Divorce Attorney Near Me Belton, SC

New businesses are signals of growth as the City of Belton moves into fall.

"We have two exciting businesses that are very close to being here," said Belton Mayor Eleanor Dorn. One of them, a business already located in Anderson County, plans to relocate to Belton's city limits, bringing up to 100 jobs. The other is a Zaxby’s franchise, which has received corporate approval and is ready to break ground once a final logistical detail is resolved.

The new industrial facility, Eastern Engineered Wood Products, is now under construction, and the town is working to secure two other major projects.

The mayor also provided updates on a $16 million infrastructure grant that will allow the town to upgrade its water and sewer systems to accommodate new housing developments. While no new housing projects have broken ground yet, Dorn said the infrastructure improvements are key to preparing the town for future growth.

One of the keys to both serving current citizens and businesses is roads, and Dorn said finding funding for repair and maintenance is critical. Dorn expressed her support for a proposed penny sales tax in Anderson County, while noting that Belton's main roads are state-owned, making them the state's responsibility to repair. She pointed out that the condition of Main Street is so poor it is causing damage to the city’s fire truck.

"Our main roads are pretty bad," Dorn said. She acknowledged that many citizens do not understand the complex logistics of repaving roads, but that November’s referendum could make things better.

Belton has already been celebrating its history, including a recent event noting the 50th anniversary of the Belton Area Museum. These celebrations continue in October with the upcoming Heritage Days, an annual event that draws schoolchildren from across the area leading into the annual Standpipe Festival, which returns this year after being canceled in 2024 due to weather from Hurricane Helene. Dorn said the festival will feature its traditional elements, with a car show, craft vendors, and music throughout the day, headlined by the band Tailgate Homeboys. The day will conclude with a fireworks display.

Dorn updates events, business, housing, pickleball and more in this interview with the Anderson Observer.

BELTON, S.C. —

The Belton-Honea Path football team has a new head coach for the first time in more than a decade heading into the fall. Russell Blackston stepped down last December after coaching the Bears for 16 years. David Crane, who spent the last seven years at Seneca, has replaced Blackston and is eager to build on Belton-Honea Path's success.

"Seneca is home for me," Crane said. "It's a special place and I'll always have great memories of my time there but I think it speaks to how special BHP is that you would leave home for that. There's not a lot of these places left - the history, success, and tradition, and how they pour into the program."

The Bears have made back-to-back state championship appearances in the last two seasons, falling to Oceanside both times in the title game. Crane hopes to lead the Bears to a championship this year by emphasizing toughness, details and discipline.

"Toughness manifests in a variety of ways," Crane said. "It's not just putting your hand in the dirt and knocking a guy back. Sometimes is toughness is being the bigger man. Having emotional toughness, having some competitive maturity about yourself. Discipline - the little details of what we're trying to do. Being detailed in everything we do - whether it is on the practice field, weight room, the classroom. Getting our academic program established this year will be very important to us."

The Bears have 3 starters returning on defense and 5 on offense. They do have to replace Noah Thomas at quarterback since Thomas has graduated. Right now, Crane says freshman Rylan Crooks is leading the quarterback competition heading into the fall.

"I think we need to be good around him," Crane said. "He has good arm talent and for his age he is advanced mentally. That being said - he is a 9th grader. We need to do a good job as adults of not asking him to sling it around 30 times during a game. And the guys around him need to be at the top of their game and we'll be fine."

Crane says BHP will continue to run the football and lean into the aspects of their game that have been strengths in the past.

"This is a unique place and they lean in to who they are," Crane said. "They have big physical linemen traditionally through the years. They are a team that is known to run the football traditionally over the years. They don't shy away from that. They are who they are and we lean into that. I think when you have that approach, it helps you be the best you can be."

Belton-Honea Path opens its season on August 28 against Daniel.

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