and refreshments in a low-lit, intimate setting and showcases a variety of local talent, as well as a chance fo ...