After initially announcing a hiatus, organizers have confirmed that the Lexington County Peach Festival will return in 2026. The popular Fourth of July celebration, held annually in Gilbert, was previously canceled due to a shortage of personnel and volunteers needed to manage the large-scale event. However, an outpouring of publicContinue Reading
By Jennifer Tardy February has brought a fresh round of patterns and observations from client sessions and lab reviews. Here’s what’s been surfacing most often this month. Why Magnesium Levels Are Often Low Yes, soil depletion plays a role in declining magnesium intake — but that’s rarely the primary issueContinue Reading
Dennis Carroll Ballentine, age 79, of Taylors, SC, went to be with the Lord on February 26, 2026. Born in Columbia, SC, he was the son of the late Ena Trussell Ballentine and the late Bernard Carroll Ballentine of Columbia, SC. Dennis graduated from A. C. Flora High School inContinue Reading
From little acorns mighty oaks grow. By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net Though my hair was chestnut brown, I was green, a young writer hoping to create something memorable. I needed inspiration and I found it in a novel, Shining Tides. Winfield Brooks wrote it. The inside flap said theContinue Reading
One in nine children in South Carolina will experience the death of a parent or sibling before the age of 18. Processing that loss can be one of the most difficult challenges a child faces. To help families navigate that journey, Prisma Health Children’s Hospital–Midlands is offering the Healing HeartsContinue Reading
Bringing Joy and Hope to Children Facing Life-Threatening Illnesses The South Carolina Pediatric Alliance (SCPA) is proud to announce its role as a sponsor of the 2026 Wishing Well Gala, hosted by Carolina Sunshine for Children in an Evening of Hope, Heart, and Community. This premier fundraising event will beContinue Reading
The D5 Foundation of Lex-Rich School District Five is seeking community partners and business sponsors for Springfest 2026, scheduled for Saturday, March 28. Following the success of last year’s inaugural event at Dutch Fork High School football stadium — which drew more than 1,000 community members — organizers are expandingContinue Reading
The Town of Irmo is launching a community-wide fundraising campaign to support the development of Crossbuck Play Space at Rawls Creek Park—an all-inclusive play space designed to ensure children of all abilities have a safe, welcoming and engaging place to play together. The new playground will be located at 1113Continue Reading
CHAPIN – The Chapin High School Navy JROTC Booster Club will host its 3rd Annual Anchors Aweigh 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. at Chapin High School. The event serves two purposes: raising financial support for the NJROTC program and providing a family-friendlyContinue Reading
The Columbia Philatelic Society held its annual winter stamp show February 13–14, drawing dealers and collectors from across the Southeast for a two-day celebration of philately. Fourteen stamp dealers — traveling from as far away as Virginia and Florida and as close as Camden — filled the venue with postcards,Continue Reading
“It has been an honor to serve the county I have always called home” – Councilman Livingston By Paul Livingston It’s hard to say goodbye. That’s particularly true when you’re engaged in what was a labor of love. My 35 years as a member of Richland County Council have beenContinue Reading
West Columbia, S.C.’s Bruce Brutschy breaks national record actually, but unofficially By W. Thomas Smith Jr. I love bench press. To me, outside of pull-ups (chin-ups), the bench press is the premier test of a man’s upper body (UB) strength. Apparently also true for the National Football League which gaugesContinue Reading
In recognition of National Heart Month and in conjunction with the Go Red movement promoting heart disease awareness, Columbia will host the third-annual Jump Start Your Heart Day Party this Saturday, February 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Finlay Park. The free community event will feature a wideContinue Reading
The cursed door no longer seals the mausoleum By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net A road down Edisto Island way will take you past green swamps and oaks dripping with Spanish moss and shanties with bright, sky-blue doors. Churches white as egg whites line the road. Hauntings live there. AsContinue Reading
A minor earthquake shook the Irmo area around 6:45 p.m. on Friday the 13th, triggering a surge of 911 calls and prompting questions about the safety of the Dreher Shoals Dam. According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the quake registered a magnitude 2.8 and occurred approximately twoContinue Reading
The annual Black History Month Scavenger Hunt launched February 1 and is now underway across the Midlands. The free, self-guided experience invites residents, families, students, and visitors to explore Columbia and surrounding communities while learning about local Black history, culture, and community impact through a digital platform on the SodaContinue Reading