South Carolina Poultry Festival

09/25/2026

LOOKY LOOKY ONE OF FRIDAY EVENING'S DINNER SPECIALS
32OZ TOMAHAWK RIBEYE 2-CHOICE OF POTATO OR VEGGIE 2-SALAD BAR 2- TEAS $99

09/25/2026

09/25/2026

WBLR 1430 AM is the true heritage radio station of Batesburg-Leesville, serving as the local community's voice. For decades, it provided local news, agriculture updates, and music tailored specifically to the "Ridge" region of South Carolina.

The Golden Era of WBLR
• Format: For most of its historic run, WBLR operated as a traditional "Middle of the Road" (MOR) adult music station. It mixed community announcements, local news, and requested songs from residents.

Key Radio Personalities:
o C.T. "Redd" Reynolds: The longtime General Manager and local face of the station. He was also highly active in the community, serving as Vice President of the Lexington Public Library Association.

o Ted "The Bear" Richards: A notable broadcasting figure who launched what would become a legendary radio career at WBLR in 1965.

• The FM Sister Station: On August 5, 1965, the station signed on a sister signal, WBLR-FM (92.1 FM). The two stations cross-simulcast local programming to reach residents inside their homes and out in the fields. That FM frequency eventually went through a series of shuffles to become today's 93.1 The Lake (WZMJ).

The Original Tower Journey
The station's original radio tower has a unique piece of Carolina broadcast history attached to it. It was purchased brand new in 1956 by a broadcast owner named J. Olin Tice to launch WBLR. In the mid-1960s, the station's owner, Ed Crapps, relocated the WBLR studios and transmitter to a unified, co-located site. Instead of scrapping the original 1956 tower, it was dismantled, sold, and moved up to Monroe, North Carolina, where it served as the primary tower for station WIXE 1190 AM for over 40 years.

A Hub for Regional High School Sports
Because Batesburg and Leesville operated as friendly rivals prior to their official municipal consolidation in 1993, WBLR acted as the primary bridge between the two communities. The station was legendary for its live broadcasts of local high school football and baseball game. Longtime locals recall tuning in every Friday night to hear the play-by-play updates for the Batesburg-Leesville Panthers, which unified the towns long before politics did.

09/24/2026

09/19/2026

Scarecrows GET READY.

Sunday, September 20 is the starting date to display your scarecrows. Contact Suzy Loy for your spot on Oak Street, Batesburg.

Deadline to have your scarecrows up for the competition is September 30.

Let the fun begin!

09/13/2026

Till 7pm tonight

40+ food trucks, local vendors, and FREE admission all weekend!

09/13/2026

🚨 LAST CHANCE, BATESBURG-LEESVILLE! 🍔

🔥Today is the final day of the first ever Foodees Fest in our town! If you haven't made it out to the Lifelong Learning Center yet, you are missing out on the biggest flavor party.

The gates are open from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM today, Sunday, September 13th —so come hungry and bring the whole family!

Here is what is waiting for you before it's all gone:
🚚 Food Trucks & Vendors serving up smoky Southern BBQ, global street eats, tacos, and crazy gourmet desserts.
🛍️ Artisan Marketplace filled with beautiful handmade jewelry, home décor, and unique gifts from local crafters.

🔥90 Total Food Trucks and Vendors to Visit

🎟️ FREE Admission & FREE Parking!

Don't let the weekend end without grabbin' some incredible food and supporting these amazing vendors. Let's send the very first Batesburg-Leesville Foodees Fest out with a bang! 🎉👇

📍 Where: Lifelong Learning Center (101 W Columbia Ave)
⏰ When: Sunday 11:00 AM until 7:00 PM