Daily editionFriday, October 2nd, 2026
Good morning, Aiken.
The 5AM Aiken Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Friday, the 2nd of October.
Community
The Salvation Army of Aiken has called for food donations as its pantry stocks have run low, affecting 200 families, seniors, and residents from nearby counties.
Donations — including nonperishable items and smaller meat cuts — are accepted at 322 Gayle Avenue Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Bridge 2 Home will host its Run for Freedom 5K at H. Odell Weeks Activities Center on Saturday, Oct. 17 to fund programs for young survivors.
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with early rates until Oct. 4 and includes a free 1-mile Fun Run for children 9 and younger.
The Aiken StandardRead more
Aiken Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism is hosting its annual Trunk-or-Treat for children 12 and under at Citizens Park 1 on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 3 to 6 p.m. Families can enjoy decorated trunks + a live DJ, inflatables, games and food vendors with admission at $1 per child.
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Business
Malia's Restaurant at 120 Laurens St. S.W. in downtown Aiken will reopen under new ownership by Greg Pierce and Angelia Roberts in November.
The new owners will retain the classic menu and experienced staff plus complete business and courtyard updates.
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Fire Shaka Hawaiian BBQ began its soft opening on Sept. 29 (located at 126 Laurens St. NW downtown) and serves Polynesia-inspired dishes with a Southern twist including Big Kahuna plates, malasadas filled with banana pudding, braised BBQ beef and more while planning to hire 15 to 20 employees.
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Culture
The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum will host the exhibit Postcards: Horse Racing History Through the Mail from Oct. 6 to Nov. 1.
The free exhibit will feature postcards that celebrate key races, famous horses and notable contributors to the sport — offering a unique postal journey for history fans.
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Government
Aiken Regional Airport will hold a ribbon cutting on Oct. 9 to mark $7.7 million in improvements to its primary runway, and City Council is using matching funds (FAA, state, and city contributions) to update plans and prepare for resurfacing the secondary runway.
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Aiken held a ceremony on Sept. 28 to open Tribute Parkway Phase I, a 2.35-mile stretch along Whiskey Road that honors public safety officers with the Master Corporal Sandy Rogers Memorial Roundabout.
Phase II will finish in about 18 months + add a roundabout for Officer Scotty Richardson.
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Lifestyle
Cold Creek Nurseries released a free guide today to help Aiken gardeners avoid fall mistakes by fixing pruning, watering, and fertilizing errors.
The guide (What To Do and What NOT To Do in Your Aiken Garden This Fall) outlines timing for lawn care and planting and is available for download.
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Real Estate
A new study shows that tenants in Aiken benefit from laws that require a 24-hour notice before entry and offer a five-day grace period to catch up on rent—protecting them from swift evictions—while landlords across Georgia face fewer protections.
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Sports
The undefeated Wagener-Salley War Eagles (6-0) will host the 5-1 Blackville-Hilda Hawks today at 7:30 p.m. in a small-school region opener, as both coaches stress team chemistry and a high-scoring offense.
WRDW/WAGTRead more
South Aiken football recorded a 35+0 win over Fox Creek on Oct. 1, with three scores in the final quarter helping the T-Breds improve to 5-1.
The team will host Irmo in their next region opener after a bye week.
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Jayden Hatcher earned player of the week after scoring three touchdowns + rushing for 145 yards in a 55–19 win as coach Richard Bush praised his hard work and steady improvement.
He will boost North Augusta in their upcoming game against Irmo.
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