By Barbara Augsdorfer, Editor for the Effingham Herald

Hurricane Heléne was not invited and tried to crash the party. She failed.

More than 100 people walked through the doors to the ribbon-cutting and grand re-opening of Ken’s IGA in Guyton Sept. 26 despite the rain from the approaching hurricane.

The store was brightly lit and every shelf was fully stocked.

And, there are no self-checkout lanes. Every checkout is staffed with an employee.

“We have people,” owner Ken Nesmith said.

The store, located at 101 W. Central Blvd., Guyton (at the traffic circle), is open seven days a week 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Nesmith said.

The retail spaces adjacent to the store still have to be remodeled and finished before being offered for lease.