Late June-early July fitness event will celebrate America’s 250th birthday By W. Thomas Smith Jr. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) is celebrating America’s 250th birthday with RCSD’s 250-LBS BENCH PRESS CHALLENGE: Either for one-repetition or multiple reps: The six-day event beginning June 28 and ending July 3. At aContinue Reading
Leaphart Elementary STEAM Magnet School fourth grade teacher Dr. Paul Duggan has been selected as a Spring 2026 recipient of the Coaching Teacher Award of Excellence from the University of South Carolina College of Education. The award recognizes outstanding educators who demonstrate excellence in mentoring and supporting future teachers throughContinue Reading
District Five student Chloe Coleman (Spring Hill High) has been named the Midlands Work-Based Learning (WBL) Student of the Year. The SC Work-Based Learning Student of the Year award recognizes a student who exemplifies sound work-based practices while applying academia to real-life, real-work, and real-world situations in the business/industry environment.Continue Reading
The Drink Pink Rosé Festival returns for its 11th year with changes — new day, new time, and a new location at Boone Fox Flower Farm, formerly City Roots Farm. It will be held May 16 from 4 – 8 pm. Tickets are available at drinkpinkfestival.com. Cost is $45 -$125.Continue Reading
Midlands Light Opera Society sails to ancient Carthage for Dido and Aeneas May 14-17. Performances will be held May 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m., and May 16 and 17 at 3 p.m. in the Pool Building of Bethel United Methodist Church at 4600 Daniel Drive in Columbia. Queen Dido,Continue Reading
The ColaJazz Foundation has announced its free outdoor festival will return May 15-16 to the newly renovated Finlay Park in downtown Columbia. The ColaJazz Jazz and Roots Festival features two days of world-class jazz, food and beverage trucks, art vendors, community, and culture at the heart of the city. TheContinue Reading
District Five Superintendent Dr. Akil E. Ross, Sr. was surprised April 20 at the School District Five School Board meeting with the South Carolina National School Public Relations Association (SC/NSPRA) Administrator of the Year Award. The announcement was made by Toni Chewning, President of SC/NSPRA. This award recognizes a superintendentContinue Reading
B.A.S.S. has announced the inaugural Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship presented by Native Watercraft will be held October 14-16 on Lake Murray, marking a significant milestone for one of the organization’s fastest-growing competitive platforms. Previously held in conjunction with the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, theContinue Reading
School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties celebrated 72 first-year educators who participated in the district’s STARS (Supporting Teacher Advancement, Retention, and Success) induction program during a recognition ceremony held April 27, culminating with the announcement of the district’s Induction Teacher of the Year. The district recognized Kelsey Manning,Continue Reading
By Sarah Ostergaard The deadline for teachers across South Carolina to sign or reject annual contracts to teach in the same district next year was May 10. Did you know? Teachers make this decision without entirely knowing very important details: (1) salary changes (salary increases vs. insurance cost increases), (2)Continue Reading
By Radley West Every year around this time, there’s a shift. People start thinking about summer. The weather gets warmer, the layers come off, and suddenly there’s a sense of urgency that wasn’t there a few months ago.This is when things get interesting. I’ve watched people try to make upContinue Reading
Photo: Beyond the fence, an open battlefield filled with longleaf pines in 1780e. By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net Old battlefields seem more like parks. Trying to imagine cannon and cries of the wounded? Difficult, but not always. Farmers’ plows unearthed so many Minié balls at Shiloh, the soil turnedContinue Reading
By Robin All Since we are sending tips for seniors to play better golf, the stiffness of the shafts in your golf clubs, can make a big difference in both direction and distance. All seniors need to be fitted as we are all not the same size or strength andContinue Reading
Sheriff Lott: “We will never forget those we’ve lost, nor their loved ones” By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Throngs of law enforcement officers (including sheriffs and police chiefs), state legislators, S.C. Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, Attorney General Alan Wilson, and a class of cadets from the S.C. Criminal Justice AcademyContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. The Chapin baseball team is in the driver’s seat for the Class 5A Division II District Four title. Wins over Conway (11-3) last Saturday and North Myrtle Beach (9-1) on Monday have the Eagles playing host to the district final Friday. They would need just oneContinue Reading
Former Marine infantryman and New York Times bestselling editor sets unofficial strength records in age-category: Marks two-year stroke anniversary By Chris Carter W. Thomas Smith Jr., a former U.S. Marine Infantry leader, counterterrorism expert, and 2025 inductee in the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame pushed past advanced-to-elite level powerliftingContinue Reading