FUZZY AND THE BOYS

7 79 Masters champ gives two local boys c chance on green at course | 2A

Get the latest deals available in North Augusta | 6-7A

INSIDE TODAY

The Star
April 14 - 20, 2011 | Vol. XVIII, No. 32 | 50

North Augusta

Man who shot officer pleads guilty

By ANNA DOLIANITIS Staff writer

Nearly two dozens officers from the North Augusta Department of Public Safety filled the front rows of the courtroom Tuesday morning, as the 42-year old man accused of shooting officer Kevin Hayes in the face in 2009 pleaded guilty and received the maximum sentence for his crimes. Timothy Houston was sentenced

Hayes

Houston

to 20 years for assault and battery

with intent to kill, five years for possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, 10 years for assault with intent to kill, five years for failure to stop for a blue light, five years for possession of an unlawful or stolen pistol, and 10 years for discharging a firearm into a vehicle, all to run concurrently. On the evening of June 3, 2009, Hayes attempted to make what he thought would be a simple traffic

stop, when Houston, driving a white court next week. Cadillac, drove off. Hayes pursued In a matter of minutes, (Housthe vehicle, and Houston led Hayes ton) selfishly decided that getting on a 4.8-mile chase around Aiken away from me and extending his County and parts of North Augusta, criminal career was more important eventually making a U-turn, douthan my life. Unfortunately, there bling back, and firing eight shots at are people in the world such as Hayes vehicle including one shot the defendant...and if not for law that went through Hayes nose. His enforcement officers, who will propassenger, volunteer firefighter Dan- tect our community? Hayes said in iel Williams, remained unharmed, a prepared statement in court. said Solicitor J. Strom Thurmond Jr., who was set to try the case in Please see NADPS, page 9A

IN THE NEWS

Berry season debuts at strawberry farm

Saturday was the opening day for Gurosiks Berry Plantation, in Edgefield County. | 1C

ING EAK BR BARRIERS

AREA WOMEN PLAY MAJOR ROLES IN LOCAL LEADERSHIP
By BILL BENGTSON Staff writer

SONYA LINDLEY

CMONA appreciates local volunteers

Community Ministry honors those who lend hand to help neighbors in community at luncheon. | 3C

INDEX
Bookings Classifieds Editorials Obituaries Profile Religion Social School Menus Through my Eyes by Charley Britt 8A 3B 11A 4-5A 8B 3B 5B 2B 9A

atching thugs, directing tons of garbage, running a bank and leading the protection of a watershed might have been considered mens work a generation ago, but several local women have taken major strides in opening up an assortment of fields over the past three decades in the private and public sector alike. For Linda Oliphant, the first steps into new territory took place at age 17, when she got a summer job with the Trenton Police Department, helping answer the phone. A generation later, she is the North Augusta Department of Public Safetys longest-serving female officer, having become the agencys first female officer in 1980 one of the communitys more prominent women to make the leap into a traditionally maledominated field.
Please see BARRIERS, page 10A

TANYA STRICKLAND TRISH INGLE LINDA OLIPHANT

Email your praise or critique of news events happening around our community to editor@northaugustastar.com

Celebrate keeping the Earth healthy

By BILL BENGTSON Staff writer

Eighth Artisans Fair to feature high-end works

By BILL BENGTSON Staff writer

Firestone of South Carolina. Details are available at 441-4310 and jfelak@northaugusta.net.

ADDRESS LABEL

Marionettes, snakes and Bridgestone-Firestone tires galore are among the elements planned for Saturdays gathering at Lions Field the annual Kids Earth Day event. This years assembly is to be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The price of admission is one aluminum can, and all activities and plants are free. The Columbia Marionette Theater is to present two performances of Litter Trashes Everyone, with emphasis on the importance of keeping the Earth clean and beautiful. Animals from the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory are also to be on hand, as will local weatherman Jeff Rucker and an obstacle course provided by Bridgestone-

One of the Olde Towne Preservation Associations biggest events of the year is one day a away, with the eighth annual O Olde Towne Artisans Fair being s set to run from Friday through S Sunday. Admission to all aspects i is free. A preview party is to be Frid day from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday h hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and S Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p p.m. Weve got some really good, h high-end art and artisans this y year, said Lynn Thompson, O OTPA president. Its really g good-looking stuff something f for everybody, all price ranges. Attractions this year, courtesy o of visitors from West Virginia

File photo

Musician John Fry demonstrates a few techniques to Annette, left, and Grace Lint.
and the Carolinas, include blown glass and granite garden structures. Some of the artists are newcomers, and some are familiar faces, Thompson said, pointing out that this year marks the parks 20th anniversary.
Please see ARTISANS, page 8A

10A | April 14 - 20, 2011 was when I first started. Also on board with the municipal government is Continued from 1A Tanya Strickland, whose work days tend to focus largely on When I got out of high environmental protection in school, I went to college and general and water quality in majored in criminal justice, particular, sometimes in setshe recalled, pointing out that tings that involve getting a she had no family connection close look at North Augustas to law enforcement, aside alligator population. from a cousin who was a miliI do a lot of work in educatary police officer. tion outreach and water-quality Oliphant, now a sergeant monitoring and assessments of with the North Augusta streams and creeks and such, Department of Public Safety, said Strickland, environmental got on board with her employ- coordinator in the municipal er straight out of college, in governments storm-water 1980. management department. She It was totally male when has been with the City governI came down here, and it was ment for six years and in her just eye-opening, to say the line of work for 11 years. least different, but that was With the establishment of short-lived, she recalled. Brick Pond Park, Stricklands On the subject of being a role has grown to include woman in a man-heavy occuhelping lead tours of the park pation, she said she may have and helping local kids get been steered over the years better acquainted with the into situations dealing with flora and fauna in one of the children. CSRAs most-visited wetland Now, there have been some areas. instances, when I first started, The most important reawhere it was not to my benefit son I went into it is because I (to be a woman) ... Ive had wanted to work to make our females tell me, I called the waters more clean, so I chose police. I didnt call you. That this profession, and storm-

The Star water actually is a new regulation that came into power, for most people, in 2006, so it was a natural procession for me to move into this, she said. I wouldnt have thought this would have been what Id be doing regulating storm water and construction and education outreach, but it turned out to be a perfect fit. The municipal staff also includes Sonya Lindley, superintendent of sanitation services. When I came here, I was already executive director for a three-county waste authority, she said, confirming that she stepped into her role in January 1999 without facing a huge set of obstacles. There are some, but I rise above it, and you cant get me down, she said, with a laugh. Lindley helps supervise dozens of employees in addition to an inmate crew with such focal points as residential waste, commercial waste and recycling. I have three supervisors and a foreman in sanitation services, and theyre the ones that make you look good, and the people that actually do the job are the ones that make you look good. Lindley said City Administrator Sam Bennett has provided a huge boost for her department. Hes a people person and he cares about the workers, and thats really important. Its something new to them, since hes been here. Currently working in an allfemale office environment is Trish Ingle, a retail sales manager with First Citizens Bank. As of January of this year, I am what they call a hub manager, which is (serving) the North Augusta offices both Georgia Avenue and Knox Avenue, she said. Ive been with First Citizens for five years, and prior to that, I was with Wachovia for 30 ... Back in the day, they were the typical branch, made up of the manager and the assistant manager, which were both males, and the teller lines consisted of females and the customer-service were generally females. The North Augusta native got on board with banking in 1976, having graduated from Augusta College. Her first role was as a drive-through teller at South Carolina National Bank, on Georgia Avenue (the current Wachovia site), where she saw plenty of managers come and go. She moved up to teller leader, supervising the teller staff, and an Aikenbased executive brought some encouraging and yet challenging words. He told me one day, I could see you as a manager one day, but its going to take you three times as long as it would a male, and I was a little offended, she said. The expectation, she said, may have been rooted in her having begun as a teller and worked her way through the system, as opposed to having been hired from elsewhere. Seeing women in the various roles is now much more common. As you look at our branch today, were a female branch. Were all females here, and thats kind of neat. At the Georgia Avenue branch, of course, we have a couple of males, but they do different functions and Im the manager of that branch, as well. Plenty of changes have

North Augusta, S.C. come along the way, she confirmed, adding, Every day has been a surprise ... Every day Im learning something new, still. Ingle made similar comments, recalling a lot of hard work and perseverance and tenacity to prove that I could handle the responsibility en route to her current role. I think that upper management saw that I wasnt going anywhere, after 20-something years, so that position was offered to me. I take pride in my work, and I feel very fortunate to be working for a great bank like First Citizens. A highlight was when she was making a shift in her career. As I left Wachovia and came to First Citizens, I found a lot of my elderly customers followed me, which is usually a hard thing to do for an older person, because theyre set in their ways, so I thought it was a great honor to have those customers follow me to First Citizens, and that says a lot about the relationships that weve developed over the years.

Barriers

Huddle House murder to be featured on

| 5A

IN THE SPOTLIGHT this RETIRING Augusta Baptist pastor REDDING See who was center stage at Longtime North

IN THE NEWS

The Star
North Au ugusta
March 31 - April 6, 2011 | Vol. XVIII, No. 30 | 50
By KAREN DAILY Staff writer

years North Augusta Idol. | 1B

retires after 40 years in ministry. | 3B

Forklift thief fails in ATM heist attempt

North Augusta police are searching for a man who stole a forklift from a North Augusta middle school, took it to a bank and then attempted to steal an entire ATM. Although the man was successful in loading the machine, North Augusta Public Safety received an alarm at the First Citizens Bank on Knox Avenue before the man could get away, police said. Shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday, an officer responded to the alarm and found the ATM flipped on its back with both doors open and a large JCB forklift still running, police said. The ATM was destroyed; however, police said the suspect didnt get any of the cash in the machine. During the early morning investigation, the officers tracked down the forklift and learned it was stolen from a construction site at North Augusta Middle School, 725 Old Edgefield Road. The equipment belonged to an Anderson company. The companys representative who spoke with police said the forklift had been parked and locked at the middle school. Police said it appeared as if it had been driven around the school and out the front gates to Old Edgefield Road. Investigators said photos from the surveillance cameras at the bank show that a black male between 25 to 35 years old was operating the forklift. There was also a 1988-1998 Chevy truck in the area during the attempted ATM theft, police said. The case is under investigation.

ROAD CHANGES
Are you being affected by the renumbering on Atomic Road? | 3A

Living in
By PHYLLIS BRITT Staff writer

2011 MISS NASH

30 YEARS FOR MURDER

Man pleads guilty to 2009 murder case, sentenced to 30 years in prison. | 3A

faith
D
rive down Georgia or Carolina avenues on a Sunday morning, and youll immediately know where most North Augustans spend their day of rest in church. Or try to do business on a Wednesday afternoon or evening and youll find many of the local establishments closed for the day at noon. Theres even still one restaurant that closes early so the owners and employees have time to get to church on Wednesday night. But what does that mean for the church in 2011? Members of Leadership North Augusta recently got a glimpse into the answer with the help of some of the citys church leaders. And the answer they heard was clear: If churches are to be relevant in a modern world, they must look outside themselves. Several local ministers shared where their churches are headed in North Augusta and how the congregations are

For some churches, this is it serve us, rather than service, but it is Fairviews desire to be a troop-carrier rather than a luxury liner. DR, BOB FULLER,
Fairview Presbyterian Church pastor

Photo by Kevin Wilson

REVAMPING SCHOOLS
Aiken County BOE votes to move five assistant superintendents into new roles at Aiken office. | 2A

INDEX
Bookings Classifieds Editorials Obituaries Profile Religion Social Through my Eyes by Charley Britt Email your praise or critique of news events happening around our community to editor@northaugustastar.com 6A 4B 13A 4A 8B 3B 5B 12A

working to keep the church message current. Participating in the discussion were Pastor Jim Glander of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, the Revs. Jim Dennis of Grace United Methodist Church, Josh Edwards of Belvedere First Baptist Church and Dr. Bob Fuller of Fairview Presbyterian Church. And to conclude the conversation was Dr. Curt Watke, who described the bigger picture of religion throughout the CSRA. Pastor Glander suggested todays congregation must be focused on looking ahead, not building numbers, but ministering to the needs of others, he said, as he pointed to his churchs motto, Christs work; Our hands. To do that Holy Trinity Lutheran has added a contemporary service, Craze 4 Praze, twice a month and has done a great deal more toward reaching outside the church.
Please see FAITH, page 5A

Tears of joy flowed down Lacey Fergusons face when she was sashed and crowned as the 2011 Miss NASH last Saturday night.

NAHS names Ferguson as Miss NASH

By BILL BENGTSON Staff writer

March has been a big month for Lacey Ferguson over the past four years, and the tradition reached a new high point Saturday evening at North Augusta High School, as she won top honors overall at the Miss NASH pageant.
Please see NASH, page 14A

YELLOW JESSAMINE FESTIVAL

Festival blossoms despite the rain

By SUZANNE R. STONE Staff writer

Photo by Bill Bengtson

Stock photo

Crosby Broadwater demonstrates the bo-staff as part of a presentation by Premier Martial Arts during Fridays Yellow Jessamine Festival gathering at Jackson Square.

ADDRESS LABEL

Come rain or come shine, the fifth annual Yellow Jessamine Festival took root in downtown North Augusta on Saturday. The festival opened on Georgia Avenue at 11 a.m. Saturday, with plans to remain open until 4 p.m. despite cloudy skies. Rains did begin at 1 p.m., but the festival continued on with some alterations. Weve moved a couple of acts up a couple of hours hoping to beat the next rain. But the crowds have been steadily picking up this morning, said John Felak of the City of North Augusta Department of Parks, Recreation and Leisure Services.
See JESSAMINE, page 14A

INSIDE PROFILE LOOK S

The Star
ug ugusta
May 12 - 18, 2011 | Vol. XVIII, No. 36 | 50

FOR YEARBOOK

NAHS APOLOGIZES

OMISSION2B

WOMAN OVERCOMES CONDITION, SUCCEEDS IN EE WHAT AREA KIDS OBTAINING EDUCATION 8B ARE DOING IN SCHOOL

1B

cancer
Photos by Mike Adams

Running out

HOWS THAT?

Sarah Beth Vaughn, 9, donates her hair to Locks of Love last weekend at Relay for Life.

Event raises about $35K for research

By PHYLLIS BRITT News editor

undreds of folks gathered last Friday night for a little fun, food and camaraderie in the name of one cause: fighting cancer. The North Augusta/

Midland Valley Relay For Life was held at the North Augusta High School stadium. Introducing the evenings festivities was Glenn Nichols, who with his wife Erin co-chaired the event.
Please see RELAY, page 11A

Photo by Bill Bengtson

Joe Hillary and family put on a wonderful performance of gospel music at the Relay For Life at North Augusta High School Stadium.

Kindergartner Zoey Owens provides a back-scratch for her mom, Emily Owens, during the spa day held Friday morning at Mossy Creek Elementary School, offering a little extra handson affection in advance of Mothers Day.

INDEX
Bookings Classifieds Editorials Obituaries Profile Religion Social Sports Through my Eyes by Charley Britt 6A 5B 15A 4A 8B 3B 4B 13A 15A

Program discusses what it means to lead

By PHYLLIS BRITT News editor

Email your praise or critique of news events happening around our community to editor@northaugustastar.com

What does it take to be an effective leader in todays world? That was the question before a gathering of participants in the various Leadership programs throughout the CSRA. Representatives of Leadership North Augusta, which hosted the daylong 2011 Regional Leadership Forum, were joined by those from Aiken County, Augusta/ Richmond County, Columbia County, McDuffy County and Lincolnton County, as they were led through a
Please see LEADER, page 12A

Local leaders hope to focus on cooperation, economic development

By PHYLLIS BRITT News editor

Photo by Phyllis Britt

Leadership North Augusta classmate Toi Bowie, left is one of 12 volunteers to participate in a teamwork exercise under the direction of speaker Charles Nickell during a Leadership North Augusta-sponsored conference on leadership held last week.

Local government leaders agreed that economic development, cooperation and regionalism were among the top things a leader in the CSRA must focus on. During a leadership conference held last week in North Augusta, representatives of a number of local

leadership programs (Leadership North Augusta, Leadership Aiken County, Leadership Columbia County, etc.) had the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of a panel of CSRA leaders. On hand to share their thoughts were Mayor Lark Jones of North Augusta, Mayor Fred Cavanaugh of Aiken, Aiken
Please see PANEL, page 12A

ADDRESS LABEL

AS04-529084

Watch group holds event for neighbors to mingle in belvedere 1b

Aug. 11-17, 2011 Vol. XVIII, No. 49 50

Bennett takes job with Santee Cooper

By PHYLLIS BRITT editor@northaugustastar.com

The Star
The City Administrator for 412 years in North Augusta, Bennett admitted he wasnt really looking for a new job, but the position with the state-owned electric and water utility offered opportunities for Bennett and his family that he could not ignore. Santee Cooper is located in Moncks Corner, not far from where Bennett and his family spent seven years when he was the assistant city administrator in Goose Creek and among his responsibilities was economic development. It is likely that they will move back to Goose Creek, where

bENNETT

North Augusta City Administrator Sam Bennett has accepted a position as the manager of economic development with Santee Cooper and will leave the Citys employment Sept. 30.

they enjoyed living before and where they were involved in a close-knit church, said Bennett. Acknowledging he has an extremely good working relationship with Bennett, North Augusta Mayor Lark Jones said, When you hire good

people, its not a surprise that they get other opportunities. The mayor said he hates to lose Bennett. I hoped hed be here longer, said Jones, who called the situation regretfully understandable.

SEE bENNETT, 5A

COmINg up
Friday, Aug. 12
8:30 a.m. Merriwether Elementary School kindergarten orientation 9 a.m. -noon Open House for grades 1 through 5, Merriwether Elementary School 10 a.m.-noon Sixth grade orientation, North Augusta and Paul Knox middle schools 2-4 p.m. Meet-the-teacher open house at Belvedere, Hammond Hill, Mossy Creek and North Augusta elementary schools

Saturday, Aug. 13
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Shepeard Community Blood Center blood mobile, Hammond House, 128 Walnut Lane 7-11 p.m. North Augusta High School Class of 2001 10-year reunion, North Augusta Community Center

Monday, Aug. 15
First day of school in Aiken and Edgiefield counties 6-9 p.m. Sno-Cap FUNraising, featuring SmartKids

SEE calendaR, 1B

INSIDE TODAY

Almost 6,000 in City to attend Countys schools

By ROB NOVIT and PHYLLIS BRITT rnovit@aikenstandard.com

Star file photos

What are you looking forward to in the new school year?

COMPILED BY BILL BENGTSON

scHool staRt tiMes

The hours for each local school are:

School works to end bullying for students When students return to school

next week at Mossy Creek Elementary School, they will be greeted by teachers and staff who are primed to provide a safe atmosphere designed to help improve student academic performance.

SEE LOCAL NEWS, 3A

Bookings .....................................6A Classifieds ..................................5B Editorials ...................................13A Obituaries ...................................4A Profile .........................................8B Religion.......................................3B Social ..........................................4B Sports ....................................... 11A Through my Eyes by Charley Britt.....................................12A

INDEX

Email your praise or critique of news events happening around our community to editor@ northaugustastar.com

Schools in North Augusta will Hammond Hill, 7:35 a.m.-2:30 p.m. welcome back nearly 6,000 of the Belvedere El. 7:30 a.m.-2:25 p.m. Aiken County school districts 23,000 Mossy Creek, 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. students next Monday when school North Augusta El. 7:35 a.m.-2:30 p.m. begins. Merriwether El 7:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Things are a little different in what was Area 2, along with the other four Middle scHool attendance areas. There is no longer NAMS 7:55 a.m.-3:15 p.m. an assistant superintendent specifi PKMS 7:55 a.m.-3:15 p.m. cally charged with overseeing the four Merriwether MS 7:45 a.m.-3:12 p.m. elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school in the HigH scHool North Augusta. Instead parents will NAHS 8:15 a.m.-3:20 p.m. look mainly to the principals at the Fox Creek 7:55 a.m.-2:58 p.m. individual schools, as well as to the two elected school board officials who represent the North Augusta schools now one of two assistant superintenRay Fleming and Keith Liner. dents for elementary education, and The district administration estabher office is located at the district lished an organizational redeoffice in Aiken. sign this year, moving the see MoRe School administrators and five area assistant superinten- INSIDE ON the district office are still dents into the district office Heading working out the hierarchy with new titles and duties. under the new plan that no Four of them are serving as bACK TO longer includes attendance academic officers; the fifth, areas. Dr. Randy Stowe, has the In addition to the major new position of director of organizational change, the administration. school district entered into Its going well, Davidson said an agreement with Veracity Payment of the changes. Everybody seems solutions, allowing parents and/or to be adjusting. The principals are students with available credit to use a handling things like school transfers. charge card for payment for a variety If its across grade levels, Dr. Stowe is of obligations school matriculation handling that. fees and costs, band fees and rentals, At last weeks meeting of the Area certain athletic charges, lost or damaged book fees, parking fees, year2 Advisory Council, former Area 2 book costs and other fee requirements. assistant superintendent Peggy Trivelas was still handling the district side SEE scHool, 7A of the meeting; however, Trivelas is

eleMentaRy scHool

13, eighth grade, C.T. Walker Traditional Magnet School (Augusta)

Im looking forward to getting ready for academics, and hopefully well have a good year and all the other activities are good, too. JACOb ATTAWAY,

7, second grade, Merriwether Elementary School

Im looking forward to meeting my teacher and my classmates. Im looking forward to seeing how my teacher looks, and my classroom. ollye VictoRia Hadden,

5, kindergarten, Merriwether Elementary School

My best friends going to be there. Ryan Hadden,

13, seventh grade, Paul Knox Middle School

Id like to play basketball, and Id really like to be in the band, with Mr. Workman. MakaylaH aRcHibald,

10A,4b

scHool

13, eighth grade, Paul Knox Middle School

Im looking forward to being in Mrs. Adamsons class (for math) and Coach Andrews (for social studies) and basketball. kyleR Madison,

8, kindergarten, Merriwether Elementary School

My best friend. natHan noRdeen,

McDowells: Were two miracles after collision

By BILL BENGTSON bbengtson@northaugustastar.com

Two North Augusta residents were injured in a Saturday wreck on West Martintown Road, when their motorcycle was struck by a pickup truck near the I-20 interchange, according to a report from the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Ken McDowell, 57, and his wife, Donna, 54, were hurt in the collision that occurred about 10 a.m. Their injuries were described as

D. mCDOWELL

K. mCDOWELL

non-life-threatening by the agencys report. The McDowells were reportedly

on a 2005 Harley-Davidson which had come to a stop in the turn lane, facing west. They were approached by Martinez resident Jack Hudson, 58, in a 2002 Dodge truck. The truck struck the motorcycles front and Hudson, who was not injured, was charged with failure to yield the right of way. The troopers report indicated that the McDowells were not wearing helmets, and Hudson was wearing a seat belt. Several observers reported being surprised that the McDowells survived.

ADDRESS LABEL

Were two miracles, Donna said in a Monday interview, reporting that her husband was in surgery at the time at Georgia Health Sciences University. Thats exactly what we are, and weve had people tell us that, and were glad were still here. We apparently have some work to do. She described her husband as pretty beat-up adding, Ive got lots of bruises and scrapes and scratches and stuff.

SEE mCDOWELLS, 5A

Life on the River

Coming Up Around Town
Thursday, July 28
7 p.m. North Augusta Cultural Arts Council presents Music in the Park with Fort Gordon Signal Corps Band, Wesley Center at Grace United Methodist Church

1B
July 28 - August 3, 2011

Friday, July 29
3 p.m. Nancy Carson Library Summer Reading Talent Show, Sertoma Room

Face your Fears!

Challengers taste bizarre foods at library contest
By BILL BENGTSON Staff writer

Saturday, July 30
6-8 p.m. Cruise-In at SnoCap Drive-In, hosted by GaSCar Antique Automobile Club, sponsored by C&C Automotive and featuring Classic Car videos

Monday, Aug. 1
6-9 p.m. Sno-Cap FUNraising, featuring SmartKids 6:15 p.m. North Augusta City Council study session, City Council Conference Room, third floor, North Augusta Municipal Building, 100 Georgia Ave. 7 p.m. North Augusta City Council meeting, City Council chambers, third floor, North Augusta Municipal Building, 100 Georgia Ave.

Tuesday, Aug. 2
7 p.m. North Augusta Artists Guild regular meeting featuring Art Project 2011, North Augusta Community Center

Renee Burton, as the childrens assistant at Nancy Carson Library, normally serves up a menu of literature, but she expanded the menu Friday afternoon to include some extremely unusual fare. Food Fear Factor, an annual summer challenge for kids at the library, drew several participants and wound up with Genesis Johnson, 9, at the top of the heap, confirming her ability to down whatever bizarre food items Burton offered. She managed to handle seasoned crickets, pig feet and several other oddities. Her iron palate won her a $10 McDonalds gift card. Her nearest competitors were Kelvin OConner, 8, and Shameka Robinson, 12. Like Genesis, both of them handled such obstacles as pickled baby corn, sardines, caviar, pigeon peas (in coconut milk), wasabi peas and perhaps most fearsome a liquified blend featuring several of those ingredients. All three ate everything on the menu, and the winner was chosen on the basis of who could drink the blended goo most quickly. Genesis said her successful strategies for handling gross food include focusing on thoughts of better things to eat or thinking of other weird options (such as a dog biscuit).

Wednesday, Aug. 3
7 a.m. Jesse C. Lynch Memorial American Legion Post 71 breakfast, Als Family Restaurant

Aug. 5
6 to 11 p.m. Nancy Carson Library Young Adult Summer Reading presents Teen Lock-In

Aug. 6
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mildred Weeks Day at Community Ministry of North Augusta in honor of Mildred Weeks 90th birthday (Mrs. Weeks will be on site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Staff photos by Bill Bengtson

Genesis Johnson, 9, ponders the aftertaste of a cricket snack. s At right, seasoned crickets were one of the challenges dished out to contest participants.

Aug. 8
6-9 p.m. Sno-Cap FUNraising, featuring SmartKids

Aug. 10
7 a.m. Jesse C. Lynch Memorial American Legion Post 71 breakfast, Als Family Restaurant

Aug. 13
7-11 p.m. North Augusta High School Class of 2001 10-year reunion, North Augusta Community Center

Aug. 15
6-9 p.m. Sno-Cap FUNraising, featuring SmartKids 6:15 p.m. North Augusta City Council study session, City Council Conference Room, third floor, North Augusta Municipal Building, 100 Georgia Ave. 7 p.m. North Augusta City Council meeting, City Council chambers, third floor, North Augusta Municipal Building, 100 Georgia Ave.

Is this tough enough? Librarian Renee Burton prepares a challenge, having selected a mixture from such ingredients as caviar, baby food, sardines, Attempting to down a liquified mix of several gross food items are Kelvin OConner, left, 8; Shameka Robinson, 12; wasabi peas and dark chocolate. and Genesis Johnson, 9.

Aug. 17
7 a.m. Jesse C. Lynch Memorial American Legion Post 71 breakfast, Post Home

Aug. 18
6:15 p.m. North Augusta Planning Commission study session, Department of Planning and Economic Development conference center, second floor, North Augusta Municipal Building, 100 Georgia Ave.

Whoa! Shameka Robinson, 12, has a problem with Genesis Johnson, 9, experiences some regrets Spectator and helper Schump Aston, 10, demonafter downing a pig foot. strates his resolve and gag-resistant palate. the menu.

Life on the River

Coming Up Around Town
Thursday, Oct. 20
5-7:30 p.m. State of the Region conference, Palmetto Terrace, North Augusta Municipal Center, 100 Georgia Ave. 6 p.m. North Augusta Middle School football vs. Paul Knox Middle School, North Augusta High School stadium 6 p.m. Belvedere Fire District Commissioners meeting, Belvedere Fire Department, 204 Hampton Ave. 7-9 p.m. Discussion of Hamburg: What We Can Still Learn, Aiken County Historical Museum 7 p.m. Teen Open Mic Night: Ghost Stories, Nancy Carson Library

October 20 - 26, 2011

1B

Friday, Oct. 21
7:30 p.m. NAHS Yellow Jackets Homecoming football vs. South Aiken 7 p.m. Fox Creek Predators football at Williston-Elko

Saturday, Oct. 22
10 a.m. American Legion Post 71 golf tournament, Mt. Vintage Plantation Golf Club 10:30-11:30 a.m. T-RECs, gym 2, Riverview Park Activities Center 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - East Coast Operators Car Show, Runs Missionary Baptist Church, Beech Island

Photos by Mike Adams photo

The kids got moving early at the Grace United Methodist Churchs Bolivia Run on Saturday.

Monday, Oct. 24
6 p.m. Fox Creek High School board of directors, FCHS conference room

Bolivia Run sets the pace for 14th year

Staff reports

Tuesday, Oct. 25
4:30-6 p.m. RECing Crew Alley Cats bowling, Northside Lanes 6-9 p.m. Bike Night at SnoCap, featuring Legion Riders

Wednesday, Oct. 26
7 a.m. Jesse C. Lynch Memorial American Legion Post 71 breakfast, Post Home

Thursday, Oct. 27
7 p.m. Chad Crews presents Something Wicket This Way Comes: A Shakespeare Experiment, Nancy Carson Library 7:30 p.m. Spooky Tales Shades, Shadows and Darkness, Local Tales of the Unexplained, Carolina Oaks Bed and Breakfast, 819 Carolina Ave.

Friday, Oct. 28
7:30 p.m. NAHS Yellow Jackets football at Aiken High 7:30 p.m. Fox Creek Predators Senior Night football vs. Ridge Spring-Monetta

Saturday, Oct. 29
7:30 p.m.-1 a.m. North Augusta High School Class of 1986 reunion, Marriott Augusta convention center, 2 10th St., Augusta 10:30-11:30 a.m. T-RECs, gym 2, Riverview Park Activities Center 6-8 p.m. Cruise-In at SnoCap, hosted by GaSCar Antique Automobile Club, sponsored by C&C Automotive and featuring Pontiac Grand National, proceeds benefit Wounded Warriors of Augusta

Tuesday, Nov. 1
4:30-6 p.m. RECing Crew Alley Cats bowling, Northside Lanes 6:30 p.m. North Augusta Artists Guild Combo Night with local photographer Larry Gleason as guest speaker, North Augusta Community Center

Thursday, Nov. 3
6:30 p.m. Area 2 Advisory Council meeting, Belvedere Elementary School

Friday, Nov. 4
7:30 p.m. NAHS Yellow Jackets football vs. OrangeburgWilkinson

Monday, Nov. 7
6:15 p.m. North Augusta City Council study session, City Council Conference Room, third floor, North Augusta Municipal Building, 100 Georgia Ave. 7 p.m. North Augusta City Council meeting, City Council chambers, third floor, North Augusta Municipal Building, 100 Georgia Ave.

The 14th annual Bolivia Benefit Run was held last Saturday at Riverview Park. The proceeds from the event go toward Grace United Methodist Churchs missions to Bolivia. The winners include: Top Three Overall Male 5K Finishers: Will Rudisill 16:37, Joey Knight 16:56, John Michael Baldy 18:42 Top Three Overall Female 5K Finishers: Jennifer Oerman 23:13, Hannah McFall 23:28, Lily Martin 23:58. Top Three Overall Male 5K winners by age: 14 and Under: Adam McFall 18:58, Reid DeMoss 20:33, Alex McKeel 21:10. 15-19: Duey Martin 20:10, Joey Baldwin 21:05, Hampton Williams 21:44; 30-34: Steven Galles 23:53, David Lusk 27:43; 35-39: Nick Oberry 20:25, Kevin Eidely 26:01, Randy Moody 29:31. 40-44: Jay Waller 18:49, Ron Matthews 19:37, Michael Baldy 23:35; 45-49: Charles McKeel 19:10, Steve Bouye 20:15, James DeMass 22:43; 50-54: Dave Crowley 19:09, Tracy Rudisill 22:28, Jim Russ 26:04; 55-59: George Adondakis 24:44, Greg Murray 25:52, Glen Chamberlain 25:59; 60-64: Joe Lusk 20:24, Buzzy Whitlock 30:39, Bill Nolan 44:02. 65-69: Bill Seigler 29:47. Top Three Overall Female 5K winners by age: 14 and Under: Elizabeth Parler 24:34, Lauren Starette 31:59, Sarah Bishop 33:50; 15-19: Caysie Smith 25:18, Ashley Crawford 26:40, Kylie Amos 29:09.; 25-29: Stephanie Bryant 24:43, Danielle Mandes 25:45, Brittany Bryant 28:59; 30-34: Faith Brodrick 39:33, Maria Carr 40:33; 35-39: Sharon Kenney 24:03, Michelle Sweat 26:14, Danielle Whitlock 26:14; 40-44: Kim Beavers 28:40, Kelly Crawford 30:14, Jennifer Waller 30:19; 45-49: Alba DeMass 26:10; 50-54: Dede Still 30:38, Becky Sharpton 32:40, Anita Kattegat 33:03; 55-59: Donna Hobbs 31:37, Paula Easler 39:03, Anna Domingo 39:35; 60-64: Patti Hannen 40:13. Top Three One Mile Male Groups: 5 and Under: Nolan Sweat 9:36 6-7: Ross Kenney 8:27, Riley Tom 9:00, Byrd Outlaw 11:5; 8-9: Eli Hergott 6:51, Jackson Ginn

Jack Langston, 5, leaves the competition in the dust during the Tot Trot portion.

Carolina Brooks Pettigrew, 6, (left) and Riley Tom, 7, sprint to the finish in the 1-mile race.
8:09, Jackson Beavers 8:14; 10-11: Nathan McFall 6:59, Casey Tom 7:43, Zack McGhee 9:46 12-13: Isaac Hergott 6:21, Seth Kantz 10:10, Kale Gleane 12:30. Top Three One Mile Female Groups: 5 and Under: Lydia McFall 9:21, Lauren Lusk 11:38, Lilh Kohlbacher 12:4; 6-7:, Ester McFall 7:57, Carolina Pettigrew 9:00; 8-9: Julia Kenney 8:26, McKenna Wiggins 11:02, Chloe Sweat 12:03; 10-11: Laura Hergott 7:35, Ashlyn Sweat 7:56, Reagan Gambrell 8:11 12-13: Emily Sam 7:44, Erin Baumgarten 7:56, Jordan Gambrell 8:06 Top Three 5K Male Walkers: Randy Parks, Rudy Brastram, Donald Patterson. Top Three 5K Female Walkers: Debbie McFall, Cindy Parler, Peg Monahan. T-RECS Female - 20, Moynihan

Lauren Lusk and Jordan Gambrell pray before the start of the GUMC Bolivia Run.

Morning stretches were in order for the young ones at the GUMC Bolivia Run.