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Today’s edition · Sun., Nov. 8

Aiken holds its first Veterans Day parade; Irmo beats South Aiken 39-0

Plus, Irmo heads to North Augusta next week and a data center panel makes its case.

The 5AM Aiken team2 stories16 sources5 min read

CommunityTop story

Aiken holds its first-ever Veterans Day parade through downtown

1stVeterans Day parade Aiken has ever had

Organizers said they were surprised to find out Aiken had never had one before.

Source: WJBF

If you were downtown for it, you saw a first. The put on the first Veterans Day Parade, and people filled the streets to watch. WRDW also has video of the parade.

The timing wasn't intentional, organizers said, but Lowell, chair of the Aiken Veterans Council, pointed to the recent 250th celebration as extra reason to mark it.

“This will be, in my opinion, the largest parade in South Carolina and I think the largest in the CSRA.”

Jim Lorraine, grand marshal
  • Host: Aiken County Veterans Council
  • National Anthem: sung by Presley Jane
  • Grand marshal: Jim Lorraine

More Veterans Day events are on the calendar this week: a free concert in North Augusta, the American Legion Post 71 ceremony, the New Ellenton Veterans Day Program and a Veterans Day Ceremony at Hammond Hill Elementary.

Veterans Day events fill the week ahead

  1. Nov. 9Hammond Hill Elementary holds its Veterans Day ceremony, 10 a.m.
  2. Nov. 9Free Veterans Concert by Savannah River Winds, 7 p.m., North Augusta
  3. Nov. 10New Ellenton Veterans Day Program, 6 p.m., community center
  4. Nov. 11American Legion Post 71 ceremony, 11 a.m., Wade Hampton Veterans Memorial Park

Source: the event's listing

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High School Football

Irmo shuts out South Aiken 39-⁠0 and heads to North Augusta next

If you follow South Aiken, the Thoroughbreds lost their first-round playoff game. Irmo won 39-0 in a Class 5A rematch at , one of 10 local sites for first-round games. The Yellow Jackets won both meetings this season.

Irmo's win came with a few flags

39-0
Irmo's win over South Aiken
3
Irmo touchdowns called back by penalties
25-16
score of Irmo's Oct. 2 loss
8-3
Irmo's record now

Source: Cola Daily

  • Britton Davis: three touchdown passes
  • Zay Chew: 25-yard touchdown run
  • Isiah Moten: two field goals
  • Semaj China: 50-yard kickoff return to close the scoring

Irmo travels to North Augusta next week, looking to avenge that Oct. 2 loss. Head coach Aaron Brand was bothered by the penalties, which wiped out three touchdowns, and he found that inexcusable. Many of the area's top teams also had first-round byes this week.

Irmo has a second shot at North Augusta

  1. Oct. 2Irmo loses 25-16 in the regular season.
  2. Nov. 6Irmo beats South Aiken 39-0 in the first round.
  3. Next weekIrmo travels to North Augusta, looking to avenge the 25-16 loss.

Source: Cola Daily

News Notes

Data centers

Representatives from two of the three data centers under construction in Aiken County told the Aiken Chamber of Commerce's Nov. 6 breakfast at Newberry Hall that the incentives can be "transformational" and bring "generational wealth." Meta's Laura Warren and DC BLOX's Chris Gatch spoke. Post and Courier

3data centers under construction in Aiken County

Meta and DC BLOX were represented on the Nov. 6 panel at .

Source: Post and Courier

Comp Plan

If you live or work in North Augusta, the first public open house on the city's 10-year Comprehensive Plan rewrite is Nov. 17 at the North Augusta community center. You can weigh in on housing, transportation, infrastructure and land use. Post and Courier

Symphony

The Aiken Symphony's Veterans Day Pops concert is at 7:30 p.m. Wed., Nov. 11, at the at USC Aiken. The program features patriotic favorites, according to a news release. Augusta Good News

Author expo

Black authors from across the region will gather in Aiken next weekend for the third annual Our Words Matter Author Expo. Organizer Deborah Jefferson says this year adds a speaking session and a mini-awards presentation. WJBF

Touch-a-Truck

Hillview Christian Academy in Graniteville held its Touch-a-Truck event Thursday. Kids sat in a fire truck and a police car, and EMTs Quincy Wright and JD Adams let them explore their ambulance. Volunteer Pam Clifton said the event is in its second year. Post and CourierWRDW

Tech

Finally, earbuds you can actually sleep in. These 2-in-1 Bluetooth earbuds feature an ultra-flat, featherlight design that won't dig into your ears when you're lying on your side. Cue up your favorite playlist, white noise or bedtime meditation and let yourself drift off. Shop them for under $30.

Beauty

The Buy team here. Meet one of our favorite lip combos: Smashbox’s Full Fill-ter Smoothing Lip Glass Balm and Studio Extreme Longwear Lip Liner. The liner delivers up to 16 hours of transfer-proof, smudge-free wear, while the gloss provides eight hours of hydration and a high-shine finish. Our go-to pairing? Medium Brown liner with Coax gloss.

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We hope you’re enjoying what we deliver to your inbox: a feel-good snapshot of what’s happening around town. No doomscrolling, no dry headlines — just real stories, uplifting news, and local happenings that bring our community together.

But here’s the thing: creating meaningful, high-quality local content takes time, heart, and resources. That’s where you come in.

Over the next few days, we’re organizing a fundraising campaign to boost our daily, hyperlocal newsletters, and we’d love your support with a recurring monthly gift. Think of it like buying us a cup of coffee every month. You'll help keep our content free and continue growing a positive local space we can all be proud of. Prefer a one-time gift? That's great, too — every dollar is a high five to our small team and a boost to local news.

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

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Quoted

The enemy of art is the absence of constraints.

— Orson Welles

Things to Do

Things to Do

Aiken, SC

Sunday, Nov. 8

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Recommendations

I went to the doctors recently

“He said: “Don’t eat anything fatty” I said: “What, like bacon and burgers?” He said, “No. fatty don’t eat anything.””

— A neighbor, Abbeville

58 likes · 19 comments

View post

The Wrap

Sunday night calls for a movie under the stars. The Big Mo Drive-In in Monetta offers three double features each weekend from March through November for the price of a single movie. With highs in the 70s and clear skies in the forecast, it's a good fit. Pop the trunk and settle in.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Paid parking starts Nov. 8 at Riverside Village

Read yesterday’s edition

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Every source in this edition16 links · 8 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. WJBFwjbf.com
  3. WRDWwrdw.com
  4. Aiken events calendartbredcountry.org
  5. Aiken events calendartbredcountry.org
  6. Aiken events calendartbredcountry.org
  7. Aiken events calendarthrillshare-cmsv2.services.thrillshare.com
  8. Cola Dailycoladaily.com
  9. The Statethestate.com
  10. Post and Courierpostandcourier.com
  11. Post and Courierpostandcourier.com
  12. Augusta Good Newsaugustagoodnews.com
  13. WJBFwjbf.com
  14. Post and Courierpostandcourier.com
  15. WRDWwrdw.com
  16. Aiken events calendar5amaikensc.com

Past issues

  1. Sat., Nov. 7Paid parking starts Nov. 8 at Riverside Village
  2. Fri., Nov. 6South Aiken opens the Class 4A playoffs Friday against Irmo
  3. Thurs., Nov. 5Aiken's first Veterans Day Parade is Saturday
  4. Wed., Nov. 4Fairfield Street Bridge should be replaced, SCDOT analysis says
  5. Tues., Nov. 3Hotel Aiken work begins; PAM Health rehab hospital opens Nov. 17
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5AM Aikento me · Sun., Nov. 86:00 a.m.

Aiken holds its first Veterans Day parade; Irmo beats South Aiken 39-0

Plus, Irmo heads to North Augusta next week and a data center panel makes its case.

The TLDR

  1. Aiken holds its first-ever Veterans Day parade downtown
  2. Irmo shuts out South Aiken 39-0 in the playoffs
  3. Irmo visits North Augusta next week for a rematch
Read this edition

More stories this week

From 5AM Aiken’s other editions

All the news
North AugustaPaid parking starts Nov. 8 at Riverside Village, and the first two hours in the decks stay freeIf you park at Riverside Village in North Augusta, you'll start paying Nov. 8. Scan the QR code on the posted signage. There's no app and no paper ticket, and license plate readers handle enforcement. November is a warning period, and penalties begin Dec. 1.Saturday’s editionRead CommunityThe Salvation Army of Aiken kicks off its Red Kettle Campaign and needs bell ringersIf you have a few hours to spare, The Salvation Army of Aiken needs volunteer bell ringers to fill open shifts. Individuals, families, friends, coworkers and church groups are all encouraged to sign up. This year, every kettle will carry a QR code that links straight to online giving, for folks who don't carry cash.Saturday’s editionRead High School SportsSouth Aiken opens the Class 4A playoffs Friday against IrmoIf you follow high school football, South Aiken's postseason starts Friday against Irmo. The lower state bracket has South Aiken as the 11th seed and Irmo as the sixth. Dreher and Wilson also meet in the first round.Friday’s editionRead

Around Aiken

From Post and Courier, WRHI and 2 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news

  1. Post and Courier2 hours ago

    Today’s events for Nov. 9

    Let's Go Bingo will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays at the Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 E. Pine Log Road. There is a $5 cover charge. Game cards are $1 each or $15 to $25. For more information, visit facebook.com/letsgobingoaiken.

  2. WRHI4 hours ago

    York and Lancaster County Runners Crowd the Front at 4A Cross Country Qualifier

    South Pointe High School senior Libba Faircloth and Catawba Ridge High School senior Ryan Pierson each won their races Saturday at the South Carolina High School League 4A state cross country qualifier at The Farm at Newberry. Eight York and Lancaster County schools competed at the qualifier, which determines which teams and individuals advance to

  3. Fort Mill Sun4 hours ago

    Nation Ford and Catawba Ridge Post Strong Runs at 4A Cross Country State Qualifier

    Catawba Ridge High School senior Ryan Pierson won the boys Odd race Saturday at the South Carolina High School League 4A state cross country qualifier at The Farm at Newberry, finishing the 5K course in 16:57.00. Pierson beat Aiken sophomore Brayden Ramsey by 10.73 seconds. Nation Ford High School had strong runs of its own,

  4. Bluffton Today10 hours ago

    News From Around the South Carolina Lowcountry

    News and community highlights from around our corner of the S.C. Lowcountry

  5. Post and Courier10 hours ago

    Paul Knox Middle School cafeteria to get $4.45 million renovation

    The Paul Knox Middle School cafeteria will be getting an upgrade that will bring much needed improvements to the school.

  6. Post and Courier10 hours ago

    NNSA announces new SRS field office manager

    The National Nuclear Security Administration is the landlord of the Savannah River Site.