On Aug. 13, two distinctly different events were held in Laurens - both involved water. The Laurens Family YMCA, in partnership with Main St. Laurens and GHS Laurens County Memorial Hospital, staged the Battlemud Mud Run over a forest, mud and water course around the YMCA. Fun activities - except for the grueling run itself - were staged around the main event. Participants had the chance to take a "water slide" at the end on their way to the finish line. At Little River Amphitheatre, the Laurens District High School National Honor Society drew together partners to stage Reading by the River, an event designed to put books into the hands of children. Refreshments, face-painting, reading aloud and baby animals also were part of pre-start-of-school (Aug. 16 for Districts 55 and 56) activity. - Photos by Vic MacDonald
