GILBERT NEWS: It’s time for the Great Pumpkin Pig-Out, y’all

Get ready for one of the most fun, relaxed and ridiculously pumpkin-filled afternoons of fall at the Cotton Branch Refuge Project. It’s called The Great Pumpkin Pig-Out.

Cotton Branch invites you to spend an afternoon with the animal residents at the farm. There will be plenty of pumpkins there, but organizers ask you to bring one of your own. Since the pumpkins will be given to the farm animals, they ask that the pumpkins be fresh, whole, uncarved, unpainted and free of mold or decorations.

Pumpkin can be a wonderful seasonal treat for Cotton Branch’s pigs that will provide fiber and other nutrients. When attendees arrive, Cotton Branch will have lunch for you. Then, you can spend the afternoon at the farm. Lunch is fall-themed, with pumpkin baked goods, pumpkin pies, pumpkin cookies and all kinds of pumpkin treats waiting for you. There’s even a special pumpkin sweet tea just for the occasion. This is a fall event and a fun-filled day for everyone to enjoy.

The Great Pumpkin Pig-Out will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 1 p.m. Rain date is 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. Cotton Branch Refuge Project is a nonprofit farm located at 328 Lightwood Knot Road, Leesville, in Lexington County. For ticket costs and information, go to https://givebutter.com/pumpkin2026. For more information, email the farm at evan@cottonbranch.org.

Lake Murray VFW Post 6740 recently held a fundraiser for Karen Zaledzieski, who is an auxiliary member of Post 6740. VFW Post 6740 members wanted to help Zaledzieski in her time of need as she has helped so many others. Zaledzieski’s immune system is compromised and low. The fundraiser dinner at Post 6740 was a success.

Members of Lake Murray VFW Post 6740 would like to thank the volunteers, donors and supporters who helped make the fundraiser a success over the past two months. Last week, Karen Zaledzieski and her husband Hugo received a beautiful handmade crocheted patriotic American flag blanket and a check from the fundraisers. The Zaledzieskis were overwhelmed with the support they received from Post 6740 and the donations from the community. Attending the check and quilt presentation to the Zaledzieskis were Post 6740 Commander Mike Snyder, President Mary Lou Schwartz and Jason Home.

Congratulations to Gilbert High School football player Logan Taylor, who won The State newspaper’s Player of the Week honor. Taylor also won the South Carolina Football Coaches Association Player of the Week title. He is a defensive linebacker for the GHS football team.

Gilbert Indians golfers participated in the recent 2026 Tomahawk Open Golf Tournament at Ponderosa Country Club in Leesville. First-place winners were Nathan Senn, Brady Senn, Kristin Senn and Nathan Price. Second-place winners who won in a handicap playoff were Blake Ellis, Finn Mortenson, Joseph Hardee and Hogan Hardee.