AROUND LEXINGTON COUNTY

There is much activity in Lexington and with its people!

Our town is bursting with pride with the crowning of Morgan Nichols as Miss South Carolina and of Kellan Fenegan as Miss South Carolina Teen. Just how often does this happen? Two state winners from the same hometown!

Morgan, a Clemson student, will go on to compete in the Miss America Pageant Sept. 9 in Atlantic City. She is the daughter of Brenda Boozer Nichols and Hugh Nichols, and the sister of Mallory Nichols. Brenda is the principal at Rocky Creek Elementary School. Morgan is the granddaughter of Glenda and Tom Boozer and the late Ruth and Roy Nichols.

Kellan, a River Bluff High School student, is the daughter of Amy and Tim Fenegan and granddaughter of Gloria and Bob Fenegan and Roy Hewitt and the late Merry Hewitt. She will compete in the Miss America Outstanding Teen on July 27 in Orlando.

Tara Knotts Grisley was honored with a recption last week upon her retirement after 28 years in the Lexington County Solicitor’s Office. Held at Twisted Root Grill, Tara was praised for her continuted work and dedication to her job. She trained all paralegals in the office, mastered the computer system and worked diligently on numerous criminal cases.

Solicitor Rick Hubbard and wife Ann, and Assistant Solicitor Chris Samellar came to give “best wishes” along with all the staff and her parents, Betty and Jake Knotts. She will continue as a fitness trainer at MUV Fitness.

There are gatherings happening:

Pat Chapman reports their plans held on July 6. They met at Dreher Island State Park with family members, her sister Jane Holland McNeill and her children and grandchildren, Pat’s sons, Jim Chapman and wife Carrie and daughters Gwen and Heidi; and Leighton Chapman and wife Buffy and daughters Hannah, Rebekah and Holly; husband Frank’s only brother, Marshall Chapman with son Austin Chapman and daughter Susan Chapman Edwards and her husband James, and their children Steven, Marshall, Louis and Helen. Also included were Buffy’s family, Bill and Martha Russ and their family from the Gilbert area. All enjoyed food, boating, tubes, wake boards and board games.

Pat’s husband Frank is a nephew of the late Ernest, Harley and George Caughman, and son of the late Catherine Caughman Chapman, all Lexington residents.

Anne Bull reports from the annual Coon Dog Days in Saluda, N.C. Enjoying the fun were Mary and Jerry Howard, Caroline and Charles Alexander, Virl Caughman and Bill Coleman, Gay Clark, Anne and Dennis Bull, Pat and Bill Crigler, Ginger and Don Taylor, Art and Jane Fusco, Donna and Smokey Davis, Carol and Mickey Perrin, and Beverly and Al Whitworth.

Tommy Howard says he and Susan Horton experienced the US Golf Open at Pebble Beach, Calif., recently. “It was fantastic,” said Tommy, a golf enthusiast.

A crowd of several hundred residents and friends partied on the beach at the Land’s End community Saturday for the annual Lake Murray fireworks show. The annual neighborhood gathering included food, drinks and a nice evening of fellowship.

Likewise, food, fun, family and fireworks were the fare throughout the weekend at the Secret Cove neighborhood, where several residents hosted cul-de-sac and pool parties to celebrate the holiday. Many Secret Cove boaters participated in the boat parade and organized a Pontoon Party, which promises to be a new tradition for the 4th.

On the Road: Sally Gyemant recently returned from France, where she visited daughter Amanda, who is studying art and fashion in Paris. Holly Vaucher returned from a glorious tour of Israel. Carol and Bill Kirkland spent an enjoyable time touring Seattle and the Northwest, clearly looking to beat the brutal South Carolina heat.

Brian Simmons, Connie Mitchell, Ed Smither, Scott Adams and Diane Mull participated in a seminar at Wild Dunes on the future and growth of Christian higher education in South Carolina, which included a tour of Charleston historical landmarks.

Debbie and Wayne Rasmussen are touring the US, visiting Major League Soccer venues in connection with research for Wayne’s book on the founding of MLS.

Kimberly and Jason Gross toured Broadway and the Big Apple while visiting their daughter, who is studying with the American Ballet Theatre this summer.

Happy birthday to Mary Green, who celebrated her 96th with a party on Saturday. Enjoying the festivities were her siblings, Marge Carter, Ann Watkins and James Sons. and her nephew Sheriff Jay Koon, and neighbors Carol Sox, Libby Ray Bouknight, Berry and Steve Bouknight and more.

Other birthdays are Jennifer Yakima, Caroline Adams, Mary Bell, David Hipp, Beth Deaderick Law, Carol Ryall, Bev Gunter, Susan Low, Albert Dooley, Amy Davis, Patricia Minemier, Debra Pate, Robbie Bell, Alex Adams, John DeGenova, Andy Brauning, Rebecca Lomberk, Billie Hammock, Vernon Hester, Sarah Kolb, Nathan Morano, Bill Slocomb, Heather Dreher, Tracy McCarthy, Brian Ralston, Wendy Brazell, Jo Etta Belk, Debbie Hester, Terry Lowery, Paulette Shealy, Mary Beth Stafford, Richard Trewhella, Grace Morgan, Ryan Mooney, Gene Hammock, Sydney Bosley, Evan Farr, Tyler Brown, Clarice Mondeel, Gil Roof, Tripp Bouknight and Lauren Crapps.