Good morning, Aiken.

USC Aiken hosted its Downtown Takeover on Aug. 22 to celebrate 65 years of community connection.

The family event at the Newberry Street Festival Center featured live music, food trucks, a beer tent and a mechanical bull — drawing students, alumni and families together.

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On July 16, 23 children graduated from Children’s Place’s Therapeutic Child Care program during a ceremony in its dining room, where families & staff celebrated each child’s achievements with certificates and special accolades.

Graduates are now set to transition into local 4K and kindergarten classrooms as the new school year begins.

Aiken StandardRead more ↗

A horse near Wire Road and Jaws Lane was sent for rabies testing Tuesday and will be confirmed positive tomorrow, exposing 13 people—health officials urge pet and livestock vaccinations amid 72 cases statewide.

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Aiken Regional Medical Centers will open a freestanding ER in North Augusta next month for adults and children.

The open house (starting at 1 p.m. on Sept. 2 at 407 W. Martintown Road, with a 1:10 p.m. ribbon-cutting and tours until 2 p.m.) will debut the new 12,032 sqft facility.

WGACRead more ↗

The South Carolina Department of Public Health reported rising rabies exposures in the CSRA, with Aiken County recording eight cases this year and three rabid animals found in one week.

Patients now face treatment costs over $10,000 without insurance after state funding shifted to private providers.

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High school football kicked off last week in Aiken and Edgefield counties with strong wins by local teams.

Teams will face new matchups on Aug. 28 to continue a competitive season.

Aiken StandardRead more ↗

Over the weekend, triathlon coach Jonathan Bruney was bitten by an alligator while swimming near 324 East Shoreline Drive in North Augusta — he grabbed the gator’s head to escape and received several stitches at a nearby hospital.

WRDW/WAGTRead more ↗