Sarah Stokowski For Pendleton

There are no words.

Yesterday, I attended the visitation for Spencer Martin and witnessed what so many of us have experienced throughout this heartbreaking week: a community coming together in love, support, and prayer.

The outpouring of kindness for Spencer’s family, for the two students who were injured, for their families, and for the students, teachers, coaches, and staff of Pendleton High School has been extraordinary. In moments like these, we are reminded that grief is not meant to be carried alone.

As Spencer’s loved ones gather today to celebrate his life, I ask that you continue to keep them in your prayers. Please also remember the families of the injured students and everyone whose lives have been forever changed by this tragedy.

My heart is heavy for these families and for our entire community. May we continue to surround them with love, grace, and support in the difficult days ahead.

For Pendleton, always.

I’m excited to welcome Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette to Pendleton on Monday, June 1, for a meet and greet at Brews on the Square from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

I’m grateful that she is taking the time to visit our town, learn more about our community, and hear directly from residents. As Mayor, I welcome opportunities for state leaders and all candidates to experience what makes Pendleton so special and to better understand the issues that matter to us.

I hope you’ll stop by, say hello, and share why you love Pendleton and how Columbia can help us build on all the great things happening here. 💚

🗳️ EARLY VOTING STARTS TODAY 🗳️

Pendleton, we need to SHOW UP.

• Pendleton received $0 from the county this year
• Pendleton received approximately $96,000 from the state
• South Carolina had approximately $300 million in earmark funding available and Pendleton received none of it
• Historically, only about 6,000 people out of 33,000 in our district vote in the primary
• In many of these races, whoever wins the Republican primary will most likely win the office
• South Carolina has open primaries, so you do NOT have to be a registered Republican to vote in the Republican primary

We need change.
We need representation.
We need people who will advocate for Pendleton.
And most importantly, WE NEED TO VOTE.

Think about the future of our town:
💚 Preserving our history
💚 Supporting small businesses
💚 Responsible growth
💚 Roads and infrastructure
💚 Recreation and connectivity
💚 Education and workforce development

📍 Early Voting Locations in Anderson County:
• Pendleton Branch Library
• County Voter Registration Office
• Powdersville Library
• Watkins Community Center

Please make a plan to vote and encourage your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to vote too. Pendleton can make a difference if we show up. 🗳️💚

There are no words for the heartbreak our community is feeling today. Early this morning, Pendleton lost one of our young people in a tragic accident, and two other Pendleton High School students suffered serious injuries. Please join me in praying for everyone impacted by this unimaginable loss.

I have been in touch with numerous residents, community leaders, and spiritual leaders throughout the day. I have offered any and all resources our town can provide, including gathering spaces and support in any way that is needed as our community grieves together.

Please continue to lift up the families, friends, classmates, teammates, teachers, first responders, and all those carrying heavy hearts today. In a town like Pendleton, we stand beside one another in moments of sorrow, and right now, so many are hurting.

Lord, please surround these families and our entire community with comfort, strength, and peace. Watch over the students who are injured and give hope in the midst of heartbreak. Amen. 💚

Tonight, Pendleton’s very own Kayla Williams will be competing for the title and grand prize 🏆 . Kayla is an active member of our community and the choir director at Riverside. I’ve enjoyed watching all of the videos these past few weeks and seeing all the community support. Let’s go, Kayla!

Small Business Saturday 💚

Today, I want to highlight Luke’s Lawn Care. Luke is a Pendleton High School graduate, a young entrepreneur, and someone who truly cares about the quality of his work.

Luke takes care of my yard, and honestly, having someone dependable and hardworking handle that responsibility has taken such a load off my plate. Between work, meetings, and everything else that comes with life, having help from a local small business owner like Luke has made a real difference for me.

We are fortunate to have young people in our community willing to work hard, build businesses, and invest back into Pendleton. If you are looking for lawn care services, I highly recommend supporting Luke’s Lawn Care.