Middle school teacher receives top honors

Gaye Pappas of Paul Knox Middle School was named Aiken County Teacher of the Year on Monday.

Mrs. Pappas is a special education instructor with 34 years of experience.

The Teacher of the Year banquet, held at Newberry Hall in Aiken, recognized teachers of the year from each school in Aiken County. Three other finalists were Jane DiTullio of Chukker Creek Elementary, Loretta Childress of North Aiken Elementary and Kacee Poppy of South Aiken High.

Mrs. Pappas will be in the running for South Carolina Teacher of the Year.

Meetings on proposed sales tax start today

A series of public meetings to discuss a proposed sales tax and bond referendum in Columbia County starts today in Evans.

The meetings will provide information on a 1-cent sales tax referendum and an aquatic and tennis center bond referendum going before voters Nov. 4, according to the a news release from County Administrator Steve Szablewski.

The first public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. today in the auditorium of the Evans Government Complex on Ronald Reagan Drive.

Subsequent meetings will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday at the Appling Courthouse; 2 p.m., Oct. 7 at the government complex; 6 p.m., Oct. 14 at the government complex; 6 p.m., Oct. 21 at the government complex and 6 p.m., Oct. 28 at the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center on Evans Town Center Boulevard.

Aiken County to amend smoking ban ordinance

AIKEN --- The Aiken County Council will vote in a third and final reading to amend the county's smoking ban ordinance, which has been in place since June 2007.

The amendment to the ordinance will prohibit smoking in bars and private businesses with more than three employees.

Currently, the ordinance allows people to light up in bars and restaurants as long as there is a separate ventilation system.

But council members are looking to do away with that provision to make the county's ordinance more in line with smoking ban ordinances in Aiken and North Augusta, which prohibit smoking in all indoor areas.

The county council will meet tonight at 7 p.m. in the council chambers on Richland Avenue.