Hurricanes reshape Aiken as Gulf Coast relief spreads
After Hurricane Katrina, Aiken faced gas prices over 3 dollars a gallon and long lines at pumps. The town embraced evacuees with fundraisers and food drives while welcoming several families who chose to settle locally. Shopping centers expand on Whiskey Road amid speculation about future big retailers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gulf Coast
Aiken
Checkers
Kroger Condensed
Whiskey Road
Old Navy
Bed, Bath and Beyond
TJ Maxx
Former agriculture commissioner sentenced in cockfighting case
Charles Sharpe, former commissioner of agriculture, was sentenced to two years in federal prison in April after admitting in January he took $10,000 to cover up a Wagener area cockfighting ring. Indicted after a two year undercover probe in July 2004, he faced counts of extortion under color of law, money laundering, and making false statements.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Commissioner of Agriculture
Wagener
Sharpe
Site Cuts Jobs as MOX Facility Breaks Ground in 2005
SRS Savannah River Site faced a year of layoffs with about 1,200 workers affected. Some were given pink slips while many layoffs used a self select process due to accelerated cleanup. Aiken County Council rejected $36.3 million tax increment financing bonds for Trolley Run Station and Sage Creek infrastructure amid public opposition. State Senator Greg Ryberg and others pledged TIF reform.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Snesavannah River
Fine-Deering Development Corp
Aiken County
Trolley Run
Sage Creek
TIF
Council
Greg Ryberg
Wise Whathaga clan killer dies after 1997 murders
Hastings Wise Whathaga, linked to a 1997 terror spree that killed four Phelan plant workers, died on November 4 after waiving appeals. He had been granted his wish to die, remaining quiet and unrepentant to the end.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Arthur Hastings Wise
Phelan
Wise
Year of animal headlines and local tragedies in 2005
Animal control faced a year of dramatic cases from May to December with 170 goats seized and later returned, 100 exotic animals and an emaciated dachshund found in a filing cabinet, and the goings on at a North Augusta store. Missing persons cases included Marion Key and Rose McKevie with remains found later, while Iraq veteran Jason Moski was killed in February. The year also saw a note on Sheriff Hunts pistol theft and a former sheriff's death in Alabama. Jane Vaughters won reelection and Don Wells won a council seat in Aiken elections.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
North Augusta
May
Animal Control
Aiken
Marion Key
Edgefield County
Rose McKevie
McKevie
Jane Vaughters
Don Wells
Iraq
Jason Moski
Taji
Hunt
Howard Sellers
Aiken County
Alabama
Also Mentioned on This Page
Katrina
Charles Sharpe
Hastings
University
Cs.r.a
National Research Corporation
Home Health Services
Avaaune
City OF
City of Aiken
Robert A Cothran
Park Avenue
Acothran
Aiken.net
Wwwaaiken.net
Hitchcock Foundation
Michael Batchelor
Batchlor
Creasin
SK B
Terol
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!