Absentee ballots now being cast in Columbia
Monday began the two week period in which Columbia and Richland County voters can cast absentee ballots at new satellite locations.
These sites include St. Andrews Park in Irmo, as well as the Richland County Administration Building and the Adult Activity Center, both in Columbia.
The Nov. 5 ballot will include the race for mayor of Columbia, along with three seats on the City Council. Also up for a vote is the referendum to raise property taxes in order to expand libraries.
Arcadia Lakes and Blythewood municipalities are also holding elections, though voters from Arcadia Lakes cannot use the satellite locations, according to Richland County elections director Howard Jackson. Instead, these voters may cast absentee ballots in person at the elections office.
Fair attendance higher than past years
Fair attendance was higher this year at the 2013 South Carolina State Fair, according to The State.
After 12 days of festivities, the fair closed Sunday, ending with 472,718 visitors, which was approximately 20,000 more fairgoers than the 2012 year. The 2013 year almost touched the 2010 record of 492,395 visitors.
“We were just a handful of admissions short of having our best opening day ever,” state fair manager Gary Goodman said.
Goodman also said that the first-ever College Day set a second-day record, which got the fair off to a “good start.”
Halfway through this year’s fair, the fair changed the youth admission policy, raising the admission age to 18 without a parent after 7 p.m.
“It was a tough decision that may have reduced attendance, especially on the weekend, but it had to be done,” Goodman said.
Myrtle Beach welcomes zombies to boardwalk
The Oceanfront Merchants Association in Myrtle Beach is looking to capitalize on Halloween by introducing Fright Nights complete with roaming zombies, according to Myrtle Beach Online.
Every Friday through Nov. 1, two haunted houses will be open for visitors to take tours, including Ripley’s Haunted Adventure and Nightmare Haunted House.
“Having two year-round haunted houses down here is already kind of weird,” association President Chris Walker said. “So we can take a product like Halloween and capitalize on it.”
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brad Dean told Myrtle Beach Online that the events surrounding Halloween give business owners the chance to bring more shoppers into their stores.
“Halloween is not typically a strong travel holiday, but it does spur retail and entertainment activity,” he said, according to Myrtle Beach Online.