Good morning, Aiken.

Sixteen animals were adopted Friday at the Aiken County Animal Shelter after a news broadcast highlighted overcrowding from rising pet costs; eight dogs + eight cats were rehomed during the Empty the Shelters event, easing the shelter's strain.

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CSRA Honor Flight will take 33 veterans and 33 guardians to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 12 to visit memorials honoring those who served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam — board chairman Michael Jara said the one-day trip is carefully planned to show respect.

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The SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare is hosting an Empty the Shelter event with free cat and kitten adoptions and half-price dog adoptions through Sunday — locals can meet potential new companions.

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Advance Auto Parts opened its largest distribution hub in North Augusta — a former Lidl grocery location — last Thursday at 417 E. Martintown Rd. The new center will serve 39 stores and customers and was celebrated by Mayor Briton Williams and local staff.

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Beekeepers and pollinator enthusiasts are attending the Eastern Apiculture Society Meeting today on a local college campus, where lectures and bee yard activities help tackle the summer nectar dearth.

Native blooms like kudzu, sumac, and short goldenrod are offering bees vital feeding opportunities (a natural free buffet).

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Parents are advised to look out for early signs of mental health decline among students as classes resume.

Licensed counselor Lassandria Walker (of Beyond Play Counseling and Wellness Center) urged families to monitor behavioral changes and use resources like Aiken Barnwell Mental Health and school counselors for support.

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The American Red Cross warns that donations are at a four-year summer low and calls for urgent blood donations; local centers in Aiken will soon share drive details + residents are encouraged to help ease the shortage.

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