The Cellular Connection's Verizon Wireless Premium store in Aiken will be among the more than 400 such retail outlets around the country participating in the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway on Saturday.

Nationwide, 100,000 backpacks donated by The Cellular Connection, which also is known as TCC, will be distributed. There will be 200 available at the store at 3601 Richland Ave. W., Suite 701.

Families can bring their children to the store from noon to 3 p.m. to get the backpacks, which will be filled with various items, including pencils, paper, a pencil box, folders and glue.

One backpack will be given to each child present on a first-come, first-served basis while the supply lasts.

Leftover backpacks will be donated to local schools, according to a press release.

"We are grateful to be able to play a role in ensuring that as many children as possible are set up for educational success," said Scott Moorehead, CEO of TCC, in a prepared statement. "The backpack giveaway is something that both our employees and customers look forward to every year. It is our ultimate goal to make a difference, equally, in the lives of our employees, customers and the communities where we live; and this effort is one in which we accomplish all of these objectives."

The School Rocks Backpack Giveaway is one of TCC's four annual Culture of Good initiatives. The other programs are providing canned goods to local food banks, giving supply packs to 3,500 teachers across the United States and volunteering time to improve the environment.

Since 2013, TCC has donated 260,000 backpacks to schoolchildren.

Dede Biles is a general assignment reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been with the newspaper since January 2013.

Aiken residents have the opportunity to purchase a photo for a good cause.

The City will hold its annual "Our Aiken" photo auction Thursday night to benefit the United Way of Aiken County.

The City collected more than 50 photos, which will then be auctioned off in a silent auction from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Municipal Building, 214 Park Ave.

Bids will start at $10, and bids for the winning photos will start at $20; all proceeds will go toward United Way of Aiken County services.

Residents of all ages are invited to come out and bid on a photo or listen to USC Aiken head baseball coach Kenny "Coach T" Thomas as Thursday's auctioneer.

For more information, call 803-642-7723.

PruittHealth-Aiken, 830 Laurens St., will host a fish fry on Friday to benefit Glover Grove Baptist Church, a Warrenville congregation that lost its building to a fire June 24. The event will be held from noon to 2 p.m.

Plans are for the nursing home and rehabilitation center to offer plates for $5 each, with each plate including two pieces of fish, hush puppies, chips, a cookie and a drink. Chicken plates will also be offered. All proceeds will be given to Glover Grove.

An investigation of the fire led to findings of no apparent criminal intent, with lightning having been mentioned as a possible cause. More details on the fundraiser are available at 803-641-8000.

Fish fry to benefit Glover Grove Baptist

Roughly $12,000 in scholarship money will be up for the taking in September when about 140 colleges and universities welcome students from around the region to CSRA College Night.

The annual event will be 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the James Brown Arena, 601 7th St., Augusta.

One of the main sponsors of the event, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, is the Savannah River Site's management and operations contractor. The group said in a press release that College Night provides a valuable resource for area students in the counties of Aiken, Allendale, Barnwell, Bamberg and Edgefield in South Carolina and Columbia and Richmond counties in Georgia.

"Working with our co-sponsors and contributors, we're pleased to help continue a tradition that provides one-stop shopping for a large and diverse selection of college and university recruiters," said Candice Dermody, the contractor's education outreach and talent manager.

Last year, the "one-stop shop" attracted 6,000 students, parents and counselors. The night allows students and parents to obtain information on admission requirements and tuition and speak with representatives from various groups who will provide information on engineering, management, chemical science and nuclear science.

In addition, College Night will allow students to attend seminars on scholarships, financial aid and essay writing for college admissions, time management, learning styles, scholarships and joint enrollment. Various other opportunities also will be available.

Several scholarships will be up for grabs during the event.

To qualify for a College Night scholarship, students must be high school juniors or seniors and graduate with a GPA equal or above 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Students must attend and register in person at CSRA College Night to be eligible.

For more information, visit www.srs.gov, click on Outreach, then Education Outreach Programs, then CSRA College Night.

Derrek Asberry is the SRS beat reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been with the paper since June 2013. He is originally from Vidalia, Ga., and a graduate of Georgia Southern University.

South Carolina aims to reduce S.C. traffic fatalities to zero

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina is setting a goal of reducing the number of traffic fatalities to zero.

And on Wednesday, the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation are holding events in four cities to announce a team of 24 Highway Patrol troopers who will work toward that goal.

The team, called the Target Zero Team, will focus on the three main violations that lead to highway fatalities - not using seat belts, drunken driving and speeding.

The Target Zero team is being introduced at events in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville and Myrtle Beach.

After parent outcry, school pulls novel from reading list

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A Charleston high school has pulled a novel from a summer reading list after a parent complained about the novel's dark and explicit content.

The Post and Courier of Charleston (http://bit.ly/1VMECuW) reports that "Some Girls Are," a popular young-adult novel by Courtney Summers, was one of two books that students entering the freshman Honors English I class at West Ashley High School could read to complete the summer assignment.

The novel centers on a teenage girl who goes from being popular to scorned after being sexually assaulted at a party.

Melanie MacDonald, whose daughter is an incoming ninth-grader at West Ashley, complained about the book's graphic content.

Schools officials said the book has been removed from the list and parents would be alerted to the change through an automated phone message Wednesday.

More than 1M tons of ash removed from S.C. generating sites

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — More than 1 million tons of coal ash has been removed from riverfront sites of coal-fired generating plants in South Carolina.

The Southern Environmental Law Center said in a statement Tuesday that the ash has been removed from plants near Columbia and Myrtle Beach under settlement agreements that utilities reached with conservation groups.

The ash is being moved either to lined storage facilities or being recycled into concrete to prevent the danger of river pollution

The environmental group says South Carolina Electric & Gas has removed about 725,000 tons of coal ash from riverside lagoons at its Wateree Plant on the Catawba-Wateree River near Columbia.

Santee Cooper has also removed nearly 300,000 tons from riverfront lagoons at its Grainger Plant on the Waccamaw River in Conway.

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum made his second swing through Aiken on Monday, highlighting a message he believes "connects well" with social conservatives in the area.

Santorum spoke to the Aiken County Republican Club as part of his recent campaign stop, following a keynote address he delivered in April during the Aiken Republican Party's Convention.

"This area of the state is a strong, conservative area, and we believe we connect very well on a values level," Santorum said, adding his platform centers, in part, on a socially conservative message that seeks to reinforce the "nuclear family" and fight for religious freedom.

The former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania tried to separate himself from the 15 other candidates in the Republican field by saying, while they might have "a lot of good rhetoric," it doesn't necessarily come with "a lot of good policies to back it up."

Santorum particularly pointed to the issue of immigration, where he said other Republicans have "talked tough," but he feels he is the only candidate in the field that has a specific plan.

That plan, he said, includes addressing both legal and illegal immigration and allows only those who "are in jobs where the majority of the workers are not born in America" to gain a pathway toward guest worker status and stay in the United States.

"Everyone else needs to go home," Santorum said.

The issue of immigration has become more of a hot-button one as of late with the entry of businessman Donald Trump into the race and his controversial comments describing Mexicans who come to the United States illegally as "killers" and "rapists."

Over the past month, Trump has seen a huge spike in his polling average and leads virtually all Republicans with 15 months left until the November general election.

Santorum indicated that Trump, in particular, has capitalized on this idea of "speaking for the little guy," which has resonated with voters, but Trump's stances don't necessarily reflect the conservative policies and values the party needs in its nominee.

Santorum added that, in addition to immigration, he has heard often from voters in the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina about jobs and the economy, the recently-negotiated nuclear deal with Iran and the need for religious liberty in the United States.

The 2016 race is Santorum's second run at the White House after he sought the presidency in 2012, when he finished behind only eventual-nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

"This election is one that's more about issues and less about personalities, at least it was until recently," Santorum said. "Last time around, it was all about who was the better candidate to take on Mitt Romney."

The latest Washington Post/ABC News poll, conducted July 16-19, has Santorum at about 2 percent support for the Republican nomination. He trails 11 other candidates, including front-runner Trump, who is polling at 24 percent.

Michael Ulmer is a North Augusta native and graduate of the University of South Carolina.

Following an interview Tuesday, Dr. Beth Everitt mentioned more than once that she no longer had a phone in her office and, for that matter, little else.

The Aiken County School District's superintendent since January 2008, Everitt is retiring and is leaving with husband, Tom, on Thursday for an extended vacation. They will continue to live in Aiken.

She readily acknowledged she'll miss the educators and the School Board members she has worked with.

Her successor, Dr. Sean Alford, will formally begin his new duties Monday.

"He's ready to take over, and I'm ready to go," Everitt said with a smile.

Her departure ends a 38-year career, most of it in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she eventually became the superintendent before retiring from that district.

During her time in Aiken, Everitt cited a number of academic accomplishments, including significant increases in the graduation rate.

Not surprisingly, Everitt remains delighted about a successful sales tax referendum in Nov. 2014, which will result in major construction at five county schools.

"That was huge," she said. "The community realized we didn't have options for (new) buildings. They stepped up with hundreds of people in a grassroots effort, ... a passion that carried that election. As a normal citizen, I'll drive by those schools and be proud of them."

During her first six months in Aiken, Everitt visited schools and got to know educators throughout the district. Then the recession hit the entire country in "as tough and painful" as any challenge she has faced. The School Board reluctantly imposed a furlough and did not rehire top veteran teachers who had already retired and were returning on a year-to-year basis.

While the economy has improved, Everitt remains frustrated with the S.C. General Assembly's unwillingness to meet its own education funding formula. Still, she cited other, positive changes in recent years. Instructional strategies and initiatives have emerged, such as a growing focus on "STEAM" - science, technology, engineering, the arts and math.

East Aiken School of the Arts also is now identified as a magnet school. The district has worked with USC Aiken and Aiken Technical College to provide high school students with dual enrollment opportunities.

Everitt has described the need to spend more time with her mother, 92, who lives in a North Augusta nursing home. While she is indeed "ready to go," Everitt still has a lot of energy and interest in eduction and said earlier this year, "It's a bittersweet decision to leave a job that I love."

Senior writer Rob Novit is the Aiken Standard's education reporter and has been with the newspaper since September 2001. He is a native of Walterboro and majored in journalism at the University of Georgia.

The Edgefield County Council wants to link Edgefield residents with jobs.

Edgefield County will hold a job fair today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the cafeteria at Strom Thurmond High School, 1131 Columbia Road in Johnston.

Vendors will include the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Department of Social Services and Piedmont Technical College.

For more information, call the Upper Savannah Council of Governments Workforce Staff at 864-941-8050, or email work@uppersavannah.com.

NEW ELLENTON — An advisory board voted Tuesday to renew its position paper against the Savannah River Site temporarily storing the nation's spent fuel. But the renewal was first challenged by members who questioned if the paper is even in the board's purview.

Day two of the bimonthly meeting of the SRS Citizens Advisory Board, or CAB, saw 14 members vote in favor of the paper, which states there is no site superior to Yucca Mountain for spent fuel storage and that the Energy Department should revisit Yucca.

In 2002, former President George W. Bush designated Yucca Mountain as the nation's waste repository site. The site is a volcanic structure near the former Nevada Test Site - about 100 miles from Las Vegas - where the nation intended to permanently store its nuclear waste.

The federal government cut funding in 2010 after pouring more than $13 billion into the Yucca Mountain project. Now, the search has begun for interim storage facilities, and the CAB renewed its July 2013 position on the matter.

The 14 votes outnumbered the seven votes against the position paper. But CAB member Gil Allensworth, who cast a nay vote, said he looked back over the position paper Monday night, as well as the CAB's mission and charter, in search of proof that the CAB can technically take a position on the issue.

"I don't see where we, as a Board, have any authority to issue a position paper," Allensworth said.

CAB Chairman Harold Simon explained that the CAB does indeed have the authority to draft and approve a position paper.

"A position statement remains local and on our website," Simon said. "So it's just the CAB's position on this topic and lets the public know where we stand on the issue."

At the same time the position paper was crafted in 2013, a minority report representing those who voted against it was also created. Dawn Gillas, another member who opposed the position paper, said it is equally important for the public to be aware of the minority report, which states that a hard position on interim spent fuel storage is "not a constructive action by the CAB."

"This rejection is done at an early stage of the process and is indifferent to incentives and other conditions that may be offered," the paper states.

On Tuesday, the CAB also voted unanimously in favor of a recommendation for the Energy Department to create a concrete timetable for the reopening of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.

The pilot plant, or WIPP, routinely accepted shipments of transuranic waste - waste consisting of clothing, tools, rags, residues, debris and other items contaminated with plutonium - from SRS and other sites until a radiation exposure incident shut the site down in February 2014.

The CAB and other advisory boards under the larger, Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board are voting on the recommendation.

Other votes Tuesday included approval of a recommendation to the Energy Department to host CAB meetings in various cities other than the Aiken area. The CAB tabled a recommendation for agencies to monitor and report the health and environmental effects of cleanup and related activities performed by SRS and will appear back before the full board in September.

Derrek Asberry is a beat reporter with the Aiken Standard.

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Two Zimbabweans arrested for illegally hunting a protected lion named Cecil were in court on Wednesday as anger at the kill by an American dentist escalated.

"If, as has been reported, this dentist and his guides lured Cecil out of the park with food so as to shoot him on private property ... he needs to be extradited, charged, and, preferably, hanged," People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said in a statement Wednesday. The statement, emailed to The Associated Press, came from Ingrid Newkirk, president of the animal rights organization.

Social media on the internet -- for example on Twitter under (hash)cecilthelion -- were also filled with condemnation of the killing of the black-maned lion just outside Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwean men -- a professional hunter and a farm owner -- are accused of helping Walter James Palmer hunt the lion. Zimbabwean police said they are looking for Palmer, who reportedly paid $50,000 to track and kill the animal.

During a nighttime hunt, the men tied a dead animal to their car to lure the lion out of a national park, said Johnny Rodrigues, chairman of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force. The American is believed to have shot it with a crossbow, injuring the animal. The wounded lion was found 40 hours later, and Palmer shot it dead with a gun, Rodrigues said.

Palmer, a dentist living in the Minneapolis suburb of Eden Prairie, said in a statement that he was unaware the lion was protected, relying on local guides to ensure a legal hunt.

"I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt. I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt," Palmer said in statement through a public relations firm.

The two Zimbabwean men appeared at the Hwange magistrate's court, about 435 miles (700 kilometers) west of the capital Harare, to face poaching charges. Defense lawyer Givemore Muvhiringi says the proceedings have been delayed by several hours because prosecutors are "making their assessments."

If convicted, the men face up to 15 years in prison in Zimbabwe.

The professional hunter who allegedly acted as Palmer's guide has been stripped of his license while he faces criminal charges, the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority and the Safari Operators Association said in a joint statement. The farm owner also facing criminal charges did not have a hunting permit, the joint statement said.

Palmer has several hunts on record with the Pope and Young Club, where archers register big game taken in North America for posterity, said Glenn Hisey, the club's director of records. Hisey said he didn't have immediate access to records showing the types and number of animals killed by Palmer, but noted that club records involve legal hunts "taken under our rules of fair chase."

According to U.S. court records, Palmer pleaded guilty in 2008 to making false statements to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about a black bear he fatally shot in western Wisconsin. Palmer had a permit to hunt but shot the animal outside the authorized zone in 2006, then tried to pass it off as being killed elsewhere, according to court documents. He was given one year probation and fined nearly $3,000.

Although African game wouldn't be eligible, Hisey said he alerted the group's board that Palmer's ethics were being called into question. He said Palmer's domestic records could be jeopardized if he's found to have done something illegal abroad.

Cecil was being studied by an Oxford University research program.

He is believed to have been killed on July 1 in western Zimbabwe's wildlife-rich Hwange region, its carcass discovered days later by trackers.

Associated Press reporters Amy Forliti in Bloomington, Minnesota, and Brian Bakst in St. Paul, Minnesota, contributed to this report.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Boat manufacturer Sea Pro Boats is investing $5.5 million in a new manufacturing plant in Newberry County and intends to hire 238 workers.

The company made the announcement in Columbia Wednesday with officials from the South Carolina Commerce Department.

The new manufacturing site is to be located in Whitmire, about 55 miles northwest of Columbia.

Company officials say they intend to build a new line of boats with seven models for bay and offshore fishing.

The new site in Newberry County will house the company's headquarters and manufacturing operations. It should be operational by the third quarter of 2015.

Hiring is expected to begin in early fall of this year. Those interested should contact SC Works at http://bit.ly/1h4ZsG5.

CINCINNATI (AP) — A University of Cincinnati officer who shot a motorist during a traffic stop over a missing front license plate has been indicted on murder charges, a prosecutor said Wednesday, adding that the officer "purposely killed him" and "should never have been a police officer."

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters announced the grand jury indictment at a news conference to discuss developments in the investigation into the July 19 shooting of 43-year-old motorist Samuel DuBose by Officer Ray Tensing.

Authorities have said Tensing spotted a car driven by DuBose and missing the front license plate, which is required by Ohio law. They say Tensing stopped the car and a struggle ensued after DuBose refused to provide a driver's license and get out of the car.

Tensing has said he was dragged by the car and forced to shoot at DuBose. He fired one shot, striking DuBose in the head.

But Deters dismissed Tensing's claim that he was dragged by the car and suggested that he shouldn't have pulled DuBose over to begin with.

"He fell backward after he shot (DuBose) in the head," Deters said, adding that it was a "chicken crap" traffic stop.

A warrant was issued for Tensing's arrest. Deters said Tensing could either turn himself in or officers could arrest him.

Tensing's attorney, Stewart Mathews, didn't immediately return phone messages seeking comment after Deters' announcement.

Mathews said earlier Wednesday that he thought an indictment was likely "given the political climate" and comments made by city officials. But Mathews said given the evidence he's seen, he doesn't believe there should be an indictment.

DuBose's death comes amid months of national scrutiny of police dealings with African-Americans, especially those killed by officers. DuBose was black. Tensing is white. Authorities haven't indicated whether race was a part of the investigation.

Body-camera video of the shooting was also being released Wednesday, the prosecutor said. DuBose's family had been pressing for its release, and news organizations including The Associated Press had sued Deters to get it released under Ohio open records law.

The University of Cincinnati on Wednesday closed its main campus in anticipation of grand jury action in the case.

Deters called the shooting "senseless" and "asinine."

"He purposely killed him," Deters said. "He should never have been a police officer."

Deters said when he saw the video of the shooting, he was shocked.

"And I realize what this was going to mean to our community, and it really broke my heart because it's just bad," Deters said.

"I feel so sorry for this family and what they lost," Deters said. "And I feel sorry for the community, too."

Tensing, who had been on the university police force since April 2014, received an overall satisfactory rating on his annual performance evaluation this April. It noted he was extremely strong in the traffic area and maintains control of his weapons and of "situations he is involved in."

Tensing previously worked as an officer in the Cincinnati suburb of Greenhills, on either a part-time or full-time basis from April 2011 to last December. Tensing had two performance evaluations showing he met standards and one saying he performed above standards.

If convicted, Tensing could face up to life in prison.

------

Associated Press writer Dan Sewell in Cincinnati contributed to this report.

An Aiken man is facing accusations of assaulting a woman with a beer can Tuesday night.

Nathaniel Lewis, 58, was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and battery.

Aiken Department of Public Safety officers were on patrol on Richland Avenue at Kershaw Street at 6 p.m. when they were flagged down by a woman who was bleeding from her lip, according to police.

The woman was frantic and kept repeating a man named "Sammy" had "hit her upside her face with a beer can," according to reports.

She was pointing to a man wearing a yellow hat, carrying a can of Steel Reserve beer and walking on Kershaw Street, police said.

Lewis denied the accusations, police said. Officers noted Lewis' speech was slurred, and they detected the strong odor of alcohol.

Officers spoke with several witnesses who backed up the woman's story.

Lewis was transported to the Aiken County detention center, where he remained Wednesday.

No charges were made after an Aiken man tried to damage his wife's vehicle with an apple that had nails stuck in it Tuesday morning.

Aiken Department of Public Safety officers responded to a business on South Centennial Drive at 10:55 a.m. where the business owner said his employees noticed an apple with nails stuck in it wedged under a vehicle tire in the parking lot, police said.

The manager said the apple had not been driven over, according to reports.

The owner of the vehicle was identified, and employees said the victim's husband came in, took the apple and admitted to leaving it there over his anger of their recent marital separation, police said.

Police made contact with the husband who admitted to leaving the apple under the tire with the intent to damage the vehicle, police said.

The man said he later changed his mind and decided not to do it, according to police.

No charges were made, but the man was placed on trespass notice from the business, according to incident reports.

AUGUSTA — Singer-songwriter-producer Ben Folds will headline Augusta's Westobou Festival marquee music event on Oct. 1.

Tickets of $35, $45 and $55 will go on sale Tuesday. Limited VIP, college student and military tickets will be available.

"His piano-driven style, which is often compared to artists such as Elton John and Billy Joel, combines infectious pop/rock with lyrical content that is complex, literate and often darkly humorous. He recently began composing music for orchestras and small classical ensembles and debuted his Concerto for Piano and Orchestra with the Nashville Symphony, where he also serves on the Board of Directors, last year," as stated in a press release.

His Augusta show will feature music off his upcoming "So There" CD, and he will perform with the Symphony Orchestra Augusta, conducted by Maestro Shizuo Z Kuwahara.

"We are thrilled to have Ben Folds come to Augusta and the Westobou Festival. His ability to bring music to audiences in new and innovative ways illustrates everything this festival represents. Having Symphony Orchestra Augusta join Ben offers our audience the opportunity to see a truly world class performance," said Susan Nicholson, Westobou Festival Board chairman in a press release.

Folds will perform at the Jessye Norman Amphitheater, One Ninth St., Augusta.

For more information, visit www.westoboufestival.com or the festival office at 1129 Broad St., Augusta.

In the midst of recovering from a fire disaster, one local restaurant is turning up the heat at its kitchen for a benefit to help locals who lost their home after a fire at The Colony at South Park last week.

Aiken Speakeasy and Eats, located in downtown Aiken, will hold a benefit buffet July 30 from 6 to 9 p.m. to help displaced residents.

Nobody was injured in the fire that destroyed 16 units July 20; 22 people were relocated due to damage, according to the Red Cross.

The buffet will have a $20 cover charge that includes a plate and live music from Augusta acoustic artist Chris Ndeti; however, bar drinks are not included, said Angela Richardson, the manager at Speakeasy.

All of the donations received will go toward The Colony residents, she said.

"Some of the staff knows people that live there," Richardson said. "Also, as a local business ... we need to give back to the public that supports us."

Reservations are available, and Richardson encourages all who wish to attend to make reservations.

The buffet is still in the works, but Richardson said the menu will probably include two entrees, a starch item, vegetables and a dessert.

Donations also can be made without purchasing a buffet, Richardson said.

"Anyone that wants to donate can," she said.

To make reservations, call Speakeasy at 803-226-0260.

Speakeasy is located at 126 Laurens St. N.W.

Will Whaley is the crime and court reporter for the Aiken Standard. He graduated from the University of North Alabama.

Three dogs found Tuesday in South Carolina with their muzzles duct-taped shut and chained to a wall on the back porch of a home will be transferred to the SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare.

The SPCA's President and CEO Barbara Nelson confirmed the transfer to the Aiken Standard.

The SPCA on Willow Run Road even posted a comment to their Facebook page stating although the no-kill shelter is full, the "Humane Society of the United States - South Carolina contacted us and we are working to make room for them. They will be comfortable and well cared for here."

For more information about the SPCA, visit www.letlovelive.org.

The Aiken Standard will update the story as more information becomes available.

A conference on church security is planned for North Augusta after the mass shooting at a Charleston church a little over a month ago left nine dead.

The conference will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Hammond Grove Word Power Ministry, 214 W. Five Notch Road.

The event will be facilitated by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office and North Augusta Public Safety; security companies, gun safety trainers and self-defense trainers also will be present, according to a press release.

The release states that those who attend the conference will learn to develop a solid response plan for church staff, about weapon laws in South Carolina and Georgia, and about the tools necessary to have the most effective security system.

Anyone interested in attending must register.

Registration is free, but forms must be signed by a church official or the church pastor.

In order to register, visit bit.ly/1DbdGPf to download a form.

For more information email hammondgrovewpm@gmail.com or call 803-279-1493.

Sgt. David Griffin, with the North Augusta Department of Public Safety, was summoned to 135 Edgefield Road on Wednesday morning for an incident involving dozens of children, and the result was a blast - a cool, wet one - for the youthful crowd.

Nancy Carson Library marked the end of its annual summer reading program with a traditional "splashdown," featuring a chance for kids to cavort or otherwise unwind in the spray from a fire truck, with Griffin at the controls.

Students of all ages are invited to attend the upcoming Fit 4 School event, where they can receive free health-related screenings and take part in many fun activities.

The event will be held at the Family Y on Trolley Line Road in Graniteville, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 8.

Aiken attorney Everett Chandler, the primary sponsor, expects as many as 2,000 children and teenagers and their families to participate.

He has collaborated with the Family Y and the South Company on the project.

"We started this to have a community back-to-school event," said the Aiken attorney. "We'll have bookbags and school supplies for them and entertainment provided for them, too. ... I am looking forward to being out there and dancing to the music."

Kids can get free eye screenings, hearing tests and even free haircuts. The Aiken County Sheriff's Department will present them with ID kits.

"We've done this for the last three or four years," said Jennifer Rodgers, a staffer for Aiken Ophthalmology. "It's important for parents to know their children may need a more detailed eye exam. It's going to be a very full house, and it's fun and exciting to work with the kids."

Entertainment will be provided in part by Franko the Magician, DJ Tony B, Premier Martial Arts and Fitness Demo Team.

Other sponsors of the event include Advanced Services Pest Control, Wayne's Automotive and Towing Center, Greenworks by Dumpster Depot, Center for Dentistry, Health Source, Hannah's Designs, Aiken Center for the Arts, Family Pharmacy, Hearing Associates of South Carolina and the Western Carolina State Fair.

"We want to educate kids about school recycling," said Dumpster Depot owner Norman Dunagan. "This is our third year, and we want to make sure we can given them everything they need to succeed."

Mary Coleman, the Aiken Center for the Arts director, agrees.

"We'll have an information booth and children's crafts," she said. "Part of our mission is to take art to as many people as we can. It's a good opportunity to let people know what we're all about."

For more information, call Mike Thomas of the South Company at 803-665-8461.

Senior writer Rob Novit is the Aiken Standard's education reporter and has been with the newspaper since September 2001. He is a native of Walterboro and majored in journalism at the University of Georgia.