By Thomas Grant Jr. Chapin headed to The Swamp last Friday looking to secure its first region win in two years. It was a seesaw battle which saw the Eagles take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter. River Bluff responded with 10 straight points in the final 12 minutesContinue Reading
Turning a minor disappointment into a measurable victory By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Stupidity, defiance, or calculated risk: Probably a bit of all three. Yesterday morning I had routine blood labs done. Everything looked good – Praise God – though my hemoglobin levels (the culprit in my 2024 stroke) wereContinue Reading
Daniel Baker becomes the sixth S.C. game warden to graduate from the elite Quantico, VA-based school By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Captain Daniel Baker, a 19-year veteran of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Law Enforcement Division, recently joined a truly elite corps of law enforcement officers nationwide –Continue Reading
Free festival celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with music, food, cultural performances and family activities COLUMBIA, S.C. — Carnaval del Barrio, one of the Midlands’ largest celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Month, will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, at Finlay Park in downtown Columbia. Admission is free. The family-friendly festival draws hundredsContinue Reading
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina State Museum will host an Accessibility Morning Saturday, Oct. 3, from 9 to 11 a.m., offering individuals, families and groups a more disability-friendly museum experience. The program features a quieter, sensory-friendly environment, American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and other accessibility resources. Guests who areContinue Reading
NEWBERRY, S.C. — A local fall tradition is reaching a milestone as Newberry’s annual Oktoberfest celebrates its 25th anniversary Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, in downtown Newberry. The festivities begin Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. with Brews and Bites, featuring live music on the entertainment stage. VendorsContinue Reading
Photos by Chapin sports By Thomas Grant Jr. The “second season” for Chapin football starting Friday night in The Swamp. The Eagles face River Bluff in the Region 4-5A opener for both teams. “Nothing good, nothing bad really matters what we’ve done the last six weeks,” Eagles’ head coachContinue Reading
District Five Teacher Forum will be hosting a candidate forum for the upcoming school board elections in Lexington and Richland counties October 6 at 6:30 pm at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies. The event will include both Richland and Lexington County school board candidates.Teachers and staff, students, and communityContinue Reading
Sharing God’s Love will hold its 11th annual BBQ fundraiser Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Coldwell Banker’s Irmo/Lake Murray office, 7464 Woodrow St. in Irmo. Donations will be rewarded with a pulled pork BBQ plate with all the fixings. Guests can dine at the officeContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose What if the next major change in your life begins with questions you type into a computer? Suppose that same technology helps you solve everyday issues, yet forces your children or grandchildren to re-think their careers and education. The possibilities are exciting, while others are downright scary!Continue Reading
Free community event will feature helicopter landing, STEM displays, veterans, first responders and career opportunities IRMO, S.C. — Celebrate Freedom Foundation will bring science, technology, engineering and mathematics to life during a free STEM Education Event on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Moore Park, 7473Continue Reading
A three-handicap golfer from Port St. Lucie, Florida, spent the day at Par T, where we had a chance to examine her swing. She explained that she had shortened her backswing and was now keeping more balls in the fairway. Despite her shorter backswing, she remains a highly competitive golferContinue Reading
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Public Service Commission of South Carolina has approved an application by South Carolina Water Utilities (SCWU) to expand its service territory to support the upcoming Scout Motors manufacturing facility at Blythewood Industrial Park. The approval authorizes a memorandum of understanding between SCWU, Richland County and theContinue Reading
With Labor Day behind us, we’re getting closer to cooler weather with every passing day – the kind of days that make a bike ride at Harbison State Forest, a hike at Congaree National Park, or a hunt in the Sumter National Forest not just tolerable but even inviting. SouthContinue Reading
Local powerlifter Lawrence Brimfield breaks NFL Combine record on bench press By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Seven weeks after One Life Fitness (1LF)–Sandhills hosted its first-ever 1,000-pound club powerlifting event in northeast Columbia, one of that gym’s sister facilities, 1LF-Forest Acres held its also-first Fall4All event with the same big-threeContinue Reading
Award is the namesake of Sheriff Leon Lott By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Martial arts practitioner and acclaimed instructor for U.S. and foreign special operations forces Ben “Yeti” Rhodes was awarded the S.C. Black Belt Hall of Fame’s prestigious “LEON LOTT – FIRST THROUGH THE DOOR” AWARD,” during a privateContinue Reading