Daily editionFriday, October 9th, 2026
Good morning, Aiken.
The 5AM Aiken Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Friday, the 9th of October.
Community
Historic St. Paul's Episcopal Church (founded in 1886) in Graniteville will celebrate its 140th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 11 with a Holy Eucharist at 11 a.m. followed by a covered-dish luncheon in the Parish Hall, marking its longstanding role in serving the community.
The Aiken StandardRead more
Red Cross volunteers from the CSRA are departing today to support areas expected to be hit by Hurricane Isaias, while local teams—including the Salvation Army in Aiken—are ready to provide meals and shelter if conditions require.
Families are urged to monitor weather updates and follow emergency guidelines.
WRDW/WAGTRead more
The Aiken County Animal Shelter is urging locals to visit and spend time with dogs that hide in the back of kennels, as volunteers say dogs like Mia and Champ show warmth once they trust people.
Visitors are encouraged to look past first impressions when meeting these deserving pets.
The Aiken StandardRead more
Visitors at Eudora Wildlife Safari Park can explore exotic animals, enjoy pumpkin-painting+games, and experience a fall festival this October, with country singer Cody Webb performing on Nov. 1 near the Orangeburg County line.
The Aiken StandardRead more
Culture
A historical marker was unveiled outside the Aiken County Courthouse on Oct. 6 to memorialize the 1926 lynching of the Lowman family.
City council approved the marker last November and family members + local historians say it keeps the painful history visible for future generations.
The Aiken StandardRead more
On Friday, Oct. 23, the Aiken Symphony will perform a MasterWorks concert at the Etherredge Center on USC Aiken's campus, featuring works by Salieri, Mozart and Tchaikovsky with violin soloist Claire Wells.
Tickets range from $45 to $60 with discounts for active military and students.
The Aiken StandardRead more
Education
Helms College received a $1 million grant from BlackRock Future Builders on Oct. 8 to upgrade its HVAC training program.
The funding is expected to improve equipment + curriculum for future technicians.
WRDW/WAGTRead more
Government
ARTS MPO (the agency covering Aiken and nearby areas) is asking residents to report traffic backups through a confidential survey to update its Congestion Management Process for upcoming federally funded projects.
WRDW/WAGTRead more
Gov. McMaster has proclaimed Oct. 11-17 as Earthquake Preparedness Week in South Carolina and urged residents to learn seismic safety measures.
The Great Southeast ShakeOut drill will take place Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10:15 a.m. with over 1 million participants expected.
WRDW/WAGTRead more
Real Estate
Warneke Cleaners (operating at 113 Newberry St. S.W. since 1939) was torn down on Oct. 7 to clear space for a city-owned parking garage; rubble now marks the site and a nearby store for item drop off and pickup is at 215 Richland Ave. E.
Aiken StandardRead more
Sports
In a one-point win on Oct. 2 at Aiken, linebacker Zi’Yon East led the Hornets with 14 tackles — six for a loss, one forced fumble and two sacks — to help stop Midland Valley’s run game.
His strong play boosted the defense and built team confidence for upcoming contests.
Aiken StandardRead more