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We trade sled runs for city plans with Mayor Rocky Burgess, unpacking why Ingles is delayed, how the town enforces site standards, and where trails and sidewalks unlock daily life. Along the way, we hit sports, small-business wins, and a fast fix for a washed-out bridge.

• why the mayor won’t run again but stays hands-on
• community sled day, churches on the hill, and mayors’ race
• collaboration across three towns to avoid event overlap
• Zach Howard on NIL and the transfer portal effect
• status of the Ingles property and required cleanup
• incentives, fee in lieu, and tax base tradeoffs
• trail extensions linking parks, schools, and new homes
• Veterans Park Bridge crane plan and spring reopening goal
• new businesses, ribbon cuttings, Tractor Supply and Spinx timing
• DOT pushback on sidewalks and walkability for LMI areas
• Williamston night at the Swamp Rabbits and local honors
• Freedom Fest date shift and booking strategy
• Burgess Family Foundation support for seniors and students

If you have any questions, comments, want to sponsor or be a guest - just email me, [email protected]

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We explore how shared rituals turn a busy season into a kinder one, from concerts as neutral ground to campus traditions led by our “Director of Holiday Hype.” Tanya shares how she builds warmth with simple, repeatable moments that make people feel seen.

• concerts as rare places of peace
• origin of a holiday hype role at school
• growing up Christmas without Santa
• family traditions that still matter
• real vs artificial trees and lights
• gift cards, Secret Santa, and office culture
• student surveys on films, gifts, best and worst
• either-or holiday preferences with reasons
• rapid-fire trivia, facts, and friendly chaos
• recommendations: Prancer and fresh cookies

All the podcasts from the first half of the year, including this one, are on Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcasts
If you want to be a sponsor of the show, email [email protected] for information
All the proceeds we get for this show will go towards our students to help them go on their annual trip to New York City!

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We sit down with John Benca to trace a life that bridges public service and hospitality, from a physics degree and restaurant openings to the Anderson County auditor’s office and a downtown pub that survived downturns and storms. The story crescendos with adopting Sam, a family choice that reframes work, legacy, and leadership.

• education in Georgia and early career moves
• opening McGee’s Irish Pub and shaping a menu
• how property taxes work locally in South Carolina
• running an auditor’s office with integrity and service
• cross-training, staffing, and standards in teams
• resilience through recessions, tornadoes, and a pandemic
• the adoption journey and talking to a child about it
• Sam’s YouTube channel and family traditions
• favorite dishes, sourcing, and shrimp-and-grits tips
• leadership principles without micromanaging

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We trace Tim Self’s journey from scout leader to foundation head, and unpack how gratitude, trust, and clear asks turn community giving into real healthcare impact. Community response, teen mental health, and workforce pipelines are among the chapters in an interesting and hopeful story.

• small-town roots and scouting lessons shaping leadership
• cookie tables to donor strategy and the art of the ask
• pandemic mask drive and supply chain workarounds
• what the AnMed Foundation funds and why it matters
• transactional vs transformational philanthropy
• repairing trust with genuine gratitude
• employee assistance for SNAP and WIC gaps
• teen mental health, stress literacy, and access
• workforce pipeline with ACTC labs and clinicals
• NICU growth, pediatrics expansion, oncology focus
• hiking spots, a James Garfield docuseries, and sushi picks

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We put the spotlight on Zach Howard, our longtime sports guy, and trace his path from Clemson and Braves fandom to girl dad life, a special Dallas trip with his father, and the stories that make everyday moments memorable. We also get real about “iPad kids,” TV tray dinners, and finding balance around screens, sports, and family time.

• how Zach joined our show and kept calling in through six seasons
• family life, work at the building center, and the “Big DEF” diesel story
• origin of his Clemson and Braves fandom and a bucket list of big games
• the Dallas father-son trip, stadium awe, JFK site, and rental car upgrade
• Clemson’s season, the transfer portal, local high school football
• Clemson basketball’s ceiling, shooting choices, and roster mix
• WWE night with Carsyn, upper-bowl economics, and kid emotions
• the girl dad quiz and what everyday fatherhood looks like
• TV trays returning, “iPad kids,” and screen-time balance
• practical recommendations for shows and local food on a budget

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We sit down with Julie Bell of the WebbCraft Family Foundation who shares how a hometown endowment fuels early reading, arts access, and life-changing field trips. From Disney-level planning to third-grade literacy, we trace how small grants create big momentum for local kids and teachers.

• Origins of a family foundation and mission
• Endowment model that sustains grants over time
• Focus on education, arts, and culture in BHP
• Third-grade reading and coaching as a keystone
• Field trips as first experiences beyond the neighborhood
• Partnership with ACTC and hands-on career paths
• How to apply, deadlines, and reporting
• Teacher development and program impact stories
• Disney superfan quiz and why experiences matter
• Local culture notes and Michelin star news

webbcraft.org

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A Halloween special that blends stagecraft, film lore, and smart scares. We trade slasher nostalgia for psychological bite, preview a two-actor Gothic comedy, and share real set stories from Friday the 13th to quick-change chaos on a haunted manor.

• spooky theater that favors wit, speed and surprise
• quick-change comedy with two actors playing eight roles
• Irma Vep show times, ticket info and affordability
• behind-the-scenes tricks like bleeding portraits and rotating fireplaces
• accessibility upgrades and seating overhaul at Mill Town Players
• overlooked horror films list with mood and paranoia at the core
• Friday the 13th Part VII on-set electrical and lightning hacks
• why elegant villains and psychological dread outlast gore
• Cape Fear, Blair Witch and the fear of the unknown
• crafting a Shining homage with a breakaway door and perfect timing

Tickets: milltownplayers.org. Box office: 947-8000. “Cool Yule” Christmas concert coming soon. Saturday: AndersonArtsCenter.org auction, 6 p.m. Students’ Halloween special airs three nights with Dracula, Frankenstein and War of the Worlds at mypulseradio.com and the TuneIn app.

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A hometown journey through industry change, from textiles to advanced manufacturing, with a candid look at pay, culture, and why long-term loyalty still matters. Trey Thomas shares family stories, youth sports energy, and how community partnerships fuel a stronger workforce.

• origins in Anderson, Clemson engineering, early field work
• Hill Electric’s 70-year pivot from textiles to diversified industry
• Michelin era and building resilient customer mix
• total compensation vs hourly pay and retention culture
• profit sharing history and retirements with dignity
• communication, expectations, and life skills on the job
• career centers and technical colleges as talent engines
• student work programs, senior-year earnings, NIL joke
• local entrepreneurship with Kate’s boutique downtown
• youth sports, facilities, and coaching lessons
• civic service, boards, and downtown revitalization
• light news, trivia, and dining recommendations

Find out more about Hill Electric at hillelectric.net

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Jimmy Smith, a lifelong doctor and fire chief, turns mayor and lays out a practical plan to revive Honea Path with open doors, safe streets, and steady investment. We talk downtown revival, fiber, housing, healthcare access, and the ordinance that ended fire fatalities.

• hometown roots, medical training, and 42 years of family care
• 53 years in the fire service and 32 as chief
• lessons from fetal alcohol syndrome research
• the smoke detector ordinance and zero fatalities since
• Order of the Palmetto recognition for statewide impact
• why step into the mayor’s role now and how he won
• open door leadership and consistent code enforcement
• downtown revitalization via restoring the 1930 Town Hall
• infrastructure upgrades in water, sewer, and roads
• broadband expansion and reliable fiber options
• affordable housing to serve all residents
• Chicola Mill cleanup and redevelopment vision
• urgent care, rotating specialists, and mental health access
• long-term goals for controlled, human-centered growth
• personal tradeoffs and the meaning of service

Visit Honea Path, and see all the good things that are going on!

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We walk through Denver Downs’ new fall season—Lainey Wilson maze, fireworks, flowers, food—and meet the ACTC “Hogfather” whose students breed, deliver, and show pigs while learning real vet science. A student leader joins to share how FFA turned curiosity into a calling.

• Lainey Wilson corn maze design, trivia, photo ops
• How mazes are built using grids and spray
• Mums, sunflowers, and market sales with tips to replant
• USA Today Top 10 pumpkin patch and TripAdvisor honors
• New rides, games, irrigation upgrades under the maze
• Live music, bonfires, and Saturday night fireworks
• Ticket details and preseason pricing
• ACTC ag program: student-led AI, farrowing, show prep
• Vet science lab: diagnostics, handling, hands-on skills
• Student voice on FFA leadership and college plans
• Pig and duck races collaboration between ACTC and Denver Downs
• Local recommendations for food, shows, and events

Get tickets at DenverDownsFarm.com.

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