A local nuclear group that usually hosts its events in the Aiken area took its monthly breakfast on the road and out of the country to hear from one of Canada's leading cancer researchers.

Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness, or CNTA, hosted its Up & Atom breakfast Friday in Deep River, Ontario, home to the Atomic Energy Company of Canada at Chalk River.

The talk was the second in a series sponsored by CNTA and featured Dr. David Jaffray, the head of radiation physics at the Princess Margaret Hospital and a senior scientist within the Ontario Cancer Institute.

Jaffray spoke on the role of nuclear science in cancer survivability. The treatment method, radiation therapy, is a proven one and is used to treat 50 percent of all cancer patients, according to CNTA.

The approach gives surgeons, radiologists and radiation oncologists a three-dimensional view of the body during treatment, allowing them to see the exact location of cancerous tissues in real time.

Clint Wolfe, executive director of CNTA, said many cancer patients are benefiting from the new approach, which improves survival rates and quality of life. The group has interest from the Canadian group and the Sellafield plant area in the United Kingdom in developing CNTA-like organizations for those communities, said Wolfe.

He added the group is happy to talk about the medical uses of nuclear technology.

"Public education on this topic is a very important part of our mission, but we have often relegated it to a back seat behind more local issues related to SRS," Wolfe said. "Our challenge is to take advantage of every opportunity we have to educate the public on all aspects of our mission while vigorously addressing SRS issues."

CNTA sponsored its first Canadian event in October. Wolfe added the group has considered expanding to other parts of the country including Idaho, Washington and North Carolina. The group seeks to provide factual, objective information on nuclear subjects for the general public and for educational purposes.

Derrek Asberry is the SRS beat reporter for the Aiken Standard.

Check out our photo galleries from events from around your community.

Chukker Creek Field Day

http://bit.ly/1KIjsdm

Sigma Pi Anniversary

http://bit.ly/1BzdGTj

Kiwanis Benefit Car Show

http://bit.ly/1AJiU3L

Hops & Hogs

http://bit.ly/1FMEy67

Walk N' Roll

http://bit.ly/1cu7Gof

Fox Creek Graduation

http://bit.ly/1Qkp4cu

South Aiken Spring Game

http://bit.ly/1Qkp6AZ

Adult Education Graduation

http://bit.ly/1RG4SEj

Aiken County Council and officials will meet Tuesday for a second time to discuss the proposed fiscal year 2015-16 operating budget.

The 6 p.m. budget work session is open to the public and will be held in the Council Chambers in the Aiken County Government Center, 1930 University Parkway. No regular meeting will be held before or after the work session.

Council already voted in May to approve the County's proposed $62.7 million budget, with an additional 2.4 millage increase on its first vote.

The budget must go through two more readings and a public hearing before Council can give final approval.

County officials are still proposing a 2.4 millage increase to 72.3 mills from the current 69.9 mills, an increase that could bring in roughly $1.5 million to $1.6 million in revenue per year, they said.

A millage is the rate at which property taxes are charged based on property value.

The increase would mean a $4 cost for every mill on a $100,000 valued home; and if approved, a homeowner would pay an additional $14.40 on a home valued at $150,000.

Aiken County Administrator Clay Killian said in the budget's introduction the 2015-16 budget was "largely defined" by two major events - the appropriation and "needed" salary adjustments for all County employees in fiscal year 2015 and the financial impact from the February 2014 ice storm.

That and added expenses, including emergency work done on the Langley Pond Dam, has taxed the County's reserve funds, Killian said.

The County's capital reserve fund dropped from about $5.4 million in 2011 to $1.5 million now, and the general reserve fund stands at approximately $7.6 million, $10 million from what it was two years ago, he said.

In a work session on the budget last month, Council members asked officials for "readjusted" budget revenue numbers, and officials said they planned to talk more about a potential cut to the storm water fee by $2.

Maayan Schechter is the local government reporter with Aiken Standard. Follow her on Twitter @Maayan Schechter.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The director of South Carolina's Department of Transportation has resigned just 13 months after Gov. Nikki Haley put her at the helm.

Janet Oakley resigned Monday from her $156,000 job. Her letter to Haley gave no reason. She offered to stay in the position until Haley finds her replacement.

Oakley's resignation comes amid months of debate about how to fund road and bridge construction. The DOT has said it needs an additional $1.5 billion yearly just to bring roads to good condition.

The provision of a 2007 restructuring law that let Haley appoint the director is set to expire July 1. But the state budget is expected to include a clause extending the power.

Oakley replaced Robert St. Onge, who resigned after being charged with driving under the influence.

John Dangler of Aiken has been elected to the state's Legislative Audit Council.

The S.C. General Assembly, made up of the state House of Representatives and Senate, unanimously elected Dangler on Wednesday to the five-person board that oversees the audit council, which is charged with conducting independent, objective performance audits of state agencies and programs as requested by the General Assembly and mandated by law.

"I am quite honored and privileged to have been elected to this very important council," Dangler said. "I'm looking forward to serving. I hope to use my years of experience to assist the important obligation that this council has."

A retired county prosecutor and state superior court judge in Morris County, New Jersey, Dangler and his wife, Pat, moved to Aiken in 2009. Since then, the couple has been active in committees and special projects at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church and Mead Hall Episcopal School and in the community.

Dangler is a member and former chairman of the board of directors of the Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County. He also is a member of the Rotary Club of Aiken.

S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, recommended Dangler for the position to S.C. Speaker of the House Jay Lucas, R-Darlington.

"I recommended Judge Dangler to the governing board that oversees the LAC because of his impeccable legal credentials, his eager willingness to serve on this very important government oversight group and his dedicated community service since moving to Aiken," Taylor said. "I am also grateful to House Speaker Jay Lucas who sought a nominee from Aiken County, which reinforces the importance of this area to the entire state."

Dangler received his Juris Doctor degree from the Widener University School of Law and was admitted to the New Jersey State Bar and U.S. District Court of New Jersey in 1975. In 1981, he was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court; and in 1991, he was admitted to the Georgia State Bar.

A superior court judge for eight years, he worked in the civil, criminal and family divisions. In the family division, he processed cases involving the abuse and neglect of children, domestic violence, custody and support and juvenile matters.

A county prosecutor for six years, he provided leadership and direction in an office that processed more than 10,000 cases per year. As a municipal prosecutor for 15 years, he prosecuted cases involving domestic violence, controlled dangerous substances, assault, drunken driving and motor vehicle related matters.

A native of Aiken, Larry Wood is a general assignment reporter. He joined the Aiken Standard in September 2014.

Local residents who want to attract avian visitors to their yards, but don't want to spend a lot of money for fancy new bird feeders, might want to check out the South Carolina Bluebird Society's sidewalk sale in downtown Aiken on June 13.

Used bird feeders will be offered during the event, which will start at 9:30 a.m. in front of Birds & Butterflies, 117 Laurens St. N.W.

"We also will have some birdhouses," said Ron Brenneman, who owns Birds & Butterflies with his wife, Dori.

As of late last week, 50 used feeders had been donated for the sale, and Brenneman was expecting to receive more.

"This will be an opportunity for somebody to buy a good feeder at a good price," he said. "A lot of the feeders are high-quality feeders. There are some that probably cost $150 when they were new, and there are some that look like they have never been used. Some have lifetime warranties. We also have a brand new wood duck (nesting) box that has a crack in it that someone easily could fix with glue."

Prices for the items offered probably will range from $1 to around $20, Brenneman said. Only cash and checks will be accepted.

"Nothing will be very expensive," Brenneman said. "We want to move them; we don't want any leftovers."

Proceeds will benefit the Bluebird Society, which is based in Aiken.

"We'll use the money to put up more bluebird boxes and to maintain the more than 700 we already have out there around the Aiken area," Brenneman said. "We'll also use it for our education programs."

For more information, call 803-649-7999.

Dede Biles is a general assignment reporter for the Aiken Standard.

The Hopelands Summer Concert has been moved from the gardens to the H. Odell Weeks Center located at 1700 Whiskey Road due to inclement weather.

The 41st Season of the Hopelands Summer Concert Series continues with a performance by the Mike Frost Band featuring Lauren Meccia starting at 7 p.m.

This performance is presented by Cumberland Village.

No charges were filed in a fight between an Aiken man and a juvenile that began over rap music on Sunday.

Aiken County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a call on Old Barnwell Road at 9:35 p.m.

The man on scene told deputies he got into a fight with his son due to him playing his "gangster rap music very loud," police said.

When asked to turn the music down, the man said his son got in his face, according to the report. The man grabbed his son's shoulders and pushed him back down in his chair, police said.

The son called the man a slanderous name and used and profanity toward him, according to the report. The man threw sweet tea at the son and his Xbox 360 console, according to reports.

The man said another juvenile confronted him, punched him in the right eye and kicked him in the right leg causing swelling, according to reports.

Deputies spoke with the son who said he turned his music off when asked, but said the man got in his face and was being "racist toward his taste in music," police said.

The other juvenile stated she never saw the incident take place but retaliated anyway, according to reports.

Both parties declined medical evaluation, police said.

Report: Fight over loud rap music

A Saturday assault involving a gun is being investigated.

Aiken Department of Public Safety officers responded to York Street at 11:06 p.m. to calls of a person with a gun.

Officers found two men hiding in the woods near the intersection of York Street and Kershaw Street, police said.

The men told officers they were walking north on Sumter Street, near Smith-Hazel Park, when they were approached by four unknown black males in a black truck, according to reports. They asked the two men where they were coming from and the victims did not respond, police said.

The four suspects began chasing the men; and, while they were running, they thought they heard a gun being cocked behind them, police said.

The men ran into the woods, but were not followed, according to reports.

Officers could not locate the four suspects, and the two victims could not confirm a gun was actually used during the chase, police said.

Aiken attack still under investigation

These are the bookings recorded for the Doris C. Gravat Detention Center for May 29-31, 2015. Some of the people listed may not have actually spent time in jail if they posted bond and were released. Although those listed have been arrested and charged, that does not mean they have been found guilty. All bookings may be viewed online by visiting www.aikenstandard.com and clicking on the "Crime" tab.

Tyrone Maurice Holmes, 35 — family court/failure to pay

Billy Ray Nolan, 37 — driving under suspension more than third offense

Eric L. Williams, 31 — criminal domestic violence

Camerin Jenkins, 22 — driving under suspension second offense, driving under suspension first offense bench warrant

Tyler Dennis Johnson, 19 — unlawful to possess, dispose or distribute prescription drugs, unlawful carrying of a pistol

Joseph Mikel French Sr., 56 — family court/failure to pay

Russell Chase Smith, 29 — public drunk, transporting liquor unlawfully

Marquis Devon Hicks, 24 — failure to register as a sex offender first offense bench warrant

Chris Gruber Jr., 45 — criminal domestic violence first offense

William Hunter Ready, 20 — unlawful carrying of a pistol

Amy Genelle Boyd, 39 — trespassing after notice

Jeremy Parker Curtis, 42 — unlawful carrying of a pistol, unlawful to possess, dispose or distribute prescription drugs without a prescription

Qruintrell Renee Cook, 26 — simple possession of marijuana

Mary Elizabeth Hughes, 22 — shoplifting less than $2,000 must appear bench warrant, trespassing after notice must appear bench warrant, shoplifting $2,000 or less, financial transaction card fraud, unlawful possession of prescription drugs without a prescription, false information to police/fire

David Joel Johnson, 67 — assault and battery third degree

Dontez Devontay Capel, 21 — trespassing in an enclosed area, disorderly conduct/gross intoxication

Matthew Scott Wilkin, 41 — criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, unlawful to store, keep or possess a machine gun or sawed-off shotgun

Michael Olden, 48 — possession of a controlled substance first offense, possession of methamphetamine

Lavar Tirie Delee, 34 — fugitive from justice hold for Screven County Sheriff's Office

Mellisa Renee Harris, 45 — possession of other controlled substance, possession of less than 1 gram of methamphetamine or cocaine base first offense

Belton Phillip Williams, 31 — disorderly conduct/gross intoxication

Travis Elijah Thomas, 26 — driving under suspension first offense, operating an uninsured motor vehicle must appear bench warrant, failure to surrender suspended tag must appear bench warrant, false information to police/fire, operating an uninsured vehicle

Darian Zabriel Davis, 22 — criminal domestic violence first offense

David Wayne Warrick, 31 — possession of a weapon during a violent crime if not also sentenced to life, burglary first degree, robbery while armed with a deadly weapon

Ann Victoria Wilson, 49 — driving under suspension bench warrant

Kailashbhai C. Patel, 55 — assault and battery second degree

Amber Alexandia Jernigan, 23 — ill treatment of animals generally first offense general sessions court bench warrant

Clayton Toyb Bryant, 18 — contributing to the delinquency of a minor, possession of other controlled substance schedule IV, malicious injury to real property $1,000 or less, simple possession of marijuana, possession of less than 1 gram of methamphetamine or cocaine base first offense

Marquis Dequan Robinson, 17 — disobeying a lawful order commitment, resisting arrest commitment

Daniel Alan Siler, 29 — assault and battery third degree

Marquis Shannon Lane, 27 — criminal domestic violence bench warrant, simple possession of marijuana bench warrant, family court/ failure to appear

Jonathan Art Lincoln, 32 — parole violation

Adam Shane Ledford, 32 — malicious injury to animals or property

Travis Antwan Lanham, 17 — disobeying a lawful order commitment

Brian Wu, 51 — financial transaction card forgery six counts, forgery value less than $10,000

Luis Aragon, 21 — criminal domestic violence first offense, malicious injury to personal property

Patricia Denise Raymond, 33 — breach of trust with fraudulent intent value $2,000 or less two counts

Reginald Bernard Hammond, 37 — failure to appear general sessions court bench warrant, possession of 28 grams or less of marijuana second or subsequent offense

Braidy Andre Lee, 17 — shoplifting bench warrant

Brandon Albert Larke, 29 — driving under the influence weekender

Richard Pierre, 45 — disorderly conduct/gross intoxication

Rodney Laverne Sizemore, 47 — disorderly conduct/gross intoxication

Michael Alan Turner, 55 — common law robbery, strong arm robbery, grand larceny value more than $2,000 but less than $10,000, burglary (non-violent) second degree, robbery while armed or allegedly armed with a deadly weapon

Kwiana Walker, 22 — simple possession of marijuana

Victor Carbajal Madrid, 29 — transfer beer to a minor

Christopher Dennis, 26 — driving under the influence second offense

Hershel Calvin Scott, 30 — assault and battery first degree

Eugene Israel Hughes, 29 — simple assault

Solen Vance Coleman III, 25 — shoplifting value $2,000 or less

Sonya Janona Green, 25 — assault and battery third degree

Kerri Phyllis Sizemore, 21 — assault and battery by mob third degree

Briana Lauren McKensie, 20 — assault and battery by mob third degree

Abbie Kathleen Sizemore, 19 — assault and battery by mob third degree

Cody Edward Robbins, 24 — malicious injury to animals or property $1,000 or less, criminal domestic violence, assault and battery third degree

Marcus Chad Gregory, 30 — petit or simple larceny $2,000 or less, false information to police bench warrant

Ronald Enor Roney, 25 — driving under suspension first offense

David Dicks, 63 — driving under suspension first offense

Heatherly Dawn Fillgrove, 38 — criminal domestic violence first offense

Steven Alexander Moment, 28 — malicious injury to a tree or house, trespass upon real property

Toasha Ann McKie, 32 — disorderly conduct/gross intoxication, assault and battery third degree, shoplifting $1,000 or less

Michael A. Grant, 36 — criminal domestic violence first offense

Sherrod Rochie Whiteside, 31 — simple possession of marijuana, hold for Richmond County, Georgia

Treva Mims, 42 — shoplifting $1,000 or less

Naketa Breonta Oliphant, 20 — shoplifting $1,000 or less

Brandon Lee Meyer, 19 — simple possession of marijuana

Juan Marquez, 27 — open container of beer/wine, driving under the influence first offense

Catherine Zella Maston, 23 — failure to pay per order

Diane Naydine Brown, 55 — disorderly conduct bench warrant, false information to police/fire

Patrick Mew, 41 — disorderly conduct/gross intoxication

Ivan Kenneth Robinson, 27 — driving under the influence

Timothy Wayne Osborne, 47 — hold for Aiken Department of Public Safety warrants, unlawful use of a telephone, pointing and presenting firearms at a person

Tiffany Sheri Raines, 27 — shoplifting third offense

Andrew DeHart Hamilton, 24 — hold

James David Temp Paul IV, 24 — shoplifting second offense

Bradley Willingham, 26 — North Augusta Department of Public Safety hold

An Aiken men was arrested and charged with destroying a hotel room and possession of drugs on Friday.

Clayton Bryant, 18, was arrested by Aiken Department of Public Safety officers at 1:15 p.m. after officers responded to a call from employees at the America's Best Value Inn on Whiskey Road, police said.

The employee told officers three individuals severely damaged a room by staining all of the walls, ceiling, furniture, carpet, television and bed spreads with more than 50 chemical light contents, police said.

Officers found a 15-year-old juvenile female, Bryant and another man, according to reports.

The juvenile said Bryant was her boyfriend and the other man was just a friend, police said. She added the group did not know the chemicals would cause permanent damages, according to reports.

The manager asked officers to charge Bryant, but not the others because of company policy, police said.

While being searched, Bryant said he had "stuff" on him, and officers recovered a baggy of methamphetamine, 20 pills of Clonazepam and two small bags of marijuana, according to reports.

Bryant was placed into the Aiken County detention center, the juvenile was released to her parent and the other man was released, but was placed on trespass notice for the hotel.

According to Aiken County Sheriff's Office:

A Gloverville man reported Sunday his tag missing from his vehicle parked on Lawana Drive.

A Graniteville woman reported Sunday her house on Twelve Oaks Drive had been broken into while she was away.

A Graniteville woman reported Sunday her purse was stolen while at a party on Taylor Pond Road.

A Batesburg man reported a generator missing Sunday from his storage building on Friendly Street.

An Aiken man reported Sunday that a woman took money out of his wallet at his Franks Drive home.

On Sunday, a Clearwater woman reported two suspicious charges made to her bank account while at a bank on Jefferson Davis Highway.

A Warrenville man reported Sunday items missing from a property he owns on Crabapple Lane.

A Warrenville man reported his utility trailer stolen from his Clover Street property Sunday.

A Beech Island man reported Sunday items stolen from his residence at Owens Street.

A Graniteville man reported Sunday his golf cart stolen from his property on Day Street.

According to Aiken Department of Public Safety:

A woman reported Monday that a man broke the windshield of her mother's car parked on Single Tree Lane. The woman told officers the man broke it in a drunken rage.

A woman was detained Sunday after failing to pay for all the items in her shopping cart at a Richland Avenue store.

A woman reported Sunday that her purse was stolen out of her vehicle on Mossback Circle.

A juvenile was detained Sunday after shoplifting candy from a store on York Street.

An unknown man was caught Saturday shoplifting two Schiltz High Gravity Beers. He was confronted and ran out of the store.

A man reported Saturday items missing from his vehicle while it was parked on Richland Avenue.

A man reported Sunday that his bike was stolen while he was in a nightclub on Richland Avenue.

A man was charged Sunday with simple possession of marijuana after a vehicle search on Whiskey Road.

A woman reported Friday that juveniles shot her mailbox on Croft Avenue.

A man reported Friday that his cellphone was stolen while he was at a store on Whiskey Road.

A man reported Friday two juveniles stole candy from his store on York Street.

A man reported Friday items missing from his home on Thorpe Lane.

A woman reported Friday items missing from her unsecured vehicle on Grace Circle.

A man reported Friday he had received a notification from the IRS that his identity had been stolen.

A man reported Friday his vehicle had been broken into while it was parked on Sessions Drive. No items were missing.

A man reported Friday his car had been broken into on Antietam Drive.

A man was caught Friday stealing fishing equipment from a store on Whiskey Road.

A woman reported Thursday her wallet missing from her home on Alderman Street.

Warrants are pending for a Warrenville man who allegedly pointed a gun at a woman while she was at work Sunday.

Aiken County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a business on Augusta Road at 4:40 a.m. The victim told deputies the subject pulled up in the parking lot and pointed a gun at her, according to a sheriff's report.

After brandishing the weapon, the man entered the store and purchased a soda while the woman stood there in shock, she told deputies.

She cashed the man out, and he said, "You have nothing to say," according to the report.

The woman told deputies that she did not respond. The man exited the store and got back into his car when he pointed the firearm at himself "in a cocky manner," and drove away, according to the report.

The woman said she knew the subject, and they had lived together as a couple, according to the report.

Cavanaugh

I am one of the people who really does like Fred Cavanaugh. He is the most courteous person I've ever seen. You never see him sitting around hunting for something to do and he always had a smile for you. And that's wonderful.

Sales tax

If you voted for the sales tax increase, don't whine when they raise property taxes. Government never has enough money to waste.

Jeb Bush

"Antarctic glaciers experience sudden and extreme melting," and then, "Jeb Bush calls claims of scientific consensus on global warming 'arrogant.'" How about "Arrogant ignorance."

MOX spending

Are we going to continue spending money on MOX until October when they decide what to do about it?

No room

I have known the coroner for some time now, and he is nice, considerate and concerned about his people and his job. I don't know why Council doesn't leave him alone and talk about something that would really matter, like what's going on in the big house on Rutland Drive. There wasn't room for the coroner.

Pine Log Road

The entire length of Pine Log Road from Piney Heights Road to the intersection of Howlandville Road and Richardson Lake Road is in dire need of a litter pick-up crew. The amount of litter along this stretch of road is disgusting.

Blocking lawn mowers

Businesses shouldn't put their signs on the sides of the highway. It prohibits the lawn mowers from cutting the grass. Everyone should stop and pull them up.

A celebration honoring the late Isabel Vandervelde is planned for Saturday at Banksia.

Vandervelde passed away March 27.

The celebration will be hosted by her daughter-in-law, Pamela McAllister Vandervelde.

"It's important that those who knew Isabel or knew of her and were thus inspired, have a chance to make an offering of their thoughts or talents at this celebration or simply to observe. We are calling for any sort of creative individuals - visual artists, musicians, poets and other writers, actors, singers, dancers, food artists, etc." McAllister Vandervelde said.

Vandervelde, an Aiken resident, wrote more than 10 novels, which included "Aiken County: The Only South Carolina County Founded During Reconstruction" and "The Battle of Aiken." Some of her work was published in the University of South Dakota's poetry magazine and in the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.

She also was known for her art and was very much involved in theater in Aiken, singing in musicals and playing various characters. She taught creative writing classes at the Aiken Center for the Arts and art classes at the Aiken Day School, Mead Hall Elementary and Saint Angel's Academy.

"Isabel, to me, was a creative spirit like no other," said McAllister Vandervelde. "By that, I mean her life was unique in that it was utterly and completely centered on creativity. The effervescent overflowing urge to create was not just a part of her life; it was her life. Thus, it will be the heart energy of this celebration. Isabel not only spent every day productively and energetically creating, but she exuberantly ignited the same in others. She helped so many to see, get to know and express the creator within them. That made her life a literal spark of pure inspiration."

"It's going to be an incredible time of creating, sharing, food, fun and celebrating life in memory of Isabel. We'll even have door prizes with special meanings. Isabel would love this," McAllister Vandervelde said.

The event is by invitation only. Those interested in receiving an invitation should call Greg Vandervelde at 803-240-1002, email McAllister Vandervelde at pamelasportraits@yahoo.com, or visit Facebook and search "Pamela McAllister Vandervelde."

A night of fishing on private property yielded an arrest on Saturday.

Brandon Meyer, 19, was arrested and charged with simple possession of marijuana.

Aiken Department of Public Safety officers responded to Tupelo Court at 9:23 p.m. to a suspicious activity call.

The caller met with police and said vehicles are always parked by the pond on the property on weekends, adding the caller always finds beer cans and plastic bags he believed had marijuana in them.

Officers noticed a blue vehicle parked in the grass area and a SUV pulling up to it, according to reports. Officers went to make contact with the vehicles that tried to leave at first, police said.

After asking why the vehicles were on the property, Meyer said they had been fishing, according to reports.

Officers reported the strong odor of marijuana was coming from the blue vehicle, and the occupants had bloodshot and glassy eyes, police said.

After searching the vehicle, officers found several buds of a green plant believed to be marijuana, according to reports.

Meyer was transported to the Aiken County detention center where he was later released.

Each spring the Cedar Creek Ladies Club makes a donation to a few area charities or organizations.

This year the club invited some organizations to submit a grant application for $1,000 to fund a specific project. The club members then voted on which organizations should receive funds.

The Cedar Creek Ladies Club was able to fund eight grants. The grant checks were presented to the recipients during the May 20 general meeting.

The organizations and their representatives who received a grant are as follows:

- The Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons Inc. was represented by Gaby Aragon, Finance Director. Their grant will fund awareness events and more programs about domestic violence.

- Dean Keaton, of St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Mary's Church, accepted their grant which will provide food baskets to needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

- ACTS Area Churches Together Serving, represented by Carla Cloud, executive director, will provide a discretionary fund for emergency services for those in need.

- Aiken-Augusta Warrior Project, Kim Elle, executive director will fund emergency short-term hotel stays for veterans waiting for permanent low-cost housing.

- Greendale Elementary, represented by Sonya Colvin, principal, will use the grant to purchase books for all students in the school to keep and have at home.

- Brothers and Sisters of Aiken, represented by Charonica Pope, program director, and one of their students, Leon K. Elam, will fund a summer program on life skills for children between the ages of 5 and 17.

- FOTAS Friends of the Animal Shelter, represented by Jennifer Miller and Edie Hubler, board of directors, will use the funds to transport 10 dogs to no-kill shelters to be adopted.

- Aiken Equine Rescue, represented by Jim Rhodes, manager, and Nancy Marks, marketing and fundraising director, will construct a sign clearly identifying the property for visitors to the rescue.

The Cedar Creek Woodworking Club will be building the sign.

An archaeological survey of Hitchcock Woods that began last winter is turning up some interesting findings in one of the nation's largest urban forests.

The findings include Native American artifacts that are around 11,000 years old, an intact pottery kiln that probably was built around the time of the Civil War and a whiskey still.

"The cultural resources of the Woods are just about as important, in many ways, as the natural resources," said Dr. Harry Shealy, chairman of the Hitchcock Woods Foundation's board of trustees. "We need to know what is out there so we can manage the Woods properly over time. We don't want to do anything that would impact what we shouldn't impact."

Overseeing the survey, which is a three-year project, are archaeologists Carl Steen, president of the Diachronic Research Foundation in Columbia, and Bobby Southerlin of Archaeological Consultants of the Carolinas in Clayton, North Carolina.

They spent January and February in Hitchcock Woods while investigating a little more than a third of the approximately 2,100 acres covered by the forest.

"What we're trying to do is to identify and assess all the cultural resources out there, so we're not looking for one specific thing," Steen said. "We established a 30-meter interval grid across the entire property, and we're digging a shovel test every 30 meters. A shovel test is a hole that is a little over a foot square. And we're not digging every last shovel test on that grid; we only dig in good probability areas. If it's a real steep slope or a wetland, we don't do a shovel test."

Beneath Hitchcock Woods' longleaf pines and other trees are a brickyard and places where a country store and 19th century homes once stood. Also scattered about are arrowheads, spear points and pieces of fiber-tempered Native American pottery created several thousand years ago.

"All the artifacts we find have to be identified, cataloged and conserved, if that's needed," Steen said. "We also have to write up the results of our survey; that's what we are doing now."

In addition, Steen and Southerlin are examining several collections of items that people have picked up and dug up in Hitchcock Woods over the years.

"Some of it is pretty amazing stuff," Steen said.

The archaeologists are scheduled to return to Hitchcock Woods to do more survey field research early in both 2016 and 2017.

"I'm pretty excited about this, to tell you the truth," Steen said. "Normally, when we do an archaeological survey, we find about one site every 30 acres. Out there, we've found about one site every 15 acres, so it's been pretty productive. The future is bright for this project, I think."

After the third and final phase of the survey is completed, "we will develop a management plan for our cultural resources," said Courtney Conger, who is a Hitchcock Woods Foundation trustee and the chairman of the Foundation's Historic Preservation Committee. "It's expensive, and it's a long process. Right now, it's a work in progress."

One day, some of the relics from Hitchcock Woods probably will be put on display so the public can see them.

Brenda Baratto, executive director of the Aiken County Historical Museum, "has told us that we could do an exhibition over there," Shealy said. "She also has agreed to let us store artifacts there if we need the space. We have some space of our own, but we don't know how much is going to be found."

Dede Biles is a general assignment reporter.

Aiken's Southside will gain a bakery, coffee and tea bar this fall when La Dolce Cafe moves to its new location.

The cafe owners announced in May that the new store will open in September. The downtown business will close June 27.

With this move, La Dolce's owners, Kelly MacVean and Kirstie Wohlfeil, said this will offer an expansion in seating, as well as the gourmet bakery, tea service and menu offerings.

"We will be expanding our baked goods, bread offerings and our late lunches and breakfasts," said MacVean. "With our baked goods, we want to expand our bread lines and work with local restaurants."

"We are extremely pleased with our new location," she added. "Our cafe will be housed in a lovely cottage with French doors, long windows and a separate tea room. The property also will feature a lovely deck for outdoor seating under a live oak tree and garden-style landscaping."

The new La Dolce location was asked to be kept secret by MacVean. But, she did offer one clue - the road on which the new business will be located has to do with cooking.

"It is being renovated, so we don't want to give the exact address yet," MacVean said.

As of now, MacVean and Wohlfeil said the hours of the cafe will remain the same.

MacVean added the new setting "will provide a tea experience representative of traditional teas in England."

The cafe will still serve breakfast throughout the day at its new location and lunch, gourmet-baked items and specialty teas and coffees. The cafe will continue to cater special events such as weddings, receptions and corporate breakfast and lunches, as well.

La Dolce first opened its doors downtown in 2012, and the certification of MacVean as a Tea Master attracted customers instantly, she said.

MacVean said it's an educational relationship with the customers, and there is always something to learn.

"The concept of tea service ... created an eatery unlike any other in the area," said MacVean, adding near the end of 2014 was the time both realized it was time to do something bigger with the business.

"Downtown has its pluses and minuses," said MacVean. "Laurens Street is a great place ... for the most part, other businesses have been really supportive to us."

"Aikenites feel it is difficult to get downtown," said MacVean. "Parking is a problem, and we want to be in a place that is more convenient for the Aiken people."

MacVean added La Dolce has "fabulous loyal customers."

La Dolce is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is located in downtown Aiken at 173 Laurens Street N.W.

Will Whaley is the crime and court reporter for the Aiken Standard.

NORTH AUGUSTA - The Aiken County Public School District's new superintendent should have an awareness of curriculum, fiscal matters, facilities and students and personnel.

Dr. Marsha Harris, a retired educator who taught elementary and middle school and was assistant principal at Jefferson Elementary, listed those qualities Monday at a public input meeting. At the meeting at North Augusta High School, county residents voiced their opinions about what they are looking for in the district's new chief administrator.

"I would want someone who has a good overall awareness and expertise with those matters and then specifically one who can identify associates specific to each area with greater expertise," Harris said.

"Also, (I want) someone who can identify and mentor those qualities in younger personnel who might grow to serve and be able to identify those qualities through networking outside of the district."

School Board member Keith Liner, who facilitated the meeting, agreed, saying, "It's important to keep the pipeline going with qualified people and to mentor and provide some professional development."

Harris said she would value a superintendent who could "internalize a culture of achievement, caring and responsibility" in the district.

"When we say Aiken County School System, then we would know what that means through the culture and everybody tries to contribute to that culture and to make it happen - where that culture is not just a mission statement on paper, but one that really lives," she said.

Harris said the new superintendent should be confident, but also have humility and be wise with a sense of humor.

Sheila Hall, who has two sons in Aiken County schools, focused on academics and the classroom, saying the new superintendent should allow teachers "to teach with their creativity."

"I would love to be able to have someone who is open to the teachers' suggestion on how they can reach the kids so they are challenged in the classroom and not bored, someone seasoned and wise enough to use all those resources from the teachers," Hall said.

Responding to a question about what he is looking for in a new superintendent as a Board member, Liner said an experienced individual who is open to new ideas and is a good communicator.

"Also, I think someone who is willing to take input from the staff and the principals and the parents and the community," he said.

The 21-member Superintendent Search Committee will use the public's input from this meeting, a meeting at Wagener-Sallley High School on Monday and meetings last week as they narrow the list of 17 candidates who applied for the position.

The committee will give Board members a list by June 16 of no fewer than five and not more than 10 candidates to review. Board members will choose three or more finalists to interview and will introduce them to the public at a reception tentatively planned for June 26.

The Board will interview candidates June 27 and could name a new superintendent June 30.

Superintendent Dr. Beth Everitt will retire at the end of July.

An Aiken native, Larry Wood is a general assignment reporter. He started at the Aiken Standard in September 2014.