Daily editionTuesday, October 27th, 2026
Good morning, Aiken.
The 5AM Aiken Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 27th of October.
Community
Aiken's Salvation Army shelter is at capacity as staff report a 400% rise in families experiencing homelessness and say every cot is filled.
Staff are asking for donations (twin sheets, towels, toiletries, detergent) and volunteers; social workers are helping clients find jobs, rides, and stable housing.
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The Aiken County Historical Museum and Friends launched a $500,000 capital campaign to build a Preservation Center (4,500 sqft) in the library's vacant north wing on Chesterfield Street, and an anonymous donor will match gifts up to $250,000.
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Dancing with the Aiken Stars raised more than $320,000 on Oct. 22 to benefit local nonprofits, and organizers said that net amount after expenses will be distributed to groups including Cumbee Center, the Salvation Army, and Aiken Center (USC Aiken Convocation Center).
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Business
Canadian retailer Greenhawk Equestrian Sport opened a store at 2575 Whiskey Road in early October, taking over the former Dover Saddlery space and selling riding apparel, tack, gifts and pet products; Barbara Matousek, former Dover manager, runs the Aiken shop.
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Real Estate
Crews are clearing a 38-acre tract on Rutland Drive across from Aiken High School for Rutland Place, a planned development that will include 59 single-family homes and 210 townhomes, and city planners say construction is on track after Aiken Rutland Place LLC bought the land in May 2025 for $2.79 million.
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Sports
Week 10 saw North Augusta beat Fox Creek 64-0, Irmo beat Aiken 52-0, Blackville Hilda beat Barnwell 52-0, Saluda beat Strom Thurmond 31-27, and Silver Bluff beat Pelion 30-20.
The regular season ends Oct. 30 when rivalry games will decide region playoff seeding (brackets will be set afterward).
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