The Aiken Standard

The repair was on a 20-inch water line near Wire Road and the Aiken Department of Public Safety Headquarters building on Beaufort Street.

The repair was on a 20-inch water line near Wire Road and the Aiken Department of Public Safety Headquarters building on Beaufort Street.

Energy was high on July 20 as thousands of students returned to Aiken County Public Schools after summer break.

A Summer Revival will be held at 7 p.m. July 21 and 22 at St. Mary Baptist Church, 474 Highway 125, Martin. The Rev. Christopher Holley, pastor of Four Mile Baptist Church in New Ellenton, will serve as the revivalist. For more information, call 803-584-4254. The CNTA UP and Atom Breakfast will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at Newberry Hall, 117 Newberry St. S.W. The program will be a presentation by 2026 SRS interns. The cost is $20 per person or $160 for a table of eight.

AIKEN — On the early morning of July 20, student guardian Amanda Johnson was dropping off Ashtyn Lee to her first day of sixth grade at Paul Knox Middle School. Lee, who has a goal of keeping all A’s in her classes this year, shared that she is excited about the freedom of middle school. For Johnson, the moment was bittersweet. “I am nervous! Probably am going to cry,” she said. “I’m excited.

AIKEN — The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center wrapped up its busy summer camp season with its STEM Forward Career Exploration Camp. From July 13-17 students took excursions to places like the Savannah River Ecology Lab, an airport and a local TV station to get an idea of what kind of STEM-related careers are open to them. John Hutchens, special programs director, said that it’s always rewarding to see students learn more about themselves.

AIKEN — The City of Aiken’s partnering with conservation organizations to create the Shaws Creek Preserve and protect the forest surrounding the Mason Branch Reservoir has been recognized by the Municipal Association of South Carolina, which gave the City of Aiken a Municipal Achievement Award on July 18. The Brunswick Tract, located north of Interstate 20 between U.S. Highway 1 and S.C. Highway 19, was purchased by the City of Aiken in 2020 to buffer its 406-acre reservoir.

My family recently returned from a vacation in which hiking was the main event. We followed trails through forests and toward mountain lakes, with views that made every uphill step worthwhile. Some hikes were relatively easy, while others challenged our endurance, strength, and balance. By the end of each hike we were tired – but it was the satisfying kind of tired that comes from spending a day being active outdoors. You do not need to travel to a national park to enjoy the benefits of hiking.